Halina Filipina A New Yorker in Manila

Indie publisher Tuttle here showcases Filipino creator Arre, whose The Mythology Class (another Tuttle title) was the first comic to win the Philippine National Book Award. Renowned for his fantasy works, Arre describes Halina Filipina as a "no-frills relationship story" in an afterword describing the book's path to publication. Halina, a graphic designer from New York City, is finally connecting with her late mother's relatives: "I just wanted to know my roots." Three weeks before she returns home, she meets Cris on a Manila rooftop. He's a freelance film critic relegated to reviewing local movies: "No one reads my stuff anyway, which makes the trashing all the more enjoyable." Their connection is immediate. Their circuitous love story features language lessons, a film festival, a magazine cover shoot, a monsoon, and reality TV, all of which is captured with expressive delight (even despite the few conflicts) through Arre's crisp black-and-white panels. Especially gleeful are the repeating chapter-title spreads that show the shadowed outline of Halina and Cris running together, underscoring the possibility of happily-ever-after.

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). Halina Mitchell, a mixed-race Filipino American, takes a trip to Manila, where she meets Crisostomo, a snarky but sweet movie critic who is native to the Philippine capital city. He opens her to new experiences, but meanwhile, her connection to home grows ever more tenuous. Her boyfriend in New York City doesn't return her calls--while her Filipino family embraces her as one of their own. Still, Halina's "foreignness" shows in her limited familiarity with Tagalog and Filipino food and customs, and it's literally put on display when she appears on a hyperactive television game show. (Tagalog is sprinkled throughout the book without translation, though some is understandable from context.) 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. While the story relies heavily on the trope of pairing a regular schlub with a beautiful woman, in this rare case it proves a winning formula for readers looking for a fresh twist on romantic comedy. (Aug.)