CHICAGO ILLINOIS FILIPINO

On June 3, 1979, my family sat outside Warren Barr Tower at 856 W. Nelson Street in Chicago for one final photo before beginning a five-day drive west; the destination: California.  We were leaving behind the only American city we knew. At just a few years into our lives as Filipino immigrants, Chicago had already given us a crash course in American living—and left a permanent imprint on our identity. Nearly a decade later, I returned. It was 1986, I was a little older—and in love. My girlfriend Liza Franco and I strolled downtown beneath Chicago’s iconic skyline and posed in front of “Duo” by Charles O. Perry , a vibrant sculpture at 55 E. Monroe Street. That photo reminds me how Chicago isn't just a city you live in—it's a place that lives in you. Its architecture, art, energy, and neighborhoods stay in your bones long after you’ve left. “Chicago raised us in a way Manila never could—it taught us how to be Filipino in an American world.” For many of us ...

Not 'Bye Chicago'; See you soon. June 3, 1979. Sunday. Chicago, IL. My parents lived here for four years; Joy and I called Barr Tower home for three years. At first, we lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Apt. 805. After my lola, Joy and I joined my parents, we moved into Apt. 1202, a two-bedroom apartment. June 3 was our last day at Barr Tower & Chicago. We were moving west to Cali. We took our time, making it a 5-day trip/vacation from Illinois to California. On my lap, I carried a fishbowl with our 6 goldfish the whole way. 📷 Tito Narding Photo credit again to Tito Narding. My dad commented in our family chat: When we were crossing the Mississippi, I felt sad. Looking at the rear view mirror I whispered thank you Chicago. We will be back. I would move back by myself in April 1989.  Promise kept. I recently found my April 1989 photos (last ones in Vallejo, and first ones in Chicago). I'll scan and upload as time allows. Warren N. Barr Sr Tower in 2018 Below i...

Posing in front of our 1976 Cutlass Supreme June 3, 1979. Sunday. Chicago, IL. Thanks to timeanddate.com , I can confirm it was a Sunday when we drove off from Chicago.  Photo credit goes to Tito Narding. He was there when Joy, my Lola and I arrived in Chicago three years earlier; he was the only one there to see us off. I distinctly also remember Joy and I had one more week at school at St. Sebastian School (so we missed the last five days of school). Maybe I told one friend, Brian, that we were moving. I should have said bye to Mrs. Martha Schreiber, my 5th grade teacher. At least, Mrs. Goldader (my first ever teacher in the USA) is my friend on Facebook. I uploaded this to Facebook in 2012. I'll have to re-scan for better resolution when I come upon the original. Across the street from Warren Barr Tower, where we lived, my mom just had to cross the street to go to work back then. Good times! In front of Illinois Masonic Hospital where my mom worked. 1976 Oldsmobile Cutla...