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About BDAP
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The Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP) celebrates a quarter of a century of service to the Philippine book industry. That there are today, after a quarter of a century, more and better books, more professional book publishers, and a government more responsive to the needs of the industry can in no small way be the result of BDAP's continuous service to the industry. Thanks to this service, interest has grown not only in the industry but also in the books it has continued to produce in the last twenty-five years, a fitting legacy of the association made up of key professionals in the book industry-book publishes, printers, book designers, writers and designers, the BDAP is dedicated to the development of Philippine book publishing and the promotion of Filipino books. |
A LEGACY OF SERVICE TO THE BOOK INDUSTRY
 The BDAP began its advocacy even before it was incorporated on 24th October 1979. The idea of forming an association was born in informal meetings of four friends all belonging to the industry-Manny Valdeheuesa, Louie Reyes, Jess Sibal, and Bert Veloso. They felt strongly that book industry stakeholders needed an organization that could bring them together to address the many problems confronting the industry. Spearheaded by Manuel Valdehuesa, then of the Development Academy of the Philippines, the formal incorporation of the association saw the participation such industry giants as Marketing Manager Felicito Abiva (FELTA), National Writer Francisco Arcellana (UP), Bookseller Jose Benedicto (PECO), Book Publisher Florendo Garcia (Bancom), Graphic Designer Franco Patriarca, Bookseller and Publisher Socorro Ramos (National Book Store), Publisher and Printer Louie Reyes, (Vera-Reyes, Inc.), Publisher Jesus Ernesto Sibal (Phonix Publishing) , Book Designer Frances Viana, Printing Manager Herbert Veloso (JMC) , Public Relations Practitioner and Writer Romeo Virtusio. Soon, after several other pioneering members joined them, there were University Publisher and Editor Esther Pacheco (Ateneo de Manila Press), Bookseller Eduardo Makabenta (Bookmark), Book Publisher Monico Yadao (UST Press), Bookseller Benjie Ocampo (Books for Pleasure), Bookseller Manuel Cancio (Goodwill Bookstore), University Publisher Pacifico Aprieto (UP Press) and Marketing Manager Lirio Sandoval (A-Z Direct Marketing). Today, the association is made up of some forty publishers, authors, booksellers, editors, book designers, printers, exporters, importers and other key players in the industry. BDAP's first president was Louie Reyes, followed by Esther Pacheco, and Lirio Sandoval, the current president.
Since its establishment twenty-five years ago, BDAP has involved itself in various facets of the book industry sponsoring seminars, organizing local book fairs, participating in foreign book fairs, advocating industry causes, working closely with government institutions like the National Library, the Department of Education, National Book Development Board, and giving awards to the best books published in the Philippines.
• Organized the National Book Expo in 1979 at the Philcite, as a trial balloon for a planned first international book fair in Manila.
| " They felt strongly that book industry stakeholders needed an organization that could bring them together to address the many problems confronting the industry. " |
• Organized the First Manila International Book Fair which began in 1980, with the laudable support of then Philcite General Manager Jose Yulo, Jr, and participated in by thirty countries. Since then BDAP has helped in organizing the annual Philippine Book Fair in Manila.
• Spearheaded the Formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Publishers (ASEAP) in 1980, organized in Manila by the presidents of publishing associations from the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
• Worked with the British Council for an extended trade visit of and conference with representatives of twelve book publishing companies belonging to the Publishers Association of the UK.
• Participated in International Book Fairs starting in the early eighties, with the Frankfurt Book fair, the most prestigious and largest international book fair. Organized Philippine Book Fairs in association with Philippine Embassies and Consulates in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, China ( 5 cities) Singapore, Bangkok, and Malaysia.
• Undertook in 1981 a month-long study trip and sales tour to the People's Republic of China, with some forty book persons and associates, meeting with their Chinese counterparts in key cities, learning about the country's massive book industry and readership, participating in book fairs, and establishing business contacts.
• Organized, in the 1980s, with sponsors like the British Council, the United States Information Service (USIS), the Frankfurt Bookfair International Division, and Unesco, various intensive seminars, conferences, and workshops on publishing management, marketing, production, editing, design and printing.
• Initiated in 1980 the adoption of the ISBN/ISSN in the Philippines.
• Established the Gintong Aklat Awards in 1981. Given every two years, the Gintong Aklat Awards honors the publishers of the best books published in the Philippines, judging books not only on the significance of content and quality of writing , but also on the quality of design, printing, and binding.
• Published a newsletter in the 1980s, edited by Esther M Pacheco, reporting on activities of the BDAP and on events and people of interest to the book industry.
• Initiated the work toward passage of the National Book Development Act on June 7, 1995. After working on several drafts of the law, the BDAP, with the APB, PROP, PEPA and ACPI, lobbied for and helped pass the National Book Development Act.
• Together with the APB, PROP and ACPI, the BDAP joined the Council to Combat Counterfeiting and Piracy (COMPACT).
• Helped organize and participated in Provincial Book Fairs which started in 1988 bookfairs included those in Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Albay, Capiz, Dumaguete, General Santos City, La Union and Nueva Vizcaya.
• Organized in 2002 and 2003 marketing workshops to hone its members’ skills in marketing books.
• Established Nationwide Book Network, Inc. (NBNI-LIBRO) in 2003. In its effort to help
meet the Filipinos' need for books, the BDAP established the LIBRO bookstores. LIBRO has opened 13 outlets nationally and is expected to open 10 more before the end of 2003.
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