Events celebrating Filipino American History Month 

FILM Screening of "Nurse Unseen" at AMC Oakbrook, 600 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL on Oct. 8 at 6:30 PM. Documentary featuring nurses who risked their lives on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic by Emmy Award-Winner Michele Josue.

CHICAGO—Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC) has an exciting lineup of events for Filipino American History Month (FAHM), including the reopening of the FAHSC exhibit after 21 years in a new studio at Mana Contemporary.

"We're not just celebrating our history; we're continuing the legacy of FilipIno American cultural preservation and education, which was the vision of our late FAHM historical founder, Estrella Alamar," said Ruben Salazar, president of FAHSC.

Key events include: 

· Oct. 6 at noon to 8 pm LAMON is the first Zero-Waste Filipinx Food and Wine Summit. Part festival, part symposium, LAMON aims to bring a holistic view of our Filipinx food system, through educational talks, panels, workshops, culinary demos, followed by a Kamayan dinner to culminate the event. It will be held at Southeast Community Center, 1550 Evans Ave, San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit lamonfest.com.

· Oct. 8 at 6:30 PM - Film Screening of "Nurse Unseen" at AMC Oakbrook, 600 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL. Documentary featuring nurses who risked their lives on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic by Emmy Award-Winner Filipino-American Michele Josue.

· Oct. 8 at 10:30 AM to 11:30 Meet the full cast of the play, ‘SAMA SAMA: Solidarity in the Fields’ by Giovanni Ortega at The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. Chicago, presented through KAPWA Theatre Project, supported by the Neighborhood Access Program from the Dept. of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

· Oct. 11-26 CIRCA Pintig, a Filipino American theatre company, will hold a Festival presenting readings and theatrical works from new and established Filipino playwrights. Oct. 11-12 are Queer stories from the Diaspora at PrideArts, 4139 N. Broadway, in Chicago. On Oct. 18-19 ‘Coming Home-Mga Dula sa Ating Bayan’ at Rizal Center, 1332 W. Iriving Park Rd. Chicago. On Oct. 24-25 ‘Saling Lahi-The Next Generation’ at Rizal Center, 1332 W Irving Park Rd. Chicago.

· Oct 12 at 1 pm to 2pm A presentation of local Fil-Am history at the Chicago Public Library Edgewater Branch, 6000 N. Broadway Chicago, IL in the community room on 2nd Floor.  It will also feature remarks by Consul General J. Susana V. Paez and Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth; book donation by the Philippine Consulate General; and book readings by local Filipino-American authors, Mr. Rey de la Cruz (Ballesteros on my Mind) and Ms. Zee Lacson (Twice Removed). Refreshments and snacks from local Filipino shops will be offered. To register, visit at Chicago Public Library's website www.chipublic.org.

· Oct. 12 1 PM to 4 PM SamaSama project's album release concert at Revere Park, 2509 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60618. From FYLPRO 2012 delegate Louella Cabalona and FYLPRO 2018 delegate Baron Cabalona's band SamaSama Project.  Special guest artists include Sonia Oyola, The Swingin' Sisters, Harana Band, Fia Torres, and Lane Tech Kapamilya.
RSVP at: bit.ly/TGFSOct12

· Oct. 13 at 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM Screening of the film 'Sonata' featuring Cherie Gil, who won best actress for her performance at the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards and directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes. Screening at the Chicago Public Library Branch, Uptown 929 W. Buena Ave. Chicago, IL 60613.

· Oct. 17 at 6 PM to 8:30 PM Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC) Exhibit Early Access and Fundraising Dinner at Mana Contemporary 5th Floor Café, 2233 S. Throop St. Chicago, IL 60608.

· Oct. 18 at 2 PM - Presentation of Nicholas Viernes' 16mm Films documenting rare depictions of Fil-Am life in Chicago from the early and mid-20th century, at Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St. Chicago, IL 60605 by the National Film Presentation Society Foundation (NFPF). FAHSC Collections Manager and Archivist Ashley Dequilla will provide historical context and insights on the restoration process.

· Oct. 19 at 9 AM to 5 PM - Fall Open House and FAHSC Exhibit Soft Opening at Mana Contemporary studio #316, 2233 S. Throop St. Chicago, IL 60608.

Oct. 19 1 PM to 3 PM Meet and greet the FilAm artist Fred DeAsis for his exhibition, Kutbayin: A Reimagined Artistic Legacy of Ancient Philippines that shows the blend of traditional techniques and the ancient Baybayin Script. Located at the Radmacher Business Center and Community Center, 5215 Oakton St. Skokie, IL 60007. Exhibit is open Oct. 18 to Nov. 16. 

· Oct. 20 from 10 AM-1:15 PM, Filipino American History Month Family celebration, music performance, art workshop and theater workshop at the Rizal Center Auditorium, 1332. W. Irving Park Rd. Chicago, IL 60613.

Oct 20 2 PM to 4 PM- Second Screening of the film 'Sonata' featuring Cherie Gil, who won best actress for her performance at the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards and directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes. Screening at the Chicago Public Library Branch, Edgewater, 6000 N. Broadway Chicago, IL 60661.

Oct 25  5-9pm Para sa Kultura Filipino Night Market. Food vendors selling sisig kapampangan, pork tocino, and pork siomai at Tenhoeve Center of Oakton College 1600 Golf Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016. For more information, visit Linktr.ee/compassoakton.

Reclaiming the Ancient: A Contemporary Exploration of Filipino Heritage 

THE Radmacher Business and Community Center is proud to present Kutbayin: A Reimagined Artistic Legacy of Ancient Philippines, a captivating exhibition showcasing the exquisite works of Filipino American artist Fred DeAsis.

This groundbreaking collection, a decade-long exploration and curation, offers a unique fusion of traditional techniques and the ancient Baybayin script, inviting audiences to embark on a profound journey through Filipino heritage.

Exhibit: Kutbayin: A Reimagined Artistic Legacy of Ancient Philippines

Exhibit Dates: Oct. 18 — Nov. 16, 2024

Meet and Greet the Artist: Oct. 19, Saturday, 1-3 p.m.

Location: Radmacher Business and Community Center, Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton St., Skokie, IL 60077

DeAsis, a prolific artist known for his ingenious and visionary creativity, has masterfully crafted large-scale artworks that celebrate the resilience of Filipino heritage.

His innovative blend of traditional techniques and the ancient Baybayin script creates a bridge between the past and present, inviting viewers to decipher hidden narratives within his intricate compositions. Kutbayin: A Reimagined Legacy is not only a celebration of Filipino culture but also an inspiration for future generations.

DeAsis's exquisite collection offers a glimpse into the enduring beauty and power of Filipino art. (Norm Shapiro)

“Nurse Unseen,” pays tribute to Fil-Am nurses who died serving during Covid-19

By Grace Garcia Szpytma

PINOY Staff

A RED carpet event was rolled out for the Chicago premiere showing of the documentary ‘Nurse Unseen’, an event to celebrate October as Filipino American History Month.

Chicago is one the cities to premiere the film nationwide. The producer, Carlo Velayo and director Michele Josue, were at AMC Theater in Oakbrook, IL. on Oct. 8. to speak with the guests.

Josue, an Emmy award-winning director, felt she needed to pay tribute to the FilAm nurses who succumbed to the complications of COVID-19 by sharing personal stories of their lives.

The film bewailed the underreporting of the number of FilAM nurse deaths which actually made up of one- third of U.S. nurses who died from COVID. The documentary also addresses FilAM victims of Asian Hate during the plague.

The response was positive.

“Tickets were sold out for the scheduled one screening so a second one was added,” said Ruben Salazar, president of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC). The turnout for both screenings was 200 people,” he added. ‘

Nurse Unseen’ premiered earlier in New York and was also sold out. It was so successful that it was extended for two more weeks,” according to producer Velayo. “

We love Chicago and how engaged the community is during FilAm History month,” Josue stated before the screening.

Film director Josue said she came from a family of nurses, her grandmother and great-grandmother, aunties and cousins.

Josue’s Aunt, Dodo Cuedo, who lived with Josue growing up, succumbed to COVID 19 and was featured in the film which shows video montages and interviews with close family.

“She was like my second mom, but also bighearted and generous, loved her patients. She worked the night shift at the oncology unit hospital,” Josue said. “She saw leukemia and cancer patients, a lot of whom would pass.”

“It was hard for her [to be a nurse]. I could see when she would be home, she would be moody and she would shut down. I wish I would have had more compassion and asked her how she was,” Josue added.

After the film ended, a question-and-answer segment was conducted. Velayo acknowledged that there are no nurses featured from the Midwest, only from Los Angeles and from New York. Budget and time constraints are the reason, he said.

However, two framed photos of Chicago-based nurses who succumbed to COVID-19 are on display at the theater lobby. They were of Joyce Pacubas Lebranc, RN, BSN, who worked at the UIC in SICU for 10 years. She was a graduate of Rush University in Chicago. The second individual was Anjanette Miller, RN, BSN, who worked at Community First Medical Center and graduated from the University of the Visayas, Philippines.

During the Q & A, a suggestion was made by an audience member to reach out for assistance from other, more prominent sources.

“Have you considered reaching out to PBS?” asked Mariano Santos, publisher/editor of PINOY newsmagazine. “The documentary needs a larger audience that is more than we can get in our community.

“[The documentary] is too important to be ignored by the general audience,” Santos added.

Audience member Patrick Quilao came to see what it was about.

“I’m a son of a nurse,” explained Quilao, an artist at the Art Institute of Chicago. His mother has already passed away but not from COVID-19.

Josue has an impressive documentary resume. She wrote and directed 2014’s ‘Matthew Shepard is a friend of Mine’ for which she won an Emmy. In her biography, she said she knew Shepard closely. Shephard was targeted by his murderers for being homosexual in 1998 for which he was tortured and killed.

In 2009, Josue also directed the documentary ‘Happy Jail ‘about an ex-inmate who becomes the manager of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in which Filipino inmates dance to Michael Jackson songs in a viral video.

“Nurse Unseen’ was sponsored by Asian Popup Cinema, Sama Sama Project, FYLPRO and FAHSC.

It was sponsored in part by New Lake College, Philippine Medical Association, The UP College of Medicine Alumni Association.  

FilAm retiree shares a how-to rewarding hobby 

WHEN Felix Gonzales retired as an Administrative Assistant  for the City of Chicago Department of Water Management, he already figured out how he would spend his retirement. His circle of friends knows well his love of travel. He had practically traced the footsteps of Jose Rizal’s journey abroad—a kind of pilgimage for him being an active Knights of Rizal.

What is not well-known is his unique hobby.

Even before he immigrated to Chicago, Felix had been involved in the assembly of model aircrafts, tanks and ships. When he met his coworker who was the editor-in-chief of the Scabbard, the journal of the society, he had already been attending meetings and exhibitions on both the local and national level.

In pursuing this hobby, he received several awards--the latest of which is a Historic Gold for the USS Indianapolis-- an American heavy cruiser that was sunk by the Japanese submarine IJN I-58.

The USS Indianapolis was the one that delivered the secret cargo--the atom bomb--to Tinian Island. These are the A-bomb dropped in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After delivery and on its way to the Philippines, the cruiser was intercepted by a Japanese submarine and sank it.

Most of the crew that jumped in the Pacific Ocean were eaten by sharks. If you want to see a more detained account on this incident, watch the movie USS Indianapolis with Nicholas Cage. Felix is elated that his interest in model making also keep him abreast of military history.

On Oct. 18-19, the 49th Annual Chicago Show Military

Miniature Society of Illinois (MMSI) takes place at Schaumburg Marriott. Felix participates in a juried exhibition with subjects range from historical to fantasy topics, armored vehicles, airplanes, ships and dioramas. Admission is $10, children under 12 are free. There are seminars on how to start this rewarding hobby. For more info, visit www.military-miniature-society-of-illinois.com.      

Filipino Friendship Society Anniversary, Oct. 6

THE Filipino Friendship Society will celebrate their 49th Anniversary with a Gala, Induction of Officers, and presentation of Muses on Sun., Oct. 6, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club, 2001 Rodeo Rd Bolingbrook, IL 60440.

This event commemorates the resilience, unity, and rich cultural heritage of Filipino-Americans in the Chicagoland. It is led by it’s President Michael Palmaira. Coronation of Muses: Tickets: $60.00 per person, Per Table of 10, Buy 9, Get 1 free.


What polls show about Tim Walz, JD Vance before Oct 1st VP debate
 
Associated Press WASHINGTON — Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, is less popular among voters than his Democratic rival, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, according to a new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

(“CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan of “Face the Nation” will moderate the Oct. 1 debate, according to the network.)

Both Vance and Walz entered the spotlight this summer as relative political unknowns. As both running mates prepare to address a huge audience in next week’s vice-presidential debate, Democrats are more positive about Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris than Republicans are about Vance and former President Donald Trump.

The findings of the new survey reinforce the challenge for the Republican presidential ticket as voting begins in more and more states.

The poll shows that negative feelings about Vance are considerably more widespread than positive opinions. About half of registered voters have a somewhat or very unfavorable view of Vance, up from about 4 in 10 in late July, while around one-quarter have a somewhat or very favorable view of him, and a similar share don’t know enough to say. Walz, by contrast, is better liked. About 3 in 10 voters have a negative view of Walz, while about 4 in 10 have a positive opinion and about 3 in 10 don’t know enough to say. 

That difference in favorability extends to the candidates’ bases. About 7 in 10 Democratic voters have a positive opinion of Walz, compared to about 6 in 10 Republican voters who have a favorable view of Vance.

Walz is stronger than Vance among men and women Democratic candidates tend to receive more support from women, while Republicans perform better among men. That gap is clear in Trump and Harris’ favorability numbers — but Walz is better liked than Vance among both men and women. About 4 in 10 male and female voters have a positive view of Walz, while about 3 in 10 men and about one-quarter of women have a positive view of Vance.

Walz also has a popularity advantage over Vance among voters over the age of 60. Half of voters in this group view Walz somewhat or very favorably, while about 3 in 10 have a similar opinion of Vance.

Despite his strength over Vance in some areas, there are also some key Democratic groups where Walz still has work to do. About three-quarters of Black adults have a favorable view of Harris, while roughly half say the same about Walz. She is also viewed more positively by women; about 3 in 10 women don’t know enough about Walz to have an opinion. 

In general, though, neither of the vice-presidential candidates outshine Harris or Trump among major demographic groups, and they remain less well-known than the presidential nominees, even among groups that are traditionally part of each party’s base. For example, about one-quarter of white voters without a college degree don’t know enough to say about Vance, and around 4 in 10 voters between the ages of 18 and 29 don’t have an opinion on Walz. This means their popularity could continue to shift as their national profiles rise.

The poll of 1,771 registered voters was conducted Sept. 12-16, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for registered voters is plus or minus 3.4 percentage points  

News in the United States

RYAN Wesley Routh, the man who attempted to assassinate former President Trump at his Florida golf course, pleaded not guilty to five counts which included attempt to assassinate a former president.

FORMER President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are close in percentage points in the seven battleground states according to Swing State Project survey. 

The battle ground states the presidential candidates are campaigning in is Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

TRUMP lags 4 points behind Harris in Wisconsin according to a poll from the Marquette Law School taken from Sept. 18-26 among registered and likely voters. Trump, however, leads on key issues such as border security, the economy and the approach to the Israel-Hamas war, according to a Fox News report.

HARRIS shared her border plans if elected president to be strict with migrants who do not make an asylum request and who cross the U.S. border unlawfully will not be able to receive asylum or reenter for another five years.
Harris was interviewed on a SiriusXM podcast that discusses sex, 'Call Her Daddy,' and shared her insights on abortion and was asked why she agreed to be on the podcast.

PRESIDENT Biden signed a bill which provides as much Secret Service Protection to presidential candidates and vice presidential candidates as to current sitting presidents and vice president. The legislation was formed after two assassination attempts against Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

ACCORDING to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released report, there are 13,099 noncitizens in the U.S. convicted of homicide and 15,811 noncitizens convicted of sexual assault.

CATEGORY 4 Hurricane Helene has caused flooding and wind damage causing a death toll of 200 which has affected states from North Carolina to Tampa, Florida on the southeastern coast.

THE male neighbor of an Oregon-based Fil-Am nurse Melissa Jubane, 27, pleaded not guilty for her murder during a preliminary hearing Sept. 16. She was reported missing on Sept. 4 after coming back from her wedding in Hawaii. 

GAWAD Kalinga's Sikad, a soccer project for youth in GK Villages in the Philippines, benefited from donated used sports gears on Sept. 21 which were collected during the Synergy Soccer Club tournament at Brent Hassert Park in Crest Hill, Illinois by husband and wife GK volunteers Bobby & Rowena Luna and coordinated by Butch Impelido. 

A Filipino American, Gia Pergolini, 20, won a gold medal at the Paralympics for the 100m backstroke S13 in a time of 1:04:93. She is currently a student at Florida International University.

Chicago Philippine Consulate General receives hundreds of Philippine maps

CHICAGO— Philippine Consul General J. Susana V. Paez received a donation of 735 maps pertaining to the Philippine archipelago and its localities from Augustana College at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Consulate on Sept. 9.

The maps were personally delivered and handed over by Dr. Norman Moline, Professor Emeritus of Geography at Augustana College, located in Rock Island, Illinois. It was formalized through a deed of donation signed by the College’s Vice President for Finance and Administration Kirk Anderson.
 
The maps, most of which were first edition duplicate originals prepared in 1943 and 1944, were produced mainly to prepare for reclaiming and liberating the Philippines from Japanese occupation during World War II. Overall, there are more than a hundred maps in the collection detailing various locations in the provinces of Leyte and Samar, likely in preparation for said landing.

Earlier surveys and censuses
 
The turnover was timely as the Philippines  commemorated the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) in September with the theme “Pamana ng Karagatan: Para sa Kinabukasan, ating Ingatan”. Beyond the typical country or regional maps visualizing the 7,641 islands of the Philippines and its surrounding waters, a bulk of the maps go into geographic detail of particular cities, towns, inland lakes and rivers, inter-island seas. It also shows many of the reefs and shoals located in the western, southern and eastern frontiers of the archipelago.

Key maps include several maps of Leyte, including Palo (where the monumental Leyte Landing of President Sergio Osmeña and General Douglas MacArthur occurred on  October 20, 1944), nearby Tacloban City and the town of Dulag, just south of Palo where the annotation “Suitable for Troops” was stated on the map.

The maps were based on earlier surveys and censuses complemented by intelligence information. 

News in the Philippines

OUSTED Bambam, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was asked during a Senate Panel on Sept. 24 if she was the mastermind behind the crimes linked to illegal Pogo operations. She responded that she is not the mastermind, but that she is a victim, according to an Inquirer News report.

APOLLO Quiboloy, pastor and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, surrendered to the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sept. 8 and is in their custody for charges of human trafficking, according to an Inquirer News report.

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. endorsed 12 senatorial candidates: They are Interior Sec. Benhur Abalos Jr. , Makati Mayor Abby Binay, Senator (reelectionist) Pia Cayetano, Senator (reelectionist) Lito Lapid, ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo,Senator (reelectionist) Francis Tolentino, Former Senator Manny Pacquiao, Former Senate President Tito Sotto, Senator (reelectionist) Bong Revilla, Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, and IMEE Marcos has decided not to run for the senate slate.

SENATOR Leila de Lima will run as the lead nominee of party-list group Mamamayang Liberal (ML), according to an Inquirer News report.

PHILIPPINE National Police aims to reduce its emergency 911 service's response time to incidents from 15 minutes to 5 minutes by replacing the analog infrastructure to a digital, internet protocol (IP)=based system, according to an Inquirer news report.

CROST Pizzeria, led by award-winning Filipino-Japanese chef Uichi Abellare Ito made the 12th spot on the 50 Top Pizza World List 2024. Another Philippine pizzeria, A Mano, led by Amado Fores, made the 70th spot on the World list.

PIWC sets election of Chair, Oct. 13

PHILIPPINE Independence Week Committee (PIWC) COMELEC Chair Edwin Oineda announced the day of the election of the 2025 Chair for Oct. 13.

Lodi Po, one of the two previously announced candidates, had announced her withdrawal due to her commitment in the Philippines leaving Reynel Espiritu as the uncontested candidate. The incoming 2025 Chair is Dr. Nida Blankas-Hernaez.

Chicago Area “Knights of Rizal” set Installation of New Officers, Oct. 27 FOUR chapters of the Chicago Area “Knights of Rizal” (KOR) are scheduled to install their new set of officers coinciding with the fraternity’s celebrating the Filipino American History Month on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2:00 pm to 5 p.m. at the Rodamacher Hall of the Skokie Public Library, 5200 W. Oakton Street, Skokie 60077.

Leading the list of officers to be installed are Sir Ed Brotonel, KCR, of the Chicago Chapter, Sir Elywarto Gemina, KCR, of the Malaya Chapter and Sir Noly Dulay of the Maynilad Chapter. Sir Lito Capati, KGOR, of the Magiting Chapter in Peoria will assist Sir Felix Gonzales, KGOR, and Sir Mariano A. Santos, KGOR, in the installation ceremony.

The Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, had visited the U.S. prior to his second stay in Europe in 1888. He was in Chicago on May 11 of that year and his stopover lasted 14 hours. Rizal arrived in San Francisco April 27 was unfairly quarantined for almost a week due to false allegation of an epidemic in Hong Kong.

A Rizal’s view of the U.S. in relation to the future withdrawal of Spain from the Philippines will be part of the discussion on the Oct. 27 event. For more info: Call Mariano Santos at 847 528 4991.    

Makabayan Bloc challenges political dynasties 

 
THE Philippines will hold its general elections on May 12, 2025 to cast votes for 12 of the 24 Senatorial seats and 318 House seats.Congress may seat a more than 30-decade-old dynasty.

Marcos and Duterte exemplify this concept of political dynasties. Each of their children hold the two highest positions in the land: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, branding their alliance as the UniTeam. Yet, the problems such as the high price of rice, low wages, unemployment/underemployement, contractualization, landlessness, among others, remain unresolved.

Filipinos are sliding down further into poverty and desperation. Malnutrition kills 95 Filipino children daily, according to UNICEF Philippines. A third of every Filipino child is stunted or short for their age. The college drop-out rate was 35% from 2023-2024,” according to an Inquirer.net source.

Yet, the Office of Vice President Sara Duterte spent it’s P125M confidential funds in just 11 days on “intelligence” funds. What are the priorities of these government officials?

Makabayan Bloc, a coalition of progressive political parties and people’s organizations, challenges this political tradition, with 10 Senatorical Candidates to promote genuine change.

Makabayan Bloc consists of party lists groups and organizations that have gained seats in congress and pushed for mainstreaming the people’s agenda.

These are Bayan Muna, ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers), Anakpawis, Gabriela and Kabataan. The People’s Organizations consist of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (peasant), Kilusang Mayo Uno (labor), PAMALAKAYA (fisherfolks), KADAMAY (urban poor), Piston (jeepney drivers & operators) and Filipino Nurses United (health). They have championed their respective sectors’ causes despite political persecution. Support Makabayan Bloc. Visit Friends of Makabayan 2025 on Face to donate, repost, and share contents. Register to Vote.  

FIL-AM singer OLIVIA Rodriguez donated the proceeds of her "Guts World Tour" concert in Manila on Oct. 6 to Jhpiego Philippines, a global health organization focused on improving the health and well-being of women and girls in conflict-affected and underserved and areas.

In the photo above from her Instagram account, Olivia visits the Jhpiego Manila Office.

SONNY Izon’s widow, Kathryn (4th fr left), receives the Congressional Gold Medal from FilVetREP Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret) for her husband’s award-winning documentary “An Open Door: Holocaust Haven in the Philippines” about the Philippines accepting more than 1000 Jewish refugees who fled Nazi persection in Europe. (Fr. L-R) is granddaughter Juliet Izon, FilVetREP Board Member Lida Peterson and daughter Laura Izon. (Inset) is Sonny Izon. (Photo by Bing Branigin)    

STUDENTS at San Agustin Elementary School are given a vitamin, choco wafer and champorado donated by the Ray Ramos Foundation on Sept. 18. Ray and Patricia Ramos of Morton Grove, Illinois own the Bliss Marc Group of Companies and are into philanthropic involvement in their hometown in the Philippines.

Free COVID-19 tests available from U.S. government 

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN

THE U.S. government plans to make more at-home COVID-19 tests available for free as we head into the season of respiratory viruses with high levels of the coronavirus already in circulation. Each household will be able to order another round of four free at-home test kits starting at COVIDTests.gov.

This next set of tests – the program’s seventh round of distribution – will be able to detect currently circulating variants. 

This year, there are multiple options available; mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer were updated to target KP.2, one of the so-called FLiRT variants that have been dominant in the US since May.

Those vaccines are for people 6 months and older. A more traditional protein vaccine from Novavax is also available, but it targets JN.1, a variant that is still circulating but less prominently than a few months ago.

The Novavax vaccine is approved only for those ages 12 and up. The updated COVID-19 vaccines are available now at pharmacies across the U.S. and can be received at the same time as the annual flu vaccine.

THE Chicago Board of Elections is recruiting fluent Tagalog speakers for the upcoming Nov 5 Elections as a Bilingual Election Judge role. This paid position earns between $170-230 for serving during Election Day, and up to $2K for serving during the 2-week Early Voting period. Training will be provided on being an Election Judge. Apply online: pollworker.chicagoelections.gov. 

Election Judge for Election Day: https://chicagoelections.gov/poll-workers/election-day-judges

Election Judge for the Early Voting period:
https://chicagoelections.gov/poll-workers/early-voting-officials

Passport renewals are available online

THE U.S. Department of State on Sept. 18 announced that Americans can now renew their passports online, instead of the mail-in method that could take many weeks.

An exception to this rule is if you already have a passport but you are not eligible to renew it, so you must apply in person. Passports cannot be renewed for a child under age 16. You must apply again in person.

To renew online, visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html

You must meet the following requirements:

1. The passport you are renewing is or was valid for 10 years, and you are age 25 or older.

2. The passport you are renewing is between 2009 and 2015, or over 9 years less than 15 years from the date you plan to submit your application.

FILAMS FOR HARRIS-WALZ: Chicago Filipino Americans (top photo) show their support for Democratic Presidential Team of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz prior to the Sept. 10 Presidential debate aired over ABC TV at Printed Canvass Gallery. Attendees include Abbey Eusebio, Geri Aglipay, Don Villar and Ginger Leopoldo. Bottom photo shows Las Vegas FilAms gathered for same event. PINOY correspondent Rick Leano noted attendance of local business leaders including Chamber Pres. Joel Enriquez and Margie Gonzalez. For more info email: fahwmidwest@yahoo.com (PINOY photo)

Early Voting in Chicago starts Oct. 3

EARLY Voting in Chicago will start on Thurs., October 3 at 9:00 AM at the Voting Supersite at 191 N. Clark and at the Board Offices at 69 W. Washington St.- 6th Floor.

Early Voting in all 50 Wards of Chicago begins Mon., October 21 at 9:00 AM. Early voters may choose to vote in one of 12 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, Tagalog, Gujarati, Urdu, Arabic, Ukrainian, and Russian.

For a list of voting sites and for more information, visit chicagoelections.gov/voting/early-voting. To register to vote anywhere in Illinois, to check your registration status, and to find Illinois dates and deadlines, visit www.elections.il.gov.