We are a Northern CA based 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization and independent publisher of Filipino American lit. We have published three anthologies of Filipino American Literature, with the third dedicated to writings in tribute to Jose Rizal. 

PAWA’s main goal is to create and encourage literature and arts for the preservation and enrichment of Filipino and Filipino American historical, cultural and spiritual values.

Our objectives are:

• To encourage the creation of Filipino American literature and arts 
• To create literature and the arts venue for our members 
• To encourage and support Filipino American writers and artists in their creative efforts
• To bring Filipino culture to multiple audiences 
• To institute a forum to bridge authors, artists, and publishers of Philippine American literature 

A Brief History: 

Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc. (PAWA) evolved from what was Philippine American Women Writers and Artists (PAWWA), an organization established in 1994. In 1998, it was reorganized into PAWA to be more inclusive of the community, and membership became open to other Philippine American writers and artists regardless of gender. The original members envisioned PAWA as a venue to create and encourage literature and arts for the preservation and enrichment of Filipino and Filipino American historical, cultural, and spiritual values, and to bring these to a larger audience. Members of the Board and the general membership support and promote one another’s creative efforts.

Since 2009, we have held our monthly literary and performance series in collaboration with Arkipelago Books, the Bayanihan Center, the Filipino American Center at the SF Public Library, the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, Kundiman, Achiote Press, Poets & Writers, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Eth-Noh-Tec, Eastwind Books of Berkeley, Kearny Street Workshop, and Bird & Beckett Books. We are invested in creating venues for Filipino American artists, and have worked to grow our community across ethnic and aesthetic boundaries. We believe it is important to provide access, and opportunity, which we have also done through fiscal sponsorship of community artists.

Our Manuel G. Flores Prize Fund continues to provide annual scholarships to two Kundiman fellows, and two VONA fellows to attend their summer and winter writing retreats. We are now also funding one NVM Gonzalez Writers' Workshop attendee.

In collaboration with various Filipino American community organizations, we organize the Filipino American International Book Festival.

Please check out our blog and our Facebook page where we post links to events, reviews, and new publications. We post artist opportunities for publication, funding, performance, art exhibition, conferences, residencies. We have conducted low cost and free creative writing workshops, in collaboration with PACE (SFSU), Maganda (UCB), the Bayanihan Center, and Bindlestiff Studio.

Ultimately, we are interested in practicing generosity.