Welcome to the Pamana Children’s Library at Rizal Center!
Pamana (pah-MAH-nah) means “heritage” in Filipino, and it is our mission to pass on the cultural heritage of the Philippines to the next generation through books.
Our Story
The idea that became Pamana was born in August 2023, when Genevie de Castro, a Filipina teacher living in Chicago, decided to combine her passion for literature with her desire to educate children about Filipino culture. Genevie reached out to the Rizal Center, which offered space in their building for the project.
Genevie raised more than $2,000 via GoFundMe and used those funds to purchase what would become the backbone of the Pamana Children’s Library collection from sites like Pumplepie specializing in books by Filipino authors.
Genevie and a team of dedicated volunteers including Cheenee Rosauro, Jenny Lou Novida, Gabby Juralbal, Patrick and Joshua Odum, Roxan Yusay, Charmaine Contreras, Joanna Paola Nacionales, Sheena Ang, and Carla Navoa put in weeks of hard work to transform a storage closet in RIzal Center into a space that could house hundreds of fantastic Filipino children’s books. Together they mopped, swept, tidied up, and assembled shelves, doing the hard physical work that turned the dream of Pamana into the reality we enjoy today!
Today, the Pamana Library stands as a beacon to the Filipino community of Chicago. Children curious about their heritage and parents who are excited to teach them more about it find a warm and welcoming space when they step through our doors.
Our collection is constantly growing as people donate books that are a meaningful part of their own unique heritage, helping us to paint a more complete and enduring portrait of the vibrant and diverse culture of the Philippines. Similar Filipino children’s library projects are underway in Paris and California, inspired by the work we have done at Pamana.
We hope you will find the Pamana Children’s Library to be a place of a place for learning, empowerment, and joy!
Updates
Pamana Children’s Library Corner Newsletter
We publish periodic updates about happenings at the Pamana Children’s Library in Rizal Center’s Bayanihan newsletter. Subscribe to Bayanihan so you never miss the latest update!
Donate
Eskwelahang Pinoy
Our team is excited to announce that we are in the process of building a Filipino school at Rizal Center! We are a collective of Pinay educators, most of us mothers and Chicago community members, committed to building and sustaining educational programming that connects youth in our community, including our own children, more deeply to their cultural roots.
Many of us have long dreamed of being able to raise our children in a barangay in which they are taught to take pride in their Filipino identity, learn from our rich history, reconnect with our ancestral practices and values, and be empowered to take social action.
The revitalization of the Rizal Center has provided us with the unique opportunity to realize our shared dream. Our hope is that Filipino youth and families throughout Chicagoland can find a sense of belonging, engage in transformative, intergenerational learning, and strengthen the local community through Eskwelahang Pinoy.
Our long term goal is to be able to provide robust programming from pre-K to 12th grade that includes teaching Tagalog and other Filipino languages, history, art, music, dance, and social justice leadership. This is a huge undertaking that will require many hands and hearts.
If you’re interested in contributing to this project:
- Please complete this survey so we can prioritize programming that responds to the current needs and interests of the Rizal Center community
- Connect with us! If you are interested in sharing your skills, time, or other resources, please email pamanalibrary@rizalcenter.org with the subject line “Filipino School” and tell us how you would like to be involved in building Eskwelahang Pinoy.
Eskwelahang Pinoy Volunteer Needs:
- Tagalog teachers to collaborate on curriculum development and language instruction
- Artists and culture workers interested in sharing your artistic or cultural practice with youth
- Graphic designer(s) to develop and create branding and promotional materials for Filipino School
FAQ
When is the library open?
To plan your visit, please contact pamanalibrary@rizalcenter.org.
Feel free to enjoy a book from the library during your time at the Rizal Center! There are places to sit within the library space and elsewhere in the Rizal Center.
What kind of books do you have at the library?
The Pamana Children’s library is home to more than three hundred books and counting. We feature Filipino and Filipino-American writers like Tor Alvarez Sagud, Dr. Rey De La Cruz, Dr. Almira Gilles and, of course, Dr. José Rizal!
Our focus is on Filipino literature, but out collection also includes books by non-Filipino authors like Dr. Karen Su!
Our diverse collection of literature features children’s books in more than six languages, including Filipino, English, Chavacano, Ilocano, Waray, and Ifugao.
Do you have any events at the library?
You bet we do!
Monthly Storytime Series
The Pamana Children’s Library hosts a monthly storytime series where children who attend can learn about different aspects of Filipino culture through interactive readings of books from our collection, games, songs, and crafts, all focused on sharing the joys of Filipino culture.
Storytimes will take place from 10:30-11:45 AM one Saturday each month.
Check out some photos from our first monthly storytime in April 2024:
Our next storytime will be on Saturday, June 15, 2024. You can sign up here.
Follow us on Facebook and subscribe to the Rizal Center’s Bayanihan enewsletter to make sure you never miss it when the next date is announced!
Other Events
From time to time, we host other events as well. Most recently was our Spring Fun Day for kids in May 2024, which showcased the work of three very talented Filipina-Americans.
Stay connected for news about all of our upcoming events!
Where is the library?
The Pamana Children’s Library is located at the Rizal Center:
1332 W Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
Go up the stairs when you enter and past the sign-in desk. There will be a set of glass doors to your right. Go through these doors, turn right again, and prepare to dive into the wonderful world of Filipino culture!
When did the library open?
The Pamana Children’s Library officially opened on December 9, 2023 with an inauguration ceremony. It was an amazing time for all who attended, headlined by renowned Filipina-American children’s musician “Little Miss” Ann Torralba!
Can I check books out?
At the moment, we do not have a system for checking out books in place. But stay tuned for updates!
Please be courteous and return any book you read during your visit to the shelf where you found it.
Is it free?
Pamana is free for all to enjoy. However, we ask you to please treat our property with respect. Donations are always welcomed!
How can I help?
Donate
We gladly accept donations of books! We focus on Filipino authors, but may accept books by non-Filipino authors on a case-by-case basis.
You can also donate monetarily via Rizal Center’s Zeffy page (also see above)
If you prefer, you can also send a check payable to Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago (or FACGC) to Rizal Center, 1332 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60613.
Donations to Rizal Center will help to support Pamana as well as their other wonderful programs.
Volunteer
Our volunteers are crucial to the work we do! We are committed to forwarding the mission of the Rizal Center by providing monthly storytime adventures into Filipino culture for kids, but we need your help to do it!
Want to plan and host our next monthly storytime? Got a great idea for an event you’d like to host? Just want to help out? Email us at pamanalibrary@rizalcenter.org
Get in touch: