Here’s how you can help build this Filipina feminist bookstore

There are only a few safe spaces for women—both physical and online. These places try to combat harassment, gatekeeping, other forms of judgement and many more, but they can only do so much. And independent literary collective Gantala Press knows what’s up.

“As women, we often struggle with finding and claiming a space of our own, where we can feel safe and secure, freely create and make choices, be ourselves and see ourselves in others,” Gantala Press shared on their latest Instagram post. This pushed them to creating a Filipina feminist bookstore which might be “the first in its millennium.”

They’re setting this up at the small space they found in Cubao, Quezon City. It’s still in the process of building and funding, though, and we can chip in our contribution until it’s completed.

Wondering where your help leads to? Here’s what we can find in this inspiring hub: Resource materials for/on women in the Philippines (like small pubs collected from Gandang-ganda sa sariling Gawa! fair and expo); an accessible avenue for starting women artists to showcase their work to the public; a core for forums, exhibits, and workshops focused on the narratives of the “oppressed, marginalized, and discriminated women.” This includes widows and victims of the extrajudicial killings, women on strike and more. Sounds like a deeply worthwhile cause.

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We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve found a small space in Cubao where we can open a feminist bookstore in the Philippines, perhaps the first in this millennium! So many plans! & possibilities! Are you with us? ? “As women, we often struggle with finding and claiming a space of our own, where we can feel safe and secure, freely create and make choices, be ourselves and see ourselves in others. A feminist bookstore can be that space. 1. It shall serve as an informal yet important resource center for/on women in the Philippines, especially since we plan to open an archive of feminist small press publications collected from the annual Gandang-ganda sa Sariling Gawa! all-women art fair and expo. 2. It will make the artworks of emerging and independent woman writers and artists, and art collectives, available to the public. 3. It will allow us to organize more activities such as forums, exhibitions, and workshops, especially activities that are oriented towards oppressed, marginalized, and discriminated women — peasant women fleeing the militarized countryside, union workers on strike, or widows of victims of extrajudicial killings trying to survive.” Link in bio! #supportsmallpress #gantalapress #feminist #feministbookstore #solidarity #community #gogetfunding #fundraising #wecandoit

A post shared by Gantala Press (@gantalapress) on Feb 9, 2020 at 1:05am PST

Established in 2015, Gantala Press is a non-profit, volunteer-driven hub for women. Aside from publishing books and zines, they also hold different women-focused community activities like fundraising campaigns for “peasants, workers, and their children.” Want to see the little bookstore come to life? Head to their GoGetFunding page here.

Art by Aira Ydette