TRAVELS (and more) WITH CECILIA BRAINARD: Krip Yuson writes a Recap of the 5th Filipino American Int'l Book Festival

Monday, October 21, 2019

Krip Yuson writes a Recap of the 5th Filipino American Int'l Book Festival

Humanity, Diversity & Resistance in the Arts
By Krip Yuson
The Philippine Star, Oct. 21, 2019

So many books, so little time.

Once again, this disproportion came into sorry focus during my brief participation at the 5th Filipino American International Book Festival held at the San Francisco Main Library from Oct. 11 to 13. Organized biennially by the Philippine American Artists & Writers Inc. (PAWA), this year’s fest had the theme “Isang Mundó: Humanity, Diversity, and Resistance in the Arts” — with over 80 writers from several countries and all over the USA converging for readings, panel discussions and book signings.

From Manila, invited were novelist-journalist Criselda Yabes, poet Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta, fictionist Angelo “Sarge” Lacuesta, and this writer. I was giddy to meet up too with my godson Lucas Lacuesta at the opening gala reception, as well as old Fil-Am friends: poet Eugene Gloria, poet-novelist R. Zamora “Zack” Linmark, poet Elmer Omar Pizo (a Silliman University National Writers Workshop alumnus now based in Honolulu), journalist-author Benjamin “Boying” Pimentel, photographer-author Rick Rocamora, Ricco Siasoco, journalist-author Walter Ang, and artist Mel Vera Cruz. Also shook hands for the first time with Paloma Press publisher and poet Aileen Cassinetto.

The next few days would feature more meet-ups with old friends and erstwhile unseen correspondents. On Day 2, I joined the first of the “Hot Off the Press” author readings at Koret Auditorium, moderated by novelist Cecilia Brainard. The other readers were Walter Ang, Betty Ann Quirino, E.J. Ramos David, Cindy Fazzi, Grace Talusan, Cassinetto, Pizo, Yabes, and Brainard. San Francisco’s hotshot poet Tony Robles live-streamed this event on FB, where it may still be found.

Read more at https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2019/10/21/1961796/humanity-diversity-resistance-arts?fbclid=IwAR1oKYIMUwj5r4PsJ-DgcWh0mIMEHbUQ7H_4OyNuhKAgLyEc1zX7ybVaG8Q#RprAc1xWCMuuF5Fb.99

~~~
Many thanks to Krip Yuson for mentioning me and HOTP readers.

tags: Philippines, Filipino, literature, books, writers, authors, #FilAmBookfest #FilAmLitFest

You can watch the entire first HOTP reading on Facebook streamed by Tony Robles:

https://www.facebook.com/tony.robles.330/videos/10156415101611975/?fref=gs&dti=400193900082870&hc_location=group

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's official website is ceciliabrainarddotcom. She is the award-winning author and editor of 22 books, including When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, The Newspaper Widow, Magdalena, Selected Stories, Vigan and Other Stories, and more. She edited Growing Up Filipino 1, 2, & 3, Fiction by Filipinos in America, Contemporary Fiction by Filipinos in America, and other books.. Her work has been translated into Finnish and Turkish; and many of her stories and articles have been widely anthologized. Cecilia has received many awards, including a California Arts Council Fellowship in Fiction, a Brody Arts Fund Award, a Special Recognition Award for her work dealing with Asian American youths, as well as a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate, 21st District, and the Outstanding Individual Award from her birth city, Cebu, Philippines. She has lectured and performed at UCLA, USC, University of Connecticut, University of the Philippines, PEN, Shakespeare & Company in Paris, and many others. She has served in the Board of literary arts groups such as PEN, PAWWA (Pacific Asian American Writers West), among others.