Halina Filipina - by Arre (Paperback)

About the Book

In a cross-cultural collision, a New Yorker discovers love among the locals! When Halina Mitchell makes her first trip to Manila, the eye-opening immersion in her homeland turns all her assumptions on their head. With the film critic Cris as her guide, she's given a vivid glimpse of a teeming city few others get to see. Will her growing affections include the irreverent writer? Captured in Arnold Arres's distinctive style, Halina Filipina is about finding one's place in the world or in two worlds at once!

Book Synopsis

When two cultures collide, the results are explosive--a graphic novel rom-com like no other!

Halina Mitchell is half-Filipino, half-American. She's also a native New Yorker--sophisticated, beautiful 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.

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 crosscultural (mis)understanding from a renowned 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!

Review Quotes

"Jamie Bautista notes that this novel feels like a short vacation to the Philippines and this notion didn't fail. I closed the novel feeling exactly this way, as though I had just taken a deep breath and slowed down for more than a moment. A great story, a great read, and a wonderful escape for the time you take between the pages." --International Examiner

"Discover the magic of cross-cultural exchange in Arnold Arre's Halina Filipina. Follow Halina and Cris as they navigate Manila's complexities, uncovering the beauty of friendship and love. A must-read for anyone interested in Filipino and American cultures!" --Hot Tropiks - Filipino Books & Culture @hot.tropiks

"Halina and Cris's shared heritage connection will certainly resonate with mature teens interested in cultural exploration with a love story as backdrop." --Booklist

"Halina grew up in America and knows almost nothing about her Filipino roots. When she goes to the Philippines to change that, she finds an unexpected friend in Cris, a cynical movie reviewer who soon becomes her unofficial tour guide. But while Cris has become jaded about his home country, Halina views everything as an exciting adventure --one that might end up taking her far away from Cris." --Book Riot

"Halina is a half-Filipino, half-American woman visiting the Philippines to connect with her family and to search for a connection to her Filipino heritage. Halina's experience as a woman working to reconnect with her Filipino family and learn more about her heritage is one that is not included in many comics. Arre does a great job of bringing the city of Manila to life and describing the competing emotions of both Halina and Cris, a Filipino movie critic." --ALA Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (June Nomination)

BookRiot features Halina Filipina: 8 Comics About Asian Immigrants For AAPI Heritage Month

"Is it still culture shock when the culture is supposed to be your own? That's the question at the heart of this charming fish-in-new-waters love story from Arre (The Mythology Class) ...The black-and-white art brings Manila to life with uniquely Filipino settings such as crowded jeepneys and sari-sari convenience stores. The graceful linework makes for appealing and expressive characters in both broad comedic scenes and quietly dramatic moments. (...) a winning formula for readers looking for a fresh twist on romantic comedy." --Publishers Weekly

"This is a great story about an American Filipino character, and about what it is like to grow up within a culture you believe to know well, just to visit the country and realize it is actually full of surprises"" --Book Riot

About the Author

Arnold Arre won the inaugural graphic novel Philippine National Book Award in 2000 for The Mythology Class. He is the author and illustrator of many other popular works, including Halina Filipina, The World of Andong Agimat, The Children of Bathala, and The Journey to Lupan-On.