Fil-Am doc is new FACC president in the Carolinas

Past FACC presidents attending the annual electon of officers and FACC general assembly with 2023 president Dr. Ed Tautjo at the far left side,

By Susan Palmes-Dennis

Rockingham, North Carolina--A physician was chosen to head the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) Inc. in 2023.

Dr. Edward Tautjo, who works at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, was elected FACC president. Having served as FACC second vice president and then FACC first vice president in the last two years, he had more than enough experience to transition to the FACC presidency. Doing so means he will take charge of the FACC’s 34th Gala in 2023. 

FACC 2023 president Dr. Ed Tautjo
The incoming FACC president graduated from the Cebu Institute of Medicine after completing his Bachelor’s Degree at Ateneo de Manila University. 

Dr. Tautjo completed his postgraduate internship at UP Philippine General Hospital. He loves music so much that his presence is always felt during events of the FACC as he performs with his band named Pinoy Noir.

Also joining Tautjo is FACC first Vice President Beth Kremer who, like Tautjo, served the FACC in the past two years--first as area representative during the term of Ro Lawsin and then second vice president last year.

Kremer chaired the 33rd Gala in 2022 and she has years of experience in production environment, customer service and office management. Her diverse portfolio shows she’s a team player that’s always looking to help others and the organization she’s part of to achieve their goals. If that’s not enough to impress, Beth Kremer also speaks three languages.

The FACC second VP is Liezel Perez Bell, who served during the presidency of Robert Escobal in 2015 and 2016 about four years after setting foot in the Carolinas from Costa Rica. Bell is from Batangas province in the Philippines by the way. ‘I have been a member of FACC since then,’ Bell said.

She married Jeremy Bell and has two daughters named Ashley and Nicole and a stepdaughter named Christine.  She studied Hotel and Restaurant Management and worked in the hospitality industry for many years and currently works at Amazon.

Past FACC presidents with outgoing president Yulie Armstrong (fourth from left)

Bell said she enjoyed serving the Filipino-American community and is looking forward to a successful and enjoyable time in the FACC where she expects to meet kababayans for the coming year.

Also joining Dr. Tautjo is Aurea Barbee who will serve as secretary to the FACC’s board of directors for 2023. She served in that same capacity in 2015-2016 and is connected with Nirosteel since 2009. Aurea is married to Ronald Barbee and they have one son named Raymond. She’s considered one of the angels of Dr. Nini Bautista whom she worked with in events like the Asian Festival.

The FACC auditor is Dr. Stella Lawsin, a pediatrician. Lawsin is connected with Atrium Health Levine Children’s South Lake Pediatrics since 2011. 

She had her pediatric residency at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC and completed postgraduate internship at East Avenue Medical Center, Quezon City.

Lawsin loves music and finished medical school at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center.

She obtained her bachelor’s degree at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. She was a participant in the Asian Festival for Performing Arts in 2021 and is also a member of the Pinoy Noir Band.

Likewise elected was Elsie Maurice, a teacher and FACC area representative last year and now incoming FACC treasurer.  

FACC’S area representatives are Marissa Olarte-Helbing, Jesus Yalong, Janette Byerly, Ces Tautjo and Cora Munsee of Richmond County. Rounding up the FACC board in her capacity as ex officio member is outgoing president Yulie Armstrong.

Comelec chairperson Tonette Asay oversaw the nomination and selection process in accordance with FACC’s by-laws. Other board members are Rose Talley and past FACC president Letty Waddel.

I’ll write more about them in the days to come. For now, suffice it to say that FACC remains a vibrant community in the Carolinas, an organization that stood the test of time through its members and  leaders who gave their time, talent and resources to sustain and ensure its enduring legacy for future generations of Filipino-Americans.

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