Asian Week

Today the San Francisco Giants expressed excitement for their 2012 Asian Heritage Night games celebrating the Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, and Polynesian communities.

Now in its 5th year, the Filipino Heritage Night celebrations are one of the most successful special events for the Giants of the season. They have grown to now include two Filipino Heritage Night events a year. In 2009, over 10,000 fans bought tickets specifically for the Filipino heritage festivities which included seeing beloved Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao throw out the first pitch of the game.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who is half Filipino, smiles as he recalls meeting Pacquaio that day.

Pitcher Tim Lincecum speaks to reporters at AT&T Park about the upcoming 2012 Season.

“It was kinda surreal,” said the pitcher, who wore a gray hoodie over his baseball cap and trademark shaggy hair. “He’s an extremely popular and well known public figure and to be able to meet him was a big deal for me.”

On his Filipino fans and heritage, Lincecum said to have a huge following because of his cultural background means a lot to him.

Coach Bruce Bochy says the Asian American and specifically Filipino fan base has been “awesome.”

“We are very appreciative of the Filipino community,” said Bochy. “We’re looking forward to acknowledging them and their support during the Filipino Heritage Night games. It should be a lot of fun.”

“I wish I could say Lincecum will pitch in one of the those games, but it will depend on the rotation,” Bochy added.

Their heritage night games have also given the Giants a chance to express their commitment to raising awareness for hepatitis B, which affects 1 in 10 Asian and Pacific Islanders.

For the last 4 years, the Giants have invited San Francisco Hep B Free – a city wide effort to screen and vaccinate all APIs for hepatitis B, to come and participate in a pre-game ceremony to briefly address the stadium about the disease. The Giants also give Hep B Free the chance to table and pass out informational brochures and fliers during their Asian Heritage Night games.

Partial proceeds from all of the Giants various Asian Heritage Nights will benefit Bay Area charities and non-profits.

The Giants' Pablo Sandoval joins Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and the Hep B Free team on May 10, 2011.

 

Here is a look at the Giants 2012 Asian Heritage Night events. To purchase tickets to any of these games, visit: http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ticketing/group_special_events.jsp

 

ASIAN HERITAGE NIGHT GAMES

Chinese Heritage Night

Tuesday 5/1 vs. MIA 7:15 p.m.

Join the Giants on Chinese Heritage Night for the third in a planned series of events celebrating the Chinese Zodiac! Along with a ticket to the game, seat in one of the Chinese Heritage Sections, and pre-game cultural entertainment, all special event ticket holders will receive a collector’s edition Giants-themed “Year of the Dragon” figurine. Partial ticket proceeds will benefit local Chinese based charities, so don’t miss your opportunity to celebrate the Bay Area’s rich Chinese Heritage and support a good cause!

Filipino Heritage Night 1

Wednesday 5/2 vs. MIA 7:15 p.m.

The Giants are proud to present the first Filipino Heritage Night of 2012! Come support the Bay Area’s strong Filipino culture as the Giants take on the Miami Marlins. Sit in one of the special Filipino Heritage sections and enjoy cultural performers will leading up to the start of the game. All special event ticket holders will also receive a Filipino themed item! Partial proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to local Filipino based charities. Come show Filipino and Giants pride here at AT&T Park!

Japanese Heritage Night

Friday, 5/4 vs. MIL 7:15 p.m.

Korean Heritage Night

Friday, 6/1 vs. CHC, 7:15 p.m.

Filipino Heritage Night 2

Wednesday 9/5 vs. ARI 7:15 p.m.

Miss the first Filipino Heritage Night? Not to worry! Filipino Heritage Night 2 features pre-game cultural entertainment from local Filipino performance groups, Filipino Heritage seating sections just for special event ticket holders, and a Filipino/Giants-themed t-shirt! Partial proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to local non-profits in the Filipino community. The Filipino community is always one of the largest and loudest to come out to the ballpark all season, so bring the whole family and get in on the action!

Bruce Lee Tribute Night

September, 9/4 vs. ARI 7:15 p.m.

2012 serves as the “Year of the Dragon”, so what better way to celebrate than to honor the life and times of The Dragon himself, Bruce Lee? Lee, a San Francisco native, went on to become arguably the most renowned martial artist of all time, and the Giants would like to recognize that! By sharing his knowledge and skills throughout the world, Lee became not only a master, but an icon. Your ticket to this event will include a collector’s edition Bruce Lee bobblehead, as well as a ticket to the game in one of the Bruce Lee Tribute Night sections! Whether you are a martial artist, instructor, or fan, we look forward to hosting you and your group at AT&T Park. Partial proceeds from this event go to the Bruce Lee Foundation.

Polynesian Heritage Night

Wednesday, 9/19 vs. COL 7:15 p.m.

Kick off your Friday night island-style at the Giants annual Polynesian Heritage Night! Along with your ticket in one of the Polynesian Heritage sections to the game against the division rival Colorado Rockies, this special event package includes admittance to the pregame Polynesian party in Seals Plaza from 5pm-7pm, where you can enjoy cultural food and drink specials and live entertainment and dancing. All special event ticket holders will also receive a Giants-themed Polynesian kukui nut necklace, only available through this special offer. When the weather gets warm in September, what better way to celebrate than with an island party by the Bay?

Redwood City, CA – MYX TV, the only Asian American entertainment network in the United States, proudly announces the upcoming premiere of SUPERMODELME, a competition reality show featuring ten aspiring female models of Asian heritage, fighting for international model superstardom. The show premieres on February 15th and airs Wednesdays at 10:30pm.

Shot in Singapore, SUPERMODELME features women of Sri Lankan, Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, and Korean descent, hailing from Australia, the United States, Asia, and Europe.

MYX TV premieres the international reality TV show where Asian models strut to the finish.

“SUPERMODELME is Asia’s first and only multi-platform, reality-based entertainment program breaking ground not only in the action/reality genre, but also in the realm of new media,” said Karen Seah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Refinery Media. “The show will be featured across TV, Internet and on Mobile. Through SUPERMODELME, Refinery Media aims to showcase Asia’s rising talent in production, photography, fashion and music for the program across a series of platforms. Our goal is to position SUPERMODELME as an arena to showcase our Asian capabilities yet still appeal to a global audience with the input from international guests and judges”

The series goes west through MYX TV and reveals an exciting look into the dynamic and trendsetting Asian fashion industry.

“We are pleased to add SUPERMODELME to MYX TV’s programming line-up as our first competition reality series,” said Miguel Santos, Associate General Manager for MYX TV. “We are always striving to give our viewers exciting new content not seen on other American networks and debuting this exciting new franchise in the United States is right in line with our programming goals.”

Meet Asia’s fashion celebrities and the models as they take you to scenic locations, through drama intensive challenges, and to the thrilling and glamorous but unforgiving demands of fashion. SUPERMODELME airs on the network that is redefining Asian American entertainment, MYX TV.

President Barack Obama with Chris Lu,White House Cabinet Secretary and Co-chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Photo courtesy of the White House

On Feb. 1, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders expressed their commitment to ending viral hepatitis nationwide.

1 in 12 people worldwide is living with viral hepatitis, with viral hepatitis affecting as many as 5 million Americans. Hepatitis B affects 1 in 10 Asian and Pacific Islanders, and is vaccine preventable.

“Hepatitis is a problem that is important to us and President Obama, the first president to publicly acknowledge that chronic viral hepatitis is a national concern,” said Chris Lu, White House Cabinet Secretary and Co-chair, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. “Hep B is a problem that disproportionately affects our API community. It’s important to raise public awareness of the importance of early detection.”

Lu said the Department of Health and Human Services has developed a viral hepatitis action plan and White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will be working closely with them to make sure it’s implemented. The plan outlines actions to increase viral hepatitis awareness and knowledge among health care providers and communities, and steps that will improve access to quality prevention, care, and treatment services for viral hepatitis.

Combating the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis: Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis can be read here: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/initiatives/hepatitis

After the president’s state of the union address last week, Team HBV, whose mission is to increase awareness of the dangers of Hepatitis B and liver cancer, tweeted the White House inquiring what will be done to address Hepatitis B.

Lu responded back via Twitter, that the President’s Affordable Care Act will provide health care to over 30 million Americans including millions of APIs and noted that that the president commemorated World Hepatitis Day on July 28, 2011, indicating that hepatitis is a health issue on the White House’s radar.

 

SF Association of Realtors applaud Mayor Ed Lee's aims for the Housing Trust Fund but oppose a transfer tax increase to finance it.

The SF Association of REALTORS and its 4,000 members are campaigning to preempt a transfer tax increase by the mayor and his Housing Trust Fund Working Group for this November’s election. Yet, the mayor, in particular when it came to the trust fund has remained non-committed on using the tax to support the fund.  “I will need your help on a trust fund that will help me build middle class housing, in addition to affordable housing because we’re slipping with our middle class, with families. I can’t allow families to leave the city,” said Lee to realtor applause last Friday at the 2012 SFAR Installation Banquet.  The mayor during his Mark Hopkins Hotel remarks only targeted one tax – the job killing payroll tax by pledging to create a “fair tax structure”….Tying realtor success with technology companies moving in and public satisfaction with city services, Lee said realtors are the canary in the SF economic coal mine. “Your success is a reflection of whether we are doing well on the other aspects…”

Rules Committee Chair and former Chinatown Community Development Center staffer Jane Kim, with former Committee member Scott Wiener (left), will be key to a Feb. 7 SF Board of Supervisor vote on nominee Cindy Wu to the powerful Planning Commission.

WU FAST TRACKED BY CCDC ALUM: Keep an eye on Cindy Wu’s nomination to the powerful SF Planning Commission by Board of Supervisor President David Chiu, the former board chair of her employer, Chinatown Community Development Center. For today’s (Feb. 2) afternoon meeting at the Rules Committee, Chair Jane Kim – a former CCDC employee – had expressed her intention to report her nomination to the full board next Tuesday, Feb. 7 in hopes of not stalling her nomination in committee. With Kim likely to support Wu, she will need the support of current Rules Committee Supervisors Mark Farrell or David Campos (whom Chiu recently appointed, replacing Scott Wiener who replaced Sean Elsbernd last December) for a recommendation to the full board. Farrell and Wiener, two of the board’s moderates sitting on Rules last December, had out voted Kim, the only vote for Entertainment Commission candidate Steve Lee. The full board in January supported Lee and overrode Wiener and Farrell’s Rules Committee recommendation for Castro night club owner Tim Eicher…The Wu nomination could reopen up the contentious 2011 mayoral campaign debate on the Central Subway at the full board. Wu was CCDC’s Community Planning Manager overseeing outreach in advance of Central Subway construction coming thru Chinatown…

 

Future Chinatown Community Development Center Director Norman Fong (left) and Community Planning Manager Cindy Wu (right) appear in a 2009 online video. Wu was nominated last week to the powerful SF Planning Commission.

Attorney and realtor Jeff Woo becomes President of the SF Association of Realtors for 2012.

NOT BOUGHT OR SOLD: Although mentored by SFAR’s three APA Presidents John Lee, Allen Okamoto and John Yen Wong, their golden real estate sales success hasn’t quite rubbed off on new SFAR President Jeff Woo. “I have the dubious distinction…of being the first president who has never bought or sold a piece of property for a client,” said Woo. However, the attorney – who managed family properties in younger days – assured 4,000 members and 11 staffers that he’d be good for making referrals… Promising to be a “beacon of moderate politics,” Woo said the association and its $1 million legal action fund would “speak on behalf of homeowners” in San Francisco while battling transfer taxes, rent control and condo conversion issues… GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD REALTORS: “His backyard abuts against my mother’s backyard in the Richmond district. And he has been a very good neighbor,” said former SFAR President John Yen Wong whose mom neighbors former college gymnast Jeff Woo…CHEEKY REALTORS: Former Chinese Real Estate Association of America (where AsianWeek is a media sponsor and sits on their board) president Eva Hom introduced 1990 SFAR President and Japantown institution Okamoto as the “Asian Richard Gere”… Hom and Amy Kong (2011 CREAA president and SFAR board member) knighted a smug Woo with Hawaiian leis and simultaneous pecks on both of his cheeks. Looks like the realtors had lots of practice with Woo…

GOT HOPS: Realtors applauded loudly when Lee boasted, “We’re going to bring the Warriors back here.” That came after he quickly slipped in the words “Super Bowl” without saying squat about the San Francisco 49ers, whose Santa Clara hosts are trying to stomp out any buyer’s remorse about building a $1 billion football stadium. With the lease for the Golden State Warriors expiring in 2017, building an SF basketball arena near the Giants baseball park could draw more than 800,000 for 41 regular season games compared to a football stadium drawing only 548,000 for 8 regular season games. It’s a boon for 30% of SF construction workers who are APA and a legacy builder for the Mayor who’s relatively blameless for losing the Niners if they move. The Warriors – host of Hep B Free basketball and APA heritage game nights for the past several years – last played in SF in 1971….

 

Supervisor Carmen Chu (left) is encouraged to run for State Assembly while former SF Democratic Party Chair Jane Morrison will not run for re-election to the SF Democratic County Central Committee.

RUN CARMEN RUN: State Senator Leland Yee was cheering on Carmen Chu to run in the 19th Assembly District by beckoning to the District 4 (Sunset) Supervisor, “Carmen, there’s still that chance you could still run for Assembly” while attracting a smattering of applause at the SFAR dinner on Jan. 27…Although the supervisor wasn’t biting, or “Chu-ing” as she encouraged realtors to “stay active locally” especially on the SF Redevelopment Agencyclosure, taxation and other programs. Chu encouraged SFAR to outreach more, “If you reach out to 10 people [apiece] that means about 40,000…”

JOB TRADE: If she doesn’t run, Chu with three years remaining as supervisor could be a mayoral appointee to replace Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting if he succeeds Assemblywoman Fiona Ma in the 19th District in November. Chu and Ting are Sunset residents. Realtors likely favor a Chu selection…

Board of Supervisors President David Chiu (left) faces a confirmation vote of his nominee Cindy Wu (not pictured) to the powerful Planning Commission. A January 2012 Board vote narrowly approved Entertainment Commissioner Steven Lee (right) who was sworn in by Chiu on Jan. 19.

CHIU NOT HURTING: Former APA elected official was emailing around that SF Democratic Party chair and ex-Supervisor Aaron Peskin won’t challenge incumbent David Chiu in the heavily APA Supervisor District 3 seat (Chinatown/North Beach, pending redistricting). Peskin not running reinforces Chiu wasn’t hurt by his 2011 mayoral defeat (see Nov. 24 column “Is David Chiu Really in Trouble?” http://www.asianweek.com/2011/11/24/is-david-chiu-really-in-trouble/), despite last November commentary by his pollster David Latterman, non-partisan analysis by Chinese American Voters Education Committee David Lee. Although with Peskin not running, that might draw in Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s Rose Pak if she’s not satisfied with any Chiu challengers or if Chiu makes amends. A good sign to watch – Pak’s annual tradition of chewing out politicians publicly on the mike at the Lunar New Year parade Chinatown reviewing stand as Chiu passes on Feb. 11, assuming he’s not tending to his SF Democratic County Central Committee duties at the California Democratic Party convention in San Diego…

PELOSI AT CAVEC: CAVEC meanwhile will host House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi’s keynote at their annual Empress of China fundraiser this Friday, February 3. David Lee, who took the CAVEC reins from this columnist in 1995, has polled, registered, educated and turned out voters in work buoyed by late financier Warren Hellman. Lee laid the foundation for the election of many APA officials in San Francisco, including his namesake, the mayor and perhaps someday for a District 1 supervisor seat now held by Eric Mar…

OUT OF THE KITCHEN: If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. The 20th annual Chinese New Year fete for Chinese Newcomer Service Centerwas a bit more crowded than usual as former media maven Gimmy Park Li and Esther Marks – long-time campaign treasurer for pioneering LGBT Assemblyman Tom Ammiano – kept eaters and donors out of the kitchen while keeping Peking Duck wraps, won ton soup and AsianWeek.com publisher Ted Fang’s BBQ ribs flowing out of the Woodland Avenue kitchen. According to one attendee, the Grande Dame and Great Dane of SF Democratic Party politics are not running. Nonagenarian CNSC host Jane Morrison confirmed she is bowing out after 14 years in electoral politics – by not running for SF Democratic County Central Committee. The attendee also said barky former Supervisor and tricenarian Chris Daly won’t run again after leaving the committee in 2010…MR. FIX IT: CNSC Director Carlos Quan-Serrano admitted he’s Mr. Fix-it. Anytime when a non-profit hires him, he’s on a rescue mission. Sounds CNSC is in good hands…

MISS ME?: Email Samson Wong at potsticker@prodigy.net.

 

On Tuesday, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) convened a roundtable on AAPI veteran’s issues.

The goal of this roundtable was to highlight VA’s work in leveraging partnerships with the AAPI community.  Hosted by Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the roundtable gathered high-level Veterans Affairs officials, other federal leaders, and representatives from the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Japanese American Citizen League, National Alliance for Filipino Veterans, National Filipino Veterans for Equity, National Organization of Chamorro Veterans in America, and others, in discussions of great importance to AAPI veterans: data collection, access to healthcare, and veterans benefits.

General Eric Shinseki

This roundtable could not have come at a more crucial time, as the data from the 2010 Census revealed that AAPIs are one of the fastest growing racial groups in this country.  Among the nearly 17 million AAPIs across the nation, there are over 265,000 Asian American veterans and 28,000 Native Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander veterans.

Over the past three years, the President has provided unprecedented levels of funding to help veterans.  And Secretary Shinseki and his team have worked tirelessly to ensure that VA is doing all it can do to ensure that veterans are receiving the services and benefits they have earned, and that they receive this support in a timely manner.

In recent months, the President has announced a series of new initiatives to help veterans.  At the end of 2011, the President signed into law the Returning Heroes Tax Credit, which provides firms that hire unemployed veterans with a maximum credit of $5,600 per veteran, and the Wounded Warriors Tax Credit, which offers firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities with a maximum credit of $9,600 per veteran.  The President also announced a series of initiatives designed to give veterans additional career development support, including the Veteran Gold Card, which entitles veterans to six months of personalized case management, assessments and counseling, as well as the Veterans Job Bank, a tool to help veterans find job postings from companies looking to hire them.

In last week’s State of the Union address, the President proposed the creation of a Veterans Job Corps, which would help veterans find jobs as police officers or fire fighters.  And just this week, the First Lady, Secretary Shinseki, and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced new rules that would make it easier for military families to take time off from their jobs to care for wounded service members.

In the State of the Union address, the President made clear that supporting our veterans ensures that “America is as strong as those who have defended her.”  At the White House Initiative on AAPIs, we embrace this shared commitment, and will continue to ensure that AAPIs—including our brave and honorable AAPI service members and veterans—play an important role in an America “Built to Last.”

Chris Lu is Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary and serves as Co-chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisLu44.

LAS VEGAS, NV — Kung Fu Plaza, which is the oldest and most authentic Thai restaurant in Las Vegas, is adding a selection of wines from Elvis Presley Wine Cellars. The winery is located in the San Joaquin valley of California.

Last year, Kung Fu Plaza added wines from the William Hill Estate Winery in support of local music programs and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. The fundraising effort concluded at the end of last April.

“We are slowly growing our wine lists that have a natural link to Las Vegas, making wine tasting more fun for visiting Thai people and carefully selected wines that we already know will taste good with the food,” said Alan Wong, general manager of Kung Fu Plaza. “The Elvis wines fit well on both counts. They have a Vegas-connected brand and also bolder flavors that match very well with Thai and Chinese cuisine.”

Adding a selection of Elvis Presley-branded wines is part of Wong’s effort to find the best wine matches for Thai cuisine after being inspired by the increasing interest in European wines by the Chinese. In addition to encouraging an interest in wine, China is home to several vineyards that produce Chardonnay and Riesling wines in the Sichuan region.

 

Kung Fu Plaza restaurant serves up wine from Elvis Presley Wine Cellars.

“The wines we serve are mostly from Southern California, but I’ve been researching wineries from all over the world,” said Wong. “Naturally, people generally avoid tannic wines with hot and spicy foods, but not all Thai foods are spicy. Red wines can work with heavier dishes. One of our favorites from the Elvis Presley Wine Cellars is the Blue Hawaii, which is a sweeter tropical Riesling. However, a Chardonnay can play well with some dishes.”

The selection from Elvis Presley includes: Jailhouse Rock (a richly flavored Merlot), The King Of Rock & Roll (a flashy Cabernet Sauvignon), Blue Suede (a vibrant Chardonnay), and Blue Hawaii (a tropical Riesling). The Riesling, Wong says, works especially well with spicier foods.

While this is not the first time Elvis Presley wines have been offered on the market, the wine crafters say that this is the first edition line. Occasionally, the winery creates seasonal wines. For example, it offered an Elvis Christmas Pinot Noir last Thanksgiving. The wine cellar also produced 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel.

To review a complete menu, visit http://www.kungfuplaza.com. Kung Fu Plaza delivers within a five-mile radius and is located at 3505 S. Valley View Blvd., which is just west of the Fashion Show Mall on the Las Vegas Strip. For reservations, call 702-247-4120.

Founded in 1973, Kung Fu Plaza is the oldest and most authentic Chinese and Thai restaurant in Las Vegas. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The average entree is under $10 and most patrons order family style.

 

United States Senator Dianne Feinstein administers the Oath of Office to Judge Edward Chen.

When Edward Chen was inducted as a United States District Judge in the Northern District of California on September 27, 2011, his many associates, friends, family, and fans overflowed into 6 courtrooms of  the Philip Burton United States Courthouse in San Francisco and watched admiringly, his induction ceremony over TV screens as Senator Dianne Feinstein administered his Oath of Office.  The program opened with Friends of Judge Chen leading the group with the singing of “America the Beautiful” followed by remarks from his close associates Chief U.S. District Judge James Ware, Attorney Dale Minami, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, and the Robing ceremony by wife Janet and daughter Tara.  The celebration of his induction continued at The Great Hall of the James R. Browning Courthouse with a party atmosphere of Lion Dancing, sumptuous buffet, ice cream from Fenton’s his favorite local  ice cream parlor, and much hand shaking for the popular Judge Chen, who waited two years before his nomination by President Obama was finally confirmed by the Senate in May, 2011.  He is the first Chinese American Federal Judge in the San Francisco area.

Three months later, it was with a little trepidation I contacted Judge Chen, asking in a letter whether he remembered his first and second grade teacher, yours truly, and would he meet me and let me interview him for AsianWeek.  Yippee, he remembered me, and so on a cold January day, I got to meet the little boy I remembered as being very quiet, shy and obedient some 54 odd years later. Obviously I was impressed – and proud as any teacher would be of a former student’s success story.  Can I claim any credit – that I doubt, but it isn’t every day that one’s first grade student becomes a Judge, does it?

To say the least, that shy young man obviously blossomed into the confident, ever smiling and welcoming man I shook hands with. He shared with me that he grew up in Oakland, the youngest of four boys, and moved to San Francisco in his junior year to enter Lowell High School.  One memory of his childhood was that his father instilled in him a love for math, and was giving him math books and algebra problems to solve when he was barely 8 years old. “Dad and my older brother were always giving me math problems to solve, “ he said, “and when I think back about this background in problem solving, I realize that somehow this is exactly what law is all about. How better can I explain what my job is now but to be a problem solver!” he said with a laugh.

 

Judge Edward M. Chen

Entering UC Berkeley, Chen recalls that he was interested in science and thought of majoring in astronomy.  While there, however, he soon became more aware of and interested in the Civil Rights Movement, having been a longtime admirer of Martin Luther King.  This combined with a social awareness in the colleges concerning the Vietnam War seemed to have had an effect on Ed, and by the time he was a junior, he had changed majors to economics with thoughts of going to law school.  A Boalt Hall Law School graduate in 1979, he recalls that barely 5% of his class comprised of Asian Americans, and there were few Asian American role models in the law profession. He credits Judges Harry Low and Lillian Sing among the few pioneers in the Asian American community then to be admired.

Although Ed Chen remembers always liking to do things for and with people, he didn’t consider himself a leader or joiner in his early years. He did some tutoring of high school kids at Berkeley High, but thinks it wasn’t until his law school years that he became more active and vocal in groups, and even volunteered working with the Asian Law Caucus.

Once he graduated, we asked him, what high points does he remember in his career? Although he could have claimed serving on the California Law Review or graduating Order of the Coif, he said his best experience was clerking for United States District Judge Charles B. Renfrew and United States Court of Appeals Chief Justice James R. Browning. He explained further, “I would say this is the best thing for a new graduate to do, because you learn the true workings of the court there. I would recommend to any new fledgling lawyer to try to get this experience.”

Another high point was working on the legal team representing Fred Korematsu in successfully overturning his WWII conviction for failing to comply with the Japanese interment order.  Seeing this happen was a proud moment for all Asian Americans, and Ed proudly said, “I consider it an honor that I was there to do my part along with Dale Minami and his fine team in 1983”.   Of course being nominated by President Obama and inducted to his position as United States District Judge last May, 2011 will always be a peak moment in the professional life of this young man, who once was rated unanimously “well qualified,”  the highest rating by the American Bar Association.

My favorite question of successful people is where do you want to see yourself in five years, and without a blink, he said, “Right here.  I love what I am doing and never want to leave!”   Thinking the question over, however, he hesitated and then said, “Probably my wife would like me to say, move to Hawaii,” he added with a laugh.

Professionally, he said he is interested and wants to continue to promote judicial education with fellow judges.  “One needs to continually be open to learning, and I see an importance in everyone acknowledging one’s unconscious biases and influences that affect our decision making,” he added. He is also adamant on the need for expansion of access and education for the average citizen to learn more about the judicial system and how it can help them when problems arise.

If one looked at Ed Chen, they might think of him as a happy go lucky fellow, but he is very serious when saying that he feels very keenly the responsibility on his shoulders of being the first Chinese American Federal Judge in the San Francisco area. He quotes that there are only 14 Asians in the complete Federal System of 800 judges, so obviously we all may feel the need to do a better than good job as we are setting an example for future generations. He says, “Although there has been obvious progress, Asian Americans are still underrepresented in this law profession, and most definitely in the court system.”

I promised Chen’s secretary, Leni Doyle, that I would only take a short bit of Judge Ed Chen’s tight busy schedule, so I told Ed he had to give me in a nutshell 5 words of wisdom for the next generation of Asian Americans to live by. “Okay Mrs. Wong, let’s see what your former student and this old man can come up with,” he laughed.

Here’s Ed Chen”s words to live by:

Number one would be to APPLY oneself to find something you like to do, and do the best job you can.

Number two would be to NETWORK, as anyone you meet, client or associate, may someday open doors for you for your future goals.

Number three would be to TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY WITH RESPECT, whether they be your allies or your opponents.

Number four would be to EARN PRAISE from those around you, especially your opponents, for your integrity, fairness, and ethics.

Number five would be INVOLVEMENT in your community, city and state.

The phone was ringing, and my time was up, so I said to Ed, “How about some parting words to your former first grade teacher who remembers teaching you how to read, Judge Chen?”  With that quick smile and soft chuckle, he answered, “I remember you being strict with us and I remembered not wanting to get in trouble with you, but I do remember liking your classroom and you were good to us, Mrs. Wong.” With typical Asian modesty, I demurred and told him how proud I was of him, and hoped my tough early training played some part in his success.

With our parting handshake, the reporter in me asked for some final words of wisdom from this new role model for Asian American youth of today.

He grinned, but complied, saying, “Tell them never forget where you came from and aspire to be a leader in the community.  Lead with purpose and passion and in so doing, try to make things better.”

Well said, dear student, and a job well done.  You’re our man of the moment, and the Chinese American community bursts with pride when they say the name, Judge Edward Chen.  So do I!

 

 

Chinese American Heroes presents this series of significant dates in Asian American and Chinese American history in celebration of the start of 2012.  This is by no means a comprehensive list of events due to our limited time and resources for research.  For the same reasons we concentrated on the major Asian American population groups in this country in numbers, the Chinese, Japanese, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Filipino Americans.

In installment two we go from 1871 to 1905, featuring some of the most significant and still relatively unknown struggles for civil rights and against discriminatory immigration laws in American history.

In particular we’d like to thank and acknowledge the comprehensive research work of Professor Jean Pfaelzer of the University of Delaware, in her 2007 book,” Driven Out: The Hidden War Against Chinese Americans.”  Dr. Pfaelzer’s detailed research uncovered the racism and paranoia that resulted in the cruel treatment of immigrant and 1st generation Chinese Americans from the 18th Century through the early 20th Century that included violent confiscation of property, evictions, and murder.  These acts were conducted in over 300 different communities in the Western United States.  Far from submitting to oppression, these Chinese Americans fought back with hundreds of lawsuits through the state and federal courts as well as with acts of civil disobedience, boycotts, and other forms of legal resistance.

1871 Chinese Massacre of 1871 – After the accidental shooting of a white rancher the Chinese community in Los Angeles, California is destroyed.  Eighteen Chinese are known to have been lynched but the unofficial death toll is higher.  Emil Harris, the only Jewish American who later became Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, is credited for saving the lives of some Chinese during this event.  All convictions for manslaughter are overturned on “legal technicalities.”

Chinese Massacre of 1871

1875   The Page Act bans all further Chinese labor from immigration to the US.  It also bans the immigration of Chinese women, explicitly assuming that all of them are prostitutes.  Those few women applying to enter the US as the wives or daughters of Chinese men already legally in the country are forced to undergo repeated and humiliating interrogations  by British and American government officials.  A single mistake during the multiple interrogations led to many legitimate claimants being denied or deported.  The lack of Chinese women and laws banning interracial marriages creates rowdy and dying bachelor societies of men in Chinatowns all across the US.

1880 Suspension of the Burlingame Treaty – Because of the economic depression that had lasted throughout America for much of the 1870s and into the 1880s, a strongly and openly racist movement had arisen to end the immigration of Chinese labor to the US.  Open immigration of Chinese is unilaterally suspended by the United States in contravention of the Burlingame Treaty of 1868, but the government promises to protect Chinese laborers in the US.  Government officials at most levels show a notable lack of interest in keeping such a promise.  Anti-Chinese legislation in Congress culminates with the…

1882   The Chinese Exclusion Act becomes the only law in American history specifically barring any nationality or race from immigrating to the United States and becoming naturalized citizens.  Although its provisions were long ago repealed by later civil rights laws, it still exists today as a part of the United States Code, Chapter 7, Title 8 entitled, “Exclusion of Chinese.”

1883 The pioneering journalist, Wong Chin Foo, uses “The Chinese American” as the title for his English language newspaper in New York City, the first recorded printing of the term.  In his over-enthusiasm Wong printed 5,000 copies for a Chinese immigrant population in the city that numbered around 1,000 at best. The paper soon folds.

1885 Rock Springs Massacre – White miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming lead a mob in destroying the Chinese community.  At least 28 Chinese are killed with many of their bodies left burned, mutilated, and unburied.  The US Army is called in to restore order.  A grand jury declines to bring any charges saying, “… no one has been able to testify to a single criminal act committed by any known white person that day.”  Many Chinese communities are driven out across the United States in the aftermath, most notably in Tacoma, Washington in November 1885 and in Seattle in 1886.  Members of the Knights of Labor, an early labor union, are prominent in organizing and participating in all of these anti-Chinese attacks.

1886 A San Francisco municipal ordinance selectively enforced only upon Chinese laundries is struck down by the US Supreme Court inYick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356.  The court ruled that discrimination through the unequal application of the laws was unconstitutional.  The Supreme Court later glosses over and ignores this case in Plessy v. Ferguson, legalizing racial segregation in 1896.  However, the precedent would be the focal point of many later civil rights cases through the 1950s and 60s.

1888   The Scott Act not only renews the ban on the immigration of Chinese labor but prohibits all Chinese from returning to the US after visiting China.  An estimated 20 to 30 thousand Chinese are unable to return to America.

1892 The Geary Act requires Chinese laborers in the United States to carry legal documents proving their residency under threat of immediate imprisonment and/or deportation .  This is the first ever requirement by the US Government for photo identification documents to be carried by any group.  Chinese in the United States lead widespread legal and civil resistance to the law by refusing to register en masse.  These acts of civil and legal disobedience and boycotts of American goods organized by Chinese Americans and by China draw the notice and admiration of a young Indian lawyer named Mohandas K. Gandhi.  To avoid continuing international embarrassment Congress quietly fails to provide adequate funding to enforce the law.

1894 The Gresham-Yang Treaty repealed the Scott Act provision banning the return of Chinese after visits to China but China was forced to accept a total ban on Chinese immigration to the United States.

1898 The  Spanish American War and the subsequent Philippine-American War makes the Philippines into an American territory.  One unanticipated problem of the American conquest is that Filipinos, as citizens of a US territory, do not come under anti-Asian legislation barring immigration to the United States.  Filipino immigration to the United States follows much to the horror of many white Americans.

1898 Chinese are banned from immigrating to Hawaii and from coming from Hawaii to the United States.

1898 In US v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649, the US Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment stating that, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States…” applied to everyone born in the United States, even those whose parents were Chinese and thus otherwise ineligible for naturalization.  Citizenship by birth is established as the law of the land.

1903 Oxnard Strike – Mexican and Japanese farm laborers in Oxnard, California, join together to form the Japanese-Mexican Labor Association (JMLA) to strike against an owner dominated labor organization driving down wages.  Violence that killed one Mexican striker led to so much embarrassing press publicity that the owners backed down.  However, the refusal of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) to recognize the JMLA solely because it recruited Japanese workers eventually led to these worker gains being lost and the collapse of the association.

1905 In United States v. Ju Toy, 198 U.S. 253, a lower federal district court had found that Ju Toy was a United States citizen but he was ordered deported anyway by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor (then in charge of US immigration matters.)  Such immigration decisions about Chinese, even if they were US citizens, were not eligible for judicial review according to Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.  In dissent, Justice David Brewer wrote, “I cannot believe that Congress intended to provide that a citizen, simply because he belongs to an obnoxious race, can be deprived of all the liberty and protection which the Constitution guarantees, and if it did so intend, I do not believe that it has the power to do so.”

To see Installment 1 of this historical series please visit:  http://www.asianweek.com/2012/01/04/significant-dates-in-asian-americanchinese-american-history/

For additional information about Chinese American heroes, please visit the Chinese American Heroes website at www.chineseamericanheroes.org.

 

Register to be a bone marrow donor to save Janet Liang or the life of another leukemia patient.

Janet Liang, a UCLA alumna, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2009 while she was 22 years-old. After several rounds of high-dose chemotherapy, she achieved a state of remission for about a year. Unfortunately, she discovered she relapsed in December 2011 and currently is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. She has until April to find her match.

Now 25, Janet needs people, especially those of Asian and Chinese descent, to join the Bone Marrow Registry. Registering is quick and painless with a simple cheek swab. 76% of donors only donate stem cells in the blood, so the process is similar to donating platelets. The remaining 24% of patients need bone marrow, which is a safe procedure that is always performed under anesthesia.

Please register to be a bone marrow donor. You could save Janet’s life, or the life of another leukemia patient. For more information, please visit these links:

marrow.org
aadp.org
asianmarrow.org
facebook.com/helpingjanet
twitter.com/helpingjanet

The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) is celebrating it’s 30th year, and what better way to kick things off than with a partaaay! Join them at 111 Minna Gallery to celebrate the official launch of the SFIAAFF30! Come out, pick up your hot-off-the-press Festival Program Guide, and enjoy some of the Bay Area’s hottest DJs. Doors open at 8pm.

CAAM presents
SFIAAFF Launch Party
Thursday, February 9
9PM – 2AM
@ 111 Minna Gallery
111 Minna Street (at 2nd Street), San Francisco CA 94105 

On the turntables:

Chicken Skratch
DJ Inkfat
Nerstylist
DJ Bluz

$10 Admission | 21+
$5 FOR CAAM MEMBERS

To learn more about CAAM membership
email membership@asianamericanmedia.org.

RELATED LINKS

Visit our Website:
http://caamedia.org/

Like SFIAAFF on Facebook:
http://facebook.com/asianamericanmedia

Follow SFIAAFF on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/caam

Watch SFIAAFF on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/caamchannel

Scope out SFIAAFF’s Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/centerforasianamericanmedia

111 Minna Gallery
http://111minnagallery.com/

 

2011 Queen Court: Princess Kaori Saito, Princess and Tomodachi Award Recipient Lauren Kawawaki, Queen Jeddie Kawahatsu, 1st Princess Tamiko Escalante, Princess Richelle Farley. Photo Courtesy of: David Yu Photography

Applicants wanted for the Northern California Cherry Blossom’s Queen Program. Must be between18-25 with one parent of full Japanese descent. Visit nccbfqueenprogram.org for the application. Deadline is Feb. 9.

Redwood City, Calif. – Filipino communities all over the world abound with talented children. But what sets the JAG Pinoy Idol & JAG Pinoy Kidz Idol competitions apart is its pro-social and philanthropic component, as it supported the international fundraising efforts for Bantay Bata and the ABS CBN Foundation International. Dozens of children competed for the coveted titles at Jeepney Asian Grill in Cerritos, California, bringing out the little pop stars, crooners and family bands. On its maiden year, its winners were Katriz Trinidad and Christine Umali.

Katriz Trinidad and Christine Umali.

The 12 and over and kids competitions drew in Filipino American celebrities such as international producer/composer Morris Albert, comedian Bernardo Bernardo, actress Louie Reyes, TV personality Giselle Toengi, beauty queen Yogi Dominguez Zaragoza, Dante Basco, and Antoinette Taus. The events were presented by Jeepney Asian Grill and Becca Products, distributor of turones de mani and casoy. Produced by PAE Live! of producer extraordinaire, Ted Benito, the events drew in dozens of young artists from all over Southern California every week for the duration of the competition.

“We’re honored to be in partnership with ABS CBN Foundation International and Bantay Bata in the Pinoy Idol/Kidz contests,” said Danny Moran, President of Innova Foods and the Henry V Moran Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps in the character and spiritual formation of children in the Philippines. “It’s wonderful to see how kids can turn into mature and responsible men and women who have come to find Christ in the games that they play, and are willing to share their experience with others.”

Moran is also the patron behind the “Football for Good” program for Bantay Bata. This program trains, develops and engages poor and street kids in the Philippines in the sport of football (soccer, in the US), and teaches them values of life like teamwork, hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, respect for the rules, and authority. In the process of their engagement in the sport, they learn skills and are given the opportunity to compete internationally at the Homeless World Cup.

JAG Pinoy Idol Katriz Trinidad is a 7th grader at Rancho Del Rey Middle School, from Chula Vista, CA who has been singing since she was 5. A veteran in the singing competition circuit, her latest achievements include recognitions as Artist of the Year at the Rising Star Music Awards in LA and at the 7th Las Vegas Music Awards. Having opened for celebrity acts like Sarah Geronimo and Piolo Pascual, Katriz believes that kids should “Reach for the moon because if you fall short you will land on a star.”

The recently concluded 12 and under competition, JAG Pinoy Kidz Idol, was bested by 8-year old Christine Umali from San Diego County. A young member of the children’s choir of the Mater Dei Catholic Church, her musical interests span from dancing to singing and playing the piano. “It’s a dream come true, and answer to my prayers,” said Umali. “I’m really very happy and consider this as an early Christmas present.”

“We have always believed that philanthropy is something that everyone can do,” said J. Robbie Fabian, President of the ABS CBN Foundation International. “When you add a giving component to community events, it adds an incentive to participants and reminds us that giving can be fun, no matter how old you are.”

 

Ukulele sensation Jake Shimabukuro. Photo by Danny Clinch.

Early Bird Presale tickets are now available for the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival’s (SFIAAFF) 2012 Screening, Live Performance and VIP Pre-Reception for THE JAKE SHIIMABUKURO DOCUMENTARY on March 14, 2012 (6:00pm VIP Reception and 7:30pm screening at the Castro Theater). By renowned director Tadashi Nakamura (acclaimed trilogy Yellow Brotherhood, Pilgrimmage and A Song For Ourselves), the film is the first-ever documentary about the young Hawai’ian native and ukulele virtuoso: Jake Shimabukuro. Those familiar with Jake Shimabukuro, know him as a first-class musician who has performed with artists as diverse as Bela Fleck, Cyndi Lauper and Yo Yo Ma, been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone and Time Magazine, and earned comparisons to Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix. For those unfamiliar with his music, all it takes is to hear a few chords—or glimpse him in performance—and the appeal comes through instantly.

Don’t miss the World Premiere of this captivating documentary – PLAYING ONE NIGHT ONLY! And the icing on the cake? JAKE SHIMABUKURO WILL BE IN THE HOUSE to give a mind-blowing ukulele performance that’s sure to knock your socks off!

VIP Reception + Screening + Live Performance:
Early Bird Presale tickets for THE JAKE SHIMABUKURO DOCUMENTARY, Live performance and Special VIP Reception go on sale at 10AM PST on January 26 through February 9 via http://caamedia.org, the day of our official press conference. General Public: $55 ($60 after February 9), CAAM Members: $45 ($50 after February 9). Special Combination Ticket: Film, Performance, and VIP Reception CAAM Member price: $150 | Non-Member price: $175

About SFIAAFF
The 30th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) takes place March 8-18, 2012 in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose, California. The SFIAAFF is the world’s largest and most prestigious showcase of new Asian and Asian American cinema, annually presenting more than 100 works from over 20 countries to 25,000 attendees across the Bay Area.

About CAAM
SFIAAFF is presented by the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. For more information visit www.caamedia.org or call 415-863-0814.

Dr. Shigeki Imamoto, who runs the Shinjo Animal Hospital in Nara Prefecture, Japan, realized that there were many veterinarians who were fighting to save dogs and cats in Fukushima, but what about the livestock? Considering them the forgotten victims, he’s made it his mission to fight for the lives of cows, pigs, horses and chickens, as well as help the region’s farmers.

Iwamoto became the chief medical advisor for the organization Farm of Hope (http://bit.ly/qjePKP), an organization that is trying to help farmers in the 20-kilometer “no go” radiation exclusion zone in Fukushima. The zone was declared a restricted area by the Japanese government on April 22, 2011, because of the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Dr. Shigeki Imamoto

The Japanese veterinarian will be in the United States to help raise awareness of the plight of livestock abandoned in the evacuation zone in Fukushima Prefecture and will be giving presentations in California about the issue and his efforts to save the animals.

The Northern California talk by Dr. Shigeki Imamoto will be on Friday, Feb. 10, at 1:30 p.m. at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, 1840 Sutter St., San Francisco, and is being sponsored by the JCCCNC and its Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. The event is free and open to the public.  Call (415) 567-5505 or email programsevents@jcccnc.org to RSVP.

The Southern California talk will be on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 1:30 p.m. at the SPCA, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach (in El Dorado Park). Iwamoto will be introduced by Dr. Yuko Nishiyama of Village Veterinary Hospital in Gardena.

For more information about Imamoto, see his YouTube presentation at http://bit.ly/xoDDpa.

The JCCCNC (www.jcccnc.org) established the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund on March 11, 2011, to provide aid to the citizens and survivors of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and tsunami. The fund was created to provide citizen-to-citizen assistance to bring hope and direct assistance to the most affected communities. NJERF has become the largest Japanese American community-based relief fund, with more than $4 million in donations to date. All of the donations go directly to citizen relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts.

 

The National Association of Asian American Professionals-San Francisco (NAAAP-SF) cordially invites the public to join them for their 2012 Lunar New Year Gala on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at Carnelian By The Bay located right behind the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Carnelian is a stunning restaurant with a breathtaking view of the Bay Bridge and the surrounding Bay.

Their Lunar New Year Gala commemorates the Lunar New Year and provides not only a full evening of food and entertainment, but also an opportunity for the community to share in a common cultural festivity. This year’s featured performers include:

- Lion Dancers from Gee Yung ( www.geeyung.com )

- Ayumi Perry – Musical performance ( www.tinyurl.com/7p3mwns )

- Danielle Pettee – Fashion Expo ( www.daniellethedressmaker.com )

- Peter Luo – Fashion Expo ( www.orangecaterpillar.com )

- World Muay Thai Team USA ( www.worldteamusa.com )

Doors will open at 7:00 PM and program to begin at 8:00 PM with the dance floor opening up at 10:00 PM. Hors d’oeuvres and food will be served throughout the event, courtesy of various San Francisco restaurants. Cash bar available for drinks. 50% of all event proceeds will be donated to the Chinatown Community Development Center.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW

http://www.eventbee.com/event?eid=831173282

Please note: First 150 guests to register for the event will receive a FREE invitation to the Macy’s Impluse Collection Launch on February 15, 2012 – details at bottom.

In 2011, this event was sold out with more than 300 attendees. Check out the photos from last year here at www.naaapsf.org/Events/EventPhotos.aspx or direct link:www.tinyurl.com/7owrq5j

Details

What:        3rd Annual NAAAP-SF Lunar New Year Gala

Venue:       Carnelian by the Bay

Location:   1 Ferry Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94111

Date:         Saturday, February 18, 2012

Time:         7pm-12pm – Doors open at 7pm -

Macy’s Event Before the Gala – Same week!

Join NAAAP-SF for the launch of Macy’s newest Impulse Capsule Collection, Doo.Ri Chung. Known for her effortless draping ability and parachute silhouettes, Doo.Ri has designed a collection for Impulse that captures balance and sophistication with her signature ethereal design aesthetic.

The first 150 people who have paid registration for the Gala can attend Macy’s Fashion Show for FREE! Attendees will receive gift bags while enjoying hors d’ouvres and light refreshments.

Details

What:       Macy’s Fashion Show

Location:  Macy’s Union Square, Impulse Dept, Level 3, San Francisco, CA

Date:      Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Time:     6-8pm

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Gung Hay Fat Choy! San Nin Fai Lok! (Happy New Year) The Year of the Dragon promises to be a spectacular, extravagant and flamboyant year!  As the fifth of twelve animals in the Chinese horoscope, people born in the year of the Dragon are imaginative, decisive, self-confident, curious, generous and romantic .  They are not afraid when faced with a challenge and they enter most battles unassisted.  In China, the Dragon is the symbol of the Emperor, the son of Heaven, and represents male vigor.

Those born in the Year of the Dragon (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012) are considered to be the flashiest and boldest members of the Chinese astrological family.   Some famous people born in the Year of the Dragon are Bruce Lee, Salvador Dali, John Lennon, Shirley Temple , Joan of Arc, Reese Witherspoon and Susan B. Anthony.

During the day on Saturday, February 11, San Francisco Chinatown will be hosting the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. along Grant Avenue from California to Broadway St. While on Sunday, February 12, the fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy traditional dance and music from throughout Asia and experience ancient and modern Chinese arts such as calligraphy, kite making and acrobatics. The event is free and open to the general public.

Southwest Airlines, title sponsor of the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade, and the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the city’s Chinese New Year Parade on February 11.  The parade will begin at 5:15 p.m. at Market and Second streets.

Named one of the top ten Parades in the world by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA), the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the grandest night illuminated Parades in the country.  Started in the 1860’s by the Chinese in San Francisco as a means to educate the community about their culture, the Parade and Festival have grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. Parade highlights include elaborate floats, lion dancers, folk dancers, costumed elementary school groups, marching bands, stilt walkers, Chinese acrobats, and a 250 foot long Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung.”)

The parade will also be televised live on KTVU Fox 2 and KTSF 26 (Chinese broadcast) 6-8pm.

The parade is free to attend, but for those who would like bleacher tickets, they are available for $30. Contact (415) 986-1370 or visit www.chineseparade.com.

 

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, American Express partnered with AsianWeek.com for a special giveaway. Readers submitted their Lunar New Year haikus for a chance to win a limited edition $50 year of the dragon gift card. The card is available for purchase online with a free-shipping offer until today, January 31, at americanexpress.com/gift.

Here are the winning haikus:

Smell of Tangerines

See red and gold everywhere

Popping firecrackers

-Calvin Wong

Time for family

to celebrate traditions

and eat very well.

-James Cho

Year of the dragon;

Gung Hay Fat Choy to you all!

Enjoy the new year!

-Cathy Tai

Clanging cymbals and

the banging of drums, mean the

lion dancers are here.

-Paul Yu

Lunar New Year means:

red envelopes, oranges,

big parade, fun times!

-R. Lee

San Francisco –  Chinese Whispers in partnership with the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park will present a unique multimedia workshop reading aboard the historic ferryboat Eureka on February 5th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. This special preview excerpt from Chinese Whispers: Golden Gatesm, created by Artist Rene Yung, will highlight contemporary folk memories about the maritime history of the Chinese immigrants who came through the Bay Area during the early American West. This free, accessible program is appropriate for all ages.

What: Multimedia event presenting a workshop reading from Chinese Whispers: Golden Gatesm by an intergenerational cast of community storytellers, with soundscape by collaborating sound artist Jeremiah Moore; discussion with Yung and Moore; and facilitated audience story circles led by cultural blogger Arlene Goldbard.

When: Sunday, February 5th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Aboard the 1890 ferryboat Eureka at the Hyde Street Pier.

Who: Seven intergenerational community members will recount stories. Artistic and Project Director Rene Yung and Sound Artist Jeremiah Moore will speak at the event. This production is presented by Chinese Whisperssm in partnership with the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Chinese Whispers: Golden Gatesm is supported in part by The San Francisco Foundation and San Francisco Arts Commission.

Chinese Whispers sm is a multi-site community storytelling project about the Chinese who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad, mines, and Frontier settlements. It is envisioned to unfold across the geography of the American West in place-based productions that involve local communities recounting local stories.

To learn more about Chinese Whispers, please visit http://chinese-whispers.org/.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Year of the Dragon will be the Year of “Adobo” if some local foodies are predicting it right. Braised chicken or pork in soy sauce, vinegar and garlic, adobo is considered a signature dish in Filipino cooking, which, judging from the buzz at this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, could be poised to ride the next gourmet food wave.

Photo by Monica Quesada Cordero. For more event photos visit: http://newamericamedia.org/2012/01/filipino-cuisine-poised-to-break-gastro-ceiling.php

The show’s organizers, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade decided on a Filipino dish for the cover of their latest magazine edition. In her feature story, Joanna Pruess cites what makes this cuisine stand out: “big, bold flavors of sour, sweet and salty.”

One example is “Kare-Kare” or oxtail and vegetable stew in a peanut sauce, which no Filipino will eat without a dab or three of “bagoong,” fermented shrimp sauce.

Veteran food writer Nancy Freeman has been a long-time fan. “I think there are so many hot Filipino restaurants now, and they have really helped get this food bubbling to the surface of the marketplace,” she said during the recent “Kulinarya” event in San Francisco, a celebration of Filipino cuisine. As president of the Asian Culinary Forum, Freeman also organized a chefs’ panel for the organization’s Filipino Flavors Symposium in 2010 in San Francisco.

In the Bay Area, several hotspots for Filipino food have emerged, ranging from fine dining restaurants to lounges, bakeries, and popular gourmet food trucks, including Adobo Hobo, Señor Sisig, Hapa SF and Lumpia Cart. At The Naked Chorizo’s food booth at Kulinarya, hungry guests lined up for tasty chorizo tacos with avocado and salsa.

Filipino Culinary Superbowl

Organizers for the Kulinarya, led by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, say they want to elevate the cuisine to the next level and make it more palatable for American tastes. Many believe it’s just a matter of time, pointing out that Filipino food — like the community – is a sleeping giant ready to join the ranks of other Asian fare already popular in the American gastronomic vernacular.

The Philippine Consulate launched the Kulinarya Showdown events, the community’s cooking Superbowl, in line with its ongoing “Kulinarya” (Culinary) Food Trips — travel packages designed by the Philippines’ Department of Tourism in conjunction with Philippine Airlines aimed at attracting more U.S. travelers to the Philippines, giving them a chance to discover authentic regional cuisine there.

Over several centuries, Philippine cuisine has evolved from its Malayo-Polynesian origins to a mixed repertoire with Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, American and other Asian influences. Provincial specialties have added to the mix of styles.

“Out of these influences and combinations, we developed our own distinct taste,” says chef and event judge Ron Bilaro, segment host of The Filipino Channel TV’s “Adobo Nation” and one-time sous chef for Art Smith, Oprah Winfrey’s personal cook. That taste was on display at the Kulinarya, where three amateur and three professional chefs presented 4 courses each: a starter, a 1st entrée; a 2nd entrée: their own interpretation of the classic “Adobo” and dessert.

Among the judges were Lynne Bennett, staff writer and wine coordinator at the San Francisco Chronicle, and Pinay food bloggers Joanne Boston and Rose Ravasco aka Urban Food Maven.

In the amateur division, Arlene Nunez took the prize for her menu including “Vegetarian Fresh Lumpia” and savory “Adobo Banh Mi” – crossing the Filipino dish with the classic Vietnamese sandwich.

Manila-born Chef Albert Rivera, meanwhile, won in the professional division with a sampling that included shrimp and vegetable fritters with a “calamansi” ponzu sauce and “halo-halo,” a dessert of shaved ice, evaporated milk and a mixture of various fruits and beans topped with purple yam ice cream.

Healthier Filipino Food: The New Niche

For some Filipinos it’s a bit of a paradox — since many traditional recipes call for deep-frying, fattier cuts of meat, salt and sugar. But at the Kulinarya competition, chefs found ways to stay true to the flavors of beloved classics while using healthier ingredients and techniques.

Gloria Ramos, a self-confessed foodie and published author who competed in the amateur division, believes that’s the ticket for Pinoy food to make it big time in the culinary world.

“I veganized it,” she said of her Afretada, a tomato sauce-based stew traditionally made with chicken or pork, which Ramos replaced with soy protein and tofu. “My daughter turned vegan and I had to create different things for her,” she added.

Ramos’ spin on the classic Adobo, featuring lettuce wraps, is another example of how “Filipino food can be healthy, attractive and tasty,” appealing to even the most health-conscious of mainstream consumers, like those found at Whole Foods.

A new line of frozen appetizers named “Kusina ni Maria,” or Maria’s Kitchen, is now available in almost 20 Whole Foods Markets and select Costco Stores across Northern California. Linda Zavoral of the San Jose Mercury News described these new products, which were featured at the SF Winter Fancy Food Show, as “a great answer to those late-night lumpia or adobo cravings. The chicken is antiobiotic-free and both the adobo and pancit kit (stir-fry noodles) are gluten-free.”

Nicholas von Wettberg is managing editor with the local Fil-Am Star newspaper. Covering the Kulinarya event, he agreed that Filipino cuisine could “break through the mainstream food scene by making it as healthy as possible, especially by cutting down on grease and sodium i.e. soy sauce.” He cites an example from the cook-off, where one of the chefs in the Adobo entrée round cooked the bone marrow into the dish, rendering it “too fatty.”

But overall he says he was impressed with the level of creativity displayed by the competitors in the professional divisions, especially with their desserts. “The way the chefs presented their dessert courses was very colorful and vibrant…It’s satisfying to know that there are young Filipino chefs out there who are thinking outside the box, there was definitely love and care for detail with these dessert dishes.”

Re-Inventing Filipino Food for the American Palate

Filipino food’s global heritage may be the biggest key to its breakthrough, according to Nancy Freeman, who for years has been touting its wine pairing characteristics. “I believe this is primarily because of the Spanish influences in the dishes…Spaniards drink wine all the time,” she explains.

Freeman cites “Kare Kare” as a perfect example, because it’s very similar to a Spanish dish, only that the Filipino version uses peanuts instead of almonds. “But since it’s not hot/spicy nor sour, you don’t have to compensate for heat nor sourness when you pair it with wine.”
Of adobo, she said she’s paired the dish “with white wine and who would have thought that would be fantastic? It worked very well, none of us expected it!”
Freeman was married previously to a Filipino man and lived many years in the Philippines, and in that time she learned many of the traditional recipes. “I divorced him, but I didn’t want to divorce the food… I don’t want to leave a culture I’ve adapted to,” she says.

Freeman also stresses that another important step for Filipino chefs is to consider veering away from “lutong buhay,” or home-style cooking, as much as possible and work towards making it more creative and commercially appealing. “It can’t just be as my mom or grandma makes it. It can be however you want to make it, it can be a modern take, it can be fusion, it can be whatever tastes good, as long as it reflects its roots,” she said.

At the Mercury Lounge in San Francisco’s South of Market district, Chef Dominic Ainza showcases his unique Filipino fusion creations including “kare-kare” dumplings, “Pinakbet” (ratatouille of long beans, onions and tomatoes in a shrimp paste) Pizza; and “Tocino” (cured pork) Truffles.

Chef Kristela Mendoza is also doing her part as executive chef at Berkeley’s Pyramid Breweries. Mendoza described one of her entrees in the competition. “I’m making hand rolls with sisig, which is traditionally pork belly rendered down with “calamansi” (Filipino citrus fruit) and a lot of spices… I make that into a soy-sushi wrap.”

Mendoza’s got a secret ingredient of her own for this popular dish. “One of our signature beers is Thunderhead IPA. So instead of San Miguel beer,” popular in the Philippines, “I use our own brew to de-glaze the meat and because of that, I am able to serve sisig in an American restaurant.”

“And everybody loves it, even if they have no idea what it is,” she says.

 

This story is reprinted with permission from New America Media.

Image provided by http://www.shutterstock.com/

SAN FRANCISCO — In Asia, there’s an ongoing irony that deepens as the natural world dwindles to the size of a parking lot. Wild animals, once revered and assigned all kinds of spiritual meaning, are increasingly ending up as the main entree.

The tiger, for instance, that fierce and terror-inducing king of the jungle, is no longer feared so much as coveted: as a rug, as jewelry made of fangs, as a quixotic dish, or as medicinal products made from its various parts – bones and penis and gall bladder – thought to improve man’s sexual prowess.

But nowhere is the irony as deep as it is in Thailand, where the regal elephant is now being served up alongside the tiger: on a fanciful diner’s plate.

According to a recent Associated Press article, a new taste for elephant meat has sprung up in mega-modern Thailand.

Traditional poaching for male elephant tusks has evolved, with a growing taste for their meat driving hunters to begin targeting female and baby elephants as well. Not exactly a traditional Thai delicacy, the emergence of an army of nouveaux riches across East Asia has fueled ever-more garish culinary trends.

Elephant sashimi, now apparently all the rage, is part of a mindset at once boastful and shallow – if it’s the last elephant, then I will show my friends that I can afford it.

So here’s the irony: The Asian elephant is still a revered cultural icon in Thailand, gracing bas-reliefs of temples and ancient paintings of battle scenes, but it is fast disappearing. The country whose civilization was more or less built on the elephant’s back is now turning its back on the animal.

Indeed, the elephant once served as both builder and war machine: carrying logs and rocks and uprooting trees to build palaces and temples, while fighting countless wars bedecked in the armor of a warrior.

Within Buddhism, Thailand’s state religion and a binding force across much of the region, the elephant remains sacred. According to legend, a white Elephant appeared in the dream of Queen Maya, holding a white lotus flower in its trunk. She later gave birth to the historical Gautama Buddha, Siddhārtha.

Alas, sacred is quickly cast off for cold hard cash. An elephant penis can now fetch as high as $1,000 and a pair of tusks as high as $63,000. Though illegal, poaching has now reached what environmentalists are calling a “crisis point.”

At the beginning of last century there were more than 100,000 wild elephants in existence. One hundred years later the population has plummeted to less than 3,000.

Classified as an endangered species, the Asian elephant is expected to disappear from the wild altogether around 2050, if not sooner.

But while poaching is particularly abhorrent, there are other reasons behind the elephant’s disappearance, including deforestation.

For domesticated elephants in Thailand, deforestation means no more jobs. Logging in Thailand’s forests has long relied on the strength of the powerful pachyderms. An elephant can pull half its weight and carry 600 kilos on its back. In hilly countryside where roads are small and inaccessible to trucks, an elephant is indispensable for the timber business. But logging is all but illegal now in Thailand, and the domesticated elephant, it seems, is out of luck.

An average elephant weighs 11,000 pounds, and consumes more than 26 gallons of water and 440 pounds of food a day. That’s why their owners consciously curb breeding among the captive beasts, bringing down their number even farther.

Many owners, left with no other choice, have now turned their elephants into urban beggars. For the wild elephant conditions are even worse.

Only about 15 percent of the country is still forestland, and those patches are widely scattered. Many wild elephants resort to raiding farms for crops, where they are often shot or poisoned by subsistence farmers. In the story of miserable beast pitted against impoverished human it’s a no brainer who comes out on top… with fork in hand.

Man has conquered everything but himself. The wild is now what we call a reserve, the wilderness nowhere but within. In a world where even the sacred is devoured, one has to wonder what are the chances for other species on the endangered list. 

New America Media editor Andrew Lam is author of “East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres,” and “Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora.” His next book, “Birds of Paradise,” is due out in 2013.