I love being part of this writing community. Something special happens all the time, and I am learning a lot from them.
First, there was the publishing seminar in January that started it all. Then there was #SparkNA. In the middle now of preparing for #StrangeLit (another writing workshop coming in August), #MoreLoveInPH happened. To be really honest, I was so confused at first as to what this event is and would be like. I thought it was a gathering for Filipino romance writers–no, let me rephrase that–a traditional, face-to-face gathering for Filipino romance writers, but it turned out to be a virtual gathering. On Facebook.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not being a Negative Nancy here. In fact, I’m writing about this because I really liked the experience, and hope there’d be more of it soon.
#MoreLoveInPH was described as an online party, and it couldn’t have been more accurate. Sure, it wasn’t the traditional party we all know, but why do we hold parties anyway? We hold and attend parties to celebrate something, and this party was, in my opinion, a celebration of Filipino authors finding a niche and working ardently to cultivate it.
Let me be honest. I haven’t been in tune with the Filipino writing community until this year. Come to think of it, I haven’t been completely invested with anything Filipino until recent years (thanks so much, Korean Entertainment), but that’s probably a story for another day.
Anyway, to cut the long story short, I now find myself in a community of some of the most hardworking and imaginative Filipino writers, and the ride’s been awesome so far. Oh, have I told you how supportive everyone is? Yeah, that too.
I’m only now discovering the work of these wonderful people, and through #MoreLoveInPH, I have discovered how alike we are in so many ways. It’s a comforting thought, to know that these people who are more accomplished than you have the same interests (those that you only consider guilty-pleasures, most especially), to know that they find joy in the silliest of things (or the most gorgeous of men), and to know that they continue to work hard (and not just rely on popularity) to be able to put out brilliant work out there. It’s both encouraging and inspiring, and I feel so honored to be a fledgling in this awesome, high-flying flock.
So if you think #MoreLoveInPH only meant Filipino authors are more inclined to write romance, think again. It also means we love each other enough to hold hands through each of our journeys, and that’s what makes every endeavor much more worth it.
Here’s hoping for more events like these in the future (that I can really focus on, that is)!
Would you like to read more work from Philippine authors? You may visit Buqo.Ph for a wide range of contemporary content, or go to Romance Class for an online catalogue of books written under Mina V. Esguerra’s writing workshop.
