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In fact, each summer we got to "travel" a lot to different provinces just watching movies, mostly LVN Pictures. We even traveled back in time, fighting Japanese soldiers in World War II with our machine guns or facing ninjas with our bamboo samurai swords. One time we even became real ninjas at night and were almost apprehended by cops.
Then, I discovered books. My dad was a bookworm so he had lots of collections in our private library which to me was nothing but a mystery chamber--because I imagined the shelves and cabinets leading to some secret tunnel that led to a hidden treasure buried there by Japanese soldiers. Sometimes I converted the room into my secret headquarters. But one morning I found an intriguing Agatha Christie pocketbook.
I took it out from the shelf and sat on my dad's favorite reading beach chair at the terrace, examining the cover. That's the most I usually did with books--appreciate the cover. Then I'd put it back on the shelf. But not this time, though. I actually opened the pages and read chapter one. First time in the history of my life. I couldn't believe I finished the first chapter--and actually understood it.
Then I proceeded to the other successive chapters until I finished the whole thing. I started at 9 am and finished when dad and mom announced lunch was ready. Together they cooked sumptuous native Tagalog and Ilocano dishes--my favorites, actually--but my mind was still on the mystery story.
My sisters and brother were at the table beginning their lunch attack, but I was still mulling over why the good, gentle and loving husband in the story murdered his beautiful wife out of mere jealousy. Was that possible in real life?
Then I announced the feat I just accomplished. "I just finished reading a book!"
My family cheered me. I didn't know if my older brother was sincere, but he seemed proud of me. My dad was quite delighted, and I could easily understand why. It was like dream-come-true for him. He'd always wanted me to be a bookworm like him--and a writer too, if possible. But that still seemed a long shot then. My dad was happy that at least I finally landed on square one. One step at a time.
Well, I can only see God's hand in it, because without him I'd never get myself to love reading. Years before that, I couldn't understand why dad would keep a lot of books. Well, my three sisters did well at school, but they weren't bookworms. My older brother was like me, also a book hater (or probably worse). So, what's the point of keeping a lot of books?
But that one Christie pocketbook was followed by another and another until I developed a hunger for stories--especially on mystery detective. I also gradually developed British English in me, unaware that Christie books fashioned their sentence construction that way. It was further reinforced by my craving for Alfred Hitchcock pocketbooks which were also so constructed. I loved stories.
Later, as I read other English books by American authors, my sentence construction was somewhat balanced. I started reading books on history, world economics and politics, business, psychology, inspirational books and Marcos' speeches. Oh, and yes, a lot of martial arts books. I also started a deep fondness for Readers Digest. Soon, when dad spent some time in the US with mom, he was sending me books he thought I'd love.
Finally, when I was 20, I became a certified bookworm. I saw why dad kept a whole library of books at home. He was readying it for one of his children to use someday and possibly walk in his footsteps later as a professional writer. He was editor-in-chief of the Philippines Herald and later consultant at the Bureau of National and Foreign Information. His prayers were answered in me.
So, how do you get to love reading books? Start with stories. We all love a good story. This is why the bible has been number one best selling book for all time. It has lots of stories we can all relate to. Readers Digest is a good start. If you're a bookworm, you'd develop your English speaking skills. And when people hear you talking like that, they'd think you're smart even if you're not. See the advantage?
