About Us
HABI HEART is a multimedia project featuring a series of visual novels based on the real-life stories of LGBTQ+ Filipinos. It is based on the research about LGBTQ+ Filipinos experiences in western and local spaces done by four Multimedia Arts students from De La Salle-College of Saint-Benilde.
The project, having gathered real-life stories from its foundational research participants, now includes three visual novels. HABI HEART now continues to create from LGBTQ+ Filipinos’ personal experiences, and one of them can be from you through our “Contact Us” page.
The Advocacy
Based on our research, many LGBTQ+ Filipinos feel unseen. The intersectionality of race and gender/sexuality is widely discussed but underrepresented within LGBTQ+ and Filipino contexts. There are LGBTQ+ Filipinos both in the motherland and overseas that struggle to be seen for their identities.
We believe that the media of visual novels will communicate its messages through immersion and interactivity, along with inciting empathy through its stories. The stories featured in these visual novels will be user-submitted, giving LGBTQ+ Filipinos a voice. This project aims to meet the problems of the lack of representation for LGBTQ+ Filipinos and lack of understanding non-LGBTQ+ and/or non-Filipino youth have for them.
The Team
JULES CHU (she/her)
Character Designer, Graphic Designer, and Illustrator
ETHAN CRUZ (he/him)
Writer, Programmer, and Illustrator
HANS DE GUZMAN (he/she)
Writer, Programmer, and Illustrator
JIO TIONGSON (he/him)
Writer, Programmer, and Illustrator
Acknowledgement
HABI HEART in its current form would not be possible if not for the wonderful individuals: professors, doctors, experts, and students — who have helped us improve the project through their kind feedback.
Alyssa Trillanes
AJ Rabano
Paul Atienza M.D.
Aliyah Dee
Craig Lines
Ron Elepaño M.D.
Gavi Panganiban
Miles Abaya
Jurie Pica
Toby Risonar
Sir Roy Molon
Ms. Melay Lapeña
And the three people whose stories gave life to the project: