Back in early spring, Alan Lau, Arts Editor for the International Examiner, “Seattle’s Asian Pacific Islander newspaper for over 42 years,” contacted Eastwind Books of Berkeley to let my publisher know that my novel had just been reviewed. He asked if I had any book readings in Seattle, as he would publish the review in […]
FANHS National Museum opens
On October 8, 2016, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) opened the doors of its National Museum in Stockton, Calif. (337 E. Weber Avenue, 209.932.9037). The Stockton chapter of FANHS was instrumental in realizing this dream, which has taken some 20 years to come to fruition. More than 400 people came on opening day. […]
‘What Carlos Bulosan started, Patty Enrado finished’
Peter Bacho, Filipino-American writer whose debut novel Cebu won an American Book Award in 1992, wrote a review of my novel, A Village in the Fields, in the October 11th online edition of the Seattle International Examiner, the only nonprofit Pan-Asian American in the country. I am humbled by Mr. Bacho’s review. The review begins: “Carlos […]
Coming home: finding my Filipino-American roots
When my novel, A Village in the Fields, was shortlisted for the Seventh William Saroyan International Prize for Writing (Fiction) for 2016 back in May, I sent out emails to professors at Asian American Studies programs and Ethnic Studies Departments to announce my news. I also sent an email to Ann Marie Wagstaff, chair of […]
A Pinoy State of Mind: Building with Our Roots
Our Theme “A Pinoy State of Mind: Building with Our Roots” was chosen because we wanted to recognize that as Filipino Americans become more visible and successful across all sectors (e.g., academia, arts and entertainment, law and government, etc.) that we always remember where we came from, as well as the struggles of those who […]
My Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest blog post
Not very many people know that after graduating from the University of California at Davis, I joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps for two years. In 1986-87, I was a math tutor and librarian for a boarding school run by the Order of the Jesuits in St. Mary’s, Alaska, which is in the rural part of […]
Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley
The Bay Area Book Festival, which debuted last summer, was held at various venues in downtown Berkeley, Calif., this past weekend. Eastwind Books of Berkeley had a booth in the appropriately renamed street, Radical Row, where I made an author appearance Saturday morning. Aside from my meet-and-greet duties, my daughter, Isabella, and I wandered around […]
12th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration
The Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) hosted its 12th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration at the United Nations Plaza in San Francisco on Saturday, May 21st. OACC’s mission is build “vibrant communities through Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) arts and culture programs that foster intergenerational and cross-cultural dialogue, cultural identity, collaborations, and social justice.” My […]
Talking about the Delano grape strike at City College of SF
On May 4th, I gave a presentation and a reading from my novel, A Village in the Fields, for City College of San Francisco’s East Meets West program at the Rosenberg Library. Two classes and their professors were in attendance, and many of the students were Filipino American. My PPT presentation focused on my journey to […]
2016 Saroyan Prize shortlist released
Today Stanford University Libraries announced its shortlist for the seventh William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. You can read the press release here. For the fiction category, 15 books were named, which includes critically acclaimed books and authors. I am honored to say that my novel, A Village in the Fields, was nominated. I should […]