The RANTS of a BUSTED BULB

reeyah:

dearmonday:

thediaryofayoungman:

10 QUESTIONS FOR A BOOK VENDOR

It is a common sight in the busy sidewalks of Manila for us to see dozens of vendors selling either food, clothes, gadget accessories and the like. But for KUYA DANNY’s case, he sells books on the streets of Manila for less the price.

Meet KUYA DANNY, a book vendor.

QUESTION 1: Kailan po kayo nagsimula magbenta ng mga libro? (When did you start selling books?)

KUYA DANNY: Kakasimula ko pa lamang dito. Marami na rin kasi akong nasubukan na trabaho. (I just started selling books. I have tried a lot of occupations and jobs before.)

QUESTION 2: Maliban po dito sa Manila City Hall, saan pa po kayo naglalako ng mga libro? (Aside from Manila City Hall, where else do you sell books?)

KUYA DANNY: Nagbebenta din ako minsan sa Quiapo o kaya malapit sa mga paaralan. (I also sell at Quiapo or near schools.)

QUESTION 3: Bakit niyo po naisipan magbenta ng libro? (What made you decide to sell books?)

KUYA DANNY: Gusto ko tanggalin ang paniniwala ng mga nakakakatanda na hindi nagbabasa ang mga kabataan ngayon. Sa totoo lang, nagbabasa rin ang mga estudyante ngayon. Kaya rin ako nagbebenta ng libro, gusto ko rin na ipromote ang pagbabasa sa mga dumadaan dito kung saan ako nagbebenta ng libro. (I want to remove the connotation of the elderly that the younger generation disregard books. In all honestly, the youth of today reads books. I sell books, to promote reading.)

QUESTION 4: Mga ilang libro po ang nabebenta ninyo sa isang araw? (How many books are you able to sell in a day?)

KUYA DANNY: Mga apat hanggang limang libro. (About four to five books.)

QUESTION 5: Magkaano po ang isang libro? Kunwari po ang libro ni Paulo Coelho na The Alchemist? (How much does one book cost? For example, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho?)

KUYA DANNY: ‘Yung kay Paulo Coelho, 150. Depende ang presyo sa may akda at kailan inilimbag ang libro. Mayroon din second hand dito. Mas mura ang mga iyon kumpara sa mga bago. (The book of Coelho costs 150 pesos. The price of a book depends on the author and date of publication. Second hand books are cheaper compared to unused books.)

QUESTION 6: Mahilig po ba kayo magbasa ng libro? (Do you like to read books?)

KUYA DANNY: Oo naman. Marami ka kasing matututunan kapag nagbasa ka ng libro. Dapat rin mahilig kang magbasa ng libro kapag nagbebenta ka ng libro. Para nakakarelate ka din sa mga bumibili sa’yo. (Of course. You learn a lot whenever you read books. You have to love books if you will sell them, so that you can relate to your customers.)

QUESTION 7: Ano po ang madalas na hinahanap na libro dito? (What is the most searched or inquired book?)

KUYA DANNY: Mga libro ni Nicholas Sparks. (Books written by Nicholas Sparks.)

QUESTION 8: Hindi po ba kayo hinuhuli ng mga pulis dito? (Have you ever been caught by policemen, since you’re selling on the sidewalk?)

KUYA DANNY: Hindi naman. Marami na rin kasi kami dito. Pinapabayaan na lamang kami. (Not really. There are a lot of street vendors. The policemen don’t mind us and just let us sell here.)

QUESTION 9: Paano niyo po dinadala lahat ng mga librong ibinibenta ninyo? (How do you manage to bring all of the books you sell from one place to another?)

KUYA DANNY: Mayroon akong malaking bag na ginagamit kong pandala ng libro tuwing lumilipat ako ng lugar. (I have one bag where I place all of the books whenever I transfer from one place to another.)

QUESTION 10: Ano po ang mensahe ninyo sa mga hindi nagbabasa ng libro? (What is your message to the group of people who doesn’t read books?)

KUYA DANNY: Dapat silang magbasa dahil mas maraming natututunan sa libro. Dapat rin natin tangkilikin ang mga gawa ng manunulat upang umusbong ang literature dito sa Pilipinas. (They should read books since you can learn a lot from reading. We should support the works of writers so that literature in the Philippines grow.)

I think this guy is really awesome and I hope people buy books from him. Here’s a guy who’s clearly from the lower class telling others that we should fall in love with books. There’s always been this idea in my head that those who aren’t as well off don’t really like to read, especially given the teleseryes and game shows they seem to prefer as a way to spend their time. Clearly, I was wrong about this. This man gives me hope.

His answer about the notion of the elderly about the younger generation intrigued me. I’m not sure if it’s unique in my household but with us, it’s the kids who are always reading. I rarely see my parents pick up a book because they’re so busy. :))

I wonder where he gets the books he sells.

kuya danny, come to katipunan!!!

Kuya Danny, I salute you!