Remembering Dates that Impact Our Lives

By: Veronica Leighton

 

September 11 is already past, but that does not mean that tragic date that brought nightmares to many of us can easily be forgotten. How can you forget watching on TV the falling burning New York Twin Trade Towers as it was hit by the terrorists’ plane, and it was not even a movie you were watching…it was for real, live and happening before your very eyes! Remember what were you doing on that fateful day?

And, October is a month for cause celebre as it is on this historical month that the U.S. Congress passed a Resolution recognizing October as Filipino American History Month (FAHM) in 2009, a big impact for the Filipinos who have lived and been living in this adopted country of ours, and now more proud of their culture and heritage.

Here are some touching reports that we culled from two important sources regarding these historical dates…

REMEMBRANCE & VIGILANCE ON SEPT 11 (Franklin Center for Govt &Integrity)

Time doesn’t always make the past fade away. It’s been fourteen years since the tragedy of September 11, 2001, but still it looms large in our memories, fueling our debates and haunting our national discourse. I’m sure you can still remember where you were, the horror you felt, the loved ones you called – perhaps even the loved ones you lost. America changed that day, because we changed, each one of us, as individuals. We saw the face of evil and the cowardice of terror, and we confronted the fragility of our own existence. Every year since, we do well to remember it.

Today reminds us that the freedom we hold so dear always comes at a cost – sometimes a tragically high cost – and thus requires our utmost to preserve. It takes courage, fortitude, unity, and yes, even taking risks. Freedom is not safe. The first responders and citizens who rushed toward the burning towers understood that. The brave passengers on Flight 93 understood that. And our men and women in uniform understood that – just as they still do today. Let us mourn on this day, and let us remember. But let us also take heart and steel our resolve.

America may have changed after those fateful flights, but the principles upon which our nation was founded are still the same. The 21st century has brought new challenges – new leaders, new technologies, and new dangers both foreign and domestic. But we will only find the strength and ingenuity to meet and overcome them by going back to our roots, remembering our commitment to liberty and justice and reaffirming those self-evident truths.

As Dwight Eisenhower said: “Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men, and so it must be daily earned and refreshed — else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.”

After all, America did not wither in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. On the contrary, we embraced the life-giving roots that we all share as Americans, we came together, we made sacrifices to uphold the principles we believed in, and we became stronger. Fourteen years later, we remain vigilant and hopeful, because the American people have proven stronger than our enemies that underestimated us. The path forward for freedom and liberty is still the same.

OCTOBER IS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

Chicago, Il. – In 2009, the US Congress thru the House of Senate and House of Representatives respectively passed H. Res. 780 recognizing October 2011 and every October thereafter as Filipino American History Month (FAHM) to celebrate the history and culture of Filipino Americans and their historic contributions to the Nation. Starting in 2011, the Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) spearheaded an invitation to many Filipino American organizations in Chicago and suburbs to organize a variety of events to celebrate FAHM every October. Since 2011, Filipino American community groups in Chicago and suburbs have been working and partnering together to consolidate and promote the various events in celebration of FAHM every October. This year, we are commemorating 2 significant milestones in the Filipino American History – the 50th anniversary of the Immigration Act of 1965 and the 50th anniversary of the grape strike in Delano, CA.

• The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) of 1965 was signed by President Lynden B. Johnson on October 3, 1965. It dramatically changed the demographic landscape of America. The law abolished the National Origins Quota System; made family-based immigration the basis for U.S. immigration policy; and established a preference system for people with special occupational skills to become permanent residents.
• The Philippines, after Mexico, has been the largest beneficiary of the liberalized immigration law. According to U.S. Census and Homeland Security sources: in 2008 there were in the U.S. approximately 1.7 million foreign born Filipinos; and approximately 1.4 million native born Filipinos, most who were the children or grandchildren of one or both parents who arrived after 1965.
• 50 years ago today, elderly Filipino men working in grape fields in Delano,CA decided to go on strike to fight for better wages and working conditions. That courageous decision would have effects far beyond the grape fields. In fact, ALL Filipino-Americans owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to these men. If not for the kind of bravery they displayed, we would not be able to enjoy the lives we lead today. If you didn’t already know this (it’s not your fault, until AB123 is fully implemented, this is a history few of us have the privilege of learning), take some time to educate yourself today. One good resource is https://welgadigitalarchive.omeka.n et/.

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) and the White House Office of Public Engagement (OPE) will host a Celebration of Filipino American History Month (FAHM) on Friday, October 2, 2015 at the White House The Celebration will kick off FAHM in October and will feature discussions with Administration officials and prominent Filipino Americans, as well as performances by distinguished Filipino American artists.

The Philippine Consulate General in cooperation with the Filipino American community would like to invite everyone to actively participate and support the celebration of the Filipino American History Month Celebration in Chicago and the Midwest. The schedule of events/activities is listed below. Let us take pride of our Filipino heritage and history. Let us come together and make every October celebration – a meaningful and memorable month.

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER PLANNED EVENTS IN CHICAGO

Oct 1, Thursday On view through October 19 – We are Family Exhibits at The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive.
Free general admission will be offered to Illinois residents during Museum Week at the The Field Museum, October 4, all day.

Oct 2, Friday (10:00 A.M. Opening) to October 30, 2015 – “ART IS PASSION . AGELESS . SOCIAL . SERVICE” is an Art Exhibit featuring  watercolor paintings done by volunteers and clients of the Pilipino American Social Services and Human Resources (PASS), 1511 W. Irving
Park Road, Chicago, IL 60613 (Contct Susan Alforque Silvano Email: silvano5311@comcast.net Sponsor – PASS)

Oct 2, Friday 6:30pm – Film showing of “Delano Manongs ” at Indian Prairie Library at 401 Plainfield Rd, Darien, IL (Contact Tony Abellera at
TonyAbellera@hotmail.com

Oct 4 Sunday at 11:00am – 6:00pm –Kultura Festival at 2363 N. Milwaukee Ave Chicago, IL 60647 (Contact http://filipino.kitchen/kultura-fest
Sponsor – Filipino Kitchen)

Oct 10, Saturday 1:00-6:00 pm Global Pinoy Singing Idol at Hemmens Cultural Center 40 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL (Contact Divine Aleonar at daleonar12@gmail.com – Sponsor – CFC/ANCOP)

Oct. 11, 12 pm – 4 pm FAHM celebration at St. Mathew Church 1555 Glen Ellyn Road Glendale Heights, IL, (Contact Adeline Fajardo at adeline.
pacf96@gmail.com Sponsor – PACF)

Oct. 11, Sunday 1:00 pm – 6:00pm – FANHS-MI at the Paaralang Pilipino “CINEPLEX” at Philippine American Community Center of Michigan (PACCM) 17356 Northland Park Ct. Southfield, MI 4807 (Contact James Beni Wilson 248-345-5562 / jamwilson9@gmail.com Sponsor – FANHS-MI)

Oct. 11, Sunday 8:00 am – 5:30pm – FANHS-MWC The 11th BIENNIAL MIDWEST CONFERENCE Wyndham Glenview Suites at 1400 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview, Illinois 60025 (Contact Almira Gilles)

Oct. 18, Sunday 11 am – 4 pm FAHM Luncheon Honoring the Most Outstanding Fil-AM Seniors at Four Points by Sheraton Chicago O’Hare Airport 10249 West Irving Park Road Schiller Park, IL (Contact Adeline Fajardo)

Oct 24, Saturday 2pm – Film showing of “The Gift of Barong” at Fountaindale Public Library District 300 W Briarcliff Rd, Bolingbrook, IL 60440 (Contact Tito Ruben at Tito.Rubens@gmail.com, Sponsor – FANHS-GC)

Oct 24 to January 29, 2016 – We are Family Exhibits at Trickster Art Gallery, Schaumburg, IL (Contact Tito Ruben at Tito.Rubens@gmail.com, Sponsor – FAHSC)

NOV. 14: 21st Anniversary of the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony & red carpet gala event at Hyatt Regency O’Hare. For information, contact Veronica Leighton or Jovie Calma of Via Times/CPRTV.

For more information for above activities, please contact LIEZEL F. ALCANTARA, Cultural Officer at (312) 583-0621 ext 22 or email the Consulate at chicagopcg@att.net or RUBEN SALAZAR at (630)969- 2971 or email Tito.Rubens@gmail.com.

 

ROARING 20’S & NIGHT OF FOLLY & FUNDRAISING at the 45th Annual Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Benefit held Sept. 12 at Meadows Club in Schaumburg. Top: Standing: Tony Labar, Don Kramer, Chris Sullivan, Joe Mauricio & Rich Tinberg; Sitting: Rose Labar, Flor Kramer, Veronica, Kim Sullivan & Christine Morrone; Bottom: Mark Malnati (Malnati’s owner), Don Kramer, Joe Mauricio & Veronica. All proceeds benefit the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern U at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Gilda’s Club, and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.