Empowering New York’s Asian American Community Since 1989

Noel Quintana'S
New York City

“The poster is intended to look and feel like a topographical map of Noel’s New York. I drew everything within Noel’s portrait. He has such a nice smile and it’s quite prominent in the art. Like Noel, I also grew up in the Philippines and lived in New York. The lettering I created is inspired by the hand-lettering found on public transportation in Manila and signage from Filipino American restaurants in Woodside, Queens.”

—Lydia Ortiz, Illustrator

Get Noel's poster as a gift with a donation to Hope Against Hate. Digital downloads start at $25 and printed posters start at $150. All contributions, regardless of amount, fund critical programs that keep Asian Americans safe in New York City and beyond.

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About Noel Quintana

Noel Quintana is a Filipino American non-profit worker who has been vocal about combating Asian hate after surviving a violent hate crime in February 2021. He’s a man of faith, and one of the reasons he ultimately moved to the US from the Philippines over a decade ago was because he asked God for a sign—and once he saw it, he moved. Prior to his current job, he spent seven years as a barista and became known for his perpetual smile and positive attitude.

WHERE AM I REALLY FROM?

“It was hard at first, but I am now American. I call this home and nowhere else.”


—Noel Quintana

Barista

“I was able to get a job as a barista, and I stayed there for seven years or more. I was so happy because there was no pressure. I would go home more peacefully and lighter than I was in the Philippines. I enjoyed being a barista. I read in the newspaper about a broker who became a barista who was happier preparing coffee than he was being a stockbroker.”

Unbreakable Smile

“A manager from another location came to my shop and asked me how long I’d been working as a barista. After I answered, she said to me, ‘Well, the smile still hasn’t worn out.’ That’s probably because I smile a lot, even if customers are difficult to handle.”

Filipinos in New York

“In Brooklyn, where I live, there are a lot of Filipinos. I met a former coworker from the Philippines here and I became a lot more sociable. Now I go out with some Filipino friends sometimes, and I’m invited to their gatherings and family celebrations. If I go to mass on Sundays, I see a lot of Filipinos.”

Balut

“On Roosevelt Avenue, there is a Filipino American store I visit once in a while where you can buy balut, a fertilized duck egg with a chick inside. I also like purple yam, and Roosevelt is the only place I can find that kind of thing.”

Love of Food

“I like trying other cultural foods. My coworkers and I will sometimes eat Lebanese, Polish and Thai food. We also tried tilapia at an African restaurant.”

Love of the Sun



“I love the sun. During the holidays and in the summer, I’m at the beach, spending my time at either Coney Island or Brighton Beach.”

MEET THE ARTIST

Lydia Ortiz

Lydia Ortiz is a Filipina illustrator, designer, and art director based in San Francisco whose work spans from editorial to book design. Her positively charged colors and layouts imbue all of her work with an optimism befitting the way Noel carries himself.

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MAKE A DONATION

Combat AAPI hate with a donation to Hope Against Hate today, and get a limited-edition travel poster. Digital downloads start at $25 and printed posters start at $150. All contributions, regardless of amount, fund critical programs that keep Asian Americans safe in New York City and beyond.
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