CELEBRATE THE 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. The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) announces “1946: A Turning Point” as the theme for this year’s 2016 Filipino American History Month. The theme was chosen to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of several notable events and pieces of legislation that transformed the lives of Filipinos in the Philippines and in the United States in 1946 such as the following:

· The Rescission Act of 1946 barred veterans in the Philippines from receiving GI Bill benefits

· The Luce-Celler Bill on July 2, 1946 granted access to naturalization for all Filipinos who had come to the United States before March 1934 and for all Indian immigrants in the United States, however Filipino and Indian immigration was limited to 100 per year.

· Philippine independence from the United States was granted on July 4, 1946.

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.

FAHM planned events in 2016…. Oct 1 to Oct 31: Art and Anthropology: Portrait of the Object as Filipino*. Display of 10 paintings and creation of collaborative mural by 5 FilAm artists from Chicago and 5 artists from the Philippines. Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, 1400 S. Lakeshore Dr. Events take place during museum hours. (Almira Gilles almiragilles@gmail.com) Oct 1, Saturday at 9am – 10am – Opening of month long FAHM exhibit display at Bank Financial 1354 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615. (Contact Estrella Alamar ealamar8@ gmail.com, Sponsor –FAHSC) Oct 1, Saturday at 11am – 1:00pm – 2016 FAHM Celebration Kickoff at Seafood City 5033 N Elston Avenue, Chicago IL 60630. (Contact Tito Ruben at Tito.Rubens@gmail.com, Sponsor – PACF and FANHS-GC, FAHSC) Oct 2 Sunday at 11:00am – 6:00pm – Kultura Festival 2016* at Emporium Arcade Bar Logan Square, 2363 N. Milwaukee Avenue, and Surf Bar, 2367 N Milwaukee Avenue (Contact Sarahlynn Pablo, sarahlynn@filipino.kitchen, 312- 888-1482) Oct 2 Sunday at 2:00pm – 4:00pm – St. Valentine and St .Mary’s Fall Cultural Event* at St Valentine’s Catholic Church 1109 Pulaski St, Peru, IL 61354 (Contact Mida Dittmar – 815 228-2825.) Oct 3, Monday 6pm – FAHM Display Exhibits & Film showing of “The Great Raid” at Indian Prairie Library at 401 Plainfield Rd, Darien, IL (Contact Jose Soloria at (630)915-5956 Email jsoloria@comcast.net, Sponsor – FAASD) Oct 7, Friday 5:00-10:00 pm – TGIF Concert* with Jessica Sanchez, Mikey Bustos & Samasama Project (Contact Lou Cabalona at 708-528-6321, Email – piyestapinoy@gmail.com, Sponsor – PACF) October 8-9, 2016 FIlipino American History Month (FAHM) in New Orleans, LA Symposium, Gala* Historical Marker Trip, Xavier University, New Orleans, LA (Contact Robert Romero 504- 533-9822) Oct. 8, Saturday 10am- 12noon – The Property and Assets Protection Workshop, and Property Fraud Prevention initiative at the Dr. Jose Rizal Center, 1332 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL (Contact Elsie Sy- Niebar, 773) 610- 1287,elsyniebar@msn.com, Sponsor Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago (FACGC )) Oct 22, Saturday at 12pm to 2pm Pamanang Pinoy: Musika* at The Field Museum 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, Illinois 60605 (RSVP in advance to cocuration. philippines@fieldmuseum.org)

Oct. 23, 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 at adeline.pacf96@gmail.com Sponsor – PACF) Oct 29, Saturday 8pm – Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame 22nd Anniversary* at Hyatt O’Hare (Contact viatimes@sbcglobal.net ) Oct 29, Saturday 2:30pm to 4:30pm. – FANHS-Midwest – Exhibits and Forum on relevant & timely issues/topics beneficial to our community- in Skokie (location TBA). Contact: Jelly Carandang, 847-679-7058, msjellybeans@ aol.com

Oct 30, Sunday 2:30pm to 4:30pm.- NaFFAA – Halloween celebration with FilAm youths showcasing their respective talent during the variety talent show. Also in Skokie (location TBA). Contact: Jelly Carandang, 847-679-7058 or msjellybeans@aol.com Abbey Eusebio, 847-529=5558 or gneabbey@gmail.com Oct 30, Sunday – Film screening of Hinabing Pakpak ng Ating Mga Anak* by Notre Dame Professor of Theater and Film-Anton Juan . (location TBA).

Oct 31, Monday – Halloween Party* at Dr. Jose Rizal Center, 1332 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL (Contact Norie Argayoso 773-712-0260, Sponsor – Filipino American Grandparents Association of Chicago)

All of the above events are FREE Admission, RSVP to contact except those marked with * which is Ticketed Event For the latest updates, please visit the website http://pacfmidwest.org/2016/09/fahm2016/

For more information, 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