The LGBTQ+ community and bookworms know how fundamental reading is. And you know what else is fundamental? Reading lit from the motherland.
So grab your tablets and sit back—LIKHAAN: the University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing is opening a virtual library filled with Filipiniana titles. Don’t worry broke child, it is indeed for free.
The Freelipiniana Online Library, a virtual library, offers free access to local literature in a time where bookstores and libraries are inaccessible. “This online library curates published literary works volunteered by Filipino writers and publishers,” writes LIKHAAN in their statement. “With their help, this digital archive gives Filipinos free access to reading materials made by Filipinos for Filipinos. These include full-length books, like novels, poetry collections, anthologies and zines.”
This library is divided into six sections: Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, Drama, Graphic Literature and Children’s Literature. Folks who are dropping by can peek the latest entries from each genre through its main directory, while the full list of readings is on the section’s designated pages. We can read the books on the site; some are available for download, while others cannot be printed, reproduced or sold without permission from the author/owner.
LIKHAAN created this project to help us cope during this pandemic. “The library is still small, but we look forward to gathering and offering you more titles for more free learning. Education doesn’t have to be unsafe for it to continue,” writes LIKHAAN.
Time to know your local selections and do a deep dive in Filipiniana. To get started, you can go to the virtual library here. Are you a writer who wants to contribute to the library? Feel free to do so by checking out their guidelines.
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Art by Rogin Losa