STORY BY: LARA
ILLUSTRATED BY: MICHAEL RELTH
Title of artwork: Ampalaya.
I’m a 24-year-old Filipino woman who was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, USA. I have several creative interests: writing, interviewing, reviewing films, cooking, and more! I’ve grown closer to my culture over the years and love exploring/expressing that connection creatively.
Ampalaya (written by me (@laraisabird) and illustrated by Michael Relth (@michaelrelth)) is my comic about my challenging and changed relationship with my mom. In the comic, I delve into our relationship and how that impacted my journey to self-love. From and as a result of my mom’s parenting, I learned how to nurture my inner child, be empathetic, and remain resilient. In writing this comic, I gave myself closure and made peace with my past.
Instagram handle: @laraisabird and @micaelrelth
