Thoughts About Acknowledging and Supporting Filipino American History Month

One week remains of the month of October, which means one week remains of Filipino American History Month. This month recognizes and acknowledges historical events, people, and experiences that have helped shape what Filipino America is today. It has also become one of the busiest months of the year for me, aside from May.

Filipino American History Month both acknowledges the accomplishments of those who came before us and those who are making their mark in the present day. Book lists, film recommendations, concerts and more are suddenly popping up and scheduled all over, all involving Filipino American voices.

Advertisement

Thoughts About Celebrating Storytelling in the Virtual World

It’s been four and a half months since sheltering-in-place began, and within that time, I’ve had experience of both taking part in putting together virtual events and attending virtual events. Enough time has passed to where I have a general opinion of them and how they are conducted; particularly in the case of events where the celebration of storytelling is involved.

Thoughts About Fiction in the Time of COVID-19

A few months ago, I read the latest novel from the thoughtful sci-fi author Mike Chen, A Beginning at the End. I won’t go into too much detail about it, but if I were to describe it in a very brief synopsis, it follows three adults from different paths of life and how they all find themselves coming together, in the aftermath of – wait for it it – a global pandemic.

Thoughts About Identifying as a Filmmaker

It happened again this week. I mean, I guess it would make sense for why I’ve been asked about this more than once by now. When your day job oversees funding, distributing, and occasionally producing films (and a film festival), I can see how it would only be natural one would ask if you have any filmmaking aspirations of your own. So when a visitor asked if I am a filmmaker, I said no, but I did say that I am a screenwriter. He argued in saying that a screenwriter is a type of a filmmaker. But is it?

Thoughts About NaNoWriMo REVISITED

I’ve touched on a lot of topics on this blog within my first year. In the five years since, it’s only right that my thoughts and opinions have changed and shifted overtime. Already, I previously revisited the topic of young adult fiction. Now, I want to do the same for NaNoWriMo. I feel it’s only right, especially since this year is the 20th anniversary since it was started.

Thoughts About Young Adult Fiction REVISITED

Young adult (YA) fiction: This is a subject I’ve been wanting to revisit for quite some time. After spending part of this past week reading a favorite, Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl, I felt that now is just as good of a time to finally write about this topic again, after previously writing about it over five years ago. After all, thoughts and opinions about certain subject matter can change overtime, the more you learn and grow. In the case of YA fiction, my thoughts and feelings towards it have definitely morphed.

Thoughts About Reciprocation

After a few long, busy, and exhausting weeks, I am back to blogging. If you’ve been following along with what has had me occupied, then you probably know that I’ve been working at a film festival. Filmmakers from all over the country – and the world – flew in to be a part of this experience; to celebrate their works along with others. I was there to help make it as successful as possible.

Thoughts About Not Doing/Feeling Enough

There are days where if I really deeply think about it, I’ll go into this state of feeling like I’m not doing enough as a writer and/or I’m not feeling like I’m enough as a writer. Recently, I’ve been experiencing that feeling again.

A lot of it comes from the results, or lack of, from my work and progress as a writer so far, and how frequently it’s happening. There are so many instances I can go off of.

Thoughts About the Personal Evolving Meaning of a Story

Okay, I know that title sounds like a bit of a mouthful, but let me break it down for you real quick, for I know it is a phenomenon we’ve all experienced.

You know that experience where a story you consume – a book, a song, a movie, etc. – means one thing to you at one point in your life, but later on, you have a new perspective on it? It sounds like one of those things where there’s a word for it outside of the English language. It’s a fascinating phenomenon that is truly universal, and it can come about under a variety of circumstances.

Thoughts About Taking On White Male-Dominant Writing Roles

I am female. I am Filipino American. I am mixed race.

For a majority of history, these identities wouldn’t have applied to writers of very particular fields, but within recent time, that is starting to change.