FACC elects first batch of youth officers

Incumbent FACC officers and members

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

The Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) had its first elections for its youth officers after a whole day training activity at the Asian Library in Charlotte, North Carolina last Sept. 16.

Elected president of the FACC Youth group is Jason Ave, a freshmen at Mallard Creek and son of FACC secretary Carllyn Ave and 2013 FACC 1st VP Joannes “JP” Ave.

Other elected youth officers were Kryzle Kwan also of Mallard Creek High School as vice president, Andre Braza of Central Piedmont Community College, Ashley Perez as treasurer and Pamela Maturan as press relations officer.

Kryzle is the daughter of this year's FACC teacher awardee Mirasol Abogi. Dr. Eumelia “Nini” Baustista, 2003 FACC President and a global awardee, inducted the pioneering batch of FACC youth officers. 

The FACC Youth group is being pilot tested by the FACC's 2017 board of directors to groom them for future leadership roles in the FACC. 

The FACC youth officers were elected by more than 25 participants after their whole day training on topics like Introduction to Youth Leadership, Responsible Use of Social media, Civic Engagement and  Philippine Culture and Heritage, Travel Philippines, and Introduction to Parliamentary Rules. 

The facilitators were Myra Tranquilino who also served as emcee, Ann Gonzales Mirasol Abogi, Gloria Grifenhagen, Alex Romero, Dr. Eumelia Nini Baustista and keynote speaker Kirstan Feist.  

The attendees were:

Gracie Armstrong, Piedmont Middle School;

Grant Armstrong, Piedmont Middle;

Greg Armstrong;

Philip O’Berry;

Hannah Gabiana, W.C Friday;

Therese Gabiana, North Gaston High School;

Grace Onia, Hickory Ridge Middle;

Andre Braza, Central Piedmont Community College;

Christian Pauyon, Olympic High School;

Edward Butler, Weddington High School;

Jaden Kremer Woodrow Wilson;

Lydia Reynolds, Newell Elementary School;

Lynsey Reynolds, Newell Elementary;

Derek Reynolds MLK Middle School;

Jason Ave, Mallard Creek;

Christina Borromeo, Carolina International Al;

Pamela Maturan Ardey Kell High School;

Alexa Anquilo, Marvin Ridge Middle School;

Ranny Barrientos, Charlotte Secondary School;

David Glass, Rocky River High School;

Alexa V- Northwester High School;

Ronnie  Palermo, home school;

Kryzle Kwan, Mallard Creek High School;

Ashley Perez, Rocky River High School;

Dazel Cularte, CC Griffin Middle School;

Kurt Wwan of MCHS.

Keynote speaker Kirstan Feist is the president of the Filipino American Student Association of the University of North Carolina (FASA) in Greensboro and is a member of Class 2019 taking a course in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality.

In his speech, Fiest told the participants that a leader should be a problem solver and effective communicator, able to empathize instead of just sympathize as well as adapt to any situation and turn these situations around for resolution.

Fiest said a great leader should be able to touch base and earn the trust of his/her followers. 

When asked what they remember about the Philippines, the 25 particpants answered that they knew Gen. Douglas McArthur, Boracay Island and Filipino fastfood chain Jolibee. They also know that it is a heavily populated country.

Gloria Grifenhagen talked about the Filipino bayanihan spirit while Mirasol Abogi talked about everyday civic engagement by the students. It was during her topic that some of the participants mentioned national hero Jose Rizal as a politician.  

Alex Romero then told the attendees about the different fiestas and places in the Philippines while Dr. Nini Bautista held the young audience's interest when she talked about the FACC and FACC Youth and the journey of Filipinos here in US as well as the galleon trade. 

Lastly, Ann Gonzales  used the acronym Share to serve as guidelines for Filipino youths in using social media. She spelled Share as S- for safe, H- helpful, A for Artistic, R for respectful or regret and E for Education. 

Gonzales told the participants that privacy in social media is never 100 percent as  job recruiters will scope out the online profile of their applicants.  It was already past 4 when the elections were held and the event wrapped up.

Hannah Gabiana said she wished there was more but then there is always another time.

FACC Youth Summit in Charlotte on Sept. 16

IT'S all systems go for the Youth Summit of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) at the Asian Library on Baxter Street in Charlotte, North Carolina this Saturday, September 16.

Close to 30 participants are expected to attend this one day event that organizers promised will consist of fun-filled learning activities on leadership and governance, culture and heritage of the Philippines.

Participants will also be taught how to deal with social media. The training is divided into six topics.

These are: Introduction to leadership, civics, Philippine culture and heritage, introduction to legislative agenda, impact of social media in leadership and learning about the FACC.

The speakers and facilitators include Kirstan Feist, president of the Filipino American Student Association University of North Carolina Greensboro, retired teacher Gloria Grifinhagen of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Myra Tranquilino, Lincoln Charter, Alex Romero, artist/photographer, Ann Gonzales, business co-owner at Create-ster and Mirasol Abogi also of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. 

Feist is also the keynote speaker of the day. He has a diverse heritage being born to a Filipino mother in Rosenheim, Germany on Feb 6  and growing up in the Charlotte area. 

His father is a native of North Carolina and served 24 years in the US Air Force. The father was assigned in the Philippines where he met his future wife. 

Born to a mixed heritage, Feist considers himself having experienced different cultures around the world.  

He is now  a junior at the University of North Carolina Greensboro majoring in Sustainable Hospitality and Tourism  and is the president of the Filipino-American association which has more than 120 members. 

The association started with 17 members and has grown into the Filipino-American Association at UNCG’s. It is the largest multicultural organization on campus. 

Participants are requested to please bring their cellphone and other gadgets for the event./Susan Palmes-Dennis

Silent auction at 30th FACC Gala

AN added feature to the 30th Gala of the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) to be held at the Renaissance Hotel on Oct. 14 this year is the Silent Auction. 

Tonette Asay, this year’s chairperson on the Silent Auction who has considerable expertise on the activity, said the items to be auctioned off include paintings, collector's items, Filipiniana items, home decorartions and kitcken ware, unused clothes with tags, vintage costumes or jewelry and works of art. 

Proceeds of the auction will go to the FACC's Tabang Marawi project done in coordination with the Ateneo de Cagayan Xavier Unviersity's Social Development Center. 

Deadline for the collection of donated items is at noon on October 7, 2017. For more information please contact Tonette Asay at # 919-588-0646 or any member of the board of directors of the FACC. 

FACC 2nd Vice President Edelweiss de Guzman with her paintings