Jaime Macapagal

Balcatta Senior High School

Year 12

Oil on canvas

61 x 46 cm

This artwork reflects a deep personal exploration of sacrifice, identity, and resilience, inspired by my father’s early years as an immigrant in Australia. Once a respected sales manager in the Philippines, he arrived here to find his experience diminished, working long nights as a kitchen hand at Crown in 2017. The emotional and physical toll of that transition—especially moments like scrubbing greasy floors on New Year’s Eve while others celebrated—shaped both my family’s path and my understanding of perseverance. The purpose of this work is to humanise the invisible labour behind the privileges many take for granted. It is not just my father’s story—it is the story of countless migrants whose sacrifices are often overlooked.