PGMA Builds a Nation of Readers!

Finally, our leaders take the right step towards building a nation of readers!

In an article in the Philstar.com, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde was quoted as saying that PGMA “wants books to be within reach of the common man. She believes reading as an important value for intellectual formation, which is the foundation of a healthy public opinion necessary for a vibrant democracy”.  Finally, some good sense!

With that, the tax on book imports have been lifted. As I have said in my previous blog posts, I believe that books are essential in making us better and wiser people. It isn’t often that I get to say this, but today I  can say I am proud of something our President has done.

It’s sad to note, however, that a certain video scandal and actors supposed bashing that took over the limelight and was the focus of the Philippine Senate instead of the Book Blockade. More Filipinos were aware of that problem rather than the more pressing issue. It was not our senate, it was not or congressmen or lobbyists that fought to defend our children and the future of our nation.  Heck, it was not even really our President that made the change happen. They were too busy. It was the blogosphere, it was cyberspace, it was US who made sure we have a future with LITERATE and INTELLIGENT citizens. Citizens who will hopefully never, ever make the mistake of thinking that reading books and novels are not educational.

With that said, I applaud all the people who worked hard, lobbied and rallied towards the abolition of the Great Philippine Book Blockade of 2009.  To the bloggers who posted about this, Facebook members who joined the cause, online petition signers, mainstream media writers and all others who made their voices heard: here’s to us! We can make things happen!

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