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