Diwata

The element of transformation is abundant in many Greek mythology stories. In the first glance, it is usually a way to escape oppressors or to allow gods to interact with mortals. Nevertheless, these stories of transformation are also interpreted as template for queer narratives.

Diwata is a book that incorporates these ideas into photos. What I love about this is that it also includes narratives from Philippine's history and description of various deities in Philippine mythology. It is a visual feast and I admire all the photographers and models for a job well done in presenting the stories well.

The Book of Sainted Aunts: The Illustrated Portraits of Mildly Martyred Sinners-Turned-Saints Since Queerdom Come (2021, self-published by Anna Onni)

“[obsolete] An “aunt” is slang for middle-aged and elderly gay men or lesbian women (who were often mentors taking on protective roles for younger queers), reclaimed from the original association with an old madam who runs a prostitution brothel.

[current] The sainted aunts who have come before us have only been recently recognised. Since queerdom came, the revised requirements for sainthood have become more inclusive to the diverse forms of martyrdom and falsely-named sins of the past.” - Anna Onni

Anna Onni’s The Book of Sainted Aunts is a collection of portraits about sainted aunts curated and salvaged by Saint Lune of the Scattered Bibliotheque from a lost archive destroyed by extremists. Since queerdom came to the world, Saint Lune was able to gather and catalogue piles of what was left of these queer histories/herstories/stories.

INTRODUCTION

The Philippines is a nation with a vast collection of literary works that has, both directly and  indirectly, impacted all aspects of its society – politics, religion, economy, education and its  culture. Literary works such as Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo of Gat. Jose P. Rizal has,  in their own respective ways, made marks in the society that we live in. Literature also creates  necessary mindsets of existence that boost the familiarity of certain narratives, themes, and topics. 

A/PART: An Anthology of Queer Southeast Asian Poetry in the Pandemic (2021, SEACQF)

apart.

(adv.) distance, away, separate units, exclusion, into pieces

(adj.) isolated, divided

Apart connotes distance, isolation, separateness, and exclusion. From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary alone, the word exists to describe our lived experiences in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. We have been living for two years now in the middle of lockdowns, health protocols, virus surges, and quarantines. Many of us had dear friends and family dying in the middle of this crisis. Separation birthed an illusion of connectedness, finding ways to contact and catch up with each other through virtual platforms. Gay romances have become a staple source of escape in streaming sites like YouTube and Netflix. Dating and lusting have become more careful and adventurous than ever (with masks on of course!). The world has never been the same since 2020. Our queer lives have become apart yet we continue living our desires everyday.

ASEAN Queer imaginings is a collection of opinion pieces by LGBTQIA activists in SEA, as they articulate their hopes of a more inclusive ASEAN region. Through their writing and their work, these writers and activists navigate the diverse lived experiences of LGBTQIA activism in ASEAN. Their activism is one fraught with difficulty, but also imbued with much hope and optimism. The collection of pieces also illuminate the diverse identities, experiences and activism of LGBTQIA SEA folks. There is no one all encompassing, monolithic identity, but a tapestry of kaleidoscopic voices and people.

Through this book, Anna Onni reaches out to comfort and reassure the queer community that there is space to hold their strengths for realising hope. A hope for a kinder, gentler world that celebrates how humans come to process and embrace queerdom. A hope that despite of struggles, humans live on with their hearts stirring with virtues and passion.