Reading for the Filipino

Southeast Area Elementary Readers’ Fest 2015

December 2, 2015

“Be a Responsible Netizen with English.”

Ladies and gentlemen, if I will write this message and just ask you to read it, many of you will remark, “Ok unta imong message sir, taas lang kayo.”

My dear friends, we all have experienced seeing posts on facebook about an announcement of an event or activity where all details—date, venue, and time, have been provided. But still, there’s always someone who would comment: “Kanus a ni?” (Lourd de Veyra, The Word of the Lourd)

What is the problem with this people?

a.    Were they just excited?

b.    The font size was just too small?

c.    Nagpapansin lang?

d.    They cannot read?

e.    But how could they be on Facebook if they do not know how to read? Also, their profiles reveal that they are students.

f.     Is it because we can’t control the urge to react without understanding the message?

Do Filipinos really hate reading?

I’ve read an article before by Arlene Babst-Vokey, the title was “Filipinos are not book lovers.”

She said that in Japan, the bookstore was the most popular feature in every street block, while in the Philippines, instead of bookshop, it was the beauty parlor competing with the sari-sari store.

What could be the reasons for this? Poverty is not the only reason, for even some of the richest Filipinos do not read.

Some other reasons include:

1. Reading requires solitude. We hate solitude. (alone with a book)

2. Reading requires time and patience. We want our entertainment fast and light.

3. Reading involves ideas. We find ideas boring. (personalities not ideas)

4. Reading requires silence. We want to move in herds; we want love songs and dances.

Solitude, time, plus ideas, and then silence? It’s too much.

But you and I need not despair. The National Book Development Board conducted a readership survey in 2012 and the statistics reveal that 88% of Adult Filipinos read. 12% of Adult Filipinos read everyday. 32% read at least once every week. 67% of non-schoolbook readers read Tagalog non-schoolbooks, 50% read non-schoolbooks in English, and 12 % in Cebuano.

The survey also revealed that those who watch TV and internet read more than those who do not watch TV and internet.

91% of non-schoolbook readers say that reading is a great leisure activity.

88% of non-schoolbook readers say that books make excellent gifts.

These figures tell us that we are now becoming a nation of readers.

This event today is one of the ways to promote reading among our students. The task of ensuring that the love of reading is developed in our young is in our hands.

Why should we read?

1. Reading is a way of downloading new software and applications if we were an iphone

2. Reading will enable us to communicate to present and past great thinkers, and learn from them.

3. Reading is life in itself. A person who does not read has no advantage over a person who cannot read. (Mark Twain)

In the movie the Dead Poet’s Society, John Keating said,

“We do not read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read because we are members of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion. This is what we stay alive for.”

My dear children, keep on reading and become great.

Thank you and good morning.