BABAYLAN: A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

EVENT REPORT:

[Click on image to enlarge]

Babaylan: 2-4 PM, Sunday,Nov. 9, 2014

San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch

100 Larkin Street

San Francisco

Koret Auditorium

BABAYLAN: A Roundtable Discussion of Bay Area Filipino Women Writers

Eileen R. Tabios joined other Pinay writers sharing narratives in progress and talking  about the importance of the Bay Area for their writing and practice.  Other participants were Jean Vengua, Arlene Biala, Veronica Montes, Elsa Valmidiano and Rose Booker.  Host was Barbara Jane Reyes.

Sponsors: Philippine American Writers and Artists and SFPL.

Barbara Janes Reyes, Veronica Montes, Eileen Tabios, Elsa Valdimiano, Jean Vengua, 

Rose Booker and Arlene Biala. (Sunny Vergara's photo). Art on screen by Trinidad Escobar.

PAWA founder Ed Lozada and Lisa at book table which featured, among others, SUN STIGMATA, THE AWAKENING and VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA

Long-time activist Terry Bautista with a copy of VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA!

Arlene Biala and Barbara Jane Reyes--something about the Giants...

I was also moved to meet Amy Pabalan who was apparently published for the first time when I accepted one of her poems for VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA -- it's always special to midwife that first publication.  Also moved to meet Aileen who apparently had attended some of the events I created years ago in New York for the Asian American Writers Workshop--glad to see those events resonated with attendees.  I was not moved to meet the "elder" ... actually, never mind about that one (grin).

Thanks as well to Mitch Yangson who curates the Filipino American Center for the San Francisco Public Library.

LAUNCHING THREE 2014 BOOKS IN NOVEMBER!

EVENT REPORT:

At The Sitting Room - A Community Library, Eileen R. Tabios launched three 2014 books:

147 MILLION ORPHANS (MMXI-MML) (gradient books, Finland)
SUN STIGMATA (Sculpture Poems) (Marsh Hawk Press, New York)
and
as Editor, VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA (Meritage Press, San Francisco & St. Helena)

Here are photos from the wonderful event:

Erin, a visiting student from Sonoma State University and 

The Sitting Room founder J.J. Wilson by the book table.

Scholar-poet Lily Mendoza

Poet-scholar Leny M. Strobel 

Among the delicious refreshments put together by Sheila Bare was

the above cracker with goat cream cheese and truffle honey. Truffle honey!

Home-made calamansi chips by noted poet-scholar and chef Leny M. Strobel!

Sadly, Eileen's books couldn't compete with Dr. Seuss for Gabriella's attention.

*****

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

YOU ARE INVITED!

http://versestyphoonyolanda.blogspot.com/2014/08/sonoma-california-book-launch.html

The Sitting Room - A Community Library based in Santa Rosa (near Sonoma State University) will present a book launch for three of Eileen R. Tabios' 2014 books:

147 MILLION ORPHANS (MMXI-MML) (gradient books, Finland)
SUN STIGMATA (Sculpture Poems) (Marsh Hawk Press, New York)
and
as Editor, VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA (Meritage Press, San Francisco & St. Helena)

The event is free to the public and will take place at 2 pm, Saturday, November 1, 2014.  Please click on The Sitting Room link for directions and other information.  The Sitting Room is at  2025 Curtis Drive, Penngrove, CA.

Other poets from VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA, also will be present at the launch: Marianne Villanueva, Joi Barrios, Leny Strobel and Michelle Bautista.  All book sales proceeds during this event -- not just from VTY but also Eileen Tabios' two other books -- will be donated for Haiyan relief. Haiyan is known as "Yolanda" in the Philippines.

Readings, discussions, Q&As -- you are invited to attend and participate!

Light refreshments will be served.

For questions: email MeritagePress@aol.com