Likhâ ng Lahi. Writing Our Way Home: Shaping Tradition, History and Culture

October 18–20, 2013
San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch
100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

In celebration of Filipino American History Month, the San Francisco Public Library will be hosting the second, bi-annual Filipino American International Book Festival (Filbookfest II) at the Main branch on Oct. 18th, 19th, and 20th. The theme of this year's literary event is expressed in a layered title in Tagalog and English. It begins in Tagalog with "Likhâ ng Lahi" (literature of the people) and flows into the second part in English: “Writing Our Way Home: Shaping Tradition, History and Culture.”

Like the highly successful Filbookfest I, also held at the San Francisco Main Library in 2011 and which garnered a Certificate of Honor from the City and County of San Francisco for being a milestone event for the Filipino American community, Filbookfest II will once again showcase the richness of Philippine culture through books, the visual and culinary arts, and music. The three-day festival will open in the afternoon of October 18 with three film documentaries based on award-winning books written by prominent artists from the Philippines. Musician and writer Richie Quirino will be present for the screening of his documentary about Filipino jazz based on his award-winning book Pinoy Jazz Traditions. Also coming from Manila, noted film historian, director and author Nick Deocampo will also be present for two of his documentaries, one on Spanish influences in early Philippine cinema and another on American influences based on his books that are highly regarded.

Saturday and Sunday will feature award-winning authors and artists including M. Evelina Galang, Luisa Igloria, Marivi Soliven, Jon Pineda, and Claude Tayag. In “Hot Off The Press,” published authors will read from their most recent books. In addition, there will be story-telling for children, teens reading their poetry and panels and lectures on a variety of topics such as self-publishing, DIY audience building for writers and artists, endangered Philippine species, and on Carlos Bulosan, one of the revered pioneers of Fil Am literature. The library events will close with a balagtasan, a poetic debate/joust that is unique to the Philippines and was a big hit in the 2011 book festival.

Throughout the festival, books will be available for purchase at the Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Rooms where authors will also sign. Supporters of the festival such as the University of San Francisco, Chevron, San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival, FANHS and other organizations will also be participating.