It was a glamorous and special night for the FACO when it held its 6th edition of the prestigious Miss Fil-Am & Miss Teen Fil-Am Pageant. The event was held on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, CA. The pageant was attended by over 800 guests.

The landmark event, which was the most ambitious pageant so far by the FACO, was hosted by KGTV Channel 10 news anchor, Robert Santos, Energy 103.7 producer Hula Ramos and Miss Fil-Am 2009, Deja Urbanovitch. Special performancers included Josephine Moyer & Friends, Eric James Aguigam and Global Pinoy Idol Alessja Morales.
From Riverside to National City, 14 young ladies from all over San Diego County vied for the all prestigious title which included $1000 in cash, $1000 gift certificate from Image Spa MD , and over $400 worth of hair care products from ENJOY Professional Hair Care.

The esteemed panel of judges included Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 2012 Katrina Dimaranan, Channel 8 News Anchor Nichelle Medina, Fashion Designer Kenneth Barlis, plastic surgeon Dr. James Chao, Image Spa MD Directress Indira Hodzic, owner of ENJOY Professional Hair Care, Patrick Dockry and award-winning Interior Designer Bonnie Bagley-Catlin.

At the end of the evening, Heidi Mae Card, 19, of Oceanside CA was crowned the 2015 Miss Fil-Am and Maireen Barnachea, 13, of National City was crowned the 2015 Miss Teen Fil-Am. Kimberly Sivage and Allana Alonzo placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Miss Fil-Am competition and Janelle Murphy and Aliie Boreman place 2nd and 3rd in the Miss Teen competition. Other awards included Best in Costume and Fan Favorite, both of which went to Lilliana Solis of Oceanside and Miss Photogenic, which was awarded to Heidi Mae Card of Oceanside.

Net proceeds from this event will benefit the FACO’s “Through the Storm Project” to build a learning center in Tacloban for victims of typhoons Haiyan and Hagupit, and to the FACO scholarship program in the Philippines through UPIS.

The day will not be complete without the annual summer picnic. In between going to the buffet table and enjoying the food and lechon provided by the association as well as the varied dishes shared by the members for potluck, the members can go to the nearby polls and vote. But what is truly exciting in this day is the camaraderie of the members, the good chats, fun and laughter they all had!!