A spoken word poem coupled with line art illustrations, these are snippets of deeply personal stories from my life as a child of two Filipino (Asian) immigrants in Canada.

The deep, earthy colour palette reflects the overall tone of the poem, which paradoxically celebrates one’s roots as a first generation child while lamenting over the struggles and pain that came with it.

Although they were inspired by my personal experiences, I hope that many would find some solace in knowing that so many of these stories are lived experiences shared by many others.

That to be a “child of immigrants” carries a complex weight mixed with stigma and trauma, and yet also pride, triumph, and hope.