Scholars, songs and dance in Charlotte Amore event

Me with hubby ||Ronnie

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

At least 200 turned out for the first Charlotte Amore dinner and dance event spearheaded by the Couples for Christ  to raise funds for their ANCOP Child Sponsorship Program.

The event held at the St. Gabriel Parish Center was well organized from the registration up to the lining of people for food. About 261 tickets were sold for event hosted by the husband and wife team of Ben and Meng Lorenzo.

In his welcome remarks Jake Miranda, Manager of ANCOP Foundation (USA) Inc.'s Southeast Asian region, said there are 21 students fron the Philippines who will receive scholarships for a year based on the presence of the attendees.

Rogelio and Stella Lawsin cited for sponsoring three scholars

Another 10 scholars will be sponsored by pledges, he said. Sr. Edeva, O.P led the prayers before meals while the diners were serenaded by classic love music.

Miranda said the Charlotte Amore event mirrors the celebration of love between husband and wife, children and friends and this love is demonstrated through faith in action. ANCOP is an acronym for Answering the Cry Of the Poor. 

ANCOP is a non-profit organization founded by CFC, an international Catholic lay organization committed to helping the poor. Couples for Christ, in turn, is a ministry for married couples in the Catholic Church.

Miranda cited the program's guiding principle by paraphrasing Mother Teresa, who said that people “will be judged on the basis of their love for one another.” 

Aside from the dancing, also making the event an evening to remember were performers from the guests like the group Pinoy Noir Lite and guest band Tarah and the Emojis.

Pinoy Noir Lite which is composed of Dr. Edward Tautjo, Atty.Leia Anastacio and Dr. Ronel Enrique sang a medley of Filipino  contemporary classics and guest band Tarah and the Emojis.

Also on hand were the CFC South and North  Charlotte who danced to the popular love songs  and Vanessa Carino who sang popular tunes like “Can't Take My Eyes off You.” 

Emelyn “Em-Em" Burgess sang a medley of Beatles' hits. Burgess is the auditor of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) and sits in the group's board of directors. 

Past FACC president Bert Rodriguez was also game as he sang the classic “Put Your Head On My Shoulder.”  He and Burgess later did a duet of the song “Endless Love.”

Burgess and Carino also sang “The Greatest Love of All” with Leia Anastacio. Several awards were also given. Among the recipients were Steve Mirman, Lisa McNamara, Nana Nonato, Malette Oliveros and Jessica Esguerra  for early bird arrivals.

John and Lucille Moses were also given appreciation gifts for being the longest married couple among the attendees. John is 98 while Lucille is 93.
Also awarded were Peter and Belinda Villadarez as Mr and Mrs. Amore.

Host Dr. Bing Lorenzo with the oldest couple in the event,

Malette Oliveros and Jessica Esguerra  were also cited for selling the most Amore tickets. 

There were also awards for Best Dressed Couple, Best Dressed Male (Danny Falk) and Best Dressed Female (Mia Bacho). Rogelio and Stella Lawsin were also awarded for sponsoring three scholars in the Philippines.

Seen during the event were Dr. Eumelia “Nini" Bautista, FACC past president and past FAS president with her sister Grace Basilan; FACC past president Florami Lao C. Lee with husband Wyatt; Gloria Cagadas Grifenhagin, founder of Eskwelahang Munti Charlotte; and FACC 2019 secretary Dorena Reynolds with her mom Lydia Burdeos. 

Also in attendance were Mr and Mrs. Marcial del Mundo, Mrs. Bert. Rodriguez, Dr. Mike and Tracy Borja, Mildred Cordova, Maryanne Cagurangan DelaPena and husband, Dhi Donato,Faith Minase Springborg, Sr. Zeny Mofada,O.P  and a lot more.

Stay tuned for more stories on Amore.