A community effort in publishing and empowerment took center stage as authors, zine creators, and literary enthusiasts gathered on August 15, 2026, at The Podium Boutique Hotel for the 1st CordiCon: An Authors Summit.
Themed “Cordi Connection (CordiCon): Voices and Creative Collaboration,” led by Art Heals, a local non-profit dedicated to using creative spaces for public expression and communal healing.
To support grassroots creative talent, Art Heals offered free exhibition spaces, pop-up tables, and subsidized book stalls for selected local creators, charging no table rental fees and asking only for a 20% donation from sales to support future community programs.
The gathering marks the second weekend of a monthlong, multi-weekend campaign designed to accommodate the community’s creative pacing, generate recurring traffic, and foster industry engagement. Building on earlier programming that launched regional authors and craft stalls, this weekend highlighted performance, literary arts, and modern publishing dynamics.
Local author and chair of Ili Press, Heather Pulido, opened the morning talks at 11:00 AM. She stressed the role of the ili (community) as a tool for social change and discussed strategies to enable empowered writing.
The afternoon sessions resumed at 1:00 PM with back-to-back presentations by Lean Borlongan on “Empower Yourself to Self-Publishing” and Aris Remollino on “Know the Art of Zine Making.” Together, the duo laid the foundation of zine creation and emphasized the importance of independent publication.
The conference concluded with a 3:00 PM presentation by Liezl Formilleza-Dulnuan on the “Responsible Use of AI,” addressing emerging ethical considerations and practical applications for modern writers.
“Do not let AI write for you; use it as a guide. Ask yourself: Is it ethical for you to do that? When it becomes machine-generated work, it stops being human,” Dulnuan said.
Public entry to the summit’s exhibition floor, panel discussions, and keynotes remained completely free and open to students, educators, cultural researchers, and visiting tourists. Beyond literary talks, the summit established a shared network linking regional novelists, indigenous storytellers, graphic artists, and local mental health advocates.
Featured authors at the summit included Jingle “Melan” Ku Marquez, Jonas Dupo, Charity P. Dannang, Nene Cadiog, Craig Yoe, Heather Ann Pulido, Aris Remollino, Lean Borlongan, Emilia Mestito-Guinumtad, Oscar G. Binay-O, Natividad M. Salcedo, Joana Rizza De La Merced-Imad, Jennifer Juliab Mangiben, Krystal Anne Foronda, John Pucay, Charlyn June Awing, and Joy Cascato.
Craft and art exhibitors featured Journal Social Baguio, Milliscent Cariño Lucio, Elm’z Woven Products, Matilda Handicrafts Trading, Ruby’s Handicraft Store, Boslay Arts and Crafts, Art of Moon Drizzles, Ethnika by Carl Taawan, Common Day, Pilak, Alagwa, and Senyora Mayora.
On August 22 with author talks, roundtables on sustainable book distribution, and a ticketed closing dinner featuring live music and a new menu launch at Hoka Brew.
