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Brief History of Filipino Migration to Chicago

Dear editor,

When I immigrated to the United States on March 25, 1970, my uncle, Celestino B. Banez, a longtime Chicagoan, eldest brother of my father, Major Manuel Banez, Sr. (Ret.) of the Philippine Air Force, mentioned to me that there was a Filipino American Council organization at the Rizal Community Center located at 1332 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, which he was a member. He was very active in this organization because he was the president of the “Abrenian Club,” whose members hailed from Bangued, Abra. He further said that his friend, Dr. Blando, was usually the emcee everytime they had a celebration in the Rizal Community Center.

I was so curious about his story, that I did a research about the FACC. In so doing, I read about an article written by Francisco Alayu, entitled “A short history of the Filipino American Council of Chicago,” and I quote:..

“In our way of thinking, the Filipino community in Chicago came into being in three stages: the old, the interim and the new. We consider that the old took shape from 1906 to 1941, the year WWII broke out. Records indicate that there was a community of Filipino students as early as 1906. They were the pensionados (government subsidized) and home-supported students. The small body was active in promoting the desirability of Philippine Independence, which was then the subject of debate in the American public. By the medium of their organization, which they named the Filipino Association, they focused strongly on complete independence of the islands.

In 1921, non-student Filipino immigrants began to arrive in Chicago. In every passing year from then on until 1939, immigrants by the hundreds, if not by the thousands, arrived. A group settled in the neighborhood of Crane Junior College in the west side of Chicago. A larger group settled in the near Northside, between Wells and Dearborn, and between Illinois and North Ave. It was along Clark Street, between Illinois and Division streets where few of their small business shops were set up and located.

At first, there was but one organization to represent their community. It was named the Filipino Association of Chicago, first organized as the Rizal Club of Chicago, whose basic purpose was to perpetuate the ideals of the Filipino hero.

At this point in time in the history of the community, a number of clubs and organizations had sprung up. In the late twenties and early thirties, such clubs as the Gibbon Society, the Filipino Post 509, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Zambales Club, etc. were organized.”

The new period should be called the new phase of the community. In that it should be relevant to include the newcomers as part and parcel of the new phase of the community. The most outstanding record and accomplishment of the new group is the acquisition of a building, now known as “Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Center” under the organization named Filipino American Council of Chicago (FACC) or Greater Chicago (FACGC).

Respectfully submitted, Jose T. Banez, CPA Hinsdale Illinois

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