Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste will be the new owner of Solidaridad Bookshop, the iconic Manila literary institution and long-standing cultural landmark.
Leviste is making this investment to ensure Solidaridad’s continued operations and help preserve the legacy of National Artist F. Sionil Jose with the continued advice of the Jose family.
The legislator is the son of Senator Loren Legarda who was a long-time friend of F. Sionil Jose.
“We hope they can remain involved and help ensure that the Bookshop’s operations stay true to its history and the legacy of F. Sionil Jose.”
“We thank the Jose family for entrusting us with Solidaridad. We hope they can remain involved and help ensure that the Bookshop’s operations stay true to its history and the legacy of F. Sionil Jose,” Leviste said.
The Bookshop was founded in 1965 by National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose and stands on the property held by the ancestors of his wife, Teresita Jovellanos Jose.
The Jose couple passed away in 2022 and the Bookshop has been managed by Tonet Jose, their eldest son.
“We are excited about the transition to the new ownership and wish them success as they continue the legacy of F. Sionil Jose.”
“Our family will always cherish the memory of Solidaridad and the work our parents put into it. We are excited about the transition to the new ownership and wish them success as they continue the legacy of F. Sionil Jose,” he said.
Located in Padre Faura, Manila, Solidaridad was the gathering place for many of the Philippines’ literary giants, writers, intellectuals, academics, cultural workers, and civic leaders.
The Bookshop has hosted numerous international luminaries in the field of literature, culture, and the arts.
It is also the home of PEN Philippines, a chapter of PEN International, which F. Sionil Jose established in 1958.
Dubbed as “Asia’s biggest little bookshop,” Solidaridad Bookshop is known for having the widest collection of Filipiniana books in the Philippines giving Filipino authors an outlet for displaying and selling their publications.
The unique selection of books at this legendary bookshop were specially curated by F. Sionil Jose, who singularly selected all the books that are sold.
