Entrepreneur invests in Cebu’s first library café for homegrown authors

Local authors gather at the PhiloSophia Library Cafe, a place where entrepreneur Caroline Porras can showcase the books that ClintKAMMS Corp. publishes and for local authors to converge and talk about their craft. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO).

ENTREPRENEUR Caroline Porras, president and chief executive officer of ClintKAMMS Corp., invested about P1 million or another business venture that will serve as home of printed books and a venue for authors to converge and discuss their craft.

Porras, who has been in the printing business in the last 14 years, sees the opening of PhiloSophia Library Café as part of the “forward integration” of ClintKAMMS and its subsidiaries, SoLine Publishing Co. Inc. and Phialo Trading Corp.

“The business is growing and we needed to have a venue where we can showcase the books we printed here … to tell the public that Cebu can produce high-quality books that we can be proud of,” said Porras, whose company prints coffee table books and textbooks.

PhiloSophia Library Café, located along M.C. Briones Street in Mandaue City, can also serve as a training venue for teachers, students and other groups as it is equipped with sound system, microphones and LCD projector and screen.

It can accommodate around 20 to 30 people.

“This is perhaps the only café of its kind in Cebu because the books displayed here are written mostly by local authors and printed by a local printing company,” said Porras.

She said they are looking at opening PhiloSophia branches in Cagayan De Oro and Davao so the books will have a home in these major cities in Mindanao. This will hopefully reach the huge but untapped market in the cities of Pagadian, Ozamiz, Bukidnon, Iligan, Butuan and Cotabato.

Porras works closely with the University of San Carlos (USC) Press in many book projects.

The books by Cebuano authors such as Resil Mojares, Simeon Dumdum Jr., Jobers Bersales, Louie Nacorda, Raymund Fernandez and Louella Alix, which are under USC Press, were printed by ClintKAMMS.

The commemorative book, Days of Hope and Glory, on the 51st International Eucharistic Congress was put together by writers and team members of Phialo Trading and was printed at ClintKAMMS.

Cafe business

Porras said entering the café business has not been difficult for her since she has a background in running a fast-food chain franchise in the past.

This is further strengthened by a 14-year experience in running a printing company which was marked by several issues and challenges. Despite the setbacks, Porras managed to continue the business and come out stronger.

PhiloSophia is a play on the word “philosophy” and Porras daughter’s name, “Sophia.”

Porras was actively involved in the café’s design which exudes an antique ambiance.

Porras said the café embraces “love for knowledge” and welcomes people to dine and drink in an atmosphere of learning and art.