In its seventh year, the SOX Zine Festival remains a vibrant hub for creators, writers, readers, and advocates of zines and independent publications in the Soccsksargen region. This year's event was held on November 30, 2023, at the Tacurong City gymnasium, marking another milestone in the festival's history.
The festival, led by Tridax Zines in partnership with Sarangani Writers League, and Maratabat: MSU-Gensan Writers Guild, serves as a testament to the flourishing creative spirit within the Soccsksargen region. A remarkable total of 72 zine creators participated in this year's event, proudly displaying their literary works through self-published zines hailing from various cities and provinces within the SOX region. This gathering not only showcased their talents but also highlighted the collective creativity and passion of the region's literary community.
“In a world full of AI and instant gratification, kailangan din natin magbalik sa analog sources of culture and knowledge, paminsan minsan. How well do you know your place? Sino ka? Saan ka nakatira? Anong pulos mo sa mundo? Ito yong mga tanong na kaya masyado sagutin ng local literature (thru zines),” said SOX Zine Festival Director Gerald “Gik” Galindez.
(In a world dominated by artificial intelligence and the allure of instant gratification, it's essential that we occasionally return to analog sources of culture and knowledge. How well do you truly understand your place in the world? Who are you? Where do you live? What is your purpose in life? These are profound questions that local literature, particularly through the medium of Zines, is uniquely equipped to address.)
“Masyado kasi tayo nakatingin sa malayo, hindi natin nakikita ang mga magic sa paligid natin. Gusto natin lahat sosyal, may class, makinis, imported, hardbound, hindi ganyan ang zines. Zine making is one of the most flexible and malleable ways to create art, walang mag dikta sayo na mali yan! Tama yan! Basta kung anong gusto mong i-express ma express mo sa zine,” he added.
(We often find ourselves gazing into the distance, failing to see the magic that surrounds us. We desire everything to be sophisticated, classy, flawless, imported, and hardbound, but zines are not like that. Zine making is one of the most flexible and adaptable forms of art creation, with no one to dictate what’s right or wrong! Whatever you wish to express, you can freely do so through a zine.)
The festival also featured an enlightening ‘Authors' Talk’, which spotlighted the talents of local writers including Bella Coronel from GenSan, Carlou Barocca Espedillon from Sarangani Province, and Norsalim Haron from Cotabato Province. These authors shared insights from their personal writing journeys and offered valuable advice for those aspiring to pursue a career in writing.
First inaugurated in 2017 in General Santos City, the SOX Zine Festival has not only continued to expand year after year, but it has also served as a beacon of inspiration for both new and established writers in the region to bring their works to life in various literary genres and forms.
This remarkable growth and the flourishing of local literary talent have been made possible through the collaborative efforts of local writers' organizations, business establishments, LGUs, and government agencies, all working in unison to nurture and celebrate the region's vibrant literary scene.
A zine is a self-published, often DIY publication covering various topics, created by individuals or small groups. It can be distributed in print or digitally and offers an alternative platform outside of mainstream media.
The SOX Zine Festival 2023 was also supported by Aklat Alamid and the National Book Development Board.
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