50 YEARS AGO: President Lyndon Johnson visits the Statue of Liberty to sign the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
CHICAGO – Since 2011 the Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) has been collaborating with many Filipino American organizations in Chicago and suburbs to organize a variety of events to celebrate Filipino American History Month every October.
This year, the commemoration cites two significant milestones in the Filipino American History – the 50th anniversary of the Immigration Act of 1965 and the 50th anniversary of the grape strike in Delano, California.
The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) of 1965 was signed by President Lynden B. Johnson on Oct.ober 3, 1965. It dramatically changed the demographic landscape of America. The law abolished the National Origins Quota System; made family-based immigration the basis for U.S. immigration policy; and established a preference system for people with special occupational skills to become permanent residents.
The Philippines, after Mexico, has been the largest beneficiary of the liberalized immigration law. According to U.S. Census and Homeland Security sources: in 2008 there were in the U.S. approximately 1.7 million foreign born Filipinos; and approximately 1.4 million native born Filipinos, most who were the children or grandchildren of one or both parents who arrived after 1965.
Also fifty years ago today, elderly Filipino men working in grape fields in Delano, California decided to go on strike to fight for better wages and working conditions. That courageous decision would have effects far beyond the grape fields. In fact, all Filipino Americans owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to these men.
Filipino American History Month Activities
October 1, Thursday On view through October 19 – We are Family Exhibits at The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive. Free general admission will be offered to Illinois residents during Museum Week at the The Field Museum, October 4, all day. (Contact Tito Ruben at Tito.Rubens@gmail.com, Sponsor – FAHSC)
October 2, Friday (10:00 a.m. Opening) to October30, 2015 – “ART IS PASSION . AGELESS . SOCIAL . SERVICE” is an Art Exhibit featuring watercolor paintings done by volunteers and clients of the Pilipino American Social Services and Human Resources (PASS), a 501 ( c ) 3 not for profit organization which distributes food weekly to qualified families. Venue at Pilipino American Social Services and Human Resources (PASS) 1511 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60613 (Contact Susan Alforque Silvano Email: silvano5311@comcast.net Sponsor – PASS)
October 2, Friday 6:30 pm – Film showing of “Delano Manongs ” at Indian Prairie Library at 401 Plainfield Rd, Darien, IL (Contact Tony Abellera at TonyAbellera@hotmail.com Sponsor – FAASD)
October 4 Sunday at 11:00 am – 6:00 pm –Kultura Festival at 2363 N. Milwaukee Ave Chicago, IL 60647 (Contact https://filipino.kitchen/kultura-fest Sponsor – Filipino Kitchen)
October 11, Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm FAHM celebration at St. Mathew Church 1555 Glen Ellyn Road Glendale Heights, IL (Contact Adeline Fajardo at adeline.pacf96@gmail.com Sponsor – PACF)
October 11, Sunday 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm – FANHS-MI at the Paaralang Pilipino “CINEPLEX” at Philippine American Community Center of Michigan (PACCM) 17356 Northland Park Ct. Southfield, MI 4807 (Contact James Beni Wilson 248-345-5562 / jamwilson9@gmail.com Sponsor – FANHS-MI)
October 11, Sunday 8:00 am – 5:30 pm – FANHS-MWC The 11th BIENNIAL MIDWEST CONFERENCE Wyndham Glenview Suites at 1400 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview, Illinois 60025 (Contact Almira Gilles fanhs.mwc@gmail.com Sponsor – FANHS-MWC)
October 18, Sunday 11 am – 4 pm FAHM Luncheon Honoring the Most Outstanding Fil-AM Seniors at Four Points by Sheraton Chicago O’Hare Airport 10249 West Irving Park Road Schiller Park, IL (Contact Adeline Fajardo at adeline.pacf96@gmail.com Sponsor – PACF)
October 24, Saturday 2 pm – Film showing of “The Gift of Barong” at Fountaindale Public Library District 300 W Briarcliff Rd, Bolingbrook, IL 60440 (Contact Tito Ruben at Tito.Rubens@gmail.com, Sponsor – FANHS-GC)
October 24 to January 29, 2016 – We are Family Exhibits at Trickster Art Gallery, Schaumburg, IL (Contact Tito Ruben at Tito.Rubens@gmail.com, Sponsor – FAHSC)
For the latest updates, visit the Philippine American Cultural Foundation website https://pacfmidwest.org/2015/09/fahm2015/ and the Filipino American Network website – https://fan-chicago.org/fahm-2/
For more information, contact Ruben Salazar at (630)969-2971 email Tito.Rubens@gmail.com.
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