Charlotte Mayor Cannon signifies attendance in fund-raising event for typhoon, quake victims

Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Newly-installed Charlotte, North Carolina Mayor Patrick Cannon will grace the red carpet fund raising dinner event for the typhoon victims of central Philippines on Dec. 7  at the Bishops Ridge Clubhouse, Chalyce Lane, Charlotte.

Event organizer Janet Hixson said she was in constant contact with the staff of Mayor Cannon who signified his intention to attend the 6 p.m. event. The 46-year-old Cannon succeeded Democrat Patsy Kensit. 

Hixson showed the mayor's text message which read “Please contact my office to provide them the what,when,where and other information you think they may need to see if my calendar allows.”

Aside from Mayor Cannon, also expected to attend is U.S Democratic presidential candidate Robby Wells and North Carolina and NPC Mid-Atlantic bodybuilding champion Victoria Lee.

US Democratic presidential candidate Robbie Wells

Also expected to attend are the officers and members of the Asian-American Chamber of Commerce and the Filipino-American community.

The event was organized after the Oct. 15 earthquake that battered Bohol and Cebu provinces in the Philippines. Part of the raised amount would be used to help rebuild the historic St. Peter’s Church of Bohol. 

A special live conference will be held with Fr. Gerald Lopena, parish priest of St. Peter’s Church of Bohol.

The rest of the amount would also go to the victims of supertyphoon “Haiyan” (known as Yolanda in the Philippines) in the neighboring island of Samar and Leyte care of the Sun.Star Publications typhoon victims fund.

Before the red carpet rolls out, donations have started to come in already. One of the donors was 65-year-old Carole Kennedy, Hixson's neighbor who gave US $50  after learning of the tragedies that befell the typhoon and earthquake victims in the Philippines. 

A silent auction of fine art will be held along with an awarding of gift certificates and a photo shoot with Blue Kiss Studios.

The event will be hosted by Janet Hixson, Serenity Spa and Premier Design Jewelry. Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro columnist and Straight from the Carolinas blogger Susan Palmes-Dennis will emcee the event.

Mrs. Asia-USA titlist Janet Hixson with her family

'Sharing', Little Schoolhouse at annual FACC Christmas party

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Next month's Christmas party to be hosted by the Filipino American Association of the Carolinas (FACC) at the Reedy Creek Elementary School at 10801 Plaza Road Extension, Charlotte North Carolina 28215 will adopt the theme of “joyful sharing.”

FACC president Floramae Cuardero Lao-Lee told Straight from the Carolinas that the party's theme is in line gains meaning in light of the aftermath of the Nov. 8 devastation suffered by Filipinos at the hands of supertyphoon Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Yolanda). 

She said FACC members are encouraged to donate clothes, blankets and easy to open canned goods to typhoon victims. Included in the party is a presentation to be given by Fil-American students of the Eskuwelahang Munti of Charlotte, North Carolina.

They will perform the classic Filipino song “Paru-Parung Bukid” or “Butterfly Hill” that was made into a musical of the same name by Sampaguita Pictures in 1938 and top-billed by renowned “kundiman” actor Rudy Concepcion and his favorite on-screen love interest, Rosario Moreno.

Unbeknownst to many, “Paru-Parung Bukid” was loosely adapted from the classic Spanish song entitled “Mariposa Bella”, a song that exalts and compares the beauty and love of a Filipina and compares to a butterfly. 

The song was composed near the end of the Spanish-era Philippines in 1890’s. 
Eskuwelahang Munti or Little School House of Charlotte is now on its third month teaching Fil-American kids the culture, heritage, literature and history of the Philippines using the Filipino language.

The presentation is expected to draw interest from the community. The “Paru-Parung Bukid” performance is directed by Dr. Nini Bautista with assistance from Glo Grifengahen and Dell Fallar.

There would also be a caroling done by children that will be led by FACC secretary Rose Hughes. The event's program is posted at its Facebook page and on its website.

Lee and FACC 1st Vice-President Joannes Ave is inviting all Fil-Americans and non-members to attend the party and register at the FACC. Lechon and other traditional Filipino fare will be served. Next up will be a report on the annual election of FACC officers (photos taken by Boging Mata).

How rice made my friend smile

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

According to Wikipedia, rice is the staple food of over half of the world’s population. It is also the predominant dietary energy source for 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific. 

But I daresay that Filipinos love rice the most. If there is anything that identifies Filipinos here in the US, it is their love of rice and my long lost friend loves rice.

I visited a schoolmate named Marietta Rivera at St. Mary’s High School of Tagoloan town in Orlando Florida two years ago and rice was the topic. Why? Because rice made her stay in the US until now, her husband Bruce Bailey said.

This is just a short story of the importance of rice in the lives of Filipinos. Many thought that without rice they would die.

Bruce was so in love with Mayette that after the marriage he brought her to the US.  It was a chilly Massachusetts air welcoming Mayette since they arrived in winter. 

Permanent feature
The snow and chilly air aggravated her loneliness. She was crying most of the time and wasn't eating. Her husband was worried and he was finding ways to make her comfortable. 

(Mayette /Rivera (left in white sweater and jeans) and me pose beside the pool in her home. 

He gave her an electric blanket and provided her with all the “hot comforts” to make Mayette happy. But even then she was lonely. The food was palatable but she doesn't want it. She seldom talks, he said.

Because Bruce loves her so much and wants Mayette to stay with him, he searched for Filipinos around and asked them what he should do. A Filipino who lived a few blocks away from their house told him the ‘secret’ to make his wife happy. 

He was so excited to know what makes Filipinos to be happy. The Filipino told him that the secret to a Filipino's appetite is “rice”. He was told where it was sold and one day he surprised Mayette with rice. 

And Bruce saw Mayette give him her biggest smile yet. From then on rice was a permanent feature on the table. But she was eating jasmine rice.

Thrice a day
Like Mayette, I looked for rice in the US. In North Carolina, jasmine rice (actually Thai rice) is sold along with Busmante rice and brown rice in stores especially  Asian markets. 

The grains in Jasmine rice are big and stickier like our native malagkit, the one we use for “biko” or rice cake. But hard as I looked, there was no Filipino rice. Americans wonder why we eat rice thrice a day and why we don't consider a meal complete without rice. 

The Philippines does produce rice and it buys rice from Vietnam, India and Thailand because it's incapable of satisfying Filipino consumer demand for rice. 

Ironic since these countries sent their scientists in the Philippines to study how to plant and harvest rice 50 years ago.

In region 10 alone based on the data of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in 2010, the daily rice consumption requirement is 27,360 kilos. I used to cover NFA and learned that much of the rice sold in Region 10 or northern Mindanao is bought from Vietnam and Thailand whichever is cheaper. 

Planted
In Cagayan de Oro some rice lands are converted to subdivisions through legislation by the City Council. Barangay Iponan alone was converted from an  agricultural area to a residential site. 

More subdivisions are planted, I mean created, instead of maintaining or adding hectares of agricultural land. 

Misamis Oriental province is basically agricultural and it raised rice production to double digits due to sufficient water in irrigated areas but more rice can be produced in the province especially when including Gingoog City and Claveria town.

The local and national government must provide Filipino farmers the support they need to increase their yields. The support system would consist of fertilizers, post-harvest facilities, training, irrigation, loans and security of land tenure. 

The Department of Agriculture (DA), National Food Authority (NFA) and the National Irrigation Administration (NRA) must be shielded from political influences since their services are essential to ensuring the nutrition of all Filipinos.  

I long for the day when I can find “Philippine rice” in the Asian market. Until then Mayette and I would have to satisfy ourselves with the rice available in the US stores. 

Filipino American Spirit to serve fund raising dinner, auction on Dec. 5

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

THE Filipino- American Spirit (FAS) is scheduled to serve dinner to members of the Carolinas Asian–American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) to raise funds for the survivors of Supertyphoon Haiyan (known as Yolanda in the Philippines) on Dec. 5.

FAS Executive Director Wally Penilla said the dinner would consist of Asian fare like pancit (Chinese fried noddles), lumpia, lumpia shanghai (Chinese fried egg wrap), chop suey (steamed, mixed vegetables), salmon teriyaki, Filipino barbecue, steamed rice, leche flan and other delicacies.

The party is expected to draw at least 100 members of the CAACC and the Filipino community. Live music will be provided byPinoy Noir and Aloha Island Hula Girls along with line dancing with Alex Romero as DJ and DI.

A charity sale of jewelry donated by Merly Penilla will also be held during the dinner. Dr. Nini Bautista, FAS chairperson, chairman Emerita and CAACC past president said she hopes the activity would “ignite the community with ideas” on how to help their Filipino neighbors.

The Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas(FACC) is a member of the CAACC. Straight from the Carolinas learned that serving dinner is only one of the many fund-raising activites of Fil-Americans for the victims of supertyphoon Haiyan that hit the central Philippines last Nov. 8.

As of latest count, the Philippine death toll rose to 5,200 or 100 more than the 1991 casualty figure incurred in the flashfloods that hit Ormoc City in the same Leyte province.

The government also listed damages to property and agriculture at P12 billion or US $274 million.

North Carolina's Fil-American community shares food with the needy

FACC President Flora Mae Cordero-Lee (center) leads the volunteers

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Everything went well for the half-day volunteer work held by the Filipino –American community of the Carolinas (FACC) at the Second Harvest Food Bank last Oct. 12.

FACC 1st Vice-President Joannes Ave said the 9 a.m to 12 noon activity helped the children of FACC members earn volunteer hours needed for their studies.

Organizing civic activities is part of the responsibilities of the 1st vice president under the by-laws of the FACC, a partner agency of the Second Harvest Food Bank.

The Food Bank is committed to gathering and sharing food with the needy. Canned goods were collected from members and donated to the Food Bank during spring and summer picnics.

The community day was attended by the 2013 officers of FACC headed by incumbent President Florami Lao-Lee. Ave is mailing the certificate of 40-student volunteers.

Concord Church to distribute food packs to refugees in Charlotte

Members of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina pose for a group

 picture with this writer (clad in hoodie sweater). Flanking the group are 

Senior Pastor Terry Casino (extreme left) and Senior Pastor Ralph Garay 

(extreme right) .

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

The Concord International Church of North Carolina is scheduled to distribute 500 packed lunches and goodies to refugees in Charlotte on Nov. 23. 

Pastor Ralph Garay told Straight from the Carolinas that a member of their church would also distribute clothes and other goodies to the beneficiaries. The church is under the umbrella of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. 

He said the distribution of goods to the needy is one of the ways the congregation is celebrating its two year presence here at Tar Heels. 

The project is being done in partnership with the churches from Nepal, Lao/Thai, Burma, South Korea, Vietnam and Montagnard. 

“We want to reach out to them because we care,” Pastor Garay said, adding that is part of his church's core values. As Christians, Pastor Garay said a personal relationship with Christ helps you to reach out to those in need because one feels their pain.

He said the beneficiaries have yet to learn the country's system. Pastor Garay said they hope to make this a regular project. Senior Pastor Terry Casino, who's conducting a Bible study among members at the time of this interview, said he's excited about the project.

Elsa's store: A slice of the Philippines

Filipino merchandise can be found here at Elsa's store. 

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

It is meant to be a retail store even if by its appearance it looks like a typical sari-sari store back home in the Philippines.

While Fil-American customers and the recently transplated Pinoys in the US may think of Elsa's Asian International Food Mart that way, the fact that it sells American and Filipino merchandise by the dozen certainly makes it a bonafide retail store.

At Elsa’s Asian International Food Mart, customers flock to buy goods and merchandise by the bulk from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m everyday, said Angelina Magcaleng, storekeeper confidante of Elsa Pepito-Laffite who owns and manages the store.

“Nanay” (mother) Magcaleng who tends the store in Elsa's absence, said the store is patronized by Fil-Americans, Americans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indians and Thais. 

Those looking for a particular food item would place an order and come back days later. Magcaleng explained that American customers are fond of Filipino barbecue, while the Chinese and Vietnamese look for soy sauce and Indians buy tofu.

Snack fare
At first Magcaleng said she was astonished by the daily turnout of customers who buy by the bulk or dozen. Back home, Pinoys usually buy a cup of cooking oil, sugar or vinegar so this was something new to her at first, she said.

Elsa's store sells ready to cook barbecue, siopao (Chinese meat bun), ice cream and Filipino snack fare like otap, dingdong, torta and polvoron. 

Magcaleng's husband, who also works at the store, said he was surprised there was an American male customer who looked for “Dingdong” and “Boy Bawang”, snacks consisting of fried corn kernels mixed with nuts.  

They asked the American if he is married to a Filipino and he answered that he tasted these snacks when he visited the Philippines and developed a taste for it.

Elsa's store also sells all kinds of noodles, spices, fish like bangus (milk fish) and galunggong, the latter being a best-seller among their customers. It also sells rice, a Filipino and Asian staple, by sacks and packs in different sizes. 

Adopted country
The store is also a veritable pharmacy of Filipino medicines with products like Alaxan, Efficacent Oil and other lotions believed to relieve upset stomach or trapped air in one's extremities. 

Filipino beauty items are also on sale, like Likas Papaya soap, Belo's beauty products and glatatione, the skin-whitening cream. Its continuing presence is proof that Fil-Americans still believe in homegrown products. 

Of course there's the home staple food of canned sardines like Ligo and 555 endorsed by actor Cesar Montano and dried fish that are packed in accordance with US standards. Even Star margarine is available. 

As early as June Christmas lanterns were sold out. The store is fast becoming a hangout for Fil-Americans who bring their children and food there on weekends.

At the store, Fil-Americans and their American friends swap stories of experiences back home in the Philippines and of life adjusting to their first few days in their adopted country. For them, Elsa's store is a piece of the Philippines transplanted in the US.

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