Halina Filipina

A New Yorker in Manila

This romantic graphic novel takes you to the heart of the Philippines. Halina Mitchell is half-Filipino, half-American. She's also a native New Yorker — sophisticated, cultured, and confident. On her first visit to the Philippines, she arrives in Manila to reconnect with relatives only to encounter a world of surprises that turn all her assumptions on their head.

With the intrepid film critic Cris as her guide, she discovers a Manila that few others get to see. Cris's wry takes on bad movies offer Halina a new lens on the modern world as he whisks her through his hometown at breakneck speed — including a crash course in Manila street life and the thrills and perils of midnight driving. In turn, Halina gives the struggling writer a newfound appreciation for his city and his culture.

Perfect for fans of 'opposites attract' romances like Fangs and The Prince and the Dressmaker, this book offers a rom-com take on modern life and a touching story of friendship, love, and cross-cultural (mis)understanding from a renowned Filipino graphic novel pioneer. Captured in Arre's distinctive style, Halina Filipina is about finding one's place in the world — or in two worlds at once!

ISBN: 9780804855440 | Published: 15 June 2022 | Paperback | 208 pages