Fil-Am lawyers’ literary anthology debuts on West Coast

Sawaga River Press publisher Justine Villanueva (right) with Jennifer Sta. Ana of Pinay Powerhouse at the West Coast launch of “Rooted in Practice: Pinays in Law.” CONTRIBUTED

SAN FRANCISCO — The literary stylings of Filipino American lawyers from across the United States have been collected and published in an anthology of essays and poetry.

Titled “Rooted in Practice: Pinays in Law,” the book recently had its West Coast launch.

A collaboration between Pinay Powerhouse and Sawaga River Press, the publication’s 28 entries written by Pinay-identifying attorneys touch on a wide range of topics including decolonizing practices, career advice, identity, motherhood and community work.

“This affirming collection represents Pinays engaged in all aspects of the law-practicing and non-practicing attorneys, paralegals, law students, judges, activists – as they balance work, identity and family life,” said Sawaga River Press publisher Justine Villanueva.

Powerhouse

Pinay Powerhouse is a women’s collective focused on empowering attorneys, future attorneys and legal professionals as leaders in the law.

It was founded in 2016 by Christine Start, Mari Bandoma Callado, Lorna Garcia De Guzman, Vanessa Candelaria and Jennifer Sta. Ana.

From left: Mari Bandoma Callado, Jennifer Sta. Ana, Vanessa Candelaria and Christine Start of Pinay Powerhouse, a women’s collective empowering attorneys, future attorneys and legal professionals. CONTRIBUTED

The collective had its inaugural conference in 2017 with over a hundred attendees. Since then, its conferences have provided opportunities to learn about current legal issues, network and celebrate achievements of Filipina legal professionals.

Pinay Powerhouse is already planning for its eighth conference, slated for next year.

Synergy

Villanueva had started attending Pinay Powerhouse’s monthly support circles in 2021 during the pandemic.

“Although I was attending as a Pinay attorney, as I listened to the stories being shared at these events, the publisher in me thought it would be a worthwhile project to gather our stories and create a book because the same goal applies: to honor our stories and experiences,” she says.

“As both an attorney and a publisher, I thought this was a good way to synergize my passions and identities.”

Womanifesting

After a few discussions and a call for submissions, the anthology was completed in about a year. It had its East Coast launch during Pinay Powerhouse’s sixth conference last year.

At the recent launch for the West Coast, which was done with a Kamayan Feast prepared by chef Yana Gilbuena, Villanueva expressed appreciation to the Powerhouse founders.

“Thank you to the Pinay Powerhouse co-founders for envisioning this collective and ‘womanifesting’ our collective dreams. We look forward to more storytelling collaborations in the future,” she said.

Inspiration

“Since the publication of this anthology, I have received much interest from various kinds of readers and community members who appreciate that a book like this exists,” said Villanueva.

“I’ve met young women who are thinking about going to law school and are excited to know that there are many Pinay attorneys they can connect with. Adults who said they know young women who could be inspired by a book like this.

“All these inspire and instruct me as a publisher who wants to be attentive to the needs and wants of the Fil-Am community that I serve. I hope that more community members will pick this up, even if they’re not attorneys or in the legal field.”

“Rooted in Practice” is the first of a projected series of anthologies. “Plans for the next one are already underway,” Villanueva added.

Visit sawagariverpress.com. Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.