FAS hosts art auction fundraiser

Me at right with past FACC presidents Florami Lao Cordero-Lee and Malette Aquino-Oliveros

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

As far as Dr. Nini Bautista, chairperson of the Filipino-American Spirit (FAS) is concerned, she sees “energy” in the Sept. 11 art auction fundraiser at the Asian Library.

Bautista, former chairperson of the Board of the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber and president of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC), gave the welcome remarks to more than 50 guests at the time the auction opened at 3 pm.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts gave an inspirational message while Dr. Ki-Hyun and Dr. Sunny Chun of the Chun Group, Inc. cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the art auction which featured paintings and artwork for sale.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts (center) with Dr. Ki Hun and Dr, Sunny Chun

Clad in Filipiniana attire Dr. Bautista, organizer of the event, said the artists each donated one of their works and the FAS earns a commission on each piece.

“We want them to earn also. It's a win-win,” Dr. Bautista grinned. Among those who attended the sale were two former FACC presidents Florami Lao Cordero-Lee and Malette Aquino-Oliveros.

Lee said the art auction helped mobilize the Fil-Americans in the Carolinas while Oliveros, who brought food to the event, said she wished that all her friends were able to join the activity.

Dr. Bautista also mentioned internationally renowned artists William Yu and Rene Robles who donated their works to the auction.

“Their works are among in the collection of the King of Spain and found in the museum in Germany,” Dr. Bautista said. “One work of William Yu was donated by Wally (Penilla),” she said.

Dr. Bautista said a local artist named Astrid Martin, an executive in the Bank of America, would always donate the proceeds of her one-woman show to a worthy cause. 

Artist Edelweiss de Guzman with Dr. Nini Bautista Garcia

It was learned that Martin's parents are Filipinos and that the proceeds of her one-woman show were donated to diabetes advocacy. “Martin's works are really good,” Dr. Bautista said.

Other artists featured in the art auction were Alex Romero, Edelweiss de Guzman, Alex Henry, William Antonio, John Hugo and many others. All are passionate about their work and their commitment to contributing to a good cause.

FAS vice–chairman Wally Penilla said the FAS organized the fundraiser to provide for the Carolina/ANCOP Village in Nagtipunan, Quirino province in the Philippines.”

Clad in a barong Tagalog, Penila agreed that the art auction was a success. He said they aimed to raise US $20,000 to fund installation of a water system in Nagtipunan and help 28 families there.

Penilla, also a past president of the FACC, recalled that way back in 2006 they raised funds in Charlotte to build 30 houses in Nagtipunan town, Quirino province in the Philippines. He said FAS built 28 houses in the town between 2006 to 2010.

FAS movers Clodualdo Wally Penilla and Adelia Fallar

“We raised funds for two more houses but we send them money to build school buildings and buy school supplies,” Penilla said. When asked how often they sent money to the adopted village in the Philippines, Penilla replied “every time they ask for it.”

Penilla said the residents were able to dig 100 plus feet and found potable water where they can build water tanks, a filtration system and water pipelines directly to the houses.

“We continue to support them and after they finish the water system we hope it helps support their livelihood,” Penilla said. The FAS also supports other villages like the one in Naga City and the other in Masbate.

The FAS is recognized by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a public charity organization. It had been working to improve the lives of the marginalized sectors both here in Charlotte and abroad, focusing on health and sanitation.

Dr. Bautista said the FAS had been raising funds for charitable causes since 2003. She said the FAS was born out of the Fil-American community's longing for a mechanism to help Filipino communities in the Carolinas and in the Philippines.

“All these years, the hard work, paper work and research paid off,” Dr. Bautista said.

The FAS is composed of such hard working Filipino-American residents of Charlotte like Doris Mata, Del Fallar, Steve Mirman, Jake Miranda, Guia Villapando and Dr. Bautista as chairperson and Penilla as vice-chairperson.

“Our hands are tight. Imagine there is a lot to do,” Dr. Bautista said. Penilla also added that he is encouraging the younger generation of Fil-Americans to take over from them. “They can do a lot,” he said.

The FAS is composed of past presidents of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) and is run by the board. It actively contributed to the relief efforts for victims of supertyphoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Visayas two years ago.

“We were able to raise US $12,000 and the amount was sent to Doctors Without Boarders and the Catholic Relief Services,” Penilla said. All in all, the FAS art auction was a success.

Me with husband Ronnie and Edelweiss de Guzman

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines  and is now employed  in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.
Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. 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 email susanap.dennis@yahoo.com as well as her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063