News

Dance Benefit for Asian Women’s Shelter

Commerce

Raiders Partner With AirAsia

To serve and expand the franchise’s global fan base, the Oakland Raiders recently announced an unprecedented sponsorship of AirAsia, the largest low-fare airline in Asia.

The highlight of the sponsorship is an AirAsia A340 airliner named “Xcellence” that is adorned with Raider imagery, including the Raider shield on the tailfin and an eye patch on the nose of the plane. AirAsia will also host a  “1,000 Seats Courtesy of AirAsia” web-based contest in which students will be chosen at random for the opportunity to win free tickets to Raiders home games. Program and contest details will be made available on Raiders.com and AirAsia.com.

“We are absolutely thrilled with our new relationship with AirAsia,” said Raiders Chief Executive Amy Trask. “It is a unique and audacious relationship between two truly global organizations. As always, we eagerly seek creative opportunities to serve and interact with our fans throughout the world and we are delighted to work with AirAsia on  this creative endeavor.”  

An industry leader in providing content for international fans, The Silver and Black maintains a global presence and communicates worldwide through the team’s official web properties which feature original and translated content in six different languages - Tagalog, Japanese, German, Chinese, Spanish and English. The Raiders have a fan following throughout the world and have increased the NFL’s popularity worldwide by playing in American Bowls in London, Tokyo and Mexico City.

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with 122 routes covering more than 65 destinations. Within seven years of operation, AirAsia has carried over 70 million passengers and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to 80. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean  (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries, China, India and Bangladesh. 

 “We are very excited to associate ourselves with a great, iconic team like the Oakland Raiders as they reflect our own endeavor for excellence,” said AirAsia Group CEO Dato Sri Tony Fernandes. “This is AirAsia’s latest effort in boosting our brand globally via our extensive route presence across Asia. With AirAsia’s Airbus A340 Oakland livery plane, we would be able to deliver just that and further enhance our brand.”

The Raiders are celebrating the organization’s 50th season in 2009 and begin the campaign on Monday Night Football against the San Diego Chargers on September 14.

For tickets call 1-800-Raiders or visit Raiders.com.  

Lifestyle

Play Review: Fayette Nam

By Annie Chan

Aurorae Khoo’ new dark comedy Fayette Nam is a rare gem, bridging cross-cultural barriers with a grace every American should observe.

The play features a first generation Chinese immigrant mother and her rebellious pyromaniac, ivy-league bound daughter’s love triangle with a young black soldier gone AWOL before he’s deported to Iraq. Their triangle love affair is the strongest mechanism used to keep the audience in their seats for these three characters’ intimate pursuit to resolve this complex relationship.

Lisa Kang, who plays the mother, pulls off an amazing portrayal of the southern belle. Kathleen Mendoza’s role is over exaggerated at times leaving audience to question her direction in the play. Jon Gentry’s representation as an Oakland native and young soldier gone AWOL lacked refinement but he manages to capture the innocence of a boy not yet a man. Kenneth Ronquillo’s small role as a mama’s boy is a well-portrayed key element of the play, representing the love and courage the other main character’s seek.

Khoo effectively challenges her audience to answer her question: “Will they discover what they are each looking for before it’s too late?” Fayette Nam’s trailer doesn’t do half the justice they should deserves.  This play is a diamond in the rough waiting to be discovered.

The play is running now until July 11 at the Thick House, 1695 18th Street.  For more information call  415-401-8081 or visit www.thickhouse.org

Sports

Martial Arts Exhibition at the AHSC

For the third year in a row, this year’s Asian Heritage Street Celebration promises an action-packed, in-your-face Bay Area martial arts round-up featuring students of all backgrounds. The free exhibition, organized in part by San Francisco’s World Team USA, is expecting a turnout of over 100 participants and hundreds of spectators. The event will take place Saturday, May 16, at Civic Center on Turk and Larkin Streets from noon to 5 p.m. Read more »