We are excited to share the mini-comic version of Kwentong Bayan: Labour of Love, a community based comic book project created by Toronto-based artists Althea Balmes (Illustrator) and Jo SiMalaya Alcampo (Writer) in close collaboration with caregivers and supporters. This comic looks at the real life stories of Filipina migrant workers in the Canadian Live-in Caregiver Program. It is the recipient of the 2014 Min Sook Lee Award.
The comic book is meant to be an accessible resource to highlight the realities caregivers experience. These are stories of community and friendship, love and struggle, and women’s empowerment. These are the stories that rarely make mainstream media or academic research.
In the Filipino language, “Kwentong Bayan” is the literal translation of “community stories,” and “Labour of Love” reflects this team’s understanding that community-based artwork and caregiving work is rooted in love, is valuable, and deserves respect.
Read the comic here.
A full length comic on this topic is currently in production. Learn more by visiting their website.
Nice work.