Introducing FACC’s area reps for 2023

Clad in jeans and a black top, Marissa Olarte-Helbing joins FACC members on the dance floor  

 

By Susan Palmes-Dennis

ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina--Marissa Olarte-Helbing is one of the area representatives of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC), chosen to represent the Filipino-American community in Matthews town, southeastern  Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to the FACC board of directors.

Marissa graduated from St. Louis University in Baguio City, Phillippines. She loves nursing and music and based on her work, both nursing and music love her back.

Some of the FACC board of directors for 2023

Volunteering is second nature to this  pretty lady as she generously contributed her time and effort to the FACC including live performances when the occasion calls for it.

Marissa is a registered nurse for 34 years of which 32 were spent here in her adopted country. She’s a certified nurse executive and certified DNS-CT Director of Nursing Services. Marissa is also an ICP-C or infection control preventionist.

Area rep Ces Tautjo with outgoing prez Yulie Armstrong 

I came to know Marissa when she is lead singer of the band Silver Moon Rising and since then I became her fan. 

She sang some of my favorite original Pilipino songs like ‘Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko (translated in English as ‘Even If My Hair Turned White).’  Marissa is working as an administrator at Pruitthealth Union Pointe.

Marissa described her voice as sounding like a mix of Kelley Clarkson and Allanah Myles. With her talent and drive, I won’t be surprised to see her doing great things for FACC soon.

Meanwhile another FACC area representative, Maria Ces Tuatjo, is representing Mecklenburg specifically the Cornelius-Huntersville area.

Maria is known as the First Lady of the FACC, wife to incoming president Dr. Ed Tautjo. She is a nurse and in her free days she plays tennis competitively in the USTA league and in the Clay Court league in Lake Norman Area.

This petite brown lady steps up to the limelight due to her husband, Dr. Tautjo. It was learned she was a team captain last spring and also this fall.

The FACC’s constitution and bylaws stated that district or area representatives shall have the following duties: To communicate and coordinate activities of the Association to his/her constituents, to provide important information to his/her constituents concerning the Association and communicate the members’ concerns to the board. 

Emoji Band with Ed Tautjo and Marissa Olarte-Helbing

They will also assist the Membership Committee in the membership drives and collection of dues and perform such other assignments as the Board of Directors may request.

The other District representatives are: Jannette Byerly, Cora Munsee and Jesus Yalong.

The FACC board of directors for 2023 officers are: Ed Tautjo, President; Beth Kremer First Vice President; Liezel Perez Bell, Second Vice President; Aurea Barbee, Secretary; Elsie Maurice Treasurer and Stella Lawsin Auditor.

As an active FACC member, I will continue writing about the FACC’s area representatives as soon as more data are collected.

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