JOIN US FOR
SULAT FESTIVAL
Saturday, July 13th, 2024 | 11AM - 5PM
Sentro Filipino | 814 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94103
Produced by Kristian Kabuay
Supported by Kultivate Labs & Center for Cultural Power
The Sulat Festival aims to enrich the visibility of the SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District through traditional writing (Sulat) in storefronts, murals, and signs.
This event features hands-on workshops, insightful talks, and showcases by local vendors, fostering a deeper understanding of traditional scripts and their role in socio-economic development.
Speakers, including Ray Haguisan, Norman de los Santos, Chris Sundita, Jeff Quintano, Dr. Christopher Miller, Kirby Aráullo, and Kristian Kabuay, will share their expertise and experiences from script basics to language.
Join us on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Sentro Filipino: The San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center to celebrate and integrate our cultural heritage into contemporary artistic and commercial ventures
EVENT SCHEDULE
11:30-12PM - Intro & SOMA context - Kristian Kabuay
12-12:30PM: Script Migration - Christopher Miller
1-1:30PM: Typography - Norman de los Santos
2-2:30PM: Kulitan - Kirby Araullo
3-3:30PM: Austronesian Languages - Christopher Sundita
4-4:30PM: Bagong Liwanag film screening - Jeff Quintano
Host: Venazir Martinez
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Chris Sundita
Christopher Sundita, an Austronesian linguist specializes in the sound systems, verb affixes, and historical development of Philippine languages. He earned a BA in Linguistics from the University of Washington and an MA from Cornell University. Originally from Seattle, Christopher spent his elementary school years in Angeles City and the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga. Currently, he applies his linguistic expertise as a UX conversation designer in Silicon Valley. He enjoys learning languages in his free time.
Chris Miller
Chris Miller earned his PhD in linguistics from the University of Quebec in Montreal in 1997 and has taught at several universities in Canada, the USA, and Europe. From earlier research interests in sociolinguistics, phonology and sign languages he has extended his research in recent years to writing systems and historical linguistics. Current research projects include the relationships and historical development of writing systems in the Philippines, Indonesia and India, the origins of writing in India and the Caucasus, and historical development of Indo-European and Algonquian languages.
Kirby Aráullo
Kirby Pábalan-Táyag Aráullo, a Filipino historian, culture bearer, and co-founder of the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis, combines passion with creativity in his work. He has authored books on Asian American, Philippine, and Southeast Asian histories. Through his YouTube channel, Kirby engages a global audience with compelling historical and cultural narratives. A direct descendant of the last Lakans and Rajas of Luzon and anti-colonial revolutionaries, Kirby is deeply rooted in his diverse heritage. He has been teaching Filipino people’s history through writing in indigenous scripts, such as Kulitan and Baybayin. He is dedicated to decolonizing Philippine history and democratizing ethnic studies.
Norman de los Santos
A California Filipino-American graphic artist, software programmer, and font/typeface developer, originally from Mindoro, Philippines. One of the pioneers in Baybayin typeface design & font development and is one of the firsts to offer free Baybayin computer fonts online. A cultural advocate for native and indigenous Filipino heritage, he strives to revive the use of the ancestral writing systems in the Philippines: Baybayin Script, Surat Mangyan and others by using both traditional mediums and modern technologies such as digital art, typography, software, games, publications, merchandising & branding, educational materials, and other commercial applications.
Venazir Martinez
VENDORS
Kapuwaco
Ina Sol
Handmade by Pmaccay
Mie Makes
Wounded Healing Art
Mabuhay Vibes
Bayani Art
Studio Damili
Arkipelago Books
Bárû MU
Legacy Filipino Martial Arts
ABOUT THE EVENT PRODUCER
Kristian Kabuay
Kristian Kabuay is an artist/entrepreneur/futurist specializing in endangered writing systems and tattoos from the Philippines. As a leading authority for the propagation and instruction of prePhilippine scripts, he launched his own edutainment business specializing in custom art, books, events, technology, and apparel. Kristian has spoken around the world at museums, schools, and companies. His work is wide-reaching that spans across multimedia, traditional practices, and technology. He is currently working on his 8th book, 2nd documentary, education startup, and honing his traditional tattooing practice.