Salingpusa Spring 2026 — Call for Submissions
SIBOL: On growth, becoming, and what takes root
Deadline: March 31, 2026, 11:59 p.m. MST
Publication Date: Late Spring 2026
Theme: In Tagalog, sibol means sprout — the first green breaking through soil.
By late spring, growth is no longer tentative. What pushed through has begun to root. Leaves unfold. Colour deepens. The season is no longer about survival — it is about expansion.
This issue of Salingpusa invites artists and writers to reflect on growth in its many forms: creative risk, chosen family, identity in motion, intergenerational healing, migration, reclamation, and renewal.
What have you been tending quietly?
What has finally taken root?
What part of you is no longer waiting?
We welcome work that feels alive with emergence — from tender beginnings to bold reinvention.
What we’re looking for:
Poetry—Up to 3 poems (max 40 lines each). We welcome English, Filipino, or bilingual work exploring emergence, regeneration, upheavals, risk taking, barrier breaking.
Flash/Short Fiction—1 story up to 1,200 words. Stories that depict a departure from the normal and comfortable, and those that startle and stagger.
Creative Nonfiction—1 essay up to 1,200 words. Personal narratives, reflections, or braided essays on change, catharsis, ecstasy, hope, ambition, blind faith in the future, beauty in uncertainty.
Visual Art / Photography—Up to 3 pieces (high-res JPEG or PNG, 300 dpi) with a short artist statement (100–150 words). Give us vivid, bombastic colors. Give us unnatural textures and whimsical shapes.
Feature & News Pitches — 200–800 words. Profiles, reportage, or human-interest pieces on Filipino and BIPOC artists, collectives, or arts events in Calgary and Alberta.
Eligibility
Open to Filipino and Filipino-Canadian artists in Alberta and across the diaspora.
Unpublished works preferred; simultaneous submissions welcome.
Submission Format:
Texts should be in Word, 12 pt font, double-spaced.
Please include a 100-word bio and city of residence.
Filename format:
SIBOL Submission – [Genre] – [Your Name]
Example: SIBOL Submission – Poetry – Maria Santos
Contributor Note
At this time, Salingpusa is a volunteer-run community publication. While we are unable to offer honoraria, submissions chosen for publication will be featured in our digital issue and social media. We are committed to celebrating and amplifying the work of Filipino creatives in Alberta and across the diaspora.
Important Dates
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Submissions Open | March 1, 2026 |
| Deadline | March 31, 2026 |
| Notifications | Week of April 20, 2026 |
| Final Materials Due | May 9, 2026 |
Connect With Us
Follow @salingpusamag on Instagram for updates, teasers, and behind-the-scenes glimpses.
