KEITH SICAT is a filmmaker and comic book creator behind “OFW: Outerspace Filipino  Workers” which has proven to be a deep conceptual well for his pursuits in speculative fiction. His films have screened internationally with notable works including award-winners “Rigodon”, “Woman of the Ruins”, and “Alimuom”.  Also working in  animation, he was the script consult for the first 3D CG animated feature in the Philippines  “RPG: Metanoia” and helped develop the first Japanese-Filipino anime co-production “Barangay 143” with TV Asahi that is on NETFLIX.  He is also the Program Director of the NETFLIX supported short film lab iNDIEGENIUS which aims to give more opportunities to young regional filmmakers. 

He published his first short story, Ewa and the Song from a Distant Star, in Philippine Genre Stories, February 2023. 

Welcome back, Direk! How does it feel to be published this time around in Philippine Genre Stories?  

Thanks again for having me, it’s an honor!

We’re just so happy that you continued to explore writing short stories. How did the idea for ASSAULT PATTERN AGUIRRE come about? 

Aguirre is the antagonist of the film I wrote and directed, Alimuom, and I thought it would be interesting to get a glimpse from his perspective – to show how cunning and deceptive he actually is; how his stonewalling bureaucrat is an act to ensnare the protagonist into his sphere of influence.  Doing so also meant I could flesh out other parts that were simply alluded to in the film, expanding the world and the experience.  One thing led to another and before I knew it, this story didn’t just see events from his perspective, but actually launched into the events that happen after the credits roll on the film!  

We love the generative process! And what’s the next writing project that you’re working on?

There’s a number of stories and scripts in various states of being written.  Some of those continue to mine the continuing challenges facing the characters from Alimuom.  Let’s see where these take us!

Looking forward to those! And what are you currently reading? 

Currently making  my way through R.F. Kuang’s fantasy novel The Burning God and Ursula Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven.  

For comics, I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of Clear from Canadian-Filipino artist Francis Manapul.  It was a treat as he and the writer nonchalantly reveal the protagonist is Pinoy in this cyberpunk world where everyone is addicted and plugged into virtual reality worlds of their customized design and posits the question, what is the place of an objective reality if everyone is living in a virtual one?

And in Philippine Genre Stories, which among the published stories do you like the most so far? Why? 

I find “Orphans of Biringan” with its haunting tone and richly layered world-building, evocatively written.  “Why Didn’t You Tell Me” is lyrically articulated, its exploration of fragmented memory colliding with familial tensions is moving.

Indeed, that story from Jake Ramos is a fave among many this year, and Marianne Villanueva’s really resonated with readers. In addition to your shared tips in 2023, what other pointers would you like to share for new storytellers out there? 

Someone on a writing thread asked if anyone had any writing rituals.  It dawned on me that ever since I was a boy, I loved to dream up new ideas while walking.  It’s a meditative space and better yet, you’re not stationary – and if something magical occurs in the real world surrounding you, you’re there to witness it.

Thank you again so much, Direk, and we are really happy to have you back with a story in 2024!  

Thanks so much for providing this space for Filipino writers to continue exploring genre as a locus to create thought-provoking narratives.  I’ve no doubt tomorrow’s classics are seeded in platforms like this.