Celebrating Gandhi's legacy of peace in Festival of Unity

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Charlotte, North Carolina—‘We talk (and engage in dialogue) to  continue our struggle for quality inclusion for a better tomorrow.”

Thus said former Charlotte mayor Jennifer Roberts in an interview minutes after she delivered her welcome message to the participants and guests to the Gandhi Festival for Unity.  

“We are still struggling for unity, we are still struggling for equality but we can solve the challenges if we continue to work forward,” the former mayor said in citing Gandhi’s legacy.  Roberts said democracy works better if people can participate, vote and make their views known to their leaders and their opinion is valued.

Roberts, who wore an Indian inspired blouse or top, reminded everyone of the teachings of the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi who spoke of how each person is worthy of respect.

The annual celebration of the Gandhi Festival for Unity began during Roberts’ time as county commissioner of Charlotte, said Nimish Bhatt, past president of the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) and current Vice-Chair

Bhatt, this year’s George L Maddox Awardee, said Roberts understood the Asian community’s values, sense of unity and commitment to growth for everyone.  

Roberts even recounted that there were generous folks in the Indian community who reserved a place for a statue of Mahatma Gandhi that would inspire people to work for peace and equality and make connections to people across the world. 

For her part, Dr. Nini Bautista, past CAACC president recalled how Gandhi’s brass statue arrived in Charlotte and the people who made it possible.

Among those who attended the festival were Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera, County Commissioner Mark Jerrell, music professor Mei Wang, Phin Xaypangna and many others.  The Gandhi Festival for Unity is sponsored and organized by the CAACC.

CAACC President Ann Aquino Gonzalez was among the prime movers for the annual event held to mark Gandhi’s legacy of peace.

Gandhi’s birthday is on Oct. 2.  The festival was held at Martin Luther King/Marshall Park and the program consisted of a recognition ceremony, the International Drum Circle headed by Mei Wang and cultural performances. 

Among those who performed was the Philippine Cultural Dance Troupe with Florami Cordero Lee,  Dorena Reynolds and Elizabeth Bacalzo
 Onia.

FACC to sell Pinoy spring rolls for Gala Night fundraiser

It’s a ‘wrap and roll’ affair as past president Dell Fallar said for the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) as they plan to sell Filipino made spring rolls called lumpia from scratch every Thursday starting this month.

FACC President Muffy Therrien said proceeds from the sale of the spring rolls will fund the annual FACC Gala Night on Nov. 16.  “There are 12 pieces per one pack at $10 per pack with either pork or veggie fillings,” Muffy Therrien said.

In one night 40 dozen lumpia are ready for sale, she said. For anyone interested please place your orders with any FACC board director. Here is former FACC Secretary Aurea Barbee issuing the invitation to the public./Susan Palmes-Dennis

Filipino Mart to open in Charlotte Sept. 14

By Susan Palmes-Dennis

Charlotte, North Carolina—For Filipino-Americans wishing to prepare their favorite homegrown dish or those adventurous enough to try and cook Filipino dishes, a new Filipino-American owned store will open on Saturday this week, Sept. 14, here in the Charlotte area.

The Filipino Mart located at 11855 N Tryon St. Suite A, Charlotte 28262 is owned and operated by Suzanne Silva Horne whose name is synonymous to food catering in the greater Charlotte area because she takes orders from Pinoys there. 

She said she and her husband Drey Horne had long been planning to open a Filipino-American store. 

“The store is called Filipino Mart because it is simple and easily recognizable to the Filipino-American community. We sell a wide variety of products from the home country of the Philippines including food from recognizable brands like Goldilocks,” Suzanne said.

Old favorites like sardines, soy sauce, coconut vinegar, noodles, margarine, catsup, corned beef, Spam and so much more are sold in the store, Suzanne said. The store is open everyday and it accepts balikbayan boxes to be sent to loved ones in the Philippines.

Filipino dishes like dinuguan (pork blood stew) and bopis (spicy minced pork liver) will also be served by Suzanne who traces her roots to Dumaguete City in the Visayas, Philippines and loves to cook. 

She graduated from Siliman University with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. “I cook a lot and I learned cooking from my mom Susana Sumalpong who taught me to cook a lot of dishes. My daughter who graduated in the Philippines also knows how to cook,” Suzanne said.

She said she previously had a hard time looking for Filipino ingredients in specialty stores and this convinced her to open a Filipino-American store that sells Filipino products. 

Suzanne said she has a natural inclination for businesses having sold coconut candy in her childhood.

Suzanne said she is both excited and nervous in opening a store to serve the Filipino-American community in the Charlotte area. 

“Sometimes we cannot please everyone but we are trying our best to provide their needs and we hope they reciprocate our commitment with their patronage of our store,” she said.