[Con Report] FilAm Creator Con 2025

Filipino American Creator Con 2025 took place on September 20 at the Chula Vista Public Library in Chula Vista, CA. The one-day free event celebrated local Filipino creatives in art, music, independent film, voice acting, comedy, writing, and more. I was honored to be a part of two panels at this convention – I was able to discuss anime in the 90s and the Filipino American experience as a writer. 

I wanted to take a different approach to blog about this one day convention. I was going in with the intention of presenting and maybe spending an hour or two looking at the artist alley. I didn’t go in with the intention of writing another report for Scarlet Rhapsody, but I felt with the lack of visibility of Filipino American artists and culture in the mass media, it would be important to write about this experience.

I was very thankful that we were able to find parking at the library. The library isn’t too huge, but it did have enough space to house two panel rooms and a film festival room. The library hosted over forty artists from across Southern California. Some traveled as far as the San Fernando Valley to vend at the California-Mexico border. 

Most artist vendors had Filipino thematic things to do. One vendor, Sun Kissed, had Filipino insults and words you probably shouldn’t use at a family get together, on necklaces. “Maarte” really called out to me. She also had Filipino sun and state necklaces. I was hoping to find one for Massachusetts, as it was a running joke during my Boston days, I was the last of the Filipinos living in Boston. 

Of course, being a creative themed focused convention in the greater San Diego area, we had comic book artists also sell issues of their indie comics of Filipino focused characters and Filipino artists that have worked on some major intellectual property. I didn’t check out many panels because I wanted to reserve my energy and time for the two panels I was running. I did sit into the comedy panel and what I got out of it was branding. Like you have your public persona that is your brand and then your real self. 

They also had Filipino food vendors outside. I settled for lemonade to cool down. We had a few DJ performers outside providing early millennium vibes. I heard a lot of Aaliyah while I was cooling down before my second panel. 

I did enjoy talking to artists. I was on a mission to find artists for my second book, aptly titled Girlypop 2000 (it’s a working title). I did find two promising artists that I can see working on album covers for print artwork (a music themed book needs artwork imitating CD covers!) and another artist who can work on character designs and a potential book cover. As a Filipino American author, I want to hire other Filipino artists to work on my projects. I wasn’t given this opportunity in my debut book, but for this one, if the opportunity works out, I would love to have these artists on board. I feel that having a sense of authenticity in character design, especially in melanin and hairstyle is so important for authenticity in making this come alive. 

As an attending professional, I did get questions about my books, The Fangirl Diaries and the upcoming Girlypop 2000 book (that’s still in the drafting stage). I was getting more interest in the Girlypop 2000 book than my debut book about anime, girlhood, cosplay, and conventions in an era before streaming and social media. If anything, this unpublished concept has found its audience and its not out in the world, just yet. 

At the Filipino Stories with Universal Appeal panel, I highlighted the roles I have as an author and what I’m likely going to expect when my first fiction book is going to be published. I talked about how interracial relationships are often scrutinized by Asian men, especially in cases where it is written by Asian women. I alluded to the harassment Jenny Han was getting. Yes, my characters may have a white male love interest, but these dudes have to earn it. The girls can save themselves. I also talked about how for better or worse, Catholicism is a part of the Filipino American experience. Portraying Catholicism in Girlypop 2000 is neither positive or negative, but it’s rather the backdrop for daily life, going to a Catholic high school because it’s expected for success. I’m not Kevin Smith with simplistic commentary or looking to collaborate with EWN anytime soon. (I have a high school named Bishop Damien Karras…and if you know…you know!)

Overall, I loved that FilAm Creator Con gave old school San Diego Comic Con vibes where the first comic cons were held in libraries. This was a true community event. I felt no sense of crab mentality that is currently plaguing Filipino creative spaces – ask me how I know. Though a month before Filipino History Month, FilAm Creator Con is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about Filipino geeky culture (and our undeniable ties to Voltes V) and more!

Also shoutout to the staff taking care of us panelists and presenters. Not only you guys kept us hydrated, you gave us snacks, ice cream, melon cucumber, lotion, Tylenol, and more. In my decade and a half of paneling, this was the best hospitality ever.

And shoutout to Mary for getting me on the Filipino Stories with Universal Appeal panel at the last minute. Again uplifting pinoy creatives is so important – no gatekeeping or crab mentality found at FilAm Creator Con!