MADE WITH LOVE
Lunch Box Moments Zine was a collaborative project that was published in the midst of the AAPI hate crime outbreak. The intention behind its release was to elevate the voices & creative works of AAPI artists who share their own experiences with micro-aggression & racism in the lunch room. I was among those voices.
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PURPOSE OF THE ZINE
All proceeds from Lunchbox Moments directly supported the Chinatown Community Development Center and its Feed + Fuel Chinatown initiative, which uplifts local Chinatown restaurants and SRO residents.
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MADE WITH LOVE
My contribution to Lunchbox Moments Zine, “Made with Love” (pgs. 46–49), is a short story that reflects on my upbringing as a first-gen Filipino American—tracing the layers of identity I’ve carried, the quiet tension between culture & belonging, & where I was emotionally when I encountered my very first lunchbox moment in adulthood.
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SINIGANG ILLUSTRATION
The deconstructed bowl of sinigang mirrors the layered identity reckonings many Asian Americans carry—each part examined with intention, each realization honored, until we arrive, again, at a feeling of home within ourselves.
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REFLECTION
I hold this project especially close to my heart. As a member of the AAPI community, it feels vital that our stories and lived experiences are accessible beyond our own circles—so that, together, we can move toward a more empathetic, connected way of being, rooted in care, understanding, and accountability across communities.
