An imprint of Fernood Publishing Halifax & Winnipeg
We live and create on unceded Indigenous lands of both the Kanien’kehá:ka and Anishinaabeg Peoples. We support community efforts to encourage a relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on trust, cooperation, empathy, and respect in the process of forging truth and reconciliation. The violence of colonialism is not lost upon us. As uninvited second-generation immigrants and Filipino/a/x survivors of colonial violence, we recognize the importance of acknowledging the guardians of the Lands and Waters sustaining us. Land acknowledgements are our Mano Po to the Original Peoples, to their Elders, and to their ancestors.
To the tatos, close titas, far titas, chosen titas, to the nanays and inays and of course Caio, Manzo, Dakila, Amihan, Kalayaan, Océane. —
To Lola, my mom, and my titas. To the children of our kasama and kapwa. My nieces and nephews: Kia, Kyrie, Mingming, Ace, Miguel, Jayden, Jace, Kelbin, Balong, Sam, Alessandra, Angel, Crisanta, Brie, JJ.
Though the story centres a migrant worker’s experience of being separated from their child, we also want to highlight the people who choose to stay. Filipino activists do the frontline work of advocating for justice and accountability from the Philippine government as well as foreign-owned companies. In the struggle to preserve the lands, waters, and integrity of archipelago peoples, many have disappeared, sacrificed their lives, and spent time in detention.
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Global North countries and the Philippines share a complex and multifaceted relationship shaped by migration, labour dynamics, and environmental concerns. It has been significantly influenced by Filipino migration — sometimes coerced by political and economic instability and the Global North’s desire for cheap labour, sometimes motivated by economic opportunity and family reunification. Filipino immigrants have become an integral part of the workforce in countries like Canada and the US, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, caregiving, and hospitality. They face challenges such as precarious or exploitative employment conditions, low wages, and limited access to social benefits.
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Companies from Global North countries are responsible for some of the detrimental impacts of climate change and environmental degradation in the Philippines, including pollution and loss of biodiversity. Countries like Canada and the US significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions due to their resourceextractive industries, often occurring in Indigenous territories. The Philippines, on the other hand, is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
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We acknowledge the Queer and Trans migrant workers who organize and lead many actions, for example in Hong Kong, where Filipino migrant workers’ conditions are dismal. While navigating discrimination within their own communities, they create possibilities and futurisms that are inclusive of everyone.
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(THEY/THEM) loves making bulalo and sinigang with the Huy Bakla! tatos and eating strawberries from the Cordilleras. They love laughing with their whole face and helping bring new anaks into the world. Andi often speaks out against injustices in classrooms, workplaces, and bathroom stalls. Their favourite animals are orangutans, llamas, sea turtles, manta rays, capybaras, and whale sharks.
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(HE/HIM) is a multidisciplinary artist born to Filipino parents in Tio’tia:ke/Montreal. Illustrations, comics, and metalwork are his main mediums of expression. His art practice focuses on the FilipinoCanadian identity, migrant worker struggles, and pre-colonial Filipino art and mythology.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.
Development editing: Fazeela Jiwa
Written by: Andi Vicente
Illustrated by: Allan Matudio
Printed and bound in Canada
Published by Roseway Publishing an imprint of Fernwood Publishing Halifax and Winnipeg 2970 Oxford Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3L 2W4 www.fernwoodpublishing.ca/roseway
Fernwood Publishing Company Limited gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts. We acknowledge the Province of Manitoba for support through the Manitoba Publishers Marketing Assistance Program and the Book Publishing Tax Credit. We acknowledge the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage for support through the Publishers Assistance Fund.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: One box / written by Andi Vicente ; illustrated by Allan Matudio. Names: Vicente, Andi, author. | Matudio, Allan, illustrator.
Identifiers: Canadiana 20240405951 | ISBN 9781773636924 (hardcover)
