BY CARMELA G. LAPEÑA. GMA NEWS August 23, 2012 1:39pm
Contrary to what
one might think, watching a lot of TV doesn't mean less reading. Results of the
2012 National Book Development Board Readership Survey revealed that the
Filipinos who more frequently watch TV are more likely to read non-school
books.
"We thought
na distractions ang TV, newspapers, radio, videotapes, malling... No. In fact,
they enhance. The more frequently you watch TV, read newspapers, listen to the
radio, watch videotapes, and go to the mall, the more likely you are to be
reading a non-school book," said Linda Luz Guerrero, vice president and
chief operating officer of Social Weather Stations (SWS) during the
presentation of the 2012 National Book Development Board Readership Survey
results on August 22 in Ortigas.
Commissioned by
the NBDB, the Social Weather Stations conducted the third NBDB Readership
Survey last May, among 1,200 respondents all over the Philippines. "Akala
rin natin na 'yung Internet seems to have been a distraction. The data shows it
is not a distraction. It has no association. In fact, all Internet users are
non-school book readers," Guerrero said.
The survey showed
that an average non-school book reader in 2012 started reading at about age 15:
younger than in 2007 (16) and 2003 (17).
"Tumataas na ‘yung proportion of those reading non-school books at a young
age. Ayan 'yung isang magandang nangyayari. Nag-uumpisa na silang magbasa, bata
pa lang sila," said Guerrero. While such findings seem encouraging, the
survey also revealed that the proportion of book readers is in decline.
During the first survey in 2003, 94 percent read; 90 percent of this 94 percent
read books. In 2007, 92 percent read; 83 percent of this 92 percent read books.
In 2012, 88 percent read; 80 percent of this 88 percent read books.
Four out of five Filipino adults are readers
For non-school book readers,
there was also a decline, with 92 percent (of the 80 percent who read books) in
2012, lower than 96 percent (of the 83 percent who read books) in 2007. But the
figure is still higher than during the 2003 survey, when only 76 percent (of
the 90 percent who read books) were non-school book readers.
However, SWS noted that this
is still high—four out of five Filipino adults are readers.
Most readers have no specific
schedule for when they read—81 percent of non-school book readers read anytime
they want to. Among those who do have a specific time, almost half, or 46
percent, read before going to sleep.
SWS said that among the
demographics, location, educational attainment and civil status were the most
important factors affecting non-school book readership.
"The higher your
education, the more likely that you will be reading non-school books. The more
single you are, the more likely you are to be reading a non-school book,"
Guerrero said.
As for frequency of reading
non-school books, educational attainment, main source of education, and civil
status were the most important factors.
About 4.6 hours reading time weekly
The survey said that readers
are spending more time with their books—with the average number of hours a week
at 4.6 hours, higher than 3.8 hours in 2007, and 4.5 hours in 2003.
On average, a person has read
about six books in the past 12 months, while 21 percent did not read any
non-school books in the past 12 months, more than 14 percent in 2007, and 17
percent in 2003.
When it comes to choosing
books, readers tend to rely on blurbs (44 percent) and word of mouth or
recommendations from family or friends (40 percent) for information about books
they might buy.
Still, the Bible (58 percent)
remains the most popular book read, followed by romance books (25 percent), and
cooking books (21 percent).
As for ebooks, only seven
percent of book readers are ebook readers. NBDB Executive
Director Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores noted that this is still three million
people.
Ebook readership is
significantly higher in urban areas, among classes ABC, youth aged 18-24, and
college graduates.
The most common device for
reading ebooks is a laptop computer, and 90 percent of readers still prefer
printed books. In 2007, only 1.2 percent said they had purchased non-school
books online.
"The 2012 survey has good
news and not so good news, perhaps not making the trends in the country so
different from patterns seen in other countries," said NBDB Chair Flor
Marie Sta. Romana-Cruz, citing two articles she had read online.
"Among the points
highlighted is the general decline across the ages in the reading of literature
or challenging text," Cruz said, referring to Hon's work.
"Thinking in reading is
just too difficult and books do not offer the instant gratification that they
and their peers are in search of," was what a group of girls from a
private high school in Manila told Cruz when she asked them what the reasons
were for the rise of reluctant readers among their peers.
Filipino books preferred
Former NBDB Chair Dr. Dennis
Gonzalez said the NBDB survey provides information that can help NBDB as well
as other stakeholders in book development in coming up with programs to
encourage Filipinos to read. Gonzalez noted that one interesting point was that
people prefer to read in Tagalog or Filipino, according to the three surveys.
"Maybe that's one way we
can increase readership. The survey already shows three times, more then 50
percent, people prefer to read in Tagalog or Filipino, and yet when you
actually look at Philippine publications it's mostly in English," Gonzalez
said.
He also said that the survey
is improved through the years, but not all questions are included due to budget
constraints.
"Hopefully, with the help
of the publishers and all stakeholders in book development we can all come up
with programs, plans that would precisely encourage more Filipinos to read and
to develop the habit of reading quality reading materials. We need the
information so we can use that information in designing programs for that
purpose," he said. –KG/ELR,
GMA News
