about
What is Halo Halo?
Halo Halo — “mixed” in Tagalog — is a multimedia showcase that explores first-generation Filipinos' unique journey to Canada and the impact on their sense of identity and belonging. Combining creative writing, animation/video, and digital and traditional visual arts, Halo Halo offers diverse perspectives on a complex subject where anyone who has ever left their home can see themselves. For those who haven’t migrated from their home, we hope Halo Halo offers insight into that world.
How Halo Halo began
Like all great collaborations, it began with the question, “what if.”
Sam and Jasmine first met in 2016, while working on a project between D.I.T.R.O and Calgary Drop-In Shelter. From day one, they bonded over fashion, art, and their shared experiences as second-generation Filipinos. Even though the project only lasted a few weeks, Sam and Jasmine stayed in touch; always discussing collaborating on a creative project in the future.
Fast forward to 2020, and the opportunity finally came up. The idea for Halo Halo took shape during a phone call after Jasmine shared a digital self-portrait. The portrait was illustrative but with a deeper, more layered background—symbolizing Jasmine's complex heritage. As an admirer of Sam’s collage work, there was the perfect chance to combine both styles into something truly unique. What began as a single portrait soon expanded into a much larger vision that would include creative storytelling through writing, animation, and video. Identity and belonging are complex; they felt it was important to capture both multifacetedly.
Thanks to a couple of grants from Calgary Arts Development and advice from Tracy Wormsbecker, Executive Director at Alberta Printmakers, Sam and Jasmine were able to make that vision a reality.
The team
principal artists
Jasmine Atay
Designer and emerging artist
Jasmine is a Calgary-based graphic designer, emerging multidisciplinary artist, and second-generation Filipino/Turkish Canadian whose work explores themes related to identity, transformation, and exploration. Her practice has moved from paintings and drawings towards digital and printmaking. Both mediums allow Jasmine to balance structure with artistic expression to help her convey her themes in an impactful and dynamic way.
Sam Mendoza
Graphic artist and events specialist
Sam, a.k.a Diamonds in the Rough Originals (D.I.T.R.O), is an emerging graphic artist based in Calgary, Alberta. Driven by a deep appreciation for mental and emotional complexities, and personal stories, Sam's work explores how these elements intersect. She brings moments in time to life through experimental mixed-media collages; blending both analog and digital techniques to craft visually striking narratives.
collaborators
Yasmin Jaswal
Writer, former journalist and storyteller
Yasmin has worked for various news and media outlets throughout the city. Her ability to get to the heart of a story was an invaluable asset to our team. Yasmin conducted the interviews with our subjects and authored each of their stories on our website that can be read here
2c Media Inc.
Videographer and animator
Aidan Campbell and Nic Bouldrice are the creative rebels from Calgary-based 2C Media who helped translate Halo Halo subjects’ stories from paper to the screen; including animating over two hundred names from Paglalayag: The Philippines to Canada Journey migrant database courtesy of Philippine Art Council.
Kaz Nakajima
Photographer
Calgary-based filmmaker and photographer Kaz has worked on various big-time film productions including, Heartland and Ghostbusters:Afterlife. Kaz also had a hand in capturing all the behind-the-scenes photos featured on this website and formal portrait shots of our subjects.
Ida Beltran Lucila | Executive Director
The Philippine Arts Council’s works tirelessly in promoting and developing of Philippine art and culture and the Filipino artist within Edmonton / Alberta region. Salamat-po Tita Ida (thank you) for trusting us and allowing us to feature all names showcased in Paglalayag: The Philippines to Canada Journey migrant database.
Philippine Arts council
Donny
Samaco
Made Collectively | Videographer
Calgary-based videographer Donny was instrumental in capturing the conversation between Halo Halo’s principal artists while Jasmine printed at Alberta Printmakers.
