Well, this isn’t really manga related, but it is related to reading. I know you and I have the luxury to read, but many Filipinos don’t even have an access to a book. Two years ago my friends and I decided to start a book club of sorts named Read or Die. Yes, we are otakus this way, but it’s really just a book club! After some while, we discovered that the Philippines has a big literacy problem. Sure, the market has books but not everyone can afford it. More so, the books available are not extensive. 80% of books in Manila are ripped off from the NY Times Bestseller list. If we want variety, we probably won’t get it.

So we decided to launch initiatives. First, is to encourage literacy. We tried provide books for the common masses to read. And not just any book, but books of great intellectual or cultural value. Second is to culture a nurturing community of readers and writers, one wherein readers would understand the world of the writer, and the other for writers to receive inspiration from their readers.

Last year we managed to conduct a successful Read or Die convention wherein writers had an opportunity to meet their readers. There were also lots of books donated and gathered from different institutions. It was a successful event and we’re hoping to bring more events like this to Filipino readers and writers in the future. But to pull this off, we need your help.

We’re opening a Christmas Donation drive and we’re hoping to earn as much as $2,000 dollars by the end of December. If you guys have a spare dollar and would like to give high school kids a chance to read great books and well, for my cause, great comics and mangas that could teach them valuable lessons in life, then please donate a dollar or two to our cause. You can check the widget at the side bar saying “Read or Die” and click “Chip In!” and donate to our cause. Please. :3

You can read more about Read or Die and our initiatives at our website.