‘Books from Underground’ stands the test of time

There is a saying that books can take their readers anywhere without leaving where they are. Whether fiction, history, biography, or academic work, a book allows the reader’s mind to travel and see wonders.

In Manila, books shed light on a once dark underpass.

It was in 2009 when AJ Laberinto and Winter Gabayron established “Books from Underground” at the Lagusnilad underpass in Manila.

Perhaps the Lagusnilad is simply an underground walkway for some, but for students, professionals, and book lovers, it has been a place to find the books from their reading lists.

“[We] are a special project that caters to [all walks of life]. From time to time, we are able to serve those people who need books and those who have a required textbook or reading,” Laberinto said.

As a reader himself, Laberinto believes that books are an avenue to explore historical events while also recognizing what lies ahead in life.

“Through books, you can better understand the world you’re living in. Through the aid of books, you can understand why you exist and what your influences are,” he said.

Running the bookstore for over 15 years, Laberinto sees bookselling as a non-profit endeavor, considering it only caters to a specific niche market. Despite that, the knowledge and experience he gains make his business worth more than what he earns.

“It’s not a boring business, at least in my case, because I am always fascinated to explore new things,” he said.

The bookstore sells new and secondhand books ranging from P25 to P150; in rare cases, collectors’ books can cost as much as P500 to P1,500.

Since 2019, Laberinto has been the only vendor allowed by the local government to reopen a shop at the Lagusnilad after its clearing operation and renovation due to public outcry. A designated area with bookshelves was provided to allow them to operate again.

Twists and turns

People nowadays barely purchase physical books. Laberinto noted that one reason is the increasing cost of book production, which results in a more expensive selling price.

“I’m not surprised why they say that there are no more books in stores because the production cost of books is too high. It’s not economical in a country where money is hand-to-mouth,” he said.

The bookstore owner expressed disappointment with the declining support for the publishing industry due to cost. Because of that, they only rely on people who can purchase books.

“It’s sad because the industry that is supposed to have a huge contribution to Filipinos [is slowly deteriorating] because of economic realities,” he said.

With the public’s advancing digital reliance, Laberinto deemed that the convenience of free online books also contributed to the decline of support for producing and selling physical books.

“Money is a big thing, so you also need to maximize the money you have. Of course, before people buy [books], they will consider if they really need it since [most books] are available online or with a PDF,” he said.

“Instead of having more physical bookstores, they become fewer. Even newspaper and magazine vendors are becoming extinct,” he added.

While Laberinto believes in the importance of the internet in providing a variety of information, he attests that books play a significant part in the culmination of the country’s culture and must be protected.

“Books are like artifacts, a physical manifestation of the culture… But of course, I’m also realistic that we are transitioning to digital,” he said.

“So as much as possible, books need to be preserved because it is not like the usual clothes or shoes that you just wear and that’s it; books leave an impact,” he added.

‘Building block’ of readers

Despite not personally knowing most of his customers, Laberinto envisions that they would all succeed later in life and he would be a stranger proudly clapping for them.

“I don’t really know them at all, but because of the existence of our bookstore and their efforts to come and buy a book, I was able to talk to them and learned that they are the type of people who will go far in life,” he said.

“We have had consistent buyers in the past that are now lawyers, PhDs, and a buyer that is now a sportscaster in ESPN International,” he added.

Motivated to contribute to the growth of its readers, Laberinto hopes that his small bookstore will color someone else’s black-and-white dreams, just like how the bookstore sheds light on the once dark underpass.

“It also gives me this sense of fulfillment that somehow, in our little way, we were able to contribute to the intellectual growth of these people,” he said.

“It is also our contribution. It’s like we are a piece of a block in the building they built,” he added.

However, Books from Underground was not spared from Typhoon Carina’s onslaught last July. Most of the books left in the bookstore were damaged, which caused them to replace or refund the orders that had been earlier placed.

The bookstore has remained closed since the flood, but this has not hindered its service to the reading public, as it continues to sell online through its Facebook page. — Rachelle Anne Mirasol, INQUIRER trainee