When Dingdong met Nanay

It could’ve been a scene from one of Dingdong Dantes’ movies. The setting is a National Book Store branch in Quezon City, where hundreds of fans have gathered for the signing of Dingdong’s “bookazine.” The handsome star of TV, movies, and ads, is a bit bleary-eyed from late nights and busy schedules. He is about to sign a stack of books when he notices a very youthful 80-something lady standing on the stage, holding a bunch of notebooks.

Then the emcee asks Dingdong to come to the stage, where he is introduced to the youngish lady... Mrs. Socorro Cancio Ramos — Nanay Coring — the founder and chair of National Book Store.

“I actually had a bad hangover from partying the previous night,” Dingdong recalls, “so it sank in slowly that she had just donated 5,000 sets of school supplies to my Yes Pinoy Foundation. I found out that we were on the same page when it came to our passion for charity work.”

And that’s how Project Aklat, the Christmas book drive began. Every year National Book Store organizes a book donation campaign for school libraries in need of assistance. In the aftermath of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, NBS has been helping to rebuild damaged libraries.

Dingdong’s Yes Pinoy Foundation is committed to helping the children affected by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. Despite his crammed shooting schedule, the star finds time to personally deliver relief goods and school supplies to kids in typhoon-stricken areas.

Now Nanay Socorro Ramos and Dingdong Dantes are pooling their resources to give the Filipino youth a chance to recover from the recent calamities and reap the benefits of a good education.

“As a student I was one of those who neglected reading,” Dingdong admits. “If there was a way to cut the story short and get to the test right away, I would. But when I reached high school I realized this was the wrong practice. I began to feel the thirst for information, wisdom and experience... but I wasn’t able to give it time.

“That’s why I’ve made it my strong advocacy to focus on the desire to learn more. In order to do that one must have the willingness, the opportunity, and time. This I wish to provide to those who are passionate and deserving.”

Helping the disaster victims to rebuild their lives is something Nanay feels strongly about. She knows what it’s like to lose everything you have worked for. “After WWII we opened National Book Store in a barong-barong (shanty) on Rizal Avenue. We did well for three years.

“Then typhoon Gene struck. Our roof was blown off, and all our stocks were destroyed.

“When I saw the sky where our roof used to be, and the rain pouring in, I thought I would not survive the loss. My limbs went numb from shock. I started punching the air to force my blood to circulate. I kept telling myself, “Huwag kang mamamatay!” (Don’t die!)” she remembers.

“We had no choice but to start over and work hard. Back to zero, that was the worst feeling. We borrowed money to build a proper two-story building and began again. But if you have the passion for what you do, hard work is no longer a sacrifice but a joy.” The rest of the story we know. Today National Book Store is truly a national bookstore, with more than 100 branches across the archipelago.

Project Aklat is a concrete step in the post-typhoon reconstruction, one that everybody can participate in by visiting the nearest National Book Store branch. “We’ve come up with a list of books for donation to school libraries,” explains Trina Alindogan, chair of the National Book Store Foundation. “We consulted libraries for the books that are the most read by schoolchildren. Our foundation has mobile libraries and we’ve noted the books that are constantly borrowed by kids. Also, a lot of schools write to National for help. We work closely with them, so we’re aware of the kinds of books they need.

“So we prepared a good selection of books. Customers at all our branches can pick books from that selection and donate them. It’s an affordable selection ranging from P30 to 150.”

This is a much more efficient system than collecting books you don’t want anymore and taking them to the nearest school. We may have the best intentions, but our book donations might not be what the kids need.

Trina mentions that in years past, the requests for aid came from typhoon-stricken areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. “This time the people of the Visayas and Mindanao want to help the typhoon victims of Luzon. We have branches all over the Philippines, so it’s easier for them to do that. When we give books to schools, we offer to help them build reading programs for the kids. It’s not enough to give books, we help them encourage kids to take up reading.

“A lot of people want to help but don’t really know how,” she continues. “Or maybe they want to give P50 and they don’t know where to bring that donation. Project Aklat is really a perfect opportunity for everyone to help. And imagine what a difference we can make if every single one of us just contributed one book.”

Dingdong adds that he has a new appreciation of the power of reading. “Even with my busy sked I make it a point to buy books. I start on some, but it takes a long time before I finish them. I find a thrill in selecting books which will satisfy my craving for information at that moment.”

“I believe that this is the most basic learning tool and medium,” he declares. “It can be the most powerful, depending on how the reader will interpret and use it in his or her story.” This is the first time in its nearly 70-year history that National Book Store has gotten an endorser, and Dingdong is a great choice.

“As a child, I enjoyed books that had large illustrations,” he recounts. “My attention span was short for pages that didn’t have pictures. My all-time favorite book would be The Unbearable Lightness of Being. That didn’t have pictures — I read it in college.” Being an actor, he also looks at books as potential material for film adaptations. His dream roles would include Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Mitch in Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays With Morrie.

“I believe that material things can be consumed, torn, wasted, and forgotten,” Dingdong says. “However books contain learning, knowledge, and a possible future through expanding one’s education. That’s an intangible contribution that can’t be stolen by anyone.”

“Many groups are already donating food and clothing for typhoon relief,” Nanay notes. “Books are not regarded as a priority, but they are also necessities! When people are anxious or afraid, they can take comfort in stories.

“As long as you are alive,” she adds, “there’s a chance to recapture your success. You can’t just sit down and brood. Do something about it. Invest in your mind. Read books.”

“In our own way, we will support and take concrete steps to encourage the youth to value education,” Dingdong emphasizes. “This is a gift that no one can take away. Let it start through these books.”

That’s the kind of attitude that leads to bestsellers and blockbusters.