FilAm CreatorCon is holding its inaugural event on Sept. 14 at the National City Library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. With support from its event sponsor, Mabuhay Foundation, this event celebrates Filipino-American creators and their works in comics, animation, illustration, and pop culture. Along with panel discussions, there will be an exhibit hall where guests can meet FilAm creators and purchase their art from comics, to prints, and apparel.
This event features a Legends Spotlight panel with Whilce Portacio and Bobby Rubio. Kwento Comics, Giovannie Espiritu, Telly Award winning director/writer/actress, Diwata Komiks, Patricio Ginelsa, director of “Lumpia” and “Lumpia with a Vengeance,” Patrick Ballesteros, and more will be there to ring in the first show. There will also be programming throughout the day with panel topics like The Business Side of Comics, Women in the Arts, Podcasting, and Content Creation.
FilAm CreatorCon is free to the public and suitable for all age groups.
FilAm CreatorCon Founder Aaron Nabus is a graphic designer, and the host of the Hall H Show Podcast.
Nabus said he is a graphic designer by day, a pop culture podcaster, and now a convention organizer.
“My podcast is the Hall H Show where we interview independent pop culture creators,” he said. “It is through this endeavor that I have gotten to know many independent Filipino creators. Through that journey, I came to realize that not too long ago, not many people knew who a Filipino was, which is surprising because Filipinos in the U.S. are the third largest Asian population. With that in mind, and with the realization about 10 years ago that the star of “Starship Troopers” the book, was Filipino. That story gave me the initial thought that Filipinos need more representation. That planted the seed of me thinking that there must be some way that we can promote, celebrate, and empower all these talented Filipino creators that are there, but do not have that attention spotlight.”
Nabus said after attending Black Comics Day in 2018 in San Diego is when he began thinking about Filipino Americans having their own convention. After meeting some prominent Filipino American creators at Comic-Con in 2019, he was more inspired to make this happen. He said with the creators he has met in his podcast, and like-minded individuals who liked his idea, he knew he could provide Filipina American creators a space to share their stories. His idea was setback by the pandemic, in early 2023, this idea came back together and made plans for this inaugural event.
Nabus said the sponsorship by Mabuhay Foundation, founded by National City Vice Mayor Ditas Yamane.
“It is through her sponsorship that we were able to get the venue,” he said. “She came in at the right time because we wanted the show to have an intimate feel, not too loud, and not too big. A place where these established professionals can have a conversation, exchange stories, and connect creators. That is one reason I wanted to do this convention in the first place, because I have seen in the past, many young Filipino American creators struggle, and lose their enthusiasm along the way because of family influence. Historically, many families would like to see their kids in medical and engineering fields. Many of them discourage artistic pursuits. But what I have seen through my podcasts and networks, is many of them do survive this industry as Filipino Americans.”
Nabus said if he would have seen working Filipino American professional creators at a younger age, the impact on people like himself would have on a young person’s life.
Nabus said there are approximately 20 exhibitors at the event, with some well-known people and companies in the industry.
Nabus said the smaller setting allows a better way to introduce FilAm CreatorCon to the community, and for guests to have better conversations with the people there, and conducive for professionals and guests to network.
“Like an upcoming creator who wants some stout advice from a professional,” he said.
“Our panelists and exhibitors are all working professionals, so them giving their time for this, I will be eternally grateful.”
“It is a great opportunity for networking,” he continued. “Even if you are not in the industry, you are still a fan of pop culture. You will find something here from our creators and exhibitors that you will be a fan of. Not only do they do their own projects of art, but they do a lot of tribute projects as well for many of the popular industry properties, like Marvel, DC, Image. There will be something there for the public to be able to latch onto.”
