Among the featured guests are Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth and author Angel Abcede, two Filipino Americans whose lives and work represent the powerful blend of cultural pride and LGBTQ visibility.
Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth, who represents Chicago’s 48th Ward, made history in 2023 as the first Filipina and openly queer woman of color to serve on the City Council. A longtime community organizer, small business owner, and mother of three, she has been a visible advocate for immigrant rights, inclusive housing, mental health access, and LGBTQ protections.
Her background as the daughter of Filipino immigrants and a licensed physical therapist has shaped her lifelong commitment to social equity. She founded a dance studio that became a gathering place for local artists and organizers, and in her public role, she continues to promote representation for underrecognized communities.
At Halo-Halo Project, she will deliver remarks reflecting on the importance of cultural celebration and visibility within civic life.
Author Angel Abcede will also take the stage to share stories from his book House of Nurses: An American Journey, which chronicles the real-life experiences of three Filipino sisters who worked as nurses in the United States. The book explores the deep emotional and cultural currents that define immigrant life—themes of sacrifice, belonging, and identity that resonate across generations.
Abcede’s work pays tribute to the many Filipino nurses who helped build the nation’s health care system while navigating their own struggles for respect and belonging.
He has massive support from the members of Asians and Friends Chicago, a local LGBTQ social club.
According to the National Institutes for Health, it is suggested that as much as 4% of America's nurses are Filipino. A May 30, 2021 article in TIME magazine said that over 150,000 Filipinos migrated to the U.S. as nurses since the 1960s.
Throughout the day, attendees can participate in art and parol-making (traditional Filipino lantern) workshops, view interactive exhibits on Filipino migration, and enjoy performances by Filipino artists, musicians, and dancers. Storytelling sessions and theater presentations will explore themes of family, identity, and activism, including an introduction to the new children's book, Time to Shine: a Filipino American Family Story.
The day will conclude with a reception for artists and guests at the Rizal Center, 1332 W. Irving Park Rd., followed by a community theater program celebrating the strength and creativity of the Filipino diaspora.
For the LGBTQ Filipino community, the Halo-Halo Project is more than a cultural festival. It is a declaration of presence and pride. In a time when queer stories are too often sidelined, this event makes them central, affirming that being both Filipino and LGBTQ is not a contradiction but a vibrant expression of identity. It offers a rare space where people can see themselves fully reflected—in art, in leadership, and in the ongoing narrative of what it means to be both Filipino and American.
Halo-Halo Project Day is free and open to all. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Conrad Sulzer Regional Library, with additional evening programming at the Rizal Center.