Self-publishing: an invitation to commitment to our literature, culture, and nation

While there’s a certain stigma that comes with self-publishing - by personally taking on the task and expense of printing, distributing, and promoting, the author invites suspicion - be it mediocrity; hubris; vanity; unexplained, possibly ill-gotten wealth, or all the above - independent publishers are slowly making a mark in the industry.

At the onset of consistent releases of interesting books and publications, with even more diverse ideas traditional publishers can handle, independent publishing busts some myths in the industry.

That Filipinos don’t read
Antonio Hidalgo of Milflores Publishing, begs to differ. In fact, an international survey (run by PDI) shows Filipinos read more books than the Chinese, Koreans, or Indians. The 2003 SWS survey of reading attitudes and preferences indicate Filipinos read books they think they need or want.

That explosion of IT would render the books obsolete.
This is simply false. Book publishing has been growing steadily both locally and globally.

That Filipinos only read romance
Arnel Gabriel of PSICOM started with a computer magazine. As the internet grew as front of information, PSICOM responded by publishing IT news. When that dwindled, it tested the waters by publishing computer books. Figuring that PSICOM should try other genres, and upon observing the rising fad of texting, they put a series of books on text quotes, ring tones, etc. which were all a hit. National Bookstore awarded PSICOM three plaques of recognition for bestselling spots as a result.

While scouting for other ideas, Gabriel attended one bookfair in Singapore. He came across a booth selling ghost stories. Upon coming back, he met his editors, and soon came up with the first True Philippine Ghost stories series which hit pay dirt. The books sold like hotcakes to everyone’s astonishment. “There was even a time when our purchase order was almost 1,000 books a day,” Gabriel recounted.

Since then, PSICOM has been mapping out unchartered territories such as How to Draw Manga series, and their experimental books based on blogs dubbed as “blooks.”

Surviving the obstacle course
Gone are the days when only the elite can afford to read variety of books. Now, even the masses are exerting efforts to read as much because they believe that reading is vital to their success.
Both Hidalgo and Gabriel are unanimous in coming up with the intersection of life between the masses and the intellectuals.

“Writers have much to offer readers, provided that they address the needs and wants of readers and the obstacle of language barrier,” Hidalgo said.

While literary publishing in the Philippines is modest in figures due to limited market for local literary books compared to market of textbooks, references, or even religious books, and though we have yet to hear success stories or tales with happy endings on the matter of self-publishing in Philippine literature - at least as far as the financial apsect is concerned, yet there has never been a lack of such efforts in the history of Philippine literary publishing.

It appears that there have always been individuals or groups who would not be daunted by the risks and challenges of publishing.

“We advocate cultural development by getting our best minds to talk to the masses, and I guarantee the latter will appreciate it,” Hidalgo suggests.

It is this persistence that is perhaps most interesting and rather astounding about self-publishing. The same persistence that invites to wonder less about the egos of the authors than their conviction and commitment to our literature, culture and nation. (S)