Dr. Nini given recognition for founding Miss Asia Festival

Dr. Eumelia "Nini" Bautista de Garcia voices her thanks for being recognized for her work. 

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

A SPECIAL recognition award was given to the founder and chairperson of the Miss Asian Carolinas during the 14th Asian Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina, a week ago.

Dr. Eumelia “Nini” Bautista de Garcia personally received the award from the publisher of Asian Herald Dr. Ki-Hyun Chun who also founded and organized the first Asian festival fourteen years ago. 

Chun was assisted by Nimish Bhatt, the president of the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) and Dr.John Chen of the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce(CAACC) The Miss Asian Carolinas was founded by Dr. Nini in 2003 and is now called the Miss Asia Carolinas Multi-Cultural Showcase.

During the pageant's 11-year-history, the Miss Asia title was won by one Korean, one Vietnamese, two Indians and seven Filipinas. A Filipina won the crown last year.

There is no Miss Asian Carolinas (MAC) this year since the new team was unable to prepare in time due to other commitments.

The past winners underwent a rigorous three-tiered selection process and was evaluated by a panel of non-Asian judges. Scholarship awards and other prizes were given to the winners.

In her response Dr. Nini said thank you in many languages : “Maraming Salamat, Merci Beaucoup, Damke Schon, Tse tse, thank you for this beautiful award, I owe it all to the participants of the Miss Asia Carolinas who inspired me and the many volunteers and donors who supported me.”

Clad in Filipiniana dress, she also stood with the winners of the pageant after receiving the award. Dr. Nini said it was a “joy and privilege” to provide young Asian American women a venue to shine and be recognized in the Carolinas community.

Dr. Nini said the Miss Asia Festival is not just a pageant but a multicultural showcase that gives focus on a young Asian American woman's leadership development, cultural advocacy, community service and academic excellence.

“It's truly brains, beauty and talent,” she said. Dr. Nini said the journey to establishing the Miss Asia Festival cannot be possible without the help of generous volunteers and sponsors.

She quoted author Dennis Kimbro who wrote: let others live small lives, but not you, let others argue small stuff, but not you, let others cry over small hurts, but not you, let others leave their future in someone else’s hands but definitely not you, Take charge of your own destiny and happiness.”

Dr. Nini then faced the pageant winners on stage and told them “I love being with you and being there for all these  11 years. It is time to move on.” 

(Susan Palmes-Dennis 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. Visit and read her website at www.susanpalmes-dennis.simplesite.com. 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/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)