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EVENTS

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 the picture of Filipino nurses and their lives both in and outside the workplace. Among the items on display are an early nursing uniform designed as a dress, reflecting historical gender expectations in the profession, and a hand-drawn portrait of a young nurse that captures the personal relationships and sacrifices associated with 

migration.

“The history of Filipinos in healthcare here in the U.S. dates back over a century,” said Merle Salazar, a board member for the historical society. “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 and beyond.”

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, 2026 

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, 2026 

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.

“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. 

Founded in 1986 by Estrella Alamar, the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago promotes education and understanding by preserving and disseminating Filipino American history and culture.

The Asian American Resource and Cultural Center supports the needs of Asian Americans at UIC and oAers social, cultural and educational programs to those interested in 

expanding their knowledge about Asian Americans.  

LATEST ARTICLE (Dated May 17, 2026):

Lives of Filipino Nurses Examined 

Through Newly Opened Museum Exhibit  

CHICAGO – At a recent opening reception, attendees viewed the unveiling of an exhibit examining the lives of Filipino nurses and revealing the confluence of global and political powers that encouraged their migration to the United States.

With the Philippines funneling more workers into the U.S. healthcare system than any other country, a new exhibit at the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago both defines 

and deconstructs an emerging stereotype: the Filipino nurse. 

Held on Friday, May 15, 2026, the reception highlighted the tangled history of colonialism, misogyny and racism powering this unique migration story. “Unheard Voices of Care: Filipino Nurses in America,” will run from May 15 to August 2, 2026, at the surgical museum, 1524 N. Lake Shore Drive in the Windy City’s Gold Coast neighborhood. It features hospital uniforms, medical equipment, awards, photographs and personal mementos, as well as a full schedule of lectures, panels and dramatic presentations designed to bring the collection to life.

The collection shows a range of aspects of nurses’ lives, from the workplace to the home. One of the artifacts is a letter from President Barack Obama, granting veterans’ status to a nurse who worked under American supervision during World War II. While a hand-drawn portrait of a young nurse reveals the love of her fiancé back in the Philippines.

Melvin Almonguera of the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago said Filipino nurses were “an indispensable part of the region’s healthcare system.” He congratulated organizers and helped cut a ceremonial ribbon during the exhibit’s reception.

“The history of Filipinos in health care here in the U.S. dates back over a century,” said Merle Salazar, a board member of the Filipino American National Historical Society Greater Chicago Chapter (FANHSC), which created the exhibit. “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 and beyond.”

The exhibit itself expands upon a smaller version 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 coming to the United States and their lives as nurses from the Philippines.

“In writing this book, I saw how my family became 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 silver screen. They smelled the weed from Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco. Many young Filipinos born here don’t know how intertwined with U.S. history our roots have become. So, we hope this exhibit will help them understand and gain a new sense of pride in being Americans.”

To dramatize the exhibit, CIRCA Pintig, Chicago’s premiere, Filipino theater company, will host multiple panels and live readings. Guest artists include poet and author, Dwight Okita; playwright and educator, Giovanni Ortega; composer and playwright, Foline Roos; and writer and creative producer, R.J. Silva.

“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.”

For more information on the exhibit and lecture series, visit https://imss.org/unheard-voices-of

care-filipino-nurses-in-america/. 

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