Sawaga River Press Greets 2023

Happy New Year, Fam and Friends! (Yes, we know it’s already March…)

Just a few things to keep you all posted about.

Here are pictures from the Filipinx American History Month last October 2022. Authors Kirby Araullo, Marielle Atanacio, and Angel Trazo joined us as panelists to talk about our various publishing journeys. Local residents came by and bought books, ate Filipino food from the Pinoritto food truck, and danced tinikling (using PVC pipes!). It was a fun way to spend a Saturday and celebrate FAHM locally. Till the next one!

Our Rooted in Practice: Pinays in Law anthology is out! It’s beautiful and joyful and everything I dreamt it would be. I’m so happy and proud to collaborate with the Pinay Powerhouse attorneys whose talents and enthusiasm for this project made it possible! Be on the lookout for its official launch!

Another Filipinx American History Month event to which I, representing the press, was invited was the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's panel focusing on Fil-Am women doing work in the environment. I felt a bit out of my comfort zone as I do not usually think of my work as environmentally oriented...but I reminded myself that Kapwa work is very much related to the environment! So there I was- talking about storytelling and publishing and the roles they play in promoting our inter-being (kapwa) and stewardship of the land!

Finally, as some of you may already be aware, we are sad to announce that Happy Garaje will no longer be illustrating our Mungan book. We never thought it would get to this point but, unfortunately, to honor both Happy Garaje’s needs and our project’s needs, we had to let go. We are very grateful for the inspiration and beauty that Happy Garaje gave to the project… and hope that our paths cross again.

In the meantime, Ray Sunga is stepping up as the new illustrator of our Mungan book. He is excited to be part of this project and we are fully confident that he will give this book all the love and care that everybody else in the team has, so far, given. We now have a tentative publication date of November 2023. Check out Ray Sunga’s work here.

This is all for now, friends and fam. Until the next update!