A baby grand piano symbolizes harmony at Chicago’s Rizal Center

Members of Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago board of directors receiving a baby grand piano for the Rizal Center from Dr. Cleofe Guangko Casambre. CONTRIBUTED

Members of Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago board of directors on June 29 collectively received a baby grand piano for the Rizal Center from Dr. Cleofe Guangko Casambre.

The piano is on ’permanent loan’ to the Center for the next 50 years, or until someone donates a Steinway.

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At an informal reception Dr. Casambre said, “May this baby grand piano be an instrument of joy and harmony for the Filipino Americans in Chicago.”

It may be recalled that on August 19, 2022, following a five-day bench trial in May, the Circuit Court of Cook County ruled in favor of the Plaintiff “FACGC, by its chairman of the board of directors, Jerry Clarito, (Clarito Faction)” restoring it as the “true and legitimate” Board of Trustees for the Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago (FACGC).

Specifically, Judge Hon. Clare Quish, ruled that the Defendants, by its chairman of the board of directors, Alexander Gonzales (Gonzales Faction), and Elaine Lehman,” wrongfully assumed control over the Board in January 2017, after failing to adhere to the organization’s constitution and by-laws, and that all actions taken by the Defendants over the last five years were invalid.