FACC holds oathtaking of 2025 board of directors

The 2025 board of directors of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC)

By Susan Palmes-Dennis


ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—It was a perfect place and time to hold last Saturday’s (Jan. 25) oathtaking of the 2025 board of directors of the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC). 


An intimate and elegant gathering was held for the event at the McCain House in Union Exchange at Monroe and the cold air didn’t dampen the fiery zeal of each of the 12 directors of the FACC in attendance.


Sworn to office were Marissa Olarte as President, Liezel Perez Bell as 1st Vice President, Dr. Loie Anquillo as 2nd Vice President, Marites Olarte as Secretary, Barbara Averi as Treasurer, Ranilo Perez Jr as Auditor and Melissa Olarte as Press Relations Officer. 


Area Representatives were Emelyn Burgess, Ram Cabanero, Evelyn Glass and Maribel Lankford.  Area Rep Erce Cobile was not around while 2024 FACC president Dr. Ed Tautjo joined the board of directors as an ex-officio member. 


The 2025 FACC’s board of directors after the ceremony
Olarte  shared her passion of volunteerism and said being elected as well as volunteering for work is not new to her. 


She said her son’s wisdom helped her decide to accept the nomination by not using the word ‘busy’ to decline the nomination. 


The event was also attended by past presidents Dr. Nini Bautista, Dell Fallar, Florami Lao Lee and Robert Escobal. Dr. Nini gave the opening remarks and recalled the good old days of the arrival of Pinoys to North Carolina and how they networked with other Pinoy groups in the Carolinas. 


Dell Fallar, a founding member along with her sister Mell, took out her Bible to pray for the incoming officials and the event. The induction and oathtaking were administered by the Comelec Chair Tonette Asay and Mell Fallar. 


Ex Officio Dr. Ed Tautjo then gave the closing remarks. Tautjo and last year’s board of directors were behind the 501(c) 3 status of the FACC. Finally, Rommel Olarte and Bella Colangelo led the singing of the Philippine and US national anthems. 


The 2025 FACC board of directors with the past FACC presidents and officials

It is worth noting that each of the elected director gave their acceptance speeches based on their function and responsibilities under the FACC by-laws. 


Ram Cabanero, an FACC area representative who also served as public relations officer during the term of President Escobal, promised to make the FACC ‘more mainstream’ to every Filipino in the Carolinas and to their friends.

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