Mila Bongco-Philipzig was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to Edmonton in 1984 to pursue graduate studies. She eventually earned a PhD in 1995 from the Department of Comparative Studies and Modern Languages at the University of Alberta. Her doctoral thesis is entitled “Reading Comics: Analysing Language, Culture and the Concept of Superheroes in Comicbooks.” She relocated to Munich, Germany to pursue additional graduate studies. There she met her husband and started a family. Subsequently, the family decided to relocate to Edmonton, Alberta. Bongco-Philipzig is also an advocate for inclusion and diversity.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Good Night Philippines, Good Night World
Illustrated by Frances Alvarez.
Philippines: Anvil Publishing, 2016.
Also available as a Kindle e-book.
Publisher’s Synopsis
A dreamy book of different people in different places tenderly saying goodnight to each other. Each spread highlights a specific place and language in the Philippines, as well as a place and language in another country, as separated Filipino loved ones bid each other good night.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
The Longest Banig
Illustrated by Beth Parrocha.
Toronto: Owlkids, 2026.
forthcoming Sept 2026
Publisher’s Synopsis
On the day of the Banig Festival, Karina wakes up to her whole neighborhood getting ready! After her nanay finishes weaving their banig, a colorful woven mat, Karina and her cousin pack it up in a kariton and take it into town. It will be sewn with the rest of their group’s mats into one long banig and entered into a contest.
To get to the festival, Karina and her cousin must cross a very high, very rickety wooden bridge. Without her nanay to guide her across, Karina is frightened. She tries to cross inside the kariton, but that doesn’t work. She tries to cross with her eyes closed, but she trips. Determined to make it to the festival, Karina comes up with an innovative idea―she rolls her nanay’s banig onto the bridge to hide the scary gaps between the wooden slats. Then, she successfully crosses the bridge and makes it just in time for the contest.
On the way back home, Karina crosses the bridge without feeling afraid and declares that nanay’s banig isn’t the only winner of the day!
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Sandy Beaches to Snow, Snow to Sandy Beaches
Illustrated by Jamie Bauza.
Philippines: Anvil Publisning, 2016.
Also available as a Kindle e-book.
Dual language: English and Filipino.
Publisher’s Synopsis
Two children recount the sounds and sights and lovable chaos of preparing to travel across the seas. One is travelling from sun and sand to a winter clime; the other is going the exact opposite way.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Tony’s Wheels
Illustrated by Michael Parillas.
Winnipeg: ANAK Publishing Worker Cooperative Inc., 2021.
Dual language: English and Filipino.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Inspired by a true story, Tony’s Wheels follows a boy who moves to Canada from the Philippines and becomes successful in wheelchair racing. He becomes so good he gets to join the National Canadian Team. While competing internationally, Tony meets para-athletes from his old country and notices that their equipment is old and heavy. Tony wins the race, but how does he treat his competitors?