Carolina features: Special cards from special kids

Carolina features: Special cards from special kids: Archiana poses with her cards by Susan Palmes-Dennis It's a special kind of love they give every Christmas Day. They send cards ...

Tech support for tech newbies

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

When in doubt, don’t click—wise advice to those unfamiliar with any product. 

My Christmas gift this year is a Canon EOS Rebel 76i or 750 D camera courtesy of my hubby Ronnie Dennis.  

I opened the gift expecting to see a camera because he asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told him I wanted a camera.  I didn’t know what brand it was nor that it was the Canon EOS camera that would turn out to be my gift. 

My other camera, the Nikon 3100 which he gifted me five years ago was left to my daughter Tejane Mejorada when I visited the Philippines last June. Somehow I didn't know that an event isn't complete without a camera. 

The camera has sort of become my buddy in my travels.  But I'm no technology buff so I don't know how to transfer my photos to my laptop. Laptops and cameras have a symbiotic relationship which I'm not too familiar with.

Anyway here's my story. When I opened the camera I was in a hurry to use it. I just read the manual one time thinking it would be the same like my Nikon camera.  

True there were similarities between the Nikon and Canon cameras but my overconfidence nearly caused me embarrassment because of photos I took that could not be uploaded.  

I used my Canon camera last Dec. 7 and managed to upload the pictures to Facebook. A week after I used it again and was surprised when I failed to upload my photos.

Two days before that Sunday I screwed up big-time (just like Miss Universe pageant host Steve Harvey? Lol) when I changed something in the menu settings.

Through palliative solutions we thought we could upload the photos because the laptop couldn't read the memory card since it still carries Windows 7 software. 

How would I know about JPEG, PNG or TIFF or that warning about not being able to upload the photos because the camera isn't synched with the laptop? I'm no technology expert.

I don't know about downloading a converter much less about Windows 7 being outdated. So I had to call the Canon office for support through 1-800-OK-Canon (1-800-652-2666). A certain Nichole answered and helped me. 

It was found out that I enabled the Wi-Fi/NFC which I thought would automatically connect to the WiFi. 

I also clicked raw instead of JPEG. After so many hours, I uploaded the photos to my laptop. 

In order to spare others the same fate, here are my suggestions on what to do with a brand new camera.


1. Register the camera immediately upon receiving the product before going further. In the case of Canon- visit www.registercanon.com and register your new EOS camera.

In doing so you would receive automatic notification of firmware and software updates, priority telephone support, exclusive priority e-mail support address and exclusive savings on select products, classes and workshops.

2. Download the EOS Digital solution disk or depending in your brand which would have its equivalent.

3. Download camera instructional manual

4.  Watch the instructional video which I think is available in other brands. 

5. Read and study instruction manual and take time to study and re-read and follow the instruction.

6. While doing the menu settings- don’t click set when in doubt. 

Thanks Nichole for making my day.

(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)

Special cards from special kids

Archiana poses with her cards

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

It's a special kind of love they give every Christmas Day. They send cards they signed personally to people that matter to them in school as a way of showing their gratitude.

The students of Hopewell High School Specialized Academic Curriculum (SAC) sign and send these 20 Christmas cards before the winter break supervised by their teachers Catherine Rice and Stephanie Davis- Barnes. 

This SAC program at Hopewell is for students with moderate to severe disabilities.
There are 20 students and each of them signed the cards.  I happen to be one of the teacher assistants for this class.

For some students like Archiana Fleming, it was an easy task they took seriously. Archiana had good penmanship while others like Isaac and Gabby would sign theirs with bold letters. 

It doesn’t matter on what part they signed the card. Imani Palmer would sign her card by including the name of her imaginary friend Brianna, which Ma'am Barnes would caution her not to do so.

Some of the students can’t write and cut papers like other children. Cortez is one whose name was written by Archiana in the cards. Sophie’s Rouzeau-Sanders name was engraved by Ms. Elizabeth, the nurse. 

Aside from Archiana, Evelyn Franklin, Misael Campos and K’wan McClure would volunteer to help sign the cards assisted by the staff. 

“It is so much fun to let them sign the cards and they get such a kick out of it,” SAC teacher assistant Shelma Murray said.

This simple task helps the SAC students in developing skills and be thankful for simple things as well as learning the importance of giving back to others 

The card giving started last year. The other teacher assistants who gladly helped the students were Carmen G Garland,Rosaline Nwigwe and Mrs.Hill who wrote the name of one of the students.  

The 20 cards were sent to 11 people in the cafeteria, the media center, the technology department, coaches and curriculum in-charge and other teachers in other departments who helped them. 

These children also visited Dollar Tree a day before the winter break to buy gifts to people that matter to them. 

Most of them got gifts for their mom, dad, grandparents and friends but mostly for the family members. Ms. Carmen Garland reminded them to buy two gifts for people they would like to share their blessings with. 

The activity motivated the students into asking and participating. Gabby, a Ninjago fan, had this bird that she gave to her grandmother. Jasmine bought a candle for her sister and would have spent her money if not for her teacher's advice to save it for the next field trip. 

These and other activities are being prepared for these kids with special needs so they can make their own choices in life that's anchored on love and gratitude, qualities that are now vanishing in this increasingly hardened, cynical world. 

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippine is now employed as a  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)

The Our Lady of the Rosary comes to the Carolinas

The Our Lady of the Rosary Nuestra Senora de la Naval

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina—The statue of the Our Lady of the Rosary NuestraSenora de la Naval is making its round of home visits here at the Carolinas.

It had been a long journey for the religious icon known as Nuestra Senora de la Naval starting from the Philippines all the way to here in the Carolinas.

Slowly believers, devotees and even non-Catholics here in the Charlotte area flocked to the homes where the Lady of the La Naval is welcome.

A new rosary group is formed that is committed to spreading the beauty of the rosary and how the lady intercedes on behalf of the devotees.

Last Friday the Our Lady of the Rosary was welcomed in the home of Kathryna Ronquillo Antone at 1731 Garrett Road, Indian Trail, North Carolina C 28079, last December 18 at 7 p.m.

Nuestra Senora de la Naval was radiant in her yellow vestment and crown with gold colors illuminating the surroundings. In her Facebook page created for the event, Malette Aquino-Oliveros posted:

“Welcome to our newly formed La Naval Rosary group! I am so glad that one of our friends have signed up for the month of December to host our rosary prayer meeting.”

Malette served as president of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) two years ago. The host Kathryna Antone asked friends to help her welcome Nuestra Senora de la Naval. “Pls. join me in welcoming "La Naval Mary" in our home,” she said.

A number of families already signified interest in attending the rosary. Oliveros is happy and inspired that the rosary group in honor of the Senora de la Naval is slowly forming here at the Carolinas.

The statue is at home at her house at Concord but she is inspired by some force to start the rosary group if only to spread the good news to the community.

The statue traveled from the Philippines eight years ago and was sent to Malette Aquino Oliveros by her sister in law Dr. Blanca Oliveros who was diagnosed with breast cancer eight years ago.

“She is now cancer free,” Malette said. The statue was sent via DHL as a thank you gift to our family. The statue became a permanent feature in her beautiful home.

Malette didn't start the rosary group since she belonged to the Servants of the Holy Rosary which her older brother Arthur belongs.

That was nine years ago and she and her husband belonged to the Holy Rosary group when they transferred here in Charlotte.

Several years passed since then and the Lady de la Naval stayed home Malette was driven to spread the devotion to the lady.

Then two years ago she became rhe president of the FACC and she made time to tell stories about her statue when there are visitors in her house.

Then last year her close friends Dr. Emily and Ben Lorenzo asked if they can start the rosary group. “That was the start and I brought the La Naval Lady to the Lorenzos and we prayed the rosary,” Malette said.

Then another friend Lalaine Castillo who heard about the Lady joined the group in saying the rosary when there is a family requesting for the lady to visit their homes.

“I invited the two families and Tracy and Mike Borja to our house to pray,” Malette said. Suddenly, Kaye Antone called Malette and asked to join the rosary group.

Now, there are eight families in the group. Lota Mascarenas, a devout Catholic, volunteered to print the prayers for Our Lady of La Naval Rosary group.

“This is just a great year for me to spread the word of our Virgin Mary to pray the Rosary,” Malette said. She recalled that Paul Amigo nspired her to form the rosary group.

“He called me years back and told me that there's some Filipinos around this area that I can call and asked them to join. He and his wife Nena Amigo are devoted to the Charlotte Rosary groups. They are one of the founders,” Malette said.

Malette admitted that her devotion to the rosary started when she was still a young girl. “My mom gave me a miraculous medal to pin on my under clothes to keep me safe from harm and temptations when I was growing up,” she said.

Malette said her mother's side of the family has an image of the Dolorosa, the weeping Mary who is at the procession during the Holy Week observance in Calauag, Quezon province.

The rosary is held in devotion to the Virgin Mary. It consists of a set number of specific prayers. First are the introductory prayers: one Apostles’ Creed (Credo), one Our Father (the Pater Noster or the Lord’s Prayer), three Hail Mary’s (Ave’s), one Glory Be (Gloria Patri).

In the Philippines, the months of October and May are the busiest months for the devotees of the Virgin Mary. As a Catholic myself, I firmly believe that those who invoke the intercession of the mother under any title would be happy and find peace in their lives.

The rosary devotees at the house of the Antones familty

(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)

Security and the K 1 Visa

Family members comfort each other. Photo by Associated Press

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Charlotte, North Carolina- House Republican leaders announced a new legislative proposal aimed at boosting national security by changing the nation's visa waiver program.

They said the bill would get a vote by next week. A counterterrorism task force headed by the Republican committee chairman announced the bill on Thursday, and predicted it would pass with an overwhelming and bipartisan vote. 

The bill came on the heels of the carnage at St. Bernardino, California a week ago resulting to the death of 14 people and wounding 21 others. 

It is the first suspected terrorist attack in US soil after the infamous 9-11 and it kept me thinking about it for days as it  involved the fiancée visa or K 1 Visa.  I was reminded of my coming here in the US under the fiancée visa and because of what happened I recalled the process in my brain. 

I came to the US five years and six months ago under the fiancée visa. A fiancée visa is a visa issued to the prospective wife/husband of an American citizen.  

It is valid for 90 days after which the petitioned would return to the country of origin if marriage is not consummated. It is said to be the easiest visa obtained. 

The news media had a grand time talking about the fiancée visa that I was reminded of what happened to me inside the US Embassy and my observation of the system. 

The US K1 visa is not broken. There is no need to fix it despite what happened in San Bernardino but there is a part on the process overlooked by the US government. 

Tashfeen Malik, now the most popular Muslim woman of modern times came to the US on a fiancée visa which I supposed was issued in Pakistan, her country of birth. 

Tashfeen was one of the suspects in the San Bernardino carnage and is believed to have influenced Syed Rizwan Farook, the husband who was born and raised in the US. Many are of the opinion that Tashfeen radicalized Syed into committing the evil deed they did a week ago. 

But why did the US embassy failed to learn that Tashfeen had been to countries suspected of being inhabited by terrorists or those engaged in the radicalization of Islam?

My take is that in every US embassy there are local employees and it was the local employees who interviewed, processed the papers and eventually recommending that it reach the US consul. 

In my case during my interview, the first two sets of interview were done by Filipinos who were employed by the US embassy. These local employees look at the papers like birth certificate, affidavits, other papers, passports. 

Those Filipinos who worked with the US embassy worked religiously scrutinizing any mistakes in spelling, dates and they would be happy to see any discrepancies on documents presented.  

And it is when everything is okay with the papers that the applicant is told to proceed to the US consul. Reaching the consul is no longer a problem. The ambiance is more relaxed just like on my case.  

I can remember how strict the Filipino embassy employee was when she  interviewed me. She was so arrogant and asked vicious questions. That time I told myself, what kind of employees are these? 

Well now, I can think Filipinos employed at the embassy were doing their job by protecting US interests. Was it the same with the local employes at the US embassy in Pakistan who approved Tashfeen’s papers?

Why these local employees failed to detect the places traveled by the petitioned when it can be seen in the passport or during the interviews? This I ask on the assumption that there are local employees in the embassy. 

In Tashfeen’s case, did the local employees of the embassy commit lapses and failed to see her connection to ISIS or Al Qaeda?  These are among the questions to be asked. 

I see that in the next few days those who coming to the US through the K 1 Visa would have a hard time entering the country and the American citizens would be frustrated with the system. 

Personally I see no reason that time and resources would be spent discussing and finding loopholes in the K 1 visa. It is just simple- ISIS and Al Qaeda have partners and in this case partners within the system.  

(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)