No virus could keep the Big Bad Wolf away. While many events have been canceled or postponed because of COVID-19, the Big Bad Wolf sale in Manila pushed through, opening on Valentine’s Day at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. It will run 24/7 until Feb. 24.

“It’s a commitment,” said Jacqueline Ng, Big Bad Wolf Books cofounder and executive director. “It wasn’t an easy call. We know that there will be a 10- or 20-percent drop in the customers coming in; you’re kind of guaranteed that you’ll lose money. That is a fact. But if we canceled, we wouldn’t be back until 2021 and we couldn’t tell our customers, ‘Sorry, see you next year.’ We can’t do that.”

But, of course, they want everyone safe. There are infrared thermometers and hand sanitizers at the entrance and exit. Customers are encouraged to wear masks while employees are required to wear masks and to always sanitize their hands. Those with a high temperature will not be allowed to enter.

“We’re taking precautions. We want to be responsible to our customers. We are taking steps to protect them and the crew. Our main philosophy is, we cannot surrender to fear,” said Ng.

Their other philosophy is providing affordable books to people from all walks of life, thus their partnership with Gawad Kalinga.

“All we want is for children to have a dream so they can be inspired. That is important,” Ng said.

Big Bad Wolf has pledged 1,000 books which will be distributed by Gawad Kalinga to communities in areas affected by the Taal Volcano and communities and schools in Mindoro as a form of psychosocial rehabilitation. You can also buy books for donations—it’s yet another way of spreading love.

If your Valentine is a bookworm, you might want to spend your weekend buying books at a bargain (50- to 90-percent off). There are 33,000 titles available (including 17,000 titles you haven’t seen at Big Bad Wolf before)—and, yes, there are plenty of young adult books and graphic novels. There are books by Stephen King, Rick Riordan, Rainbow Rowell, Jay Asher, Jenny Han, George R.R. Martin, J.K. Rowling and so many more.