Category: Arts and Culture
-
Featuring: Lawrence Leopoldo
Look Into My Eye and See, 39×46 Oil on Wood Lawrence (Larry) Leopoldo Larry uses oil on wood to explore the themes of nature using kut kut and coloring techniques. His influence comes from the kut kut* and the abstract landscape.IG @LARRYLEOPOLDO *Kut-kut, a method involving incised woodblocks, represents a crucial development in the history…
-
PILIPINO KA BA? (11/25)
by Almira Astudillo Gilles In the Philippines, we have an All Souls Day tradition of going to the cemetery and keeping vigil. As is customary with any prolonged Filipino activity, having food sufficient for the length of the visit is of primary concern, so we bring “baon.” Feast of All Souls We visit our beloved…
-
Featuring: Myra Kalaw
Myra Kalaw Myra (she/her) was born and raised in the Philippines where she first discovered a love for books and reading. At Columbia College Chicago, she combined her two passions — Poetry and Book & Paper Arts, by learning how to print books the old-fashioned way like the poets, Blake and Whitman. She has lived…
-
Featuring: Jose Aggari Jr.
Jose G. Aggari, Jr. Jose discovered his passion for art and music as a child growing up in a family of artists. He is accomplished in painting, sculpture, and architecture, and is also a gifted percussionist and saxophonist. Aggari left the Philippines for Chicago at the age of 13 and studied art and architecture at…
-
Celebrating Community and Culture in September
On September 14th, the Rizal Center proudly hosted a workshop performance of Krossroads the Musical by Foline Roos, presented by CIRCA Pintig. The event attracted a packed house of approximately 75 attendees who enjoyed a captivating 2.5-hour performance. Following the show, there was a talkback session with the playwright and artists, allowing the audience to…
-
PILIPINO KA BA?
by Almira Astudillo Gilles I have been in a strange place lately. I’m not referring to my home on the shore of Lake Michigan—which is my default place for contemplation and rest—but in my mind. The activity on the streets, dictated in large part by instructions from somebody else’s (temporary) place of residence (a large…
-
Fighting for the Future
by: Gabriel “Jay” Catanus On September 21, the Rizal Center was packed with grapplers for the grand opening of Rizal Center Jiu-Jitsu. The event was crowded and high-energy— with food, prizes, and live DJ’s, of course— as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioners came from all over Chicagoland to support the new initiative, led by black belt…
-
In 1901, ‘Thomasite’ US teachers brought English instruction to Filipinos ; in a twist of fate, Filipino teachers from the Philippines are now teaching Chicago kids
by Connie Triggiano This year’s celebration of Filipino American History Month recalls the start 124 years ago of the Americanization of the Philippines. It began with the arrival in 1901 of 600 teachers to the Philippines from the US to establish the public educational system. The teachers planted English as the medium of instruction and…
-
Celebrating Community and Culture in August
August was a month filled with meaningful connections and vibrant celebrations at the Rizal Center. Each gathering highlighted the strength of our community and the richness of our culture. Welcoming the MOSAAIC Study We were thrilled to host the MOSAAIC Study right here at the Rizal Center. This initiative allowed participants to take part while…
-
Featuring: Lisa Villa-Moser
lisa villa-moser Lisa (b. 1973) is an American contemporary painter and visual artist. She discovered an innate love of art as a child in Manila and went on to develop her talents in Chicago. She studied studio arts at the Chicago Academy for the Arts High School before attending SVA in NYC, SAIC and Parsons…