(SPOT.ph) When Manila Mayor Isko Moreno was elected into office, one of his key projects was the clean-up drive in the Philippines' capital. Street vendors were removed in Quiapo and Divisoria, sidewalks were cleared up of any obstruction, and other stalls were relocated. The clearing operations included Books from Underground in the Lagusnilad Underpass in July 2019, much to the dismay of the beloved secondhand bookstore's regular customers. But plans by Manila's Department of Engineering and Public Works show that the thrift shop will soon be back in business as one of the featured stalls in the rehabilitated walkway.
According to a report by Manila Bulletin, Books from Underground will be the only business allowed to retain its space at the underpass, and will have "better shelves to display its books." The said book shop has become a popular pitstop for bibliophiles since they opened shop in 2014. Their location, according to Facebook, was a quirky one-liner: "Sa Manila City Hall underpass may bookstore sa bandang gitna." It wasn't really hard to find, especially with the stacks of books crammed in a small space. Their varied titles range from romance and chick-lit books by Nora Roberts and Nicholas Sparks to political novels like Che Guevara's Guerrilla Warfare.
The rehabilitated Lagusnilad Underpass is scheduled to open by the end of August, according to the Manila Public Information Office. Until then, you can order your next read from Books from Underground's Facebook page.
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this strange new world.