People, Events, Places (PEP)

  By Susan Palmes-Dennis The winners of the Filipiniana attire, barong Tagalog and long evening gown contest held during the 34thGala Night of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) held last Oct. 7 had their own stories to tell about their attire which they shared with yours truly. Foe Tonette Asay, her winning Filipiniana gown was designed by a T’boli fashion design student. The ethnic cloth cannot be replicated locally here in the US and is only used to accentuate the belt or chaleco for special occasions. The hat called ‘Sloong Kneba’ is a symbol representing a bird’s beak. The intricate design pattern originated from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato province.  Asay said the cut of the dress is unique and the butterfly sleeves highlight the national Filipino terno. The color white stands for purity, the red is the blood of ancestors while black symbolizes the soil from which they come from. The yellow color was added to the gown to set the wearer apart as a ...

Everything is ready for the 34th Gala Night of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) at 6 pm today, Oct. 7, at the Hilton Charlotte Airport Hotel.   This year’s FACC Gala Night carries the theme ‘Bayanihan in a Foreign Land: Heroes To Each Other’ and it resonates to what is happening among Pinoys globally.   There is always that bayanihan or community spirit among the Pinoys when they arrive and set roots in a foreign land including here in the Charlotte area (the seat of the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas, Inc).   Case in point which is very recent is the arrival of teachers from the Philippines who didn’t bring much of their belongings here due to the prohibitive fees.    These teachers just had their one check in bag and one hand carried bag. They need basic items to survive and get started in their new lives here.  The Filipino-American community through the initiative and leadership of the FACC 2023 board of directo...

  It’s all systems go for the 34th Gala Night of the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) scheduled on the evening of Oct. 7 at the Grand Ballroom of Hilton Charlotte Airport at 2800 Coliseum Centre Drive. FACC President Ed Tautjo said among the activities lined up for the event is a contest for the best in Filipiniana dress, barong Tagalog and evening gown. Here is a video message by the FACC officials inviting the Filipino-American community in the Carolinas to attend the 34th FACC Gala Night./ Susan Palmes-Dennis