This writing workshop invites Filipino/a/x-Canadian storytellers to explore their lived experiences at the intersection of cultures, histories, and identities.
How do we honour our Filipino heritage from afar? What does it mean to be a hyphenated Canadian? To embody that hyphen in our own being? To act as a bridge between homeland and adopted country, between past and present, between our ancestors and descendants?
Together, we’ll unpack the legacies of colonization in both the Philippines and Canada, and examine how these histories shape our understanding of self, family, community, and place.
Through storytelling prompts, writing exercises, and caring conversations, we will engage with themes around resilience, migration, labour, and community. Whether you’re just beginning your writing journey or you’ve been writing for years, this space is for anyone seeking to tell stories rooted in the complexity, beauty, and contradictions of diasporic life.
Date & Time: Wednesday, June 18 at 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Location: National Film Board of Canada | 145 Wellington St. West, Suite 1000 | Downtown Toronto
No writing experience is necessary – only an open heart and an open mind with a readiness to give and receive vulnerability. We’ve carefully and intentionally designed this workshop to be intimate and generative. We’ll give you prompts to spark your creativity in a supportive environment. All writing materials and a light meal will be provided.
A NOTE ON FILMING
This writing workshop will be filmed as part of a documentary produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). Repurposing the rom-com aesthetic in a documentary, NAKABINGWIT: First Comes Love reveals how three Filipinas and their white romantic partners navigate conversations about race. NAKABINGWIT: First Comes Love is a rom-com documentary for a new generation that reveals the difficulties, nuances, and opportunities for hope and growth in navigating conversations about race and love. Written and Directed by Joella Cabalu and produced by the Western Documentary Unit of the National Film Board of Canada.
By registering for this workshop, you agree to be filmed as part of this documentary.
Location & VENUE
This workshop will be taking at the National Film Board’s office on 145 Wellington St West.
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is Canada's public producer and distributor and has been producing documentary films and auteur animation for 85 years. Their work has won awards and has been screened at festivals around the world.
About Your Facilitator: Justine Abigail Yu
Justine Abigail Yu is the founder of Living Hyphen. She is an award-winning workshop facilitator whose work with Living Hyphen has been featured on national and local media outlets including the Globe & Mail, CTV National News, and the CBC. She was named a “Changemaker” by the Toronto Star in October 2021.
Justine Abigail is a fierce advocate for diversity and representation in Canada’s arts and literature scene. Her mission is to stir the conscience and spur social change.
Follow her work at justineabigail.com or across socials at @justineabigail.