Celebration: Filipino American International Book Festival

Saturday, 10/17/2026
10:00 - 5:30
Suitable for:
  • Families
  • Adults
Chinese Center Exhibit Space - 3rd Fl
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center - 3rd Fl
Koret Auditorium
Koret Lobby
Latino/Hispanic Community Room
Main Library
Address

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

Contact Telephone

Explore the richness and variety of Filipino diasporic literature this Filipino American History Month. The Filipino American International Book Festival (FilBookFest) returns in October for its 8th iteration, continuing its legacy as the largest Filipino American literary festival in the U.S. 

FilBookFest brings together an exciting array of writers, scholars and creatives from across the globe, including the U.S, Canada and the Philippines, to the iconic San Francisco Public Library.

Enjoy panel discussions, book signings and readings featuring a vibrant mix of established and emerging voices. This two-day event is a celebration of storytelling, culture and the diverse experiences of the Filipino diaspora.

10:15 - 10:30 AM

WELCOME

Opening Remarks

10:30 - 10:45 AM

Opening Keynote: Randy Ribay

Koret Auditorium, Lower Level

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Then, Here and Now: Celebrating Publications Over a Decade Old

Barbara Jane Reyes, Mia Alvar, Noel Alumit, Shirley Ancheta
Moderator: Edwin Lozada
Koret Auditorium, Lower Level
 

Love at the Fiesta: Romance Fiction & Filipino American Joy

Celeste Dador, Maan Gabriel, Maida Malby, Mia Hopkins
Hormel LGBTQIA Center, 3rd floor
 

Books to Teach Children to Feel and Heal

Niña Mata, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, Dr. Jeannie Celestial, Cleodia Martinez
Moderator: Celina Tirona 
Main Children’s Center, 2nd floor

11:00 AM - 5:45 PM

FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE

Book Vendors, Author Tables, Community Organizations, etc.
Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Rooms, Lower Level

12:00 - 12:30 PM

LUNCH BREAK

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Building Literary Communities: An Informal Roundtable with the Carlos Bulosan Book Club 

Jaime Geaga, Mila de Guzman, Cindy Domingo, Michael Magnaye
Chinese Center, 3rd Floor

12:30 - 1:30 PM

From Prey to Slay: Women, Horror, and Filipino Myth

Daphne Fama, Jet  Tagasa, Teresa Aguinaldo, Yvette Tan
Moderator: Dina Klarisse Dugar
Koret Auditorium, Lower Level
 

To Write You The Poem I Owe You: A Panel of Filipino Poets Wandering & Writing Today

Isabel Cristina Legarda,  Michelle Peñaloza, Rhoni Blankenhorn, Tony Robles
Moderator: Janice Lobo Sapigao

Hormel LGBTQIA Center, 3rd floor

 

Children's Storytime 

Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young 
Main Children’s Center, 2nd floor

1:45 - 2:45 PM

INKSTORM 1 (authors read from their recent collections)

Celeste Dador, Daphne Fama, Isabel Legarda, Jet Tagasa, Nathan Cayanan, Randy Ribay, Tony Robles, Victor Barnuevo Velasco, Vyxz Vasquez
Koret Auditorium, Lower Level

 

Multiverse of Filipinx Identities: Writing and Publishing for Young Adult Readers

David Flores, Marie Cruz, Candy Gourlay, Tracy Badua
Moderator: Carolyn Sideco
Hormel LGBTQIA Center, 3rd floor
 

Children's Storytime

Niña Mata + Cleodia Martinez
Main Children’s Center, 2nd floor

2:45 - 3:45 PM

Pinoy Komiks Through the Years: An Interactive Show and Tell

Angelo Mendez, Eric Ignacio, Nathan Cayanan, Jay Kalagayan
Moderator: Jaena Rae Cabrera
Koret Auditorium, Lower Level
 

Pilipinx Playwright Power

Amanda L. Andrei, Conrad Panganiban, Erica Miguel, Giovanni Ortega
Moderator: Aureen Almario
Hormel LGBTQIA Center, 3rd floor
 

Children’s Storytime

Kumusta Pusa & Marlon Rimando - A Presentation
Main Children’s Center, 2nd floor

3:15 - 4:15 PM

A Fogside Chat: M Evelina Galang and Lysley Tenorio in Conversation
Chinese Center, 3rd floor

4:00 - 5:15 PM

INKSTORM 2 (authors read from their recent collections)

Conrad Panganiban, Dani Putney, David Flores, Giovanni Ortega, Justine Ramos, Lauren Lola, Marie Cruz, Michelle Peñaloza, Rhoni Blankenhorn, Tracy Badua, Yvette Tan
Koret Auditorium, Lower Level
 

Fil-Am Creatives in Food, Design, & Entrepreneurship 

Cheska Torres Ibasan, Henry Awayan, LeRoid David, Woldy Reyes
Moderator: JJ Jumoc-Casas
Hormel LGBTQIA Center, 3rd floor
 

Packed with Love: The Balikbayan Box in Picture Books (Storytime + Conversation)

Christine Alemshah, Faith Kazmi, Carren Jao
Main Children’s Center, 2nd floor

5:30 PM

MARKETPLACE CLOSES


Engage with your favorite writers and discover your next read.

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

Programs and workshops, book recommendations and more relating to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage.

Weaving Stories is the Library's celebration of the many diverse histories and cultures from AANHPI communities.


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.

Notice: This event may be filmed or photographed. By participating in this event, you consent to have your likeness used for the Library’s archival purposes and promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed, please inform a staff person or the photographer. A sticker will be provided to help identify you so that we can avoid capturing your image.


Public Notice and Disclaimer

This program uses a third-party website link. By clicking on the third-party website link, you will leave SFPL's website and enter a website not operated by SFPL. This service may collect personally identifying information about you, such as name, username, email address, and password. This service will treat the information it collects about you pursuant to its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services. For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of SFPL’s Privacy Policy describing Links to Other Sites.

The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.