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Amanda L. Andrei

@theamandalandrei

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🎭 playwright, translator, critic, journalist 📝
🇵🇭🇷🇴🇺🇸
📍LA
💌 stay in touch 👇🏼

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#soundon

Still buzzing from the 8th Filipino American International Book Festival (@filbookfestival ) at the @sfpubliclibrary last weekend.

I was probably the only author who read a Tagalog poem in the entire festival. I didn't provide a translation. I just told the audience to listen and appreciate the sound, rhythm - the beautiful music that is Tagalog.

Of course, I didn't tell them that I was reading a raunchy poem dedicated to my wife, which the #Tagalog speakers in the audience got!

Salamat to fellow poet @poetintheor for sending me this video.

::

Ang Anumang Hahadlang

Gusto kong tikman
ang bawat patak ng ulan
na lumalagapak sa mukha mo.

Simsimin ang pagniniig ng alat
at tamis ng pawis hanggang maglawa
ang bibig ko.

Ipadama ang pagkapit
ng magaspang na dila,
dadantay.

Hahaplos.
Pagkalapot-lapot, hahalik
sa hangganan

ng anit, noo,
talukap ng mata, ilong,
labi, pisngi, baba, hanggang sa leeg.

Huhubarin
ang anumang hahadlang
sa pagnamnam at panlasa.

Maging tubig, hangin.
Maging titig,
pag-ibig.

(from Ang Tanging Natagpuan - @uppressofficial 2025)
#filipinoamericanhistorymonth #fahm #eroticpoem

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I'm so behind!! Maraming salamat sa @facfilmfestival for the invite - so great to see what filmmakers in the community are coming up these days! And a chance to chill with 0.5 of the Helicopter Typhoon Carabao-istas? Hell yes, say less.

Carpet pics @stevenlamphoto

@filamcreative

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BB’s first @facfilmfestival in the books! What a beautiful night getting to celebrate the Filipino talent and community in LA 🌟🇵🇭 Thank you so much for featuring the wonderful work we did with @modelminoritymusical , it was an honor to be nominated for best lead performer alongside some familiar faces 😘! And it was so special that I got to share this moment with my mams and my @ken_rudnick . Maraming salamat ❤️

@katchalata thank you for letting me be a part of this special piece, I love your brain. 🧠 My helicopter fam (AND THOSE I DIDNT GET TO SEE 😩), I love to see us all WINNING 💛

‘Til next time~

#filamcreative #actor #filmfestivals #filipinoamericanhistorymonth

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Life is funny in that unknown paths can lead to places I never knew where they can lead... like me being a part of a panel of playwrights at a Book Festival!

I hope you can join me and these other amazing writers on Saturday, October 14 at 2:45 PM: Pilipinx Playwright Power (Amanda L. Andrei, Conrad A. Panganiban, Erica Miguel, Giovanni Ortega; moderated by Aureen Almario) | Hormel LGBTQI+ Center, 3rd Floor.

I'll also be reading from my book, WELGA, at 4pm in Koret Auditorium as a part of Instorm 2.

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Fiction, poetry, rock opera, and rakenrol: meet Zosimo Quibilan!

The 8th Filipino American International Book Festival will be taking place on October 17-18, at the San Francisco Public Library. RSVP in link in our bio.

Presented by PAWA (Philippine American Writers and Artists) in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library, this year’s theme is Sanggalan: Stories that Propel Us, Stories that Protect Us.

Hear Zosimo Quibilan and other writers discuss their stories and process in the panel “LINTIK: Poetry Performed Becomes a Living Word” on Sunday, 12:45 PM.

Bio:
Zosimo Quibilan is an award-winning Filipino American fictionist, poet, translator, musician, and culture bearer. His book of fiction, Pagluwas (Going to the City, UP Press, 2006), won the Philippine National Book Award and the Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award. His poetry collection, Ang Tanging Natagpuan (The Only Thing Found), was published last year by the University of the Philippines Press. In 2024, he received the Nick Joaquin Graphic Salute Award for his short story “Beloved.” Together with filmmaker Khavn, he wrote the libretto and music of the rock opera 2BAYANI. He is also a professional translator and Tagalog dialect coach, and worked as a Tagalog consultant on the Amazon Prime show Expats. As singer-songwriter ZOS!MO, he leads No Sisig No Rakenrol, a musicians collective promoting original Filipino American music in Los Angeles.

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@facfilmfestival recap. Great first day on Fri. catching some short films, a very insightful panel about Responsibility in Filipino Storytelling, a great music video shorts block, @rhymeswithralph’s short film Fil-Am, and @kentdonguines incredible feature Treasure of the Rice terraces @treasuretattoodoc. And it all ended with another great opening night after party hosted by the gracious @lisalewbb. Everything you could want in an opening day of the 4th annual FilAm Creative Film Festival.

#filamcreative #filmfestival #filipino #filam #indiefilm

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SATURDAY OCT 17 | Poets, playwrights, and the communities behind the books ✍️

11 AM: Then, Here and Now: Celebrating Publications Over a Decade Old (Barbara Jane Reyes, Mia Alvar, Noel Alumit, Shirley Ancheta; moderated by Edwin Lozada) | Koret Auditorium
12 PM: Building Literary Communities: An Informal Roundtable with Carlos Bulosan Book Club (Jaime Geaga, Mila de Guzman, Cindy Domingo, Michael Magnaye) | Chinese Center, 3rd Floor
12:30 PM: To Write You the Poem I Owe You: A Panel of Filipino Poets Wandering & Writing Today (Isabel Cristina Legarda, Michelle Peñaloza, Rhoni Blankenhorn, Tony Robles; moderated by Janice Lobo Sapigao) | Hormel LGBTQI+ Center, 3rd Floor
2:45 PM: Pilipinx Playwright Power (Amanda L. Andrei, Conrad Panganiban, Erica Miguel, Giovanni Ortega; moderated by Aureen Almario) | Hormel LGBTQI+ Center, 3rd Floor

📍 San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St.
🔗 Full schedule at filbookfestival.org

Sunday's lineup is coming soon!

#Filbookfest #SanggalanFilbookfest #FilipinoAmericanBookFestival #FilipinoPoetry #FilipinoAmericanLiterature #CarlosBulosan

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YOSEMITE FACELIFT 2026

What a beautiful gathering, and an even more beautiful purpose.

I’m incredibly honored to have been part of this project once again—giving a little back to a place that welcomes millions from around the world. There’s something special about coming together to care for a place that has given so much to so many. It truly makes you feel part of something bigger.

This was my second year volunteering, and somehow, it continues to bring me the same sense of joy, connection, and purpose. This year was no exception.

I had the best company with @amelie_lune — thank you for making this trip so full of laughter, good energy, and love. 🤍

A special thank you to @escalemosorg for letting us tag along on this journey. What an incredible experience.

And to @mommas_who_climb, our amazing camping neighbors — thank you for making the weekend even more memorable. We had the best time.

Most of all, a huge thank you to @yosemiteclimbingassociation for the countless hours, energy, and care you put into making this project possible. The world feels a little brighter because of people who choose to show up, give back, and take care of the places we love.

Until the next one. 🏔️

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****FRIDAY PANEL****
Friday, October 2nd at 1:00pm

“Creativity and Responsibilities in Filipino American Storytelling”

As filmmakers with Filipino roots and identities, we draw on the vast and various cultural traditions, folklore, mythology, and languages of the Philippines to enrich our stories. How are we inspired by our various cultures? What responsibilities, obligations, and solidarities do we share within the diaspora and with the homeland, and how do we infuse them into our work?

• ARA CHAWDHURY - BISAYA BENGALI IMMIGRANT TRANSLATOR, FILMMAKER, AND THEATER MAKER

• ROGER Q. MASON - WRITER, PERFORMER, AND THOUGHT LEADER

• LEO PARTIBLE - FILMMAKER, COMIC BOOK CREATOR AND SINGER-SONGWRITER

• REUBEN DOMINGO - PRODUCED MORE THAN A DOZEN DOCUMENTARIES ON FILIPINO ARTS AND CULTURE

• KIRBY ARAULLO - HISTORIAN, AUTHOR, AND CULTURAL BEARER

MODERATED BY AMANDA L. ANDREI - PLAYWRIGHT, ARTS JOURNALIST, CULTURAL CRITIC, LITERARY CO-TRANSLATOR, AND EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER

Tickets on sale now! Link in bio!

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Such a fun weekend with @mommas_who_climb at #yosemitefacelift giving back to one of my favorite places. @yosemiteclimbingassociation thank you for putting on a fantastic event!

Aspen had a blast riding around the park, picking up trash with “the claw”, touring the classic boulders, and sharing snacks with his new besties @gracewul_climbing_socks 🥰

Got to take @theamandalandrei on her first multipitch, and got a couple other new climbers on the slabs at Swan Slab 🥳

Finally ticked off a couple of classics for myself:
✅ Grants Crack, 5.9
✅ Lena’s Lieback, 5.9
✅ Jesus Loves, 5.7+

All on TR ☺️, but all flashed, so next time I’ll come back for the lead.

So fun to meet and climb with some of the affinity groups IRL as well ✊🏾
Shout out to Jeremy, Langstyn, Janet, and Elvis!
@vertical_roots_ @negusinnature @browngirlsclimb @peoplesclimbingcrew

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A few years ago, I saw an American TV show that featured a Filipino dad singing a Tagalog translation of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to his sick son. They didn’t need to translate it really, but as Filipino-ness capital has been on the uptick and everyone is cashing on our culture, they probably thought to do it anyway. It was a meh translation. No, it was an adaptation, not good, but I can see the effort.

As a professional translator, translating songs are always a challenge. Not only do we need to get the language right, there’s also a need to make sure that the words work with the melody. Diction is particularly important as accents and colloquial pronunciation.

Here’s my attempt and if you like it, use it. Sing it to your children.

Talang kikislap-kislap
Mahiwaga’t mailap
Yakap ng alapaap
Ang dyamante sa ulap
Talang kikislap-kislap
Mahiwaga’t mailap

(back translation)

Star that is sparkling bright
mysterious and elusive
Hugged by clouds
this diamond in the sky
Star that is sparkling bright
full of wonder and elusive

#uypilipins

📸 @sumendozaq

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New on SEEfest Review: Antigone: In the Language of Kings

Amanda L. Andrei reviews this powerful adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone, reimagined in pre-conquest Tenochtitlan and performed in English, Spanish, and Nahuatl at the Getty Villa’s outdoor theater.

With haunting music, movement, striking visuals, and a story that confronts state violence, moral courage, and the abuse of power, Antigone: In the Language of Kings brings an ancient tragedy into vivid contemporary focus.

Photos by Craig Schwartz

Read the full review in our bio.

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