In the province, women read Filipino romance novel that only costs P2-5 per book rental. In public markets, I see stands whereby bargained softbound books published by foreign and Filipino writers. You even find Booksale stores filled with book hunters. There’s that joy when you see children browsing through those pages. Once I saw a 4-year old kid who cried when her parents would not buy the book she explored. Poor!

Advocacy in reading is what is needed. Writers have the passion to drive across what they want to say. You’d be an advocate for Filipinos to read, let there be millions of Filipino readers. Writers of your kind are needed for readers like me who believe that we can make a difference in reading. Flipping through those pages are better than clicking through internet sites.

I remember in my high school years, we were required to do book reviews on “The Little Prince, “The Anthem” by Ayn Rand, and short stories of Edgar Allan Poe, and books by Fr. F. Sionil, and other Filipino writers. Students back then are required to read the daily newspaper. I guess we also have to advocate curriculum in schools. How do schools incorporate reading and comprehension? I hope you do not stop writing. You still can move people to read and be read.