5 Years of ‘Aklat Para Sa Lahat’: NBDB Gathers 270 Advocates for First Virtual Book Nook Assembly

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The National Book Development Board marks five years of the Book Nook Project, bringing together over 270 advocates across 163 reading hubs nationwide and abroad.

PRESS RELEASE

NBDB Celebrates 5 “BOOKod-Tangi” Years of The Book Nook Project in Online Assembly

More than 270 reading space advocates, educators, artists, and storytellers from 163 Book Nook sites across the country, and as far as South Korea, logged on for four days of capacity-building and benchmarking sessions during the Book Nook Online Assembly, held on August 13 to 14 and August 20 to 21, 2026, via Zoom, as the National Book Development Board (NBDB) moved its annual gathering fully online for the first time—163 stories, one conversation about what keeps a reading space alive.

Organized by the NBDB’s Readership Development Division, the assembly carried the theme “BOOK-od Tangi,” prompting each Book Nook site to spotlight, through #KuwentongBOOKodTangi, the stories and qualities that set their reading space apart.

“This year’s Book Nook convergence turned into a digital platform. Nevertheless, more than 100 sites showed that Book Nook only needs one screen to celebrate success and inspire one another,” said Book Nook Project Manager Ana Manalaysay.

“For this year, we have invited Book Nook AYAN in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur to discuss partnership strategies; Book Nook Legazi, Albay for creative engagement; and Book Nook Taltal, Masinloc, Zambales for volunteer mobilization,” Manalaysay added.

Strengthening reading communities

Over the four-day online assembly, Book Nook coordinators from across the archipelago traded lessons on keeping a reading space alive: sustained community-led programs, turning storytelling into something children remember, and reaching readers who cannot make it to the shelf. Mobile libraries and reading stations built for hard-to-reach communities emerged as one of the assembly’s clearest throughlines, underscoring that access, as much as enthusiasm, decides whether a book finds a reader.

Liza Flores of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan led a workshop on using illustrations and paper cut-outs to make storytelling sessions more engaging. Lawrence Cusipag, founder of the Bagong Silang Community Library, presented the library’s community-driven programs for drawing in young readers, arguing that a reading culture is never built by one person alone.

Towfee Publishing House founder Cristopher Asa spoke on publishing stories that carry Filipino culture, and urged Book Nook sites to encourage readers to write in their own language and their own voice.

The assembly closed with consultations among Book Nook site partners and cluster coordinators to refine existing projects and chart what comes next for their reading spaces.

The shift from an onsite gathering to an online format drew 270 participants representing 163 Book Nook sites, including area coordinators from Book Nook South Korea.

“This online conference is a testament to the diversity of the community we built, and how this community can adapt to various challenges,” NBDB Readership Development Division Acting Chief Daniel Mariano said.

“The shift to digital assembly allowed us to connect with the majority of Book Nook site personnel, but we still believe that nothing can replace the energy and connection of a face-to-face Book Nook Conference,” Manalaysay added.

Founded in 2021 under NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade, the Book Nook Project is a nationwide network of reading spaces providing access to quality Filipino-authored and published books. The project addresses the need for greater access to Filipino books in communities across the country, guided by the belief that “aklat para sa lahat,” or books for everyone, is a fundamental right.

Benefits of the Book Nook Assembly and Initiative

  1. Broadens Literary Access in Remote Communities: Delivers high-quality, Filipino-authored literature directly to isolated and underserved areas.
  2. Facilitates Knowledge Sharing Across Networks: Connects over 270 reading coordinators to exchange best practices across 163 sites.
  3. Empowers Local Volunteer Mobilization: Teaches proven strategies for recruiting and retaining community volunteers to run reading hubs.
  4. Enhances Creative Storytelling Techniques: Trains educators and librarians in visual arts and paper craft to make reading sessions interactive.
  5. Promotes Native Languages and Cultural Preservation: Encourages children to read and write in their native dialects, preserving regional heritage.
  6. Cost-Effective Connectivity: Transitioning to a digital assembly allowed wide participation without travel costs for remote site personnel.
  7. Strengthens Community Ownership: Encourages local institutions to customize reading spaces to meet neighborhood needs.
  8. Targeted Capacity Building: Provides site managers with practical training in library administration and resource management.
  9. Supports Local Authors and Publishers: Increases demand for homegrown titles, boosting the Philippine book publishing industry.
  10. Establishes International Connections: Reaches overseas Filipino reading communities, including international branches like Book Nook South Korea.

Insights: What This Milestone Means for the Industry

  1. Digital Assemblies Democratize Participation: Virtual formats enable equal participation for coordinators in remote provinces who might miss physical events.
  2. Mobile Solutions Are Crucial for Educational Equity: Extending reading stations beyond fixed buildings ensures books reach children in isolated areas.
  3. Grassroots Ownership Drives Long-Term Sustainability: Community spaces succeed when local residents actively manage and adapt them.
  4. Visual Arts Play a Key Role in Early Literacy: Incorporating paper arts and visual media helps capture young readers’ attention and build comprehension.
  5. Multilingual Literature Strengthens Engagement: Providing books in regional languages helps children connect more deeply with reading material.
  6. Community Libraries Serve as Social Anchors: Reading hubs function as safe spaces for learning, creative expression, and youth development.
  7. Cross-Regional Partnerships Accelerate Solutions: Connecting urban and rural coordinators encourages creative problem-solving across different environments.
  8. Hybrid Models Complement Physical Libraries: Digital training paired with physical reading centers creates a adaptable support structure.
  9. Policy Alignment Supports the Creative Economy: Promoting local books aligns with national mandates to strengthen the Philippine publishing ecosystem.
  10. Scalable Grassroots Models Can Extend Globally: Reaching sites in South Korea shows that community reading programs can serve diaspora communities abroad.

About the National Book Development Board

The National Book Development Board (NBDB) is the Philippine government’s policy and development agency dedicated to advancing the book publishing industry, a vital component of the creative industry sector. The NBDB supports the entire publishing value chain, from creation to distribution, and serves the education sector by fostering a reading culture for learners and readers. To learn more, visit our social media pages (@nbdbphilippines).

Conclusion

The 2026 Book Nook Online Assembly highlights five years of dedicated work bringing Filipino literature to diverse communities. By connecting reading advocates across 163 sites nationwide and abroad, the National Book Development Board continues to strengthen local literacy efforts. Through creative workshops, mobile outreach, and native-language publishing, the Book Nook initiative demonstrates how local reading spaces can foster a nationwide reading culture, supporting the belief that books belong to everyone.

Link Resources

Key Phrases

  1. NBDB Book Nook Project 5th anniversary
  2. BOOKod Tangi online assembly 2026
  3. National Book Development Board readership division
  4. Aklat Para Sa Lahat reading movement
  5. Grassroots community library support Philippines
  6. Mobile reading stations remote Philippine communities
  7. Filipino authored literature access for children
  8. Kuwentong BOOKod Tangi community stories
  9. Liza Flores storytelling illustration workshop
  10. Ana Manalaysay Book Nook project manager

Best Hashtags

#BookNook2026 #BOOKodTangi #NBDB #AklatParaSaLahat #ReadFilipino #KuwentongBOOKodTangi #PhilippineLiteracy #CommunityLibraries #FilipinoAuthors #LEADMEDIANEWS

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