For the third year in a row, the National Book Development Board (NBDB), through its National Alliance of Reading Advocates (NARA), hosts the NARA Conference (NARACon), a gathering of book clubs, educators, librarians, avid readers, and representatives from nonprofit organizations coming together for dialogue and updated strategies to address the Philippines’ reading crisis.
With around 100 anticipated attendees from across the country, the two-day NARACon will take place on October 24-25, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on both days, at the Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City.
The state of the reading nation and the measures to grow it
NARA anchors a growing national conversation on readership in the Philippines and is solidifying reading advocacy as a living movement.
This year’s theme is Kapalaran ng Lingkod-Mambabasa. “Here’s what we realized when it comes to community work: there’s no such thing as destiny or kapalaran. How interesting it is that the direct translation of ‘destiny’ is kapalaran, from the root word palad, meaning ‘palms,’” said Daniel Mariano, READ Division Chief and NARACon Executive Producer.
“The word may point to fate, but for NARA, it signifies the materiality of our hands and what we do with them. Our success isn’t driven by destiny, but by our efforts. It’s driven by the schools we visit, the kids we get to read stories to, the teachers we collaborate with, and every community we reach and empower.”
“So, this year, we amplify the work of the unseen, the often unheard, and everyone who works in silence, for their impact is the loudest,” he said.
The conference opens with the State of the Reading Nation Address (SORNA) by NARA Convenor Yazhmin Malajito of the NBDB’s Readership Development Division, followed by a series of sessions that combine networking activations and talks from leaders in reading advocacy.
This year’s NARACon confers the NARA Honor on an outstanding individual who has proven to be a tireless book and reading advocate. The awardee, to be announced soon, will deliver the keynote address on the first day.
The full program follows.
DAY 1, October 24
- 10:30 AM – 2026 State of the Reading Nation (SORNA)
- 11:30 AM – NARA Vibe Check Session
- 1:30 PM – 2026 NARA Honor Keynote Address
- 2:30 PM – Ways of Reading Advocacy Work
- 4:00 PM – Finding Your Place in the Movement (in partnership with Dakila)
DAY 2, October 25
- 10:00 AM – NARA Conference Brownbag Session
- 11:10 AM – The Art of Hiraya: A Networking Workshop (in partnership with Dakila)
- 2:10 PM – NARA Agenda Planning Session
- 5:10 PM – Oathtaking and Renewal of Oath
Building a reading habit takes time and tactic
NBDB’s Readership Development Division (READ) launched NARA in 2023 as the agency’s reading campaign arm, setting measurable targets for transforming the Philippines into a country that truly reads.
NARA emphasizes that shaping the national attitude toward reading calls for consistent, wide-reaching effort over quick fixes, from bringing accessible reading centers to every barangay to giving institutional support to book clubs, book influencers, and other proactive agents who cultivate third spaces for reading.
NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade stressed this point at the Aklat Fiesta book fair at the House of Representatives. “We can change the landscape with our activation of third spaces. We have about 1,700 libraries. So if you think about your 42,000 barangays, that’s one library out of approximately 24 barangays,” she said.
“And how many are actually active? About 380. If there are 380 active libraries, and 42,000 barangays, that’s one library per 110 barangays. We need legislation to create third spaces,” Aquino-Tugade added, “because books and stories don’t carry themselves—people do.”
Among NARA’s milestones is the publication of the NARA Agenda, a manual of grassroots-level strategies for strengthening Philippine reading culture, with targets set for 2030. Since its launch, NARA has registered over 200 local reading advocacy organizations, which gain access to training that prepares them to carry out the Agenda in their respective sectors, cities, and communities. NARA membership is also one of the eligibility requirements for the monetary grant READ awards to qualified reading advocacy organizations to help sustain their operations.
Work with NARA
Reading advocacy organizations interested in joining the Alliance may email campaigns@books.gov.ph to schedule an information session and get the next steps on application requirements.
