‘Professional Lola’ inspired by Filipino American author’s love for family

By WALTER ANG 
July 9, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

LOS ANGELES — Filipino American EP Tuazon has released A Professional Lola and Other Stories.

The book is a collection of short stories that "blend literary fiction with the surreal to present the contemporary Filipino American experience and its universal themes of love, family and identity."

As the book's title hints at, in one of the tales in the collection, a family hires an actress to play their beloved grandmother at a party.

Other scenarios that readers can encounter include a couple craving Filipino food robbing a panaderya (bakery), a coven of Filipino witches casting a spell on their husbands and a Lolo transforming into a Lola.

These are just a few of among the roster of pieces "beautifully grounded in culture and vividly and meticulously painted to make the absurd seem mundane and the commonplace, sinister."

Inspiration

In an interview with Berkely Fiction Review, Tuazon spoke of how instrumental his maternal and paternal grandmothers were in his upbringing. "Both of my Lolas .  regardless of what's going on, even if it's hard, even if they're having a bad day, they still took care of us.

"I thought of that as something really endearing but also professional. Despite who you're dealing with, I always saw my lolas [giving] us 100 percent of their love, almost like a professional," they said.

Tuazon also mentioned that they love to incorporate elements into stories to include "some sort of representation" of their background as a Filipino American.

They said in the interview, "There's writing out there by other Filipino Americans and there are a lot of other Filipino writers [whose work] I really like, but [they do not necessarily reflect] the kind of experience that I had growing up.

"I wanted to write a story based on those kinds of experiences from my point of view of what the culture is like. This is a love story to my family. Everybody has a different perspective of the Filipino American experience, but I wanted to share mine and there's a lot of humor to it."

Tuazon said that coming up with this collection of stories has "made me a lot closer to the people I love and care about and to my culture."

Process

Talking to Inquirer.net USA, Tuazon shared that they started writing in high school and college. "I fell in love with reading in college. I feel like I learned a lot from [the books] I love to read. Slowly, I learned."

"I used to find an author and read everything they've ever written. I'm still reading and learning and being amazed by all the new ways people can tell a story."

Tuazon mentioned Filipino American writers Jessica Hagedorn and Lysley Tenorio among their list of favorite authors.

When it came time to write their own book, Tuazon explained that the earliest story in the collection was written in 2017. "It took about two years to find homes for most of the stories in different magazines." Eventually, the stories were compiled into the book. "So the whole process of the book was probably seven years!" they added with a laugh.

Overall, Tuazon, wanted to feature stories about identity. "Lola, lolo, brother, sister, ate, kuya, husband, wife. Gender, sexuality, kababayan. In addition, I wanted to showcase different facets of the Filipino American diaspora."

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/152890/professional-lola-inspired-by-fil-am-authors-love-for-family

Creative writing 'playshop' launched for young Filipino Americans

By WALTER ANG
July 3, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

CHICAGO — Young Filipino Americans will get a chance to flex their imaginations and creativity, and even learn some archeology skills at the Hidden Treasures: Unearthing Our Stories Workshop from Aug. 2 to 4, 2024.

Organized by the NVM and Narita Gonzalez Writers' Workshop, this special weekend-long youth writers' program is open to kids and teens ages 8 to 18. Last day to register July 26, 2024.

Participants will learn to "create stories, poetry, even songs, in any form or media they choose" using prompts based on artifacts from the Field Museum's Philippine Heritage Collection. They will be guided through writing games, "dreamstorming" (the workshop's version of brainstorming), how to create a zine and a student showcase, among other activities.

"Join us for an incredible journey to the Philippines at the exhibit," says Mary Grace Bertulfo, the group's midwest program director.

"A 19th-century helmet and armor made of carabao horn. Colorful barangay (boat) and outriggers. Toys and games. Who knows what intriguing treasures the young writers will encounter? These artifacts can inspire and enrich their stories."

The workshop aims to make writing and storytelling fun. Parents and educators may take comfort in knowing that the workshop's instructors "will be encouraging the more tentative students to explore story forms and writing techniques they may be curious about, such as comics, poetry, creative nonfiction, short stories, essays, etc.," says the organization's vice-president Lisa Melnick Suguitan.

"We welcome students with any level of curiosity and skill. Instead of workshops, we call our writing sessions playshops. Often, kids approach writing with some nervousness. There's anxiety over tests, grammar and being graded. Writing can be a mysterious and challenging process.

"Our playshops bring joy to the writing process, exploration and innovation. The emphasis is on nourishing the young storyteller's creative process, celebrating taking creative risks.

"They can write on their phones or devices or in notebooks. They can write short stories, poems, essays, short stories or draw comics and manga. The choice is theirs."

Workshops

The workshop will be taught by the following Filipino American instructors who will help participants hone their skills and help them find ways to achieve their creative goals.

Writer, artist, educator and comics maker Isabel Garcia-Gonzales. Her zine Fledgling Comics has been included as required reading in college courses such as Introduction to Asian American Studies and Introduction to Creative Writing.

Lisa Suguitan Melnick has more than 35 years of experience as a writing instructor. She is the author of #30 Collantes Street.

Mary Grace Bertulfo has written for television (CBS) and children's education (Pearson Education Asia, Schlessinger). Her award-winning fiction, essays and poetry have appeared in Growing Up Filipino II, City of Big Shoulders, Dear Human on the Edge of Time, and various anthologies. She is the founder of Banyan Asian American Writers Collective.

Educator Michael Gonzalez is the founder and director of the NVM and Narita Gonzalez Writers' Workshop. He is a faculty member of the City College of San Francisco.

Heritage, legacy, stories

The NVM and Narita Gonzalez Writers' Workshop offers fiction writing workshops both in the US and the Philippines.

Founded in honor of Filipino novelist, short story writer, essayist and poet Néstor Vicente Madali Gonzalez, the workshop's mission is to encourage people of all ages, genders and ethnicities to discover writing as an expression of self and of others.

Some of Gonzalez's novels include The Bamboo Dancers, A Season of Grace: A Novel and The Bread of Salt and Other Stories.

"NVM Gonzalez believed that literature is the mirror of a people's collective soul to be cultivated with care and with creativity. We hope our workshops fulfill this mission," says Michael Gonzalez. "Inspired by NVM's life story, we develop programs that cultivate appreciation for fiction writing, visual arts, and music."

For details, visit nvmgonzalez.org. Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/152511/creative-writing-playshop-launched-for-young-fil-ams

First-ever Filipino American theater festival in Chicago looking for playwrights

By WALTER ANG
July 1, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

CHICAGO —  Submissions for plays are now being accepted for the inaugural Chicago Filipino American Theatre Festival, which will be held in October.

The festival is organized by Fil-Am theatre and community arts organization Circa Pintig.

Selected submissions will receive a staged reading at the festival. Talkback sessions will be held after each performance with the artists involved in the play.

"The theme of the festival is 'Kapwa,' says Ginger Leopoldo, the group's executive director. "It is the same theme of our season this year."

The theme is about "connecting with kapwang Pilipino" through new theater works "focusing on the Filipino experience."

"This is our first festival for new works. We are accepting works from playwrights here in the US and globally."

In addition to providing a venue for new plays, the Chicago Filipino American Theatre Festival will also showcase readings and performances of the following plays: "Leaving Mother: Anak ni Tapia" by Lani Montreal; "The Butterfly of Chula Vista" by Giovanni Ortega; "Daryo's All-American Diner" by Conrad Panganiban; "Crossroads" by Foline Roos; and "Hail Mary/Maria" by RJ Silva.

Action through arts

The organization began its activities in 1986 and became Pintig Cultural Group in 1991. Pintig means "pulse" in Tagalog. Circa, which eventually became part of the group's name as its goals and ethos broadened, is an acronym for Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts.

Circa-Pintig prides itself on not just existing simply for entertainment or 'art-for-art's' sake. It sees itself as a theater group that engages community members in collective action through the arts.

For more than 30 years now, Circa-Pintig has been immersing its volunteers and students in using theater as a tool to tackle difficult topics that affect their communities. The group has touched on issues such as internalized racism, homophobia, economic exploitation and youth trafficking, in "creative and engaging ways."

Submission Information

Playwrights who identify as Filipino American, Filipino or with Filipino heritage "are deeply encouraged" to submit.

The submission must be an original 10 to 15-minute play or excerpts from full-length pieces. Submissions that have been previously produced or published will not be accepted.

Submissions must note if the play includes non-English languages (Tagalog, Bisaya, Spanish, etc.) and must include English translations.

The submission must begin with a front page that includes the work's title followed by the playwright's name, email and a 200-250 word playwright's bio.

A playwright may submit up to two plays but only one entry will be accepted. A script may have more than one author.

Include a character list not to exceed a cast of seven performers (who can play multiple roles if necessary).

The manuscript must be typed in at least font size 12 and pages must be numbered.

"We encourage you to send your best work that would enhance and amplify the Filipino narrative in the diaspora." Playwrights whose works will be selected will receive a small stipend.

The judges selecting works will be comprised of a panel of Circa Pintig playwrights and artistic associates, including Lani Montreal, Conrad Panganiban, Larry Leopoldo, Myra Kalaw, Giovanni Ortega and Luis Pascasio.

Submissions are due on July 31, 2024. Selections will be notified by August 31, 2024.

Email info@circapintig.org or visit circapintig.org. Circa Pintig is included in the book Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/152312/first-ever-fil-am-theatre-festival-in-chicago-looking-for-playwrights

Filipino American books to read for the Fourth of July

By WALTER ANG
June 29, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

The Fourth of July in the United States is a celebration of the country's independence. In the Philippines, it celebrates Philippine Republic Day, also known as Philippine-American Friendship Day.

That date holds a different significance when it comes to relations between the two countries as it marks Philippine-American Friendship Day.

According to the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project, it is a day that "pays tribute to the long partnership between the two countries."

For a day that can hold so much meaning for so many different people, it can serve as an opportunity to reflect on what these themes mean for each of us individually and for our loved ones, our families, communities and, yes, nations.

What are the different meanings of independence? How is freedom interpreted by different people? What is being a nation supposed to be like? Does contemplating or learning about these ideas have to be serious or can it be done in entertaining ways? Or both at the same time?

What songs, movies, TV shows, YouTube videos, TikToks, podcasts, video games, plays, musicals, photos, paintings, sculptures, architecture, fashion, food, dances, games, sports and other activities do you think can help us think or feel more about these holidays' meanings?

In the meantime, here are some books with a mix of topics that can help you get in the mood for these holidays.

History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos
Luis H. Francia

Begins with the pre-Westernized Philippines in the 16th century and continues through the 1899 Philippine-American War, the nation's relationship with the United States' controlling presence, culminating with its independence in 1946 and ongoing insurgencies.

The Filipino-American Kitchen: Traditional Recipes, Contemporary Flavors
Jennifer M. Aranas

Chef and teacher Jennifer Aranas takes readers on a gastronomic tour, from sweet and spicy to smoky and tangy, while transforming delicious native recipes into easy-to-make meals in this collection of over 100 recipes, which includes everything from appetizers to desserts. Innovative interpretations of recipes include Duck Adobo, Salmon Kilaw, Lamb Casoy, Ambrosia Shortcake, Hearty Paella, Sweet Halo-Halo Sundaes and more.

Fiction by Filipinos in America
Edited by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

A collection of short stories conveying the history of Filipinos in America via fiction. Includes "A Scent of Apples" by Bienvenido N. Santos and "The Romance of Magno Rubio" by Carlos Bulosan. Other writers include Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Luis Cabalquinto, Virgina R. Cerenio, Juan C. Dionisio, Alberto S. Florentino, Ligaya Victorio Fruto, Jean Vengua Gier, N.V.M. Gonzalez, Erlinda Villamor Kravetz, Paulino Lim, Jr. Manuel R. Olimpo, Julia L. Palarca, Oscar Peñaranda, Bienvenido N. Santos, Nadine Sarreal, Michelle Cruz Skinner, Samuel Tagatac, Linda Ty-Casper, Nenutzka Villamar, Marianne Villanueva and Manuel A. Viray.

Halo-Halo: A poetic mix of culture, history, identity, revelation, and revolution
Justine Ramos

In this poetry collection, Ramos writes not only about her experiences with immigration but also about the gifts of humility, knowledge and a passion for advocacy she found along the way. She insists that change, revolution and growth are possible in unity.

Empire of Care: Nursing and Migration in Filipino American History
Catherine Ceniza Choy

Choy combines extensive interviews with Filipino nurses across the United States and the perspectives of Philippine and American government and health officials. She contends that the origins of Filipino nurse migrations lie in the Americanized hospital training system during the early 20th century colonial occupation and how the culture of American imperialism continues to shape the reception of Filipino nurses in the United States.

Coming Full Circle: The Process of Decolonization Among Post-1965 Filipino Americans
Leny Mendoza Strobel

Strobel is a Professor of American Multicultural Studies and the Project Director of the Center for Babaylan Studies. Her book tackles the process of healing the colonized Filipino psyche through the recovery and re-imagination of Filipino identity and culture and developing new conceptualizations and frameworks about the Filipino American experience.  

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/152287/top-8-fil-am-books-to-read-for-the-fourth-of-july

First Filipino Canadian book festival set to launch in Vancouver

By WALTER ANG
June 26, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

VANCOUVER — The first-ever Filipino Canadian Book Fest will be held July 12-14, 2024. The three-day festival aims to "empower, inspire and connect Filipino-Canadian communities through literature and art."

It will be held at two venues — the Collingwood Neighborhood House and the Massy Arts Society.

"With the Filipino Canadian Book Festival, we're carving out a space where our stories and voices can be heard loud and clear," says co-organizer Nathalie De Los Santos.

De Los Santos is author of Over the Rainbow, Beyond the Sea, Alice's Order and Hasta Mañana. She hosts the "Filipino Fairy Tales, Mythology and Folklore" podcast and is the creator of the bookstagram account PilipinxPages.

Other festival co-organizers are Dani Alcalde-Sidloski, manager of Massy Books, and Mia Bolaños, Filipino American writer, poet and cofounder of Sampaguita Press.

"[The festival] invites the Filipino community and the broader Canadian populace to delve into a literary and cultural feast that educates, entertains and enlightens. It is open to all who wish to explore and celebrate the rich heritage of the Filipino Canadian community," she says.

"It's about building bridges between generations and cultures within our community and beyond. This is a platform for dialogue, learning and growth."

There is a celebration of Filipino Canadian books and writers this year as this festival comes at the heels of the recently concluded Salaysay Literary Festival in Toronto. It was organized by the Salaysay Collective, a group of Filipino Canadian writers.

Activities

In addition to book sales, a slew of activities is scheduled for the festival, including panels, workshops and performances.

Authors and artists will be discussing "everything from diaspora dynamics to the future of Filipino literature."

There will also be "a bustling marketplace featuring Filipino-owned businesses, booksellers and artisans," and "cultural performances that promise to enrich and entertain all ages."

There will be an open mic, meet-and-greet and book signing with the contributing authors of Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing edited by edited by Teodoro Alcuitas, C.E. Gatchalian and Patria Rivera.

The publication includes poems, essays, short fiction, plays and speeches, showcasing a wide breadth of Filipino Canadian experience.

The festival will also bestow its first-ever CanDila Award to a chosen writer. The award is "to honor someone who is a voice in Canadian literature and is leading the way for our community; someone who creates opportunities for future writers and increases visibility for us all."

Panels

Panels include "World-building and Cultural Research for Storytelling," which will discuss the process of building intricate and believable worlds in fiction writing while balancing imaginative elements with real-world influences. Speakers include Tessa Barbosa (The Moonlight Blade), Samantha Garner (The Quiet is Loud), Roselle Lim (Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune)  and K.S. Villoso (Jaeth's Eye).

In the "Writing Between the Lines" panel, Christine Añonuevo, Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio (Reuniting with Strangers), C.E. Gatchalian and Vincent Ternida (The Seven Muses of Harry Salcedo) will be talking about the ways in which cultural heritage shapes stories and how balancing multiple genres can create unique and compelling works.

Hari Alluri (Our Echo of Sudden Mercy), Sol Diana, Therese Estacion (Phantompains), Phebe M. Ferrer and Marc Perez (Dayo) will tackle poetry writing in "The Poetry Prism: Shaping Realities."

Jim Agapito, Rina Garcia Chua, Chris Patterson/Kawika Guillermo, and Catherine Hernandez will share their thoughts in the "Makibaka! Maging Alamat! On Writing Revolution" panel.

The "Writing for Stage: Demystifying Playwriting and its Publishing Process" panel will include Davey Calderon, Karla Comanda, Kamila Sediego and Carmela Sison.

Visit filcanbookfest.squarespace.com.  Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/152095/first-filipino-canadian-book-festival-set-to-launch-in-vancouver

Filipino American singer gives kulintang music a modern twist in 'Sirena'

MINERAL POINT, Wis. — Filipino American Leslie Damaso has released the album based on her staged musical performance "Sirena," which tells the tale of a mythic love triangle between a mermaid, the sun and the moon.

With Damaso as singer-storyteller and kulintang player accompanied by a seven-piece band, the work features contemporary arrangements of kulintang (Philippine or Southeast Asian gongs) pieces and kundiman (torch songs) of love and freedom. Classical and jazz elements are combined with traditional music of the Philippines.

"There is also poetry," says Damaso. "`Sirena' blends a personal story and family secrets . [it ends] in the beginning of a nation, the displacement of its people, an individual's perspective of belonging and a spectacular celebration of community."

The show has been performed in Wisconsin, the Bay Area, Seattle and Chicago. The album is digital release and will be followed by a double vinyl release.

In addition to original works, the album's 15 entries include rearrangements of Nicanor Abelardo's "Mutya Ng Pasig," "Ang Aking Bayan," and "Nasaan Ka Irog;" Mike Velarde, Jr's "Dahil Sa Iyo;" and Constancio de Guzman's "Bayan Ko."

"The inspiration for this album has been to connect with Filipino culture in the Philippines and in the diaspora. Being a singer, I simply wanted to sing the beautiful kundiman songs and to find a way to preserve them," says Damaso.

"Singing is definitely my favorite way of expression. I was trained classically and there's just something about the music where I was born that gives me a different kind of pleasure and rootedness."

"There's even an Ilocano folk song in this project since I'm Ilocana," says Damaso, who moved to the US from the Philippines when she was 11.

Her album "May Laya: Kundiman art songs of the Philippines for the soprano and piano," recorded with Jason Kutz, received the 2019 Best World Album Award from the Madison Area Music Association.

Her other recent performances include "Reimagining Horizons" for the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center's Festival and at Gongster's Paradise, the only kulintang festival in the US.

Kulintang

Damaso's relationship with kulintang is fairly new. She had signed up for online Tagalog language classes with Lydia Querian during the pandemic. "She would play gong music before class. I asked her about it and ended up meeting her husband, Ron Querian."

The Querian couple oversees House of Gongs, which is focused on Philippine tribal music  and instruments. They also own Gongs Away music label and are the organizers of Gongster's Paradise

"I said that I might end up using [kulintang] for a project and that . I hope I would do it justice and pay respect to the makers and the history of the instrument.

"Soon after, I ended up with a gorgeous kulintang set and studied with Ron."

Collaboration

For the final result, Damaso is all praises her collaborators. "There's Jason Kutz on the piano, who I first premiered a couple of kundiman with several years ago at the Mineral Point Opera House.

"Ben Ferris, who plays bass, did a large part of the arrangements and composed new music for the story. Mike Koszewski on drums, worked on the kulintang pieces.

"Other personnel involved include Filipino American Jon Irabagon, an awe inspiring saxophone player; Janice Lee, who lends these fabulous musical glimpses of the mermaid through her improvisational work; and José Guzman on the guitar, giving the 'harana in the province' vibes."

Visit lesliedamasomusic.com. Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/151963/fil-am-musician-gives-kulintang-sound-a-modern-twist-in-sirena

Filipino American taps magic and wonder in costume design for Shakespeare’s play

By WALTER ANG
June 17, 2024 | USA.Inquire.net

CEDAR CITY, Utah — Filipino American costume designer Raven Ong is designing the wardrobe for the Utah Shakespeare Festival's staging of "The Winter's Tale."

King Leontes' jealousy and rage spark the action in this romance by the Bard. Driven by nothing but his unfounded suspicions, Leontes falsely accuses his wife Hermione of infidelity and dire consequences follow.

Ong says that a Shakespeare play is subject to interpretation. "It can be anywhere and anytime. Building the world for the show is the most exciting part of the process."

He explains that this particular staging sets the action in the early 1900s. "The Edwardian period serves as the main inspiration. Since the story has several magical moments and characters, we call it 'Edwardian fantasy' or `imagined Edwardian' aesthetic.

"By going in this direction, we were able to create our own world of myth and our own visual vocabulary."

Raven Ong returns to the Utah Shakespeare Festival after having previously designed the costumes for two of its school touring productions, "Othello" and "Much Ado About Nothing." "The Winter's Tale" marks his first mainstage summer show.

Credits

Ong has also designed costumes for New York Lyric Opera at the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club's world premiere of Fil-Am playwright Linda Faigao-Hall's "Dying in Boulder," and De-Cruit Theatre Company's Shakespeare Triptych in New York.

Musicals include "Alice in Wonderland," "Waitress," "Kinky Boots," "Matilda" and "Beautiful: Carole King Musical," among others.

He is also the associate professor of costume design at Central Connecticut State University. As an educator, he has presented his paper "Filipiniana: Fabrics and Silhouettes in the Transnational Journey" at the Fashion, Costume and Visual Cultures conference in Roubaix, France.

Whimsy

When he was preparing to work on this show, "it was clear from the beginning that we would approach this play with childlike wonder and belief in the magic of wonder.

"After my meetings with the director Carolyn Howarth, I was reminded of the many things that were magical to me as a young child.

"My research process included looking at artworks by painters of the time such as John Singer Sargent and Giovanni Boldini."

While grounded in reality, Ong made sure to incorporate whimsy and fun into his work. A favorite childhood cartoon movie provided inspiration for his costume for the character Time.

"The piece is a large white cape with crinkled texture. To achieve this texture for dramatic effect, yards and yards of silk fabric were soaked, twisted and dried. There is a wide belt with a gold 3D printed spinning astronomical clock. It comes with a large gold round headdress with stars and sparkles."

Ong says "The infamous 'Exit, pursued by a bear' stage direction is from this play and it took some time for us to design."

He worked with the show's scenic designer Apollo Weaver to craft the show's "own unique version of Edwardian bunraku puppeteers with top hats and fur details. It is still winter after all!"

Professional

Ong also looks for practical solutions to real-world problems. "I needed to solve a number of looks for the Hermione character. I couldn't afford two different dresses for two scenes.

"My solution was to create a two-in-one outfit where Hermione wears her base dress and a detachable beaded outer dress. This formula allowed for the outfits to still be able to tell the story without compromising the design, while also keeping within budget and designing economically."

Ong adds, "Costume Director Jeff Lieder assembled a dream team. Working with highly skilled and brilliant people like drapers, stitchers, costume crafters, wigs and makeup made the process a dream come true."

"The Winter's Tale" runs June 18 to Sept. 6, 2024 at Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre. Visit bard.org.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/151649/fil-am-taps-magic-and-wonder-in-costume-design-for-shakespeares-play

Fil-Am thespian to perform in 'Vagina Monologues'

By WALTER ANG
June 13, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

DENVER, Colorado — Filipino American Muman Goodwyn is joining the cast of Theater Company of Lafayette's staging of "The Vagina Monologues" in July.

Munam Goodwyn (left) in  Theater Company of Lafayette's staging
of "Edmond's Stories." She will be in the group's "Vagina Monologues."

The play by Eve Ensler is comprised of monologues touching on different experiences of various women. The playwright's website describes the work as a "hilarious, eye-opening tour into the last frontier, the forbidden zone at the heart of every woman."

"A show that's rocked audiences around the world, this groundbreaking piece gives voice to a chorus of lusty, outrageous, poignant and thoroughly human stories . with laughter and compassion, Ensler transports her audiences to a world we've never dared to know, guaranteeing that no one who [watches] `The Vagina Monologues' will ever look at a woman's body the same way again," the website says.

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Originally, Ensler performed every monologue herself. Subsequent stagings feature a different actress for each monologue.

Goodwyn will be performing the piece "The Vagina Was My Village," a monologue compiled from the testimonies of Bosnian women subjected to rape camps.

Deep and personal

"I am beyond touched that I was cast to do this piece," says Goodwyn. "I consider it an honor to be seen as someone who can pull out from her own experiences the depth and breadth of these characters."

Goodwyn first saw the piece performed in Boston by Ensler herself. "As part of her audience, I witnessed personally the strong reaction of the women to this monologue. Now it applies to wherever conflict is happening as rape is used as a weapon of war," she says.

"I was dumbfounded and it affected me on a very deep and personal level. I was thinking, `What are the chances that someday I would be the one delivering this monologue?'"

Actor and director

Her directing credits for Theater Company of Lafayette include "The Curious Savage" and "A Piano in the Room." She has performed in "Edmonds Stories," "Last Stop," "Shorn," "A Bridesmaid" and "Fermata."

Prior to moving to Colorado, Goodwyn was based in Washington DC. There she acted and directed for Filipino American theater group Kilos Sining.

The group staged plays by Filipino playwrights such as Nick Joaquin's "Portrait of the Artist as Filipino," Paul Dumol's "Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio," Marcelino Agana, Jr's "New Yorker in Tondo" and Bienvenido M. Noriega, Jr.'s "Bongbong at Kris."

Relevant at all times

"This play is relevant at any time and at all times. It is important that we are aware that violence against women is not a trend. It is happening as we move about in our normal lives. This is real," she says.

"Bringing `Vagina Monologues' on stage is a clear reminder of how women are victimized."

Nevertheless, Goodwyn reminds everyone that there is plenty of levity in the show. "There are also witty anecdotes of women speaking about their experiences or their thoughts about themselves," she adds.

"People are reacting very positively to this production. Tickets are selling and when mentioned to women, they are enthusiastic to see it. We expect audiences of both men and women.

"As the lone Asian American in my community theater, I am proud of my heritage and buoyed by the love of my theater company and our community. To all women who have been a victim of any type of violence, my heart beats as one of and with you."

Visit tclstage.org.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/151453/fil-am-thespian-to-perform-in-vagina-monologues

Filipino American playwright’s solo show on celebrity mom, ‘Miss Tapia’

By WALTER ANG
June 12, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

CHICAGO — Filipino American playwright Lani Montreal will be performing a solo show on what it's like growing up having a famous mother and leaving it all behind to move to the United States to strike it on her own.

Filipino American playwright Lani Montreal (right)
and her mother Mely Tagasa, known as Miss Tapia in the Philippines.

Titled "Anak ni Tapia: Leaving Mother," the one-person play is a rumination on her experiences growing up with a mother who was a television celebrity in the Philippines and her own journey "from the Philippines to North America, from the closet to the dyke march, and from daughter to mother."

Now based in Chicago, Montreal writes plays while teaching composition and creative writing at Malcolm X College. Her works have been staged by Filipino American theater group Circa Pintig.

Montreal's mother, Mely Tagasa, is known to generations of Filipinos from the 1970s to the 1980s as the character Miss Tapia on the sitcoms "Baltic & Co" and "Iskul Bukol."  The play will provide audiences a more intimate look at Tagasa and Montreal's complex and nuanced relationship with her.

Uncovering truths

"The play is divided into two parts," says Montreal. "The first part highlights my mother's journey from being a prolific writer of soaps on the radio and television to being a character actor whose role as Miss Tapia brought much fame and accolades."

Montreal then goes on to share her attempts "to uncover truths to help me understand her."

She says that although Tagasa was beloved by fans, co-actors and family, her own relationship with her mother was strained.

Montreal reveals that when she was growing up, "I could not understand why she was always so angry. It took little to upset her, or why she was always trying to find religion."

Processing grief

Montreal says that this project is also her "attempt at processing grief and gaining closure through performance."

"In March 2018, she had a stroke and went into a coma for 14 days. I flew back home, and stayed by her side through what would become the longest block of time I had ever spent with my mother since I became an adult.

"There were so many unmet expectations and so much left unsaid between us. It was like we were holding back for fear of disappointing each other over and over again.

"I thought about what it would have been like to have had an honest conversation with her. While I cannot bring her back physically, I can always imagine it."

Self-discovery

Montreal developed the play during a six-month fellowship residency with nonprofit creative lab Links Hall.

"The second part chronicles my own journey of self-discovery. Finding out who I am when I'm not trying to live up to her expectations.

"Leaving home allowed me to get to know myself better and come to terms with my queer identity."

Montreal says she tries to balance the show's heavy parts with "a lot of" comedic moments. "I intersperse storytelling with music, video projections and movement. I sing, too."

She will incorporate ephemera into the show. "I have old video footages of my mom, old letters, pictures, as well as poetry to help me tell our stories."

The performance also serves as a tribute to her mother. "The show has live guitar music and sound effects. My mother was a voice actor for the radio so I wanted the sound effects to be live. My mother also used to sing kundimans (torch songs), so I sing them onstage [as part of the show] as a way to transition from one scene to another.

"Anak ni Tapia: Leaving Mother" runs June 22-23 during the Links Hall Co-Mission Festival of New Works at 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago, Illinois.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/151379/fil-am-daughters-solo-show-on-celebrity-mom-miss-tapia

Filipino American children’s book now a rondalla musical in Boston

By WALTER ANG
June 9, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

BOSTON — Filipino American Christina Newhard's children's book, "Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik: A Cebuano Tale," is now a rondalla musical.

Alana Lev (left) as Kalipay and Cara Payumo as Gamay in
"Kalipay and Gamay: The Musical." Photo by Michelle Lazaro-Payumo

Daydreaming comes easily to Kalipay, but she doesn't know how to make bullies leave her alone. One day, she makes an unusual new friend in Gamay, who tells the school bully to stop teasing Kalipay.

Other children are afraid of Gamay because of her strange tongue, split body and bat wings. But Kalipay is fascinated by the things that make her new vegetarian friend different. Together, they learn how friendship can overcome differences and create happiness for everyone.

The stage adaptation, titled "Kalipay and Gamay: The Musical," is borne from a collaboration between Newhard's publishing company Sari-Sari Storybooks and Iskwelahang Pilipino of Boston.

Newhard's Sari-Sari Storybooks is an independent press that develops children's books in different Philippine languages. Iskwelahang Pilipino has been offering language and culture programs to Filipino American families since 1976.

Friendship, community

"Back in 2017, I was a guest at the school to present my first three stories to the kids," says Newhard. In early 2020, the school reached out to Newhard to ask if she'd be interested in adapting one of her stories into a musical for the school to perform. "They have a strong musical performance program. They'd previously adapted Augie Rivera's book Alamat ng Ampalaya into `Ampalaya the Musical.'"

"We settled on Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik, which is the most popular story in my series. It touches on friendship, bullying, play and kapwa through the lens of Philippine folklore, so the kids relate to it.

Kalipay and Gamay

The musical is adapted from the book "Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik," written by Christina Newhard and illustrated by Happy Garaje.

Rondalla, one of the major programs of the school, "is a plucked string ensemble," explains Newhard. "It was important to us to have this as part of the soundscape for the musical."

The script is by Newhard, who expanded the story to include additional elements to enrich some characters' backstories. Music is by Christi-Anne Castro. Lyrics are by Castro and Melissa Liwanag.

There will be six musicians playing three rondalla instruments, piano, electric guitar and bass). "The youngest player is graduating from high school this year and the rest are adults. All of them were students of the school or have children in the school.

"It's a whole community experience, with parents helping with props, merienda and costumes."

Joy

Newhard says that the feeling of having one of her books adapted into a musical is "indescribable."

"Something like a warm fuzzy ball of joy, disbelief and excitement to see kids engaging deeply with a story I wrote. It feels unreal to see photos of the kids dressing up as the characters, and to hear stories of them analyzing the book.

"Also, is there anything cuter than five-year-olds dressed up . battling the tiktiks through dance? So much gigil!"

Myra Liwanag, the school's executive director, says the play's story is "relatable whether or not you are Filipino or Filipino American. I told the cast that I'm so happy and proud to see this production come to the stage.

"Our students made the story their own, bringing the characters to life through their own interpretation of the book, using what is most meaningful to them as young people, and imagining their own back stories for each character in the play.

"The songs tell our story as a community of parents trying to do the best for our children and young people who want to belong, have friends and have fun! "

Free admission. "Kalipay & Gamay: The Musical" is on June 9, 2024 at Bedford High School, 9 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA. Newhard will have a book signing before the show.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/150884/fil-am-childrens-book-now-a-rondalla-musical-in-boston

Fil-Am playwright tells story of FBI spy in ‘The Duat’

By WALTER ANG 
June 7, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

PHILADELPHIA — Spoken-word, live North African drumming and scintillating choreography will come together to tell a story of identity, loss and redemption in Filipino American Roger Mason's "The Duat."

Rehearsals for Filipino American Roger Mason's play "The Duat,"
which explores identity, loss and redemption.

The play will have its world premiere from Philadelphia Theatre Company this June. Dramaturgy is by Fil-Am Gaven Trinidad.

The solo show, which will be performed by Frank X, is described as a psychological portrait of FBI counterintelligence officer Cornelius Johnson, who helped dismantle the Black Power Movement in the 1960s and must now battle for his very soul in the duat-the Pan African Egyptian afterlife.

Mason, who self-describes as "black, Irish, Filipino, gender-queer, plus-sized and fabulous!" and uses they/them pronouns, has been busy this first half of the year.

Two of their works were just recently staged: "The Pride of Lions" by Theatre Rhinoceros in San Francisco, directed by Fil-Am Ely Orquiza, and "Lavender Men" in Chicago by About Face Theatre.

Judgement

For "The Duat," the fictional character of Cornelius Johnson was created "based on real people who lived in America in the 1960s and 1970s. They were everyday citizens, usually of African American descent, who helped the FBI infiltrate various organizations within the Black Power Movement," says Mason.

"Their goal was to disrupt efforts by these groups to educate, unify and empower their communities to revolt against the oppression of institutional racism in the United States."

Mason has always been fascinated by ancient Egypt. "The Egyptian afterlife is a foundational myth of the human experience which still influences our notions of death and spirituality today. Ideals surrounding morality, judgment based upon rightful action, and responsibility to the cosmos remain central pillars of contemporary religious belief systems.

"Now, why is our play's hero in the Egyptian afterlife? Well, it is a bit of ironic humor on my part. Cornelius betrays Black people during his life by ratting them out to the FBI, so I felt that there was no place more fitting for him to land after death than in an African afterlife. How will he be judged after wronging his people?"

Community and love

Mason says, "I've dedicated the last two decades of my life to writing historical fantasias because I care about the future. My theater works are survival guides written to tomorrow, showing how we, in the past, used unity, community and love to conquer bias, bigotry and hate."

The passion for examining history was partly inspired by a childhood educator. "When I was in 10th grade, my history teacher threw out our state-sanctioned history books and gave us Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. It presented an alternative view of America, one rooted in the wants and needs of its citizens and immigrants, not the power structures that govern it."

That book had a profound impact on Mason's understanding of history. "It showed me that political power often silences the voices of those whose ideas are threatening to the maintenance of their control."

Compel to action

"Looking at history, we can see the ways that our ancestors have survived silencing, hatred, and discrimination. Their stories guide us and give us hope for our own survival. They assure us that someone has come before, made it through the trials of oppression, and lived to tell the tale. In so doing, they provide us with the resilience to fight on."

According to Mason, "theater possesses the unique power to embody such road maps, to dig into the past in real time and provide palpable survival guides for its audiences to create brighter, more inclusive futures than their present realities."

"The effect of a live performance, especially one of a historical nature, is staggering. It is like a time warp and a prayer for the future all in one," he says. "Suddenly, history is alive for you in the present and its lessons compel you to action, to transform how you think, interact with others and perceive the world around you."

"The Duat" runs June 7-23 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 South Broad St., Philadelphia.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/151089/fil-am-playwright-tells-story-of-fbi-spy-in-the-duat

Filipino American books for young readers on AANHPI Heritage Month

By WALTER ANG
May 29, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

SAN FRANCISCO — Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is always a good time of the year to explore what books are out there that have been written or illustrated (or both!) by Filipino American authors.

It's a timely way to get a head start on not just a summer reading list but even for the rest of the year. Be it graphic novels, mysteries, romance, cookbooks, history, thrillers, you name it - a Fil-Am author or illustrator has most likely created a story in that genre.

It's also never too early to begin building your year-end gift list for the holiday season. If scrolling through online bookselling retailers is not your thing, your friendly neighborhood librarian or independent bookstore owner might be able to offer suggestions.

In the meantime, here are some randomly selected titles by Fil-Am authors for young (and young-at-heart) readers.

It Won't Always Be Like This: A Graphic Memoir
By Malaka Gharib

It's hard enough to figure out boys, beauty and being cool when you're young, but even harder when you're in a country where you don't understand the language, culture or social norms. Nine-year-old Malaka arrives in Egypt for her annual summer vacation. Then her father shares news that changes everything. Over the next 15 years, Malaka reevaluates her place in his life. All that on top of maintaining her coolness!

Rick Riordan Presents: The Spirit Glass
By Roshani Chokshi

From the author of the best-selling Aru Shah series. Corazon yearns to finally start training as a babaylan (a mystical healer and spirit guide). She has been visiting her dead parents' ghosts using a soul key. When a vengeful ghost steals the key, Corazon embarks on a quest through the spirit realms with her bloodthirsty gecko Saso. They must move quickly before the ghost gets through the spirit glass.

I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom
By Shannon C. F. Rogers

Filipino American teenager Marisol Martin and her mom were forever locked in an argument with no beginning and no end. Clothes, church, boys, no matter the topic. When her mother dies suddenly, Marisol is left with no one to fight against, with nothing but a burning anger, and nowhere for it to go. As a new friendship begins to develop with someone who just might understand, Marisol reluctantly starts to open up.

Love, Dance & Egg Rolls
By Jason Tanamor

Jamie Santiago is just an ordinary high school teenager. He has a huge crush on a girl from school, he watches a ton of sitcoms, and he is constantly trying to keep his dad from feeding egg rolls to his white friends. He also aspires to be the next tinikling folk dance master. When the last ever Asian Folk Festival falls on the same day as Homecoming, he is forced to make an important decision between honoring his heritage and salvaging what's left of his social life.

Those Kids from Fawn Creek
By Erin Entrada Kelly

When Orchid Mason arrives at Fawn Creek Middle School from Paris, the other seventh graders don't know what to think. The school might be small, but it has its tightly knit groups: the self-proclaimed "God Squad," the jocks, the outsiders. In this small factory town where everyone knows everything about everyone, that's not necessarily a great thing. Who will claim Orchid? Who will save Orchid? Or will Orchid save them?

Patron Saints of Nothing
By Randy Ribay

Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story.

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/150557/fil-am-books-for-young-readers-on-aanhpi-heritage-month

Filipino American releases new coming-of-age graphic novel set in pre-colonial PH

By WALTER ANG
May 21, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American scribe Lauren Lola has released her debut graphic novel "Dasig."

The tome is about Dasig, a young warrior-in-training struggling to focus on her pursuits. The Datu or chief prompts Dasig to contemplate her reasons for wanting to become a warrior.

As she seeks an answer, danger approaches when invaders from an unknown land appear. As her Datu gets ready for battle, Dasig wonders if her focus is where it should be so she'll be able to fight off the pending threat.

"I was originally summoned to write the graphic novel by Kristian Kabuay," says Lola. Kabuay is an author and expert in ancient Filipino writing scripts and batok (hand-tapped) tattooing.

"He wanted to do a story set in pre-colonial Philippines. While he wrote out a treatment for me as a guide, I took it from there and developed a story around it. Influences for the writing for it include "Star Wars" and "Avatar: The Last Airbender." It took me about eight months to write it.

"It's a universal coming-of-age story with parallels to today's issues and aspirations. This historical fiction draws from actual events in Philippine history and cultural practices."

Illustrations are by Ponsi Alfonso, using a minimalist black and white color palette with red accents and a look inspired from the works of Frank Miller ("300 and Sin City") and Mike Mignola ("Hellboy").

Lola is a novelist, playwright and screenwriter. She has also written and consulted on some of the comic books of Kid Heroes Productions' "Lumpia" series.

Her writing has been featured on Mixed Asian Media (formerly known as Hapa Mag), The Nerds of Color, PBS and other outlets and publications.

Lola's plays have been produced both virtually and on stage. She penned the short films "Disarm," "Breath of Writing" and "Interview with an Aswang," which she also co-directed and produced.

New Art

She's written the novels "An Absolute Mind" and "A Moment's Worth," which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

In the novel, a UCLA freshman gets to know her celebrity roommate, a man unintentionally takes the San Francisco BART to a variety of locations beyond its final stop, a fatherless girl believes in the stars and a young woman carries the burden of being human.

To commemorate the book's milestone, she is releasing it in print for the first time with a new cover design illustrated by Tian Wang. "I felt it was worth it to give the book a proper glow-up. I found Tian Wang's illustrations to be quite beautiful and the perfect vibe for the overall novel."

Lola says the decision to come out with a print edition of the book was partly borne out of many requests she's fielded. "It was a hurdle I constantly ran into when "A Moment's Worth" initially came out. People kept asking if it was available in print, only to be met with disappointment when I told them that it wasn't.

"At the time, I didn't think it would be that big of an issue. In time, I realized just how many people still prefer reading from a physical book. Not to mention the fact that not everyone has access to a device that can act as an e-reader. To expand accessibility was also key to finally making this happen, especially in time for the tenth anniversary."

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https://usa.inquirer.net/150118/fil-am-releases-new-coming-of-age-graphic-novel-set-in-pre-colonial-ph

Filipino Canadian sketch comedy show now on its 3rd season

WALTER ANG
May 16, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

TORONTO — Joy Castro is geared up to make audiences laugh in another season of "Abroad," the Filipino Canadian sketch comedy television series.

Now on its third season, the show focuses on the Filipino immigrant experience with a hilariously lighthearted point of view. Audiences will have fun with its send-ups of social issues, tech trends, celebrity culture and family dynamics with over-the-top characters.

Created by Isabel Kanaan, who was inspired by her own experiences having moved to Canada as a child, the series presents scenarios in both English and Tagalog.

The show is brought to life by an ensemble of actors. Joy Castro is one of the members and she's been with the show since the first season.

Castro's TV credits include Netflix's "Locke and Key," FX/Hulu's "What We Do in the Shadows" and Paramount+'s "Star Trek: Short Treks."

"I just submitted a self-tape audition like everyone else," she says of how she became involved with the show.

"My fellow cast member Nicco Lorenzo Garcia and I helped each other with our audition tapes. When we found out we were cast, it was the best news ever. Booking a job is great but booking a job with one of your friends is even better!"

Growing up

Castro has lived across the country. "I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and then moved to Vancouver, British Columbia with my family at the age of 10. Currently, I'm based out of Toronto, Ontario," she says.

Castro's affinity for acting began in the third grade during a class trip to see a play about Anne of Green Gables. "I fell in love with the whole experience. I wanted to be Anne up on that stage!"

"I spent most of my younger years doing speech arts festivals, community theater and high school plays." Castro went on to graduating from a professional theater training school. "And I haven't looked back since."

Castro admits that, in the beginning, "it took some time to convince my mom that I would pursue acting at a professional level," but these days, "my mom is my number one fan."

When asked if comedy was something she's always had a knack for, she replies, "I didn't think it was in my wheelhouse at all."

"Some days, I still don't!" she adds with a laugh.

She credits her high school acting teacher for sensing her talent for it. "Mr. Hughes cast me in a small comedic role and I got my first taste at making an audience laugh."

Rewarding

Castro says that it has been rewarding to be able to act in Tagalog. "I grew up watching Filipino movies and TV shows but I never would have imagined that I'd have that kind of an opportunity here in Canada."

As for their ongoing success, "a show is only as good as its writing so I must give props to our writers! They continue to outdo themselves season after season and it truly is a rewarding experience to bring their visions to life on screen."

"I am so excited and also so grateful for Season 3 of `Abroad.' We get to revisit some favorite characters from past seasons but we also get to meet some kooky new ones," she adds.

"`Abroad' is such a fun show to be a part of so my hope is that our audiences can feel that from watching us and will continue to tune in week after week!"

The cast also includes Justin Santiago and Aldrin Bundoc, with guest appearances by Christian Smith, Jon Blair, Nile Seguin, Natalie Metcalfe, Paloma Nuñez, Jillian Welsh, Sharjil Rasool, Carolyn Fe, Adelio Moras, Byron Abalos, Li Chen and Alanis Foroughi.

Produced by Longhope Media and airing on OMNI Television, the show's third season is set to premiere on May 26.

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

Filipino American lawyers' literary anthology debuts on West Coast

WALTER ANG
May 14 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

SAN FRANCISCO — The literary stylings of Filipino American lawyers from across the United States have been collected and published in an anthology of essays and poetry.

Sawaga River Press publisher Justine Villanueva (right) with
Jennifer Sta. Ana of Pinay Powerhouse at
the West Coast launch of "Rooted in Practice: Pinays in Law." 

Titled Rooted in Practice: Pinays in Law, the book recently had its West Coast launch.

A collaboration between Pinay Powerhouse and Sawaga River Press, the publication's 28 entries written by Pinay-identifying attorneys touch on a wide range of topics including decolonizing practices, career advice, identity, motherhood and community work.

"This affirming collection represents Pinays engaged in all aspects of the law-practicing and non-practicing attorneys, paralegals, law students, judges, activists - as they balance work, identity and family life," said Sawaga River Press publisher Justine Villanueva.

Powerhouse

Pinay Powerhouse is a women's collective focused on empowering attorneys, future attorneys and legal professionals as leaders in the law.

It was founded in 2016 by Christine Start, Mari Bandoma Callado, Lorna Garcia De Guzman, Vanessa Candelaria and Jennifer Sta. Ana.

Rooted in Practice

The collective had its inaugural conference in 2017 with over a hundred attendees. Since then, its conferences have provided opportunities to learn about current legal issues, network and celebrate achievements of Filipina legal professionals.

Pinay Powerhouse is already planning for its eighth conference, slated for next year.

Synergy

Villanueva had started attending Pinay Powerhouse's monthly support circles in 2021 during the pandemic.

"Although I was attending as a Pinay attorney, as I listened to the stories being shared at these events, the publisher in me thought it would be a worthwhile project to gather our stories and create a book because the same goal applies: to honor our stories and experiences," she says.

"As both an attorney and a publisher, I thought this was a good way to synergize my passions and identities."

Womanifesting

After a few discussions and a call for submissions, the anthology was completed in about a year. It had its East Coast launch during Pinay Powerhouse's sixth conference last year.

At the recent launch for the West Coast, which was done with a Kamayan Feast prepared by chef Yana Gilbuena, Villanueva expressed appreciation to the Powerhouse founders.

"Thank you to the Pinay Powerhouse co-founders for envisioning this collective and `womanifesting' our collective dreams. We look forward to more storytelling collaborations in the future," she said.

Inspiration

"Since the publication of this anthology, I have received much interest from various kinds of readers and community members who appreciate that a book like this exists," said Villanueva.

"I've met young women who are thinking about going to law school and are excited to know that there are many Pinay attorneys they can connect with. Adults who said they know young women who could be inspired by a book like this.

"All these inspire and instruct me as a publisher who wants to be attentive to the needs and wants of the Fil-Am community that I serve. I hope that more community members will pick this up, even if they're not attorneys or in the legal field."

"Rooted in Practice" is the first of a projected series of anthologies. "Plans for the next one are already underway," Villanueva added.

Visit sawagariverpress.com. Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/149738/fil-am-lawyers-literary-anthology-debuts-on-west-coast

Filipino American crafts punk rock sci-fi dystopia concert

By WALTER ANG 
May 10, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American theatergoers who are interested to know if art can survive in a post-apocalyptic world might find out in a new "concert narrative" to be staged at Bindlestiff Studio.

In "Darkheart," Mary searches for the source of liberation while navigating a dystopic authority-controlled corporate kingdom with "inner-dimensional" entities named Art, Artist and Heart.

According to the show's makers, their endeavor "pushes the boundaries of the stage to immerse the audience in a world filled with revelry" and "Filipino futurism punk rock sci-fi multiverse."

At the nexus of this multiverse is Golda Sargento, who wrote the script of the show and its songs, is co-directing it and performing in it.

Michelle Talagrow co-directs. Music will be provided by Chris "Burd" Quines on guitar and bass, Carlie Mari on bass and blair switch drums. Mari will also handle sound design. Puppetry by Aureen Almario and projection design by Joan Osato.

Singer, songwriter, poet

Sargento has been active in the Bay Area since moving from Alaska in the late 1990s.

Primarily a musician, she has performed with bands Golda + the Guns, DeathGlam, and post-punks The Soft Stars as a singer and songwriter. She's also a poet and does theater.

"My stage work developed through the community of Bindlestiff in the early 2000s with [Fil-Am playwright] Jeannie Barroga`s `Gadgets.'"

Her most recent acting work was in Oliver Saria's "Inay Dalisay's World Famous Lechon." Other credits include "My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theatre" and Jessica Hagedorn's "The Gangster of Love."

Sargento has braided her multidisciplinary arts practice into this production. "It is my first full length play and is itself an album," she says.

"Though a music play, the production is not a musical. Forfeiting the formula of songs which echo plot, the atmosphere, the stakes and the characters of `Darkheart' are all drawn from the world of the music."

Sargento says she coined the term "concert narrative" to highlight the music's storytelling and worldbuilding. Creating something new is no easy task. It took Sargento over a decade to complete this show but "I was encouraged to nurture [it] by some of the Bay's most generous and talented creatives."

Collaboration, liberation

Talagrow has been a theater maker for more than two decades and has worked with groups such as The Ground Floor at Berkeley Rep, Central Works, Impact Theatre, Ferocious Lotus, Cutting Ball Theatre, Magic Theatre and Shotgun Players.

"I love supporting new works and the community at Bindlestiff. My initial reactions to the script were basically `What the `bleep' is this world?' and `I want to know more!'" After hearing the music, it was immediately a `Yes! I want to play!'"

Talagrow says that during rehearsals, she has been working together with Sargento to flesh out how music can take the lead. "It's different from a musical where the narrative drives the show and song is an extension of the story. In `Darkheart,' it's the song that drives the script. It's about a visceral experience than a linear story."

"But it's not just Golda and me, it's really the collaboration with the designers, producers and actors that bring this work to life! My hope is that our process reflects the beautiful way Bindlestiff brings community together."

Sargento adds, "At the core of `Darkheart' is a liberation story told from the margins of a dystopic diaspora. In writing this, I hope to uplift the survivors of the apocalypses that have already happened, to inspire creatives and to unite all freedom fights."

"Darkheart" runs May 16 to June 1 at Bindlestiff Studio, 185 6th Street, San Francisco. 

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https://usa.inquirer.net/149538/fil-am-crafts-punk-rock-sci-fi-dystopia-concert

Fil-Am illustrator releases new children's books, surprises mom

WALTER ANG
May 8, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

NEW YORK — Filipino American illustrator Lynnor Bontigao has just released not one, not two, but three children's books. One of them even contains a surprise for her mother.

She is the talent who crafted the visuals of Kailani's Gift by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, At the End of the Day by Lisl Detlefsen and Seashell Key by Lourdes Heuer.

"I could never have imagined having three books coming out in one year, so it's completely mind-blowing to have three in one month," she says.

"I am so excited for each one of them to finally be here. They're all so different from each other, each one has its own vibe. It's a very exciting time for me!"

Bontigao herself has written and illustrated Sari-Sari Summers, where Nora comes up with a brilliantly delicious way to attract customers after a heat wave to her lola's empty store.

Her other illustration work includes You Are Revolutionary by Cindy Wang Brandt and Jack & Agyu by Justine Villanueva (which is written in English and different Filipino languages.)

Always loved drawing

Bontigao was born in the Philippines and moved to the US in her early 20s. "I've always loved drawing as a kid. I thought I'd grow up to be a designer, perhaps of shoes since my parents used to have a shoe factory or a landscape architect because we had a plant nursery later on."

While she was in college taking up visual communications, Bontigao joined a children's book illustrators group. "That was when I realized I wanted to make children's books."

She currently works using digital tools. "But I think I want to go back to traditional methods in my next project, like using watercolor or colored pencils. Let's see."

Culture

Seashell Key is the first of a young chapter book series from Bontigao and author Lourdes Heuer about a community of kids living in a beautiful seaside town.

"The setting is similar to many of our beaches in the Philippines with coconut, mango and banana trees around."

(There is no rest for Bontigao, she just recently completed artwork for the second book in this series.)

In Kailani's Gift, Kailani has a hard time keeping up with her siblings as they practice a traditional Filipino dance. With Daddy's help, will she be able to learn the tinikling in time to surprise her Lolo and Lola for their anniversary party?

The book celebrates family, Filipino heritage, and dance, showcasing the value of patience, perseverance, and blessing others with one's gifts and talents.

"I did not hesitate to take on this project. I've wanted to work with Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young since reading her Cora Cooks Pancit many years ago. I'm thankful for . this dream come true," she says.

Meaningful

At the End of the Day chronicles a busy, exhausted and loving family dealing with one obstacle after another in the run-up to bedtime.

When the book was released this past April, it held a special significance for Bontigao. April is the Month of the Military Child. "Guess what? That's me! My brave mom was an officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. She was a military nurse and she was in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. She would often be in combat boots and uniform. She rose to the rank of colonel," Bontigao says.

To honor her mother, Bontigao worked with the author and book editor to illustrate the family in the book as a military family.

"Being in the military was such a big part of my mother's life and I hope she knows that we appreciate her sacrifice. We are so proud of her accomplishments."

"I didn't tell nanay until [the book came out]. I wanted to surprise her. Oh, she loved it!"

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

Filipino American artists explore memory in 'Glass Menagerie'

By WALTER ANG
May 3, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American theater artists are exploring memory and psychology in a staging of playwright Tennessee Williams' classic "Glass Menagerie."

Filipino American theater makers (from left)
Jomar Tagatac, Jeffrey Lo and Nicole Javier
working on a scene in "The Glass Menagerie." Photo by Juan Rebuffo

In the play, Tom longs to evade his monotonous day job and his mother Amanda. Recalling her debutante days, Amanda toils to find a match for her debilitatingly shy daughter Laura, who escapes the realities of her world through her collection of glass animal figurines.

Jomar Tagatac takes on the role of Tom while Nicole Javier will play Laura. Jeffrey Lo directs.

Williams is known for his other plays as well, including "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," which was adapted for the big screen starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman, and "A Streetcar Named Desire," which was also adapted into a film starring Marlon Brando.

Challenging

Tagatac relishes the opportunity to work on a well-known American classic. "`The Glass Menagerie' is a memory play, specifically from the [viewpoint of] the character Tom. Tennessee uses beautiful language to talk about the past. So the challenge is to activate the language in a way that feels present, that feels alive," he says.

"The writing is so deep and there are a million things to explore in a single line or passage of text. It's been deemed a classic for a reason. The writing and the themes in the piece are of the highest caliber, and it bravely explores big ideas of class structure, family dynamics, the pursuit of a dream to be the person you desire to be."

Tagatac has had several plays under his belt at the San Francisco Playhouse. He's also performed with Theater Mu, American Conservatory Theater, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, California Shakespeare Theater and Magic Theatre, among others.

Timeless

Javier, on the other hand, is making her debut performance at the Playhouse. She's performed with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, La Jolla Playhouse, San Jose Repertory Theatre, South Coast Repertory and Shakespeare Orange County, among others.

She talks about the play's timelessness. "Sharing the play with this cast of players in 2024 continues to feel relevant even though it was set nearly 100 years ago, especially with the topics it floats to the surface," she says. "It's pretty cool that we get to consider how we've changed and grown as a society over this amount of time."

She is also enjoying the challenges of fleshing out her character. "The story itself echoes some very relatable family dynamics. I've loved finding the ways our characters can push each other's buttons as well as give comfort with just one glance," she adds.

"As the actor who is playing Laura, who is often being spoken to or talked about, I've been given the wonderful challenge of discovering the nuances of how she absorbs the world around her without directly voicing it. My hope is that the audience can see both the finesse and strength that it requires to create anything that resembles `glass.'"

In addition to directing at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Lo has also helmed productions at Capital Stage, Hillbarn Theatre, Los Altos Stage Company and Palo Alto Players.

"There is so much to mind in every word of the script and we're still discovering more and more layers every day of rehearsal," Lo says.

"We have been so inspired as a team by the incredibly poetic and vivid stage directions that Tennessee Williams provides. We are leaning into . what it means to be stuck inside of your past and trying to write your way out of it in order to move forward with your life."

"The Glass Menagerie" runs until June 15, 2024 at San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post St., San Francisco. 

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https://usa.inquirer.net/149125/fil-am-artists-explore-memory-in-glass-menagerie

Filipino American playwright responds to gun violence in Chicago

By WALTER ANG
May 2, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

CHICAGO — Filipino American playwright Lani Montreal believes that art and advocacy are tools that can be used to help end gun violence.

Fil-Am actress Nina Mae Vidal Howard (left) in rehearsals
for Lani Montreal's play, "Panther in the Sky."

Her play, "Panther in the Sky," was written specifically because of and as a response to troubling statistics on gun-related incidents and deaths in her area.

It will have its world premiere this May from a collaboration between Filipino American theater group Circa Pintig and Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble.

The play is about four mothers dealing with the murders of their teenage sons on the streets of Chicago. The sons meet in the afterlife and grapple with the reality of their abrupt demise, while their mothers cope with grief and struggle to understand it all.

Lani Montreal

Fil-Am playwright Lani Montreal believes that art and advocacy are tools that can be used to help end gun violence. Image: Lani Montreal/Facebook

Despite the subject matter and premise, Fil-Am actor James Macapagal says, "I love the bits of humor woven into the serious topics of the play. I believe comedy is how we make sense of the world, and tragedy provokes us into action. There are so many great moments in our show where both work together to create meaning and hopefully inspire action. I'm excited to be part of it!"

Compelled

Among Montreal's plays are "Sister Outlaw," "Nanay," "Alien Citizen" and "Looking for Darna."

Montreal started writing "Panther in the Sky" in 2009. "That year, there were record numbers of 290 shootings and 34 gun-related deaths of public school students in Chicago," she says.

At the time, Montreal was living in Albany Park. "Though not as frequent as in the south side, we also had shootings there," Montreal says.

She had started teaching English Composition at Malcolm X College, where students would share, until now, "their experiences of loss and trauma from gun violence."

"As an educator, a writer and a new foster mother, I felt compelled to respond to the issue by writing a play about it."

More than a decade later, "The issues are still the same!" she says.

Encouraging change

Even while she was seeking funding to stage the play over the years, Montreal was already doing her part to encourage change by getting the message on gun violence prevention out to the public.

She would arrange to have readings and excerpts of the play performed. One was held at Fil-Am visual artist Cesar Conde's 2016 exhibit "The Bang Bang Project," which was his response to police brutality and racism in the criminal justice system.

Circa Pintig executive director Ginger Leopoldo says, "At every reading and performance, the diverse audiences, many of whom have been impacted by gun violence, gave positive feedback and believed the play should be shared with a wider audience."

For this world premiere, there will be community tables at the theater to allow audiences to write a letter or sign a prefilled postcard about gun violence prevention. The letters and postcards will then be sent to local, state and national politicians.

Fil-Am actress Nina Mae Vidal Howard plays one of the mothers. "I'm so honored to have been given [a voice] to help stir up a call to action. As parents, co-parents and grandparents, we must protect our children. They are all our children. Let's stand together and take action to help stop and end gun violence. We dedicate this show to all of our friends and family who have lost their loved ones due to gun violence," she says.

Montreal adds, "There is still a lot of work to be done to get guns off the streets of Chicago, and gun violence is still a big issue, unfortunately. This is why the play is just part of a bigger campaign to end gun violence."

"I had a student in a previous Circa Pintig workshop who was killed in a drive-by. If you live in Chicago, [gun violence is] something you cannot escape or ignore."

"Panther in the Sky" runs May 3-18 at Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, 1650 W Foster Ave, Chicago. Visit danztheatre.org. 

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https://usa.inquirer.net/149034/fil-am-playwright-responds-to-gun-violence-in-chicago