Chicas: A Gantala Press Podcast Gantala Press

In this episode, we speak with cultural workers China de Vera, Michael Beltran, and Tey Lopez about writer and activist Amanda Socorro Lacaba Echanis whose collected works, BINHI NG PAGLAYA, is forthcoming from Gantala Press. We talk about "redundancy" in writing, writing about fascism in children's books, writing and resistance, and many more.

"May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears."

Happy National Literature Month! This episode is Part 1 of the webinar organized by the class of MMS 198 Special Topics (Introduction to Publishing) of the BA Multimedia Studies Program under the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies of the University of the Philippines Open University. Women writers and small press publishers Rowena Festin (Aklat Mirasol), Mina Esguerra (#RomanceClass), and Faye Cura (Gantala Press) discuss the challenges in writing and publishing as, for, and by women, working with mainstream publishing, and building a community of readers and writers. Facilitated by Roda Tajon, the webinar was held on Zoom on March 29, 2023. Part 2 will include the open forum.

This episode is based on the monthly book discussion organized by the Education Committee of Gantala Press. For the month of February, It features all about love: new visions by bell hooks, which discusses the aspects of love and its role not only in our daily lives but also in the context of our communities and society. 

‘Ika nga ni Zenaida Seva, "Hindi hawak ng mga bituin ang ating kapalaran. Gabay lamang sila. Meron tayong free will. Gamitin natin ito." Sa karamihan, ang astrolohiya ay tinitingnan bilang pampalipas-oras lamang at kakatwang gabay sa ating araw-araw na buhay. Ngunit sa kasalukuyan, mapapansin natin ang nagbabagong pagtanggap dito ng mga tao bilang higit pa sa mga prediksyon at simpleng sabi-sabi.  

Sa episode na ito, kasama natin si Bridgette Diaz, ang founding president ng UP Esoterica at manunulat at mananaliksik tungkol sa astrolohiya at esotericism.

Calendars have always showcased women in sexy outfits, often endorsing cars and liquors. Businesses and political candidates give away calendars as marketing materials.

In this episode, Roma, Faye, and Marian discuss the creation of Gantala Press' 2022 Calendar -- how the featured women were selected; some important dates and commemorations, and some tips on illustrating women's portraits.

Bilang  pakikiisa sa 16 Days of Activism, nais ng Gantala Press na maglunsad ng  mga usapan na magbibigay-linaw sa usapin ng sexual harassment at  gender-based violence sa mga bata, kababaihan, at mamamayang Pilipino. Makakasama si Atty Twyla Rubin ng CHR Gender Office.