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| Writers and publishers from Soccsksargen region (Photo by NBSPI Sirius Publication) |
The Sarangani Writers League (SWL), in partnership with New Brighton School of the Philippines Inc. (NBSPI) and Aklat Alamid, successfully hosted the 7th SOX Zine Festival on Saturday, November 30, at the New Brighton campus in General Santos City.
This annual event saw its largest turnout yet, showcasing more than 80 zines, the highest number of participating zinesters in the festival's history.
Since its inception in 2017, the SOX Zine Festival has evolved into a vital gathering for creators, readers, and supporters of zines and independent publications in Soccsksargen. It continues to provide a significant platform for emerging writers, readers, and publishers in the region.
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| Zines published by Surallah based indie publisher Payag Panulatan (photo by NBSPI Sirius Publication) |
MJ Cagumbay Tumamac, co-founder of Aklat Alamid and SWL, explained that a zine “is a low-cost alternative type of publication where the creator is also the writer and publisher, typically not intended for mass distribution.” Traditional book publishing processes can be lengthy and costly. Sometimes, creators can even feel disconnected from their own work once it passes through various publishing hands.
"This event is crucial for highlighting our literary community and providing a platform for them to express their voices." said SWL co-founder and executive director Genory Vanz Alfasain.
The event included a publishing talk session with writer-educator Maritess Roluna from Magpet, North Cotabato, and Tumamac, who shared insights on publishing opportunities with attendees. Additionally, emerging spoken word artists were given the spotlight to perform their poems, enriching the festival's creative atmosphere.
Participating organizations and indie publishers featured at the festival included Maratabat: MSU GenSan Writers Guild, second-year MSU students from the Bachelor of Arts in Literary and Cultural Studies (BALCS) program, Cotabato Literary Circle, The SOX Writers Collective, Timog Literary Circle, Sigaw Heneral, Words by the South, Sinyas, Payag Panulatan, Alitaptap Bookshop, and Tridax Zines.
The SOX Zine Fest is celebrated every November in line with National Reading Month, underscoring the vital roles of writers, publishers, and readers in the literary landscape.
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