Bayanihan Newsletter June 2025

Welcome to the June 2025 Edition of the Bayanihan Newsletter!

As we welcome the month of June, we’re excited to share another vibrant issue of the Bayanihan Newsletter—full of inspiring stories, cultural moments, and community highlights that celebrate our shared journey. This month, we’re proud to spotlight Time to Shine: A Filipino American Family Story, a heartwarming new picture book by Chicago-born Filipina author Stephanie Vivit Lehmann, with illustrations by Sinag artist Gerri Martinez-Benz. Set to launch later this year at the Rizal Center, this special release reminds us of the healing power of family, culture, and community.

You’ll also find the latest updates from the Pamana Library and Digital Gallery, thoughtful reflections in Featured Voices, and important upcoming events and notices in our Announcement Bulletin—where you can view flyers and info on what’s happening in and around the Rizal Center.

Whether you’ve been with us for a while or are just tuning in, thank you for being part of our Bayanihan community. Let’s continue to learn, grow, and celebrate together this June!

It’s Time to Shine! by Stephanie Vivit Lehmann

Shining Soon at the Rizal Center: Time to Shine by Stephanie Vivit Lehmann – A New Story for Filipino American Families

Time to Shine: a Filipino American Family Story is an exciting new picture book for Filipino American families written by Chicago-born Filipino author Stephanie Vivit Lehmann and illustrated by Chicago-based Filipino artist Geraldine Martinez-Benz. Time to Shine will be launched at the Rizal Center shortly after its publication later this year. Get more details in future newsletters and by following Time to Shine’s journey to publication on Instagram @filamstorylady. In the meantime, here are some highlights about the book and the author.

I’ve always loved what author Toni Morrison once said, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” And that’s exactly what happened with “Every Sunday: A Story on Learning Sign Language.”

At the time, I was an early childhood teacher and I wanted to include disability awareness books in my repertoire for storytelling. But I couldn’t find any stories about deafness and sign language...

Pitong Tsinelas is a collaboration between Save the Children Philippines and Tahanan Books. As part of Save the Children’s literacy program, we were invited to create a board book in Filipino that promotes both inclusivity and numeracy.

I drew inspiration from my own childhood—those happy afternoons when we’d go from house to house, picking up friends along the way to play outdoor games like patintero and tumbang preso. Illustrator Benjor Catindig...

Tagalog Must Be a Dying Language and Needs to Be Rescued by Connie C. Triggiano

by Connie C. Triggiano For three weeks over the Lenten season in the Philippines last month, I was witness to the many ways that I thought Tagalog, the national language and cornerstone of the country’s culture and history, was indeed being mangled, bastardized, spliced or replaced, riding out the mandate of its magistral constitution, the Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa. From …

isang sanaysay ni Ogot Sumulong

Masagana ang ani sa scholarship ng pambansang kasaysayan nang ipinagdiwang ng bansa ang 1896 Centennial of the Proclamation of the Philippine Independence. Marubdob na pananaliksik, malalim na pagtasa at pag-aral ng mga tinanggap na kaalaman at bagong kaisipan batay sa pagbabalik-aral at pagsuri ng mga manuskrito, aklat, memoirs, pahayagan, datos at marami pang pangunahing materyales …

Sheryl Coaxum, The Orchid, 8"x12" Giclee print Learn about the artist

Viola C. Mayol, Untitled, 4.25”x5.5“, Intaglio Etching on Rives BFK Learn about the artist

12th Asian American Action Day:

United Voices, Stronger Future

On April 30th, 2025, hundreds of Asian American community members from across Illinois gathered at the State Capitol in Springfield for the 12th annual Asian American Action Day, organized by the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition and Advancing Justice | Chicago. Under the theme “Sanctuary for All,” participants spent the day meeting with legislators, sharing personal stories, and rallying in …

Rizal Center Hosts Urban Fishing Workshop 2025 with Illinois Department of Natural Resources

On May 21, 2025, the Rizal Center hosted the Urban Fishing Workshop, facilitated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The workshop provided participants with practical knowledge and skills for fishing in urban environments. It was a great opportunity to learn and connect with nature, even from within the…

Every Brilliant Thing at the Rizal Center

CIRCA Pintig’s Every Brilliant Thing recently took the stage at the Rizal Center, offering a heartfelt and powerful take on mental health through a Filipina perspective. Featuring Mari Joy and directed by RJ Silva and Annemarie Andaleon, the one-woman show invited the audience into an intimate and interactive experience that resonated deeply with Chicago’s Filipino community. By blending personal storytelling …

Memorial Day Sing-Along: Fostering Love, Joy, and Unity

Hana leads the community singing of the song "Magellan" to honor Yoyoy Villame's contribution to the Visayan musical gems. Our Memorial Day Sing-Along was not just a celebration of music; it was a testament to the power of community and the impact of shared experiences. Through our Asian Giving Circle's funded Lots of Love program, we brought people together …

PIWC 2025 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Rizal Center

The PIWC 2025 50th Anniversary Celebration held at the Rizal Center was a remarkable event that exemplified the spirit of Bayanihan—a Filipino tradition of communal unity and cooperation. This celebration not only marked a significant milestone for the organization but also provided an opportunity to give back to ...

at the UMSI Project Exposition

On April 21, 2025, Angela Mascareans and I, Ginger Leopoldo, had the wonderful opportunity to attend the UMSI Project Exposition, where we were excited to meet the dedicated student team from the University of Michigan School of Information (USMI) in person. This event served as a platform to...

On behalf of the Rizal Center, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Trisha Mallare for her outstanding work on her capstone project completed in the spring of 2025. Acknowledgment of Your Contributions Your dedication to addressing the critical gaps in evidence-based literature regarding social participation, mental health, and the well-being of Filipino American older adults is …

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Earl Bondoc for his remarkable contributions to the Rizal Center, particularly in the area of Youth Programming. His dedication and commitment have significantly enriched our community and the lives of our youth. Contributions to the Pamana Library Dr. Bondoc generously donated a cooking set, engaging games, and a selection of books to the …

See this post on Facebook for more details.

Please note: The time listed is in Philippine Time (PHT)

OPM OPEN MIC - RSVP and Performer Sign-up Join us for an afternoon of Original Pilipino Music with the Filipino American community in Chicago! Sign up to perform or RSVP as an audience member.

Flex your chops singing or playing OPM / Kundiman (instruments available) or join in community singing as you learn about The Great Filipino Songbook and Rizal Center’s health initiatives through the HOPE Campaign.

Enjoy lunch and refreshments provided by CIRCA Pintig! Thanks to our friends from Sona Umbra for joining us this time, too! Sign-up here: bit.ly/SAMAopenmic bit.ly

In a world increasingly shaped by climate disasters and rising food insecurity, Global Seed Savers presents a powerful and urgent story of resilience at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave, Chicago 60614, on Friday June 27, at 6 p.m. with the local premiere of “Hasik (To Sow)”.

In this timely, full-length documentary, filmmakers Marissa Mejia and Mandy Qua follow five farmers at the forefront of the fight for food and seed sovereignty — working to preserve their agricultural heritage through saving seeds. They boldly confront a future made uncertain through climate change and the actions of both their government and multinational corporations.