Kristine came to Canada from the Philippines at the age of 10 with her family. She experienced racism at school, where she was excluded because someone thought she did not speak English or that she had an accent. She chose to become a psychologist after learning that her aunt back home experienced mental health challenges. She voices the importance of walking alongside someone when addressing racism.
I’m Kristine Mallorca, a Filipino-Canadian psychologist living and working in Edmonton. I first connected with Gina after being sent her podcast—her words deeply resonated with me, and I reached out to thank her for continuing the conversation around BIPOC experiences in professional spaces. I was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to Canada with my family when I was 10. One of my earliest memories here was being excluded by kids at school because they assumed I didn’t speak English. It stuck with me—how quickly people make assumptions based on what they think they know. These small moments, these microaggressions, can really shape how we see ourselves. I’m here because I believe in the power of naming them, talking about them, and changing the spaces we’re in—so they feel safer, more open, and more human for everyone.
