Toronto's KAPISANAN closes first Edge of KLWKN Lit Series with Filipino-Canadian writer Patria Rivera

KAPISANAN's Edge of KLWKN Lit Series finale in Toronto on Oct. 28 is set to celebrate Filipino-Canadian writer Patria Rivera, with poetry readings, a conversation moderated by Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio and a book drive for a mobile library in the Philippines.

Filipino-Canadian writer Patria Rivera is scheduled to headline the finale of KAPISANAN's Edge of KLWKN Lit Series in Toronto on Oct. 28, Mabuhay Canada reported. The free evening, A Night of Poetry and Prose with Patria Rivera, runs from 7 to 9 p.m. and pairs poetry readings with a book drive for a mobile library in the Philippines.

The gathering is being held at Another Story Bookshop on Roncesvalles Avenue. Filipino-Canadian author Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio will moderate a conversation exploring Rivera's literary career and her experiences writing about memory, migration and identity.

Celebrating a body of work

KAPISANAN executive director Jose Cacho-Lim said the evening will also introduce Rivera's upcoming novel, The Disappearance of the Rose. Four participants will each read a poem from Rivera's collection during the event.

"Tita Patty has been publishing in CanLit and in literature since 2005," Cacho-Lim said.

Austria-Bonifacio noted that Rivera's career began before Filipino-Canadian literary collectives, all-Asian literary panels and broader efforts to promote diverse authors became more prominent. "Long before Filipino-Canadian literary collectives, all-Asian panels, and the CanLit push for diverse authors, Tita Patty was carving out a space for Filipino-Canadian literature," she said.

She said she is particularly interested in Rivera's move from poetry to fiction, describing the novel as a story that "encompasses so many eras of Philippine history".

A first season for the series

The Edge of KLWKN Lit Series began earlier this year to highlight Filipino-Canadian writers and their contributions to Canadian literature. Its first event took place in June in partnership with Pride Toronto and featured writer C.E. Gatchalian, who Cacho-Lim said recommended Rivera when asked which Filipino-Canadian writer KAPISANAN should feature next. Gatchalian and Rivera previously co-edited Magdaragat, an anthology of Filipino-Canadian writing.

Books for the Philippines

Attendees are encouraged to bring new or gently used books for a free mobile library project in the Philippines led by Tina Azzopardi, whom Mabuhay Canada described as a Filipina business leader and supporter of Toronto's Filipino arts and culture community. Austria-Bonifacio's events page says tickets are free and that food and refreshments will be provided by Tita Flips.

"It's a small event that means a lot to a lot of people," Cacho-Lim said.

Subscribe to newsletter