Jesus Our Victory Church gives to supertyphoon victims

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

The Fil-American members of the Jesus Our Victory Global Outreach Church here at North Carolina held their own fund-raising event for the victims of supertyphoon Haiyan (locally known in the Philippines as Yolanda).

Church member Mary Ann of Kernersville told this writer that their group made several “cantatas” or sing and dance presentations to raise funds for the victims which were attended by members and visitors.

Over the past few weeks, the group held presentations with the Camden Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Greensboro and at the Friends Nursing Home Center.

“We are blessed to see a lot of people in the audience,” said Mary Ann. She said the audience was moved to contribute after seeing a video presentation of the devastation caused by the supertyphoon in Tacloban City, Leyte and Samar. 

She said they will buy tents for the victims. Mary Ann said their members went to Tacloban City to distribute tents last Dec. 22.

It was learned that this multi-culture church of Chinese, Indian, American and Fil-American members has two Filipino pastors, one being the Rev. Jay Aguilar. 

The JOV “cantata” group has been performing every year even before the Yolanda visit.  Supertyphoon Haiyan's devastation last Nov. 8 resulted in more than 6,000 people killed and more than P1.5 billion in destroyed and damaged properties.

International assistance was mobilized for the victims and the United Nations (UN) called on the global community to continue giving to rebuild the affected areas.

Crews sponsors fund-raising badminton tournament for typhoon victims

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

ABOUT 40 doubles teams joined the Crews Badminton Tournament Winter Classic for competitive and recreational players last Dec. 14 to 15.

Sponsored by the Crews Recreation Center, the tournament drew players from 
from badminton clubs like Charlotte Badminton Club, Marion Diehl Badminton Players, Crews Rec Center Badminton Players and Hataw Pinoy Players in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

There were also badminton participants from Greenville, South Carolina and Raleigh, North Carolina. The tournament is organized by Brian Dlugosz, athletic director of the Crews Rec Center. 

The badminton participants supported the various fund raisers of the Hataw Pinoy group by participating during the T-shirt and food sales, and donating old clothes, canned goods, toiletries and assorted basic necessities during the fund drive. 

The Crews Badminton Tournament Winter Classic held from 8am to 8pm featured events like the Womens Doubles, Mens Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Recreational Doubles.

The winners in the women's doubles were Jane Lee and Kate Liu while second place went to Aleth Cababa and Weimin Vasudeva

In the men's doubles the winners were John Acebu and Abhay Qureshi while Bernard Lai and Yusuke Yamazaki settled for second place.

Acebu also won in mixed doubles with partner Jane Lee while their rivals Siddharth Batavia and Samaneh Zamania landed second place.

The Recreational Doubles was won by Larry Huelsman and Balaji Viswanath while Richard Ramos and Hazel Pamintuan settled for second place.

Serve n Play, a badminton vendor in the Raleigh, North Carolina area sponsored a raffle draw for the benefit of the victims of the Typhoon Haiyan. 

Serve and Play donated the proceeds of the raffle draw to the Glance Foundation Inc. and the Hataw Pinoy group for the victims of supertyphoon Haiyan. 

Jha Yabes won the grand prize draw of a Yonex Nanoray Z-Speed while consolation prizes were issued to the following: Leilani Yap, Yonex Arcsaber racket:  Herminia Ferreras, Yonex Towel; Angel Ferreras, Yonex Towel: Jason Yingwu Teng, Yonex towel.

Charity tournaments for typhoon Haiyan victims

HAVING A BALL. Tournament participants gamely pose for group shots.

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

TWO tournaments held last Dec. 14 to 15 highlighted the month of fund-raising activities for the victims of supertyphoon Haiyan in central Philippines.

The Hataw Pinoy group in coordination with the Town of Matthews and The Crews Recreation Center held both a badminton and ping-pong tournament at the Crews Rec Center multi-purpose room over the weekend.

Co-sponsored by The Glance Foundation Inc., the ping-pong tournament drew 33 participants from Charlotte, Rock Hill, Concord, Matthews, Raleigh, Fort Bragg and even Georgia. 

There were also players from the Charlotte Table Tennis Club and The Hataw Pinoy Table Tennis Group. The table tennis tournament has advanced categories for both singles and doubles events and also a singles event for beginners. 

The table tournament started at 12 noon and lasted until 6 pm. The bracketing was organized by Orly Maturan of Hataw Pinoy and Monelle Reyla of Charlotte Table Tennis Club. 

Charity Pong T-shirts were sold out at the end of the two events. There were lunch and food sales by the Glance Foundation Inc during the badminton and table tennis tournaments. 

Participants and the audience were asked to bring used clothes, toiletries, school supplies, canned goods and other donations in kind for the Haiyan supertyphoon victims. 

By the end of the tournament, The Hataw Pinoy were able to fill up 2 big balikbayan (shipping) boxes filled with these donations in kind from the participants. 

The Hataw Pinoy organizers for the Charity Ping-Pong tournament were Aleth Cababa, Dimple Maturan, Orly Maturan, Jha Yabes and Adam Yabes.

The Charity Pong winners: 

Singles-Advanced: 1st Place: Prakhar Paharia 2nd Place: Randy Myott; 

Doubles-Advanced: 1st Place: Prakhar Paharia and Alex Alesna 2nd Place: Mike Sta Ana and Glen Sta. Ana

Singles- beginners: 1st Place: Adam Yabes 2nd Place: Erce Cobile

Hope, support for quake and typhoon victims in Carolinas red carpet fund raiser

With event host Janet Pichon Hixon (second from left) during a lull in the presentation

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

DESPITE the destruction of their 411-year-old church by the Oct. 15 earthquake, parishioners of the Loctob Catholic Church in Bohol province, Philippines celebrated Mass in the town gymnasium. 

In a live online conference held during the Dec. 7 red carpet event “The Gift of Giving: A Charity Event for Philippine Disasters” in Charlotte, North Carolina, Loctob parish priest Fr. Gerald Lopena recounted to the audience the overwhelming support their community received from around the Philippines and the rest of the world.

Rather than being forlorn, Fr. Lopena was enthusiastic and said the financial and emotional support enabled people in the affected areas to resume their normal routines.  

However in between static, Fr. Lopena made it clear to event host and Mrs. Asia-USA titlist Janet Hixon and the audience that their community still needs help. His appeal drew a positive response, generating US $1,000 dollars during the auction.

Me with US presidential aspirant Robbie Wells

The most popular items in the auction were the art works and the photographs. 
Entertainment was provided by the high school jazz band Lonnie Davis. 

A  Mongolian bowl dance and musical numbers by Princess Diwata, Dorena Reynolds and Maria Corazon Ducusin Benrokiya who performed an Ifugao dance kept the crowd entertained along with performances by Lima Redelosa Alindao Butler and her daughter Ginger as well as Gina Holders and her sons.

Other guests were Lyndzy Silvers, Rita Miles, Rob McDowell and US presidential candidate Robby Wells, who gave a message of support to the Filipino-American community in North Carolina.  More photos of the event can be seen at the event photos link at charlotteseen.com. 'Till next time, ciao!

Little Schoolhouse students a hit in Fil-American Carolina Christmas party fund raiser

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Eskwelahang Munti students made quite an impression during a performance at the Christmas party fund raiser of the the Filipino-American Community at the Carolinas.

The 17 students first recited an original poem by Ron Beltran titled “Ang Eskwelahang Munti” before singing and dancing to the Filipino folk song classic

“Paru-parung Bukid (Butterfly Field)” about a Filipina maiden whose grace can be compared to a butterfly named ”Mariposa Bella”

The students were divided into two groups with students Hannah Hubbard, Ruby and Gracen Kearns and Gabriella Pinon playing girl butterflies and Giovannie and Giani Allen, Harrison Hubbard, James and Jacob Kocak and Zamir McKoy playing boy butterflies.

The parol or lantern boys were Rannie Barrientos, Mathew Dennis, Joel Holder, Yizmael Mckoy, Nathan Pinon, Roy J. Siplon and Marco Sloan.

Dr. Nini de Bautista thanked immediate past president Florami Lao Cuardero-Lee and 1st vice president Joannes Ave of the Fil-American Carolina Community (FACC) for giving the students a venue to showcase their talents to the community.

De Bautista also thanked the teachers headed by Gloria Grifenhagin, Dell Fallar and Guia Villapando and the other volunteers of the program for making the school a success.

“Eskwelahang Munti” or “Little Schoolhouse” started in a summer camp this year and became a full-fledged school that employs the Filipino language “Tagalog” as a medium of instruction.

The school is managed by the Filipino-American Spirit, Inc. which is committed to develop appreciation of the Filipino language and culture.

The FAS and the school were created by volunteers who believe in instilling understanding and appreciation among the Filipino American youths who grew up in Charlotte on all things Filipino.

“Eskwelahang Munti” integrated in its curriculum Filipino values, geography, history, arts and music, literature and Pinoy cuisine. It also included areas of concerns in the Philippines mixed with major subjects.

The school teaches Fil-Am children about conversational Tagalog and show the Philippines as a beautiful country rich in heritage and resources and its friendly, wise people.

Carolinas Asian-American Chamber Christmas party draws support

With Gloria Grifenhagen (center) and me in red dress 

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

One thing that bound the people who attended the Christmas party of the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce last night was the victims of typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines a month ago.

The chamber decided to help the victims by holding a fundraiser during the Christmas party served by the Fil-American community through the group Filipino American Spirit.

More than 100 people members and non-members of the CAACC attended the party.

CAACC press relations officer Andrea Lee said the business chamber exists to foster cooperation and interaction between the Asian communities and other communities in the Charlotte area and the Carolinas at large through commerce, culture and communication.

It  promotes, sponsors and supports efforts to sustain traditional heritages through excellence in business practice, education, volunteerism and public service, Lee added.

Lee made the introductions of the guests after serving Filipino fare with  international influences made by Filipino lady chefs of FAS and the Filipino American Carolina Community (FACC).

CAACC president Jerry Tucker, who had just arrived from another event, welcomed and thanked the guests for coming to help the typhoon victims.

Wally Penilla, FAS Executive Director, thanked the Charlotte community for helping the grouop raise funds by holding the auction during the party.

Also present during the event was Dr. John Chen, CAACC chairman and Asian Herald publisher and his wife. Dr. Chen, who earlier appealed to the Fil-American and Carolina communities to extend their assistance to the typhoon victims in the Philippines, thanked them for their overwhelming support.

Dr. John Chen (right) with his wife (center) and Florami Lao Cordero Lee

He also thanked the chamber for extending their assistance to the victims. 

The party's entertainment was provided by a select number of performers including a surprise musical number by Maya Atkins, who sang her own composition.

The guests were also entertained with a Santa’s and Krampus Raffle and a Christmas dance number by the Aloha Island hula girls. The event winded up with a community dancing by all guests.

Lineup of performers in Fil-American Carolina Community Christmas dinner

Here's the list of performers for the Fil-American Carolina Community (FACC) Christmas dinner on Dec. 7 at the Reedy Creek Elementary School  as disclosed by Florami Lao Cordero-Lee.

Joseph Holder, lead vocals and drummer Joel Holder at keyboards performing Jingle Bell Rock.

Four-year-old Christopher Robinson at keyboards playing Jingle Bells

Eskwelahang Munti (Little Schoolhouse) students reading a poem and performing Paru-parung Bukid. 

Nine-year-old taekwondo champion Lance Lawsin performing a martial arts routine set to music. 

Dance performance by mother and daughter team of Alma and Virginia Butler

The Phil. Cultural Dance Troupe of Charlotte dancing to the tune “Last Christmas”

Brenda, Lita and Edna performing to the song "I Will Follow Him."