Fil-Am int’l book festival in San Francisco to fete writers, artists

SAN FRANCISCO – Publications by Filipino writers and artists around the world will be celebrated at the 4^th Filipino American International Book Festival (FilBookFest4) on October 6-8 at the Main Branch of the San Francisco Main Public Library.

The festival’s theme, Pamana: Creating Legacy, expresses PAWA’s aim of creating meaningful legacies for future generations through written and artistic works.

Publications by talented and respected authors and artists from the Philippines, Singapore, Australia and the United States will be spotlighted. Expected to attend are a number of Filipino authors from across the United States who will participate in readings and panels.

FilBookFest4 is presented by the Philippine American Writers and Artists (PAWA), along with the Filipino American Center (SFPL), the San Francisco Public Library, the Philippine Consulate General of San Francisco, and other community partners.

The keynote speaker for the opening gala reception on Friday, October 6, will be Elda Rotor, vice president and publisher of Penguin Classics, which has published works by Philippine national hero José Rizal, and distinguished Filipino authors like Carlos Villa and Nick Joaquin. Rotor will also be a panelist during the festival.

One of the festival highlights is a screening of a docudrama about Filipino writer Nick Joaquin, directed by Sari Dalena. Dahling Nick will be shown on Thursday evening, October 5, as a pre-festival event, at The Philippine Center of San Francisco, 447 Sutter Street.

Another documentary about Filipino comic book artists, Keith Sicat’s Komikero Chronicles, will be screened on Saturday evening, October 7, also at The Philippine Center of San Francisco. Several local graphic/comic book artists will present their work in demonstrations, panel discussions, exhibits and book sales on October 8.

Throughout the festival, book vendors will display their offerings in the Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room at the Main Library. There will also be tables for community organizations.

The festival will conclude with a closing reception on Sunday evening, October 8, at the International Hotel Manilatown Center.

Concurrent with the book fest is The Hinabi Project’s exhibit “Weaving Peace and Dreams: Textile Arts of Mindanao,” at the Mills Building at 220 Montgomery in San Francisco (September 18 to November 24, 2017), sponsored by PAWA, NCCA, NTFP-EP Philippines, PCG of San Francisco, DOT in San Francisco, and other community partners.

For a full schedule of the festival’s activities, a list of the participating authors, or for more information, please go to the festival’s website, <www.filbookfestival.org>. Contact: Edwin Lozada, 415-525-7487, [email protected]