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:

FILIPINO NURSES EXHIBIT

UIC to host exhibit on Filipino nurses’ migration to U.S.

The University of Illinois Chicago’s Asian American Resource and Cultural Center will host “Unheard Voices of Care: Filipino Nurses in America,” a traveling exhibit that explores the experiences, contributions and legacy of Filipino nurses who migrated to the United States.

Produced by the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago, the exhibit explores the migration of Filipino nurses to the United States through artifacts, uniforms, photographs and artwork contributed by nurses and their families throughout the Midwest.

“Unheard Voices of Care: Filipino Nurses in America,” will be on display from Oct. 14 through Dec. 4, 2026, at the center, at 723 W. Maxwell St., Chicago. The exhibit and all related events are free and open to the public. The Asian American Resource and Cultural Center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The exhibit expands on a smaller display presented in fall 2025 at the Harold Washington Library. That exhibit was created by Angel Abcede, author of “House of Nurses: An American Journey,” which chronicles the experiences of his mother, aunts and other Filipino nurses who immigrated to the United States.

The Asian American Resource and Cultural Center at UIC will host two free events inspired by the exhibit’s themes of migration, caregiving and community, offering opportunities for dialogue and reflection:

Opening Panel and Reception

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Panel: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Reception: 4:30-6 p.m.

Asian American Resource and Cultural Center

723 W. Maxwell St., Chicago

Exhibit curator and author Angel Abcede will join UIC faculty members Anna Guevarra and Karen Flynn to discuss the history, migration and contributions of Filipino nurses in the United States.

Community Reading

Wednesday, Oct. 28

3:30-5 p.m.

Asian American Resource and Cultural Center

723 W. Maxwell St., Chicago

Participants will share readings about the experiences of immigrants arriving in the United States from the 1940s to today.

For more information, 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: Panelists Explore Migration Drivers as Filipino Nurses’ Exhibit Opens on UIC Campus

CHICAGO -- As part of the opening activities for a traveling exhibit illustrating the lives of Filipino Nurses in the United States, three panelists tied to the University of Illinois Chicago and the exhibit itself delved into themes of colonialism, gender norms and cultural distinction before an audience of about 50 students, faculty and community members.

The three-person panel discussion took place at the exhibit’s residency at the UIC Asian American Resource and Cultural Center, 723 W. Maxwell Street in Chicago on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

In explaining the larger themes of the exhibit, Angel Abcede, co-coordinator of “Unheard Voices of Care: Filipino Nurses in America,” said the numbers of Filipino nurses in America today do reflect a significant migration pattern.

“Filipino nurses make up 4% of the nursing population in the United States,” he told the audience. “But make up only 1% of the U.S. population.”

The building of a “labor engine” that produces nurses not just to meet U.S. demand but globally started in 1898, when the U.S. received the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico after the Spanish-American War, he said. “That’s when they imported professional standards, including for healthcare and nursing, to the Philippines … along with English.”

Building on themes of colonialism and “empire” building, Anna Guevarra, professor, Global Asian Studies, said the larger context involves global powers coming into other countries and using resources to meet needs at home. She said in some cases, cultural attributes of Filipinos, such as being caring and obedient, were advertised as attractive elements, as though they were the “Cadillacs” of overseas labor imports.

Panelist Karen Flynn, professor, Department of Population Health Nursing Science, said similar behavior tied to race occurred among Caribbean nurses imported to Canada, where minorities were “pitted against each other.” She said people in charge would often convince minorities to compete against one another so supervising staff could exercise control and fulfill labor shortages.

Created by the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago, the Filipino nurses exhibit will be on display at the AARCC from Oct. 14 through Dec. 4, 2026, with the display and related events being free and open to the public. The cultural center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The next scheduled event will be a storytelling session, illustrating the lives of Filipino nurses coming to America. It will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the AARCC. UIC students will read passages and scenes from short plays derived from nurses tied to exhibit artifacts.

“Unheard Voices of Care: Filipino Nurses in America,” debuted in May at Chicago’s International Museum of Surgical Science and was later featured at the Trickster Cultural Center in Schaumburg. During the exhibit’s inaugural opening this spring, Melvin Almonguera of the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago described Filipino nurses as “an indispensable part of the region’s healthcare system.”

The Chicago-based Filipino theater company CIRCA Pintig and “House of Nurses: An American Journey” are co-sponsors and creators of the exhibit, along with the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago.

For more information visit https://fanhschicago.wordpress.com/filipino-nurses-exhibit/.

Posted on Thursday, October 15, 2026

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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