EVENT: Make Your Own Revolution 9/21-22

Saturday night 9/22, I’ll be doing Baybayin chalk art as part of “Make Your Own Revolution: Remembering people’s strength in resistance to Martial Law” by Kularts.

Friday & Saturday | September 21-22 | 6-8:30pm

Bayanihan Community Center
1010 Mission Street @ 6th
San Francisco

Suggested Donation: $5-20

Join Kularts for two evenings of performance inspired by people’s resistance to state violence. Forty years ago, Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law, ushering over two decades of brutal dictatorship, repression, murders (aka “salvaging”), and the subsequent revolution, now known as” People Power Movement.”

Make Your Own Revolution provides a space for the community to commemorate the traumas of martial law and remember the strength of “people power.” Activities include staged readings; live music; participatory sidewalk drawing; and the installation of a bangka, a boat sculpture inspired by indigenous ritual.

Saturday, September 22, 2012:

Music, Baybayin Art & the Dancing Lolo

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to do live chalk art at the tourist filled Union Square in San Francisco. It was a Filam music and art event put on by Kularts. What makes this significant is that Baybayin was seen by thousands of people all over the world. They now know that Filipinos have a writing system.

I did 2 pieces. 1 was the lyrics to Bawat Bata by Apo Hiking Society and a proverb “Kapag walang tiyaga, walang nilaga”. After I completed the Baybayin art, the public was invited to add to my artwork.

Music by Cassandra Farrar and character mural by Paolo Salazar.

EVENT: Union Square – San Francisco 8/26 2-4PM

On Sunday August 26 from 2-4PM, I’ll be doing live Baybayin art at the world famous Union Square in downtown San Francisco.

Brought to you by Kularts

The Skyflakes, an indie band based in Milpitas, are often lovingly described as ‘cute and bubbly’ or ‘sweet and sugary.’ But underneath the indie rock swirls and cuddly pop hooks are sharp lyrics about putting bullets into yourself, dropping acid, talking shit about co-workers, and meatheads with body image problems. Composed largely of family members, the band is musically and familialy “tight” – with well-crafted electro-garage-pop melodies, hooks, and harmonies.

Dirty Boots is a multi-instrumentalist band focused on vocal harmonies and dynamic song-writing. Members James Dumlao (Drums), and Rachel Lastimosa (Bass/Piano) met each other through a vocal-jazz ensemble in college. Their unique sound combines jazz, hip-hop, indie, and soul influences. Dirty Boots released their self-titled, debut EP in May 2009. In 2011, Dirty Boots served as the house band of the monthly open-mic, In Progress, @ Mama Art Cafe in San Francisco, CA. Their first Full Length Album “Where We Go” was released September 2011.

Cassandra Farrar + The Left Brains is a fusion of folk/pop/rock sounds. With fun, quirky, and upbeat tunes, Cassandra Farrar and her Left Brains bring a variety of relatable and honest music to the table, with unique vocals and catchy hooks to get stuck inside your brain. Born and raised in SF, Cassandra has been writing songs since the 7th grade. Shortly after her high school years, Cassandra met Chris Mayrena of Hyper Raje Records. There, along with Dave Demuth, they began collaboration on her 2nd CD and the final teaming of her band mates the Left Brains, came together. Cassandra Farrar+ the Left Brains are proud to release their debut CD as a band, “Hello My Name Is…”

Join us for live mandala chalk art with talented artists: muralist/painter Paolo Salazar and Baybayin artist Christian Cabuay – grab a piece of chalk and add your own color to Union Square!

EVENT: Pistahan – San Francisco August 11-12

It’s that time of the year again! This weekend at Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco, I’ll be at Pistahan with Ray & Norman and maybe some surprise guests.

This year we will be having a Baybayin art show featuring the 17 characters. That’s right, 17 different pieces by artists from the US to the Philippines.

Other booth (Creativity Pavilion) activities include:
– Launch of my Ka2 hat
– Live wood burning
– Live painting
– Workshop
– New raw Philippine footage of my documentary
– Kids activities

EVENT: SF Zoo – Baybayin at mga hayop

Never would’ve thought I’d ever do Baybayin at a zoo. This Saturday, May 12, I’ll be taking part of the very 1st Pacific Islander Heritage Day celebration at the zoo. Should be interesting because I’ll be doing something a bit different….think animals and Baybayin.

Bring your family to experience the incredible sights, sounds and flavors of the Pacific during Pacific Islander Heritage Day at the Zoo! From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., come see amazing, cultural dance performances by Spark of Creation, hear traditional Hawaiian slack key guitar by award-winning Patrick Landeza, watch performances by the Filipino Cultural Center (FCC) Kulintang Group as well as the Galing Bata/Quality Children After-School program. Plus, enjoy tasty treats specially made for this exciting event. All activities are free with paid Zoo admission. So, spend a day at the Zoo and immerse yourself into the Pacific Islander culture.

Check out the SF Zoo website for more info or my events page for my schedule.

So do you think that Filipinos are Pacific Islanders?

Filipino American Book Festival recap

This event was awesome – enough said, enjoy the photos.

Photo by BayaniArt

I signed my Baybayin book all day
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Did a talk at the San Francisco main library

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Someone discovering Baybayin while on the way to the Civic Center farmer’s market

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Baybayin name tags for the volunteers

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At the opening reception the day before the event, participating authors were invited for a meet and greet with former Philippine President, Fidel Ramos. There were lots of important people including national artists who were flown in from the Philippines.

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EVENT: 1st Filipino American International Book Festival

Books, art and music! 3 of my favorite things! The 1st Filipino American International Book Festival is this weekend, Oct 1-2 in between the San Francisco Main Library and the Asian Art Museum. I’ll be signing my book with the Baybayin Burner – Ray Haguisan and our very special guest, the Baybayin font king – Norman de los Santos who will bring copies of Anak Bathala.

Come by for custom artwork and translations. I’ll also be displaying my collection of old Baybayin stamps, money and other goodies.

Fundraising for the Filipino American Book Festival


I’ve been invited to head a Baybayin talk/workshop at the very 1st Filipino American Book Festival this coming October 1 & 2 at the San Francisco main library. I’m excited about this opportunity because this is my exact target market. So why the fundraising?

I decided to take my presence at this event a step further by getting a booth. These will mostly be occupied by book publishing companies and independent book stores rather than artists because of the cost. However, this is a great opportunity to promote Baybayin. To help defray the cost of the booth, I’ve partnered with Ray Haguisan where he will be displaying his Baybayin wood pendants. Even split 2 ways, it’s a pretty expensive investment. We will be lucky to break even.

This is where YOU can help and at the same time, get some rewards! One of the biggest questions I get is “How do we get your stuff if we can’t make it to your events?”

Basically, we are trying to raise $500 and if we do, you get your item. If we don’t make the $500, you don’t get charged ANYTHING and the project is cancelled. Every Kickstarter project must be fully funded before its time expires or no money changes hands.

Here are the available rewards
$5 – Name (your choice) card

$10 – Name (your choice) on canvas

$20 – Signed “An Introduction to Baybayin” book

$30 – Custom burned bamboo pendent necklace (approximately 5/8″ width, 1/4″ thickness, 1″ – 1 1/2″ length.) + canvas of a name of your choice

Check it out on Kickstarter