MAGBASA!

Few years ago, ang libangan ko lang sa loob ng bahay ay tumipa ng gitara at magbasa ng libro at komiks. Ngayon, ang dami nang umaagaw ng atensyon ko—internet, tv, dvd, computer games, cellphone. Kaya binago ko ang desktop ng computer ko para lang maging disiplinado sa pagbabasa:

Malaki ang naitulong sa akin ng pagbabasa hindi lang sa pagiging artist kundi sa pagiging tao. Kung nababasa ninyo na medyo siraulo ako dito sa blog paminsan-minsan e matino naman ako sa totoong buhay hahaha. Kaya nga ang lagi kong sinasabi sa aking mga batang pamangkin ay magbasa ng marami—libro, komiks, children’s book, at kung anu-ano pa na kapupulutan ng impormasyon.

Isang interesting na paksa ang inilabas ng Read-or-Die sa kanilang blog tungkol sa pagbabasa. Involved tayong mga gumagawa ng komiks dito kaya magandang pag-aralan din natin ang ginawang pagsusuri ng National Book Development Bureau.

Highlights of the 2007 NBDB Readership Survey

The percentage of book readers in 2007 (83%) has decreased as compared to 2003 (90%).

Nearly all (96%) book readers in 2007 read non-school books (NSBs), while only three-fourths (76%) of book readers in 2003 read NSBs.

Among book readers:

Those who have read NSBs in the NCR decreased in 2007 compared to 2003.

All other groups who have read NSBs increased.

Among NSB readers:

Weekly/monthly readers of NSBs decreased in 2007.

Those who read NSBs a few times a year or less than once a year increased in 2007.

Packaging is what is noticed by the highest number, but not a majority, of NSB readers.

The blurb found at the book is also noticed.

Most NSB readers, however, do not notice information such as the NSB publisher, date of publication, author, and whether or not the NSB has several good reviews.

Overall, the percentage of NSB readers increased from 68% (76% of 90% book readers in 2003) to 80% (90% of 8% book readers in 2007).

The 2007 NBDB Readership Survey says that Filipinos are starting to read non-school books at an earlier age.

NSB readers are starting to read a year younger.

From 17.2 years in 2003, the average age of those who start to read NSBs decreased to 16.4 years in 2007.

The readers of non-schoolbooks in classes ABC began doing so at an older age compared to 2003. However, readers of NSBs in classes D and E started to read NSBs at a younger age in 2007.

What do Filipinos read?

For both 2003 and 2007, the Bible is the most popular non-schoolbook read. Romance books come in second.

Top scorers in the popularity of NSBs are:

Bible (67%) (38% in 2003)

Romance (33%) (26%)

Cooking (28%) (7%)

Comic books (26%) (0%)

Religion/Religious/Inspirational (20%) (9%)

Why do Filipinos read?

As in 2003, the main reason for reading non-schoolbooks is still for information, or to gain knowledge.

However, more NSBs are reading NSBs for enjoyment in 2007, compared to 2003.

Whose books do Filipinos read?

In 2007, 46% of readers of non-schoolbooks read NSBs by Filipino authors only.

43% read NSBs by both Filipino authors and foreign authors.

9% read NSBs by foreign authors only.

In the rural areas, readers who read NSBs by Filipino and foreign authors increased significantly (20%+) in 2007.

In the urban areas, readers who read NSBs by Filipino authors only increased slightly (5%+) in 2007.

Means of acquiring books

NSB readers in 2007 acquired the NSBs they read by:

Receiving the books as gifts (42%)

Borrowing from others (41%)

Reading books from the library (27%)

Buying (19%)

Renting (18%)

Among all groups of NSB readers, receiving NSBs as gifts and borrowing from others are the most prevalent.

In what language do Filipinos prefer to read books?

Tagalog (Read: 50%) (Preferred: 32%)

English (Read: 35%) (Preferred: 15%)

Cebuano (Read: 5.97%) (Preferred: 4.6%)

Bisaya (Read: 5.73%) (Preferred: 4.41%)

Ilocano (Read: 4.72%) (Preferred: 4.1%)

Arabic (Read: 1.98%) (Preferred: 1.94%)

Ilonggo (Read: 1.18%) (Preferred: 0.91%)

Source: 2007 NBDB Readership Survey

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Ipinakita na ni KC Cordero ang cover ng lalabas na horror magazine kung saan ilang mga kaibigang tagakomiks ang gumawa dito, kabilang sina Gerry Alanguilan, Joemari Lee, Novo Malgapo, Rommel Fabian, at iba pa. May interview din sina Budjette Tan at Ka-Jo Baldisimo tungkol sa kanilang komiks na 'Trese'.

Sana nga ay mailabas na kaagad dahil tiyak na maraming mag-aabang ng kakaibang komiks-magasin na ito.