In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, City Lights in conjunction with the University of Guam Press present Julian Aguon, Pep Borja, Teresita Lourdes Perez, and Brian Muña. Moderated by Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero
The University of Guam Press will be featuring five talented and diverse writers and artists who bravely explore life in Guåhan through their works. This event will include author readings and Q&As with authors Teresita Perez and Pep Borja; Publisher Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero; indigenous rights attorney and acclaimed author Julian Aguon; and locally acclaimed filmmaker Brian Muña. There will also be an exclusive showing of the Dry Nights short film, which makes searing commentary on suicide, addiction, regret and longing.
The University of Guam Press advances regional scholarship, develops cultural literacy and expands accessibility to knowledge about Micronesia by providing high-quality, peer-reviewed publishing services
Featured Publications and Authors:
The Properties of Perpetual Light
by Julian Aguon
Through personal stories, searing political commentary, and a little bit of magic from Micronesia, Aguon weaves together a glowing tapestry of poetry and prose that illuminates the hard truths of climate change and colonization, and explores identity, loss, and the lessons of childhood
Julian Aguon is an indigenous human rights lawyer and writer from Guam. He is the founder of Blue Ocean Law, a boutique international law firm that works across Oceania at the intersection of indigenous rights and environmental justice.
Dry Nights
by Pep Borja
Dry Nights explores the deep impacts of love, longing, addiction, and suicide through a collection of poems. Borja navigates complex emotions that don’t gently lead you into the dark, but demand you jump headfirst into the shadows
Pep Borja is a CHamoru writer. He has had his work published by University of Hawaii Press, Achiote Press, The Kartika Review, The Yellow Medicine Review, and the University of Guam’s literary journal, Storyboard. He has lived in Guam all his life.
CHamoru Legends: A Gathering of Stories
by Teresita Perez and Translated into CHamoru by Maria Ana Tenorio Rivera
With humorous stories like “Juan Måla,” spine-tingling ones like “The Scented Woman,” and beloved CHamoru classics like “Pontan and Fo’na,” this award-winning collection of timeless legends from Guåhan brings together layers of wisdom and cultural lessons passed through the ages.
Teresita Lourdes Perez is an author, poet, college writing instructor, and daughter of Guåhan. Her book, CHamoru Legends: A Gathering of Stories, received a bronze medal for Best Regional Fiction in the Australia/NewZealand/Pacific Rim at the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards.
Lina’la’: Portriats of Life at Litekyan
by Micronesian Area Research Center and the University of Guam Press
Lina’la is a stunning collection of portraits that captures the layers of culture, wildlife, and history at Ritidian, or Litekyan, that has sustained our island for millennia. This beautiful book is a recipient of the 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Publisher Bio: The University of Guam is a division of The Micronesian Area Research Center (MARC), which is the primary repository of Micronesian history, knowledge, and cultural preservation in the Western Pacific region. UOG Press advances regional scholarship, develops cultural literacy, and expands accessibility to knowledge about Micronesia by providing high-quality, peer-reviewed publishing services.
Brian Muna is a director and writer, known for the films Plastic Bag (2018), Luther (2015) and Madam (2014). Together with University of Guam Press he produced the film adaptation of Pep Borja’s book DRY NIGHTS.
Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero is the Managing Editor and Program Director at University of Guam Press.
This event is made possible from support by the City Lights Foundation