Photo Release

SKOKIE, ILLINOIS, 19 September 2026 – Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano joined the Iligan-Lanao Association of the Midwest, Inc. (ILAMID) in celebrating its 13th founding anniversary and the annual Feast of Señor San Miguel Archangel on 19 September 2026 at the Holiday Inn Chicago North Shore in Skokie, Illinois.

The event also featured the coronation of the ILAMID Queens 2024 and the general induction of the organization’s officers and members.

In her remarks, Consul General Diano highlighted the important role of regional and province-based Filipino organizations such as ILAMID in preserving cultural identity and traditions and passing these on to younger generations of Filipino Americans. She also recognized the organization’s role in supporting newly arrived Filipino immigrants and providing a platform for community building, civic engagement, and leadership within the Filipino-American community.

Consul General Diano likewise underscored the importance of Filipino-American organizations as partners of the Consulate and in the Philippines’ development efforts, and expressed the Consulate’s commitment to continuing its meaningful cooperation with ILAMID and other Filipino-American organizations in Chicago.

ILAMID is a Filipino-American regional organization that brings together Iliganons and members of the Iligan-Lanao community in the Midwest. Through its cultural, faith-based, and community activities, the organization helps preserve the traditions and shared heritage of its members, strengthens ties among generations, and provides a platform for community building, civic engagement, and leadership within the Filipino-American community. END