NO TO THE PHILIPPINE BOOK BLOCKADE!
Target:
Philippine Customs and Undersecretary Sales
Sponsored by:
This is an online petition fueled by disgust over the recent book blockade in the Philippines. Philippine Customs has caused a sudden halt in the importation of books because of their greed and if they are to be allowed to twist the law to their advantage, we will have allowed the literacy problem in our country to worsen.
Undersecretary Sales is not aware of how important books have become to Filipinos. Books like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, etc, have helped a new generation of children discover a love for reading and in essence, becoming more educated. Instead of taking this into consideration, she is openly defying the Florence Agreement, which is an international law of which the Philippines is a signatory of, because of her greed.
This book blockade is another embarrassment to the Philippines, no thanks to Undersecretary Sales, who claims that she is the only one to interpret the law correctly and has now been placing taxes on books.
I disagree with her.
Here are links to help further enlighten you about the plight of Filipino readers now. The first one is written by Robin Hemley, a professor participating in a Guggenheim Fellowship in the Philippines. The second one is from the Inquirer website.
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/manila/1dispatch6.html
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090504-202929/The-great-book-blockade-of-2009
[ETA]:
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/tax-imported-books-hit
http://leflaneur.tumblr.com/post/106604470/barefaced-brazenness
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=466723
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=467502
Please sign this petition and let your voices be heard. This is unfair to every Filipino who loves to read. Through reading, we learn and if we are to allow other generations to be deprived of learning because of our greedy and corrupt Customs officials, then we will have only contributed to the problem. I say that we let the Supreme Court interpret the laws instead of allowing Philippine Customs to put their own little twist to it.
[ETA]
Just to let everybody know, this will not be in vain. I am already drafting a letter that will be forwarded directly to Miriam Santiago and the other senators investigating this mess.
[ETA: UPDATES!]
PHILIPPINE STAR REPORTS THAT GMA HAS ORDERED FOR THE TAXATION OF BOOKS TO BE LIFTED.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=471074&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Congratulations to all! Let this episode never be forgotten and let this strengthen our love for books!
Undersecretary Sales is not aware of how important books have become to Filipinos. Books like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, etc, have helped a new generation of children discover a love for reading and in essence, becoming more educated. Instead of taking this into consideration, she is openly defying the Florence Agreement, which is an international law of which the Philippines is a signatory of, because of her greed.
This book blockade is another embarrassment to the Philippines, no thanks to Undersecretary Sales, who claims that she is the only one to interpret the law correctly and has now been placing taxes on books.
I disagree with her.
Here are links to help further enlighten you about the plight of Filipino readers now. The first one is written by Robin Hemley, a professor participating in a Guggenheim Fellowship in the Philippines. The second one is from the Inquirer website.
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/manila/1dispatch6.html
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090504-202929/The-great-book-blockade-of-2009
[ETA]:
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/tax-imported-books-hit
http://leflaneur.tumblr.com/post/106604470/barefaced-brazenness
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=466723
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=467502
Please sign this petition and let your voices be heard. This is unfair to every Filipino who loves to read. Through reading, we learn and if we are to allow other generations to be deprived of learning because of our greedy and corrupt Customs officials, then we will have only contributed to the problem. I say that we let the Supreme Court interpret the laws instead of allowing Philippine Customs to put their own little twist to it.
[ETA]
Just to let everybody know, this will not be in vain. I am already drafting a letter that will be forwarded directly to Miriam Santiago and the other senators investigating this mess.
[ETA: UPDATES!]
PHILIPPINE STAR REPORTS THAT GMA HAS ORDERED FOR THE TAXATION OF BOOKS TO BE LIFTED.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=471074&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Congratulations to all! Let this episode never be forgotten and let this strengthen our love for books!
This is an online petition fueled by disgust over the recent book blockade in the Philippines. Philippine Customs has caused a sudden halt in the importation of books because of their greed and if they are to be allowed to twist the law to their advantage, we will have allowed the literacy problem in our country to worsen.
Undersecretary Sales is not aware of how important books have become to Filipinos. Books like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, etc, have helped a new generation of children discover a love for reading and in essence, becoming more educated. Instead of taking this into consideration, she is openly defying the Florence Agreement, which is an international law of which the Philippines is a signatory of, because of her greed.
This book blockade is another embarrassment to the Philippines, no thanks to Undersecretary Sales, who claims that she is the only one to interpret the law correctly and has now been placing taxes on books.
I disagree with her.
Here are links to help further enlighten you about the plight of Filipino readers now. The first one is written by Robin Hemley, a professor participating in a Guggenheim Fellowship in the Philippines. The second one is from the Inquirer website.
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/manila/1dispatch6.html
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090504-202929/The-great-book-blockade-of-2009
[ETA]:
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/tax-imported-books-hit
http://leflaneur.tumblr.com/post/106604470/barefaced-brazenness
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=466723
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=467502
Please sign this petition and let your voices be heard. This is unfair to every Filipino who loves to read. Through reading, we learn and if we are to allow other generations to be deprived of learning because of our greedy and corrupt Customs officials, then we will have only contributed to the problem. I say that we let the Supreme Court interpret the laws instead of allowing Philippine Customs to put their own little twist to it.
[ETA]
Just to let everybody know, this will not be in vain. I am already drafting a letter that will be forwarded directly to Miriam Santiago and the other senators investigating this mess.
[ETA: UPDATES!]
PHILIPPINE STAR REPORTS THAT GMA HAS ORDERED FOR THE TAXATION OF BOOKS TO BE LIFTED.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=471074&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Congratulations to all! Let this episode never be forgotten and let this strengthen our love for books!
Undersecretary Sales is not aware of how important books have become to Filipinos. Books like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, etc, have helped a new generation of children discover a love for reading and in essence, becoming more educated. Instead of taking this into consideration, she is openly defying the Florence Agreement, which is an international law of which the Philippines is a signatory of, because of her greed.
This book blockade is another embarrassment to the Philippines, no thanks to Undersecretary Sales, who claims that she is the only one to interpret the law correctly and has now been placing taxes on books.
I disagree with her.
Here are links to help further enlighten you about the plight of Filipino readers now. The first one is written by Robin Hemley, a professor participating in a Guggenheim Fellowship in the Philippines. The second one is from the Inquirer website.
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/manila/1dispatch6.html
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090504-202929/The-great-book-blockade-of-2009
[ETA]:
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/tax-imported-books-hit
http://leflaneur.tumblr.com/post/106604470/barefaced-brazenness
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=466723
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=467502
Please sign this petition and let your voices be heard. This is unfair to every Filipino who loves to read. Through reading, we learn and if we are to allow other generations to be deprived of learning because of our greedy and corrupt Customs officials, then we will have only contributed to the problem. I say that we let the Supreme Court interpret the laws instead of allowing Philippine Customs to put their own little twist to it.
[ETA]
Just to let everybody know, this will not be in vain. I am already drafting a letter that will be forwarded directly to Miriam Santiago and the other senators investigating this mess.
[ETA: UPDATES!]
PHILIPPINE STAR REPORTS THAT GMA HAS ORDERED FOR THE TAXATION OF BOOKS TO BE LIFTED.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=471074&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Congratulations to all! Let this episode never be forgotten and let this strengthen our love for books!
We signed the "NO TO THE PHILIPPINE BOOK BLOCKADE!" petition!
# 947:
7:09 am PST, Nov 2,
Joselitolee Garcia, Philippines
# 946:
6:50 am PDT, Sep 22,
Alex Brillantes, Canada
I am a Filipino-Canadian author and it's truly outrageous how the Philippine government, with her inept treatment to generate jobs for her citizens, contented only with overseas workers’ remittances earnings, and with her disgustingly greedy politicians, will come up with an equally repugnant law to block imported books from reaching Filipinos. The Philippine 'text-generation' have to learn to discover the wonderful gift of international reading and not only focused on local print. This is another attempt to uneducate Filipinos. And the less educated they are, the greater the graft and corruption. This is truly sad. Alex Brillantes. Author: Slaves, Spooks & The Praying Mantis. www.abrill.com
I am a Filipino-Canadian author and it's truly outrageous how the Philippine government, with her inept treatment to generate jobs for her citizens, contented only with overseas workers’ remittances earnings, and with her disgustingly greedy politicians, will come up with an equally repugnant law to block imported books from reaching Filipinos. The Philippine 'text-generation' have to learn to discover the wonderful gift of international reading and not only focused on local print. This is another attempt to uneducate Filipinos. And the less educated they are, the greater the graft and corruption. This is truly sad. Alex Brillantes. Author: Slaves, Spooks & The Praying Mantis. www.abrill.com
# 945:
6:28 pm PDT, Aug 26,
Name not displayed, Nebraska
# 944:
10:08 am PDT, Aug 10,
Name not displayed, France
# 943:
7:37 pm PDT, Jul 30,
Yellowbelle Duaqui, Japan
Why dont you hike up taxes elsewhere, especially the commodities of the rich? luxury goods! dont deprive the middle class and the lower classes the things they can afford.
Why dont you hike up taxes elsewhere, especially the commodities of the rich? luxury goods! dont deprive the middle class and the lower classes the things they can afford.
# 942:
5:55 pm PDT, Jul 30,
Name not displayed, Canada
I thought we weren't in the middle ages anymore?
I thought we weren't in the middle ages anymore?
# 941:
3:05 pm PDT, Jul 22,
Name not displayed, Sweden
# 940:
11:15 pm PDT, Jul 20,
Maria Yales, New York
Passing this tax blockade would be another asinine policy adopted by the Philippine government to line the pockets of the few while depriving many. Our nation already suffers the embarassment of having the reputation of being one of the most corrupt countries in the world, now we have to take on the mantle of the ignorant and the xenophobic. I shudder to think how uneducated and literature deficient our policy makers must be in order for them to ignore how books, especially fiction, have an intrinsic value that cannot be measured on any standardized scale because their worth is subjective and no person has the right or the ability to determine what a person can learn from any work of literature. Like it or hate it, a book always changes the reader and educates them because they are exposed to the author's opinions and experiences, which they can use to reinforce or re-evaluate their own character. To restrict literary exchange is to restrict the right to freedom of speech and the public's right to have access to global information. Our people are already deprived of many things the rest of the world enjoys, like fair elections and accountability from our government leaders, let us at least have something good to read.
Passing this tax blockade would be another asinine policy adopted by the Philippine government to line the pockets of the few while depriving many. Our nation already suffers the embarassment of having the reputation of being one of the most corrupt countries in the world, now we have to take on the mantle of the ignorant and the xenophobic. I shudder to think how uneducated and literature deficient our policy makers must be in order for them to ignore how books, especially fiction, have an intrinsic value that cannot be measured on any standardized scale because their worth is subjective and no person has the right or the ability to determine what a person can learn from any work of literature. Like it or hate it, a book always changes the reader and educates them because they are exposed to the author's opinions and experiences, which they can use to reinforce or re-evaluate their own character. To restrict literary exchange is to restrict the right to freedom of speech and the public's right to have access to global information. Our people are already deprived of many things the rest of the world enjoys, like fair elections and accountability from our government leaders, let us at least have something good to read.
# 939:
7:23 pm PDT, Jul 10,
Name not displayed, Philippines
# 938:
3:24 am PDT, Jun 25,
Princess Pauline Chuyaco, Philippines
Undersecretary Sales is an idiot and if the book tax is approved then there will be more idiots running the country.
Undersecretary Sales is an idiot and if the book tax is approved then there will be more idiots running the country.
# 937:
6:49 am PDT, Jun 18,
Name not displayed, New York
# 936:
10:48 pm PDT, Jun 17,
Name not displayed, Philippines
I agree with your petition. This is just a manifestation of a self vested interest not thinking about the people whom it will serve more. This greed people in the hierarchy must be persecuted and removed to office.
I agree with your petition. This is just a manifestation of a self vested interest not thinking about the people whom it will serve more. This greed people in the hierarchy must be persecuted and removed to office.
# 935:
6:15 pm PDT, Jun 16,
John Edward Labay, Philippines
# 934:
1:29 am PDT, Jun 13,
Name not displayed, Philippines
# 933:
3:56 pm PDT, Jun 11,
Harold Bryan A. Barlan, Philippines
Shame on Usec Sales and her team...
Shame on Usec Sales and her team...
# 932:
12:56 am PDT, Jun 11,
Name not displayed, Philippines
# 931:
9:58 pm PDT, Jun 10,
Name not displayed, Philippines
Oh come on! This is just stupid! This undersecretary Sales is an embarrassment to the country. She's just a selfish b**** who, like most self-centered politicians in the country, probably just wants to cause an uproar for people to know her name. I hope this petition helps to put a stop to this horror.
Oh come on! This is just stupid! This undersecretary Sales is an embarrassment to the country. She's just a selfish b**** who, like most self-centered politicians in the country, probably just wants to cause an uproar for people to know her name. I hope this petition helps to put a stop to this horror.
# 930:
5:48 am PDT, Jun 10,
Yassy Gwapa, Philippines
# 929:
1:56 am PDT, Jun 10,
Jeff ysulat Fuentes, Philippines
# 928:
5:23 am PDT, Jun 9,
Name not displayed, Philippines
Here's to the continuous promotion of learning without unnecessary constraints.
Here's to the continuous promotion of learning without unnecessary constraints.
# 927:
9:51 pm PDT, Jun 8,
Susan Mila Alvarez-Tosalem, Philippines
Books are significant to the continuous learning of both kids and adults. I don't see any reason why importation has to be stopped.
Books are significant to the continuous learning of both kids and adults. I don't see any reason why importation has to be stopped.
# 926:
5:00 pm PDT, Jun 6,
Name not displayed, Portugal
# 925:
7:51 am PDT, Jun 5,
Maria Francesca Alvarez, Philippines
# 924:
6:18 pm PDT, Jun 4,
KAY REYES, Philippines
# 923:
5:34 pm PDT, Jun 4,
Name not displayed, Philippines
# 922:
5:58 am PDT, Jun 3,
Cristine Pefianco, Philippines
# 921:
4:58 am PDT, Jun 3,
Celia Parcon, Philippines
# 920:
3:35 am PDT, Jun 3,
Name not displayed, Philippines
# 919:
12:01 am PDT, Jun 3,
Gea Espinosa, Philippines
This is just further promoting illiteracy in the country. This so called 'non-educational' books teaches people to read, and encourages them to read more, love books and by doing so it boost up their vocabulary as well. Charging more taxes on these books is definitely uncalled for.
This is just further promoting illiteracy in the country. This so called 'non-educational' books teaches people to read, and encourages them to read more, love books and by doing so it boost up their vocabulary as well. Charging more taxes on these books is definitely uncalled for.
# 918:
8:33 pm PDT, Jun 2,
Jan Cordero, Philippines
# 917:
7:25 pm PDT, May 31,
Arianne Stephanie Garcia, Philippines
Everyone has a right to literacy. Inhibiting the access to books, even by just more taxes, is blatantly disregarding this right.
Everyone has a right to literacy. Inhibiting the access to books, even by just more taxes, is blatantly disregarding this right.
# 916:
1:03 pm PDT, May 31,
Name not displayed, Canada
This is ridiculous. If it weren't for "non-educational" books, I would never have become such an avid reader as I am now.
This is ridiculous. If it weren't for "non-educational" books, I would never have become such an avid reader as I am now.
# 915:
5:05 am PDT, May 31,
Name not displayed, Philippines
# 914:
9:14 am PDT, May 30,
Angeli Mendoza, Japan
Bayan muna, bago ang sarili!
Bayan muna, bago ang sarili!
# 913:
8:35 am PDT, May 30,
Kara Lorenzana, Philippines
# 912:
2:28 am PDT, May 30,
Juri Lin, Illinois
All books are food for the brain.
All books are food for the brain.
# 911:
1:41 am PDT, May 30,
Zareeb Lorenzana, California
Everyone has the right to a free education, may that be in School or in State Universities, through the internet or through books. We have the right.
Everyone has the right to a free education, may that be in School or in State Universities, through the internet or through books. We have the right.
# 910:
10:41 pm PDT, May 29,
Antonette Rivera, Philippines
Filipinos love Books!!
Filipinos love Books!!
# 909:
5:32 pm PDT, May 29,
Fritz G. De Lange, Philippines
# 908:
2:49 am PDT, May 29,
Name not displayed, Philippines
# 907:
11:31 pm PDT, May 28,
Janine Caynap, Japan
# 906:
10:44 pm PDT, May 28,
Grace Domingo, Philippines
Please support Filipino citizens continuous personal development.
Please support Filipino citizens continuous personal development.
# 905:
8:07 pm PDT, May 28,
Sharon Isidro, Japan
# 904:
7:41 pm PDT, May 28,
Name not displayed, Japan
# 903:
6:47 pm PDT, May 28,
Name not displayed, Philippines
# 902:
5:51 pm PDT, May 28,
Raechelle Castellon, Philippines
Education is a Right!
Education is a Right!
# 901:
8:58 pm PDT, May 27,
Name not displayed, Philippines
