Pinoy Jam Barkada leads performers for FACC Summer Picnic

By Susan Palmes-Dennis

The Pinoy Jam Barkada band will lead the list of performers scheduled for the Summer Picnic sponsored by the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) this Saturday, June 8.

Incumbent FACC president Tonette Asay said the Pinoy Jam Barkada will perform six original Pilipino music (OPM) plus two songs from their guest singer Emelyn Burgess, current FACC auditor. The band will serenade the crowd during their meals.  The band is composed of Gerry Canta, Adam Yabes, Glenn Espiritu, Sain Diaz, Tarah Hang and Oliver Rodriguez.

The band used to be known as Tara and the Emojis.  Their latest performance was during the Charlotte Amore Dance Event in February organized by the Couples for Christ (CFC). 

The members used to be with other bands in the Charlotte area and they bonded together with  their common love of music.  

They formed the Pinoy Jam Barkada and they made a name for themselves not only in the Filipino-American community but in neighboring areas too. 

This year’s FACC Summer Picnic carries the theme “Pagbabalik-Tanaw sa Mga Larong Pinoy (Reminiscing our Childhood Games).”  Jake Miranda, manager for Ancop Foundation Inc’s Southeast Asian Region will lead the invocation while Emelyn Burgess will conduct the National Anthems of the US and Philippines. 

FACC President Tonette Asay will deliver the welcome address while a “Dance Dahil  sa Iyo” program follows with Doreen Reynolds and Emelyn Burgess leading the way.  A keyboard performance by Zild Dalton of songs like “Faded” and “Hello” by Adele is also included along with an interpretative dance number by Jamie Burgess and Cadence Neely of the song “Riptide.”

Pinoy games like jumping rope, sack race, sipa, tug of war, Chinese garter, tiyakad, limbo rock and sangkayaw are included and open to everyone in attendance, Doreen Reynolds said.  Tons of prizes await the winners.

In between the games are intermission numbers like a gymnastics routine by Karolyne Dalton set to the songs “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon.  Abby Thomas is also on tap to perform the song “Can’t Help Falling In Love” on ukulele while Marissa Borja will perform songs like “Boom Boom” and “Girl in the Mirror.”

Cip Onia, 2018 FACC First VP and this year’s Volleyball Chairman, will announce the winners and close the program.  Joy Moore will host the picnic while Dr.Cris Villapando will lead the prayers before meals.  The summer picnic ill be held at Park Road Park from 10 am to 4 pm.