An extra-special tale

My Extra-Special Aunty is a heartfelt story by Joanna Bowers, showcasing the bond between children and their ‘titas’. Illustrated by Cristina Cayat and Noemi Caballero Manguerra, the book promotes trust and mutual respect in the relationship

Issue 17 (Aug/Sep 2024), Magazine Features

1 August, 2024

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Three women sitting around a wooden table in a cafe, one displaying the book 'My Extra-Special Aunty' while the others engage in conversation. — **Left-to-right:** Cristina Cayat, illustrator of My Extra-Special Aunty and co-founder of migrant worker art collective, Guhit Kulay; Joanna Bowers, author of My Extra-Special Aunty and award-winning filmmaker (*The Helper*); Noemi Caballero Manguerra, illustrator of My Extra-Special Aunty and co-founder of migrant worker art collective, Guhit Kulay *(photos provided by My Extra-Special Aunty team)*

My Extra-Special Aunty is a touching and heartfelt new book written by renowned filmmaker Joanna Bowers. Joanna is no stranger to the migrant domestic worker community in Hong Kong, having directed the critically acclaimed 2017 movie, The Helper, exploring the diverse lives of these hardworking women and their contribution to society.

The new book, published in both English and Traditional Chinese, is told from the perspective of a child, highlighting the unique bond between children and their titas, while encouraging children, their families, and their domestic workers alike to build a relationship based on trust, respect, and kindness.

Produced in collaboration with migrant-focused NGOs Enrich HK and Pathfinders, it is beautifully illustrated by Cristina Cayat and Noemi Caballero Manguerra, co-founders of migrant worker art collective Guhit Kulay.

My Extra-Special Aunty is available from both Bookazine and Lion Rock Press, both online and in-store, so pick yourself up a copy today!

Cover of the book 'My Extra-Special Aunty' featuring colorful illustrations and the title in English and Traditional Chinese.

aunty, domesticworkers, enrich, migrantworkers, myextraspecialaunty, ofw, pathfinders, tita

Author

Written by

Aileen Alonzo-Hayward

Aileen is a second-generation, Hong Kong-born Filipino migrant. Her parents came to Hong Kong as domestic workers from the Philippines in the late 1970s, to escape poverty and look for a better life. After working in the finance sector for over a decade, she found her passion in music, and in 2013, landed her current position as radio presenter/producer for Pinoy Life in HK, a multi-award winning show on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK Radio3). She is also Co-founder of Pangyao.