"If reading books means subversion,
Then is going to bookstores means terrorism?"
(Thoughts after the recent vandalism of Solidaridad and Popular Bookstores
by right-wing elements)
In a time when digital information is becoming accessible, it has become extremely hard for bookstores to continue its duty of selling books with sense. This duty becomes even harder as these bookstores felt the tremor of violence that's trying to make everyone "live dangerously".
And it is not surprising for bookstores "Solidaridad" and "Popular" just because they sell books that are "radical" in nature they're targeted by some assholes speaking on behalf of the order. But come to think that these two shops did cater generations of readers, selling books from known authors left and right, of different topics and ideas. But again, some asshole, a malicious idiot would just scream subversion all because of a book coming from a radical author.
And this reminds of some months ago when authorities urged state colleges and universities to surrender books "in support of anti-insurgency efforts". Such bullshitry would say that it is becoming way contrary to what those admins talk about defending academic freedom or the authorities claiming they're defending democracy. But from these events, be it surrendering "radical" books to that of harassing, vandalising bookstores selling those same books, shows how the order fears about those seeking truth from facts.
But regardless of this would say that books, just like its authors, will always continue to enlighten people. And such actions did happen in the past, especially whose alibis was to "curb subversion", "restore order", or even "defend democracy"- only to found that this serves only one purpose: that of curtailing free flow of ideas either by intimidation, or even death.
In reality, such actions betray their words of upholding freedom and democracy, that just because there are works made by radical-minded writers one reader may end susceptible for subversion, or in today's phrase, terrorism. But such stupid acts only realise that people will go further in seeking truth from facts, that having fear of knowledge will make their subjects free from their clutches. They tried to counter art and culture with violence and savagery: that of burning books, destroying artworks, killing artists, imprisoning writers; and yet from these writers and artists as well as their works continue to thrive and has sharpened the critical mindset of every folk, making themselves human whose character is developed with intellect, and whose truth be ever survive amidst whitewashing, distortion, and defacement.
And to think that the late national artist F. Sionil Jose, also known for being a Duterte apologist would find their actions a betrayal from the regime he supported. He did call Duterte a revolutionary, yet his minions "red tagged" his bookshop same as that in Popular bookstore all because of the books coming from various authors be it the classics like Shakespeare, Rousseau, to that of Marx, or Mao. Thus, making one would ask if is the country, known for taking pride in its "democracy", has rolled itself back in the time of the Inquisition and how they dictate what books to read and arrest booksellers and printers? Or are they scared of seeing the pen, brush, or even a laptop computer or a tablet as a weapon as that of the gun?
Anyway, such bullshitries has made people think how the regime, even in its final months, has made the folk "live dangerously". The pandemic today may seen as "controlled" but the order's perchance for restricting movement as gone too far in harassing those against its unjust policies, after all, it was during the height of the pandemic when unjust laws like the "Anti-Terrorism Act" was passed followed by the recent confiscation of books in State Colleges and Universities. And this vandalism? Is one of the actions brought by the apologists of the order to provoke further fear the way they claim about victories against “subversive” and “rebellious” elements. To them it doesn’t matter. For now, this note would say that such actions cannot stop people from seeking truth from facts, of expressing in various forms, of upholding freedom of thought and expression, and the promise of building a future that's just, meaningful, and prosperous.