People, Events, Places (PEP)

  By Susan Palmes-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—  It’s full steam ahead for the 36th Annual Gala of the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) scheduled on Oct. 25, 2025 at the Le Mèridien Charlotte Hotel here in North Carolina as the event highlights the cultural significance of Dr. Jose Rizal’s magnum opus ‘Noli Me Tangere.’   Already FACC president Marissa Olarte is heavily promoting the 36th FACC Gala in all her social media posts that were shared by FACC’s board of directors. Based on what I heard, the tickets are selling really well and I thank gala chairperson Edelweiss Vogel for giving me a sneak peek into the gala through a short video (see below).  As what she told me, they looked to Dr. Jose Rizal’s immortal epic novel Noli Me Tangere for inspiration.  Vogel, a Charlotte-based Filipino-American visual artist and educator said they want to bring Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere to life through art, fashion, music, and perfor...

By Susan Palmes-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—From Charlotte, North Carolina all the way to Harrah’s Casino Resort in Cherokee, the ‘Sugala’ event of the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) that was held last Aug. 9 was met with enthusiasm from participants who had a grand time. Based on stories by FACC 1st Vice President Louie Anquillo and the social media posts of the FACC board of directors, this year’s Sugala was dedicated to the more mature members as a way of thanking them for supporting the organization since its inception back in the late 80s. The trip even covered beautiful Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains. ‘We are being pampered today,’ said FACC past president Dell Fallar. While some members rode in their cars, most of them rode in one bus rented by the FACC and the passengers had a grand time playing bingo and singing karaoke. The passengers were also served food like donuts, peanuts, zucchini and cassava cake prepared by Evelyn Glass. The con...

Past and present FACC officials with Ambassador Jose Miguel G. Romualdez By Susan Palmes-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—‘Be the ambassador of the Philippines.’ This in essence was the message delivered by his Excellency Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Miguel G. Romualdez to a small crowd of Filipino Americans gathered at the Ballantyne Hotel over the weekend. At the meet and greet organized by the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) Romualdez told the crowd that they ‘make his job easy’ by being good citizens of the states they live in and reflecting the best traits and virtues of every Filipino in their respective communities.  ‘That to me makes me feel good about it. It gives us the image of the country that we are proud, the Philippines.    We are known to be a country whose people are kind, hospitable, hardworking people all over the world. “ that is why whatever work you do as health professionals, teachers, or whatever give your best as ...