People, Events, Places (PEP)

  Krishyl Alos Laderas with her family By Susan Palmes-Dennis A MATH teacher with roots in the Philippines is chosen as this year’s ‘Teacher Of The Year’ of Anson Middle School at Wadesboro, North Carolina as well as the ‘Outstanding Secondary Math Teacher’ by the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Krishyl Alos Laderas, who finds numbers interesting as it makes her think and solve life’s problems feels inspired to continue giving, uplifting and making a difference in the lives of her students.    Laderas, who always carries a smile on her face. said the awards are not only a validation of what she does inside the classroom but also what she instills into her students everyday which are persistence and dedication.    She said the awards is a reminder to her of the responsibility she carries as an educator.  Laderas, whose language revolves around square roots, quotients, absolute value and coordinates was nominated by her administrator which ...

By Susan Palmes-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—Seven kids with special needs and seven adult regular models walked the runway in a fashion show dubbed ‘Inclusion Is In And Ignorance Is Out’ held last Nov. 15 at the Discovery Place in Charlotte. These special needs kids that posed and walked shoulder to shoulder with the regular models were dressed in the creations of fashion designer Malou Cordery, a native of Villanueva town in Misamis Oriental province, northern Mindanao Philippines. Cordery, who now lives in the Carolinas, said her ‘heart is full and grateful’ for having joined the fashion show which carries the motto ‘I’m Possible.’  The show is organized and produced by Kelly Melerine, the father of a child with a severe disability.     Cordery said the show made it possibe for these children to feel accepted, included and most of all, loved. ‘It brings light to individuals that are otherwise left in the dark, like our special needs,’ she said. There were 27 desig...

  By Susan Palmes-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—‘When you think of a leader, (can you name) me one (that comes to mind)?’ That’s the question posed by resource speaker Ramon Tenoso during the recent Leadership Workshop sponsored by the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) at the Asian Library here. Some of the participants like Anna Chua answered ‘Jesus Christ’, son of God and founder of Christianity while Jesett Kelly named ‘Marissa Olarte’, the incumbent FACC president. There were other leaders mentioned such as Dr. Eumelia Nini Bautista de Garcia, an ROTC Commander in high school and George Washington Jr., according to JR Kelly.   Tenoso spoke to the participants through Zoom from London and followed the questions concerning the qualities of a leader.     The participants replied that a leader has compassion and vision which draws followers to them.   ‘Inspire before I expire’ Tenoso then reminded the attendees that leaders are defined diff...