People, Events, Places (PEP)

Me taking a group shot with Marilou Jagonos Haynes (extreme left) and some friends. by Susan Palmes-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—This early in June, the Filipino Americans of Richmond County are excited to attend the 33rd FACC (Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas) Annual Gala.  Marilou Jagonos Haynes of Rockingham told this corner that she and her friends are attending the annual FACC Gala scheduled on Nov. 12, 2022 at the Hilton Charlotte Airport Hotel on 2800 Coliseum Center Drive. Marilou Jagonos Haynes ‘We have our tickets now,’ said the beautiful Haynes who’s residing in Richmond County for nearly one fourth of a century. Haynes is born and raised in Calape, Bohol and worked in Sereban, Malaysia for nearly eight years before migrating to the US.  Richmond County comprises the cities of Rockingham, Hamlet, Ellerbe, East Rockingham, Hoffman, Dobbins Heights, Cordova and Norman. The county is covered by the FACC under Section 5 of Article 111 of the organizatio...

By Susan Palmes-Dennis Rockingham, North Carolina—Three of the 15 creations made by Filipino American fashion designer Malou-Tabada Cordery stood out for me during the just concluded ‘Random Acts of Art and Fashion Spring 2022 Show’ held by the group Charlotte Seen at the Hyatt Centric Hotel. One of them, a white and blue outfit worn by model Caroline Gravelle, was the perfect finale for Malou’s creations as its colors brightened the venue along with the matching ruffles headband. The dress came with a matching headband adorned with ruffles worn by Caroline. Perched on top of the headband was a boat which Malou said evoked childhood memories of her home country the Philippines.   The petite Malou, who hails from Mindanao Philippines, reminisced about her boat trip from Cagayan de Oro City to Cebu City. Her trip then took her to Bohol province where she visited her grandparents and relatives. Malou described her white and blue outfit, which represented the color of the oce...

  By Susan Palmes-Dennis ‘I CAME to move, move, move, ‘cause it goes on and on,‘ so went the lyrics to the song ‘Dynamite’ by Taio Cruz that reverberated through most of the Newell Elementary School last Saturday (Feb. 26). As sung live by Rommel Olarte of the Emojis Band, the song drove those in attendance to swoon to the beat during the post Valentine dinner concert sponsored by the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC).     The event called ‘FACC Dinner Concert’ is a fundraiser in which attendees paid US $20 each for the organization. About 32 out of 38 songs in the playlist was sung by alternating vocalists, said Marissa Olarte—one of the vocalists. The playlist is a mix of modern, fast and slow music of all genres which appealed to the sense of nostalgia of the attendees, said FACC president Yulie Armstrong. Chris Helms, husband of FACC auditor Jean Helms, said the crowd went nuts as songs like ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Can’t Help Falling In Lov...

  By Susan Palmes-Dennis Rockingham, North Carolina—A lot of hearts were broken at the sudden demise of Lourdes Bitualla of Rock Hill, South Carolina last January 18. I met Lourdes at Elsa’s Sari-Sari Store many years ago. I can still remember that she was with Ghing Voght at that time. I was interviewing Elsa Laffitte about her store that at the time was stocked with assorted Filipino goods. The ever friendly Lourdes or Des was all smiles as she pointed out to me where the ‘sardines, dried fish and silhig (native Filipino broom)’ were placed. It was a blessing that she was a Bisaya like me, hailing from Albuera town in Leyte province.   I was new in town and looked for a source of income. As a former tri-media practitioner back in Cagayan de Oro City, I wasn’t a big deal in my adoptive country. It was Lourdes who told me about her one woman business in cleaning houses and it perked my interest enough that she asked me to register the business and she would help me with ...

  by Susan Palmes-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—After being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual ‘Simbang Gabi’ or ‘Night Mass’ will be held anew at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Dec. 17 at 7 pm, Friday.  Lota Mascarenas, a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, said their ‘Simbang Gabi’ is now on its 11th year after it was started by the church’s Filipino parishioners. This year’s Simbang Gabi is sponsored by the Couples for Christ and North Rosary Group, Mascarenas said.  Father Matthew Codd, pastor of the St. Thomas Aquinas Church, is the celebrant of the Mass. Members of the St. Thomas Aquinas Filipino community will serve as choir.  The Hymn Halina Jesus, a common Tagalog church song, will be sung at the processional to start the Holy Eucharist.  The song ‘Unang Alay’ will be sung as the gifts are prepared as is the song 'Ang Kr isto Ay Gunitain' during the acclamation. The first 2009 'Simbang Gabi' at St. Thomas Aquinas Church The Fi...

Maria Lynn donating her hair to her cancer-stricken friend Eva Berdon Rhyne by Susan Palmes-Dennis Rockingham, North Carolina—Maria Lynn is unable to celebrate her birthday on Dec. 20.  Instead Maria’s family and friends will bid her a final farewell as she will be laid to rest on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the South Chapel of the Greene Funeral Service whose address is 1503 S York RD, Gastonia, NC 28052.  When I saw a Facebook post detailing Maria Lynn’s untimely demise due to a heart attack, I was stunned like her friends at how her death came so suddenly. My mind went back to the days when I met Maria Lynn, specifically on the 2017 Spring Picnic organized by the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc.  Since there was already a program for that event that was held during my incumbency as FACC president, I had to decide favorably on Maria Lynn’s request to allow her to shave her long hair  in front of all attendees. She did this in support of her friend Eva B...

by Susan Palmes-Dennis   Rockingham, North Carolina—To Filipino-Americans in the Carolinas, please show your love and support to Dance Team Philippines 2021 as they compete in the much awaited Asian Festival (Search for the Asian Festival Performing Arts) on Saturday, Oct. 23. Tonette Asay, overall chairperson of Dance Team Philippines 2021, made this announcement as she disclosed that their contingent will perform a Royal Dance, a form of Singkil that recounts the ordeal of Princess Gandingan who was kidnapped by a diwata (guardian spirits) while traveling. The ‘Singkil Dance’ shows the dancers getting entangled with vines, bamboo or anything in their path. The dance was popularized by the Bayanihan Dance Troupe of the Philippines.  Philippine legend said the dance is adapted from the Maranao people that lived in the shoreline of Lake Lanao. The dancers skillfully manipulate the fan which represents the wind while the scarf represents the waves of the lake. The clacki...