Community News

May events for AAPI Month

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month from May 1 until May 25 where there will be activities to commemorate this special month. 

May 1-25 SINAG Chicago Art will hold a Sinag: Ray of Light Art Exhibit at the Evanston Art Center, 1717 Central St. Evanston, IL60201 featuring 48 Filipino-American artists from the Greater Chicago who will be showcasing almost 100 paintings on display. The exhibit participants are an exciting mix of established and emerging FilAm visual artists showcasing traditional and modern art styles, using various media from acrylic on canvas, digital, sculptures, installations and interactive art. The exhibit is free and open to the public until May 25.

May 2 - Screening of the award-winning film, Food Roots, on Thursday, May 2nd @ 5:30 PM at Mae District located at 19 E. 21st Street, Chicago, Illinois 60616. Illinois Sec. of State Alexi Giannoulias is present during the film screening, and celebration of AAPI Month. Please RSVP to Angel A. Alicea at aalicea@ilsos.gov by Monday, April 29th at 5:00 PM.

May 3-18 Fridays and Saturdays- Ginger Leopoldo and Circa Pintig invite the community to an upcoming production, "Panther in the Sky," a collaborative effort between the Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, 1650 W. Foster, Chicago and CIRCA-Pintig. Authored by Lani T. Montreal, this compelling performance explores the profound themes of loss, resilience, and community action through the stories of mothers facing the tragic loss of their sons to gun violence. Also there will be an exhibit by the renowned artist Cesar Conde, whose work is a testament to the belief that art is a powerful tool for resistance, unifying communities, and facilitating safe spaces for dialogue. Conde's art, informed by social and political issues affecting marginalized communities, adds a significant layer of depth and engagement to our event.

May 4 - An Evening of Filipino Chamber Music FilAm Music Foundation returns to Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60604 for another Tertulia in collaboration with Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on May 4 at 7 PM. Come hear original Filipino classical music performed by Filipino musicians. Free admission but donations are strongly encouraged. Located at Buntrock Hall.

May 4 and May 18 - Call for Volunteers - A volunteer day at the Hana Center, 4300 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 on Saturday May 4 and May  18 from 10am to 2pm. Tasks that need help with include sorting and identifying a variety of items, cataloging books and documents, moving boxes, and discarding objects as needed. Refreshments provided. First-time volunteer, looking to get more involved? Fill out our volunteer form at https://bit.ly/FAHSCVolunteer to receive email updates! Returning volunteers, RSVP to fanhs.greaterchicago@gmail.com if you can attend.

May 5th, 7-9 pm - Reese and UChicago Filipino dancers invite the public to their performance of Sensasia (Asian performance festival), at the Logan Center, 915 E. 60th Street Chicago, IL on May 5th, 7-9 pm. Tickets are $5. Visit  //docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoOcV1F8dRNclTFnC5SiKSgnbbvVKgDKa7gm-z-NyM8L4S5g/viewform.

May 9-Thursday, 7-9 PM, Sensasia Asian Performance Festival at the Logan Center,  915 E. 60th Street Chicago, IL 60637.

May 10- AAPI Heritage Month: Asian Night Market on Friday at 5 – 9 PM. Register at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/asian-night-market-tickets-850549816397. Hosted by Oakton College - Center for Organizing Minority Programs to Advance Student Success (COMPASS) and Everybody’s Market Des Plaines Campus, TenHoeve Center 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL.

May 17 – 26.-API Restaurants Week. Restaurant List is available at this link https://www.ocachicago.org/aapi-restaurants-week/2024-aapi-restaurants-week/. Hosted by OCA Greater Chicago Showcasing AAPI-owned restaurants all around the Chicagoland area.

May 18  -2024 AANHPI Festival Saturday, 1–6PM .Register here Hosted by the Global Friendship Exchange Foundation Pacifica Square 4360 East New York St., Aurora IL.

May 17 – 26. 27th Annual Asian American Showcase Friday. Theater by The Foundation for Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM) The Gene Siskel Film Center 164 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60601 . 

May 20 - The 27th Annual Asian American Showcase presents: Family is Everything: Filipino American Shorts in partnership with The Filipino American National History Society will show a program of 9 Filipino-American short films at 6 PM. It examines family as the source of both our greatest joys and our deepest sorrows. Select filmmakers will be present for a post film Q&A session! Location is at Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. Chicago, IL. For more Info & Ticket information: www.faaim.org/2024shorts-filipino .

May 25- THE National Association of Asian Professionals (Chicago) Book Club will hold a discussion of "Arsenic and Adobo" with the Fil-Am author Mia P. Manansala on Saturday, May 25 from 3-5 PM at Mano Modern Cafe, 851 North Ashland Avenue Chicago, IL 60622.

PIWC 2024 Schedule of Events

THE Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC) will host several activities this year during its 49th Year Anniversary under the leadership of 2024 Overall Chair Jovy Sirianni in celebration of the 126th year of Philippine Independence. This year’s theme is Magkaisa Para sa Malakas ng Bansa.

A Bowling Tournament on Sat. May 4 will be hosted by the Bowling Tournament Committee at Classic Bowl, 8530 Waukegan Rd, Morton Grove, IL 60053 at 11 AM. One team should have 5 bowlers and is $56.25 per team. There are already 14 teams signed up. There will be a raffle.

A Senior Appreciation Day on Wed, June 5 will be led by Frank Alvarez, will be held at the Rizal Center, 1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613. A PIWC Picnic will be on held on Sun. June 9 at Grove 1, LaBaghWoods, N. Cicero Ave, north of W. Foster Ave Chicago, IL 60630. There will be food, games, and a thanksgiving Mass. Beauty queens will be in attendance.

A Flag Raising Ceremony will be held on Friday, June 12 Chicago, IL 60640. There will be the singing of the Philippine national anthem led by PIWC Overall Chair Jovy Sirianni. A Cultural Fashion Show presenting PIWC members wearing colorful elaborate Filipinianas will be held on Friday, June 14 at Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602. There will also be youth performers inside the lobby of the Daley Plaza and a cultural guest speaker.

A Gala Night will be held on Sat., June 22 Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, IL 60018. Dinner and entertainment is at 6:30 PM, Final walk and coronation is at 7:30 PM, and raffle and dancing is at 10:00 PM. Donation is $95, with check payable to Philippine Independence Week Corporation. The attire for women is Formal/Filipiniana and for men it is Formal/Barong. A PIWC Parade with the beauty queens riding on floats will be held on Thurs., July 4th in Glenview, Appreciation Luncheon Date & Venue TBD. For more information, call Jovy Sirianni at 847-208-4408.

Festival of Cultures, May 18-19 

Skokie Festival of Cultures, at Oakton Park located 4701 Oakton Street, Skokie, Illinois, will be held on the weekend of May 18-19 showcasing 30 cultures with ethnic folk music and international dance, food and drinks, games, arts & crafts.  

AFIRE Citizenship Workshop, May 18

 A citizenship workshop hosted by the Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE) will be held at the HANA Center, 4300 N. California Ave. Chicago, IL 60618, on Sat., May 18 from 8 AM to 2 PM. The Citizenship Workshop is intended to assist eligible Green card holders apply for American citizenship. Applicant registration will be begin around 8:30 AM, and the entire process for applicants can take around 2-4 hours. Free parking on California Ave. and Horner Park Lot. The workshop is in partnership with Erie House and Palenque LSNA. For more information, email Citizenship Program Mananger, Noel, at nhenry@afirechicago.org.