THIRD FILIPINO-AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA was represented at the 3rd Filipino American International Book Festival!  Editor Eileen Tabios presented and briefly discussed the anthology at her panel on "Filipino American Literature in the 21st Century," moderated by Cecilia Brainard. Here is a photo coverage:

At Third Filipino-American International Book Festival with Karen Llagas (2nd from left) and starting with 5th from left, Edwin Lozada, Cecilia Brainard, Eileen Tabios, Luis Francia, Barbara Jane Reyes, Erin Kelly, Nikki Alfar, Lisa Suguitan Melnick and Dean Alfar.

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Here are some photos from the Book Festival at the Meritage Press Book Table with the fetching assistance of Michelle Bautista's daughter, Gabriella:

(Poet-fictionist Oscar Penaranda with a copy of VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA!)

VTY contributor Amy Pabalan peruses Meritage Press' books!

KUSOG TACLOBAN

We're pleased to announce that Kusog Tacloban is the latest recipient of funds raised from sales of Verses Typhoon Yolanda! From their website:

Join us in our plans for 2015 – providing sustainable, integrated community interventions in Leyte in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan. 

 The goal is to build back better lives. 

 Focus of Kusog Tacloban's next round of projects will be small, rural barangays in Leyte, with the goal of community empowerment and an emphasis on organic farming, sustainable health practices, education, and training in good governance and citizenship.

Some of Kusog Tacloban's projects are described HERE.

VTY REPRESENTED AT CENTER FOR ART AND THOUGHT EXHIBITION

"STORM: A TYPHOON HAIYAN RECOVERY PROJECT" is curated by Johanna F. Almiron and J. Lorenzo Perillo, November 2014 for the Center for Art and Thought.  VTY contributor Janice Sapigao read her poem “An Invocation After Typhoon Haiyan” during their fundraiser event on Nov. 8, 2015.  

Her poem is also posted on the Center for Art and Thought's website HERE.

The Center for Art and Thought is an educational, arts & entertainment, and charity organization.  Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Center-for-Art-and-Thought/219498038124805

CENTER FOR BABAYLAN STUDIES

We are pleased to share that the latest recipient of funds raised from sales of VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA is the Center for Babaylan Studies (CfBS).

CfBS will work with providing relief to Haiyan survivors, specifically working with Panay Bukidnon communities devastated by the typhoon, in conjunction with the relief efforts of Sonoma County, CA.

We thank CfBS for their ongoing outreach to various communities around the world, including those affected by Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.

BABAYLAN PANEL IN SAN FRANCISCO

VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA was part of the books discussed and presented by Eileen Tabios at this event:

[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...

Eileen 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.

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

SONOMA, CALIFORNIA BOOK LAUNCH

EVENTS 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.

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THE PRESS RELEASE

The Sitting Room - A Community Library (near Sonoma State University) will present a book launch for Eileen R. Tabios' 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

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.  All book sales proceeds during this event -- not just from VTY but also Eileen Tabios' two other books -- will be donated for Haiyan relief.  To date, attending VTY poets will include Joi Barrios, Michelle Bautista, Leny Strobel and Marianne Villanueva!

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

For questions: email MeritagePress@aol.com

CHICAGO LAUNCH

A Chicago launch for VERSES TYPHOON YOLANDA was part of a typhoon memorial event--"Typhoon Haiyan, One Year Later: Remembrance and Reconstruction"--on  October 19, 2014 at the Assembly Hall (auditorium), International House, University of Chicago, 1414 E. 59th St., Chicago, IL 60637.

The event began with a reception and included an art display, readings from the book, a musical performance, a dance, and a panel discussing reconstruction efforts. The panel consisted of UNICEF, a Tacloban medical mission, and a university professor.

The event is sponsored by the Filipino American National Historical Society--Midwest Chapter, the Chicago Arts Coalition, and U Chicago departments (Center for International Studies, Program for the Global Environment, and International House).

Information about the event is available on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Typhoon-Haiyan-One-Year-Later-Remembrance-and-Reconstruction/268979129969996

During the event, this video was played; VTY is noted at about 2:40:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxqriDnEsGpiUkdhN0prOGxKaE0/edit

Thanks to VTY contributor Almira Gilles for coordinating!