Valentine’s Day book-giving iniThe Valentine’s Day book donation drive initiated by National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario is now in its third year! This 2026, Almario has dubbed the campaign as “Aklat ng Pagmamahal” (“Book of Love”). Local publishers and Filipino writers have come together to bequeath books to the Quezon City Public Library and its branches located at the city’s 34 barangays, as well as to the libraries being built for the persons-deprived-of-liberty of the Quezon City Jail.
Joining Almario’s call are publishers San Anselmo Press, Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA), Adarna House, University of the Philippines Press, Ateneo University Press, University of Santo Tomas Press, Alubat Publishing, and writers Paulo Manalo, Sonny Cristobal, Michael Coroza, Abner Dormiendo, Mia Sumulong, and Soledad Reyes. They will be at the Quezon City Public Library on February 14, 2026, Saturday, at 9 am to give books. The general public is invited to come to the event to donate books and reading materials.
Almario also encourages everyone to consider books as Valentine gifts to loved ones.
Almario said, “Sa halip na mga kard at bulaklak, inirerekomenda ng pangkat namin ang pagbibigayan ng libro sa Araw ng mga Puso. Pumilì ng paborito ninyong libro at awtor at yaon ang bilhin para iregalo sa inyong kasintahan o magulang, o anak, at kaibigan. Higit itong makabuluhan para sa inyong minamahal dahil ang aklat ay hindi nalalanta tulad ng bulaklak o naluluma ang nilalaman tulad ng kard. Naiingatan ang libro habang nabubuhay kayo at nagmamahalan at puwede pa ninyong pag-usapan.” (“Instead of flowers and cards we are recommending book giving on Valentine’s Day. Choose a book by your favorite author and buy it to give to a partner, parent, child or friend. A book can be considered more meaningful for the beloved because it does not wither like flowers, and it does not get dated like greeting cards. A book can be treasured and can jumpstart a conversation.”)
The book drive is also the contribution of Almario and the Quezon City government to addressing the national literacy problem. “Kung matutuhan nating bumása ng aklat ay higit tayong makaaambag sa edukasyon ng bayan,” (A citizen who reads can contribute more to the education of a nation.)” Almario pointed out.
The Valentine’s Day book donation drive began in Quezon City in 2024. The movement got a boost in 2025 with Almario, former Department of Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz Araneta, and several local writers associations and publishers as donors.
