GenSan is 3rd Mindanao city to host National Book Store
A lot have been written about the new branch of National Book Store which just had a soft opening last May 9, 2008 at the Gaisano Mall of GenSan.
First, my good friend Gilbert blogged about it months back, followed by a few more bloggers. Now, it’s as if everyone who has a blog or a Multiply account and is based here has talked about it.
The Tuna Capital is actually the third city in Mindanao where National Book Store (that’s three words) now exists, after Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Surprisingly though, the NBS Corporate Website has not updated its list & nowhere there could you find any mention of their GenSan branch.
Well, anyway, we are still glad that it’s here and discover that it is everything that we in Soccsksargen have ever imagined. I try to drop by at least thrice a week and it amazes me at no end that on every visit, new things are always in store for me.
If you just search every nook and cranny, you will discover some priceless literary gems waiting for you.
Other than its exhaustive merchandise (well, if you ask for it and it’s not available, they’ll order it from their main office for you) is its well-illuminated and tastefully done interiors which does not assault the eyes.
Much of this has got to do with its location at Gaisano’s upper level just beside the main entrance. It allows it to have its own display window parallel to the mall’s main road (see picture below). Thus with it directly facing the east, just imagine how bright it is inside when the sun’s rays shines through. Only downside to this is the observation that the area near the window is quite warm and would need more air-conditioning.
National Book Store in Gaisano Mall is right beside the main access road of the Mall and can be seen through a floor-to-ceiling display window.
Once you get inside the main doors of the mall, you won’t miss National’s entrance because it’s located to the right of the main doors of the new atrium.
Although its floor area is smaller than its branches at the Gaisanao Mall of Davao and SM Davao, it makes up for it by having a mezzanine for its bestsellers, which can be accessed by two winding stairs, one of which is shown below.
The rest of the pictures below are taken from the mezzanine and will show you views of the ground area.
This one is shot from the back end of the mezzanine.
This picture was taken from the other end of the mezzanine, just above the display window.
Lastly is this picture of the mezzanine, which is wide enough for only two averaged-built people to stand shoulder to shoulder but could get quite difficult for chubs like me. This area could use their own airconditioners too because it is quite stuffy making it uncomfortable for browsers like me.
But we don’t have time to fret about that, don’t we?
With National’s trust in the economy of GenSan, and the confirmation from the City Mayor’s Office that Robinson’s has just presented their “Commence to Construct” (or whatever you call it) directive from the Gokongwei‘s for their Mall and Hotel at their 8-hectare lot along the Lagao Road, then it’s only a matter of time when all the big players for literary junkies like me (Powerbooks, A Different Bookstore, etc.) will come up lining the doors of the Tuna Capital.
And that deserves another series of posts here, of course.
Promise. 
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Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
Dean Says:
Hmm. Maypa ang GenSan, naa nay NBS.
We’re still bookstore-less here in Butuan. Oh, well. LOL
Deans last blog post..Beyond high school
Posted on May 30th, 2008 at 9:49 AM
arfel Says:
bongga!
Posted on May 30th, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Rue Ramas Says:
Hi Avel. You should be issuing more informative news like this one. I suggest you ldo some consolidated issues like hotels, beaches, restaurants, picnic areas, function halls, with their corresponding rates, locations, what-to-watch, etc. This in turn, we can forward to those asking what to expect in Gensan.
Did you get your mom’s photo I sent you and Orman. Wala man lang thank you? hehe
Posted on May 30th, 2008 at 11:48 AM
bariles Says:
Hi Dean! Am sure Butuan is one of NBS’ future sites. Thanks for visiting.
Arfel, korek ka jan! You’re missing a lot my friend so come home soon!
Rue, I have been doing that since I started this blog. No, I have not seen Mommy’s pic yet. Orman is soooooo forgetful. He even forgot to say bye when he left for Dumaguete yesterday. Memory gap is how you call it. Hehehe! Thanks Rue. Keep on commenting.
Posted on May 30th, 2008 at 12:26 PM
epm Says:
I so miss my hometown. This is really good news. Any news about SM and Robinsons putting up their business in Gensan?
Posted on May 30th, 2008 at 2:10 PM
bariles Says:
Hi epm. If you read my post up to the very end, you’ll get your answer. Thanks for being here.
Posted on May 30th, 2008 at 6:05 PM
epm Says:
Sorry. I was really amazed with the photos you’ve posted that I forgot to read the entire post. =D
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 8:49 AM
rachel Says:
Hi Avel! my gosh! am i that busy?? i haven’t been to NBS but thanks to the pix! galeng-galeng mo talaga! Let’s see each other before armie goes back to Mla on June 10. Miss yah!
Rachel
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 11:28 AM
bariles Says:
hello rachel! it’s been a long time. good thing you’ve subscribed to bariles republic. now you will be updated regularly on what’s happening. hehehe! miss you too chel.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 4:38 PM
kengkay Says:
i was in gensan a long long time ago, invited to launch a new office
stayed there on our way to polomolok. am glad to know na ang dami ng very good advancements sa area ninyo and am glad to know there are really bloggers who talk about their part of pinas. nakakataba ng aking pinoy na puso. and you know what, NBS is the best pa rin, been in most european countries since am a book lover, i wouldnt miss a single bookstore — panalo talaga ang NBS!
kengkays last blog post..Maganda sa Pinas
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Rene Zubieta Says:
That’s a big Advancement for gensan and its population. People will now have access to a lot of things that before could only be seen if you go to mla.
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 9:27 PM
bariles Says:
hi kengkay! it’s comments from fellow bloggers which inspires me to continue what am doing. community blogger talga ako just like hundreds of pinoys like me who would like nothing than to blog about their hometowns and give readers a positive take on their area.
NBS is a blessing to the city and yes, I agree it is the best. Mura pa!!!
Salamat sa pagbisita! Happy blogging!
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 AM
bariles Says:
Hi Rene! You are right! I liked travelling to Manila before because of NBS and to update myself of the latest movies. Now, i dont have to do that because the country’s #1 bookstore is now here and the cinemas at the KCC Mall run blockbuster movies simultaneously with the big city. That’s big savings!!!
Thanks for subscribing by the way, my new friend!
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Ayel Says:
I blogged about it, too in my blog about books…
Parang ukay-ukay lang ang National Book Store sa Gaisano sa dami ng taong pumupunta… Hehe.
Posted on June 3rd, 2008 at 10:52 AM
bariles Says:
Ayel, yes i read it. I am subscribed to you, remember? Your observation re NBS is right! what happens to Kristan Bookstore and other small suppliers now? They will be forced to lower their prices to be able to compete. They’ve been enjoying a higher margin on their textbooks since time immemorial.
Posted on June 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 AM
mojojoJOAH Says:
yey! cant wait to get home and hang out at the national bookstore!! lol. from the pics it looks even bigger than the one in davao! yipee!
Posted on June 4th, 2008 at 2:04 PM
bariles Says:
Hi mojojoJoah! hehehe! actually, the SM Davao branch is twice bigger than the Gaisano Gensan branch. How was your family’s visit there?
bariless last blog post..Search for Hari ng GenSan 2008 is here!
Posted on June 5th, 2008 at 6:22 PM
orman Says:
power to the consumer! thanks to NBS, every bookstore in town will have to adjust their prices. since NBS opened it’s been an SRO crowd everyday! and mind you, they are the BUYING CROWD. i should know, i got the NBS account..hehehe! the first time i set foot on NBS grounds, i reaalllyyy felt like i was in makati. galenng ng feeling. i had to buy something so i bought the ADOBO BOOK! hahahaha! am sure paul (gaisano) is grinning from ear to ear…he just nailed a much sought-after account! tagay ta paul! we’re both smiling from ear to ear!
ormans last blog post..Way Over Yonder by Carole King
Posted on June 20th, 2008 at 12:28 AM
halalulu Says:
koronadal city must have NBS also !!
halalulus last blog post..my profile
Posted on June 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 AM
joey gerona Says:
i am so happy, for six years na wala ako sa pilipinas, am living here in toronto (scarborough area), ontario, canada, malaki na ang improvement ng gensan! at least the big establishments of metro manila are coming to, and the others has arrived in gensan! gensan, sosi no, di paulahi sa manila, di ba? Hello to mayor jun acharon, nael, raul, mr. dos pueblos, i met them last year dito sa scarborough…mabuhay ang socsargen!
Posted on July 8th, 2008 at 12:49 PM
epm Says:
Hi.. until now, the official website for National bookstore is not yet updated. =(
Posted on July 11th, 2008 at 7:41 PM
marejen Says:
i really amaze the place of national bookstore here in gensan,,,i love to buy school supplies for my students…its really nice and conventient place for me…
Posted on August 14th, 2008 at 2:28 PM
gensanite Says:
starbucks na ang sunod!!!
Posted on August 14th, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Jordan Ray Quinco Says:
Hello guys… astig na ang gensan ah… ang dami ng improvements…
sir bariles… (ano nga po name nyo?.. ehhe)… nagpost po kau ng about sa NBS… “Surprisingly though, the NBS Corporate Website has not updated its list & nowhere there could you find any mention of their GenSan branch.”…. –> when i visited their website, i scrolled on the mindanao area… and i only saw davao and cdo… pero when i scrolled the Visayas area.. there you can find po GENSAN… ehhe.. natawa lang ako kasi… bakit dun nalagay? hehhe.. namali lang siguro…
anyways.. like ur site.. and loving gensan.. woohooo.. GOd bless us all…
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Fahdingding Says:
Hope for a 2nd branch!
Posted on July 8th, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Chandra Biskup Says:
Yes.
Posted on August 15th, 2010 at 1:44 AM