Loyalty is delighted to host a virtual Filipinx author celebration with Rod Pulido, Tracy Badua, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Randy Ribay for the release of Chasing Pacquiao, moderated by Loyalty's own programs director Christine Bollow (aka @readingismagical)! This event is free to attend and will be held digitally via Crowdcast. Click here to register for the event. You can also order a copy of the book from our website to be automatically added to the registration list, and there will be an option to snag the book during the event.

Experience the extreme joys, sorrows, and triumphs of a queer Filipino-American teenager struggling to prove himself in an unforgiving world. A poignant coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of Patron Saints of Nothing and Juliet Takes a Breath.

Self preservation. That's Bobby's motto for surviving his notoriously violent high school unscathed. Being out and queer would put an unavoidable target on his back, especially in a Filipino community that frowns on homosexuality. It's best to keep his head down, get good grades, and stay out of trouble.

But when Bobby is unwillingly outed in a terrible way, he no longer has the luxury of being invisible. A vicious encounter has him scrambling for a new way to survive—by fighting back. Bobby is inspired by champion Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao to take up boxing and challenge his tormentor. But when Pacquiao publicly declares his stance against queer people, Bobby's faith⁠—in his hero and in himself⁠—is shaken to the core.

A powerful and unflinching debut that will both shatter and uplift hearts with every read.

Rod Pulido grew up in Cerritos, California. As a child, he loved making toy spaceships out of cardboard and devouring ice cream straight from the carton—he still does both. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in film production from California State University, Long Beach, where he founded the first Pilipino Graduation Ceremony in Southern California. His movie The Flip Side became the first feature by a Filipino director to world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Rod strives to uplift and entertain with stories that highlight the Fil-Am experience. He enjoys collecting comic books and working out at the gym—stereotypes be damned! Chasing Pacquiao is his debut YA novel. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @RodAPulido.com

Tracy Badua is a Filipino American author from Southern California, whose books include Freddie vs. The Family Curse and This Is Not a Personal Statement. By day, she is an attorney who works in national housing policy and programs, and by night, she squeezes in writing, family and pup time, bites of her secret candy stash, and sometimes sleep. She currently lives in San Diego, California, with her family and photogenic Maltese. Visit her online at www.tracybadua.com.

Erin Entrada Kelly received the 2018 Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, a 2021 Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, and the 2017 APALA Award for The Land of Forgotten Girls, among other honors. She is a New York Times bestseller whose work has been translated into many languages. Erin has a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies and liberal arts from McNeese State University and an MFA from Rosemont College. She teaches in the MFAC program at Hamline University and lives in Delaware.

Randy Ribay was born in the Philippines and raised in the Midwest. He is the author of After the Shot Drops and An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes. He earned his BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his Master's Degree in Language and Literacy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. He currently teaches English and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Christine Bollow is the Co-Owner and Director of Programs for Loyalty Bookstores in Washington, DC and Silver Spring, MD. She is a 2022 Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree,  serves on the ABA's Bookseller Advisory Council, and can be found on Bookstagram @readingismagical. Christine is a graduate of Barnard College, but more importantly, she won the award for "Most Books Read" in 6th grade.

Please note Loyalty has a zero tolerance policy for harassment or intimidation of any kind during this virtual event.

Rod Pulido w/ Tracy Badua, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Randy Ribay for CHASING PACQUIAO