Author: Dorian Merina, yndio arxipelago

Friday, 6/12/2026
12:00 - 5:30
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center - 3rd Fl
Main Library

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

415-557-4400
Register

Just in time for Philippine Independence Day, Dorian Merina brings us a new and luminous collection of poetry, yndio arxipelago. In addition to a performative reading, Merina will be in conversation with Filipino American Center librarians about his ancestral home, Batanes, Philippines, and his family's village library, Aklatan Savidug.

 

Space limited. Reservations required.

 

Dorian S. Merina is a poet, journalist and translator. His book Di Achichúk: Poems and Images from Batanes, was awarded the Gintong Aklat Award and was a finalist for the 2020 Philippines National Book Award. His most recent collection of poetry, yndio arxipelago, explores the first encounter between Filipinos and European explorers in the 16th Century. Since 2010, he has been part of a community effort to document and preserve Laji, the indigenous oral poetry of the Ivatan people of Batanes (an online archive of the poetic tradition can be found at the Ivatan Laji website). Currently, he helps run a local library in his ancestral village, which promotes literacy and lifelong learning. He is a tribal member of the Ivatan people of the Northern Philippines and is of mixed ancestry (Filipino - Irish - German).

 

Dorian Merina - Website

Filipino American Interest

Connect to engaging discussions and performances related to the Filipino American community.

Poetry

Programs designed to celebrate the art of the poem, including readings and talks.

Spotlight

This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Attending Programs

All programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

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