A Chat with Estrella Alamar of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago

On July 28th I sat down with the Founding President of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC), Estrella Alamar, at her lovely home in Hyde Park (which also happens to be the current home of all of the society's treasures!). After touring her house and seeing all of the amazing pictures and artifacts of the Society, we went upstairs to her office to talk about what the FAHSC does, its core mission, and its relationship with the Alliance.

The Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago strives to record, preserve, and provide exhibits of the Filipino American history in Chicago. It hopes to promote public interest in this history through education, which will ultimately lead to an appreciation and understanding of the Filipino heritage. Estrella says that the most rewarding part of her job as president of the society is her contact with the community and the city at large. She originally decided to start the FAHSC because she wanted to find out more about her heritage and develop her own identity as a Filipino American, born and raised in the United States. It began as a study of Filipino art history and blossomed into something much greater.

Estrella believes that it is important for her organization to be a part of the Chicago Cultural Alliance because the Alliance is ultimately able to create partnerships among various ethnic groups throughout Chicago. Through events such as Cultural Connections, the FAHSC is able to collaborate with other ethnic communities in order to teach others about the Filipino culture while simultaneously giving them the opportunity to experience and learn about other cultures in Chicago. The Alliance has also increased the FAHSC's funding opportunities, which Estrella describes as a "big plus" since it has allowed them to expand to areas they wouldn't have been able to beforehand. Being a part of the Alliance has provided the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago with so many opportunities and has helped further the society's mission of educating others on the Filipino heritage.