The Lively Socialization Development of Fil-Ams in Chicago

By: Veronica Leighton

 

Let me share with you, dear readers, the speech that I delivered for the NVP1World 7th Year Gala Anniversary as the even’s guest speaker. It was a wonderful and enchanting evening held on April 12, 2025 at Jolly Inn Banquets Chicago.

“The Filipino immigration to Chicago significantly increased after 1965 due to the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act which is also known as the Immigration Wave of Professionals, composed mainly of nurses, physicians, engineers, lawyers and teachers. This supersedes the early migration of Filipinos who worked as farmers, fishermen, and railroad workers of pre- and post- World War II. The number of Filipino population around the time of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. were more than 40,000 at that time but increased fast to about 100,000 in the 90’s.

The purchase of the Jose Rizal Memorial Center or Rizal Center in short, the first and only Filipino community center in America at that time in 1974, made it happen by a group of our beloved elderlies whom we called manongs and manangs. The Rizal Center had become our pride and joy and a place of happiness and comfort, and it was at this place that many Filipino clubs have been formed and organized. It was the favorite hub of many kababayans for get-togethers and socials. Later on, as many clubs had started forming and proliferating and the Pinoy population started moving to the suburbs, some gala parties were held in some flashy downtown or suburban hotels, a trend that has been going on to these days,

During those memorable years, many other clubs had been formed that the Philippine Consulate General’s list of Filipino clubs claimed a number of about 200. I still remember the scenario of hopping from one party to another on weekend nights for my news coverages in 1972, as I had started work as a social columnist for the Philippine News, the first Filipino print publication published in SF, with national distribution all over America through subscription. After ten years, I founded the Via Times and CPRTV in 1982 as the first and only woman- run print and broadcast media entity by a Filipino woman in America. I still hold the title up to now.

I still remember some of the Filipino organizations that were formed and founded for community socials during those glorious years that are still going on strong these days, always proud of their culture and heritage. To name a few, the PIWC (Philippine Independence), PMAC (Medical Association), PNAI (Nurses), PESO (Engineers), CPLC (Lions), CPCC (Chamber of Commerce) and the FAHS (Historical Society).

Around that time, larger national Asian organizations were also formed, where I was one of the charter members, the AACC (Asian Coalition) and AAJA (Asian Journalists), that are still thriving and respected in the Asian and American communities.

The entry to the Millennial Year 2000 has proven to be progressive and yet so challenging. The year 2000 to the present has witnessed the aging of the Filipino population not only in Chicago but also from other cities of America and globally, of course. Many professionals are marching fast towards retirement, children have grown and moved away, and migration to other parts of the states have become mostly the norm for the Filipino retirees.

Year 2020 was the year that we experienced the awful and tragic health impact of the Covid 19. Many loved ones have been victimized and died, sad to say. Despite this sad event, some Filipino organizations have survived and keep up with their social lives to these days. Some young clubs were born like the FYLPRO, an organization of young Filipino professionals throughout America and get an audience with the President of the PH every visit. Many Lions clubs have been formed, started by some young service-oriented Pinoys and Pinays. The Rizal Center building has reopened after 5 years of closure due to politics. Some young Filipino entrepreneurs in restaurant, in hospitality, and health care businesses have sprouted not only in Chicago but also in many parts of America, The entrepreneurial young Pinoys have sprouted.

The Filipinos, as social animals and the most talented group of people on earth, love to sing and dance anywhere, everywhere. These days, the younger generation of professionals and caregivers abound and enjoy social dancing and singing, too. The dancers attend the informal gatherings in the social arenas either in basketball court, gym, park district, and the Seafood City party room, for their pleasure and love of dancing. The singers grace the karaoke places at home and in restaurants and karaoke venues. Except there’s quite a noticeable change in the landscape of the Fil-Am society compared to the Filipino immigrants of the 60’s to 90’s. And today, the Filipino immigrants in Chicago and Midwest have numbered more than 200,000 as of the latest Census.

But we are here tonight enjoying a different kind of social event, a venerable dinner concert in honor of the wonderful singer of our community, pride and joy of the Filipino American community of Chicago, Mr. Nick Vera Perez, who is now a popular recording artist here and in the Philippines, even worldwide. Happy to announce that NVP started his singing and dancing career on the CPRTV in the early Millennial years. Congrats Nick and good night to all!”

     

Veronica Leighton, guest speaker at NVP1World’s 7th anniversary, escorted by Dino Dizon to the podium.