Press Release

CHICAGO PCG LAUNCHES “80 FOR 80” PROJECT TO RECOGNIZE FILIPINO-AMERICAN WOMEN LEADERS

9 March 2026 (Friday), Chicago - The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago launched the “80 for 80” Project, which aims to document and recognize Filipino-American women’s work in the midwest United States that raise the profile of the Philippines, as well as benefit Filipinos and Filipino-Americans. The “80 for 80” Project is a brainchild of the Consulate’s Gender and Development Section in support of the 2026 National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) and the 80th anniversary of Philippines-United States diplomatic friendship.

The event, held at the historic Woman’s Athletic Club Chicago, gathered women leaders from across the Consulate’s jurisdiction in the midwest United States. Guest speakers included Atty. Aurora Austriaco, elected the first Asian president of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), the first female and minority president of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (IRELA) and currently serving as the first Asian Judge of the Illinois Court of Claims, and Nebraska Senator Rita Sanders, who was instrumental in the return of the Balangiga Bells to the Philippines in 2018 after 117 years. Senator Sanders, however, was finally unable to join the event due to flight delays on Friday, 9 March. Excerpts of her remarks were instead read by Consul Melvin C. Almonguera.

Notable elected officials were also in attendance, such as Board Chair Irene Fernando, the first woman of color to serve as board chair in Hennepin County, Minnesota; 48th Ward Illinois Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, the first Filipino-American elected alderwoman to the city council in 2023; and, South Bend Indiana At-Large Councilwoman Rachel Tomas Morgan, the first Filipino-American/Asian American to be elected to the South Bend City Council.

Other attendees included women leaders in various sectors, such as Ms. Ma. Theresa Aclo-Abecia, president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Chicago; Prof. Melissa Borja, Associate Professor and Director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Studies of the University of Michigan, and 2022 USA Today Women of the Year for her work in addressing anti-Asian racism during the COVID-19 pandemic; Ms. Lou Ella Rose Cabalona, lead singer, producer, artistic director, and founder of Filipino Folk fusion band SamaSama Project; Ms. Marife Callender, founder of the Filipino American Heritage and Cultural Arts of Indiana and co-founder of The Philippine Cultural Community Center; Dr. Cleofe Guangko Casambre, pianist, composer, artist and volunteer-in-chief of the Rizal Center in Illinois; Ms. Cate Cauguiran, Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist at ABC 7 Chicago Eyewitness News; Atty. Janice Dantes, founder, owner and managing attorney of Pinay Law Chicago; Ms. Mae Espina, vice president regional banker relationship manager senior of Huntington Bank; Ms. Lilia Poyaoan, nurse at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and mother of Chair Irene Fernando; Dr. Almira Astudillo Gilles, president of the Hinabi Project; Dr. Isabel Juan of the Cathedral Filipino Network; Ms. Zee Lacson, author of the award-winning 2024 novel Twice Removed; Ms. Janna Añonuevo Langholz, who was instrumental in commemorating the site of the Philippine Village in Clayton Missouri where members of various Philippine tribes were exhibited during the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition or more commonly known as the St. Louis World Fair; Ms. Ginger Leopoldo, founding member of the Pintig Cultural Group, and founding artistic director of the Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts (CIRCA); Ms. Mia Manansala, author of the multi-award winning Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery Series and the young adult mystery Death in the Cards; Dr. Evelyn De Asis Natividad, president of the Philippine American Cultural Foundation in Illinois; Architect Jen Singson, product designer of the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company’s UX and daughter of Dr. Violeta Singson; Dr. Violeta Singson, founder and medical director of the Philippine Free Medical Clinic of the Philippine Cultural and Civic Center in Wisconsin; and Ms. Ann Teano, executive producer of MJD Productions, a Virginia-based independent production entity focused on action-packed full-feature films such as Shadows in the City, Kasalanan bang Ibigin, and Aswang Part 3.

Consul General Diano noted that, through the “80 for 80” Project, Filipino and Filipino-American women’s work in and contributions to various fields can inspire the younger generations of Filipinos and Filipino-American girls to continue to aspire for excellence.

Ms. Cabalona of SamaSama Project sang Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal, and violinist Ms. Caitlin Yambao played two pieces.

The “80 for 80” Project will feature 80 Filipino and Filipino-American women leaders who have excelled in their sectors and/or industries, are perceived as leaders by their communities, and have raised the profile of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the communities where they work and live. It will run from March to July 2026, in time for the 80th year anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-United States diplomatic relations. [END]