Isabel Kanaan moved from the Philippines to Burlington, Ontario, at the age of 16, struggling to adapt to the suburban calm of her new environment. Kanaan noted that Filipinos are generally lively and expressed her confusion about life in a place where nothing was open past 9 p.m., wondering what people did after hours. Her transition was not only challenging in terms of the peacefulness of Burlington but also forced her to reconsider her aspirations of pursuing a career in acting, feeling that she did not see reflections of her identity in the media.
Initially, Kanaan enrolled in a math program at York University with the intent to become a teacher. However, her passion for acting remained strong, prompting her to switch to the acting program at Seneca College. Upon graduating, she faced difficulties in finding roles for Filipina women, with her auditions predominantly casting her for characters identified as Indian or Spanish. Frustrated with this lack of representation, Kanaan decided to take matters into her own hands and started creating TikTok videos that humorously depicted the Filipino immigrant experience.
These initial sketches eventually evolved into her acclaimed project, "Abroad," an English-Tagalog sketch comedy show that she co-created and stars in. Now in its fourth season, "Abroad" showcases Filipino-Canadian narratives through various comedic characters that Kanaan portrays, including Passive Aggressive Mama and Nestor, a dance instructor with a past as a black-market dealer. The series addresses themes such as culture shock, language barriers, and the nuances of assimilation, often reflecting on the complexities of parenthood in a multicultural context. This season delves into the experiences of parents struggling to raise second-generation Filipino-Canadian children, a storyline that resonates with Kanaan as she has recently become a mother herself.
Kanaan hopes that "Abroad" provides visibility and relatability for Filipino immigrants and newcomers from diverse backgrounds. She expresses a desire for viewers to see their own experiences reflected in the show, noting the importance of representation in media. The series has gained a dedicated audience not just in Canada but globally, with its comedic clips receiving millions of views on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Recently, "Abroad" has been acquired by Just For Entertainment Distribution for international airing, showcasing its broader appeal and the demand for its unique storytelling.
As the show garners attention, it has also been nominated for five Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Sketch Comedy and Best Sketch Comedy Performance, acknowledging the talent of Kanaan and her Filipino-Canadian co-stars, including Joy Castro, Justin Santiago, and Nicco Lorenzo Garcia. In light of a recent tragedy involving a Filipino street festival in Vancouver, where 11 individuals lost their lives due to a vehicular attack, Kanaan expressed hope that "Abroad" can offer some comfort to the grieving community. She has observed how the Filipino-Canadian community has come together to support the victims through various fundraising efforts, demonstrating the strong sense of community inherent to Filipino culture.
Kanaan's journey highlights the importance of understanding and embracing multiculturalism in Canada. She encourages both immigrants and non-immigrants to engage with diverse cultures, promoting learning and appreciation for the various communities that enrich Canadian society. Her initiative not only aims to shed light on the immigrant experience but also opens a window for others to learn about their neighbors' cultures and narratives.
