PLDT, Inc., previously recognized as the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, has proclaimed the allocation of outdated telephone directories from display at the Directories Philippines Corporation (DPC) Main Office and various junk shops across the nation to a newly established PLDT Library situated within the PLDT Ramon Cojuangco Building in Makati. For several years, efforts have been directed towards creating a proposed library that houses antique telephone directories organized by decade and year, ranging from 1958 to the present. This collection will also feature both older and modern smartphones, computers (including desktops and laptops), printers, projectors, telephone devices, and televisions from various technology firms. The telecommunications powerhouse envisions having a dedicated library within its headquarters.
The exhibition of the historical PLDT-DPC Metro Manila telephone directory in an Ikea bookshelf illustrates the journey from the inaugural official flagship telephone directory published in 1958 (spanning the combined volume era) to the current period (covering the triple-volume era from 1977-1978 to 1983-1984, 1995-1996, and 2014-2015, as well as the double-volume era from 1984-1985 to 1994-1995 and the four-volume era from 1996-1997 to 2013-2014), all meticulously arranged by decade and year. From 1995-1996 to 2013-2014, the yellow pages were divided into two compilations titled "Household & Business" and "Commercial & Industrial," while since 1996, the white pages have been categorized into two sections known as "Government & Business Listings" and "Residential Listings. " The preservation of the covers and pages of these telephone directories is a priority, ensuring that they cannot be incinerated.
