Author: Connie Triggiano
-
A September Reflection: The Art of Doing Nothing and Why It Matters
There emerges a strange phenomenon as summer melts into fall. September arrives with a very specific vibe — yung hangin na medyo malamig na sa umaga, yung sunlight na hindi na kasing harsh ng July, at yung subtle shift sa city rhythm. Sa Chicago, ramdam na ito sa Lakefront breeze, sa mga bata na bumabalik…
-
From Baybayin to Filipino: The Enduring Journey of a Nation’s Language
How centuries of adaptation shaped the Philippines’ linguistic identity without erasing its cultural roots. The Philippines has always had a heritage language vouching for this country’s capacity to interact with the world – even long before the crowned heads of Europe came to colonize countries in Southeast Asia. The Philippines’ earliest language is called “Baybayin,”…
-
From July 4 to June 12 to the present: The Philippines’ Long Journey to Genuine Independence
A shared Independence day There was a time the Philippines and the United States shared the same July 4 Independence Day. The first was in 1946. When the Philippines finally earned its own “Araw ng Kasarinlan,” severing tether from US’ colonial hold, that day was marked with public jubilation, especially among veterans and many others…
-
A Filipino Journey Through Chicago and Beyond- A mini tour
Across Chicago, a network of Filipino landmarks reveals a history far deeper than most residents know. These points of interest — from early settlement hubs to cultural institutions and community-built spaces — chart the long arc of Filipino migration, labor, faith, and activism in the Midwest. They stand as evidence that Filipinos have contributed to…
-
Tara na! to Springfield — where decisions shape Filipino Americans’ future
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…
-
A celebration of life while it’s still being lived
A farewell party. A final hurrah. A profound swan song. An advanced goodbye. It’s when a loved one is getting ready to write “30,” like when a news story ends. It’s a celebration of life while it is still being lived. They’re called many endearing terms – these celebrations of life as it veers towards…
-
A Proposed Blueprint for Filipino Americans’ Political Recognition
During every election cycle, Filipino American voters bring a cluster of priorities highlighting economic needs, immigration anxieties, and health care, among other issues in the mix but these community concerns rarely surface in mainstream political narratives. The core issue behind this absence in the political landscape that tends to perpetuate Filipinos’ under-recognition is not a…
-
Are We Empowered Yet?
That Filipino Americans are frequently labeled as “invisible Asians,” has been a topic widely written about — notably by Filipino writers themselves. It’s a well-intentioned reflective approach into understanding the reasons behind Filipino Americans’ invisible classification — according to the usual metrics by which races and ethnicities are observed and processed. Asian immigrant communities assume…
-
Joseph, Salve and Eliana Amarise Kierulf: One immigrant family’s warm and inspiring story
The perfect life for typical US immigrants is multifaceted, encompassing a blend of personal achievements, cultural integration, and a raw boldness to chase and pursue their dreams. Joseph Brian Kierulf and his wife Salve, both Filipino educators now teaching in Chicago’s public schools are one such couple of immigrants. The couple plowed over vicissitudes of life, struggling but committed to spending their professional years mentoring Filipino children in Cebu…