People, Events, Places (PEP)

Michelle Amor with her father Dr. Tony Amor By Susan Palmes-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—One of the members of the Filipino Young Leaders program who spoke before the Makati Business Club just recently is from North Carolina. Clad in a red and blue dress, Michelle Amor was photographed with the first US Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris during the US embassy reception for the vice president who was then on a three-day state visit to the Philippines.  Michelle Amor was one of two selected speakers at the Makati Business Club in Manila. The MBC’s guests included the US vice president’s husband. Michelle is a member of the Filipino Young Leaders Program, a joint initiative of the Philippine Embassy,   US Consulate General and the Ayala Foundation of the Philippines. The Filipino American Young leaders Program is a network of high performing next generation leader awardees engaged in advocacy of the Filipino culture and image through th

By Susan Palmes-Dennis ‘We conducted ourselves responsibly and by doing so, we survived.’ Dr. Rosen Lawsin with son Ro Lawsin This was the core of Dr. Rosen Lawsin’s message which she delivered as keynote speaker of the 33rd Gala Night of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) held last Nov. 12, a Saturday, at the Hilton Charlotte Airport Hotel. About 570 attendees gathered for the event held after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Rosen wore a red gown and pinned her hair on a bun and she was introduced by her own son Ro Lawsin, this year’s FACC Ex- Officio member.  This year’s FACC Gala Night carried the theme ‘Pearl of the Orient: Seas, Sights and Sounds, Pearly Nights of Elegance and Glamour.’ Speaking on the event’s theme, Rosen reminded those in attendance that the Philippines was the first to be named and known as ‘the Pearl of the Orient Seas’ by the country’s national hero Dr. Jose Rizal who used the description to profess his love of th

This blue dress modeled by Edelweiss's sister Eileen de Guzman is now in the Lending Tree corporate headquarters in Charlotte, NC by Susan Palmer-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—The other fashion presenter in the 33rd Annual FACC (Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas) Gala scheduled this Saturday (Nov. 12) is Edelweiss De Guzman-Vogel, a visual artist and art educator whose work already reached the Paris runway. FACC 2nd vice-president Beth Kremer said Edelweiss will present  the Visayan island’s clothing style during the ‘Tradisyon(al) Na Kasuutan Ng Mga Filipino’ portion of the 33rd FACC Gala.   Edelweiss is one of three Fil-Am fashion designers to be featured in the program along with Venancio Tadeo and Malou Tabada-Cordery.  The Samar dress made of 'banig' or buri.  The ‘Tradisyon Na Kasuutan Ng Mga Filipino’ mini-fadhion show is drawing interest from the Filipino-American community right now.  Tadeo will present the Luzon islands traditional clothing while Co

  By Susan Palmes-Dennis Rockingham, North Carolina—One of the featured events at the 33rd FACC (Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas) Gala Night on Nov. 12 is a fashion show covering the three major islands of the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. FACC 2nd Vice President Beth Kremer, who’s in charge of this year’s Gala Night, said the fashion event dubbed as the ‘Tradisyon Na Kasuutan Ng Mga Pilipino (Traditional Filipino Costume) will showcase the creations of Fil-Am fashion designers of Charlotte namely Venancio Tadeo, Edelweiss de Guzman-Vogel and Malou Cordery.  The works of de Guzman-Vogel and Cordery were shown on the runways of   North Carolina in the US and Paris, France. All three—Tadeo, de Guzman-Vogel and Cordery--are active FACC members and former FACC officers. As explained to yours truly by Beth Kremer, Tadeo’s creations will cover the Luzon islands while de Guzman-Vogel’s creations cover the Visayas islands. Cordery, a native of Cagayan de Oro Ci

  By Susan Palmes-Dennis Rockingham, North Carolina—Surprises and entertainment galore await members of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) as their 33rd Gala Night takes center stage at the Hilton Charlotte Airport Hotel this Saturday, Nov. 12. The 33rd Gala Night of the FACC carries the theme ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas Sights and Sounds, Pearly Night of Elegance and Glamour’, said FACC 2nd Vice President Beth Kremer who is one of four hosts of the headline event to be attended by both members and non-members alike. Based on an initial copy of the program received by yours truly, the 10-minute ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas Vignette (PInoy Ako)’ portion of the Eskwelahang Munti (EM) of Charlotte is scheduled at 8:10 pm of the Gala Night. In case more details of the 33rd FACC Gala Night come out, I’ll post ASAP. At any rate other highlights of the 33rd FACC Gala Night are as follows in no particular order: The Tradisyon Na Kasuutan Ng Mga Pilipino (Traditional Fil