FACC's Hop For Fun picnic on April 5

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

IT'S all systems go for the Hop For Fun Spring Picnic to be held at the Reedy Creek Park in North Carolina on April 5.

Mary Jane ”MJ” Maturan, the event chairperson, said the event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m and will be joined by the members of the Fil-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC).

“Those coming from Luzon are asked to wear white, while those from the Visayas and Mindanao are asked to wear red and blue respectively, “ Maturan said.

She said the color scheme was intended to identify the picnickers and help them bond with each other. The Philippines has 7,107 islands and is divided into the three major island groups  of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

"If their hometown or parents hometown is in the Philippines we encourage them to wear the suggested color,” Maturan said. Despite the island clustering, Filipinos are known to unite and be cooperative.

The Fil-American community in the Carolinas is no different, Maturan said. 

The color yellow is reserved for FACC officials so participants can go directly to them if they have any problems.

Kathryna Ronquillo-Antone, FACC's 2nd vice president, said this year's picnic is different from past events because they are offering a menu instead of requiring participants to bring food. 

“Pick 2 meals for $5 dollars and serve with white rice and fried plantains and soup,” she said. Antone also said one can buy lechon (roasted pig) for $2. 

The menu consists of pork menudo (pork stew), fried mackerel, pancit bihon with chicken (rice noodles with chicken), kaldereta baka (beef stew), sauteed vegetables and hilabos na hipon (stewed shrimp).

The games to be staged include pabitin, pinata, chaco, tumbang preso, tug-of-war, sack race, egg race, humvee pull and so on. Featured band for the picnic is Pinoy Noir.

FACC president Dr. Malette Aquino-Oliveros is inviting all members and their families to attend. “Everyone is welcome,” she said. Donations of dessert are welcome. 

(The blogger/author is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis. 

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/)https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063. )