19/11/2025
🪧 LONG CAPTION AHEAD: Hello, ISTORYA-SEEKERS! With our bookshop celebrating its first anniversary today, we hope you all can allow us to be a bit more sentimental and long-winded than usual. We only hope to talk about our journey thus far and give thanks to you all.
💌:
Today, ISTORYA STUDIOS Bookshop turns one—and in many ways, it feels like witnessing a story come alive. What began as a modest dream tucked inside a small room with just a little over 300 books has grown into a vibrant, welcoming space now home to 1,000+ titles and countless moments we’ll never forget.
When we first opened, we didn’t know exactly how the community would receive us. We simply trusted that if we built a space filled with intention, creativity, and care, people would come—curious, open, and ready to explore. And you did. As our publication manager said when asked about the emergence of the bookshop, “it is vital to build a space where local authors can showcase their work and where arts and literature can be uplifted and inspire more people to discover and embrace Filipiniana literature.” That simple truth spoke of our compass.
Over the past year, the bookshop has grown into so much more than shelves and stories. It has become a place where children gather wide-eyed during Live Book Readings; where local talents and emerging artists find their voice during Open Mic Nights; and where people come not just to buy books, but to feel connected, grounded, and inspired. The energy you bring, the conversations you start, and the stories you share have all shaped this space into a creative sanctuary.
But growth is never easy. We’ve had quiet days, challenging transitions, and moments that tested our resolve. Yet through every high and low, you stayed with us. You cheered us on, showed up at our events, recommended us to friends, and reminded us—in ways big and small—why this bookshop matters. Without you, there would be no ISTORYA STUDIOS Bookshop. You are not just part of our story; you are the story.
We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our collaborators, to local authors and independent publishers for the trust you’ve placed in us. Your creativity, dedication, and passion for storytelling are the foundation of everything we do.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey and for entrusting your books to our care. We recognize the responsibility that comes with representing your work, and we remain committed to being a home where your voices are honored, supported, and amplified.
We hope our partnership reflects the respect and appreciation we have for your craft, and we look forward to continuing to grow together—championing stories that deserve to be read, remembered, and celebrated.
Our vision remains clear: to understand the world and ourselves through creativity and storytelling. And our mission grounds every decision we make—to design thoughtful products and create spaces that nurture imagination, spark curiosity, strengthen creativity, and encourage deeper thinking. We believe stories shape people, and people shape communities. This bookshop is our way of honoring that truth.
And we promise you this: even if only one person walks through our doors or picks up a book from our shelves, we will try our best to continue. Even if just one soul finds comfort or courage here, that is enough. ISTORYA STUDIOS Bookshop will always strive to be a safe haven—a place where you can breathe, wander, discover, and be yourself.
Thank you for being with us during this first chapter. Thank you for your patience, encouragement, love, and belief. You helped us reach this milestone, and because of you, we look forward to many more. The story is far from over—and we’re grateful to be writing it with you.
With full hearts and deep gratitude,
ISTORYA STUDIOS Bookshop and team 🧡
