Walking through the doors of National Bookstore after so many years felt like stepping into a time capsule. It’s amazing how a simple store could hold so many memories of my student days. Back then, every “back to school” season was incomplete without a trip here. It was almost like a ritual—parents and kids flocking in, lists in hand, while the aisles buzzed with excitement and the smell of fresh paper and plastic wrappers.
I remember how we would carefully pick out our notebooks, pad papers, pencils, erasers, glue, scissors, and even manila paper for projects. If you needed a map of the Philippines or the world, National Bookstore had it hanging proudly in the school supplies section. Everything you could possibly need for school was right there. And even if the store was crowded, there was something comforting about being surrounded by stacks of neatly piled books and supplies.
But what stood out the most in my memory were those notebooks with local celebrities on the covers. It was always fun to see who made it to the front that school year. My classmates and I would sometimes even “collect” them or trade based on our favorites. It made school shopping less of a chore and more like a mini pop-culture event. Holding one of those notebooks again now instantly takes me back to my childhood desk, writing down homework and doodling during boring classes.
Visiting the store recently, I realized that while times have changed and students now have online options, the charm of National Bookstore is unmatched. The familiar red-and-white branding, the rows of pens and highlighters, even the cashier counters—it all sparked a warm sense of nostalgia.
For me, National Bookstore isn’t just a store. It’s a reminder of simpler days when buying school supplies was something to look forward to, and when every fresh notebook promised new lessons, stories, and dreams waiting to be written.
That's it for today's blog. See you in my next one!
Sending some love and light
With love, Jane