From a historic nursing distinction to a family homecoming at the Rizal Center, a visit to Chicago becomes a celebration of heritage, community, and belonging.
Thirty-two nurses and healthcare colleagues from the San Francisco Bay Area recently visited Chicago for the 2026 American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet & Pathway Conference. For the team from Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center, there was an extraordinary reason to celebrate: their hospital’s first Magnet designation with distinction, recognizing nursing excellence.
But beyond their professional achievement, their visit became an opportunity to celebrate Filipino American heritage, reconnect with family history, and discover some of Chicago’s most beloved landmarks.
Organized by nurse Carmen Ramos, the group enjoyed a five-hour guided Chicago tour led by her niece, Ginger Leopoldo. Their first destination was a place with special meaning to the Ramos family: the Rizal Center.
A Homecoming at the Rizal Center
The visitors began their Chicago adventure at the Rizal Center, where they explored the building, gathered for photographs in front of the colorful Filipino American history mural, and learned about the generations of immigrants, families, and community leaders who helped establish Filipino American life in Chicago.
Inside the Bayanihan Ballroom, the group also had an opportunity to view Ako Ay May Lobo, a photographic essay by artist Jantzen Loza exploring themes of absence, affection, migration, and belonging within the Filipino diaspora.
The visit was especially meaningful for Carmen and her husband, Eric Ramos, who first met at the Rizal Center in the late 1970s. Returning more than four decades later brought back memories of the friendships and community gatherings that helped shape their lives.
The Ramos family’s roots in the United States stretch back to the 1920s. While looking at the historical mural, Eric recognized his uncle, who had worked as a Pullman porter.
“That’s my uncle!” he exclaimed.
It was a powerful reminder that the history represented on the mural is also the living history of families who continue to call Chicago home.
Eric’s mother, Angie Ramos, recently celebrated her 98th birthday. She and other family members still live in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, just a few blocks from the Rizal Center. Angie herself has fond memories of the Center and the community gatherings that brought generations together.
For Carmen and Eric, sharing the Rizal Center with their visiting friends and fellow nurses made the experience a true homecoming.
Discovering the Wonders of Chicago
Following their visit to the Rizal Center, the group continued their five-hour sightseeing adventure through Chicago.
Highlights included Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs; Millennium Park’s iconic Cloud Gate sculpture, affectionately known as “The Bean”; Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park; and Museum Campus, where the visitors enjoyed spectacular views of Lake Michigan and Chicago’s skyline.
Along the way, the nurses learned about Chicago’s architecture, immigrant communities, and cultural history. Their tour was filled with laughter, storytelling, and plenty of group photographs.
For many visitors, the experience offered a new appreciation for Chicago’s public spaces and the contributions of immigrant communities, including Filipino Americans, to the city’s rich history.
Honoring Filipino Nurses Through History and Theatre
The nurses’ visit also offers a timely connection to Unheard Voices of Care: Filipino Nurses in America, an exhibition at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Asian American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC).
The exhibition honors the experiences and contributions of Filipino nurses who migrated to the United States, highlighting their professional achievements, personal sacrifices, family stories, and enduring impact on American healthcare.
Through photographs, nursing uniforms, artwork, and personal artifacts, the exhibition shares histories that deserve to be remembered and passed on to future generations.
The exhibition was developed through a collaboration involving the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago, CIRCA Pintig, and House of Nurses: An American Journey. Its three-member co-curatorial team includes Angel Abcede, author of House of Nurses: An American Journey; Merle Salazar, a retired nurse and Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago board member; and Ginger Leopoldo of CIRCA Pintig.
On October 28, UIC students brought these stories to life through dramatic readings of four original works commissioned by CIRCA Pintig:
- Super Lola! by Thelma Virata de Castro
- Snowflakes and Twinkies by Kristine M. Reyes
- Unheard Voices by Elijah Estolano Punzal
- Adobo Sandwich by Lani T. Montreal
The gathering brought together student readers, exhibit organizers, artists, community collaborators, and UIC AARCC staff, including Executive Director Mark Martell. Continued gratitude to Ruben Salazar, board chairman of FAHSC for this important partnership.
The exhibition remains on view through December 4, 2026, at UIC’s Asian American Resource and Cultural Center, 723 W. Maxwell Street, Chicago. Admission is free.
The Power of Nursing, the Spirit of Bayanihan
From celebrating a historic nursing distinction to discovering family connections in a community mural, the visiting nurses’ Chicago experience reminds us that professional achievements and personal histories are deeply connected.
The Rizal Center continues to be a place where generations gather, stories are preserved, and friendships are renewed.
Chicago Connections: Test Your Knowledge!
Our visitors explored some of Chicago’s most recognizable landmarks. How well do you know your city?
1. What does Buckingham Fountain symbolize?
A. The Chicago River
B. Lake Michigan
C. The Atlantic Ocean
2. What is the official name of Chicago’s famous mirrored sculpture, known as “The Bean”?
A. Cloud Gate
B. Sky Mirror
C. Silver City
3. Which Chicago landmark is known as the home of the Chicago Cubs?
A. Soldier Field
B. Wrigley Field
C. United Center
4. Can you name the three major cultural institutions at Chicago’s Museum Campus?
Answers: 1. B — Lake Michigan; 2. A — Cloud Gate; 3. B — Wrigley Field; 4. Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium.
Visit Unheard Voices of Care: Filipino Nurses in America
Location: UIC Asian American Resource and Cultural Center, 723 W. Maxwell Street, Chicago
On view: Through December 4, 2026
Admission: Free
Learn more: https://wlrc.uic.edu/events/unheard-voices-of-care-reception/
Photo Gallery
Visiting nurses enjoy a lighthearted moment together inside the Rizal Center during their Chicago visit.
Members of Rizal Center gather beside the nurses’ tour vehicle before the group continues their sightseeing adventure.
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