Vital News, Vibrant Views for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest

By: Veronica Leighton

 

Hectic and frantic are the words that best describe the upcoming momentous events in our community for the month of October. Where do we begin, is the big question. Besides the 22nd annual ceremonial gala of the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame on October 29, 2016, there are also other super-duper flurry of fun activities that every Filipino American living in this community would love to know, to go and to see, and importantly, to celebrate the historic contributions of our people to this Nation.

There are just so many reasons why Filipino living all over America proudly celebrate the history/heritage of the Filipino Americans living in this country. This year is the 70th commemoration of several notable events and pieces of legislation that transformed the lives of Filipinos in the Philippines and in the United States in 1946, most notable of which is the granting of the independence of the Philippines from the united States on July 4, 1946,

Here’s an official announcement for this occasion….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. Let us take pride of our Filipino heritage and history. Let us come together and make every October celebration – a meaningful and memorable month.

The Filipino American History Month (FAHM) in Chicago and the Midwest has realeased a long list of month-long activities kicking off the celebration on October 1. Here are just a few important events on this day…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).

Concluding activities are the following: 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).

In-between are daily activities showcasing the Filipino American Heritage and History in all its might and pride. Please go to Pinoy News on page 39 for a list of other activities for the wonderful October month.

And, of course, the most-awaited gala event that honors and gives tribute and recognition to the most deserving and accomplished professionals and personalities composed of Filipino Americans, Asian Americans and the Friends of the Filipinos not only in this country, but as far as the Philippines and other parts of the world–the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame 2016, now on its 22nd gala ceremony on October 28, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.

This is a red-carpet, fully televised event, and deserving awardees receive a most-coveted HOF crytal trophy award.##

The de riguer food tasting day at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, with Sous Chef Carpio (a Pinoy). The HOF menu will be published in the next issue together with the list of 2016 awardees.