Communication Design |

Authentically Filipino

Erin Rose Naparan

See it On Campus: Level 2

“There is no one way to be Filipino. If your family has roots
in the Philippines, then you are one of us.”
– Jan Vincent Gonzales

Statement:

This project stemmed from my own personal feelings toward my Filipino background and the disconnect I felt from it. I am born and raised in Vancouver BC and grew up in a relatively white-dominant neighbourhood as well as elementary school/high school. I can’t speak the language my parents/family spoke (which is Bisaya) and can just barely understand them. Growing up there was a constant struggle of not seeming Filipino and having ambiguous features didn’t help. Through this project, I got to learn a little bit about my culture, connect with individuals with similar experiences and learnt how to accept the things I may have lacked and recognize those things don’t make me any less Filipino.

Purpose:

The ‘Authentically Filipino’ tool kit and blog strive to create a space for Filipino Canadians. The goal is to encourage conversations within the community through storytelling to facilitate self-acceptance and empower those in the community. This project is dedicated to individuals who never truly felt Filipino enough. This is a reminder that despite what you believe you lack, your upbringing, and your experiences, being authentically you is Filipino enough.

Visual Identity:

keywords: calming, reassuring, acceptance

Logo:

The neon orange burst is a play on the sun that is present in the Filipino flag. Layered behind are the letters F & E in the typeface Ikapito standing for Filipino Enough. These colours were decided with the consideration of the riso printer colours while wanting the overall visual identity of this project to be vibrant, warm, and filled with energy.

Making the Comfort Kit:

Comfort Kit Contents:

**Intro Card** to put into context the Comfort Kit to individuals.

Handpainted tote bag with the hopes of sparking conversation wherever it goes.

**Snacks** that are iconic to the Philippines + **Kasama Chocolates** (based in Vancouver)that pair well with the keyword comfort.

Zine 1.0:

The first zine included are my own personal
experiences. Each page is categorized to prompt others to also think of their own experiences while reading mine. The main purpose of this zine is to reassure and comfort others in similar situations.

Zine 2.0:

What prompted me to make a second zine to the kit was when I organized a photoshoot plus meet up with individuals who were willing to share their stories with me and have a conversation.