Multi-awarded singer and songwriter turned traveling evangelist Ray An Fuentes will be a keynote speaker and performer in the 30th Gala of the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) to be held at the Renaissance Charlotte Sites Hotel this Saturday evening, Oct. 14 this year.
Known for his popular duet tune “Umagang Kay Ganda” with singer Tillie Moreno, Fuentes was lead performer in Philippine Broadway musical adaptations such as the Wizard of Oz (where he played the Scarecrow), Cats (as Rum Tum Tugger), Evita (as Che Guevarra) and Jesus Christ Superstar (as Judas Iscariot). As one of several pop icons in the 80s, Ray An Fuentes paved the way for then budding artists like Gary Valenciano to make their mark in the Philippine entertainment scene. He was also among a handful of Filipinos to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall of New York, Ray An sang with artists like Sandi Patti, First Call and Phil Driscoll. Recently the Canada-based Ray An was the main performer for the Full Gospel Businessmen’s World Convention in Florida and was a guest artist in pastor Tony Evan’s church in Dallas, Texas. Aside from this he was the main performer in the “God Help Us” men’s conference in Macon Georgia. He was given a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in 2002 from the U.S. Congress for “Outstanding and Invaluable Contribution to the (Filipino) Community.” Ray An also gave command performances for the Washington D.C. Diplomatic Corps at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Sultan of Malaysia and the King of Morocco. Married to Sylvia Gozun with whom he has children named Miguel, Julio and Daniella, Ray An leads a full time faith based ministry for the past 28 years and traveled extensively to the US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East. Whenever his schedule permits, Ray An visits the Philippines to touch base with Filipino fans and gives the occasional performance or two as evidenced by online videos uploaded in YouTube. As both keynote speaker and a scheduled performer in the Oct. 14 Gala of the FACC, Ray An will perform three of his best known songs. As a true-blooded Filipino artist, Ray An will always have a place among Filipino-American communities in the US, Canada and the rest of the world./Susan Palmes-Dennis
EVERYTHING is set for the 30th Gala Night of the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas at the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina next Saturday, Oct, 14. A sterling lineup of performers have been tapped to ensure that this will be a memorable evening for everyone in attendance. Leading the performers is Ray Ann Fuentes, an 80s pop icon in the Philippines before he migrated to Canada in 1988 and became known as the singing evangelist. Watch out for yourself since he has still the moves and voice. Fuentes is a keynote speaker who will deliver an inspirational message to the community. He's doing double duty tonight as he will render three songs from among his repertoire of hits through the years. Also in the lineup are the Couples for Christ Sisters composed of the ladies of an International Catholic lay ecclesiastical movement who will perform The Charleston dance. The Charleston dance is a 1920s hit set during the era of jazz music, speakeasies, and Flappers and is named after the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina. The dance was popularized in US mainstream entertainment through a 1923 tune called ”The Charleston” by composer/pianist James P. Johnson who originated the Broadway show “Runnin Wild.” The CFC Sisters consist of Mirasol Abogi, Mae Armstead, Joy Arrojado, Ida Bauer, Luz Blackwell, Nenette Costes, Diding Cuering, Baby Erikson, Meng Lorenzo, Marie Miranda and Lorena Ostrea.
The jazz music will be provided by Andre Anthony Duran Braza who is headed to the Appalachian State Univeristy to study a Performing Arts course next year. He sings in the church choir at the St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Andre is part of the Chamber choir at Butler High School and got the gold trophy for a choral award along with the best musician and best actor award. The next performance will be delivered by the Grace Point International Group Care, the Philippine Dance Group of North Carolina and the Charlotte Dance Group. They will perform the Ensemble Marawi dance which shows the ordinary life of Maranaos in Marawi City in Mindanao, Philippines. The dance is composed of four elements; the Kini Kini or beauty and elegance, courtship, Malong or hand movements representing the waves of Lake Lanao and the use of tubular cloth called Malong Landap and the war dance. The dancers featured tonight are Florami Lao Cordero Lee, Maria Corazon, Alma Redelosa Alindao Butler, Tonette Asay, Muffy P Therrien, Marissa Borja and Marilou Connie Vitug. The War Dance will be performed by world class extreme martial artist Lance Lawsin, son of FACC board of directors members Rogelio Lawsin and Dr. Stella Lawsin. The Ensemble Marawi Dance is especially important owing to the situation in Marawi City which had been placed under martial law by President Rodrigo Duterte last May due to the terrorist violence instigated by the Maute group. Credit to the choreography and direction goes to Tonette Asay, an FACC 2017 Area representative. Asay is a founding member of Kagayhaan de Oro Theater Arts (Kota), a group created by the late Fr. Demetrio of Ateneo de Cagayan or Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental, northern Mindanao in the Philippines. Also in the Gala tonight is world class award winning duo Gabriela and Dmitriy of Dance USA. The anthems of the Philippines and the US will be performed by Rommel Olarte, lead singer of the Dust N’ D’ Attic band. Olarte, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy Class 1994, had been born with a musical spoon in his mouth as described by his wife Christine. Lastly let us watch a skit portraying the lives of Filipinos back home as we see how they coped with the process of migrating to the US and how it had changed their lives for the better. In sum the performances featured in the FACC's 30th Gala are dedicated to the 12 incorporators who gave their time, resources, mind and money to draft the FACC's Articles of Incorporation and the By-laws. These 12 incorporators are Orlando Angeles, Carlos Balcita, Frank Cabugwason, Danny Cordero, Adelia Fallar, Virgilio Ipapo, Lindo Javelona, Wally Penilla, Luz Quinio, Bertito Rodriguez, Rosario Sapinoso and Larazo Siplon. There were also those who likewise offered their talent and time to help the 12 incorporators and we also thank and are grateful to them for helping build what the FACC is today. We also thank the spouses Lita and Rudy Joaquin who initiated the first FACC Gala 30 years ago. This event paved the way for the founding of the oldest Filipino-American community in the US as chronicled by Dr. Eumelia Nini Bautista de Garcia. With these words, let us lift the curtains for the 30th FACC Gala. May everyone in attendance have a great time on Gala Night.
THE Couples for Christ Sisters (CFP sisters) will perform in the 30th Gala of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) at the Renaissance Charlotte Sites Hotel on Saturday evening, Oct. 14 this year. Joy Arrojado of the CFC group confirmed this to the FACC officers, saying the CFC sisters will perform the Charleston dance, a popular 1920s dance born during the era of jazz music, speakeasies and flappers. The dance is named after the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina and popularized in US mainstream entertainment by a 1923 tune called "The Charleston" by composer/pianist James P. Johnson. Johnson originated the Broadway show "Runnin' Wild" and it became one of the most popular hits of the decade. The CFC Sisters dancers are Mirasol Abogi, Mae Armsstead, Joy Arrojado, Ida Bauer, Luz Blackwell, Nenette Costes, Diding Cuering, Baby Erikson, Meng Lorenzo, Marie Miranda and Lorena Ostrea. In support of the FACC and the ANCOP, the CFC Sisters are sure to entertain the FACC crowd with their rendition of the Charleston./Susan Palmes-Dennis
