Michael Aguhar stood with us at a critical moment, reminding us that places like Rizal Center are not just physical spaces, but living expressions of our collective history and identity.
We came to know Michael through struggle—through the fight for Rizal Center, a place that has long stood as a home away from home for Filipino Americans. At a time when that home was under threat, Michael stood with us.
As AFIRE Chicago leased space within the Center, Michael could have remained a tenant, an observer. Instead, he chose to stand in solidarity. He chose to listen, to learn the history, and to act. He recognized that Rizal Center was more than a building—it was a community, memory, and identity.
And so he joined the fight—not just for tenant rights, but for justice. For the return of the Rizal Center to its rightful stewards. For the preservation of a space that generations have called their own.
We write this as the board of directors of the Rizal Center—those who stood alongside him in that struggle. We remember Michael as someone who did not hesitate to align himself with what was right, even when it was difficult. He showed up not for recognition, but out of principle.
What stood out about Michael was his quiet strength. He didn’t center himself—he centered the community. He built trust. He honored the elders. He made space for others to speak, while lending his own voice when it mattered most.
His passing is a deep loss to all of us who shared that fight with him. But his presence remains—in every step we take to reclaim and restore Rizal Center, and in every act of solidarity that continues this work.
As we grieve, we are also standing with those closest to him. We are supporting his partner, Irina, during this difficult time, including as funeral arrangements are being made. Together with family and friends, we have also come together to raise support for Irina and Zoya, to help carry them through this loss and the long path toward healing.
Those who wish to better understand Michael’s impact and the community he helped build, as well as ways to support his family, can find a heartfelt tribute shared by his colleagues at Crossroads Fund.
Michael understood that the struggle for a “home” is never just about walls—it is about people, dignity, and belonging.
In standing with the Rizal Center, he showed us what it means to truly be part of a community.
And now, we carry that forward.
With gratitude and remembrance,
Board of Directors of the Rizal Center
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