Excitement amped up over 32nd FACC Gala Night

The Hilton Charlotte University Place

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Charlotte, North Carolina--With only a few more days  to go before the big event, attendees are excited over the 32nd Gala sponsored by the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas, Inc. (FACC).

There will be first timers, second timers and loyal attendees. One member of the FACC Board says many  attendees this year are either first timers or returnees. 

Among the first timers are Aneth Gomez and Jeff Houte who are newly inducted FACC members having moved here from New Jersey. 

Miguela Grant,  a resident of Rock Hill, South Carolina is a regular fixture at the FACC Gala because she loves to dance.

Miguela Grant

It was learned that Grant’s group bought one table good for 10 people first because they wanted to be near the stage where the action is. 

When Grant was asked why is attending she explained that she wants to have fun and meet people old and new. 

She said the first time she attended the FACC Gala was in 1999 or two months after she gave birth to her first son. “To enjoy life, while we can. Maybe, I attended five Galas already including one in Greensville,” she said.

Another regular, Marilyn Capinig, is also excited to attend the 32ndGala to be held at the Hilton Charlotte University Place. 

Marilyn, who is Maymay to friends, lives in Gastonia. She recalled the first time she attended was during the Gala when Lynn Lorenzo-Polk was the president. 

This year’s Gala is the 32nd year since it was started in 1988 by spouses Rudy and Lita Joaquin at Royce hotel. Since then the Gala became the signature event among the members and non members of the FACC. This year’s Gala carries the theme “Celebrating World Class Pinoy.”

Maymay Capinig with husband Jun 

A few days ago, some members of the FACC’s board of directors had a food tasting at the Hilton Charlotte University Place days before the event which you can read here. This year’s Gala would be held at the hotel’s University Ballroom.

There are still a few tickets available and those interested can contact any of the nearest board of directors nearest them.

For updates on the event check the FACC Facebook page or the profile page of any FACC board of directors or at the Straight from the Carolinas Facebook page. 

Taste testing menu items for FACC's 32nd Gala Night

By Susan Palmes-Dennis

Charlotte, North Carolina—With 24 days to go before the 32nd Gala of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC),  the menu for the big event is already in place.

The FACC’s Board of Directors went to a food tasting at the Hilton Charlotte University Place days ago and among the dishes readied was the herb chicken and grilled salmon.

“As I started taking a bite on the grilled samon which sat on liquid green herbs, the dish took my breath away,”  said Liza Salyer who was present during the food tasting.

FACC President Muffy Therrien said the menu was great while Ron Dennis agreed that it was perfect.

The menu for the 32nd FACC Gala Night consists of romaine and baby spinach salad with grape tomatoes, cucumbers, julienne carrots, sunflower seeds and croutons and served with  ranch and balsamic vinaigrette dressings.

There’s also the roasted vegetable salad of baby carrots and squash served with dijon vinaigrette and herb roasted chicken thighs, grilled salmon with chimichurri sauce and sauted pepper, jasmine rice tossed with lemon zest and fresh herbs, steamed broccolini with shitake mushrooms, carrots, soy sauce and toasted sesame seeds.

For dessert there is pecan pie/cheesecake,  freshly brewed Columbian coffee, regular and decaffeinated and select hot tea

After the food tasting, the group met again with Michele Grote, manager and chef to discuss the menu which will be served buffet style for the enjoyment of those in attendance.

The 32nd Gala will be held on November 16 at Hilton Charlotte University Place from 4 p.m to 11:59 p.m.  The food will be served from 6:30 p.m to 7:45 pm followed by the program proper. 

For more information look to the FACC Facebook page or the Straight from the Carolinas Facebook page.

Headliners for FACC's 32nd Gala Night confirmed

The Schindler Sisters 

By Susan Palmes-Dennis

Charlotte, North Carolina—A Filipino-American dance troupe based in Asheville, North Carolina will be among the headlining performers scheduled for the 32nd Gala Night of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC).

The Filipino American Community-Western North Carolina (FAC-WNC) Cultural Dance Troupe had been invited to perform in cultural shows and festivals in Charlotte, Greenville, Columbia and Atlanta, Georgia since 2001.


The group’s background was spelled lout in a message by choreographer Mary Ann “Day” Rodriguez as published in the FAC-WNC souvenir program. 

The group will perform the ‘Sinulog’, ‘Tinikling’ and for their finale, the song ‘Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas.’

The Sinulog is one of the biggest festivals in the Philippines and honors the miraculous image of the Infant Jesus and is celebrated every third Sunday of January over a nine-day period. 

Devotees honor the child King with processions and street dancing with the dancers chanting “Pit Senyor.” 

The Tinikling or the bamboo dance is regarded as the Philippine national dance and takes its name from the movement of the ‘tikling’ birds as they move between grass stems and tree branches.

Another dance group called the Krush Krew will perform a ‘ K-Pop Song Medley’ number, a mix of traditional and modern Korean dances. Krush Krew is headed by Lauren Lee with members Angel Thai, Naomi Ksor and Terrell David .

A contemporary dance number will be performed by the Schindler sisters Carmella and Jiji.

Carmella is 19 years old and is enrolled at the Belmont Abbey College majoring in biology.  She is part of the Gaston Dance Theatre since she was three years until she graduated high school. 

Carmella played roles such as the Snow Queen in the ballet Nutcracker production as well as Tinker Bell in a dance production of Peter Pan.

Her 15-year-old sister Jiji is in 10th grade at the Highland School of Technology in Gastonia. She is also with the Gaston Dance Theatre since she was five years old and took advance ballet at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. 

She has played Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker Production in 2018, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella in the Spring Show 2019,and Snow Queen this coming December.

Other performers for the 32nd Gala Night include the youth group of Grace Point International Church who will perform a mime of the Christian song ‘Who Am I’ with Joy Moore leading the kids. 

The GPI kids are Miko Therrien, Marielle Gorlach, Maxie Gorlach, Jaasiel Williams,m Andie Palting, Nigel Tranquillino, John Reid and Jospeh Matthew Carballo.

Miko Therrien is studying at the Gaston Christian School while Marielle Gorlach and sister Maxie are enrolled at the Piedmont Charter School.

Miko Therrien is the daughter of incumbent FACC president Muffy Therrien and had performed the ‘Who Am I’ hand mime at her school.

Speaking of which, the FACC’s 2019 Board of Directors will perform an interpretative dance number of the 32nd Gala theme ‘World Class Pinoy.’

The US and Philippine anthems will be conducted by  Kee Martin and Karen Sedillo Dalton respectively while the attendees will be serenaded by the Pinoy Jam Barkada (PJM) of Sain Diaz during dinner time at 6:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m.

Pinoy Jam Barkada which consists of Gerry Canta, Adam Yabes, Glenn Espiritu, Sain Diaz, Tara Hang and Oliver Rodriguez last performed during the FACC Spring Picnic last June.

Karaoke Night at Asian Library this Friday Oct. 11

It’s Karaoke Night this Friday at the Asian Library, said Muffy Therrien, president of the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC).

Therrien added a $15 will pay for entrance at Asian Library and a free dinner package with a bottle of water.  “Every song you’ll sing you will donate a voluntary amount for FACC,” Muffy said. 

FACC Secretary Doreen Reynolds said they expect many to attend since it is a Friday evening which leads to the weekend. 

Another FACC Officer Gina Minnick called on Filipino Americans to sing the night away and enjoy the weekend with their fellow Fil-Ams.  Prizes will be raffled off on FACC Karaoke Night at the Asian Library and the session starts at 6 pm and winds up at 11 pm./Susan Palmes-Dennis

Among the items to be raffled off

Purse to be raffled off