by Ryan Viloria
Kumusta! I’m Ryan Viloria (he/him), the new Fund Development Officer at the Rizal Center and following in the impressive footsteps made by Tita Angela “Ging” Mascarenas! Supporting this work is an honor and feels personal as a full circle moment for me. I have fond memories of my Lola Luz back in the day, bringing me to the Rizal Center in the late ’80s and early ’90s (I even met costumed cartoon characters who were similar to Woody Woodpecker and Tom and Jerry.). That joy still resonates, and it’s making a comeback!
With that joy, we as a community continue to rebuild and reimagine what the Rizal Center can be, with your help.
1. The Rizal Center is our community’s “Home Away from Home.”
Donations keep it that way. Every dollar helps shape our programs and restore space. Donors can even advise where their gifts go, making your support personal, intentional, and impactful. Consider donating to us online or in person at the Rizal Center!
2. Programs and events bring us together.
Thanks to community support, we offer Tagalog classes, regular Kapihan community forums, social connections, and Bingo games, and cultural celebrations such as Paskuhan. These gatherings make the Rizal Center a second home for many.
3. Filipino community power is growing, but it still needs support.
We’re one of a very few mission-orientated, Filipino-serving 501(c)(3) nonprofits officially in Chicago. In fostering a cohesive Filipino American community in the Greater Chicago area, We invite you to promote Filipino cultural preservation and enrichment, to empower the community, and to advance justice, and social change. Your involvement sustains a cultural and intergenerational hub for all, from those who came long ago to today’s American-born youth, from those that have lived here for decades and still call themselves immigrants to the lonely yearning to find community. For Filipinos of various professions, skills, sexualities, gender identities, and backgrounds. Today’s seeds yield stronger growth tomorrow; together, we will harvest the fruits of our shared labor.
4. Giving isn’t just financial.
Volunteers are vital to our growth. Myra Kalaw, our new Volunteer Coordinator, is here to help you get involved. Recurring donations, even in small amounts, are also powerful—they’re easier on your budget and help keep our work going year-round.
Plus, check out the Wish List on our website, and consider donating any extra supplies!
5. Your presence matters.
Can’t donate? No problem! Showing up to programs or sharing our events helps build momentum. You remind us who this space is for.
6. Let’s spread the word.
Many still don’t know the Rizal Center has reopened. As the Bayanihan Spirit empowers a village to rebuild together, we grow through collective action, cultural pride, and connection.
7. Mind your ABKDs!
As always, remember the basics:
- A for Action/Aksyon: Join us! Hang with us! Break bread with us!
- B for Bayanihan: The people work together for a common goal.
- K for Kapitbahayan: Our neighborly concern for each other.
- D for damayan: Compassionate mutual aid; we are stronger together.
Just joining us means so much and leads to virtually exponentially more support for the community. With your support, whether through donations or volunteering or simply enjoying each other’s company, you improve Rizal Center’s capacity to better serve the Filipino community. If you’d like to learn more, please let us know! And so, I invite you to practice this call to action by joining us for…
Upcoming Events:
- Tiyangge | August 10, 2025 – A community market co-hosted with UIUC’s Philippine Student Association, celebrating small businesses, food, and culture! Proceeds support Rizal Center restoration.
- 3rd Anniversary Celebration | Fall 2025 (Date TBD) – Join us in honoring the fight to reclaim and reopen the Rizal Center! We would like to honor those who supported the fight and the volunteers and community members that were among the first to begin helping when the Rizal Center reopened! If you’d like to help out for this event, please sign up here!
The Third Annual Paskuhan | December 2025 (Date TBD) – Our yearly holiday tradition returns! Come celebrate Filipino holiday traditions, and bring your loved ones, too. Festivities include our Parol Contest, in which contestants can submit their homemade parols for competition, and the Singing Contest, a melodic way for community members to spread their vocal talents with holiday cheer!
Ryan Viloria (he/him) enjoys writing and considers himself a social media gadfly. He is the former Executive Director of the Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE), a non-partisan grassroots community organization that builds the capacity of Filipinx/a/o to organize towards progressive change. He served in this role for five years, and prior to that position had served on the staff of the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy (IRRPP) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Altogether, Ryan has over a decade of experience in supporting non-profit and scholarly work. His areas of interest include public policy, immigration, labor rights, community building, party planning, and learning new recipes and marinades for the grill.
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