Last Thursday, I left for San Francisco to attend The Filipino American International Book Festival held that weekend.  The owner of Philippine Expressions, Linda Nietes invited me to participate in this wonderful event.  Thank you Tita Linda for including me this weekend.

On Friday morning, I stopped by the Tauber Holocaust Library to see if I could find any more information about the Holocaust in Rome during World War II.

It was humbling to be surrounded by millions of stories about the Holocaust.

That evening was the author’s reception at the Philippine Consulate.  I met some amazing artists and listened to romantic Filipino ballads and poetry.  Listening to the ballads or Harana reminded me of the old Filipino black and white movies that I used to love to watch as a kid.  Harana is an old Filipino courtship tradition of serenading women. It is mostly practiced in rural areas and small towns.  The man, usually accompanied by his close friends, goes to the house of the woman he is courting and plays music and sings love songs to her.  The part I love the most is when the woman looks out the window with a big smile on her face — reminiscent of the Romeo and Juliet balcony scene.  However, in some movies if the woman is angry at the man, she would throw cold water out the window.

Singing “Harana” songs.

Here are other pictures taken at the Authors reception:

With award winning author Cecilia Brainard

Marivi Blanco, Leslie Ryan, Albert Mortiz, Deputy Consul Gen Jaime Ramon Ascalon, Giovanni Ortega, Linda Nietes, Evelina Galang, Cecilia Brainard, Luisa Igloria

Saturday and Sunday, October 19 & 20, 2013 – Filipino American International Book Festival at the San Francisco Public Library

Giovanni Ortega and Alleluia Panis perform a Baybayan. I’m so glad I was able to capture their beautiful performance.

With author Adam Cafage and artist/illustrator Marconi Calendas.