Courage to Immigrate
Palumpon
by P.J. de Leon
Sunbeams dance across the floor, greeting her with glee, skipping from box to unpacked box. She’s back from the farmer’s market, arms full. A bag of what will be breakfast in one hand. A bouquet of flowers in the other.
She shoves the bag in the still-empty fridge and reaches for the sea glass vase. Thrifted, a solitary thing on a shelf that she’ll soon fill with books, knickknacks, and photographs. Reminders of home.
She pours water into the vase. In goes the bouquet. Alberta Wild Roses, the florist said. Local growth meets provincial transplant. She smiles at the thought.
Stepping back, she admires the paler pinks, drinks in the lush meadowy scent. A new core memory. The first in her new home, her new city.
Her mind wanders. Heady garlands of Sampaguita at Flores de Mayo take over. White flowers adorning reynas and prinsesitas on paradas for Santacruzan. Small petals intertwined with childhood memories of the Philippines.
Then, the memory gives way to the orange hues of the Prairie Flower. Its subtle notes promise adventure, softening the echoes of moving oceans away, leaving everything she knew and everyone she loved.
Each flower seemingly connected to a milestone, a moment. Today, she adds another to this glorious bouquet called life.
“Palumpon.” She exhales, letting the word swirl in her mouth.
Buoyed by the strength of those who’ve come before her, she closes her eyes and breathes. Delicate bergamot washing over unspoken doubts, making this unknown place feel more like hope.
“C O U R A G E. T O. I M M I G R A T E (L A K A S. N G. L O O B. M A G. I M M I G R A T E.)”
by Krystelle Celestino Wurtz
Original Mural 8′ x 8′ on plywood created for Paint with Purpose at the Home Renovation Show February 2024 in support of Mamas for Mamas Calgary Acrylic Paint
This painting tells the story of how my parents bravely and courageously
immigrating from the Philippines to Canada
gave me the courage and bravery to immigrate as well.
When the time came for us to move
from Saskatoon, our birth town to
Calgary, our hometown.
We knew we could do it and we would be okay even though we were scared.
My family along with many other families in the
Filipino- Saskatoon Community had shown me it was possible.
You all influenced and shaped who I am today.
Your ripple effect of choosing to pave a new path of life,
positively shaped the community in Saskatoon and therefore anywhere we all may go.
I take the lessons I learned from all of you and try to practice them daily.
It shaped how I teach, how I live and how I love and care for others.
I am me because of the strong Filipino traditions and teachings I learned at
Home, Tagalog School, Community parties, Folkfest community and our interconnected relationships.
As many people of our community are no longer with us today and are loving and supporting us from heaven or have immigrated to different places all over the world
I want you to know that their memory has been imbedded in this painting
because you reading this and remembering them is the feeling of why I painted this.
I took the memories of a lifetime and put my heart, soul and adventure into it.
I painted this as a 8 ft x 8 ft mural at the Calgary Home and Garden Show in February 2024 under the mentorship of Rachel Lyon. She provided me with guidance and teaching to genuinely tell my story. She is an excellent mentor who champions others in the art community. With out her and the opportunity at the Calgary Home and Garden Show this painting would have never happened. Thank you. I am forever grateful for your belief in me.
The flowers are strong symbols of the places that have shaped and influenced who we are. The white flowers represents the Philippines National flower the Sampaguita
that symbolizes strength and hope.
The orange/peach flowers represents the Saskatchewan Provincial flower, the Prairie Lily
that symbolizes renewal.
The light beige flowers represents the Alberta Provincial flower, the Wild Rose
that symbolizes immortal love and union.
The four leaves represents my heart, soul, adventure and dream.
The sun is a reminder that even behind the clouds the sun will always shine.
Lastly I leave you with the reminder that:
“When we come together we can create beautiful things.” -Krystelle Celestino Wurtz
Written in Tagalog with my Dad
Ang pagpipinta na ito ay nagsasabi sa kuwento kung paano matapang ang aking mga magulang
dumayo mula sa Pilipinas patungong Canada
nagbigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob at tapang na mangibang-bayan din.
Nang dumating ang oras na kami ay lumipat
mula Saskatoon, ang aming kapanganakan sa
Calgary, ang aming bayan.
Alam naming kaya namin at magiging okay kami kahit natatakot kami.
Ang aking pamilya kasama ang marami pang pamilya sa
Ipinakita sa akin ng Filipino- Saskatoon Community na posible ito.
Inimpluwensyahan at hinubog ninyong lahat kung sino ako ngayon.
Iyong ripple effect ng pagpili na maghanda ng bagong landas ng buhay,
positibong hinubog ang komunidad sa Saskatoon at samakatuwid kahit saan tayong lahat ay maaaring pumunta.
Kinukuha ko ang mga aral na natutunan ko sa inyong lahat at sinisikap kong isagawa ang mga ito araw-araw.
Hinubog nito kung paano ako nagtuturo, kung paano ako nabubuhay at kung paano ko minamahal at pinangangalagaan ang iba.
Ako ay ako dahil sa malakas na tradisyon at aral ng Filipino na natutunan ko sa
Tahanan, Paaralang Tagalog, Mga partido sa komunidad, komunidad ng Folkfest at ang aming magkakaugnay na relasyon.
Tulad ng maraming mga tao sa ating komunidad ay wala na sa atin ngayon at nagmamahal at sumusuporta sa atin mula sa langit o nandayuhan sa iba’t ibang lugar sa buong mundo
Nais kong malaman mo na ang kanilang alaala ay nakatanim sa pagpipinta na ito
dahil binabasa mo ito at naaalala mo sila ay ang pakiramdam kung bakit ako nagpinta nito.
Kinuha ko ang mga alaala ng isang buhay at inilagay ang aking puso, kaluluwa at pakikipagsapalaran dito.
Ang mga bulaklak ay malakas na simbolo ng mga lugar na humubog at nakaimpluwensya kung sino tayo. Ang mga puting bulaklak ay kumakatawan sa Pambansang bulaklak ng Pilipinas na Sampaguita
na sumisimbolo ng lakas at pag-asa.
Ang mga kulay kahel/peach na bulaklak ay kumakatawan sa Saskatchewan Provincial na bulaklak, ang Prairie Lily
na sumisimbolo ng renewal.
Ang mga murang beige na bulaklak ay kumakatawan sa Alberta Provincial na bulaklak, ang Wild Rose
na sumisimbolo sa walang kamatayang pag-ibig at pagkakaisa.
Ang apat na dahon ay kumakatawan sa aking puso, kaluluwa, pakikipagsapalaran at pangarap.
Ang araw ay isang paalala na kahit sa likod ng mga ulap ay laging sisikat ang araw.
Panghuli ay iniiwan ko sa iyo ang paalala na:
“Kapag nagsama-sama tayo, makakagawa tayo ng magagandang bagay.” – Krystelle Celestino Wurtz
Photo by Kenny Snaps
Krystelle Celestino Wurtz
I am Krystelle Celestino Wurtz, a second-generation Filipino-Canadian visual artist, educator, and founder of Krystelle Creations; a community-rooted art hub where storytelling is transformed into vibrant, visual legacies. Based in Calgary, I blend over a decade of teaching experience with my deep love for culture, connection, and creativity to make art that speaks to the heart and spirit.
With gratitude, mutual respect, and reciprocity, I acknowledge that we live, work, and create on the traditional lands of the Treaty 7 signatories: the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai Nations, the Îethka Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Good Stoney Bands), and the Tsuut’ina Nation. Calgary, also known as Moh’kinstsis, is the homeland of the Northwest Métis and the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. I honour the original caretakers of this land and recognize our shared responsibilities in the journey of Truth and Reconciliation.
My work is known for its intimate symbolism, rich textures, and collaborative nature; often involving community participation through live art events, storytelling workshops, and public art installations. Whether I’m painting murals that uplift the collective voice of a neighbourhood or creating deeply personal commissions, my goal is to help people feel seen, heard, and celebrated.
As a proud daughter of Filipino immigrants, I infuse my practice with meaning and memory by honoring my Filipino and Canadian traditions, family history, and intergenerational wisdom. I often use floral symbolism, such as the national flower, the sampaguita; as a bridge between cultural identity and visual narrative. I am exploring my identity as a second generation immigrant and what it means to raise and nurture our next generations.
One of my most beloved techniques is my signature fingerprint style, where I invite community members to add their fingerprints into florals and abstract forms. These fingerprints represent how we are connected to one another through stories, legacy, and culture.
Through Krystelle Creations, I offer live community paintings, personalized art experiences, creative workshops, commissioned pieces, and prints. My mission is to spark curiosity, foster connection, and build community through collaborative art-making.
“Together, we can create beautiful things.”- Krystelle Celestino Wurtz
Prints can be purchased from my website:
“Courage to Immigrate” 4×6 Greeting Card $5.00 –https://www.krystellecreations.com/product-page/c-o-u-r-a-g-e-t-o-i-m-m-i-g-r-a-t-e-greeting-card
“Courage to Immigrate” 8.5 x 11 Print $10.00 – https://www.krystellecreations.com/product-page/c-o-u-r-a-g-e-t-o-i-m-m-i-g-r-a-t-e
Precious de Leon
Precious de Leon is a poet and fiction writer in Mohkinstsis. She was a magazine editor in the UAE. Her creative writing journey started in Canada with a mentorship program in 2019. She has since shared her work at the People’s Poetry Festival, the Alcove Centre for the Arts, and the Philippine Festival Council. She was on the New Forum Editorial Collective and was co-editor of the Polyglot’s Multilingual Mentorship issue. Precious is the Program Director for Community Engagement at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre.
