Maraming Filipinos, kasama ang fellow Asians at determined community supporters ang tutungo sa Springfiled Illiois, seat of state government, sa Miyerkules, Mayo 6, 2026 para ipadama sa mga legislators ang collective concerns at hinaing ng mga Filipinos at kapwa Asians ukol sa mga pangangailangan ng mga pamilyang migrante sa Chicago.
State legislators control essential aspects of immigrant life in the United States: language access, education funding, community safety programs, healthcare provisions and senior services among many others. “Absent intense and sustained advocacy from Filipino kababayans, a serious threat to the stable presence of Filipino families in America will emerge.”
The Tagalog noun “hinaing” carries emotional weight. It’s not a complaint; rather, it often implies deep hardship or a heartfelt plea or an earnest request or supplication. Ang buhay sa Amerika is never perfect, at hindi inaasahang maging perfect, pero kung ang mga kababayan ay hindi magsasalita, ang mga Pinoy ay di makakasama sa mga priorities ng legislation. Since Filipinos are somewhat an invisible sector of the population, the struggle will exacerbate kung hindi mabibigyang halaga ng mga mambabatas ang mga kahilingan at hinaing ng komunidad tulad nng mga sumusunod:
Healthcare Access
Mahalaga na may malinaw at abot-kayang access sa doktor, gamot, preventive care, at long term care. Kapag may maayos na access sa health care, mas ligtas ang buong pamilya at mas nababawasan ang takot na magkasakit nang walang resources.
Language Access
Para sa maraming Pilipino, lalo na ang seniors, caregivers, at new arrivals, malaking hadlang ang kakulangan ng language access. Kailangan ng mga serbisyo na may Tagalog o Filipino interpreters, translated documents, at malinaw na instructions para sa health care, legal services, at government programs. Kapag may language access, mas nagiging empowered ang komunidad na magtanong, magdesisyon, at makakuha ng tamang serbisyo nang hindi nahihiya o naliligaw sa proseso.
Immigrant Protections
Ang immigrant protections ay tumutukoy sa mga polisiya na nagtatanggol sa mga imigrante mula sa diskriminasyon, deportation risks, at pang-aabuso. Kabilang dito ang data privacy at legal support . Para sa Filipino community—na karaniwang nang, mixed-status families, at long-term immigrants—mahalaga ang proteksyon para mapanatili ang seguridad ng pamilya makapagtrabaho nang may dignidad.
Education Funding
Kailangan ang sapat na pondo para sa bilingual programs, inclusive curriculum (kabilang ang Asian American history), mental health support, at safe school environments. Kapag kulang ang pondo, unang naaapektuhan ang mga estudyanteng galing sa immigrant families. Kapag sapat ang investment, mas nagiging handa ang kabataan sa college, trabaho, at civic engagement.
Community Safety Programs
Ang community safety programs ay nakatuon sa prevention—mental health services, youth programs, domestic violence support, at community-based interventions. Para sa Filipino Americans, ang tunay na safety ay nanggagaling sa komunidad na may resources.
Data Collection
Madalas hindi nakikita ang Filipino Americans sa mga datos dahil pinagsasama-sama ang lahat ng Asian groups. Ang disaggregated data collection ay mahalaga para makita ang tunay na pangangailangan ng Filipino community—sa health outcomes, education, employment, at civic participation. Kapag tama ang datos, mas madaling humingi ng pondo, gumawa ng programa, at ipakita na may unique needs ang Filipino Americans sa Chicago.
Senior Services
Ang Filipino seniors ay growing in numbers, at marami sa kanila ay caregivers din o may sariling health challenges. Kailangan nila ng accessible na serbisyo tulad ng home care, transportation, social programs, at assistance sa Medicare/Medicaid. Dahil maraming seniors ang nahihirapan sa English, technology, at paperwork, mahalaga ang culturally responsive at Tagalog-friendly services. Kapag may sapat na suporta, mas nagiging independent, healthy, at connected ang ating mga elders.
Tara na!
Isang pagkilos ang ready at suportado ng Filipino American community ang ilulunsad ng Rizal Center sa Miyerkules, Mayo 6, patungo sa Springfield to chase and lobby legislators, so they can listen to us. Sa pagsama-sama ng mga kababayan, lalong magiging masigla at malakas ang ating boses. Collective effort equals strength –at sa pagsasama-sama natin, naririnig tayo.
Connie Triggiano is currently Board Secretary of Circa-Pintig, a Chicago community theater organization. She works as Academic and English tutor assisting foreign students to pass IELTS, TOEFL, Celpic, ESL and other English exams to gain admission to universities in English speaking countries. She also trains greencard holders to pass US citizenship exams and interview. She worked for many years as Vice-President of Chicago-based Leo Burnett Advertising in its Manila office where she managed the advertising accounts of the country’s biggest brands: Procter & Gamble, Pepsi Cola International, BPI, Vicks, Wyeth and Cathay Pacific. She edited a travel newspaper in Singapore and taught college freshmen in a local university. Connie graduated with a BA degree, major in English, from the University of San Francisco in California while working as an information officer for a United Way agency. She took up MS in Advertising at the Asian Institute for the Development of Advertising, UST Graduate School.
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