First-ever FilAm comic books festival on June 1st showcases women storytellers

On the same day and at the same location as the Philippine Independence Day Parade, the first-ever Filipinx American Comic and Book Festival on Madison Avenue will be happening in New York City. 

“I’m excited to be participating in the first annual Filipinx American Comic & Book Festival! I’m most looking forward to being in community with my fellow Filipino-Americans, sharing my work, and watching people share theirs,” offered DC Comics illustrator Arielle Jovellanos.

“Luckily exhibitors are happy to support this first-time event. It’s a chance for me to present a story in the language, culture, and region in the Philippines I grew up in. The book I’ll be displaying will be available in both Bisaya and English,” gushed exhibitor Maz Rega.

Jovellanos and Rega are just two of the women storytellers in the festival in an industry long dominated by male authors: American comics by White men and Tagalog comics by Filipino men. But in recent years more and more  women have been telling their stories using this medium.

“The recent shifts in technology have made it easier for authors and cartoonists to publish,” says Ramon Gil, the New York-based comics book writer and artist. He has previously organized Diversity Comic Con, and the Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival and the Comic Arts Workshop. 

“Drawing, printing and promoting (through social media) are now accessible to anyone with a computer or even just a tablet,” he added.

Another factor he noted is the trend in the publishing industry toward diversity and inclusion. Memoirs by people of color are very popular right now, he said,  and “many Pinay creators have been flocking to the medium.”

One the most famous, influential and earliest adopters of the graphic novel medium is Lynda Barry, a Filipino American from Wisconsin whose writings have appeared on Esquire and Mother Jones magazines and adapted on Broadway. Melanie Hilario, Jennifer Guzman, Cathleen Abalos, and Kwento Comics, a publisher run entirely by Filipina American women, are some examples of Pinay creators.

“I do a lot of work around diversity,” said Gil,  “but it’s been a while since I’ve done anything closer to my own culture.”

After participating in Barrio Fest in New Jersey along with several other Pinay authors last year, he saw that there was interest in literary work from writers of Philippine descent.

“I was just waiting for PIDC to announce the date for 2025 so I could find and book a venue that would coincide with the parade. I learned that having an event where the crowds already are increases the chance of success,” he said. He stressed the event is not officially affiliated with the parade organizers, PIDCI.

Gil said he was able to book Coppa Nomad Cafe along the parade route. While the venue only has space for about 10-15 exhibitors, he said,  “It’s okay to start small for our first year.”

Other exhibitors are JB Kalagayan, Casielle Santos-Gaerlan, Alyanna Depalma, Glen Isip, Monica Tuy, John Jay Cabuay, Kristin Sorra, Nene Rivera, Lee Kalu and Frank Gastelum.

The Filipinx American Comic and Book Festival will be held at 21 East 27th Street (Coppa Nomad) from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.filamcomicbookfest.com