Filipinx literature was in the spotlight at the 5th Annual Filipino American International Book Festival, which took place on Oct. 12 and 13. It was hosted by Philippine American Writers and Artists (PAWA) and the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), along with other community organizations.
Filipinx writers, poets and illustrators from all over the world converged at the San Francisco Public Library’s main branch for two days of kapwa, of shared identity and community. (Full list of participants.)
The theme of this year’s FilBookFest was “Isang Mundó (One World): Humanity, Diversity, and Resistance in the Arts.” Panelists touched upon issues such as Filipinx identity and current politics, including the increasing rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric.
The festival occurs every two years and enables Filipinx writers from diverse “homes,” genres, and generations to come together and share their works in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, as well as their unique writing and lived experiences. The event is always free and open to the public, and the various panels appealed to patrons of all ages. For example, children were treated to a puppet show and storytime featuring Filipinx characters and stories, while others could enjoy panels on poetry and graphic novels.
The festival also featured a marketplace for book vendors, author tables, author signings, and community organizations.
The Filipinx diaspora spans continents and generations. Events such as the FilBookFest play a vital role in connecting the ever-growing community. The FilBookFest also serves as a platform to share voices and perspectives from an Asian minority largely absent from U.S. mainstream media, despite being the second largest Asian group in the country.
SFPL librarian (and co-chair of APALA’s Media & Publicity Committee) Jaena Rae Cabrera was in attendance. Check out some of the photos from the festival. (Photos by Jaena Rae Cabrera, unless otherwise noted.)
Friday night gala: (from left to right) Christina Newhard of Sari-Sari Storybooks, Jaena Rae Cabrera, Malaka Gharib, Yasmine San Pedro, and Leah Kabigting Sicat. 
The first panel was “If You Want to Know What We Are,” featuring Lily Ann Villaraza, Ivy Alvarez, Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta, Angelo R. Lacuesta, R. Zamora Linmark, Yves Lamson, and Randy Ribay. 
Panel: Hot Off The Press 1. Featuring Walter Ang, Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino, Alfred A. Yuson, Aileen Cassinetto, Criselda Yabes, Cecilia Brainard, E.J.R. David, Cindy Fazzi, Grace Talusan, Elmer Omar Bascos Pizo, and Moderator Cecilia Brainard. 
Grace Talusan and Dr. EJR David 
Poet Jason Bayani during Filipinx Diasporic Poetry. 
Christina Newhard, Jaena Rae Cabrera, Grace Talusan and Ricco Siasoco. 
Abraham Ignacio, Jaena Rae Cabrera, Jose Antonio Vargas, Michael Lambert, Edwin Lozada, and Lisa Suguitan Melnick. Photo by Tony Remington. 
Keynote speaker Jose Antonio Vargas. 
Jaena Rae Cabrera and Malaka Gharib 
Graphically Speaking panel: Don Ellis Aguillo, Raf Salazar, Malaka Gharib, AJ Dungo, Ethan Chua, and Angelo R. Lacuesta.
Malaka Gharib, author/illustrator of “I Was Their American Dream,” summed up the weekend pretty nicely in this Twitter thread:
wow. just finished up at the filipino american intl book festival and i have some thoughts.
— Malaka Gharib (@MalakaGharib) October 14, 2019
1. I have never been surrounded by this many filipino writers and artists before. i’ve never seen so many people in one room who cared so much about telling the story of the filipino. pic.twitter.com/SXYoHbn3IK