Eskwelahang Munti students practice conversational Tagalog

Eskuwelahang Munti successfully ends 1st semester

by Dr. Nini RB Bautista

THE Eskuwelahang Munti (Little Schoolhouse) concluded the first semester of its first school year with a series of activities last Jan. 26.

The students engaged in a Tagalog conversational exchange with their teachers  Dell F, Guia V, Grace B, Luz T and Dr. N, specifically on how one introduces himself or herself in the Filipino language.

Certificates of Attendance were given out  by EM Co-Director Dell Fallar, to the following: Matthew Dennis, Marco Sloan, Gracen and Ruby Kearn, Joel Holder, James and Jacob Kocak,  Harrison and Hannah Hubbard, Nathan and Gabriela Pinon, Yizmyel and Zamir McKoy, Rannie Barrientos, Giovanni and Gianni Allen, RJ Siplon. 

(EM Director Gloria Grifenhagen is currently in Bohol on a mission to help build houses for the earthquake victims).

The kids and parents were then treated to a slide show of some of the major  fiestas in the Philippines with photos taken by Alex Romero, soil scientist and award winning photographer.

These fiesta photos consist of the Sinulog in Cebu held in January and the Ati-atihan in Kalibo, Aklan. Both fiestas or feast days honoring the Santo Nino  or Infant Jesus of Cebu whose image wwas gifted by the discoverer of the Philippines, Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 to the wife of the chieftain of Cebu upon their conversion to Catholicism. 

It antedates the famous Santo Nino de Praga image of the Czech Republic, a gift of Santa Teresa de Jesus to the religious order.

Also featured was the Black Nazarene procession in Quiapo, an event held in fulfillment of a vow, or to petition a favor by thousands of devotees crowding the Quiapo district around the church.

This was followed by the Pahiyas in Lucena held in May in honor of San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of workers and farmers and also the patron saint of Madrid, Spain. 

Malette Oliveros-Aquino, president of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) said they plan to hold a Santacruzan in May this year as part of their efforts to promote Filipino culture. 

The Santacruzan is part of the celebratiob of Flores de Mayo or the Mayflower Festival  in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

It features the Santacruzan procession which commemorates the discovery of the Holy Cross by Queen Helene who is accompanied by young ladies in beautiful dresses representing characters in the Bible and the personification of the Virgin Mary. 

The Eskwelahang Munti held at the Asian Library at 2 to 4 p.m. every Sunday won't meet on February 2 because of the annual Super Bowl. It wil resume on Feb. 9, when students will visit the seniors homes at Brookdale Place on Rea Road and Legacy Heights on Ballantyne Trace. 

They will perform a short choreographed song “Kamusta, Kamusta" ( How do you do?) and present Valentine cards and flowers to the seniors.

Registration is now open for the second semester beginning Feb 16. New students  Mya Ivey and Christopher Salinas participated in class last Sunday.

For inquiries, call Dell Fallar at 704 536 1804/email adelia.fallar @yahoo.com or Dr. Nini 704 408 9513/email ninibau8@gmail.com. Visit  also their Facebook page at Eskuwelahang Munti sa Charlotte.

Eskwelahang Munti students receive certificates, train in Filipino conversations

Fun times. Eskwelahang Munti students have a ball posing for this group shoot.

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

About 15 students of the Eskuwelahang Munti (Little Schoolhouse) of Charlotte received certificates of attendance in a simple ceremony today at Asian Library.

At 2:30 pm the class was divided into four groups under Dell Fallar, Dr. Nini de  Bautista, Luz Taboada and Grace Basilan for the “pagpapakilala (introductions).

Each group was assessed on how to give the right answers to questions in correct Tagalog pronounciation. 

A simple conversation in Tagalog like “What is your name, what is your father’s name. What is your mother’s name, where do you live and who is your teacher?” ensued among students.

The ceremony was also attended by the parents and guests of the school. The awarding of the certificates was followed with a slide show on Philippine fiestas by Alex Romero, a soil scientist and award winning photographer.

The school is a joint undertaking of the Filipino-American community and the Filipino American Spirit Inc. through a grant from the Catholic Diocese Foundation. 

The school which started in September last year and held every Sunday at the Asian Library in uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina was created by volunteers who believed in instilling understanding and appreciation of Filipino history, language and culture among the Filipino American youths growing up in the Carolinas. 

FACC president thanks Asian community for support to typhoon victims

Malette /Aquino-Oliveros (right) with Vietnamese-American residents.  

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

MALETTE Aquino-Oliveros, Fil-American Association of the Carolinas (FACC) president attends the Chinese New Year Gala Night at the UNCC's Cone Center in Charlotte, North Carolina that started at 4 p.m and ended at 9 p.m. last Jan. 25. 

The following day she also represented the Fil-American community in the Vietnamese Lunar festival Jan. 26. She attended the event to express the community's gratitude to fellow Asians for their generous donations to Haiyan typhoon victims. 

The Fil-American community is represented in the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce. 

Photo bug plug

My interest in photography began three years ago after a close friend of mine encouraged me to use my training in architecture and photo editing software in taking photos. 

I embraced my passion for photography and went ahead, taking photos of every single moment worth capturing in digital film. I believe that the pictures represent not only memories, but emotions that evoke a sense of nostalgia./Contributed Jeric Jarical

(For Photo/Video Coverage, and all special occasions within the US. feel free to PM me or call direct Jeric Jarical at jjarical.tumblr.com. )

Barrio Fiesta fund-raiser at Charlotte this February

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

A dinner and dance fund-raiser dubbed as “barrio fiesta (village feast) would be held at the St. Gabriel Parish center in Charlotte, North Carolina at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 1.

In an email sent to Straight from the Carolinas, Jessica Esguerra said the fund-raiser dinner is organized by the G.L.A.N.C.E (Giving Life Alternative Through Nurturing and Creative Efforts) Foundation.

Esguerra said the tickets are priced at $25 for adults and $13 for kids ages 4-12. Infants aged three years old and below are free. She said GLANCE is still working out some programs for the event.

She said the foundation is a non-partisan and apolitical group set up with the goal of extending assistance through educational and health initiatives to various communities around the world.

Esguerra said the group came out with the idea of a “barrio fiesta” since it evokes fond memories of food and dances. “It has been said that a barrio fiesta is a unifying element amongst the geographical, historical and cultural diversity of the Philippines,” she said.

Esguerra said the fiesta is a beloved institution in the country because it embodies everything held dear by the Filipino people – pageantry, drama, humor, friendship, religious piety and its cuisine.

Filipinos and Americans are invited to take part in the barrio fiesta. For more details they can visit the GLANCE website at www.glancefoundationinc.org.

Esguerra said those interested to attend can contact her for for tickets or questions at her cell phone number # 980-355-2618 or through her email addresses at beadsbyjess@yahoo.com, or jesguerra@tiaa-cref.org

Zumbathon for a cause in Charlotte

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Following last year's successful Zumbathon, the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) will stage a repeat of the activity at the Matthew Crews Center on Feb. 9.

FACC press relations officer and auditor Tracy Borja said the “Zumba-lentine”, a pre-Valentine's Day program will be held from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. She said there was a large turnout in last year's Zumbathon.

Borja said she is still working out details with FACC president Malette Aquino-Oliveros and Dr. Nini de Bautista of the Filipino American Spirit (FAS) for the activity, part of their continuing contribution to the rebuilding effort for victims of typhoon Haiyan in central Philippines.

The first Zumbathon was spearheaded by immediate past president Florami Lao Cuardero Lee and 1st VP Joannes Ave last Dec. 14 and raised a sizable amount.

Zumba is a dance fitness program created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto "Beto" Perez in the 1990s and consists of dance and aerobic elements.

Zumba's choreography incorporates hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue, mambo and martial arts. Squats and lunges are also included.

“I am still working on the posters and fliers. Families can participate for $10 or they can just watch. Door prizes, food and drinks will be served afterwards,” Borja said.

New set of FACC officers this year

Malette Aquino Olivares (third from right, front row) poses with new FACC officers

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

A new set of officers for the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) were sworn in during simple turnover ceremonies at the Asian library on Saturday,  Jan. 4.

In her message, new president Malette Aquino Oliveros said she would focus on fund-raising and education during her administration. 

“My focus is to help our fellow kababayans who were affected by recent calamities and to educate our children who grew up here in the States to appreciate and value our cultural heritage.” 


The complete list of FACC officers are as follows: 

President: Malette Oliveros

1st Vice-President:  Dr. Mike Borja

2nd Vice-President: Amelia Bell

Secretary:                 Lota Mascarenas

Treasurer:                 Luisa Castaneda

PRO and Auditor:        Tracy Borja

District Representatives:

                                 Mary Jane Maturan Canippe
                                 Kathryna Ronquillo Antone
                                 Teresa E. Laabid
                                 Blessel Arcamo-Butler
                                 Nenita Margallo
                                 Ramon Margallo


More stories on this at Straight from the Carolinas to be published on Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro on its website this Saturday and susanpalmesblogs.com.

Sophie Grace turns two

Look who’s turning two. Sophia Grace Springborg is the beautiful daughter of spouses Brian and Faith “Bing” Minase Springborg. This girl was born at the @ ochsner hospital Slidell LA.

She likes watching Dora the Explorer, Team Umizumi, Bubble Guppies and Peter Rabbit. Her mother Bing is from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental in the Philippines while her father Brian is from Louisiana.