Celebrating Community Engagement
By Ginger Leopoldo, M.A.
June was a vibrant month at the Rizal Center, filled with meaningful volunteer and outreach activities that brought our community together. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to a teacher from Pathways in Education who recommended one of their students, Dino, to volunteer with us. Congratulations to Dino on his high school graduation! Since then, he has dedicated his time to volunteering at the Rizal Center weekly, assisting at the front desk during bingo and supporting our arts and cultural community engagement programming on weekends.
Dino has been a wonderful addition to our volunteer team, helping to table at events like Piyesta Pinoy on June 14 and Pinoy Pickle Palooza on June 28. His enthusiasm and willingness to give back have made a significant impact, and we are fortunate for the connection made by his teacher.
This month, we also hosted our third Open Mic Series featuring the talented bands Sama Salma Project and Sona Umbra. We encourage everyone to check out their music on Spotify and follow them on social media.
Special thanks to Lou Ella Rose, Baron, Ed, and Sona Chan for providing a fantastic Saturday afternoon of entertainment. A special shoutout goes to Dra. Cleofe Casambre, who showcased her talents on the new grand piano in our ballroom, and to Larry Leopoldo for providing our delicious Filipino spaghetti, sponsored by Circa Pintig. The Open Mic Series aims to support the Rizal Center, with the next event scheduled for August 17—these bimonthly open mics are open to everyone and feature live instruments.
Flag raising ceremony to celebrate Philippine Independence
In honor of Philippine Independence Day, we had a special flag-raising ceremony that brought our community together for a mini parade and celebration. We are grateful to our board members who organized this meaningful event.
Mini parade in Rizal Center’s neighborhood
On June 14, the Rizal Center partnered with Circa Pintig and hosted a table alongside our friends at the Filipino School of Chicago. Our volunteers shared information about the HOPE Campaign program and the public services offered in partnership with CMAA.
Additionally, on June 21, we celebrated Rizal’s 164th birth anniversary with over a dozen Rizal Center volunteers who helped clear rooms on the second floor for ongoing renovations. This effort is crucial for our future plans, and we are thankful for our dedicated young volunteers. As Jose Rizal famously stated, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan,” which translates to “The youth is the hope of the nation.” This quote emphasizes the crucial role of young people in shaping the future of the Philippines, and here at our home away from home, the Rizal Center, we see this hope reflected in our vibrant youth volunteers.
Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan
To celebrate, our volunteers enjoyed a special birthday meal featuring Rizal’s favorite dish, tinola.
Tinola, Dr. Jose Rizal’s favorite dish.
Several volunteers also participated in the Pinoy Pickle Palooza in Skokie, hosted by Rae Lou Creative, helping to spread the word about the exciting activities at the Rizal Center.
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