Everyone, please invite your family and friends to this very interesting event. Book Launches is one of FAL’s regular programs, along with Bus Tours of Historic Filipinotown and our Children’s Reading Program. This particular book is very relevant to today’s world and I hope you all have a chance to read it. – Jonathan Lorenzo ----- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 24, 2008 CONTACT:Jonathan LorenzoAdministratorFilipino American Library (FAL)Tel: 213-382-0488Email: filamlibrary@sbcglobal.net NEW BOOK EXPLORES THE DYNAMICS OF INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIPS LOS ANGELES (March 2008) – Interracial unions are increasingly commonplace and this relationship genre is the focus of Sam Cacas’s new book BlAsian Exchanges, a novel. It will be featured in a Filipino American Library (FAL) Book Launch on Saturday, April 19 at 2:00pm at FAL (135 N. Park View St., Los Angeles). To RSVP for this free event, please contact filamlibrary@sbcglobal.net or 213-382-0488. In FAL Book Launches, authors introduce their Filipino works of literature with residents of Greater Los Angeles. Admission is free and donations are accepted. Snacks and drinks will be provided. This event is co-sponsored by Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), Multiracial Americans of Southern California (MASC), and Burger King Corporation. BlAsian Exchanges, a novel is about Earvin Ilokano, a Filipino American journalist in San Francisco, who decides to become a novelist in the midst of career and work frustrations. The tale he writes is a recollection of his attraction for Black women and Black culture in relation to his racial (Asian American) and ethnic (Filipino American) heritage. To stoke his poison pen, journalist Ilokano - who is married to a Black woman - recruits Black women on the Internet to serve as his muses and consequently makes the story more "interactive" and the writing experience a little spicier for the reader not to mention the writer. For more information on this book, please visit www.blasianexchangesanovel.blogspot.com Sam Cacas writes a column on Black-Asian unity for AsianWeek.com and also co- moderates a Yahoo! discussion group – PowerCouples AMBW – focusing on Black women and Asian men. His nonfict writing has been published in San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Bay Area Reporter, San Jose Mercury News, Advocate, Human Rights (ABA), and California CEO. BlAsian Exchanges, a novel is his first book. Founded on October 13, 1985 by “Auntie Helen” Agcaoili Summers Brown, FAL is the first and largest Filipino library in the country with a collection of more than 6,000 titles. Its mission is to actively promote the history, culture, and professional achievements of Filipinos and Filipino Americans through the book collection, leadership development, and cultural programming, thereby contributing to the achievement of a culturally dynamic, multiethnic America. Given that FAL primarily survives on individual donations and one major annual fundraiser, we hope we can rely on your financial support so we can continue our programs and services throughout the year. Please feel free to donate online at www.filipinoamericanlibrary.org. If you would like to send a check, please make it payable to “Filipino American Library” and mail it to 135 N. Park View St., Los Angeles, CA 90026. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. FAL is a division of the Filipino American Heritage Institute (Nonprofit Tax ID Number 95-4282571). It is open Mondays-Fridays 1:00-5:00pm and by appointment. For more information, please contact Jonathan Lorenzo, the FAL Administrator, at 213-382-0488 or filamlibrary@sbcglobal.net. (If you would like pictures to include for publication, please contact Jonathan Lorenzo.)
JONATHAN LORENZOAdministratorFilipino American Library (FAL) 135 N. Park View St. Historic Filipinotown Los Angeles, CA 90026-5215Tel: 213-382-0488Fax: 213-382-0478Email: filamlibrary@sbcglobal.netDonate Online: www.filipinoamericanlibrary.org- Visit us MON-FRI 1-5pm & by appt. -
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Upcoming readings for BlAsian Exchanges, a novel
Hope all of you are having a happy March. Just wantedto let everyone know that I have confirmed the followingdates of my next readings:
1. Filipino American Library, Historic Filipinotown, Los AngelesApril 19, 2-4 p.m., 135 N. Park View Street [ PLEASE RSVP FORTHIS FREE EVENT BY CONTACTING filamlibrary@sbcglobal.net or213-382-0488 ]
2. City College of San Fancisco, Ocean Campus 12-2 p.m.,May 6, free event
3. City College of San Francisco, Southeast Campus, May 14, time to be announced, free event
I will also be confirming a reading during the Unity Journalists of Color Conference in mid-July in Chicago, Ill.
And if any of you are interested in purchasing my bookonline, it is now availabel on Amazon.com - just look for the edition that was released on December 30, 2007.For volume orders, you can order from Baker & TaylorBooks (btol.com) which is my national distributor.
Take Care,
Sam Cacas
1. Filipino American Library, Historic Filipinotown, Los AngelesApril 19, 2-4 p.m., 135 N. Park View Street [ PLEASE RSVP FORTHIS FREE EVENT BY CONTACTING filamlibrary@sbcglobal.net or213-382-0488 ]
2. City College of San Fancisco, Ocean Campus 12-2 p.m.,May 6, free event
3. City College of San Francisco, Southeast Campus, May 14, time to be announced, free event
I will also be confirming a reading during the Unity Journalists of Color Conference in mid-July in Chicago, Ill.
And if any of you are interested in purchasing my bookonline, it is now availabel on Amazon.com - just look for the edition that was released on December 30, 2007.For volume orders, you can order from Baker & TaylorBooks (btol.com) which is my national distributor.
Take Care,
Sam Cacas
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Part I: Discussion Study Guide Questions for BlAsian Exchanges, a novel
1. What is the mindset of the protagonist Earvin Ilokano as far how he perceives Black women? Black men?
2. Does the overall plot of BlAsian Exchanges, a novel support the notion of being true to one's marriage or other relationship? In what chapter is the major denouement - i.e., the conflict of Ilokano flirting with the muses while trying to stay true to his marriage - resolved?
3. What is your opinion of how the author recollects his attraction for Black women and Black culture?
2. Does the overall plot of BlAsian Exchanges, a novel support the notion of being true to one's marriage or other relationship? In what chapter is the major denouement - i.e., the conflict of Ilokano flirting with the muses while trying to stay true to his marriage - resolved?
3. What is your opinion of how the author recollects his attraction for Black women and Black culture?
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Chapter One of BlAsian Exchanges, a novel"
BlAsian Exchanges, a novel (Copyright 2007, All Rights Reserved)
Chapter One
"They are all of one mind, their hearts are set upon song and their spirit is free from care. He is happy whom the Muses love. For though a man has sorrow and grief in his soul, yet when the servant of the Muses sings, at once he forgets his dark thoughts and remembers not his troubles. Such is the holy gift of the Muses to men." - Hesiod
It was a mere five 'til five once my fingers had danced on the keyboards for a few minutes and my eyes saw these two ads I'd typed:Black sisters: please be my muse? - m4w – 34I am a MARRIED Asian male writer seeking a platonic friendship with any Black women out there who might be interested in serving as my muse. I am in the process of writing my first novel about my attraction for and romances with Black women throughout my life and would like to hear a sister's reaction to my story. What I had in mind was maybe we could do coffee or have a phone conversation while I read parts of my novel to you. Other subsequent interactions, e.g., an IM chat or e-mail exchanges, are possible. Romantic experience with Asian men not required but openness to seeing Asian men as a romantic option and interest in what I'm writing about is. Look forward to hearing from you and hooking up. Again, I am repeating what I noted at the outset: I am MARRIED so if anyone has any problems with that please disregard this post. Absent some minimal / innocent flirting that comes with any platonic friendship with those of the opposite sex, I intend to keep it real and stay true to my wife.Attractive, Urban-bred 27yo SAM iso SBF for LTR!!!!!!
Yo Ladies!
I'm a fun-loving 33 year old single Asian man seeking an erudite, eclectic, and sensual Black woman (30+) to spend my time with. I'm looking for a sistah of creative mind and body; a woman of pleasure and romance; a woman that loves to explore and discover new places with the right man.
I'm from a Black city so I know what time it is. And I've been intimate with sistas most of my life so this is no jungle fever booty call. My talk is as cool as my walk. And I also like to dance. I am truly a man of passion, a hopeful romantic in passion as well as practice! How about we have coffee some time after a few virtual exchanges and phone calls then – if the sparks are right – spend our evenings dining and dancing, singing and laughing. And at some point: A nice quixotic evening together by candle light, soft sexy music, a nice bottle of wine and our passion to fill the night right.
I'm seeking a lady that can share herself and grow with me, a woman that doesn't play games, a woman that wants to find the pleasures in life with a man that is ready to sweep her away! If you can feel my flow and want to see me walk 'n talk, then send me a communiqué tellin' me about yourself at your earliest convenience. Lookin' forward to our rendezvous.
E-mail me back and tell me about yourself. Tell me your passions in life, your career goals, your favorite novelist and most important: tell me what makes you unique. Please send me a picture and I will get back to you soon. Hopefully we'll be able to show each other that love is always alive!
A lot to be writing in the wee hours of a Thursday morn in July. But some writing comes easy. Especially when I listen to the little voice inside me. A voice that once again opened up as I woke up. A voice that kept repeating to me:
Write about stuff close to the heart. Just do the WRITE thing. Don't stand for ceremony. Write what you know . . .
Yes the word becomes flesh. After that thought, I hit the submit button on the web site I'd gotten to know well: BlAsianRomance.luv
Both ads posted almost immediately. But the voice inside me commanded: 'remove the second one. That's not you.' And I did. Thank goodness 'cause it's time to go to work. I turned my computer off as I heard the cable car from two blocks back goin' up Washington from Hyde. It is another windy, chilly San Francisco morning in late spring. But what is firing my heart is that I've written about what is really close to my heart: BlAsian romance. Romance among Asian men and Black women.
* * *
I guess you could say I'm a trained journalist who is still searching for his real voice as a writer. Kinda like a lover trying to find their true heart but not quite there yet. You see, there's a voice inside me that incessantly keeps whispering – sometimes screaming in a high-pitch tone: "That's not you!" whenever I attempt to write the stories I get paid to write at this magazine I write for called Asian American Contemporary.
I've started to listen and act on this voice. Started to write a novel about BlAsian romance – romance between Black women and Asian men. But the journalist voice inside me keeps telling me:
"You've gotta keep making a living. Writing nonfiction pays your bills. And who cares about novelists anyway?"
The novelist's voice retorts:
"Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures and journalism ignores. You will pay the bills if you pursue storytelling. Reporters are wimps and losers who only try to sell newspapers anyway. And besides you were not destined to be a hack."
I do keep dreaming the journalist voice's influence eventually whithers away until it's completely gone swallowed by the novelist's voice. For now, both voices debate each other from time to time. Only time will tell, I guess.
Flashback to high school sophomore year: I'm in the middle of Greek Mythology class and have just written down the quote of the ancient Greek poet Hesiod uttered by that tall Jesuit priest who keeps referring to me as a "pinhead". I ignore his labeling and instead I'm focused on the concept of the Muses that are now being discussed. "The writings of earlier writers have told us that the Muses were the inspiring goddesses of songs, and they eventually were portrayed as divinities presiding over different kinds of poetry and over the arts and sciences," said Father Desiderata. "As patrons of the fine arts, the Muses promoted the more civilized aspects of human existence. The fortunate person inspired by them was held in the highest esteem and considered sacred far beyond any priest." Since that class, I've not too infrequently seen the moon in the morning sunlight of my Sensa pen.
Chapter One
"They are all of one mind, their hearts are set upon song and their spirit is free from care. He is happy whom the Muses love. For though a man has sorrow and grief in his soul, yet when the servant of the Muses sings, at once he forgets his dark thoughts and remembers not his troubles. Such is the holy gift of the Muses to men." - Hesiod
It was a mere five 'til five once my fingers had danced on the keyboards for a few minutes and my eyes saw these two ads I'd typed:Black sisters: please be my muse? - m4w – 34I am a MARRIED Asian male writer seeking a platonic friendship with any Black women out there who might be interested in serving as my muse. I am in the process of writing my first novel about my attraction for and romances with Black women throughout my life and would like to hear a sister's reaction to my story. What I had in mind was maybe we could do coffee or have a phone conversation while I read parts of my novel to you. Other subsequent interactions, e.g., an IM chat or e-mail exchanges, are possible. Romantic experience with Asian men not required but openness to seeing Asian men as a romantic option and interest in what I'm writing about is. Look forward to hearing from you and hooking up. Again, I am repeating what I noted at the outset: I am MARRIED so if anyone has any problems with that please disregard this post. Absent some minimal / innocent flirting that comes with any platonic friendship with those of the opposite sex, I intend to keep it real and stay true to my wife.Attractive, Urban-bred 27yo SAM iso SBF for LTR!!!!!!
Yo Ladies!
I'm a fun-loving 33 year old single Asian man seeking an erudite, eclectic, and sensual Black woman (30+) to spend my time with. I'm looking for a sistah of creative mind and body; a woman of pleasure and romance; a woman that loves to explore and discover new places with the right man.
I'm from a Black city so I know what time it is. And I've been intimate with sistas most of my life so this is no jungle fever booty call. My talk is as cool as my walk. And I also like to dance. I am truly a man of passion, a hopeful romantic in passion as well as practice! How about we have coffee some time after a few virtual exchanges and phone calls then – if the sparks are right – spend our evenings dining and dancing, singing and laughing. And at some point: A nice quixotic evening together by candle light, soft sexy music, a nice bottle of wine and our passion to fill the night right.
I'm seeking a lady that can share herself and grow with me, a woman that doesn't play games, a woman that wants to find the pleasures in life with a man that is ready to sweep her away! If you can feel my flow and want to see me walk 'n talk, then send me a communiqué tellin' me about yourself at your earliest convenience. Lookin' forward to our rendezvous.
E-mail me back and tell me about yourself. Tell me your passions in life, your career goals, your favorite novelist and most important: tell me what makes you unique. Please send me a picture and I will get back to you soon. Hopefully we'll be able to show each other that love is always alive!
A lot to be writing in the wee hours of a Thursday morn in July. But some writing comes easy. Especially when I listen to the little voice inside me. A voice that once again opened up as I woke up. A voice that kept repeating to me:
Write about stuff close to the heart. Just do the WRITE thing. Don't stand for ceremony. Write what you know . . .
Yes the word becomes flesh. After that thought, I hit the submit button on the web site I'd gotten to know well: BlAsianRomance.luv
Both ads posted almost immediately. But the voice inside me commanded: 'remove the second one. That's not you.' And I did. Thank goodness 'cause it's time to go to work. I turned my computer off as I heard the cable car from two blocks back goin' up Washington from Hyde. It is another windy, chilly San Francisco morning in late spring. But what is firing my heart is that I've written about what is really close to my heart: BlAsian romance. Romance among Asian men and Black women.
* * *
I guess you could say I'm a trained journalist who is still searching for his real voice as a writer. Kinda like a lover trying to find their true heart but not quite there yet. You see, there's a voice inside me that incessantly keeps whispering – sometimes screaming in a high-pitch tone: "That's not you!" whenever I attempt to write the stories I get paid to write at this magazine I write for called Asian American Contemporary.
I've started to listen and act on this voice. Started to write a novel about BlAsian romance – romance between Black women and Asian men. But the journalist voice inside me keeps telling me:
"You've gotta keep making a living. Writing nonfiction pays your bills. And who cares about novelists anyway?"
The novelist's voice retorts:
"Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures and journalism ignores. You will pay the bills if you pursue storytelling. Reporters are wimps and losers who only try to sell newspapers anyway. And besides you were not destined to be a hack."
I do keep dreaming the journalist voice's influence eventually whithers away until it's completely gone swallowed by the novelist's voice. For now, both voices debate each other from time to time. Only time will tell, I guess.
Flashback to high school sophomore year: I'm in the middle of Greek Mythology class and have just written down the quote of the ancient Greek poet Hesiod uttered by that tall Jesuit priest who keeps referring to me as a "pinhead". I ignore his labeling and instead I'm focused on the concept of the Muses that are now being discussed. "The writings of earlier writers have told us that the Muses were the inspiring goddesses of songs, and they eventually were portrayed as divinities presiding over different kinds of poetry and over the arts and sciences," said Father Desiderata. "As patrons of the fine arts, the Muses promoted the more civilized aspects of human existence. The fortunate person inspired by them was held in the highest esteem and considered sacred far beyond any priest." Since that class, I've not too infrequently seen the moon in the morning sunlight of my Sensa pen.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Question: have any of you in BlAsian relationships met your partner online?
I have been tapped by Asian Week to write a monthlycolumn focusing on Black-Asian unity. So for my firstcolumn, I am writing about the burgeoning web siteswhose focus is Black-Asian relationships.
The question is: have any of you members who are ina BlAsian relationship met your partner online througha BlAsian web site? If the answer is yes and you don'tmind being interviewed, please e-mail ASAP with youre-mail address and tell me how you met: the url of theweb site, the exact month/day/year, etc.
Looking forward to hearing from you and
Warm Regards,
sAm
The question is: have any of you members who are ina BlAsian relationship met your partner online througha BlAsian web site? If the answer is yes and you don'tmind being interviewed, please e-mail ASAP with youre-mail address and tell me how you met: the url of theweb site, the exact month/day/year, etc.
Looking forward to hearing from you and
Warm Regards,
sAm
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Please read my new article Black-Asian unity at
http://www.asianweek.com/?s=Black-Asian+unity
and please post a comment. And do let me know
what you think.
Take Care,
Sam Cacas
and please post a comment. And do let me know
what you think.
Take Care,
Sam Cacas
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