About Centralbooks
Centralbooks is the consumer brand of Central Book Supply, Inc., one of the oldest and most established publishers and distributors of legal, academic, and professional books in the Philippines. Founded in 1945 by Dr. Ernesto Y. Sibal, the company has become a leading name in Philippine legal publishing and is widely recognized for producing law books, codals, reviewers, textbooks, and the Supreme Court Reports Annotated (SCRA).1
Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand Name | Centralbooks |
| Legal Entity | Central Book Supply, Inc. |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Founder | Dr. Ernesto Y. Sibal |
| Industry | Book Publishing, Printing, Distribution, Educational Services |
| Headquarters | Quezon City, Philippines |
| Core Markets | Philippines |
| Specialization | Law books, academic books, professional publications, print-on-demand, digital legal resources |
| Website | Centralbooks |
History
Central Book Supply, Inc. was established in 1945, shortly after World War II. Its first bookstore operated at 769 Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila, serving lawyers, judges, students, educators, and professionals seeking authoritative legal references.1
Over the decades, the company expanded from a traditional bookstore into one of the country’s largest legal publishers. It continuously invested in printing technology, digital publishing, and nationwide distribution while maintaining its reputation for producing reliable legal and academic references.1
Business
Centralbooks operates across several publishing and educational services:
- Legal publishing
- Academic textbook publishing
- Professional reference books
- Book retailing
- Nationwide distribution
- Digital legal research
- Print-on-demand publishing
- Self-publishing services
Its business serves:
- Law students
- Lawyers
- Judges
- Government agencies
- Universities
- Colleges
- Researchers
- Professionals1
Products and Services
Legal Books
Centralbooks is best known for publishing:
- Codals
- Annotated legal texts
- Law commentaries
- Bar review books
- Law textbooks
- Legal manuals
- Casebooks
These publications cover nearly every major field of Philippine law, including:
- Civil Law
- Criminal Law
- Constitutional Law
- Commercial Law
- Taxation
- Labor Law
- Remedial Law
- Political Law1
Supreme Court Reports Annotated (SCRA)
One of Centralbooks’ flagship publications is the Supreme Court Reports Annotated (SCRA).
The SCRA contains:
- Supreme Court decisions
- Editorial syllabi
- Legal annotations
- Case summaries
- Citations used by lawyers and courts
Central Book Supply is the exclusive publisher and seller of SCRA, making it one of the company’s most significant contributions to Philippine legal education and practice.1
e-SCRA
To support digital legal research, Centralbooks developed e-SCRA, an online legal research platform featuring:
- Supreme Court decisions dating from 1901 to the present
- Search and browse functions
- Digital citation tools
- Regular updates
- Subscription access for individuals and institutions
The service is widely used by legal professionals, law schools, and libraries.1
College Books
Beyond law, Centralbooks publishes textbooks and reviewers in disciplines such as:
- Accountancy
- Nursing
- Medicine
- Engineering
- Psychology
- Tourism
- Business
- Architecture
- Pharmacy
- Education1
General Books
The company also offers:
- Children’s books
- Fiction
- Non-fiction
- Reference books
- Professional publications
through its general bookstore division.1
Print-on-Demand
Centralbooks offers Print-on-Demand (POD) services, allowing authors and organizations to publish books in small or customized print runs. Services include:
- Editing
- Book layout
- Printing
- Binding
- ISBN assistance
- Publishing
- Marketing support
This enables independent authors to publish without large inventory commitments.1
PictureBooks
The company’s PictureBooks service specializes in:
- Coffee table books
- Personalized photo books
- Photography portfolios
- Art books
It focuses on premium short-run printing and customization.1
Yearbooks on Demand
Centralbooks also produces customized yearbooks for:
- Schools
- Universities
- Organizations
- Businesses
with design, printing, and production services.1
Distribution Network
Centralbooks distributes its publications through:
- Physical bookstores
- Official online store
- Partner bookstores
- Educational institutions
- E-commerce platforms
- Nationwide courier services
The company offers same-day delivery within Metro Manila for eligible orders and nationwide shipping across the Philippines.1
Technology
Centralbooks has expanded into digital publishing by adopting:
- Electronic publishing
- Print-on-demand technology
- Digital legal databases
- Online ordering systems
- Subscription-based legal research services
These initiatives complement its long-standing expertise in traditional publishing.1
Retail Locations
Centralbooks operates several branches in the Philippines, including locations in:
- Quezon City (head office)
- Makati
- Manila
- Cebu
- Davao
These branches serve students, professionals, and institutions nationwide.1
Reputation
Within the Philippine legal community, Centralbooks is regarded as one of the country’s leading legal publishers. Its codals, textbooks, reviewers, and SCRA volumes are commonly used by:
- Law schools
- Bar examinees
- Lawyers
- Judges
- Government legal offices
The company is particularly recognized for its comprehensive catalog of Philippine legal references and its long history in legal publishing.1
Legacy
With more than 80 years of publishing history, Centralbooks has played a significant role in the development of legal education and professional publishing in the Philippines. Through its combination of traditional print publishing, digital legal resources, and print-on-demand services, the brand continues to serve students, educators, legal practitioners, and researchers across the country.1
