FACC headlines 14th annual Charlotte Asian Festival

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

EVERYTHING is set for the 14th annual Charlotte Asian Festival scheduled on May 17, this year.

The annual Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Races are organized by the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association.

The annual Asian festival is a family-oriented event for Asian and non-Asian communities in and around Mecklenburg County and throughout the Carolinas. It celebrates various Asian cultures, their ethnicities, roots and histories.

Fil-Am dragon boat racers practicing to win.

Aside from the Dragon Boat races, organizers also lined up cultural performances, the search for Miss Asia Carolinas and the traditional Asian food and crafts among other activities.
However, there won't be any Miss Asia Carolinas pageant for this year.

The first Asian Festival was organized several years ago under the leadership of Ki-Hyun-Chun and was first started at the Wachovia Atrium. 

The festival was then transferred at the Ramsey creek park and along with the dragon festival became Asia’s premier Asian festival.

The Dragon Festival dates back two centuries in ancient China specifically in the southern province. 

According to the website of the Charlotte dragon festival, dragon boat racing is one of the earliest known forms of boat racing.

It is celebrated at festivals and races throughout the world and signifies Chinese culture and spirit. 

Legend has it that Qu Yuan, a scholar and advisor to the emperor of the Chu Kingdom, jumped into the Mei Lo (Mi Luo) river in despair to protest against government corruption.

Local fishermen raced out in their boats to save him. 

They beat drums and pounded their paddles on the river’s waters and threw rice dumplings wrapped in silk into the river to distract the water dragons from eating Qu Yuan’s body. 

It was this legend that dragon boating evolved into what it is today. 

The Fil-American contingents are all excited about this month's event. 

“It is more than a big deal for the Filipino team to win the Dragon Boat race on May 17,” said Kay Antone, 2nd Vice President of the Filipino-American Association of the Carolinas (FACC) in the group's Facebook page. 

There are 43 teams that pre-registered in the Dragon Boat festival. Dr. Michael ”Mike” Borja, Fil-Am team captain, said the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association will host a pre-race mixer at Vida Mexican Cantina at the Epicenter from 6 to 8 p.m on May 15. Vida is located in the heart of uptown Charlotte at the intersection of Trade and College Streets Epicenter.

Complimentary appetizers will be served and beverages like beer and margaritas will be available at $3 and $5 respectively.  

The first 75 people will receive a complimentary beverage. “Don't forget to wear your team shirt,” Dr. Borja said.

The FACC through its 2014 president Dr. Malette A. Oliveros encouraged all Fil-Americans to join the celebration. Last year an estimated 4,500 people attended the 13th Annual Asian Festival and 7th Annual Dragon Boat Festival.

Read more about the twin activities at http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/06/19/3328272/13th-annual-asian-festival-and.html#storylink=cpy.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. See her website at www.susanpalmes-dennis.simplesite.com. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis. 

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/)https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)