Fil-Am artist joins Charlotte Condom Couture show

Edelweiss de Guzman with her model

A Filipino-American artist and former official of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) will join in the Condom Couture Charlotte event scheduled at the Fillmore Charlotte center on Feb. 24. 

Edelweiss de Guzman is representing the Philippines in this fashion show aimed to benefit and promote the Planned Parenthood South Atlantic group.

Edelweiss said it is a unique runaway fashion show where local designers use condoms to create fashionable, wearable art in order to promote safe sex.

This is the fourth time that de Guzman would be participating in the show and she is excited about joining anew after a one year hiatus during which she did volunteer work for the FACC.

The theme for this year's show is “Around the World.” Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care in the US and around the world. Last year Planned Parenthood celebrated its 100 year anniversary.

Edelweiss's concept is Reyna Emperatriz (Queen Empress) St. Helena of Constantinople during the Santacruzan based on a yearly event in the Philippines. 

The dress adorned with pearls styled like the Philippine archipelago is known as “Perlas ng Silinganan” (Pearl of the Orient).” “The Santacruzan is a yearly festival that I enjoyed while growing up in the Philippines,” Edelweiss said. 

Every month of May in every year, all the beautiful young women in town would join a procession casting a flower and a cross, Edelweiss explained.  Her Filipino-American model would carry a cross and flowers at the runway. 

Edelweiss will have only one dress for the show which will have 1,000 pieces of condoms on it. She already ordered 1,300 condoms for the dress. The first condom couture dress Edelweiss made was in 2015 and it was later auctioned off. 

“I have 50 percent to the organization, Planned Parenthood. The concept of that 2015 dress was cosmos, supernova,  time, space and distant memory,” Edelweiss said.

Her dress reflected her fascination on the perception of life and the universe. In 2016 she was inspired by expressionist movement film and theater in creating her dress. 

“The year 2016 was a homage to German expressionist film. This particular style can be also seen on American filmmaker Tim Burton’s film and art. I am a huge fan of Tim Burton,” Edelweiss said. She wasn’t surprised that she found out later that Burton was also inspired by German expressionists. 

Weiss studied European film in college before she switched to fine arts. 

Last year, Edelweiss created a dress made of white condoms that was inspired by a 1910 icouture homage to the Industrial Revolution. 

She called the dress style as steampunk couture in which the past is the future and the future is the past. 

Edelweiss said Planned Parenthood was defunded in 2016 and they gave all the proceeds of the fashion show. 

De Guzman is a co-founder of the Art Ecologie group, a collective of artists who use eco-friendly materials in their work. 

She grew up in the Philippines and moved to the US when she was 18. Her works include illustrations, paintings and haute couture made from recyclable materials.

De Guzman is an immediate past 2nd Vice president of the FACC and chaired the FACC Gala Event in October of last year.  

The fashion show would be hosted by Ramona Holloway, co-host of the Matt and Ramona Show of 107.9 The Link. Music for the show will be from Miami Dice and DJ Spider while the NC Dance District will deliver a dance performance.

Love through mail and phone calls

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Charlotte, North Carolina---This story is a keeper for a lifetime.  Despite advances in technology employed mostly by millennials, my friend Rowena Tocayon Montemor still prefers writing love letters on paper rather than email.

In fact she kept all the love letters written by her ex-boyfriend and now husband of 27 years Bill at their lovely home here in Charlotte, North Carolina. Rowena also kept the letters she wrote to Bill in a special place at their home. 

I will tell you about Rowena's love story starting with her in Calbayog City, Samar province in the Philippines. 

“Weng “as Rowena  is fondly called by close friends and family members, has two sons with husband Bill. She said they wrote each other letters for two years before she finally started working on her fiancée visa. 

When asked why she wanted to write letters on paper she explained “it is more meaningful and you can pour your emotions and sentiments to it.” “There is no doubt we can express more in writing than face to face conversation since we are more restrained when talking than writing,” Rowena said.   

It was in 1987 and Rowena was 16 ½ years old at the time when she stayed  in Olangapo City after being asked by her pregnant cousin whose husband was away as a member of the US Navy. 

She remembered that she met her future husband who then visited her cousin's friend. Rowena sat on the stairs when Bill arrived.  “I recalled that because that was 2 days before my 17 birthday,” Rowena said. 

The meeting was brief but eventually very memorable to Bill and Rowena was surprised that a year later the good looking American Marine returned and looked for her. 

Unknown to Rowena or Weng that chance meeting with Bill was all it took to get him smitten by her long hair and “kayumangi (clear) skin.” Rowena said it was only later than she learned that Bill requested to stay a month in the Philippines to find and know her more. 

He  proposed to Rowena a week after his arrival. He found an engagement ring at the US base in Olongapo city. And he popped the marriage question to Rowena who enthusiastically said yes.

When Bill returned to the US, Rowena said they kept in touch through letters. Weng said she always looked forward every day for a letter. “He would write six times a week,” she said.

Rowena said each letter would be two to three pages. She responded with letters of her own. “It was meaningful and when I write I can pour my emotions into it,” Rowena said.  

The correspondence took years and they also talked over the phone for hours. Rowena said she remembered going to the local PLDT office to make the calls. On Sept. 22, 1990 Rowena arrived in California and days later, married Bill.

They celebrated at a McDonald's outlet. Bill is a native of Massachusetts and was  in California, then assigned to Jacksonville, North Carolina for seven years. Rowena said she and Bill went to Japan on a seven-year assignment and then moved to North Carolina. 

She said their marriage is “almost perfect.” “There are always ups and downs,”  Rowena admitted but other than that she said she could not ask for more. 

In those days, love is cultivated through mails and phone calls. Rowena and Bill are proof that distance is no issue when it comes to connecting with each other. 

On that note, I greet everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. (Comments and questions please send to susanap.dennis@yahoo.com)

Fil-Am youth embraces Pinoy mom's influence

By Susan Palmes-Dennis

A Filipino-American youth whose mother came from Cagayan de Oro was invited  to attend a special session by Stanford University's law school this March.  

Kaelan Everhart, who turns 17 years old on February 21 this year is the son of Omaey Los Banos of Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City who moved to Don Carlos, Bukidnon province years ago. Omaey always considers Cagayan de Oro home.  

The Los Banos family was originally from Samal Island in Davao and relocated to Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro.  

Kaelan was invited by Stanford Law School and Envision to attend the Intensive Law and Trial next month, as shared by the very excited Omaey. 

“Only a few are invited” to attend the short term course that would eventually offer seniors the chance to pursue law in college or related courses. 

In the invitation letter sent to the parents, the school stated that even if the invitee chose not to pursue law at the end of the program, the invitee can still be a life changer in any disciplines in policy, local government and law enforcement. 

By attending the Intensive Law and Trial Kaelan will get the opportunity to study stimulating subject areas while experiencing dormitory living at Stanford University. 

Kaelan is now a senior at Union Grove Christian School at Lexington, North Carolina and is a straight A student with the highest Grade Point Average (GPA), his mom Omaey said. 

He is also a member of the school's Honor Society. During his free time, Kaelan mostly reads all kind of books especially on law and philosophy.

 “It stems from my persistence on law and morality.” 

“I have recently started playing chess, kendama and yo-yo as a creative outlet and to improve dexterity,” Kaelan said. Though he isn't interested in medicine, Kaelan said most of his teachers suggested that he should consider pursuing it.

“I was number 1 in science and biology in tests done by the North Carolina state. I'm interested in technology but the only branch of science I want to pursue  is psychology because I want to know how God allowed the human brain to function after the fall of man,” he said. 

“He is the sweetest and obedient kid that you could ever have. He loves to go church and love the Lord dearly,” Omaey said. 

Omaey is the former president of the Filipino-American Association at Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was during this time that the God fearing Kaelan had associated with the Fil-American group. 

He said he helped her mom in medical missions in the Philippines during her presidency at the group. “It was a great experience,” Kaelan said.

He said he hopes that the Filipino-American community in the US would be united in engaging and empowering other minority communities in the US. Born of a Filipino mother, Kaelan grew up adopting Philippine culture.

Among those he counts as his influences were Ben Shapiro, whom he credits for stirring his interest in government and two Bible teachers named Beverly and Mr. Gilmore “who taught me so many things to remember.”

“Of course how will I forget my mother who taught me the value of money and how important family is. I cannot, nor can anyone else, see where they will be in 10 years. But I hope to have my law degree and working in my local government and working through state to federal government,” Kaelan said.

Instilling love of country in our children

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Charlotte, North Carolina--While I listened to the State of the Union address of US President Donald Trump this week, my tired mind and body was glued to the announcement that one of the guests of First Lady Melania Trump was a 12-year-old boy named Preston Smart. 

Clad in coat and tie, the good looking Preston sat beside the 45th First Lady. Preston Sharp is a native of Redding, California. 

After noticing that the grave sites of fallen soldiers didn’t have American flags and or markers, Sharp organized the placement of more than 40,000 American flags and red carnations on these  graves.

It was part of his goal to honor the veterans of all 50 US states and to challenge others to join the Flag and Flower challenge. 

I tell you this because there is a valuable lesson to be learned about developing a strong sense of patriotism and civic duty among our children. I can imagine that maybe Sharp was brought to a cemetery by his parents and relatives.

I think that he saw a strong sense of love of country in them that touched his heart. Sharp may have felt the sense of loneliness felt by the families and relatives of those veterans. 

In his young mind he thought that fallen heroes should be loved and respected. And it is his sense of civic duty that he learned from his home and further cemented in school that he began his Flag and Flower Challenge. 

I honestly believe that love of country really starts at home. 

Parenting is already a huge responsibility yet educating our young in both home and school about this value, to obey laws and to respect elders and pay taxes is crucial to shaping good character.

Don’t get me wrong there are parents and guardians who had been doing this back in my country of birth the Philippines and it isn't as widely reported as it should be. 

Thanks to Rod Stewart's version of the song Blue Moon, my mind wandered back to an interview I did with senatorial candidate Alex Lacson many summers ago. I believed he really deserved a seat in the Senate, perhaps even in Malacañang. 

Lacson, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines who's born and raised in Kabanlakan town, Negros Occidental talked about his little book “12 Thinks Every Filipino Can do to Help Our Country: I am a Filipino.”
To him, the 12 things a Filipino should do are:

1. Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2. Whenver you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3. Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino
4. When you talk to others,especially foreigners, speak positively about us and our country.
5. Respect your traffic officer, policemen and soldier.
6. Do not litter. Dispose of your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve. 
7. Support your church.
8. During election, do your solemn duty.
9. Pay your employees well
10. Pay your taxes
11. Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

I sort of memorized these 12 rules and I was reminded of that interview when I heard the name of Preston Smart on TV days ago.  Love of country, love of our fallen soldiers and heroes. 

A minor throwback; I read the 12 things of Alex Lacson before I met him personally in a national paper back in the day and I sort of started following it by myself. 

And now it touched a nerve again when I learned about Preston Smart and his Flags and Flowers Challenge for fallen veterans. They say that love of country can be felt by old people. 

There is is no denying that I am going there or maybe I get touched when it comes to conversations about love of country.

What I would really hope for is for young Filipinos to start loving their country not only by passing their civics and culture subjects in school but about really living a life that reflects their love of country. 

May we start instilling this love of country with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines. But I want these two organizations to really work on it and not just take photo ops with the politicians. How about it, Christian Palmes Mejorada?  

(For questions, comments please email to @susanap.dennis@yahoo.com).

Re-igniting Fil-Am fervor

Oscar Spence seated with his wife Cecille at his right and myself in black polo

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

OSCAR Spence, a former area representative of the Fil-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) during the time of past president Paul Amigo talked about his experiences with the Fil-American Community and what he learned from them.

I met Oscar Spence on January 31 through the invitation of his wife Cecille to celebrate the “Sinulog.” Cecille Spence is from Cebu province, Philippines and started the annual Sinulog celebration in North Carolina five years ago. 

I learned a lot from him. After introductions were made, I learned that my gracious host was friends with Paul Amigo before he got married to Cecille and got recruited at the FACC.

Oscar served as the liaison between the FACC and the Fil-Americans at Albemarle and Salisbury. I heard about his helping the FACC and making sure that the folks at Albemarle and surrounding areas attend.  

“It would be nice to attend again but we are 40 miles away and we could not participate anymore with the Charlotte events because of my health,” Oscar said.
Oscar recalled that they “had people coming  from Gastonia, Concord, Monroe.” 

“There  seems to be people there who like to maintain the camaraderie but they don’t want to go Charlotte. They like to get together with Filipinos but they don’t want to go Charlotte, it's too far away,” he said.

When asked how he took on the job as FACC rep, Oscar said he was more of an informer. “But Filipinos, they love parties. They like to party and come to Gala.”

Among the challenges facing the FACC now is not only to sustain current members but also invite new ones especially the youth. 

FACC officers really work to enhance unity and friendship among members and serve as a source and proponent in the promotion of Philippine culture and heritage, interests and concerns. 

There are so many beautiful things about the Philippines and its culture that showed be known especially to the next generation of Fil-Americans here at Charlotte. 

This is a challenge not only to the officers but to the parents and guardians as well unless we let anything that's Filipino in us to evaporate to oblivion. 

It is becoming a challenge to ensure the participation of Fil-Americans since back home Filipinos are clustered first to the first big islands and the smaller islands. 

Fil-Ams in the area reflect that clustering back home but there is one moment when we do get together and that is when there is a party.  That's what myself and the rest of the current batch of FACC officers hope to achieve with “FACC: Beyond the Gala.”

(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)

A warm welcome in Gastonia

Me in the middle with Pastor Terry Casino and Aloysius Palting

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

The people of Gastonia, North Carolina exude the Filipino's strong sense of hospitality to visitors like myself.

Visiting the area felt like I was home and home for me is the Philippines. The smiles that greeted me and the aroma of food made me nostalgic of my birth country one cold Saturday evening. 

I already visited twice Grace Point International Church under the stewardship of Pastor Terry “Tereso” Casino who is a town mate back home. 

Pastor Terry and I were not only town mates in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao, Philippines. We also breathe the same air as we reside in the same street and I knew in a heartbeat his family though he's younger than me.

It was in Gastonia that I first appeared in my capacity as president of the Fil-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) and their warm welcome just encouraged me to do more. 

Maybe I was just longing for the Filipino in us—the talk, singing and dancing as well as food that made me go there every time I am invited. So last Saturday I was there again for the Valentine's Day party where almost everyone was in their best red colored outfits. 

I sought the attention of Cecille Casino, wife of Pastor Casino who is also a pastor and spent much of her 18 years in Seoul, South Korea doing mission work before migrating here in North Carolina and we talked about Grace Point International Church. 

She said the church is part of originally part of the CIC (Concord International Church). 

The ministry is in partnership with the Bethlehem Church.

When the couple was assigned to Gastonia to have their own church last year they started with only four persons.

A year after they grew like mushrooms and now they are a growing family of very active church goers who without fail would gather together for two hours every weekend. 

“They meet two hours including the dinner. They are doing 'discovery work.' 
Their discovery is similar to Bible study but they do a lot of integration and emphasized more on knowing the truth and applying it in their lives,” the soft spoken Cecille said.

She said the biggest reward is the transformation of their lives for the better. When asked how to measure transformation among the people, Cecille said it is manifested in how they talk, act and deal with people.

In talking about transformation, Cecille mentioned the book of James in the Bible which talked about the practicality of life and faith. 

“They discovered that they can be better people by listening and being slow to anger. And they discover this truth by reading the Bible,” she said. 

From four members, the church now number more than 40 persons excluding the number of kids who tag along with their parents.   

Aside from keeping their faith, the church goers cement their ties by sharing food with each other. That means native Filipino cuisine like pinakbet, escabeche, biko, fish stew, rice, fried fish and tinola. 

I sampled their version of ampalaya (bitter melon) which they cooked with vinegar, sugar and tomatoes along with other greens. I remembered my mama lecturing me and my siblings on the value of eating amaplaya which she usually cooks with eggs. 

It was only later in life that I learned that the ampalaya can help people with diabetes. Oh, but I strayed too far from the subject at hand which is the people of Gastonia. 

As I said, I always loved meeting them because their smiles and warm welcome encourages me to visit them repeatedly. They show me the best traits of a Filipino living in a land they call their second home.

photo courtesy Aloy Palting and Muffy P.Therrien

(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)

Recycling fashion by Malou

Genevieve and Alyson model their mom's designs 

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Recyclable gowns made by a Fil-American were on display at the lobby of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center/Belk Theater for the premiere of the Italian opera La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi here in Charlotte, North Carolina recently. 

The gowns were designed by Malou Tabada Cordery who was asked a year ago by the marketing director of Opera Carolina to create the ball gowns for the premiere  and the finale of La Traviata.

Cordery who considers practicality as her guiding principle in designing clothes created two recyclable gowns and materials provided by the Opera Carolina.

“The gowns were made of paper, brochures and pamphlets from the Opera Carolina,” Cordery said and it took her six weeks to design both gowns which earned raves from those in attendance.

A lot of the attendees posed with the models Genevieve and Alyson Cordery, daughters of Malou Cordery, before and after the opera. These gowns were also worn by Cordery's daughters during last year's hit Charlotte Fashion Week show.

“I think making designs and executing them requires artistic talent. When you have a vision or an idea it requires skill to carry it out,” Cordery said.

Alyson Cordery

Her works have been featured in both the Elysian Magazine and the Opera America magazine. Cordery said designing gowns or any clothing should be practical, functional and wearable. 

Cordery said she likes to improvise and introduce different elements that add dimension, style or visual interest. The gowns she made for the La Traviata were appropriate for the setting of the play.

“I am really into details, and I love embellishing my designs. I try to go for the wow factor but sometimes you’ll try something out, or think you have a great idea and it doesn’t turn out like you thought it would, so you have to rethink it,” she said.

Her penchant for designing recyclable gowns came into fore because of her experience with arts and crafts. She did crocheting and designing with recyclables in her younger days in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. 

But it is not easy work especially since she has a family to tend to. Just like in any other passion, there are some things that come easily and one feels inspired to do it, she said.  

“Other times you have to overcome obstacles, like materials not working as expected. And of course there are always deadlines and juggling projects. It can be rather daunting at times, but it’s something that makes me happy and makes me useful,” Cordery said.

But Cordery would have you believe that she never had experience to cut patterns and use a sewing machine. 

“So I will cut a design using hospital lab gowns and then I use a hot glue gun to start adding textured materials and embellishments,” she said. 

Once she gets that sewing machine going, there's no stopping her from creating fashionable clothing out of ordinary items. “I call it upcycling. It’s like recycling but you’re using fabrics from Goodwill or the Salvation Army to make something original,” she said.

“It’s not as labor intensive as recycling. Last year I participated in the Color Me Goodwill Fashion Show in Asheville where I presented five upcycled designs and it was a lot of fun,” Cordery said.

Genevieve Cordery

When she became an officer of the Fil-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) she kept busy making native costumes for Filipino cultural dances for a number of years now.

“I made Halloween costumes for my daughters when they were young and for children participating in FACC cultural activities. I have been actively working as a recyclable designer since 2011 and enjoy using my talents not only to showcase my daughters who enjoy modeling and fashion photography, but also using my designs to raise funds for charitable causes,” Cordery said. 

There is no telling where this petite mother would go as far as her designing passion goes and the same goes for her daughters. Speaking for myself, I am proud of Malou Tabada Cordery, a kababayan from Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental. 

(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)