Miss Sara de Gracia Fisher is Miss Fil-Am 2013.
On a perfect Saturday evening, the 1st of June 2013, Fil-Am presented yet another successful event, the 2013 Miss Fil-Am pageant at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. Four beautiful and talented young candidates vied for the title of Miss Fil-Am namely Mae Ann Abdul, Isabel Batugal, Jessica Castellanos and Sarah Fisher.
We were honored to have been graced by the presence of HCG Ray Donato, and by our judges, the honorable Kwanza Hall. Atlanta's City Council member, Helen Kim Ho, Founder and Director of AALAC and Tammie Zeigler, Marketing Director of Emory Alliance Credit Union. Our major sponsors Cherry and Vener Godoy, friends from APAC and other leaders of Asian-American organizations and of course our friends from the Filipino community all came to witness the breathtaking pageant competition.
The program started with our emcee Joanmarie Banez, a 2012 Miss Fil-Am candidate with her very warm and subtle voice. Singing the American National Anthem was Eleanor Mae Pascual followed by the Philippine National Anthem sung by our very own Fil-Am officer Mayette Bayani. Stacey Sado did the opening remarks followed by the invocation by Fr. Sunny, pastor of St John Neumann Catholic Church. Then HCG Ray Donato read the message from HE Ambassador Cuisia.
After dinner, the 2013 Fil-Am scholarship award of $1000 was presented to a highly qualified senior high school graduate and college bound recipient Kathlyn Moriles and her parents Dr. Romy and Maryann Moriles.
And the pageant had begun.....
The pageant program articulately formatted and directed by Marites Pellicer with the assistance of Eudy Abellera was superbly and professionally executed.
And oh, the lovely and awesome four candidates' rendition of the Kini-Kini Dance was simply amazing. The talent competition was incredible and very impressive. Mae Ann did the Malong dance, Isabel played the viola, Jessica danced the athletic and energetic version of a warrior's Tahitian Dance while Sarah recited a poem she composed entitled "So Beautiful".
The exquisite evening gown exibition was very well coordinated and complemented with a bouncy music which made the presentation very lively and entertaining. Although in most cases the interview is almost always nerve wracking, I must say that our young candidates handled themselves professionally with great pride and confidence and responded to the questions with mature and appropriate answers.
While the judges were completing their scores, the final walk was made by our 2012 Miss Fil-Am Kelley Utt who was as lovely as ever. As a token of our appreciation for their hard work and dedication in coordinating the program, a bouquet of roses were presented to our program coordinators Marites Pellicer and Eudy Abellera. The former Miss Fil-Ams namely Tessie Pujalte Osiais, Pretz Dominguez Schultz, Julie deGracia Bell, Lisa Garner Bell, Jessica Prosianos, Angelie deGracia Ella and Juneli Zabala were also honored and presented with arrangement of single roses.
And the final moment we were all waiting for, Sarah Marie deGracia Fisher was announced the winner and crowned as the 2013 Miss Fil-Am. Sarah was awarded the prize of $1000 while the runners-up were awarded $300 each.
Of course our function would not have been complete without dancing to the music rendered by our DJ Eric Mojica and photo shoot by our photographer Onli Ball. As a benefit of Fil-Am membership, door prizes were awarded to 2012-2013 paid Fil-Am members who were present during the event namely Alice de Gracia, Beth Zabala and Cindy Barron.
Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our lovely 4 candidates for participating in the pageant, the judges who made a very difficult task of selecting our 2013 Miss Fil-Am, our pageant coordinators for a well organized program, our emcee and DJ, our Sponsors and Guests for their relentless support, and last but not least to our 2013 Fil-Am Board for their hard work, dedication and team work in the preparation and execution of the program. The success of the event can only be attributed to all of YOU who made a big difference. Without your continued support none of this would have materialized.
Elsie Medina Vidanes
President
Fil-Am officers smile for camera with Easter bunny at Easter Picnic 2013. Photo Vic Romero.
$1000 Award for the 2013 Fil-Am Scholar!
The Filipino-American Association of Greater Atlanta is currently in search of a SCHOLAR for 2013.
This is open to senior high school students at an accredited institution in Greater Atlanta.
Here is the application form which includes the rules, guidelines and criteria of the competition.
The deadline to submit the application is on March 16, 2013.
If you have further questions, please contact the following:
Marites Pellicer
Eleanor Pascual
Mayette P. Bayani
Lilia Hagler
New Year's Eve Ball 2012 Photos:
Program
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Smiles
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Tables
The 2013 Fil-Am Atlanta Board at the 38th Inaugural and New Year's Eve Ball.
2012 VALENTINE'S PARTY PICTURES
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