Pinoys in Chicago?

Question

I am currently in Miami and find myself completely isolated, so next year I want to move to Chicago because I heard there are a lot of Filipinos there. What part of Chicago is equivalent to a San Diego of Pinoys? And is it overwhelming in numbers?

Answer 1

Hmm, there are a few notable enclaves in the suburbs. To the north there's Skokie and Niles, northward to Gurnee. To the west there Glendale Heights, which is notable for having a Filipino mayor. Toward the south and southwest there Bolingbrook, Orland Park, and Tinley Park.

In the city itself the community is scattered primarily from the Near North Side northward along the lakefront and westward. The Rizal Community Center is located on Irving Park Rd west of the lake. And there's a statue of Jose Rizal lit up at all hours across from Weiss Hospital along the lake.

There are a lot of stores and restaurants serving the Philippine community. Won't be too hard to find. Just be prepared for winter.

Answer 2

I am an American who is married to a woman in the Philippines. We have a baby now, who was born in the Philippines, and is still there. When she comes to the United States, she is already an American citizen. While in the Philippines, she is a citizen of the Philippines. Where she is at the time, makes no difference to her citizenship. If someone asks her if she is an American, she can say yes, with no need to explain further. In the Philippines, there seems to be so many who need to give her a different title, like "Phil-AM". Does my being her father lessen her tie to the Philippines? NO! She was born there, as was her mother. All this talk about blood being so important. What about the American blood that soaked into the Philippine's' soil, while the Americans drove the Japanese off your homeland? There are many a brave American who's final resting place is the Philippines. Maybe the Philippines would be happier being a nation of slaves for Japan? I don't think so. I am very proud that my daughter's blood is a mix of American, and Filipino. She ties two great nations together, by simply being alive. As far as losing your culture, I have to agree with you. Your culture is a beautiful one, that I feel is closer to God than my own. I am going to do all I can to instill in my daughter that culture. She will speak English, Tagalog, and Basaya. Don't worry my friend, I will not allow any "SLANG" in my house. She will speak properly, without any shortcuts.I will not allow her to ever forget where she comes from. But that will not change the fact that she is not pure Filipina, or pure American. She will be a mix of the two, and I guess that will dilute the culture to some degree. Just remember that my love of your culture, and the people of that culture, is what brought about my daughter being born in the first place. In that view, it is her American culture that has been diluted as well.

Answer 3

There are something like 100,000 Filipinos in Chicago, but I cannot think of a Filipino neighborhood per se. I think the South Side answer is probably wrong.
Check out this website: www.faccrizalcenter.org

Answer 4

The north side of the city around the Edgewater and Andersonville area has a large Filipino population. There is a Filipino grocery store near Clark and Bryn Mawr and Filipino church around the Broadway/Bryn Mawr area.

Answer 5

I am not Filipino, but I remember working with alot of Filipino's when I worked in Chicago, so good chance you are right about this!

Answer 6

South side