It Pays To Advertise In PINOY... Chicago's #1 Fil-Am Newspaper
FEBRUARY 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Philippine Independence Week Committee Program
Remarks by Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth
Chicago, Illinois | January 18, 2026
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth:
Good evening, PIWC family. Honorable Consul General Melanie Diano.
It’s really good to be here with you.
Good evening to our elders, our organizers, our culture bearers, and our young people.
And to everyone who has carried this work—sometimes quietly, sometimes joyfully, always with love.
I know many of you are here from all over the Midwest—from different cities, different states, and different communities.
But we are connected by something deeper than geography.
We are connected by memory.
By migration.
By service.
And by the choice to keep our culture alive wherever we land.
I want to start by sharing why being here matters so much to me.
My parents, Lope and Virginia Manaa, were nurses from a mountain province in the Philippines.
Like so many Filipino families in the 1960s, they came to the United States with nursing licenses in one hand and hope in the other.
They worked long shifts.
They sent money home.
They raised their kids in a place that was unfamiliar, sometimes hard, but full of possibility.
They didn’t come here looking for power.
They came here looking for dignity.
And like so many Filipino nurses, caregivers, and essential workers, they helped hold communities together—often without recognition.
So when I stand here today, as the first Filipina to serve on the Chicago City Council, I carry their story with me.
But I also carry yours.
I want you to know this—I want to hear your stories, because they shape how I lead and how I serve.
Filipino history is American history.
And Filipino communities are not guests in this country.
We are builders of it.
That is why the Philippine Independence Week Committee matters so much.
For fifty years, PIWC has done something truly special.
You didn’t just organize events.
You created continuity.
You created a place where Filipinos could gather, reconnect, and remember who we are, no matter how far we were from home.
PIWC began in 1975, at a time when Filipino Americans were still fighting to be seen and taken seriously.
And year after year, you showed up—with celebration, with service, and with care for one another.
You showed us something important: independence isn’t just a date on a calendar.
It’s a practice.
PIWC practiced independence not by standing alone, but by standing together—through bayanihan, shared responsibility, and community care.
That spirit shows up everywhere Filipino families settle.
In hospitals and classrooms.
In churches and community halls.
In kitchens and break rooms.
Culture and civic life move together.
Leadership matters in keeping that going.
I want to thank Dr. Nida Blankas-Hernaez and Lourdes Mon for leading PIWC through its 50th anniversary year.
A milestone like that is not just about celebrating the past—it’s about making sure the future is strong.
I also want to honor Dalisay Villalon, the first woman to ever serve as Overall Chair of PIWC.
A nurse.
A trailblazer.
Someone who opened doors and made space for others to lead. People like me.
And as PIWC looks ahead, I want to recognize Reynel Espiritu as the incoming Overall Chair for 2026.
I still remember first meeting Reynel and members of the Mabuhay Centennial Lions Club years ago. It was at Foster beach for International Refugee Day.
They weren’t there to be on stage with Chicago’s Mayor.
They were there to help.
They showed up early.
They stayed late.
They did the work.
That’s the kind of leadership PIWC has always been about.
And it’s what will carry this organization forward.
Because no one person—and no one organization—can do this work alone.
If PIWC is going to be strong for the next fifty years, we have to widen the circle.
We have to invite more people in.
We have to start earlier—especially with our young people.
Civic engagement grows when it’s shared.
When we mentor.
When we pass the baton.
When we make space for new leaders.
As we head into this season of celebration—through music, food, dance, prayer, and time together—I hope we remember this:
Independence isn’t something we received once.
It’s something we renew together, every year.
Across generations.
Across communities.
Across the Midwest and beyond.
Thank you for fifty years of showing up.
Thank you for carrying independence not just in name, but in practice.
And thank you for reminding us of something simple and powerful:
the best thing a community can do is take care of one another.
Maraming salamat po.
STEREOPHONIC MAKES ITS CHICAGO PREMIERE AT THE CIBC THEATRE 18 W. MONROE ST. NOW PLAYING THRU FEBRUA
CHICAGO (Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026) – STEREOPHONIC, the 2024 Tony Award-winning Best Play, opens its Chicago premiere today at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) for a two-week limited engagement, running through February 8. Individual tickets are on sale now and range from $40 to $135 with a select number of premium seats available. Tickets may be purchased at www.BroadwayInChicago.com . Group sales of 10 or more are available now by calling (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. See below for additional ticket information and the performance schedule.
STEREOPHONIC mines the agony and the ecstasy of creation as it zooms in on a music studio in 1976. Here, an up-and-coming rock band recording a new album finds itself suddenly on the cusp of superstardom. The ensuing pressures could spark their breakup — or their breakthrough. Written by David Adjmi, directed by Daniel Aukin, and featuring original music by Arcade Fire’s Will Butler, STEREOPHONIC invites the audience to immerse themselves — with fly-on-the-wall intimacy — in the powder keg process of a band on the brink of blowing up.
The cast includes Jack Barrett as Grover, Claire DeJean as Diana, Steven Lee Johnson as Charlie, Emilie Kouatchou as Holly, Cornelius McMoyler as Simon, Denver Milord as Peter and Christopher Mowod as Reg. The cast also includes Eli Bridges, Andrew Gombas, Quinn Allyn Martin, Jake Regensburg and Lauren Wilmore. Casting is subject to change.
STEREOPHONIC, which features original songs by Academy Award® nominee and Grammy Award® winner Will Butler, formerly of Arcade Fire, dominated the “Best Theater of 2023” lists, with top rankings in The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, Time Out New York, Town & Country, TheaterMania, Theaterly, and The Spectator. In April 2024, STEREOPHONIC became the most Tony-nominated play in history receiving 13 Award nominations. It then became the most Tony Award-winning show of the 2024 season, winning 5 Tony Awards including Best Play, Direction (Daniel Aukin), Scenic Design (David Zinn) and Sound Design (Ryan Rumery).
Originally scheduled for a 14-week-only Broadway engagement, the production was extended twice by popular demand and played to sold out houses through its run.
The sensation-causing play began a West End engagement in May 2025 at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre. The U.S. National Tour launched at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, WA as part of STG’s Broadway at the Paramount 2025-2026 Season. The record-breaking Broadway production ended its run at the Golden Theatre on January 12, 2025, after 305 performances.
The STEREOPHONIC creative team includes David Zinn (scenic designer), Enver Chakartash (costume designer), Jiyoun Chang (lighting designer), Ryan Rumery (sound designer), Robert Pickens & Katie Gell (hair and wig designers), Justin Craig (music director) and Gigi Buffington (voice, text, and dialect coach). Casting is by Alldaffer & Donadio Casting. Geoff Maus is the Production Stage Manager.
The U.S. National Tour of STEREOPHONIC is produced by Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Seaview, Sonia Friedman Productions, Linden Productions, Ashley Melone & Nick Mills. The New York premiere was produced in 2023 by Playwrights Horizons.
For more information, please follow:
StereophonicPlay.com
facebook.com/stereophonicplay
https://www.instagram.com/stereophonicplay/#
https://www.tiktok.com/@stereophonicplay
twitter.com/stereobway
WEEK TWO
Tuesday - 3-Feb 7:00 PM
Wednesday - 4-Feb 1:00 PM
Wednesday - 4-Feb 7:00 PM
Thursday - 5-Feb 7:00 PM
Friday - 6-Feb 7:00 PM
Saturday. - 7-Feb 2:00 PM
Saturday - 7-Feb 7:30 PM
Sunday - 8-Feb 1:00 PM
TICKET INFORMATION (as of 1/28/26, based on availability and subject to change)
Individual tickets range from $40 — $135 with a select number of premium seats available. Single tickets may be purchased now at www.BroadwayInChicago.com or any Broadway In Chicago box office. Additional fees apply for online purchases. Patrons can participate in a digital lottery for a chance to purchase a limited number of $25 tickets available for each performance. A limited number of $49 day-of-show Rush tickets will also be available for all performances. Rush tickets for STEREOPHONIC may only be purchased in person at the CIBC Theatre box office. For more information on special offers, Click here. Subscribers may add tickets to their subscription by clicking here or by calling (312) 977-1717. For groups of 10 or more, call Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or email GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com.
ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 26 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium.
For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
Follow @broadwayinchicago on Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky , and TikTok #broadwayinchicago
###
First National Tour Production Photos – Available here .
First National Tour B-roll – Available here .
EDITORIAL - FEB'26
A superpower gone rogue
FLEA MARKET OF IDEAS
By Joel Ruiz Butuyan
Guest Editorial / Inquirer.net
EVERY day, we see a new scene of violence in the United States committed by government agents against American citizens and residents. On a daily basis, we hear the US president or his deputies hurling threats to invade a country, overthrow a foreign government, or bomb another nation.
From being the beacon of democracy and avowed champion of civil and political rights, the US has become the newest member of the gang of rogue states. From the kind of noise and optics coming from President Donald Trump himself, the US has overshadowed Russia, China, and even North Korea as the number one threat to world peace.
It wasn’t long ago when it was totally unthinkable for American security officers to roam the streets wearing masks to conceal their identities. It wasn’t too long ago when it was completely unimaginable for Americans to be arrested, even physically maltreated, without any court-issued warrant or outside of the context of a crime being committed in public view.
Mistreatment of Migrants
We see peaceful demonstrators exercising their freedom of speech or freedom to protest, and yet, they are taken into custody and detained for days. We see people being arrested even if they are merely caught legitimately taking photos or videos of actions committed by security agents in full public view. It is appalling to see immigration agents going to grocery stores, gas stations, parking lots, and even schools to interrogate people—targeted because of their race or accent—who are instantaneously asked to show proof of their American citizenship, failing which they are summarily arrested and detained. It’s also horrendous to see the same immigration agents knocking on house doors and forcing themselves in, even without court-issued warrants.
It is horrible that even American citizens are unlawfully being arrested by immigration agents. It is also dreadful to learn how undocumented migrants are maltreated under subhuman prison conditions. Even Pope Leo XIV has been prompted to publicly condemn the mistreatment of migrants by the US government.
Might Makes Right
How should the world react to a superpower that has become the world’s villain-in-chief and tyrant of the world? How should the people of the world respond to the mightiest nation on Earth that maltreats its own people, and bullies, oppresses, and exploits other countries? How should countries deal with a world power that is creating economic and security chaos?
The world should make Americans feel that until Trump is replaced, it is a winter season to cringe in shame as a US citizen on the world stage. Trump and his “Make America Great Again” supporters have the notion that the world revolves around their country. To a certain point, they may be correct, but only because the rest of the world allows it. America must be made to feel ostracized by the rest of the world for as long as it is ruled by Trump and leaders of his kind, who subscribe to the creed that might makes right. It must feel the revulsion of the rest of the world with a worldwide chorus of online protesters who will constantly shame the Trump regime. The ostracism and revulsion may not matter to Trump and his cabal of bullies, who all brim with arrogance and conceit, but it will be felt by a US citizenry that can deliver the ostracism and revulsion that will impact and affect Trump and his minions. Americans must make their members of Congress feel that they will be soundly booted out of their kennels if they continue to be docile Trump poodles.
Fomented De Facto Wars
It will be hard to decouple economically from the US because many of its outputs and its huge market are deeply integrated into the world economy, but every effort that makes a dent in the US economy will reverberate with impact for the Trump administration that made rosy promises to its citizens. Avoid the US as a destination. Patronize alternatives to American products, if feasible. Concerned and disturbed Americans are also calling for these kinds of boycotts by the rest of the world.
The Trump administration has forsaken its shared responsibility with the rest of humanity to help communities in desperate need of health and food assistance, even if it profits tremendously from its trade with many of the countries in dire need of help. It has abandoned its responsibility to mitigate climate change by escalating business practices that worsen environmental tragedies in different corners of the world. It has withdrawn from international institutions that are platforms for consensus in advancing humanity’s shared concerns.
The Trump regime has fomented multiple kinds of de facto wars on the home front and on the global front. It is spreading hate, scattering violence, and making the world an even more dangerous place for all of humanity.
Comments to fleamarketofideas@gmail.com
MAILBAG
Open your eyes
before it’s too late
Dear Editor,
Filipino Americans, I need to speak to you plainly: you are not as safe as you think you are.
Too many of us live with an illusion of exemption. We tell ourselves, “It will not happen to me.” I am a citizen. I have papers. I am married to a US citizen.
My husband is white. He is a veteran.
My husband is in the military. We are respectable. We are not the kind of people ICE comes for.
But hear this clearly: Proximity to the white privilege high horse is not safety—it is an illusion of borrowed power.
What happened again in Minneapolis should shake you awake. Alex Pretti,
a 37-year-old ICU nurse, a US citizen,
a white man, was shot and killed in a federal enforcement operation.
If citizenship could not protect him,
what makes you think it will protect you?
This is how racial profiling works.
It does not begin with documents.
It begins with bodies. It begins with perception—brown skin, foreign features, an accent, a moment of being in the wrong place. The system does not pause to ask who you are.
It assumes. It targets. It escalates.
And ICE increasingly operates with impunity—testing limits, normalizing brutality, spreading fear as a tactic of control. This is not simply immigration enforcement. It is a machinery of fascist terror that expands outward.
First, the undocumented. Then those merely suspected. Then the inconvenient, such as those who care for their neighbors. Even your MAGA affiliation, as some of you are, will not save you.
So let me tell you directly: your marriage certificate will not stop a weapon.
Your husband cannot arrive fast enough when the system has already decided you are dangerous. Even whites are not safe in a country drifting into authoritarian lawlessness—how much more for you?
Wake up from the colonized mind: brown outside, white inside. Wake up from the desire to be the exception, the good immigrant, the compliant minority who thinks safety comes from silence.
I pray this never happens to you.
That would not be my delight.
But you are not safe in indifference. Open your eyes before it is too late.
Do not close your eyes and pretend you did not see, especially the morally revolting footage of the killing of Alex Pretti.
Let what you saw convict you of what must not be normalized.
Prof. Eleazar S. Fernandez
Minneapolis, Minnesota
COMMUNITY NEWS - FEB'26
UCC Bishop’s petition for asylum denied; Given 34 days to pack and go back to PH
By Mariano A. Santos
PINOY Newsmagazine Special
CHICAGO—U.S. Immigration Court denied on Jan. 9 the petition for asylum of United Church Bishop Eliezer M. Pascua and gave him 34 days to conclude his affairs in the U.S. and go back to the Philippines.
Judge Ana Mancini accepted the government lawyer’s argument that the situation back home does not endanger the life of the petitioner and ignored the pleadings of the petitioner’s lawyer, Louise Carhart, who presented documents and testimonies that the bishop’s life is endangered if he goes back to the Philippines.
Bishop Pascua, 71, decided not to take his lawyer’s recommendation to appeal the ruling, which could have given him at least a year of stay pending his next court appearance, despite his wife’s plea not to join her in their home in Batangas City due to the continued threat to his life.
Bishop Pascua declared in a statement, “My heart is no longer divided or tossed by the waves of legal uncertainty. The ‘straight path’ has become clear: It is time for me to go home.”
Testifying on behalf of himself during the final hearing of his petition for asylum, which was filed in 2013, Bishop Pascua presented his case that spans two decades of church involvement, starting in 1990 when he became bishop of the United Church of the Philippines until 2010 when he ended his term as general secretary of the same institution.
He painted a dangerous time for his faith community when church clergy and lay leaders suffered persecution for their work with marginalized Filipinos. He said that at least 18 church leaders became victims of extrajudicial killings. Reports have it that red-tagging persists against church workers who are active in social issues.
In 2007, he said that he appeared before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee for Asia Pacific Affairs chaired by then-Sen. Barbara Boxer, where he testified about the widespread human rights violations under the Gloria M. Arroyo regime. It was on his 2011 return trip to the U.S. to attend a conference on peace and justice when he was advised to postpone his return home due to the danger facing church leaders like him.
The only other witness on his behalf on Jan. 6 was Bishop Valentin Lorejo of the Philippine Independent Church, who in 2023 was granted asylum for reasons similar to those of Bishop Pascua’s petition. Bishop Lorejo showed early optimism that his fellow bishop would be granted asylum, saying that Bishop Pascua had even stronger arguments than those presented in his case.
Supporters who attended the court hearing included civic and religious leaders who expressed surprise and disappointment and opined that the court ruling most likely was influenced by the current anti-immigrant environment.
At a subsequent interview on Jan. 18 at the Philippine American Ecumenical Church, where Bishop Pascua served as the administrative pastor for 13 years, he was assured that the United Church back home is apprised of his situation and that his services would be needed when he gets back.
Meanwhile, he continues to give his benedictions and prayers of thanksgiving to members of his present congregation who were blessed with healing or another year in their lives. He is also attending to mundane tasks like finding a buyer for his seven-year-old car.
“As I pack my bags, I am not carrying the weight of a court’s denial; I am carrying the ‘Picturesque Miracle’ of a family reunited,” the bishop graciously stated.
CONSUL General Melanie R. Diano swears in the 2026 Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC) officers Jan 17 led by Over-All Chair Reynel Espiritu (7th fr. R) and 2027 incoming chair Lodi Po and Board of Trustees Chair Mercy Matousek. ConGen Diano gave an inspirational talk while Chicago Alderperson Leni-Manaa-Hoppenworth delivered the keynote address to celebrate the 128th year of the Proclamation of the Philippine Independence. Kick-Off Chair was R.J. Turija. Installed were 36 committee chairs plus their members and over-all Chair Espiritu will add Rizal Birthday Committee to be headed by Dr. Virgilio Jonson, KOR (Standing R) (PINOY Photos by Anong Santos)
PIWC Beauty Queens 2026 at the Allegra Banquets on Jan. 17, led by committee chair Ginalene Lopez. Pictured are (not in order) Mrs. Philippines—Geraldine Quipse; Mrs. PH Independence—Hazel Del Castillo; Mrs. Illinois—Ginevive Salzano; Mrs. Chicago—Carla Mae Haverland; Miss Philippines—Nicole Malanyaon; Miss PH Independence—April Acevedo; Miss Illinois—Lorraine Mendez; Miss Chicago—Mimi Busico; Miss Teen Philippines—Jennelyn Onderko; Miss Teen PH Independence—Abigail Wagner; Miss Little Philippines—Jenny Rose Figueroa; and Miss Little PH Independence—Mia Grace Dangalan.
Senior Travel Hacks: Top Tips for Flying Comfortably to the
TRAVELING as a senior is exciting, but it can also bring extra challenges, especially on long international flights. These travel hacks can help make your journey to the Philippines safer and more comfortable. And for Pinoy Newsmagazine readers, you can get an extra $50 off your flight with promo code ASAP50 when you call +1 888-535-5979 to book.
Plan Ahead for Peace of Mind
Booking early isn’t just about saving money. It gives you more choice in seats, meals, and assistance. Early booking lets you request more legroom, aisle seats, or easier boarding.
Choose the Right Flight Times
Long flights can be tiring. When possible, choose flights that match your sleep schedule. Daytime travel helps avoid jet lag, while items like neck pillows and warm socks improve comfort overnight.
Book with a Travel Agent Who Knows Senior Discounts
Some airlines offer senior fares or perks, but they’re not always listed online. ASAP Tickets agents know how to find these deals, compare options, and create comfortable, low-stress itineraries tailored to your needs.
Take Advantage of Airport Assistance
Airports offer wheelchair support, priority boarding, and escort services when requested in advance. A travel agent can ensure these are included in your booking.
Stay Comfortable in the Air
Drink water regularly, and avoid too much caffeine or alcohol. Wear compression socks and stretch periodically to improve circulation and reduce stiffness.
Pack Smart & Stay Organized
Keep key items, like medications, documents, and snacks, in your carry-on. If you need help with connections or luggage, travel agents can recommend flights with smoother transfers and better baggage allowances.
Senior travel doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right support, you can enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Call +1 888-535-5979 today and mention ASAP50 for your exclusive Pinoy Newsmagazine $50 flight discount. Traveling smarter means flying more comfortably. Let ASAP Tickets help you get there.
Advertise with PINOY!
Contact us today and become part of a publication that stands for culture, community, and connection.