Consular Processing: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Press Release
CHICAGO PCG JOINS THE 2025 PIYESTA PINOY, DEMONSTRATES COMMITMENT TO FILIPINO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Photo 1: Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano (front, 2nd from right) joins Bolingbrook Mayor Mary
Alexander-Basta (center) and Mr. Ruben Salazar, President of the Filipino American Historical Society
and Adviser of Piyesta Pinoy 2025.
The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, led by Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano, participated in this year’s Piyesta Pinoy on 14 June 2025 at Bolingbrook High School in Bolingbrook, IL. This year’s Piyesta Pinoy was organized by the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC), led by its President, Mr. Ruben Salazar, and Piyesta Pinoy 2025 Chair, Ms. Joy Vergara, in partnership with the Village of Bolingbrook and the Philippine Consulate.
Piyesta Pinoy is an annual PH festival and Independence Day event in the Chicago area attended by over 5,000 Filipinos, Filipino Americans, and other nationalities annually. This year’s iteration drew an estimated crowd of 7,000 people. Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta and Consul General Diano served as the event’s Guests of Honor.
The formal program of the festival kicked off with a parade of the different community organizations and sponsors. Consulate personnel, led by the Consul General, actively participated in the parade, demonstrating their strong support for the Filipino-American community and reinforcing the cultural ties between the Consulate and the diaspora community in the Midwest.
Consul General Diano also delivered congratulatory remarks which referenced the heroic deeds of Filipino forebears from 127 years ago, connecting present-day celebrations to the rich tapestry of Philippine history and the struggles for independence and sovereignty. The Consul General encouraged community members to embody modern-day heroism through everyday actions, emphasizing that heroism manifests not only in grand gestures but in quiet acts of courage, resilience, and service to others. She also highlighted the important role of Filipino-Americans as cultural ambassadors, bridging cultures and nations through their unique position as members of both Philippine and American societies.
The 2025 Piyesta Pinoy featured headliner Jeremy Passion, a renowned Filipino-American singer, songwriter, and producer. The festival attendees enjoyed authentic Filipino cuisine, cultural performances, traditional and contemporary music, dance presentations, and arts and crafts exhibits. The event served as a vibrant celebration of Filipino heritage while fostering cross-cultural understanding within the broader Chicago community.
Photo 2: Chicago PCG personnel joins the 2025 Piyesta Pinoy parade
Photo 3: Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano delivers her remarks
Photo 1: Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano (front, 2nd from right) joins Bolingbrook Mayor Mary
Alexander-Basta (center) and Mr. Ruben Salazar, President of the Filipino American Historical Society
and Adviser of Piyesta Pinoy 2025.
The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, led by Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano, participated in this year’s Piyesta Pinoy on 14 June 2025 at Bolingbrook High School in Bolingbrook, IL. This year’s Piyesta Pinoy was organized by the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC), led by its President, Mr. Ruben Salazar, and Piyesta Pinoy 2025 Chair, Ms. Joy Vergara, in partnership with the Village of Bolingbrook and the Philippine Consulate.
Piyesta Pinoy is an annual PH festival and Independence Day event in the Chicago area attended by over 5,000 Filipinos, Filipino Americans, and other nationalities annually. This year’s iteration drew an estimated crowd of 7,000 people. Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta and Consul General Diano served as the event’s Guests of Honor.
The formal program of the festival kicked off with a parade of the different community organizations and sponsors. Consulate personnel, led by the Consul General, actively participated in the parade, demonstrating their strong support for the Filipino-American community and reinforcing the cultural ties between the Consulate and the diaspora community in the Midwest.
Consul General Diano also delivered congratulatory remarks which referenced the heroic deeds of Filipino forebears from 127 years ago, connecting present-day celebrations to the rich tapestry of Philippine history and the struggles for independence and sovereignty. The Consul General encouraged community members to embody modern-day heroism through everyday actions, emphasizing that heroism manifests not only in grand gestures but in quiet acts of courage, resilience, and service to others. She also highlighted the important role of Filipino-Americans as cultural ambassadors, bridging cultures and nations through their unique position as members of both Philippine and American societies.
The 2025 Piyesta Pinoy featured headliner Jeremy Passion, a renowned Filipino-American singer, songwriter, and producer. The festival attendees enjoyed authentic Filipino cuisine, cultural performances, traditional and contemporary music, dance presentations, and arts and crafts exhibits. The event served as a vibrant celebration of Filipino heritage while fostering cross-cultural understanding within the broader Chicago community.
Photo 2: Chicago PCG personnel joins the 2025 Piyesta Pinoy parade
Photo 3: Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano delivers her remarks