Katipunan Poetry Slam

The poetry slam is the modern day balagtasan, the Filipino form of poetic debate.

Competing Poets

ASHLEY C. LANUZA

Ashley C. Lanuza is a writer, editor, and poet. A UCLA graduate, she’s pursuing her Master’s in Creative Writing at Cambridge. Her poetry explores cultural identity, family, and mental health, with her debut poetry collection, My Heart of Rice, available online. She’s based in Los Angeles.

DEMETRI MANABAT

Demetri Manabat is a writer/spoken word artist born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. He uses his experiences with grief, love, and loss to help those fighting similar battles across the world.

JAIME ESTEPA

Jaime Estepa is a queer Filipinx American poet, playwright, and screenwriter. An alum of VONA/Voices and the UCLA Professional Program in TV Writing, Jaime has received fellowships from the Periplus Collective and Lambda Literary. They are currently pursuing their MFA in Creative Writing at Antioch University Los Angeles.

JOHNNY SWOOPZ

Johnny Swoopz is a multi-faceted artist born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a poet, designer, and photographer, he aims to push what it means to expand the limits of poetry’s presence in different artistic medium. Johnny is a member of Spotlight Poetry and a two-time regional slam champion.

KP

KP is a spoken word artist and performer based in Los Angeles, California. He is the author of The Love Manifesto and proud co-host of Kwento Kwento Podcast. Currently, Kuya Paul can be found working for his Master of Arts in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary.

LARAISABIRD

Lara is a multifaceted creative who’s medium-agnostic when it comes to consuming and creating art. Whether writing poetry, dissecting films, trying out new restaurants, studying a purple and gold play at a Lakers game, or touring case study houses, Lara is always busy finding the art in life.

MARIA BOLAÑOS

Maria Bolaños (she/siya/they) is the author of SANA, co-founder of Sampaguita Press, member of The Digital Sala, & co-organizer of FilCan Book Festival. Maria migrates between Tongva, Ohlone, Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh lands, and Inang Bayan Pilipinas, working in community to build art spaces for healing, land back, and liberation.

MATT BALANE

Matt Balane is a Filipino American Hip Hop Artist, Rap Lyricist, Spoken Word Poet, and Motivational Speaker from Perris, CA. Covering topics such as mental health, human fragility, and life adversity, his artistry seeks to convey messages of hope through poetic rhymes.

RJ ABESAMIS

RJ Abesamis is a queer trans-masc cultural artist in the Pilipinx-American community. Currently, he is in the pursuit of creating cultural work that would normalize QTPOC representation and articulate multiculturalism, political consciousness, and queer Pilipinx excellence through spoken word, music, writing, and film.

SOUL STUF

Soul Stuf is a sometime poet, full time goof who hails from humble NY, but currently files his taxes in LA. He loves those tiny plates you get at Korean barbecue and once placed fourth in his elementary school spelling bee. Occasionally, he spews his stream of consciousness onstage.

Host

arianna lady basco

single mom, founder of palms up academy, executive director of filam creative, board of face, chair of arts, history, and culture at hifi coalition and author of palms up. films fabulous filipino brothers and my first horror film out now. heartstorm coming soon. part of the first filipino entertainment family of los angeles and recognized by the state of california for their contribution to the arts.

Sound Selection

DJ Yungbuko

Miko Jao, aka DJ yungbuko, is a Rapper, DJ, Poet, Writer, and community organizer. His work and artistry focuses on using Hip-Hop to empower the communities of Filipino-/Americans around the world. Catch him spinning at clubs from Ktown to OC, and at your local open mics like Palms Up and Sunday Jump.

Our Sponsors

FilAm Arts

Street Poets

LA Poet Society

Palms Up Academy

Venue: HiFi Collective (SIPA)

Food: HiFi Kitchen