Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Being in a country other than your own is tough, that I can admit. But in a way it takes out the whole curiosity of why you are different because of the obvious fact that you did grow up somewhere else. However, growing up stateside is a whole different story. For Filipino-Americans, it was a mixture of maybe trying to fit in, almost living in two worlds—one, based on your Filipino heritage and another in the world you are actually in.

For cartoonist Rina Ayuyang, it was, as she simply puts in her book, A Whirlwind Wonderland.

A graphic novel collection of autobiographical stories and old favorites from various anthologies and the mini-comic series called Namby Pamby, Wonderland is more than Rina’s tales of growing up Filipino in the United States.

"A lot of the stories are humorous reflective tales about seemingly ordinary moments in life as well as the issues I deal with or think about a lot such as family, identity especially my Filipino background, the future," said Rina and added, "And of course sports, since I am from Pittsburgh where we love our sports!"

Born and raised in in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Rina’s parents (who are from San Juan, Ilocos Sur) migrated here in the US in the early 70s, living with relatives in various places in San Francisco and Oakland, and then making the move to the East Coast for employment.

"I moved from Pittsburgh, PA to go to college in San Francisco (she graduated from San Francisco State University in 1998 with a major in Art) since my brother and sister had just moved here a couple years earlier," Rina said. "I have lived here over 15 years now and love it. I now live with my husband and our son in Oakland."

Rina started drawing at a very early age, relying on imagination and creativity. She also said that she loved to stare at the illustrations in children’s books and was very addicted to the Sunday funnies like Peanuts, Nancy, Doonesbury and Dick Tracy. "I would take out comic books from my local library’s small collection. I remember taking out a how to book by David Breger, a cartoonist who drew strips about being in the army. I was so fascinated by this book, I would borrow from the library again and again. It was then I decided I wanted to be a cartoonist," she said adding that "The first one I drew was about me working at a fictitious cable access tv station. During college, I stopped drawing comics and focused more on painting and installation/conceptual art. However, later on, I discovered the work of cartoonists Lynda Barry, Chester Brown, John Porcellino and Dan Clowes. Those artists really inspired me to start drawing my own comics again, and to tell stories that I definitely cared about. I loved to draw and was interested in writing, so mixing the two was very appealing to me."

She also explained that she can’t pin just one person as a major influence. Although her mom was a doctor and her dad was a lawyer, Rina said that they never forced her to follow their career.

"They were supportive of me doing artistic and creative things which I really appreciated," she said and added, "My sister was a mentor to me early on. She got me to appreciate art-making especially painting, drawing and art history. As for comics, there’s so much to choose. I’d have to say again though that cartoonists Lynda Barry, Chester Brown, as well as Charles Schulz had a major impact on me going back to comics-making."

Part of Wonderland was Rina’s quirky and funny stories about growing up in Pittsburgh, which has a smaller Filipino community compared in the Bay Area. In the book, she makes a comedic but insightful approach on Filipino culture—from the wood carvings on the wall in Acacia, to her trip to the Philippines for her grandfather’s funeral in Lapog. Still, Rina believes that her parent raised them the best that they can.