Former FACC officer Alberto Santillano passes away

The memorial service of the late Alberto Santillano was held last Friday, March 10 in California. Santillano died of cancer last February 26, 2017 and is survived by his wife Josephine Tamayo-Santillano and sons Albert Joseph and Ian.

Alberto was born on November 22, 1949 in Bislig, Tanauan town in Leyte province to Pomposo and Restituta Santillano. He was the 11th of 12 children of his parents and was the youngest son. 

He is known to his friends and family members as Bert.  An an active member of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas, Inc. (FACC), he became the group's press relations officer in the early 90s, said his sister-in-law Sherrilyn Tamayo-Siplon. 

Bert's golf buddies  include Bert Rodriguez, Lito Balcita, Marcial del Mundo and Astor Azarcon. Bert had surgery to take out a tumor last December but the cancer was aggressive.  

Bert was a very good friend of the Salcedos--Remy,Edgar and Sol and Leody and Julius. The Salcedos took care of him when Alberto transferred to Charlotte. 

Bert graduated class valedictorian in elementary school and enrolled at Sacred Heart Seminary for a year. He wasn't called to priesthood as God has other plans for him.

Bert transferred to St. Paul’s College in Tacloban City, graduating first in his class and was admitted to the University of the Philippines where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering. 

He placed 11th in the government's licensure examination and  earned his masters degree. Bert was hired by Petrochem and was sent to Paris, France to understudy a similar plant. 

In 1985 he migrated to the US and was hired by Coco-Cola and FMC. It was in Charlotte, North Carolina that he met his wife Josephine Tamayo a registered nurse and together they had two children. 

After his retirement at Quality Transport,Inc  he spent his days volunteering in various civic and religious organizations. 

To his family, friends and colleagues alike, Bert had a life well spent. I join the others in praying for his peaceful eternal repose. May he rest in peace./Susan Palmes-Dennis

Alberto's wife Josephine and sons Albert Joseph and Jan

Shane Ericks joins Fe delos Reyes for ‘A Night of Music And Laughter' in Charlotte

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina--Singing is in the DNA of Shane Ericks. She said she started singing when she was a girl during family gatherings.

“My family are proud to show off my talent to visitors,” Shane recalled of her chilhhood back in the Philippines.

Then one day a neighbor heard her sing and Shane became the youngest soloist in the church at six years of age. It helped that the musical director was her “ninang (godmother)” and she then went to singing in weddings.

Her mother gave her a guitar which helped in her journey to music. When she moved to Greenville, South Carolina to join her parents there, she uploaded videos of her acoustic covers of popular songs in YouTube and wrote her own songs.

She started performing in coffee shops and joined competitions, culminating in her winning the “Global Pinoy Idol” contest that allowed her to make special appearances in the Philippines. 

From then on, life changed dramatically for her and she never looked back. Shane had become a popular singer not only here in the US but all over the world based on the millions of hits of her YouTube uploads. 

And Shane will be the special guest of popular Fil-American singer Fe delos Reyes in her April 22 concert entitled “#Trending Fe delos Reyes: A Night of Music and Laughter” at the International House Auditorium, Midwood International and Cultural Center, 1817 Central Avenue,  Charlotte, North Carolina 28205.

When asked about her musical influences, Shane cited Gary Valenciano, Taya Smith of Hillsong United, Adele, Michael Jackson, The Carpenters, Justin Timberlake, Lake Street Dive, Bruno Mars, Michael Buble and Sara Bareilles.

She took a break from school due to a hectic performance schedule but Shane is determined to finish a degree in either commercial music or music therapy. 

This very talented girl said she can draw but admits not being able to do so in a long time. “I can do a moonwalk,” Shane replied and also plays tennis in her spare time.  She is also a worship leader in her church.

She loves music and avoids spicy food, preferring sweets instead. Shane also reads and likes photography but she is most passionate about her faith and helping people.

Catch Shane and Fe delos Reyes as they weave a “Night of Music and Laughter” at the  International House Auditorium, Midwood International and Cultural Center, 1817 Central Avenue,  Charlotte, North Carolina on April 22. 

To see how good she is, watch her perform her version of the Alicia Keys hit song “If I Aint Got You.”

Fe delos Reyes presents 'Night of Music and Laughter' at Charlotte

The versatile and exceptionally talented Fe delos Reyes continues to amaze audiences with her boundless energy and skill, easily able to switch from funny girl to Broadway singer at a whim.

A multi-media marvel, Fe began her career in 1979 as a member of Music  and Magic, the Philippine's premier showband in the 80s that held highly successful shows in Manila, the Asian circuit and North American cities. 

Fe has played in such renowned venues as Carnegie Hall, MGM Grand, San Francisco Civic Center and the Shrine Auditorium. 

While staying true to her Filipino roots, she reaches out to a diverse world audience, enthralling crowds ranging from an intimate 200 to 20,000 strong.

An Economics graduate of Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines, she divided her time with studies, the Glee Club and singing backup for then-unknown Kuh Ledesma, who formed Music and Magic. 

After a successful seven year run, the group dissolved in 1986 and members chose to launch solo careers. As a solo artist, Fe combined standup comedy and sing and dance into an entertainment form known as “cabaret comedy”, whose practitioners include the famed Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin.
Fe led a flourishing career in the Philippines in 1993 to head to the US in search of a sister she never met, raise her own family and pursue a career in America.

Along the way, Fe contended with US Immigration and it's her experiences that gave life to her original musical "Amerikana ...Made in the Philippines.”

The musical spotlights challenges faced by Fe and her fellow immigrants, a subject that gains currency in today's times. In real life, Fe won permanent US residency and became a US citizen in 2002.

Fe also starred in the award-winning Filipino American film The Debut (2000, Columbia Tri-Star), playing Tita Alice. Fe is now working on a book, a collection of  spiels, spoofs and song parodies set in several cities and against the backdrop of the ongoing social networking phenomenon.

Fil-Americans in the Charlotte, North Carolina community and neighboring areas can catch Fe delos Reyes in her April 22 concert entitled “#Trending Fe delos Reyes: A Night of Music and Laughter” at the International House Auditorium, Midwood International and Cultural Center, 1817 Central Avenue,  Charlotte, North Carolina 28205.

The concert is presented by Core Visions Productions with special guest Shane Ericks. The show starts at 6 pm and tickets are priced at $35. Seats are first come, first served. For tickets and sponsorship, please call 980.215.1307./Susan Palmes-Dennis

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant 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)

FACC schedules Spring Picnic on Apr. 29

To Filipino-Americans living in the North Carolina area, save the date April 29 on your calendars.

That's when the Fil-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) will hold its Spring Picnic this year at the McDowell Nature Preserve at 15222 York Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28278. 

The picnic starts at 10 am and ends at 5 pm at the McDowell Pavilion which is a part of the nature preserve park.

Highlighting the event is the Talent Audition for the “FACC Got Talent” contest which is divided into instruments, vocals and dance. There will be categories for solo, duet, choir and dance (interpretative,contemporary and modern). 

This talent competition is exclusively limited to Filipino-American participants and the finals will be held at the FACC Summer Picnic. “Follow updates on this event at the FACC website facc.us or at the FACC Facebook page,” Edelweiss de Guzman, FACC 2nd VP, said.

There will be games with prizes open for everyone.  Food is potluck but the organizers assured that three lechons (roast pigs) will be available. 

“It would be a grand time we’ll be having and we invite every Fil-Americans to join so they don’t miss out on the fun,” said Miah Respicio-Price, chairperson of the FACC Spring Picnic.  

Price also said the attendees can do fishing, swimming and bring their kayak and long boards to the picnic. They can also bring their own tents, she said. 

Ro Lawsin, who along with Tonette Asay is in charge of the games, said the picnic gives every FACC member an opportunity to connect with old friends and make new ones. 

Spring picnics sponsored by the FACC is the opening salvo to a calendar of events it scheduled throughout the year.  

“It is that time of year where we rekindle old ties as well as introduce and welcome new members,” FACC past president Florami Lao Cordero-Lee said./Susan Palmes-Dennis

Valentine's Day at GracePoint Church

With Amie Mendoza Ervay at the center and Tonette Asay

The Valentine's Day party at the GracePoint International Church in  Gastonia, North Carolina was a huge success for its members who celebrated the event on Feb. 12. 

Drawing more than 100, the party included a search for Mr and Mrs. Valentine that was won by Jun and Maymay Capinig who were married for more than 30 years. 

About eight couples joined the search but the Capinig couple won after giving the best answers in the question and answer portion. “They were so perfect they know each other,” said emcee Muffy P. Therrien.

The Capinig couple 

There were games, dances and food and an inspirational talk from Pastors Terry Casino and Cecille Casino who reminded those in attendance about the value of love. 

Pastor Terry also invited them to pray over a loved one and friend who needs divine intervention.
  
Susan Palmes-Dennis of the FACC gave a short message and invited the church members to attend their group's activities. 

Photo credits from Aloysius Palting &
Muffy P.Therrien.

Philippine Devotional Day in the Carolinas on Feb. 12

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

EVERYONE is invited to attend the Philippine Devotional Day on February 12, 2017 at St. Mathews Catholic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Paul Amigo, past president of the Fil-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC)  extended the invitation in an email sent to the FACC members.

The Philippines Devotional Prayer Day also known as Pray Day is commemorated by the Fil-American community in the Carolinas and neighboring cities on the last week of January or first week of February every year. 

Pray Day consists of a short visit to the chapel where one prays for intercession from God for the Philippines and its people. After the prayer, a fellowship and renewal of ties will be held among the attendees.

Amigo said the second Pray Day drew 20 attendees.  “The first pray day three years ago had a humble number of nine attendees,” he said.

Marcelo Bueno said the first Eennecadeema Omnibus first met in the summer of 2012 at Pineville. Aside from Bueno, also present during the first meeting were Jaime Cruz, Dr. Francis Dayrit, Paul Amigo, Ed Ascalon and Edwin Castro. 

For three years the EO has grown and had found alumni from Jesuit institutions back in the Philippines.

Aside from those mentioned, others in the EO were Rex Borra, Zarah Davis, Edwin Castro, Zenaida Zolanan, Arlene Giaquinto, Gary Escobal, Donald Escobal, Grace Escobal, Larissa Escobal (deceased), Rischard Costes, Nenette Costes, Chris Villapando, Robert Diokno, Lyra Rakusin, Suzanne Jackson, Hector Javier, Dr. Edward Tautjo, Weien Jiang, Vincent Morando, Renato Pargas, Almer Aznar, Valerie Satina, Asincion Erikson, Karla Akana and Maria Lingao. 

Eeneecadeemah is a Jesuit institution’s enduring call to cheer for the Catholic faith and for Christian values and this group is composed of graduates or alumni of the Ateneo universities in the Philippines who are now in the Carolinas. 

The organization is informal. Unlike other groups there is no hierarchy, i.e. no  president, vice president and so on. It only has one coordinator who is replaced annually.

Its membership is voluntary and/or by invitation. Being included means accepting  EO’s core principles grounded in Lux In Domino spirit of encouraging and cultivating the free exchange of ideas and pursuing excellence.


It also means striving for honestly, integrity and fairness, supporting outreach programs that alleviate poverty among the most vulnerable and defenseless of God’s people and fulfill this for the greater Glory of God (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam).

The Philippines and its people are blessed since there are people praying for them.

Cebu's Sinulog comes to North Carolina

Me at right with Cecile Spence and her husband Oscar, former FACC rep

THE spirit and flavor of Cebu's culture and religious devotion came to nearly 100 Fil-Americans at Albermarle and the suburbs as they celebrated the “Sinulog” or feast of the Infant Jesus in their own backyard.

Cecile Spence, a native of Cebu City, said this year marked the fifth time they celebrated the Sinulog in North Carolina and she hosted a gathering for this event for most Cebuanos now based in North Carolina. 

Those who attended came from as far as Charlotte, Monroe, Highpoint and Greensboro. The pilgrims started with the rosary as Mrs. Spence led the first decade of joyful mystery and passed it on to the other believers. 

The faithful also chanted and sang praises for “Sto. Nino” and prayed for more blessings for health and prosperity. This was followed by a novena for the infant Jesus and Visayan songs in remembrance of the Sinulog celebration in Cebu City.

Pit Senor is a very popular religious event in Cebu City, Philippines where pilgrims and believers and tourists get together and pray for the Infant Jesus who is believed to do miracles, according to testimonies from believers.  

Spence is married for 25 years to Oscar Spence who was an area representative of FACC during the term of past FACC president Paul Amigo. 

Among those who attended, GG Ash of Greensboro said she would not fail to join the gathering if only to show her love to the Infant Jesus.

Among those attending were Dallie and Donnie Espina and Margie and Fermin Placino who were among the early settlers in Charlotte. 

Filipino food like inon-on (vinegar fish stew), lechon (roasted pig), pancit (Chinese noodles) and adobo (meat stew) were served along with American food staples. This was followed by more dancing and singing./Susan Palmes-Dennis

Photo taken by Donnie Espina/Albemarle