This summer and fall, Rizal Center continues to be a vibrant home for Filipino American arts, culture, and community gathering through Circa Pintig’s ongoing work. From storytelling workshops to new theater festivals, Circa Pintig is helping activate the space as a creative hub where artists, elders, youth, families, and community members can come together through performance, dialogue, and shared cultural memory.
We are so grateful for the partnership and support we receive from Rizal Center. Together, we belong in our home away from home, a space where our stories, histories, and communities can be honored, shared, and celebrated.
Earlier this year, Circa Pintig brought community members together at Rizal Center for the Road Scholar Storytelling Workshop with Ada Cheng, a free gathering supported by an Illinois Road Scholars grant. The workshop invited participants to reflect on personal stories, migration, belonging, and identity, which are core themes that continue to shape Circa Pintig’s 2026 programming.
Building on this momentum, Circa Pintig is preparing for several exciting projects connected to Rizal Center. In October, the organization is working with Asian American Arts Chicago to present “Not Alone Anymore,” a five-day solo show festival planned for October 15 to 19. The festival grows out of the recent Summer Merienda Workshop Series, including Lani’s solo show writing workshop at Restoried Bookstore, and will feature artists developing and sharing deeply personal solo performance works.
Circa Pintig is also preparing a community-based production of “Garet: Pinoys in Chicago,” a Filipino play by Rey De La Cruz with English and Tagalog elements, potentially presented at Rizal Center in late October or early November. This project would bring together artists, older adults, and community members in a workshop or staged reading format, creating another opportunity for intergenerational storytelling and Filipino cultural expression.
These upcoming projects follow a strong first half of 2026 for Circa Pintig, which included The Art of Belonging, a trilogy of short plays and films; ensemble showcases; community readings; anniversary events; disability advocacy programming; and collaborations with organizations across Chicago. Together, these efforts reflect Circa Pintig’s ongoing commitment to using theater as a tool for memory, healing, cultural connection, and collective action.
Community members can also watch Circa Pintig’s new broadcast series, The Art of Belonging, on Chicago Access Network Channel 21. The first broadcast is available here:
Watch The Art of Belonging Broadcast
As Circa Pintig looks ahead to the fall, board members, alumni, artists, and community supporters are invited to help spread the word, attend performances, volunteer at events, and support Rizal Center as a living space for Filipino American arts and culture.
Stay tuned for more details on fall performances, volunteer opportunities, and ways to support Circa Pintig’s work at Rizal Center.
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