Words and Images Kittybug Press
Editing Gabrielle de la Cruz
“Our mission is to archive and publish art by Filipino female and/or LGBT+ artists in the Philippines and the Filipino global diaspora and to provide educational resources on independent publishing for these creative communities,” opens Kittybug Press, a New York and Manila-based micro press and independent artist collective. The collective is having its first in-person gathering in the Philippines on January 11, 2025, at Imperial Mow’s, Kowloon House, Matalino Street, Quezon City.
In collaboration with Manila Comics Fair, the event features 22 female and LGBTQIA+ artists from New York and Manila: Corny Babe, Butiki na Baboy, Sobsannix, Miggie Bacungan, Little Societies, Elle Shivers, Diigii Daguna, Meryl Ang, Pepe Reyes, Ren Poblete, Cupcakelogic, Mica Bautista, Bel Weber, Fingotchi, Maruveen, Birdfrogdraws, Mich Cervantes, Cozybao, Fern Bautista, Anik-anik World (Nikki Bonuel). Kittybug Press founder Anna Marcelo and co-head Rice Gallardo (Kaninrice) also form part of the lineup.
Artworks by Elle Shivers, Miggie Bacungan, Pepe Reyes, and Sobsannix
The artist market will be the cornerstone of the event and will be open for five hours, allowing each artist to showcase their work. This will coincide with activities such as risograph workshops headed by Gallardo and Marcelo and a live comic reading of selected featured artists’ work.
“Through this event, we want to encourage the Manila art community to participate in independent publishing and zine making and experiment with new mediums like risograph. We also hope to officially introduce Kittybug to the Filipino art/zine market as a community-first project,” the organizers share.
Initiatives of the micro-press include a zine publishing program where Filipino artists can pitch their passion projects; private and public workshops and one-on-one tutorials on risograph, zine-making, and book-making; and an annual free risograph printing for Filipino female and/or LGBTQIA+ artists who lack access to the medium.
For the event, Gallardo will lead a basic coding for riso workshop, while Marcelo will touch on using riso for illustration and photography. The live comic reading will also come with sound design by two-time Webby Award-winning sound designer Cristian Ayala and acting by Cloie Hilomen and Osh San Juan. A Q&A panel moderated by Anna Marcelo on the authors’ works and on the cast’s performance will follow.
To celebrate Kittybug’s first anniversary and culminate the event, an after-party featuring DJs such as BEDSPACERS (Mich Cervantes) and Jer Dee will happen until 10:00 PM.
Artworks by Kittybug Press, Meryl Ang, and Kitty Jardenil
Attendees are encouraged to mingle and exchange contacts throughout the event, with Kittybug Press aiming to bring the Philippine independent publishing community together.
“We look forward to an all-female and LGBTQIA+ celebration with you!” •
Entrance to the venue is on a “pay-what-you-can-basis!”
You may register for the workshops/talks via this link.
