THE SOLIDARIDAD Bookshop in Manila, established by the late National Artist for Literature F. Sionil José, is up for sale after 59 years of operations.
Plans to sell the bookstore were confirmed to the Varsitarian by Antonio “Tonet” José, the eldest of José’s seven children, and in-charge of the shop’s administrative affairs.
“Yes, we are selling it,” Antonio told the Varsitarian. “We would like that whoever buys it, will continue Solidaridad Bookshop.”
According to the eldest José, the decision to sell the bookshop was due to the old age of the heirs and lack of management.
“[A]fter me, none of my siblings will be able to manage it. We are all getting old,” Antonio said. “My siblings are all abroad, [and] it was only I who came back to take care of our parents and manage the bookshop. If I were a lot younger, I would not sell [it] at all.”
The bookstore, located at Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila, has been a cultural and historical landmark for almost six decades.
It will be turning 60 years old on July 20 this year.
Referred to as the “best little bookstore in Asia,” the Solidaridad Bookshop became a “literary saloon” for discussions on social and political issues throughout the years.
It also served as headquarters of the Philippine Chapter of the PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, and Novelists), which José established in 1957.
The store was opened in 1965 by the national artist, who studied literature at the University’s old Faculty of Philosophy and Letters.
José served as editor in chief of the Varsitarian from 1948 to 1949, and worked for various broadsheets and magazines.
In 2001, he was named National Artist for Literature, the highest recognition conferred by the Philippine Republic on Filipino artists.
The literary giant passed away in 2022 at the age of 97.
Solidaridad Bookshop can still be visited by readers and browsers from Tuesday to Saturday during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
