People, Events, Places (PEP)

  By Susan Palmes-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—As I write this, there’s a full week and a few days before March ends.     Incidentally, aside from commemorating the annual International Women’s Month, the last week of March also coincides with the annual observance of Holy Week starting with Palm Sunday on March 24. So it’s probably serendipitous that over the past weekend, seven women parishioners of St. James Catholic Church here trooped to the Carolinas cinema to watch the movie ‘Cabrini.’ ‘Cabrini’ tells the story of Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini, the founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.    She and other sisters arrived in New York and was greeted by the sight of impoverished children, disease, prostitution and other crimes.  Cabrini encountered disappointment, difficulties and resistance within the Catholic Church hierarchy.    Maybe the resistance came out of frustration in failing to establish the Catho...

  By Susan Palmes-Dennis ROCKINGHAM, North Carolina—It was nearly pitch black at the end of the 15th station save only for the lighted candles inside the St. James Catholic Church. The parishioners were caught up with unexplainable sentiments at that moment.   One such churchgoer was Marilou Jagonos Haynes, one of the readers of the Mary’s Way of the Cross, the second year this event was held in the church.    The 15th station is when Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. The resurrection scene was accompanied by a piano solo of the song “What Wondrous Love Is This, O My Soul, O My Soul’ as performed by pianist Debbie McRoberts.     Her voice rang true like a mother longing for the presence of her children. ‘It was lovely,’ said one lady parishioner to Terri Wyman who explained to the faithful in her opening message that the Mary’s Way Of The Cross was held for the second straight year in St. James.    Kim Brunner Stella, who was unavailable that ...

  By Susan Palmes-Dennis Rockingham, North Carolina—It’s going to be a busy, meaningful and fun-filled weekend ahead for the Filipino-American community of the Carolinas with two events lined up for their calendar. The first will be the annual Simbang Gabi (Night Mass) at St. Thomas Aquinas Church at 7 pm, according to Joiee Apilat Arrojado.    Fr. Raymond Ekosse, parochial vicar of the St. Thomas Aquinas Church will officiate the Mass and light refreshments will be served afterward. Proceeds of a bake sale of delicious delicacies and desserts will pay for the acquisition of the St. Thomas Aquinas Church sound systems.   The Simbang Gabi is a cherished Filipino Christmas tradition. In the Philippines, the Simbang Gabi starts at 4 am on Dec. 16 and will be held every 4 am until December 24. Catholic churches in the Charlotte area tweak this tradition by holding one hour Masses. Filipino songs will be sung during the Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and it will be the...

  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

No tickets for the 34th FACC Gala Night will be sold at the hotel entrance, said FACC president Dr. Ed Tautjo. This means that those interested to attend the Oct. 7 event have only until Oct. 4 to buy their tickets. The soft-spoken Dr. Tautjo said it’s the policy of the Grand Ballroom Hilton, the venue for the event, not to allow last minute purchases considering there are already 500 confirmed attendees for the Gala Night. The hotel is located at Charlotte Airport 2800 Coliseum Centre Drive. As of this writing, Dr. Tautjo said there are only a few tickets for the event. An FACC signature event, the first Gala Night was organized 34 years ago by spouses Rudy and Lita Joaquin and held at the Royce Hotel before the FACC was organized.  This year’s Gala Night carries the theme ‘Bayanihan In A Foreign Land: Heroes To Each Other.’     For inquiries on how to purchase the tickets, they can contact any member of the FACC board of directors.   This year’s FACC board of direc...