SF Book Review: 5-star review

A review of my novel, A VILLAGE IN THE FIELDS, was posted in yesterday’s San Francisco Book Review under Historical Fiction. Here’s an excerpt: While her third-person narrative focuses on the account of her fictional character, Fausto Empleo, Enrado tightly weaves in the plight of Filipinos (1920s-1970s) striving for the American dream. Enrado has created a […]

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Cal reading & Larry Itliong Day in Oakland

I’m quite behind on my postings – a few events and two weeks – so please bear with me as I try to catch up. Two weeks ago, Monday, October 19th, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center hosted the Inaugural Larry Itliong Day Celebration. CA State Assemblyperson Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) authored the bill to establish Filipino […]

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Fremont Library’s FilAm History Month Celebration

I was part of the FANHS (Filipino American National History Society) East Bay and Fremont Library’s Filipino American History: A Celebration earlier today. The all-day event featured Filipino-American authors reading from their works and other wonderful performances that bear commentary. Teri Bautista presented a review of the 400-year timeline of Filipino-American experience to counter what […]

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NCIBA Discover Show

This past Thursday evening and Friday afternoon, I attended my first Northern California Independent Bookseller Association (NCIBA) Discover Show at the South San Francisco Conference Center. It was also the first year my publisher Eastwind Books of Berkeley could have a table as an independent publisher. I’m not sure what my expectations were, to tell […]

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Green Apple Books: reunion and homecoming

My reading at Green Apple Books (506 Clement Street, San Francisco, 415.387.2272) was cozy on several levels. When I entered my old neighborhood indie bookstore, which I hadn’t been to in some 25 years, it was as if I were greeting an old friend. The bookstore looked the same, from its scarred, uneven wooden floors […]

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3rd FilAm Intl Book Festival in SF

This past weekend, the 3rd Filipino American International Book Festival was held in San Francisco. What a full and amazing opening reception and two days of panels and readings! It was as if a new world was unfurling for me of the Filipino-American writers out there. And connecting with academics presented greater promise of reaching […]

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Celebrating local Filipino-American writers

This past Saturday, September 26th, I was honored to join the reading event for local Filipino-American writers who are in the anthology Beyond Lumpia, Pansit and Seven Manangs Wild by the FANHS (Filipino American National Historical Society) East Bay Chapter. I, and the audience, were treated to touching stories and poems by Mel Vera Cruz, […]

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Book launch party gratitude: a pictorial

My book launch party for A VILLAGE IN THE FIELDS this afternoon at Eastwind Books of Berkeley was beyond my expectations. Associate Professor Dawn Mabalon of San Francisco State University gave a warm and generous introduction. I was honored with the attendance of Filipino-American author Vangie Buell and Myrna Zialcita, founder and director of the […]

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Getting ready for today’s book launch party!

Today is the big day – my book launch party at Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University Ave., two blocks from the downtown BART station. Red velvet and chocolate mini cupcakes from Braxtons’ Boxes and Isabella’s chocolate chip cookies. Fruit and drinks. Oh, and I’ll be reading an excerpt from my novel and having a […]

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