Photo Release

The Consulate General of the Philippines in Chicago joined the opening of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago’s (FAHSC) 2025 Filipino American History Month (FAHM) exhibit titled “Chicago in Quotas and Communities” held on 19 October 2025 at Studio 316 of Mana Contemporary Chicago.

Drawing upon the 2025 national theme of FAHM, the exhibit situates the unique histories of Filipino migration and movement in the city of Chicago. Anchored around the 1935 Philippine Repatriation Act and the 1965 Immigration and Naturalization Act, the exhibition explores how Filipinos in Chicagoland have forged communities in dynamic and layered ways within and against broader systems shaping their journeys.

Through selected artifacts and archival materials from FAHSC’s vibrant collection, the exhibit highlights the continuities between the Filipino American experience of the past and the lived realities of today.

Short remarks were delivered by FAHSC President Ruben Salazar, curator Reese Carolina Cuison Villazor, and archivist Kaz Mendoza Rodriguez, alongside Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, and other leaders and cultural workers from Chicago’s Filipino American community.

The Consulate was represented by Consul Ella Karina Mitra, who commended the FAHSC under the leadership of Mr. Salazar for its steadfast commitment to preserving Filipino history and heritage. She emphasized that such initiatives allow the new generation of Filipino Americans in Chicago to trace their cultural and historical footprints and to take pride in their roots. END