Fil-Aus filmmaker reflects on Bisaya roots and honours his Pinoy grandparents

Australian-Filipino filmmaker Mark Smith shared that he learned some Bisaya words from his grandparents, who were originally from Camiguin and had lived with them in Adelaide.

Australian-Filipino filmmaker Mark Smith shared that he learned some Bisaya words from his grandparents, who were originally from Camiguin and had lived with them in Adelaide. Credit: Supplied

Key Points

• Filmmaker Mark Smith's father is Australian, while his mother is Filipino, and he admitted that he often wondered why he felt different when he was young.
• Mark also remembers that his grandmother always cooked, especially during birthdays, with celebrations resembling Filipino gatherings, where there was always plenty of food.
• Mark's grandparents became close to his father's Aboriginal brothers because of their shared experiences of racism.