HOUSE OF NURSES

House of Nurses:

An American Journey

A collective memoir of three Filipino sisters who helped mold the fledgling profession of nursing, while at the same time, quietly weaving a new American tapestry. With the history of Filipinos living as U.S. citizens being overlooked in mainstream media, this sprawling memoir stands as a reminder of the depth and breadth of this cultural melting pot, and offers new meaning into the American identity.

FUTURE APPEARANCES:

CHICAGO WOMEN'S HISTORY CONFERENCE

As a co-presenter on the topic of Filipino nurses in America, Mr. Abcede will discuss the migration of nurses from the Philippines to the United States, based on his own family's history. His mother and aunties were all nurses who made the decision to adopt a new homeland, which is documented in Mr. Abcede's book, "House of Nurses: An American Journey."

The conference will be held on Sat., March 21, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Abcede and his co-presenter, Circa Pintig's founder, Ginger Leopoldo, will start at 11 a.m.

For information about the conference, visit https://www.chicagowomenshistory.org/conference-2026

FILIPINO NURSES EXHIBIT

Mr. Abcede's book is part of a Filipino Nurses exhibit that will run from May 15-Aguest 2, 2026, at the International Museum of Surgical Science, 1547 N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. Part of that exhibit will be a series of lectures and presentations. Dates and times to come soon.

In the meantime, exhibit organizers are collecting artifacts for the nurses exhibit. Here's some information.

For Filipino Americans involved in healthcare, organizers from a local historical group are hunting for artifacts—anything from hospital caps to uniforms to name badges—for a new museum exhibit on Filipino nurses. Members of the Filipino American National Historical Society Greater Chicago Chapter (FANHSC) are launching this collection drive to visually document the lives of nurses with Filipino roots or those just immigrating from the Philippines. (Scroll down to see feature article.)

To lend or donate items, email Mr. Abcede at angelchgo@gmail.com.

For more on Mr. Abcede and "House of Nurses: An American Journey," keep connected here or click the “Gather” tab above.

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FEATURE: Filipino Nurses’ Exhibitors Seek Items Depicting History in U.S.

CHICAGO – For Filipino Americans involved in healthcare, organizers from a local historical group are hunting for artifacts—anything from hospital caps to uniforms to name badges—for a new museum exhibit on Filipino nurses. Members of the Filipino American National Historical Society Greater Chicago Chapter (FANHSC) are launching this collection drive to visually document the lives of nurses with Filipino roots or those just immigrating from the Philippines.

The Filipino Nurses exhibit that will debut on May 15 - August 2, 2026, at the International Museum of Surgical Science at 1524 N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. Volunteers will collect and store items at their studio in the Mana Contemporary building, 2233 S. Throop in Chicago.

“The history of Filipinos in health care here in the U.S. dates back over a century,” said Merle Salazar, a board member of FANHSC. “They helped shape the profession with their knowledge and cultural instincts, making nursing what it is today. This is an important exhibit that we hope will engage many within the Filipino-American community.”

The exhibit will expand upon a smaller version about Filipino nurses recently on display at the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago. The creator of the initial display, Angel Abcede, is the author of “House of Nurses: An American Journey,” which recounts the experiences of his mother and aunts had when coming to America and their lives as nurses from the Philippines.

“In writing this book, I saw how my family became a part of American history,” Mr. Abcede said. “They were here when Pres. John F. Kennedy got shot. They watched Grace Kelley, Audrey Hepburn, and Julie Andrews on the big screen. They smelled the weed from Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco. Many young Filipinos don’t know how intertwined with U.S. history our roots have become. So, we hope this exhibit will help them be proud of who they are as Americans.”

The initial exhibit displayed one of the last white nursing uniforms worn in the workplace, alongside one of the first versions of a “scrubs dress.” It also featured a conference badge that Mr. Abcede’s mother wore when she represented Guam at a nursing conference in 1969.

FANHSC was started as the 29th chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society on June 30, 2012, to identify, gather, preserve, and promote the history and culture of Filipino Americans in the Greater Chicago area.

In addition to FANHSC and Mr. Abcede, a third collaborating organization in the Filipino nurses’ effort is Circa Pintig, one of the country’s preeminent Filipino regional theater companies. Its roots trace back to the early 1980s when its founders, newly arrived from the Philippines, received support and inspiration from the immigrant communities of Chicago. Born from the experiences of political refugees and economic migrants, it embodies the resilience, creativity and communal spirit of immigrant communities.

“Part of any effort to tell stories from the past is bringing them to life,” said Ginger Leopoldo, founder of Circa Pintig. “So, in addition to the exhibit itself, we will hold a series of presentations and lectures that will capture these nurses’ lives with storytelling and live action.”

Main contacts for the Filipino nurses’ exhibit include Ms. Salazar, representing the FANHSC; Ms. Leopoldo of Circa Pintig; and Mr. Abcede, who will act as the lead coordinator for the nurses’ exhibit. For more information or to participate, please email Mr. Abcede at angelchgo@gmail.com or visit www.fanhs-chicago.org.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Angel Garcia Abcede Jr. was born in Guam, a North Pacific island territory of the United States on November 25, 1963. His parents were Angel Chato Abcede and Luz Garcia Abcede. Angel Jr. graduated from Roosevelt High School in Honolulu and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, with a degree in journalism. He has worked as a writer for trade press and in marketing positions for over 30 years. READ MORE

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