Best of Filipino bayanihan spirit in 34th FACC Gala Night



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 directors headed by its President Dr. Ed Tautjo asked for donations for these essentials and distributed these to the new arrivals. 


We always find that Filipino solidarity and bayanihan spirit in us Filipino-Americans and it’s this spirit that drives the engine for us all.  It is in that same spirit that we celebrate tonight as we are all heroes to each other. 


Among the events lined up for the FACC Gala Night is the contests for the best in long gown, best in Filipiniana attire and best in barong Tagalog. 


Another contest would be the Jerusalem Dance Contest. Performers for the night are Doreen Reynolds, Marissa Olarte, Kevin Villanueva, Stella Lawsin, Emelyn Burgess and daughter, Renante Lugatiman, the Kultura Filipina Dance and the Pinoy Noir band.  Oh and some sopranos and tenors round up the cast of performers. 


And last but not least, the Kakanin Festival scheduled at 10 pm when guests will have the chance to taste the best of Filipino delicacies.  See you all tonight!/Susan Palmes-Dennis


PS: To all attendees and guests: You can use the bar code for the program and souvenir book. 

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