Press Release

PRESS RELEASE NO. 25-2022

FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN ILLINOIS CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY THROUGH PIYESTA PINOY 2022

15 June 2022 (Chicago) – The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago joined the Filipino community in Illinois in celebrating the 124th anniversary of Philippine Independence through Piyesta Pinoy 2022, the largest gathering of Filipinos in the US Midwest, at the Roger C. Claar Performing Arts Center in Bolingbrook, Illinois on 11 June 2022.

Organized by the Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) with the support of the Philippine Consulate, this year’s festivities marked the first in-person edition of the event after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, following virtual celebrations in 2020 and 2021. The event was headlined by celebrity performers Jay R and Filharmonic, with cultural performances by local organizations.

The Philippine Consulate joined the welcome parade with Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta, former Mayor Roger C. Claar, and PACF President Ruben Salazar. During the opening ceremony, Consul Ryan Gener, on behalf of Consul General J. Susana V. Paez, expressed appreciation for the role the Filipino Community has played at the frontlines of COVID-19, and looked forward to continue working with the Filipino and Filipino-American communities to uplift the most vulnerable and provide meaningful opportunities for all.

The Consulate also presented the “Excellence in Social Justice Reporting” and “Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Reporting” award from the organizers to Emmy-award winning Filipina-American journalist Cate Cauguiran of ABC 7. She had recently reported on the unsung heroism of Filipino nurses during the pandemic. END