CARLOS RECOMMENDS!
THE BEST LITTLE BOOKHOUSE...
Some of you may know of this place, but then again, some of you may not. Tucked away in the shadows of the monolithic Robinson's Place Mall Ermita lies La Solidaridad bookstore, perhaps the best little boutique bookseller in the Philippines - or even Asia for that matter. Owned and operated by National Artist for Literature/Ramon Magsaysay awardee F. Sionil Jose, the unassuming La Soli has been vending hard-to-find books to the Philippine intellegentsia for some 35 odd years or so. Specializing in Filipiniana, Filipino/International Fiction, Poetry, and other smarty subjects like Philosophy, Sociology, and Political theory, La Soli is really an oasis of intelligence and gentility in this fast declining neigborhood (thanks to government neglect and the dust, congestion, and traffic caused by Robinson's Place Mall). And as one of the last street level mom-and-pop establishments on the Padre Faura/Adriatico street area, ir is imperative that you rush out now and support this little treasure trove of culture and heritage before it goes by the way of it's shuttered neighbor, Alda's Pizza Kitchen.
531 Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila
531 Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila
posted by carlosceldran @ 7:41 AM
22 Comments:
Maybe you could talk F. Sionil Jose into moving his esteemed bookshop to Escolta. I reckon Escolta is a more appropriate place for a boutique Filipiniana bookstore. Didn't you say the landlords are offering rent discounts in Escolta?
Oh I've seen this one before but the books are quite expensive....
Yes. That I have to admit. It is more expensive. But it's one of those few situations when it's what the establishment stands for which matters more than the price. It's boutique. It's small enterprise. It's unique. It's a cultural institution upon itself. It's worth the few extra pesos to keep these ideals alive.
And in response to someone's reaction that I'm too harsh on the Gokongweis, let me clarify. This post was not harsh about them at all. They are sensible, hard-working, affable normal people. My sister is friends with one of them and she has nothing but great things to say about her. I'm just picking on Robinson's Place Ermita. That's all. It's kinda silly to hate Jaime Zobel just because of Ayala Center's car parking policies, know what I mean? That's too reactionary.
And yes, Escolta is a good idea. But it would be a total tragedy for Ermita to lose this place. Perhaps a branch. Bookmark still maintained a branch on Escolta up until three years ago or so.
i've passed that way many times, but have never ventured in :) maybe, one of these days... i will
alda's pizza kitchen is gone? Doubt if La soli will be able to go on much longer either. tsk tsk, amazing how malls just suck up all the business in local neighborhoods. This cultural 'standardization' really screws up a neighborhood's individual charm, making Manila, or any city for that matter, a far duller place. ah the price of progress in our distinctly pinoy mall-based society...
Wait wait, Carlos, did I get you right? Alda's is closed na? Since when?
Damn f! It's where my wife and I had one of our first dates when we were still courting. And I totally love their pasta :(
Yeah. Its closed. But I hear they are moving. Maybe into the mall. Sigh..
I'm glad Frankie's bookshop is still open - we visited him there in the early nineties and proud to say we have his complete collection in my parent's study. I'll have to re-visit his books. they were printing US editions of his books a couple of years ago but i don't know what came of that and if they published the whole saga. I think he spends much of his time overseas now though - I seem to recall they love him in Japan.
i think i need to get his autograph before he says bye-bye....
On the other hand, that little bookstore is no longer that necessary. Fully Booked, in my view, more than fulfills any local bibliophile's needs. Ang galing ng selection. I once even saw a copy of "Irving Howe: Critic, Socialist, Jew," a copy of which I had in the States. Now, who the hell in Manila would read it, much less know who Howe was?
I'm a book whore so any bookshop to me is great! What our city really needs is a good public library, like one in every town at least. If i had the funds, I would love to put one up.
Reading should be more accessible to everyone, no?
i totally agree with christine. i'm sure the government could and should have a budget for that. but why don't they?
i know manila has some public libraries but does QC have any?
teacher ella
Theoretically, there are public libraries in each city/municipality. But in practice, theire holdings and facilities are lousy, and the librarians are unhelpful time-servers. But why do libraries have to be public? They can be privately provided, either through philanthropists or through cooperative schemes like those of the Victorian-era working classes, who pooled their funds to buy books (and pretty serious books) and to hire individuals to read out the books while they were at work.
and does dasmarinas village or forbes park have such quaint little places or are the limosine liberals not into that stuff?
thanks for this post, carlos. manong frankie jose is a hero by any means in what little decrepit choices we have for 'bookstores' to go to where the respect between bookseller and bookbuyer is MUTUAL. cheers and see you at the Oar.
I think there was once a cute bookstore in forbes right next to sonix video that was called Casa Linda.
And ben, nice of you to drop in. See you at the Oarhouse.
I was in La Soli a couple of months ago picking up a few of Jose's books I can't find in my public libraries. As I was purchasing them, the cashier asked me if I wanted them autographed by the author. I couldn't have been more impressed with the added personal touch!!!
im going there saturday
i hope it is open
i'll bring coffee,
sit on the floor and increase the grade of my spectacles by reading books
i hope to see him with my bare eyes
it's been quite a while since i was in the presence of a great poet
its been quite a while to be in a bookstore outside the mall
it's been quite a while
ps. Carlos,
are there more shops of these type? you seem to have a knack for "discoveries." u
Yes. Actually on T. Morato there is a shop called BOUND. And along with Libreria Bookshop (Tomas Morato QC), Dateline Bookstore (Cubao) and Popular Bookstore (QC, you have quite a selection to choose from.
Google them.
See ya.
I have walked past LaSoli bookstore so many years back when I was in medschool..and I certainly will feel sad if it disappears..just like Aldas kitchen which is as much part of my medschool life as anatomy...
Alda's is closed?! No wonder my siblings and I couldn't find it when we were walking around after the usual embassy trip. Wanted to take a photo of it - my then-boyfriend (now hubby) had many dates there and was feeling senti.
Anybody have a photo?
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