By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© 2011 Journal Group Link International)

C HICAGO (jGLi) -- Manila in the Philippines and San Francisco in California will play hosts to international book fairs for Filipino and Filipino-American writers starting September 15.

The 31st Manila International Book Fair from Sept. 15-19 will be held at Exhibit Halls 1-4 SMX Convention Centre Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.

Filipino Australian author Renato Perdon will be launching his autobiographical book, “The Life and Times of the Perdon Family,” ahead of the Manila Book Fair on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. at Concepcion Kid Learning Centre, 42 Hernandez Street, Chrysanthemum Village, San Pedro, Laguna. It will coincide with the commemoration of the 110th birth anniversary of Regino Perdon and the 101st birth anniversary of Concepcion Reyes Perdon.

Lunch will be served and a short program prepared. For confirmation of your attendance, please email: renperdoni@hotmail.com or contact: Phone/Fax: +6193138179 or ring +63 2 8682212; +63 2 5563534 or text: +61 409077433.

Perdon will also pitch his other book, “Understanding Jose Rizal,” as his contribution to the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal this year. The author visited the issue of making the national hero relevant to the current generations of Filipinos.

Perdon has written 11 books on history, languages, cultural conservation and heraldry, both in the Philippines and Australia.

IN SAN FRANCISCO

On the other hand, the Filipino American International Book Festival will be held from Oct. 1-2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at three venues in the Civic Center area of San Francisco. They are at Fulton Street where the booksellers,’ vendors’ and food booths, as well as an outdoor stage will be located; the San Francisco Public Library where lectures, readings and panel discussions will be held; and the Asian Art Museum, which will host the culinary lectures, food tasting, and a conversation with National Artist BenCab.

Ushering in the Filipino American History Month for 2011, the book fair will be the first-ever book festival in the U.S. to focus on literature, music, art and performances by and of the Filipinos and Filipino Americans.

Everyone is invited to take part in this free public event – as authors, booksellers, exhibitors/vendors, volunteers, sponsors/donors and performers, or just to enjoy Philippine culture and food at its best.

Among the authors of Filipino heritage, who have confirmed their attendance, are National Artists BenCab, Rio Alma, F. Sionil Jose, and well-known authors Ambeth Ocampo, Jose Dalisay, Pete Lacaba, Marites Vitug, Cecilia Brainard, among almost a hundred others.

Books that could browsed or be bought are of a wide variety of genres, for adults and children, artists and artisans, gays and straights, for those who seek inspiration and those who provide it, and many more. There will be new books to be launched at the event. Videos will also be available.

The FilBookFest is sponsored by the Literacy Initiatives International Foundation (LIIF), a California nonprofit; the San Francisco Public Library, the Philippine Consulate, the Asian Art Museum and the Philippine Department of Tourism, in cooperation with TFC/ABS-CBN Foundation International. Among its sponsors are the Asia Foundation, the University of San Francisco’s Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program, Inquirer.net and Philippine News. # # #

Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at: (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)