AS THE Philippine Book Development Month of November comes to an end, the Department of Education and its attached agency, the National Book Development Board, is undertaking what may be considered a brave initiative.
IF THE National Book Development Board (NBDB), a government agency attached to the Department of Education and created by Republic Act 8047 in 1995 were truly living up to its mandate of promoting and developing the book publishing industry, then it stands to reason that November should be one of its busiest months in the year.
The Holy Monday consultative meeting initiated by the National Book Development Board and the Department of Education with key players in the book publishing industry could not have happened at a better time. The major item on the agenda—unethical practices in the industry—is widely known, spoken about in hushed tones, and for the cynic, something systemic and beyond redemption. The overflow crowd in attendance, led by National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera and F. Sionil Jose, was encouraging and provided a ray of hope on this shared concern.
