{"id":424658,"date":"2026-08-05T17:42:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T17:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/424658\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T17:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T17:42:10","slug":"filipino-american-creatives-turn-a-barrio-logan-pizzeria-into-a-mini-con","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/424658\/","title":{"rendered":"Filipino American creatives turn a Barrio Logan pizzeria into a mini-con"},"content":{"rendered":"

FilAm CreatorCon hosted a mini-con pop-up at Pizza Kaiju in Barrio Logan to highlight Filipino American creators and artists who might not have the chance to exhibit at San Diego Comic-Con. <\/p>\n

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Written by Rami Alarian, Edited by Kate Morrissey<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Filipino creatives lined the walls of a Barrio Logan pizzeria during Comic-Con with vendor booths selling trinkets, comics, hand-drawn art, and clothes inspired by Filipino culture.\u00a0<\/p>\n

FilAm CreatorCon, a local organization, hosted a two-day pop-up for the first time during Comic-Con, inviting roughly 15 vendors to showcase their work and represent their community. The organization began hosting pop-ups in 2024 to serve the many Filipino Americans in San Diego, targeting creatives looking for better representation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Founder Aaron Nabus said many Filipino American creators aren\u2019t able to get into Comic-Con\u2019s artist alley or exhibition floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to give them an opportunity to showcase and sell their work during Comic-Con to sort of be part of the whole extravaganza,\u201d Nabus said.<\/p>\n

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The event ran on the same evenings as San Diego Comic-Con\u2019s preview day and first day, offering a badge-free opportunity for fans to talk comics and pop culture.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nabus said that \u201cStarship Troopers,\u201d a famous science fiction novel series turned film franchise, led him to create the mini-con. He said the novel featured a Filipino main character, but the films made the character from Buenos Aires instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cImagine if I had known that as a kid,\u201d Nabus said. \u201cImagine how that would have empowered me, how that would have empowered other young people and other young Filipino Americans, especially as creators.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nabus said FilAm CreatorCon aims to not only bring better representation for Filipino American creatives but also transfer experiences from older generations to younger generations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to sort of put together all these awesome Filipino American creatives who are at the top of their game professionally and connect them with the up-and-coming Filipino American creatives,\u201d Nabus said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nabus said FilAm CreatorCon events give Filipino American artists and creators an opportunity to educate one another and share creative knowledge.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially with mini-con, it\u2019s another way for us to sort of connect and outreach with the community,\u201d Nabus said. \u201cThere\u2019s a wealth of talent out there that does not get recognized.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Angelo Mendez ran a comic, novel and children\u2019s book booth at the event representing Hot Tropiks, a Filipino publishing and distribution company he founded. Mendez said he felt that much of what the general public knows about Filipinos doesn\u2019t fully represent the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just trying to expand the general Philippine narrative,\u201d Mendez said. \u201cYou got to see what they\u2019re doing in the underground Philippines, which is where I spent my time. I was like, if nobody\u2019s going to do it, I might as well.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mendez pulled out Ang Jowa Kong\u2019s \u201cCrosswise,\u201d which he described as a story about a gay vampire couple, and Gerry Alanguilan\u2019s \u201cElmer\u201d about sentient, talking chickens.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mendez attended the first FilAm CreatorCon event in 2024 and said that Nabus and many other members of the organization have become a family to him in his comics journey.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve just always been very present,\u201d Mendez said. \u201cThey\u2019re always looking out for us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Orlando Phenom, an artist from Palm Springs, showcased hand-drawn art of characters including Spider-Man, Darth Vader and Goku.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely difficult where I live in my area to have a strong Filipino gathering,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rex Revilla, a board member of FilAm CreatorCon, said he was excited to see different attendees and vendors from different areas and have the opportunity to support Filipino American creators.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy money has been focused here as opposed to Comic-Con,\u201d Revilla said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Francis Bautista, another board member of FilAm CreatorCon, said the organization started off hosting comic-centered events, but it has expanded to accommodate other artists and even hosts open mic nights throughout the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an arena of artists from all walks of life and from different disciplines, different fandoms and such,\u201d Bautista said. \u201cWe\u2019re just coming together to have a good time basically.\u201d <\/p>\n

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