Celebrate the 2018 Filipino American History Month

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. We would like to invite everyone to actively participate and support the celebration of the Filipino American History Month Celebrations 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.

The Filipino American National Historical Society announces the following theme for the 2018 Filipino American History Month: TURNING POINTS. Three events changed forever the lives of Filipinos and Filipino Americans:
• the declaration of Philippine independence and establishment of the First Philippine Republic,
• the Spanish American War and
• the establishment of Ethnic Studies.
These events were turning points in Filipina/o/x American history. FANHS encourages particular attention to the following events, which have both shaped the Filipina/o/x American experience. FANHS also reminds everyone that the month is HISTORY month, not “Heritage” month. “History” encompasses the experiences and events that have shaped our lives, as well as culture and heritage.
The FANHS Executive Officers encourage all FANHS chapters, community organizations, educational institutions and individuals to dedicate their October 2018 observance of Filipino American History Month in memory of FANHS National Scholar and Trustee, Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon. Dawn had just finished writing a children’s book, Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong, which is scheduled for release October 27 by Bridge + Delta Publishers.
Collecting, preserving, and spreading knowledge about Filipino American HISTORY for our community was an honest and vibrant labor of love for Dr. Dawn Mabalon. As she noted, “History is about the events, experiences and lives of people in our community (in the US) and their impact upon society and the political, cultural and economic events and moments that shape their lives. Heritage is simply about cultural traditions handed down from the past . . . NOT Heritage Month, NOT Filipino History Month, NOT Philippine Heritage Month, NOT Philippine Culture Month, NOT Philippine History Month. It’s FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. HISTORY!!! HISTORY!!! H I S T O R Y.”

FAHM planned events in 2018 in the Greater Chicago area
Oct 1, Monday at 12noon – 1:00pm2018 FAHM Celebration Kickoff as part of the official Illinois Bicentennial Celebration 2018, Concourse Level at James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601. (Contact Mr. Thomas Choi [email protected], Co-hosted by the Consulate General of the Philippines in partnership with the Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF)
Oct 11, Thursday 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Tagalog 101.* Classes begin on 11 October for 10 (ten) weekly sessions every Wednesday at Hana Center 4300 N. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618. (Contact Mr. TJ Callanto 630-286-2433, Sponsor – AFIRE Chicago)
Oct 13, Saturday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm – “Amped Up” Leadership Seminar,* Roosevelt University, 425 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL 60605. (Contact Mr. Andres Guerrero 312-240-9500 Sponsor: International Society of Filipinos in Finance and Accounting (ISFFA))
Oct. 14, 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 [email protected] Evelyn Natividad,Ph.D. 773-426-5459 Email [email protected])
Oct 20, Saturday 8:00 am – Citizenship Assistance Workshop, Venue TBA (Contact Mr. TJ Callanto 630-286-2433, Sponsor – AFIRE Chicago)
Oct 20, Saturday 11:00 am – FAHM Celebration at Seafood City, 5033 N. Elston Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630 (Contact Mr. Ruben Salazar [email protected] Sponsor – FANHS Greater Chicago Chapter)
Oct 20, Saturday 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm – Pro Bono Employment Law Legal Clinic at Hana Center 4300 N. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618. (Contact Mr. TJ Callanto 630-286-2433, Sponsor – AFIRE Chicago)
Oct 26, Friday 6:00 pm – Film Showing of “El Presidente: General Emilio Aguinaldo Story and The First Philippine Republic” at Indian Prairie Library 401 Plainfield Road, Darien, IL 60561 Sponsor Filipino American Association of South DuPage)
Oct 26, Friday 6:30 pm – Miss Maria Clara presented by Ladies for Rizal,* Four Points by Sheraton Chicago O’Hare, 10249 W. Irving Park RoadSchiller Park, IL  60176. (Contact Lady Veronica Fertig 773-983-0711, Lady Gloria Kery 773-968-7549 and Lady Carmen Estacio 773-661-2021)
Oct. 27, Saturday 2:00 pm to 4:00 pmCollecting Ourselves: On the Problems and Potential of Archives Hosted by  Alejandro T. Acierto, This is a FREE EVENT. Admissions to the Museum will be waived for those who RSVP in advance. Presented by From the Vaults: The Philippines Collection and LATITUDE.
Oct 27, Saturday 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm – CIRCA Pintig’s Annual History Costume & Kamayan,* Hana Center 4300 N. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618. (Contact Ms. Ginger Leopoldo 312-956-9489, Sponsor – CIRCA Pintig)
Oct 28, Sunday 9:00 am to 12:00 noon – FAHM @ Holy Name Cathedral serving Filipino Breakfast*, Cathedral Rectory 730 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. (Contact Ms. Grace A. Villamora [email protected])

 Oct 30, Tuesday at 5:30pm to 7:30pm – FAHM observance in memory of FANHS National Scholar and Trustee, Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon. Guest speaker Emily Lawsin will deliver the tribute to Dawn Mabalon. Film showing of Little Manila: Filipinos in California’s Heartland. at Jane Addams Hull-House Museum 800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607, Sponsor – FANHS Greater Chicago Chapter Contact [email protected]