Forever hooked on books
In a summer jammed with comic-book superheroes waging fictional wars, it’s refreshing to find real-life superheroes fighting and winning their battles squarely on the ground. Just like the Incredibles, this couple has a double identity — lawyers by day, entrepreneurs by night — and their “secret” headquarters is a bookstore on Katipunan Avenue called Hooked on Books.
Located near the university belt and residential subdivisions like Blue Ridge, St. Ignatius and White Plains, Hooked on Books (HOB) is convenient to both students and parents looking for a good read. The store atmosphere is as inviting as your favorite carrel in an American university library, where well-stocked shelves and cozy chairs are considerately within reach. You can literally hunker down and lose yourself in the latest business, history or Filipino title.
“We thought of a place where similar-minded book lovers could go and just enjoy looking at books, smelling books, browsing and buying books,” says owner Laurence Arroyo with a laugh.
“It has a small neighborhood charm that is very much different from overly commercialized mall areas,” adds his wife, Patricia Sison-Arroyo. “It is a residential area lined with thriving mom-and-pop stores that gives our bookstore the feel of a community bookstore.”
Laurence actually grew up in St. Ignatius, and has very fond memories of the neighborhood. “I grew up in a household that taught me to appreciate the value of books and the love of reading,” he says, “so ever since I was able to earn an income I would spend a big part of it on just buying books.”
A couple of years ago, Laurence and Patty decided that since he was investing so much money in literary tomes, some of which he hadn’t even read yet, they might as well put up their own bookshop. Since they were building a house on the same lot as Laurence’s St. Ignatius homestead, they started looking for a place nearby and Laurence found one central to the residential area that had character and ample parking space, besides. “One day a year ago I got home and out of the blue told Patty I found a place and we’re renting it out. Patty said, ‘Are you sure?’ I said yes. In fact, I had signed the lease contract with the building owner, so that forced our hand and we had no choice but to pursue this.”
That daring move wouldn’t have been so unusual except that Laurence and Patty weren’t really business people. They were both Ateneo-trained lawyers involved full-time in litigation. Laurence is a partner in the law firm Quisumbing Torres, with a full slate of commercial litigation, criminal and pro bono cases. Patty, who used to practice corporate commercial and family law at the same firm, is currently Manila field office director of the International Justice Mission (IJM), an international NGO that combats the trafficking of children and secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of oppression. “I am a people-oriented person,” she admits. “I worked with the Ateneo Human Rights Center and enjoyed law school because of that. I was looking for that same thing when I started working.”
As part of his pro-bono work, Laurence provides free legal assistance to IJM and lectures barangay officials and communities vulnerable to trafficking on legal and human rights. He and Patty have worked on many a case together; one memorable case they handled involved a girl from Samar, an impoverished province from which a lot of young women are trafficked to Manila, according to Patty. “She was brought to Pasay City to help out her mom, who was a laundry woman for the owner of a ‘casa’ that operated in Pasay,” Patty relates. “She felt pressured to earn additional income for her family, which was big, and she pitied her mom, who was still doing laundry in her old age.” At first the girl helped in the household work, then the owner started inviting her to show up when customers were there and to try it out. Finally, she did. At age 15, “she started out with just one customer a day, then two, then three, then numerous customers. At the time we rescued her in cooperation with the NBI, she had just given birth to a boy and didn’t know anymore who the father was.”
After the teen’s rescue, however, the owner of the casa held her son hostage to keep his mother from cooperating with the authorities prosecuting the case. But, working together, IJM and the NBI rescued the baby, and mother and son were eventually reunited. “She’s now back with her family,” Patty says with relief. “Hopefully she’s gainfully employed, but the one weakness in the system is that after they’re brought back to their families, who’s there to support them, give them an alternative source of livelihood? That’s what we’re trying to strengthen now.”
With those kinds of daily legal battles to face, it was a wonder the couple found time to open a bookstore. They spent many sleepless nights while it was being built, when Patty was well into the third trimester of her pregnancy with their fourth son. A few weeks after she gave birth, she was back on her feet helping with licensing requirements during the day, selecting titles and placing orders at night. They now have a full-time manager who runs the store, “but after our day job, my husband and I still select the titles, place the orders, work with the customs brokers, and do the odds and ends of backdoor operations.”
You won’t find the usual paperback potboilers at Hooked On Books; not much fast literary fashion. Instead, you get substantial reads for people who actually like to read: classics by Salinger, Hemingway, F. Sionil Jose and Ambeth Ocampo; carefully chosen volumes on business, marketing and management; and an extraordinary array of children’s titles, including two by the esteemed James Thurber. “The books reflect our respective interests,” says Laurence. “Those on history, biography and economics are mine. The books for children and on lifestyle and cooking are hers. The books on law, for obvious reasons, are chosen by us both.”
Among the children’s books there are few of the character books that proliferate in big bookstore chains. “We look for classic titles, books that encourage parent and child interaction, and selections that encourage children to think and be imaginative,” adds Patty. “We don’t shy away from titles on special issues that not too many people read or talk about, including books on preventing child sexual abuse and raising children with autism.” All this can be explored in a welcoming corner of the shop with children’s desks and chairs.
There’s also a shelf devoted to books both about Creationism and Darwinism — kind of a balanced presentation of the ongoing debate. “You noticed that? I think it is intellectually healthy to consider all sides,” says Laurence, adding that, even though they are devout Roman Catholics and firm believers, he enjoys “reading about Darwin and evolution because it offers me another perspective to life, one which is not necessarily inconsistent with my faith and beliefs.” A faith that does not allow itself to be tested, intellectually or spiritually, is a weak faith, he notes.
As lawyers, the Arroyos are well aware of the power of language: “I believe that knowledge, if not mastery, of both English and Pilipino is important if we are to be a great nation,” says Laurence. “English is a badge of education and gives us an advantage in an increasingly competitive world. Pilipino is no less important, because it reminds us of who we are and where we came from.”
In order to set themselves apart in a competitive market, Hooked on Books takes a somewhat different approach from large chains: they sell books at affordable prices, knowing that’s what the big stores can offer. But they’ve chosen to specialize, and they’re also very selective: “It’s not your regular type of books, Patty says. “We don’t choose titles just because they’re selling well.” So, no floor-to-ceiling stacks of bestsellers. More like the Little Shop Around The Corner approach taken by Meg Ryan’s character in You’ve Got Mail.
Like that movie’s charming enterprise, Hooked on Books offers personal touches: “We’ve evolved into a learning/knowledge center,” says Laurence, a development that residents and students have gladly welcomed. The store’s second floor can be used for academic tutorials, college entrance exam reviews, civil service exam reviews. Occasionally, it holds student art exhibits, for which HOB funds the cocktails. “We also offer drawing and painting workshops and digital photography workshops,” says Patty.
There’s also storytelling every fourth Saturday of the month. “The books we read at the storytelling are from Adarna House, the first and largest publisher of Filipino children’s books because we want to promote Filipino literature,” Patty notes. Admission is free, and kids get special treats from co-sponsor Purefoods.
“Kaya nga someone commented, ‘Is this a bookstore or a foundation?’” she says with a laugh.
For this husband and wife who have long been servants of the community, it’s a valid question. They may not feel like dyed-in-the-wool entrepreneurs as their concerns range far wider than the bottom line, but even in Hooked on Books’ infancy they’re emerging as something much rarer: entrepreneurs with a vision for change.
“Owning a bookstore is not as easy as I thought,” admits Laurence. “As with any business, it requires hard work, creativity and passion to make it succeed.”
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Hooked on Books is located at 138 Katipunan Avenue, St. Ignatius Village (near White Plains), Quezon City.
