A City of Hustle, A Culture of Diskarte | How Chicago’s Filipino Community Is Turning Creativity into Collective Power and Keeping the Spirit of FAHM Alive Year-Round

Photo Courtesty of Diskarte from Bata Sole X Diskarte FAHM Kick Off that coordinated sneaker collection, cleaning, packing for less fortunate families in the Philippines.

As Filipino American History Month draws to a close, one thing has become clear in Chicago: the community isn’t slowing down when the calendar flips. This October marked the launch of DISKARTE: Coalition, a new movement rooted in the Filipino value of resourceful hustle. Designed as a bridge between creativity and economic empowerment, DISKARTE has brought together local leaders across sports, arts, music, and food to show that Filipino pride doesn’t end in October—it’s a year-round force for progress.

Throughout Filipino American History Month, DISKARTE: Coalition emerged as one of the most forward-looking movements to come out of Chicago’s Filipino community this year. The coalition’s launch celebrated both heritage and innovation, building a pathway for collaboration that turns culture into capital. From basketball courts and art galleries to kitchens and turntables, DISKARTE’s mission is clear: celebrate our roots, strengthen our network, and build financial pathways for the future.

“Chicago has long been a city defined by its resilience, hustle, and creativity - qualities that resonate deeply with the Filipino concept of diskarte,” said Voltaire Olitan, co-founding member of DISKARTE: Coalition. 

“Through this launch, we’re creating a platform that uplifts our community while addressing the urgent need for youth to gain access to financial education and economic opportunity.”

That sense of purpose runs deep through the coalition’s first rollout. DISKARTE is partnering with local leaders and collectives representing four creative pillars: sports, music, visual arts, and food. The goal is simple yet powerful—to use culture as a gateway to empowerment. By aligning Filipino pride with practical tools like financial literacy workshops, mentorship, and CRA-qualified partnerships, the coalition is showing that the future of community development can be both joyful and strategic.

In sports, local groups like FairwayChi, PBA Chicago, and Bata Sole are linking athletics with outreach, using games to raise funds for families in need. In music, tastemakers like JayFunk, Flipside, and The Hoy Luck Club bring rhythm to the movement, curating events that double as fundraisers and connection points for young Filipino creatives. In food, chefs like Dale Talde, Christine Morales, and Gino Viola are turning their kitchens into classrooms—serving kamayan platters alongside lessons in entrepreneurship.

For Lyle del Mundo, co-founder of the coalition, culture is not a backdrop but a catalyst.

“Having worked on community engagement and economic empowerment programs for over two decades, I’ve seen how cultural connection drives participation,” he said. 

“This initiative combines our cultural pride with real-world tools like financial education, making it possible for young people to honor their heritage while building their future.”

As FAHM festivities fill Chicago—from ube horchata at Phodega to live art from Sinag Collective—the coalition’s presence ties it all together. Each partnership reminds the city that celebration and strategy can coexist. And beyond the fun lies a deeper framework: a pathway for banks, corporations, and public agencies to reinvest in underserved communities through the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). By supporting youth-focused financial education and entrepreneurship programs, DISKARTE gives institutions a tangible way to turn commitment into change.

As FAHM wraps up, DISKARTE: Coalition’s message lingers: Filipino pride is more than a celebration; it’s a strategy…a lifelong comittment to fostering our community’s success. The coalition plans to continue rolling out programs through the winter, offering mentorship, financial literacy workshops, and creative collaborations that uplift Chicago’s Filipino youth. In a city built on resilience, DISKARTE is proving that heritage can be both inspiration and infrastructure, and that the Filipino hustle doesn’t end on October 31.

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