While institutional book drives like the recent National Book Development Board (NBDB) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) partnership focus on public servants, industry experts emphasize that the true battleground for a reading culture lies with the younger generation.

Amid mounting screen time and heavy technology use, stakeholders are urging schools and publishers to rethink how they reach students.

Bringing books to a child’s second home

Niamph Tobias, a marketing assistant at Bookmark Inc., stresses that combating digital distraction requires active, regular engagement. Rather than waiting for students to visit bookstores, she suggests holding school book fairs every two months.

Because schools act as a second home, regular fairs provide a comfortable, immersive environment where children can rediscover the tactile joy of physical books.

Championing Tagalog and local roots

Another pressing challenge highlighted by educators is the shift toward English dominance among young learners. To counter this, Tobias advocates for schools to place a deliberate focus on Tagalog-centric literature.

Promoting native-language books helps anchor students in their local culture, making Filipino stories more relatable and accessible to youth.

Bridging tech and tradition

Rather than treating technology as an enemy, experts suggest harnessing it to complement literacy goals. Tobias proposes using interactive tools, such as Tagalog-based digital games, to ease children into learning the native language before transitioning them to traditional reading materials.

At the same time, experts urge caution regarding unchecked digital shortcuts. Romar Abante of LAMPARA pointed out the limitations of relying too heavily on artificial intelligence for academic research, noting that AI-generated content often lacks depth and accuracy.

Ultimately, stakeholders agree that while technology has its place, preserving an authentic reading culture through physical books and localized stories remains vital to shaping the next generation of Filipino thinkers and readers.