With digital screens dominating our lives and reading comprehension in the country being alarmingly low, the importance of developing strong reading habits from a young age cannot be overstated. But how can we entice Filipinos to choose reading books over watching free short-form content on their smartphones? While we’ve got a long way to go, there are annual events like Big Bad Wolf Book Sale which is targeting to ignite our passion for reading at a very affordable price.

You’ll find hard-to-find books and classic titles which used to cost over Php 600 at only half the price at this sale! The Big Bad Tour: Mission 1 New Million Readers kicks off this year at Parqal, Aseana City, from May 24 to June 2, 2024. Admission is still FREE. This is part of a nationwide tour dedicated to nurturing literacy, enhancing reading comprehension, and instilling a love for reading among Filipinos of all ages.

What to Expect

Big Bad Wolf is taking significant steps towards changing lives through books. The tour will have stopovers at urban hubs and select rural communities, offering a diverse set of books at budget-friendly prices. From educational titles and children’s stories to Filipino literature, the tour champions inclusivity in reading accessibility. The book sale at Parqal alone includes over 2 million brand new books from 10 different countries around the world!

“Reading opens doors to new worlds and opportunities,” said Big Bad Wolf Co-founder Jacqueline Ng. “With ‘Mission 1 New Million Readers,’ we are taking concrete steps towards changing lives through books. Our goal is not just to promote literacy but also to ignite a lifelong passion for reading across the Philippines.”

Price starts at Php 20 while the most expensive one at the venue is only at Php 1,600. We’ve spotted classics like Paulo Coelho books and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson collection at only around Php 1,600, Harry Potter books at only around Php 600, and other popular titles such as Crazy Rich Asians, Maze Runner, and Star Wars.

The event also marks a continued collaboration between Big Bad Wolf and Metrobank, offering a 0% 3-month installment promo for purchases worth at least P3,000 to Metrobank cardholders. Moreover, Swedish home furnishings brand IKEA will be part of the Parqal leg of the book tour, bringing a special treat for visitors.

Big Bad Wolf doesn’t stop at just selling books, though! Throughout the 10-day event, special talks and meet and greet sessions will be held at the venue. This includes newscaster and author Bernadette Sembrano, preacher-author Bo Sanchez, to name a few.

There will also be giveaways throughout the event. All you need to do is take a selfie or video showing your haul or your visit at Big Bad Wolf, upload it on your social media page/s and use the hashtag #BBWPhilippines2024 for a chance to win prizes.

What to Bring

Bring lots of patience! It can get crowded, especially around 5-8PM and on weekends. Wear comfortable clothes and a face mask for safety. In terms of pocket money, I would suggest that you prepare at least Php 1,000 which would be enough for 3-4pcs of books. In order to save a few more pesos, don’t forget to bring an eco-bag and snacks! They have food stalls inside the venue but then again, the lines can become long.

How to Get There

Since this is Big Bad Wolf’s first year at Parqal, here’s a quick guide so you won’t get lost: If you’re traveling via Grab or commuting to the venue, pin or look for Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Parqal branch. From its entrance, look for the BANIG Building. Then, take the elevator to the third floor to get to the entire floor dedicated to Big Bad Wolf Book Sale.

Parqal is a new mall so some of you may not yet be familiar with it. It’s just four minutes away from SM Mall of Asia and 7 minutes away from the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Just to make sure that you have all the details, don’t forget:

• Date: May 24 to June 2, 2024
• Time: 10AM to 12 midnight
• Venue: 3^rd floor, Parqal, Aseana City
• Admission: FREE
• Parking: Expect a lot of spaces since the mall isn’t full occupied yet!

This is your chance to catch the Big Bad Tour: 1 New Million Readers leg in Manila and find the book of your dreams at a lesser price! Since they have a lot of children’s books, you might also want to grab a couple for your inaanaks in preparation for Christmas. See you there, millennials!

For more details, check out @bbwbooksph on Facebook and Instagram.

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