Don’t watch this unless you can handle a 10 minute tear jerker.
Dad finally promises his girl she can have sushi at the fancy sushi restaurant but…..

Created by Vancouver Film School students through the VFS Film Production program:

Director: Johann Lee
Producer: Shayla Perry
Director of Photography: Megan Matsen
Writer: Johann Lee and Andrew Chung
Art Director: Younghoo Kwon
Editor: Ronash Bajracharya
Assistant Director: Oliver Milne
Camera Operator: Megan Matsen
1st Assistant Camera: Linda Besseling
Sound Mixer: Ronash Bajracharya
Grip: Kris Khosrowkhani
Production Assistants:
Max Marois
Chris Dow
Jessy Dupont
Dialogue Editor/ADR Recordist: Anton Verenitch
Foley Editor/Foley Artist: Tinjun Niu
SFX/SPFX/BG Editor/Foley Artist: Chris Matlosz
Music Composer: Kaze Patricio Chan

Cast:
Kiana Bahrey
Jim K. Y. Chan
Fane Tse
Melanie Oh
Rachael Li
Kelly Bartucci
Amanda Konkin
C Douglas Quon
Jacqueline Quon

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As a business association representing Asian American business owners it is a smart vote for our members to requiring government to get voter approval before they can barrow or spend public dollars to create retail electricity.

Please join the Asian Business Association as we support Prop 16.

Sincerely,
Dennis Huang
Executive Director

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Guests munched on chicken wings, lumpia, and shrimp and had the chance to have their fortune told.

The Asian Business League of San Francisco (ABL-SF) was founded in 1980 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of Asian Pacific American leadership in business. Through seminars, workshops, and social and networking functions, ABL-SF provides its members with opportunities to develop and enhance leadership and management skills, and to build relationships with other Asian professionals. ABL-SF also provides its members with opportunities to meet business leaders in the community and to address issues facing Asian professionals and Asian-owned businesses.

http://www.ablsf.org/

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Arlington, Texas - The fight weekend began with the weigh-in located in the front entrance of the $1.3 Billion Dallas Cowboys, Stadium in Arlington, Texas. About a thousand fans attended to witness Manny Pacquiao’s weigh-in at 145 lbs and Joshua Clottey, noticeable the bigger fighter, at 147 lbs.

Clearly, the excitement from the fight fans was from also experiencing the spectacular Cowboys Stadium and seeing the colossal Jumbotron for the first time. The stadium did not disappoint - it illuminated the night as the Jumbotron and flat screens lit up throughout the stadium. The largest dome stadium in the world was built to perfection with modern art like architecture driven with the latest technology.  Among the technology, included a jaw dropping HD Jumbotron by Mitsubishi Electric Diamond System, weighing at 600 tons, 60 yards long, and 72 feet tall.

The stadium setting was fit for “The Event” as the seats begin to fill up fast at 9pm Central Time and as the main event anticipation grows. About 51,000 fans were at attendance creating an electric atmosphere screaming “Manny, Manny, Manny!” with the Philippines and the Ghanaian flag apparent throughout the stadium. Circular screams also came from a cycle of fan waves during the undercard fights. The fans were  truly having a good time.

The anticipation grew larger as the Jumbotron played video clips of past battles with Hearns, Hagler, Ali, Leonard, and other hall a fame boxers. Soon it introduced Joshua Clottey with a video montage as he came out of a Ghana song with confidence and smooth dance moves. Manny Pacquiao’s video montage plays after fans yell “Manny, Manny.” Pacquiao walks out of the locker room to Rocky’s theme song, “Eye of the Tiger,” that electrifies the 51,000 fans.

Soraya Simons sang Ghana’s national anthem, and the Filipino rock star Arnel Pineda, lead singer of the American rock band Journey, sang the Philippine national anthem while a Cowboys cheerleading trio led the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. Michael Buffer soon chants his trademarked saying “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!” then the first round bell rings. Pacquaio was the aggressor of the entire fight throwing three times as many punches as Clottey. Clottey was in a shell of defense during the majority of the fight, as Pacquiao threw combinations after combinations. Clottey landed a couple power punches, but then laid off, back to his shell. He was so committed to his defense cover strategy that Pacquiao, humorously, was able to execute a double punch combo, using his left and right hand at the same time to punch around the blocking gloves of Clottey. The fans screamed and laughed with enjoyment.

The fight lasted for twelve rounds with the same pattern of Clottey covering up and Pacquiao punching away. The outcome of unanimous decision was to Manny Pacquiao with scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 119-109. Clottey was not able to handle the pace and speed of Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao wins his 51st fight and retains the WBO Welterweight Title.

Who’s next for Pacquiao? Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is what the world wants to see. However, Mayweather has to first beat Mosley on May 1st for this to happen with the exclusion to his blood testing demands. We will have to wait and see. I know for sure, if Pacquiao vs. Mayweather does happen, it must be at the Cowboys Stadium with confidence that it will sell out to 100,000 fans and millions will be watching. Manny and Team Pacquiao are ready for Mayweather. Mayweather, do it for the fans and do it for Boxing!

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The first annual SPRING FLING benefit event kicked off the San Francisco Chinatown’s Chinese Hospital $160 Million Capital Campaign recently took place in the heart of San Francisco’s downtown at Ruby Skye on March 12. Fundraising chair for the Chinese Hospital Board of Trustees Rose Pak said, “Top among our strategic priorities is our plan to build a new state of the art hospital building to replace the current hospital as the demand for culturally competent medical care has continued to grow and now exceeds the capacity of the present aging facility at 845 Jackson Street in our historic Chinatown.”

The SPRING FLING kick off party had an evening of music, delicious food and a fashion show by Monique Zhang with unique one of a kind limited editions. With a long rich history, Chinese Hospital has provided access to health care services for the Chinese community since 1923 when 15 community organizations created the Chinese Hospital Association, a non profit public benefit corporation. After it opened its doors in 1925 with 60 beds, the hospital in the mid 1970s needed a new facility and opened a new hospital building in 1979. Brenda Yee, CEO of the Chinese Hospital and Chinese Community Health Plan said, “The new replacement facility will expand the existing 54 beds to 76 beds and include 22 new skilled nursing beds so we can meet the communities’ medical need and create the best place for patients to receive care.”

Let’s all get behind Pak, Yee and James Ho, President of the Hospital’s Board of Trustees, and donate to this capital project which is the largest ever undertaken by Chinese Hospital in its over 100 year history of serving chinatown’s medical needs. www.chinesehospital-sf.org.

One of the highlights of the San Jose Cinequest Film Festival was the showing of the life story of film star Nancy Kwan, titled TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: KA SHEN’S STORY with Kwan herself greeting the movie viewers at the San Jose Reperatory Theatre performances. Director Brian Jamieson, when asked in the audience q and a why he made this movie, replied, “I, like every guy in the 1960s was in love with the beautiful Chinese film star seen in WORLD OF SUSIE WONG. When I had the chance to meet Nancy a few years ago and found her to be equally lovely outside and in, I wanted to film her life story.” Before the packed audience, Nancy admitted that the scenes where she spoke about her only son, who tragically died of AIDS, were painful times to recall and credited Brian with being sensitive to this part of her life in his movie. Among the movie goers were Chi Am Circle members Brenda Wong, Ginger Lai, Helen Yamauchi, Beverly Harada, with other Silicon Valley friends Ed and Florence Wong, William and Tina Chang, Tom and Jenny Hong, Harold and Gwen Wong, Victor Chinn, Frances Liu, Darlene Mar, Joyce Chan, Carol Jue, Dennis Nahat and Jeanette Wong. Out of town friends seen celebrating with Nancy were Richard and Warren Achuck, Leong and Margaret Tan, Sylvia Young and Kathy Wong.

Celebrating the dedication of the Dr. Lawrence K.W. and BoHing Chan Tseu Building in Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford and his induction to University of Oxford’s Chancellor’s Court, Dr. Tseu is hosting a dinner at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu April 3. A well recognized and much admired Larry Tseu has won many local honors in Hawaii, having been named recently its most noted Philanthropist of the Year by different organizations. When I asked him once how many nonprofit groups he had helped, he smiled modestly and said he had lost count many years ago but was happy to do his part in helping his community with its needs. Congratulations to you, Dr. Tseu and may blessings come to you in return to the many generous offerings you have given to your fellow countrymen. Tseu was the producer of the above mentioned movie of Nancy Kwan’s life, Ka Shen’s Journey.

May 1 is the long anticipated opening of the Shanghai Expo where it is estimated 70 million people, and 200 nations will participate in this 180 day event. The USA Pavilion, in partnership with the Committee of 100, will feature an exhibit on “The Chinese in America” to show America’s unique strengths as a nation embracing diversity and offering freedom of choice. The Committee of 100 is rallying everyone of Chinese descent to submit their photos to create THE WALL OF THE CHINESE IN AMERICA. Thousands of photos have been submitted already, announced Michael Minakawa, one of the organizers of the wall project. He added, “We accept all photos during the photo upload process at www.jointhewall.org and encourage everyone who is of Chinese descent, no matter how large or small. They will be listed under a Chinese surname and placed under that surname family page. We accept head shots of individuals who have Chinese blood in them and can give us the surname of their family, such as Wong, Chin, Lee. People submitting photos are not asked for funding, but to fund this effort, The Committee of 100 is inviting participation as Master Builders of the Wall by purchasing a Brick at the USA Pavilion with the name of the person/family/organization they wish to honor. The Master Builder Program has different category ranges with privileges to come to the Expo and have their name listed on Internet “Builders” Honor Roll Master Builders on a physical wall. Individual pictures of whole families can be grouped together when submitting through the Invite Family code. Info: mminakawa@committee100.org .
Let’s all send in your pictures and show the world the proud face of Chinese in America at the WORLD EXPO 2010 IN Shanghai.

Professor John Jung will be the featured speaker at the Chi Am Circle dinner meeting March 28 at the China Stix Restaurant in Santa Clara. I personally enjoyed learning about the lives of Mississippi Delta Chinese Grocers in his CHOPSTICKS IN THE LAND OF COTTON book and find his latest book, SWEET AND SOUR: LIFE IN CHINESE FAMILY RESTAURANTS a very pleasant read about this part of Chinese history that can bring many memories to those who grew up alongside their hard working parents who ran small mom and pop Chinese restaurants serving the popular chop suey and mo goo gai pan. John’s first book SOUTHERN FRIED RICE: LIFE IN A CHINESE LAUNDRY was his own personal life story growing up in Macon, Georgia where his family were the only Chinese in the city and they lived above their laundry. Jung’s style of writing easily tells the stories of immigrant families striving for survival in these different unique industries the Chinese were successful in forming – laundries, restaurants and farming.
For more information: chiamcircle.org. Chairman: Muriel Kao mckao@aol.com

When there comes a reunion of college sorority sisters who met 60 years ago — you can imagine what nostalgic memories come alive. That’s what happened when Marie Lee from New York, Louise Look from San Francisco, Elaine Chew from Sacramento, Nancy Yuke from Orinda and myself took ourselves to Puerto Vallarta’s Crown Paradise Golden Resort for a long anticipated reunion of their UC Berkeley friendships as Sigma Omicron Pi sorority sisters of the 1950s.

Joining them for a week at this wonderful beachfront resort to enjoy its wonderful spa facilities were younger friends Dali Jones, Ann Yu, Margaret Mar, Eileen Tong and Gloria Hom, forming a sisterhood enjoying the many restaurants offered on this Crown Paradise Golden property. Free golf accompanied this vacation resort package at the Nicklaus Vista Vallarta Club de Golf, where Golf Pro David Quiroz showed us around his two spectacular well manicured courses emblazoned with colorful bougainvilleas to take your mind off the little white ball. Golfers by the van loads from all parts of the US and Canada descend to this golf paradise, he said, to enjoy the best climate and courses throughout the winter, he said, and we could easily see why when we played within his beautiful property designed by Nicklaus (www.vistavallartagolf.com) and Pete Weiskopf (www.marinavallartagolf.com).

I’m off to the land of Bhutan, a far away country lost to tourists up to the 1970s, and looking forward to exploring a civilization not yet moved to modern life. Happy March Madness!

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>>Arts- Award Winning Bay Area Native Performs as Solo Cabaret Artist

>>Global- Thai Protesters continue amid dissent over Prime Minister

Bay/Cal

Defendants Found Guilty in Hate Crime Against Indian American

San Francisco, CA- A federal jury has convicted Joseph and Georgia Silvia for their role in a vicious
racially motivated attack on Vishal Wadhwa, an Indian American, while he was visiting El Dorado Beach
in Lake Tahoe.

He and two friends were called “Indian garbage,” “terrorists,” and “relatives of Osama bin Laden” by the
couple before he was brutally assaulted. After deliberating for 90 minutes, the jury returned with guilty
verdicts for the couple, convicting them of federal hate crimes.

The Silvas were originally charged with felony and misdemeanor assault and battery charges, with hate
crime enhancements, by the El Dorado District Attorney’s office. But after numerous procedural delays,
Judge Suzanne Kingsbury of the El Dorado Superior Court dropped the hate crime enhancement and felony
charge, allowing the Silvas to plead no contest to misdemeanor battery charges.

In response to the light sentences the Silvas received, the South Asian Bar Association of Northern
California (”SABA-NC”), along with a number of other groups including the Asian Law Caucus and the
Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area (”AABA”) urged federal law enforcement
officials to get involved in the case to ensure the Silvas were brought to justice.

Arts

Award Winning Bay Area Native Performs as Solo Cabaret Artist

San Francsico- Carly Ozard, Winner “Best New Cabaret Performer 2009″, is making Her Rrazz Room Debut as a Solo Artist. With an encore presentation of her Cabaret Show Bewitched, Bothered, and Bipolar, on Saturday April 24, 2010 at 10:15pm.

The show will be held at The Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko, with musical direction by Joe Wicht , and guitar and vocals by Brendan Getzell and Jennifer Martinelli.

Global

Thai Protesters continue amid dissent over Prime Minister

Thailand- Demonstrators spilt their own blood at the gates of the Thai Prime Minister’s office yesterday as part of a mass protest against the Government. Thousands of supporters of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, known popularly as Red Shirts queued to give 10ml of blood each in makeshift donation tents in Bangkok.

When enough blood had been collected to fill several large plastic containers a total of 300 liters, the liquid was carried to Government House, where riot police allowed a few of the protesters to pour it on to the ground.

The spectacle was intended to ensure that Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, would be forced to walk over the protesters’ “sacrifice”. A priest pronounced a curse against the Government and the crowd vowed to spill more blood at Mr Abhisit’s home.
- Times Online

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>>Nation- Census Bureau Conducts Historic Campaign to Encourage Asian Participation in 2010 Census

>>Global- Korean Man Marries Pillow

>>Commerce- Minority Real Estate Groups Make Recommendation to Address Housing Crisis

Bay/Cal

California Association for Bilingual Education Honors Christina Wong with an Advocacy Award

San Francisco- On March 11th The California Association for Bilingual Education awarded Christina

Wong for her work in support of educational equity on behalf of Asian and Pacific Americans previous to

joining SFUSD. She now serves as a special assistant to the superintendent to oversee the district’s Lau

Plan,which provides structures and guidelines to ensure that the district’s English learners have full and

equal access to a quality education.Awarded the Advocacy Award, Wong received the award at the San Jose

Convention Center, amid years of public and community service. CABE is a non-profit organization to

promote bilingual education and quality educational experiences for all students in California, with over 60

chapters/affiliates that promote equity and student achievement for students with diverse cultural, racial

and linguistic backgrounds.

Nation

Census Bureau Conducts Historic Campaign to Encourage Asian Participation in 2010 Census

Los Angeles- With advertisements in 13 Asian languages and promotional materials in many more, the Census Bureau today provided an overview of the historic campaign it is conducting to encourage all members of the Asian community to fill out and mail back their 2010 Census forms.

“The Census Bureau’s Asian campaign is historic and multifaceted,” said Paul Watanabe, a member of the Census Bureau’s Asian Advisory Committee. “Not only are there more materials available in more Asian languages than in any previous census, but all materials are created in consultation with relevant Asian community leaders to ensure cultural and language relevancy.”

The official 2010 Census form is available in six languages, including simplified Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

“It is vital that all Asians in the U.S. participate in the Census so that our voices can be heard,” Watanabe said.

For more information about the 2010 Census, please visit www.2010census.gov.

Global

Korean Man Marries Pillow

Korea- Lee Jin-gyu fell for his ‘dakimakura’ - a kind of large, huggable pillow from Japan, often with a picture of a popular anime character printed on the side.

In Lee’s case, his beloved pillow has an image of Fate Testarossa, from the ‘magical girl’ anime series Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha.

Now the 28-year-old otaku, a Japanese term that roughly translates to somewhere between ‘obsessive’ and ‘nerd’, has wed the pillow in a special ceremony, after fitting it out with a wedding dress for the service in front of a local priest. Their nuptials were eagerly chronicled by the local media.

‘He is completely obsessed with this pillow and takes it everywhere,’ said one friend.

‘They go out to the park or the funfair where it will go on all the rides with him. Then when he goes out to eat he takes it with him and it gets its own seat and its own meal,’ they added.

The pillow marriage is not the first similarly-themed unusual marriage in recent times - it comes after a Japanese otaku married his virtual girlfriend Nene Anegasaki, a character who only exists in the Nintendo DS game Love Plus, last November.

-  Metro.co.uk

UN population award to Gates Foundation, Asian lawmakers

MANILA, Philippines- The United Nations is recognizing the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development with this year’s Population Award, the UN office here said. Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development will share the award with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation .

According to the statement released Wednesday, AFPPD is honored for its commitment to informing, educating, motivating, and involving parliamentarians on issues related to reproductive health, family planning, food security, ageing, urbanization, migration, HIV and AIDS, and women’s empowerment.

The awards are scheduled to be presented during a ceremony on 3 June at UN headquarters in New York.

- Global Nation

Commerce

Minority Real Estate Groups Make Recommendation to Address Housing Crisis

Washingtopn DC- The combined 70,500 members and affiliates of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) shared The Five-Point Plan: Creating A Sustainable Path to Minority Homeownership during their 2010 Multicultural Real Estate & Policy Conference this week in Washington, D.C.

Leaders from the three national trade groups are appealing to lawmakers during Capitol Hill visits to take actions that stabilize the market, expand consumer protections, preserve liquidity and stop the spiral of losses in minority communities.

“Our five-point plan, when adopted, will set a new course for this nation’s housing recovery, particularly within the minority community. The magnitude of our crisis requires us to act boldly and decisively to put us back on the right track and restore consumer confidence in the real estate market,” said AREAA Chairman John Fukuda. “Communities and people we serve deserve this kind of comprehensive approach

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The fifth edition of the War of the Heroes Muaythai Kickboxing/MMA Championships presented by USMF/Xfight officially brought a standing room only crowd of nearly 1600 fans to the Santa Clara Convention Center on Saturday night. Unofficially, estimates on seating capacity and the Virtual Box Office information show that as many as 1800 fans may have been in attendance. The Santa Clara fire department shut down the box office because it was over capacity.

Burgeoning Muaythai and San Shou star Jenna Castillo (25-1) has seen her profile rise quickly among Bay Area fans and media. A member of Fairtex SF under Ganyao “Dr. Knee” Fairtex, she has also sparred with 2-time female boxing champion Ana Julaton and UFC/WEC/Strikeforce veteran, Scott Smith. Castillo also recently defended her WCSC Batamweight title as the headliner on a San Francisco Female Fury card in convincing fashion. Facing her would be 29-year old Melanie Kohler Edwards (8-4) of Utah. Edwards, a K-1 USA Superfight winner in 2003, came out to a solid walk-in track by Gangstar, but the flow of the fight would be directed by Castillo from the outset.

Castillo piled up damage until the decisive third round. Quick two-punch, inside leg kick combinations found their mark for Jenna. Along with a piercing right hand, left high kick combination, Edwards was on the defensive, covering up and on her heels. Castillo pressed the action and forced a standing 8-count. Cornered again later in the round, Castillo’s right hand found its mark repeatedly until referee Dan Stell stepped in and stopped the fight.

In the two main event professional MMA bouts, UFC/WEC veteran under Ganyao “Dr. Knee” Fairtex out of SF, Tim McKenzie (13-6) blitzed Mike Arellano, and Fairtex Mountain View’s Chris Moore showcased a slick wrestling and submission game as both ended their fights with early first round submissions. Four U.S. Muaythai Federation title contests headlined 15 amateur fights, and the lone professional muaythai bout witnessed Strikeforce kickboxing veteran Ryan “T2″ Roy batter and bloody a game Nathan Bagby.

Flanked by cheerleading and MLM marketing exhibitions, Conference Room B was packed wall-to-wall with fight team members, vocal supporters and a growing underground kickboxing fan base for 4+ hours of marathon kickboxing/mma hybrid action. Stockton-based Tim “the Wrecking Machine” McKenzie has been in the cage with several grizzled MMA veterans and up-and-comers including Emanuel Newton, Akihiro Gono, Scott Smith and Chael Sonnen. With 3 losses in his last 5 fights, McKenzie was looking to rebound against Gladiator Challenge and Tachi Palace veteran Mike “Showtime” Arellano.

After a short feeling out process, McKenzie went airborne to keep his balance against a solid double leg takedown attempt from Arellano. Folding the Corona, CA native back on himself, McKenzie ended up in the dominant mount position after a short scramble. Instead of going for a ground and pound finish, “the Wrecking Machine” flattened out his opponent while controlling the head. As Arellano bucked his hips and reversed position, McKenzie kept control of the wrists and slipped fluidly into a textbook armbar. The Ronin Jiu-Jitsu instructor finished the fight in 43 seconds with an armbar submission.

In his professional MMA debut, Fairtex Mountain View’s Chris Moore looked impressive en route to a first round submission over Sacramento native Tramail Smith. Moore plowed through a hard side kick to score an early takedown, but he could not gain a good enough posture to advance his position. After Smith showed several agressive upkicks and inside kicks off his back, he tried to press the action standing with a flurry of kicks and punches. Moore quickly used a hip throw into the mount position, sinking in a deep keylock submission moments later. Tramail Smith tapped at 1:53.

In the lone professional Muaythai bout of the evening, Strikeforce and WCSC veteran kickboxer and a member of the Fairtex Mountain View under Ganyao “Dr. Knee” Fairtex, Ryan “T2″ Roy put his stamp on Fort Worth, Texas native Nathan Bagby. Bagby started the fight with more effective strikes from the outside, but Roy’s power changed the gameplan early. Heavy kicks to the body echoed off the walls of the conference room, and looping right hands were thrown with knockout intentions. Bagby threw a solid, technical high kick at the end of the first. Roy blocked it with both hands and tossed him unceremoniously to the canvas.

In the second round, Bagby followed his corner’s instructions and landed several quick pinpoint kicks to the legs and body. An imposing T2 started leveling heavy kicks to the midsection, almost like chopping wood. After scoring a knockdown, Roy sent Bagby sprawling to the mat seconds later after kicking his leg out from under him. Ryan Roy began finding the zone in the third round, backing up Bagby into a corner and landing knockout quality punches. Bagby was bloodied, but he remained on his feet. An elbow, right hand combination cut a gash over the right eye of Nathan, but after a quick consult the doctor said he could continue. The onslaught resumed until the doctor was called a second time and the fight was stopped. It was the 7th win for Ryan Roy, and argueably one of the most impressive of his career. His animated in-ring celebration drew a slight chuckle from veteran Thai referee Dej Sri-Ampai, who is as stone faced and professional as any referee in California.

IFMA World Championship Gold Medalist (Nov 27-Dec 5th - Bangkok, Thailand) and AKA fighter, Eric Luna earned a unanimous decision win over a flamboyant, spinning weilding Mario Martinez, and Combast Sports Academy’s Amber Pope looked impressive with unanimous decision wins in USMF Muaythai title fights. American Kickboxing Academy’s Gabe Carrasco (11-0) scored the knockout of the night with a high kick through the guard of American Top Team’s Eric Shellard. The Winter Springs, Florida native Shellard was out cold for several seconds, and had to be restrained briefly by the ref as he came to after the fight was stopped.

Team Black’s Quincey Shamon upset Matt Lucas with a 4th round TKO. The technically sound Shamon picked apart the powerful striker Lucas, and after one knockdown in the corner in the 4th he pressed and stopped the fight. Fairtex Mountain View’s Lawerence Ward beat Unlimited Kickboxing’s Robert Connejo with a solid performance, 30-27 on all three cards, and San Francisco’s Andrew Moy came from behind to win with a stunning 3rd round TKO of Ray Hov. Team Black’s Soni Tuungasasi stalked Elite MMA’s Matt King for 3 rounds, but the heavy hitting heavyweight could not knock him out. Instead the enormous Pacific Islander earned a decision win, 29-27, 29-27, 28-89, and the well earned respect for any future opponent he will face in the ring. Christie Cheekets, Brooks Hurd, Podar Duarte and Amber Goodwin were all successful in a blistering start to WOTH 5, which created a good atmosphere in the crowd and built up anticipation for the main event fights.

It was announced that there will be 5 War of the Heroes events in 2010, WOTH FC 6 is scheduled for May 22nd at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, WOTH FC 7 is scheduled for July 24th at the Fairtex Thepasit Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand, and WOTH FC 8 & 9 will return to the Santa Clara County Convention Center at the end of the year. Fairtex USA and USMF President Anthony Lin also noted that the USMF is looking to expand its muaythai reach to Texas, Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania. The U.S.

Muaythai Federation had its most successful run at the IFMA World Muaythai Championships to date, earning 2 Gold medals, 1 Silver Medal, and 4 Bronze Medals in Bangkok, Thailand (Nov 27-Dec 5th). The USMF is dedicated to the promotion of Muaythai kickboxing in the U.S., and looking to furthur the competition of muaythai as an Olympic sport. The USMF will scout American talent to represent the U.S. at the upcoming PAMU Championships in Brazil (April), SportAccord in China (August), and IFMA World Championships in Thailand (November-December).

Strikeforce/UFC/former WEC Champion Scott Smith, Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, K-1 former champion Carter Williams, WBC Muaythai/WBC Asia/ABCO General Secretary General Kiate Sirigul were on hand to award USMF belts inside the ring on Saturday night. Former Strikeforce title holder Cung Le was in the corner for several USH team fighters. Other notable players within the MMA/Muaythai community included promoter Scott Coker of ISKA Strikeforce, Mike Kogan of FEG/K-1, promoter Mick Maynard of Long Star Beat Down, promoter Andy K of Muaythai Lao, Trevor of Pure Pankration, and others.

Results:

War of the Heroes 5
Muaythai/MMA Championships
March 6th, 2010
Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara

PRO Mixed Martial Arts bout
Tim McKenzie (13-6) Submitted Mike Arellano (6-4)
Armbar Submission, 1st Round - 0:43.

PRO Mixed Martial Arts bout
Chris Moore (1-0) Submitted Tramail Smith (3-2)
Keylock Submission, 1st Round - 1:53.
PRO Muaythai Kickboxing Fight
Ryan Roy (7-2) tko Nathan Bagby (3-2)
Doctor stoppage, 3rd Round.

USMF Muaythai Title Fight
Jenna Castillo TKO Melanie Kohler Edwards
3rd Round.

USMF Muaythai Title Fight
Eric Luna Defeated Mario Martinez
Unanimous Decision.

USMF Muaythai Title Fight
Gabe Carrasco KO Eric Shelland
KO, 1st Round - 0:40.

USMF Muaythai Title Fight
Amber Pope Defeated Carresa Kibler
Unanimous Decision.
(Amateur Muaythai Undercard)

Tony Lawrence def. Diego Cuenca
Chrisente Joaquin def. Ivan Guerrero
Quincey Shamon tko Matt Lucas
Laurence Ward def. Robert Cornejo
Andrew Moy tko Ray Hov
Jeremy Leslie def. Vincent Urruty
Soni Tuungasasi def. Matt King
Amber Goodwin def. Liezel Warford
Podar Duarte def. Daniel Marchbanks
Brooks Hurd def. Philip Jucaban
Christie Cheekets def. Jennifer Faust

This article first appeared on http://www.usmf.tv/news/news.php?id=122

CORRECTION: Jenna Castillo is not Filipina, but half Mexican and Caucasian.

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“I feel deeply honored because this was the first time that this award has been presented to an educator from the Child Development Program,” says Lee. “I thank Superintendent Carlos Garcia and his cabinet for recognizing the value of my work.”

The Schoolmaster of the Year Award is sponsored by the California Schoolmasters’ club, which was established in 1893. Membership is open to all Northern California area educators. The award is given to principals in participating school districts who show exceptional leadership.

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The first thing everybody says about the Princess and the Frog is that she was Disney’s first African American princess, even if she’s drawn as a frog for most of the movie. Pixar had cast just about every stereotypical ethnic part EXCEPT Asians, and painted a bleak Asian-free future in WALL-E. But when they finally cast an adorable Asian kid in a long tradition of Asian sidekicks, they not only failed to promote the unique diversity milestone, but they deliberately swept it under the rug. Daveonfilm.com noticed that the screener package sent to the judges traded the picture of Russell’s Asian American boy scout in favor of Carl’s wife Elle. As an adult, she didn’t even have a speaking part in the silent tear-jerker backstory. The awards audience saw only the solo picture of Ed Asner’s Carl. If the entire studio team including co-founder Steve Jobs was there, I couldn’t track down any trace of Jordan Nagai in press pictures, videos or stories. While the Asian American Movement ™ continues to crusade for alternative marriage and Affirmative Action Against Chinese, why is it me, the Asian American Glenn Beck-alike that spills his cold noodles when Hollywood diversity doesn’t even throw Asians a fortune cookie? My other Oscar mugging nomination goes to the score of Princess which was full Disney musical just like the Lion King. While disfunctional blacks have no problem attracting awards, when a movie features a rare feast of authentic African American soul, zydeco and blues, it loses to Up, which didn’t have enough catchy songs to even release as a soundtrack album.

Last year, Clint Eastwood’s Grand Torino was spurned by the Oscars despite or perhaps because of an under-appreciated Asian American cast.  I would have nominated Star Trek’s John Cho (of Harold and Kumar Prove Asians Can Be Complete Asses Too) for the other Best Asian American Actor.  The only Asian American actresses I noticed was Liza Lapria’s geek FBI agent in the disposable Fast in Furious (which at least outsold Hurt Locker by a bazillion dollars) No East or South Asian film made even a nomination for foreign films which were dominated by 3 Latin American films. Avatar featured two Latinas, both of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, Zoe Saldana as Pocahontas (also Star Trek’s young Uhuru) and Michelle Rodriguez as the chopper jockey. The only Asians I saw that night were the dolphin-clubbing Japanese in “The Cove”, who look like the inspiration for the “premeditated” lone-whale Orca jihad attack against its unfortunate trainer at Sea World.

As a Vietnam war buff, Avatar was hardly about “peace and harmony”. It was a high tech update on the old Cowboys and Indians / Viet Cong / Jihadist theme. If you took Star Wars, National Geographic, Miss Saigon, Dances With Wolves, Blackhawk Down and the Matrix and mixed it all together, you’d get Avatar.

America is oddly unfazed that the FBI still stands by their determination that Major Nidal Hassan’s Fort Hood rampage had no terrorist connection AFTER reviewing e-mails with Al Queda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki asking for “spiritual guidance”. What kind of spiritual guidance do you think he got from Imam Awlaki who celebrated Hasan as hero for defending Islam? How innocent can Awlaki (who wasn’t even named as a person of interest) be when his other student arrived in America in exploding underpants the day after America announced he was thought he had been killed in an airstrike?

Which brings me back to director Cameron’s script which boldly spoke of “fighting terrorism with terrorism” and contemplating “martyrdom”.  It was the eyes of an enraged Nidal Hassan that I saw in Jake and pilot Trudy Chacon  in Navi warpaint as they sent dozens of hapless “sky people” to their deaths in flames as we cheered them on. As much as any audience can feel the same passion in Avatar’s final “struggle for justice”, that’s exactly what drove people like Hasan or even disgruntled contract software engineers to shoot their comrades or fly airplanes big or small into buildings. Asians have been on both sides since the “The Sand Pebbles” showed how the Chinese pushed the Americans back across the sea before the Viet Cong did. I know what side I’m firmly on, but those who count Yassir Arafat, Che, Ho Chih Minh, Mao or Marx among your heroes might check where your true loyalties lie if you ever have to choose between America, Insert-Your-Race-Nationality-Or-Religion, or Mother Earth.

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>>Arts- Fil-Am Activist featured in Documentary at The 28th Annual SF International Asian American Film Festival

>>Nation- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Congratulates Federal Designation of First National AAPI Housing Counseling Network

>>Commerce- CBS 5’S Thuy Vu wins American Women in Radio and Television Award

Bay/Cal

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma Recognized for Extraordinary Public Service

Sacramento, Ca- In celebration of International Women’s Day, Global Arts and Education Inc. will award
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma the “Extraordinary Public Service Award” in recognition of her commitment to
working on legislation that protects the rights of women and families.

Assemblywoman Ma, and five other outstanding Bay Area women, will be recognized at the International
Women’s Day 2010 Awards Breakfast on Monday, March 8, 2010 in San Francisco.

In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day. In December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. For the United Nations, International Women’s Day has been observed on 8 March since 1975.

The 2010 United Nations Theme is: “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All”

For more information on Global Arts and Education Inc., visit www.globalartsandeducation.com

The Asian Business League of San Francisco to hold annual Lunar New Year Celebration

San Francisco, Ca- The Asian Business League will be holding its first annual event for 2010, in
celebration of the New Lunar New Year. Year of the White Tiger 2010 is said to hold great promise for
those born under the sign.

Here is a description of the fortune bestowed on those born in the year of the Tiger:

Financially, everything improves this year for those born under this sign and money-making thoughts and
ideas should be fully explored and investigated. With the fast pace of this year for all signs, the Tiger needs
to take extra care in planning and thinking all projects through no rushing headlong into schemes during
2010! Tigers looking for romance will possibly see a friendship suddenly develop into something more
personal with exciting consequences. August, December and January will see a very active and entertaining
social calendar, but all of 2010 will see fun activities for the Tiger. The Spring months, March to May, will
bring encouraging and interesting job opportunities, but the Tiger will still have to make sure he puts
himself forward and gets noticed at work.

The Lunar New Year Celebration will be held on March 18, 2010 in San Francisco’s Mercury Lounge,
1582 Folsom Street, from 6- 730 pm. Tickets run from ten to forty five dollars.

Arts

Fil-Am Activist featured in Documentary at The 28th Annual SF International Asian American Film Festival

San Francisco, Ca- Community members and Supervisor Eric Mar will honor poet/activist and Fillmore District native Al Robles on March 14th 2009, at 12:30 pm in San Francisco’s Fillmore Plaza on Fillmore and O’Farrell Streets with music, poetry and remembrance. Al Robles is recognized as a son of the Fillmore and is memorialized with a plaque in the Fillmore Plaza.

The life of Al Robles is featured in Filmmaker Curtis Choy’s film, “Manilatown is in the Heart Time Travel with Al Robles”, a poetic documentary featured at the Asian American Film Festival Sundance Kabuki Cinema March 14th at 2 pm and 15th at 7 pm. The documentary is the second film project between Director Choy and Robles, the first being “The Fall of the I-Hotel” which featured Robles as the film narrator.

“Al Robles was the poet laureate - the heart & spirit of the Manilatown and Filipino communities. San Francisco will never forget his tireless work supporting seniors and housing justice, fighting displacement and gentrification and nurturing youth in our communities”, said San Francisco District Supervisor Eric Mar.
Robles passed away in May of 2009 but left a legacy of activism and community involvement that has inspired elders and youth alike.

For information on Al Robles: www.manongalrobles.org

Nation

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Congratulates Federal Designation of First National AAPI Housing Counseling Network

Washington DC- Rep Michael Honda, Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, applauded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s approval of the nation’s first network of housing counseling organizations dedicated to serving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders facing foreclosures or who need general housing counseling.

“HUD’s recognition of National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development is an important step forward for AAPI communities,” said Rep Honda. “Too many people have lost their homes in this foreclosure crisis. With such great need, this designation for National CAPACD will support our community to get back on their feet. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus is proud of National CAPACD’s work.”

The National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development is now an intermediary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and will support a national network of nonprofit community based organizations in ten states providing services in more than ten AAPI languages and communities. 

According to Census data recently released, Asian Americans have suffered the largest percentage decline in homeownership of any racial group.

Commerce

CBS 5′S Thuy Vu wins American Women in Radio and Television Award

San Francisco- CBS 5 (KPIX-TV) CBS 5′S Thuy Vu wins “Outstanding Reporter/Correspondent” Gracie Award from the American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT). Vu won for her composite of three stories: 1) Mendota (central valley town with the state’s highest unemployment rate, nearly 42%), 2) Khmer Rouge survivors (telling their stories publicly for the first time) and 3) Re-opening of Angel Island

The Gracies each year recognize “exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women in all facets of media and entertainment, as well as individuals who have made contributions to the industry.”

This year’s awards will be presented at the AWRT’s annual dinner on May 25th at the Beverly Hilton in LA.
CBS 5 began in 1948 as the first television station in Northern California. The CW 44cable 12 began in 1968 as the first UHF station in the Bay area. The two stations became a duopoly in 2002.

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Arthur Hu 3/4/2010 Seattle WA

It was only back in 1992 when America’s Kristi Yamaguchi and Japan’s Midori Ito were the first persons of Asian descent to win Olympic figure skating medals.  Japan’s Shizuka got the first gold medal for figure skating for any Asian nation only in the last Turin Olympics.  The Wall Street Journal noticed when it proclaims “a South Korean Teenager Leads an Emerging Group of Stars from the East” as Asian women from various nations dominating 3 of the top 4 top-billed women’s figure skating stars of  the Winter Olympics. They were “redrawing the map of where skating stars come from “ signaling the “end  of Europeans and North Americans own[ing] this sport”,  Americans were disappointed that 2010 ended their  medals streak. Korea’s Kim Yun-Na won gold, while arch-rival Mao Asada of Japan who had traded top titles with Yun-Na since 2004 got silver.  Little-known Japanese America’s  Nagasu  Mirai at age 16 exceeded expectations by just missing the podium at fourth place, while the Boston Herald noted  highly promoted Rachael Flatt ”struggles, finishes seventh” (with fourth place Mirai as a footnote, thanks for noticing) .

But it wasn’t just an Asian victory if we consider that Yun Na spent most of her time training in Canada. Count that  with heartbreaker Joannie Rochette’s bronze finish,  an equally dominant but different 3 out of 4 had trained in North America , and even Asada had trained with North Americans at some point.  Yun-Na’s Canadian coach, Brian Orser had won silver medals as skater in 1984 and 1988, so many saw it as partially his first gold as well.  Besides numerous other skaters from China, Japan and Korea, there was Cheltzie Lee of Australia who placed 20^th. Her unusual background includes a father who is Chinese from Bangladesh, and  her mother is African American from Louisiana in a year that didn’t have any other strong African descent skaters such as Debi Thomas (who is now a surgeon since I ran into her at Stanford Shopping Center).

The Olympics marks Yun-Na’s debut to American audiences, who are still probably more familiar with the name of Tonya Harding (Come to think of it, with a well placed tire wrench, all of the top 3 could have been Asian OWWWWW sorry about that). Sports Illustrated called Kim “queen of her court” and “will be ranked among the greatest Olympic Champions”, while calling Nagasu the “force at future games”.

 After the initial fuss over whether Nancy Kerrigan got more endorsements than Yamaguchi , the LA Times in the 90s concluded that Yamaguchi ‘s deals were “as good as gold”. Certainly, Yamaguchi has emerged as the one featured dancing on television and still doing commercials aired during THESE Olympics. But in Korea, Kim Yun-Na is pretty much a publicity goddess.  She made about $9 million in 1998 before winning any Olympic medals, compared to the $2 million Michelle Kwan or Tara Lipinski earned annually from endorsements in 2000. Traffic and stock trading in Korea stopped still to watch her skate as if it were the moon landing. She hawks products from Samsung to Hyundai. Her own branded cellphone sold a million copies, which would be gold or platinum if it were an American music single let alone an expensive consumer device in a 2^nd tier industrialized consumer market. One clever banner proclaimed I “heart” YN (NY get it?)

Catholics also noticed her making  the sign of the cross before her routines, thank goodness those “Freedom From Religion = Protest  Mother Theresa”  folks didn’t notice. She and her mother were baptized in May 2008. She’s  a darling of Korean Americans, though I haven’t yet seen any schoolyard girls brawling over whether Japanese-Am  Yamaguchi, Chinese-Am Kwan or Korean Kim are the greatest skaters of all time.   Over in Asia , 10,000 indignant Korean hackers shut down Japan’s www.2ch.net over postings slighting their leading lady, evidently the final last straw after enduring the usual right-wing nationalist insults directed against Koreans and China. Canada’s Olympic strong showing clearly makes them stand out as more than just a more culturally refined appendage of America. But if Canada were truly serious, they should offer her dual citizenship, and to conquer America like the Beatles or Celine Dione,  she should start by doing McDonalds commercials for the Great White North with her coach.

 On the men’s side, Canada’s 19 yr old Patrick Chan of Toronto with parents from Hong Kong was played up as Canada’s Great Yellow Hope for a men’s gold medal. He finished fifth, which is nevertheless  quite a strong showing for a first Olympics. With Japan’s Takahashi Daisuke winning bronze, Asians still placed 4 of the top 10 men’s figure skating places. Evan Lysacek, now headed for dancing with the Stars performed neater than Russia’s Yevgeny Plushenko who seemed to be a villain plucked out of a bad Yugi-Oh episode. He gave himself a “platinum” medal on his own website. LBGT bloggers lamented that Johnny Weir who always seemed dressed like a Tim Burton movie protagonist was “robbed”.    (Of course there was less comment about the ladies outfits that made you wonder if you’d walked by these outfits at a Victoria Secret display window, or if you really saw what you thought you saw or just some fabric)  While Wikipedia still wouldn’t divulge “is he or isn’t he” , the adoring Asian girls who handed him a giant black heart and oversized Hello Kitty seemed to like him just fine.

Ice dancing Asian-Americans Chris and Cathy Reed of New Jersey actually skated on the Japanese team. Their mother is from Japan and the family has dual-citizenship.  But if that wasn’t interesting enough, their little sister Allison was skating for Georgia which gave her citizenship just for the games. She met the other fellow at her rink who also needed a partner. Cathy placed 17^th, ahead of China’s Huang Xintong and Zheng Xun, while Allison and Otar Japaridize placed 22^nd, so Asians have quite a ways to go in this event.

Allison ended up wearing an armband for the unfortunate luger Nodar Kumaritashvili who was flung onto a support pole with a clang. Of course that clip didn’t see seem to hurt as much as the slo-mo shots of women crashing down the hills like a spinning NASCAR with breaking skis, and charts comparing how much damage skier Lindsey Vonn had suffered compared to Evil Knievel. And it was different to see  guys from China flying off a ramp like an upside-down helicopter successfully doing what used to be exclusively crazy California white kid stunts, if not yet winning medals.

Apolo Ohno became the most decorated American Olympic athlete with 8 medals (2 gold), though it was somewhat Ameri-centric for the announcers to loudly crow about YET ANOTHER MEDAL when the Koreans were cleaning up on 1^st and 2^nd place finishes ahead of him when they didn’t crack up. Given his appearances on TV and commercials, it appears that at least happa guys like Ohno and Celski don’t have the “male image” problem that seems to afflict the rest of us Asian guys. Crashes, bumps and barbs traded back and forth between Ohno and the Koreans have elevated Ohno hating beyond Korea’s usual Japan hating, as death threats in 2003 caused the American short track team to skip Korea, and he needed police guard to visit the country in 2005. On the women’s side, NBC headlined that Germany’s Jenny Wolf lead a “pack of Asians” (Could you write “pack of Caucasians???”) including Korea’s Lee Sang-Hwa and China’s Wang Beixing.  Nevertheless, Korea may be getting over their inferiority complex knowing that they nearly matched Russia and beat China with 14 medals, 6 gold compared to Japan’s 5 medals, zero for gold, on top of Toyota’s killer floor mat problems.

If Asians were conspicuous by their absence in the opening ceremony, the bunch of young snowboarders that stormed out seemed to be dominated by Asians (both the east and the south Asian Indian kind) that you’d see around Richmond. Likewise, the orchestra which seemed to be dominated by young people had plenty of Asian faces. It’s too bad NBC didn’t spend more time highlighting the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, but it was pretty good exposure. Oh yeah, don’t forget that here in Washingon State we’ve got pretty much the same scenery and Native American culture without having to cross the border, and it’s just a 2 hour drive from here to get to Canada.

1400 words 229 views as of 3/10/10

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>>Global- Indian Naval Plane Crashes killing both Pilots

>>Commerce- Nissan to Recall over 500,000 cars

 Arts

San Francisco Public Library holds Korean Comic Exhibit

San Francisco, Ca- Held in the SF Public Library’s Jewett Gallery, “A Society Through Small Frames”, is an exhibition of 83 framed works by 21 of Korea’s most talented cartoonists drawn over a period of four decades, and will be available for view from March 13–June 13.

The exhibition examines the changes in Korean society from the 1950s through the 1990s as evidenced through its comics which provide a running commentary that reflects the lives of ordinary people. The comics play an important role in characterizing and distinguishing the culture and sensibility of two Koreas.

The exhibition includes cartoons from artists in both prosperous, rapidly changing South Korea as well as from less well-known North Korea. Lee Do Yeong pioneered Korean comics in the early 20th Century, but it wasn’t until the explosion of magazines and newspapers in the middle of the century that comics emerged as a cultural force.

The exhibition’s North Korean comics capture that reclusive country’s economic hardships and strict ideological controls on society.

All programs at the Library are Free. For more information, please call (415) 557-4277.

Global

Indian Naval Plane Crashes killing both Pilots

India- An Indian naval plane crashed today at an air show in the city of Hyderabad killing both pilots.

Footage showed the plane flying in formation before crashing in a densely populated area near the showground.

A three story house was destroyed and other buildings damaged. Police have so far confirmed that four other people were injured.

It is not clear what caused the crash. The Indian Aviation 2010 show opened on Wednesday and runs until Sunday.

The two-seater Kiran MK-II which crashed was part of a four-plane formation.

“In the final phase, the aircraft appears to have gone out of control. They crashed into a building and the pilots have died,” navy chief Adm Nirmal Verma told reporters.

The other three aircraft landed safely, the navy said. An inquiry is being ordered to find out what caused the crash, it added.

-  BBC News

Commerce

Nissan to Recall over 500,000 cars

Tokyo- Nissan Auto Corporation said Wednesday it will recall 539,864 trucks, sport-utility vehicles and mini vans in North America and some Asian and European markets due to problems with brake pedal pins and fuel gauges.

The announcement follows its recall last week of 76,415 vehicles in Japan because of issues with electric cables connected to the engines, and comes on the heels of General Motors Co.’s recall Tuesday of 1.3 million compact cars with suspect power steering.

The Japanese car maker said it found a manufacturing error in brake pedal pins, about which there have been three reported instances of it partially disengaging. The company also said that fuel gauges in vehicles with high mileages may indicate the amount of remaining fuel incorrectly.

Models subject to the pedal pin recall are the Infiniti QX56 SUV, Titan pickup truck, Armada SUV and Quest minivan. Besides the latter, these are also subject to the fuel gauge recall, together with the Frontier pickup truck, Pathfinder and Xterra SUV.

- Wall Street Journal

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Despite the fact that nine million Asian-Americans are under the age of 35 and are totally media-savvy, it has been an underserved group by mainstream media and an untapped market – until now. MYX® programming is tailored to scratch everyone’s music itch, while recognizing the importance of APA cultural heritage, one that is unique, trendy and current.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, MYX® is available on Comcast Channel 368 but television isn’t the only platform that’s rocking to a new sound. Booming online and out in the community, MYX® has made a smart move by bringing the music to the people.

Current Content
Building a channel from scratch is no easy task but with a team that’s represented by local Asian-American pros in their own departments of expertise, locally-produced programming has not only changed the landscape of API media as we know it but has also received accolades from award giving bodies. Last year, MYX® was given the 2009 NAMIC thumbs up for its “Dig: Lyrics Born” in the Digital Media Short Form category. Dig is the channel’s flagship artist platform. This two-minute monthly vignette features up-and-coming indie artists at work.

Just how exceptionally anomalous is MYX®? All eyes have been on the channel with its recent launch of two new programs: Vinyl Addiction, which takes the audience to an up-close look at the Vinyl Toy Revolution which originated in Hong Kong. Visual Crunch which goes behind the scenes of groundbreaking, creative music videos produced at impossibly low budgets – veritable video miracles at this age, serving well the Asian American market, whose artists are, surprisingly, independent.

Redefining a Culture
In recent articles run on mainstream publications, like Keith Kamisugi’s piece on the Huffington Post, it is clear that Hollywood needs to catch up. Mainstream media has long portrayed a stereotypical Asian-American, typecast as amorphous, caricature-like and “good in math.” Making noise, MYX® is dubbed the community’s “fresh voice” for spotlighting the real deal, Asian-Americans as pop culture’s pilot. MYX® Channel Head, Miguel Santos explains that, “We’ve made it our mission to accurately portray the Asian-American on television. Highlighting the real prototype, we’re showing a global audience what our generation really looks like.”

San Jose State University freshman Lorenze Torres says, “It’s great to see APIs that I feel represent who I am, just rocking on TV. I look at Utada Hikaru, Nicole Scherzinger, Cassie… and I think to myself – now, that’s what I’m talking about!”

“The Asian American youth is a community of creative minds and bi-cultural propensity so MYX® has taken up the challenge to provide television-forward programming where they can see themselves represented as the innovative visionaries that they are,” shares Santos.

Tomorrow’s Bullhorn
As with any successful media venture, the key element is to be current and to give viewers substantial but popular content. It’s about finding talent that has yet to be discovered and digging into the community’s pockets where our talent abounds. “The new trend favors the independent YouTube artists, comedians and breakout artists that follow their own tune. MYX® is in the know and shines that spotlight in the right direction. I’m addicted,” says artist manager and founder of The Luna Co., Christina Luna.

So next time you’re surfing channels, drop by MYX® and see what all the buzz is about. While success may hinge on a little luck from the cat, the audience finds that with forward-looking content, progressive goals and a pool of ridiculous talent, MYX® is, officially, the new voice of Asian-American youth.

ABOUT MYX®

With its U.S. headquarters in Redwood City, California, MYX® was developed by ABS-CBN International, a US-based subsidiary of ABS-CBN Broadcasting, the largest media company in the Philippines and among the largest in Asia.  MYX® is the only music entertainment and lifestyle channel dedicated to the Asian American community, utilizing music, culture and entertainment.  MYX® can be seen on Channel 368 on Comcast’s Digital Preferred Tier in the San Francisco Bay Area, Comcast ON DEMAND, Cox Digital Basic Cable, DIRECTV 2067 and RCN.  For more information, visit http://myx.tv.

Keesa Ocampo works for ABS CBN International and is a member of the Young Filipino Professionals Association.

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Catwalk now in its’ junior year is presented by DIVAS Club, Moonstar Restaurant & Catering and The Endup Club. Aspiring transgender models from all over the country compete in various categories including Cocktail Wear, swimwear and evening wear. Hosted by community icon Tita Aida, Catwalk 2010 features special guests drag-glam lip sync group, RICE ROCKETTES and hip-hop dance group, Freeplay Dance Company. This year’s presentation benefits the AIDS Housing Alliance, a non- profit organization providing case management specifically to people living with HIV/AIDS, advocating for equal housing rights, and working to prevent homelessness.

Last year, Catwalk attracted 450 attendees from all over the Bay Area and they witnessed an amazing presentation of fashion, compassion, advocacy and style all in one runway. Carmen Cass, a native of Los Angeles took the title Catwalk ’09. Carmen said, “I will use this title to empower my fellow trans sisters to pursue their dream!” Indeed Carmen did, and she is now pursuing her modeling career in Los Angeles and New York. Catwalk 2010 expects to meet or exceed last year’s attendance and generate proceeds designated for the beneficiary, AIDS Housing Alliance.

Catwalk is one of the few events that celebrates and focuses on the profound beauty of the transgender community. Catwalk not only allows the TG community to have an event, but it also provides networking opportunities for TG focused service providers to reach out to their target population. Participating are the TRANS THRIVE and ATE Program of the A&PI Wellness Center. Catwalk also allows local businesses the chance to support the TG community via sponsorship, promotional opportunities, and making their products or services available.

Tickets are now available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/93508. A $ 5.00 discount is available to online tickets purchases by entering “CW2010Z” when prompted for a discount code.

Catwalk 2010 is produced by New Guard Production Company, a San Francisco based California Corporation specializing in development and physical production of unique LGBT performing arts events, film, radio, television, print and new media.

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>>Arts- Tower Productions Casting Asian Americans for arranged Marriage Documentary

>>Nation- Nationwide Call for Filipina Women Directory

>>Global- Tajikistan Election looks to promote Economic and Social Life

>>Commerce- AIG Nears deal to sell Asia Unit

Bay/Cal

APCF holds 2010 Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Awards

Los Angeles- The Asian Pacific Community Fund, in partnership with Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders
in Philanthropy-Los Angeles, will be recognizing a young generation of community leaders at the 2nd
Annual Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Awards Reception on Wednesday, March 3, 2010.

This event recognizes young leaders and organizations that are making a difference in the Asian Pacific
Islander community through their volunteer philanthropy efforts and leadership. APCF and AAPIP-
LA will be highlighting their successes in order to encourage others to get involved in the Asian Pacific
Islander community. The event will address the importance of cultivating the next generation of
philanthropists.

The event will be held at the Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant, 811 Wilshire Blvd., 21st Floor in Los Angeles between 6-8pm. Leonardo Nam will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

For more information or to purchase tickets to this event, visit www.apcf.org or call (213) 624-6400 ext. 4. Pre-Sale tickets are available for $20.00 through noon, Monday, March 1st. Tickets are also available At-the-Door for $25.00.

Arts

Tower Productions Casting Asian Americans for arranged Marriage Documentary

Chicago, IL- Tower Productions is currently casting for a television special documenting arranged marriage for a major cable network, looking for people who are currently in the matching process or have been married and are willing to share their experience. The project looks to educate viewers on all aspects of the tradition and incorporate all types of backgrounds, allowing the stories to be told from the point of view of a diverse group.

The company was founded in 1989, and has produced over one thousand hours of factual and entertainment programming for US and international television networks including A&E, Animal Planet, The Biography Channel, CNN, Discovery Channel, History, ID: Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MSNBC, NBC, National Geographic Channel, PBS, TLC, Travel Channel, tru TV, VERSUS, WGN and The Weather Channel. Among the Company’s signature series are American Justice and Biography (A&E), The Final Report, Storm Stories and the syndicated comedy series Sports Action Team.

Anyone interested should please email: casting@towersproductions.com with your name, age, contact info, state/country you live in, and a description about your experience.
Nation

Nationwide Call for Filipina Women Directory

San Francisco, Ca- The Filipina Women’s Network is compiling a directory of “Filipina American Women in Governance” comprised of the following Filipinas elected to any public office, Filipinas appointed to any governmental position in a commission or agency including the military, and Filipinas who have achieved the highest ranking executive or board position level at a U.S. Fortune 1000 corporation, large nonprofit, government agency including the military (CEO/Senior Executive).
The Network encourages anyone who fits the criteria to participate in the survey. This survey is a Pinay Power 2012 initiative and part of the ‘Shaping the Filipina Image Campaign and wishes to enhance public perceptions of Filipina women’s capacity to lead, change biases against Filipina women’s leadership abilities and build the Filipina community’s pipeline of qualified leaders, to increase the odds that some will rise to the president position in all sectors.

The directory will be available at the 2010 Filipina Leadership Summit in October. Keep checking the FWN website for announcements at www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org The survey will end on March 31, 2010.

Global

Tajikistan Election looks to promote Economic and Social Life

Dushanbe- Amid little hopes for change, people in the Muslim-majority Central Asian republic of Tajikistan voted in legislative elections certain to tighten the grip of long-serving President Emomali Rakhmon despite popular discontent.

“The election results are known in advance — a victory for the president’s party,” Salim, 58, told Agence France-Presse. “That means more seats in parliament for his party, which lobbies for the interests of the authorities.”

Seven parties are vying in the polls, including the opposition Islamic Revival Party, the only legally registered party in the former Soviet Central Asia.

But the outcome is largely expected to tighten the grip of Rakhmon’s ruling Democratic People’s Party, which holds 57 in the 63-seat parliament.

“This is an important political event for Tajikistan to promote economic and social life,” said Rakhmon standing alongside his 23-year-old son who is running for a seat on Dushanbe’s city council, considered a possible first step in a succession plan.

The vote comes amid growing concerns in the West that potential instability in Tajikistan could undermine their war efforts in neighboring Afghanistan.
- IslamOnline.net

Commerce

AIG Nears deal to sell Asia Unit

Hong Kong- In its biggest move yet to repay a $182.3 billion U.S.-government bailout, AIG Incorporated has neared an agreement to sell its crown-jewel Asian life-insurance business to Prudential PLC for about $35.5 billion.

The government-controlled insurer’s board approved the sale of American International Assurance Ltd. and was close to signing the deal. Federal Reserve and Treasury Department officials also signed off on it.
AIG’s likely sale of AIA, along with a separate agreement expected in the next week or so to sell another non-U.S. insurer, American Life Insurance Co., could generate proceeds of about $50 billion. Half of that amount has already been earmarked for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

AIG was the single largest recipient of a taxpayer-funded aid in the bailout. The company remains far from weaning itself from the government lifeline it received in 2008. These two deals would cover roughly half the $97 billion AIG is trying to repay the U.S. government.

- Wall Street Journal

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The Tiger can work successfully and communicate well to achieve happiness and harmony in love and business with: Horse, Dog, and Pig.

The Monkey and Tiger are rivals, with the Monkey constantly running into conflict with the Tiger. Mature Monkeys should watch for bad health. Younger Monkeys will make changes in all aspects. Wear a necklace with a figure of a horse, dog, or pig to smooth the transition of rapid change.

The Tiger competes with other Tigers on all fronts with animosity and a mountain cannot accommodate more than one Tiger. Tigers should watch for poor health and avoid confrontation. Wear a necklace with a figure of a horse, dog, or pig to divert the ill attention of the Golden Tiger.

The Rat and Tiger have a moderate relationship, providing the Rat an opportunity to make changes, travel, and work hard to better its career and status.

The Ox and Tiger clash even though the Ox will try new things to accommodate the Tiger, leaving the Ox to resort to secondary plans. It is a romantic year for Ox people.

The Tiger provides the Rabbit with a romantic year but strong competition disturbs chances of lasting new romantic pursuits.

The Tiger disturbs the Dragon’s focus on making changes, travel, and study with worries about an elder’s health issue.

Though Snake and Tiger often spar with sharp tongue and competition, Snake’s wisdom and charm wins over the Tiger.

The Goat enjoys romance and happiness with the Tiger but takes care of a health issue.

The Rooster should overcome an obstacle with the Tiger but achieving its goal will require spending money.

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The Year of the Tiger will be tumultuous as the Metal Tiger or Golden Tiger brings volatility and disagreement. Economic recovery for the United States will continue to be slow and worries about deflation are likely to turn to inflation.
The Tiger is the third of twelve Chinese animal zodiac signs. Tiger people are thought to be fiery and bold, good for people of action. However, fiery Tigers can also be tempestuous and quick to anger, defeating any kind of cordial relations.
The past year more mellow with the earth element for the Earth Ox or Brown Ox Year brought trust and kindness to promote conflict resolution, will turn as the metal element for the Metal Tiger or Golden Tiger (4708 on the Chinese lunar calendar) begins on February 4 to a year of disagreement and hostility says Bay Area I-ching Master Y.C. Sun. Geomancers like to look at sixty-year cycles because the five elements — metal, wood, water, fire, and earth — and 12-animal zodiac generally bring circumstances full circle.
Sun predicts a year of growing global disagreement and hostility in keeping with the last Metal Tiger Year. In 1950, the United States suffered under the strains of the Korean War, the Cold War, the nuclear arms race, and McCarthyism.
As Master Sun, a computer scientist and multi-generational geomancer, has enhanced his focus on global economics and geopolitics and is often quoted in CBS MarketWatch, he does see some glimmer with the metal element associated with the Golden Tiger. Metal is associated with money and transportation, so that should bode well even with a slow economic recovery. Think public works projects and high speed rail.
Two years ago, Sun explained, “The U.S. is one year ahead of the looming global recession that will come in the second quarter of 2009.” Early last year, he saw signs of our housing market bottoming out in the summer with signs of recovery in the fall. Sun had also indicated in early 2008 that China, our big investor, wouldn’t be able to control inflation and a power struggle would erupt there as President Hu Jintao would experience a bad luck year in 2009. While China hasn’t suffered the major recession of most countries following an Olympic host year, Sun predicts that China’s bubble will burst in the next couple of years.
Sun sees China and other Asian countries leading in a sustained but uneven global recovery in 2010, while the United States and Europe remain weak primarily due to a lack of consumer support and high unemployment. World output will increase by about 2 percent this year after having fallen about the same in 2009. For the first time in history, the recovery from a global recession is being driven by an emerging market rather than by the United States.
Since 2004, the Earth has been on “Track 8” in our solar universe and will remain for a period of 20 years until 2023. According to Sun, this schematic places China as the new super economic power, taking over the lead position from the United States. Sun reminds us that in 2004, the U.S. started its economic down fall as the housing bubble was inflated initially by keeping target short-term rates too low for too long, leading to reckless lending and borrowing in the housing market, and subsequently by loans being repackaged as securities sold to investors. But, China will not be immune to its share of problems as it is heavily invested in the U.S. and the communist leadership faces internal struggles.
The characteristics of the animal combined with influences from five basic elements — metal, wood, water, fire, and earth - foretell the kind of year. The balance of the elements promotes harmony. Each animal can be converted into the five elements. This Tiger Year also contains wood, fire, and earth elements. Wood and fire together will make fire stronger. Metal is challenged by fire and metal is also against wood. That means the metal element and the Tiger will fight each other, creating turbulence for the year. The lack of water for this year also means a lack of tact, according to Sun.
Geopolitically, continue to expect turmoil from Iran and the Middle East but also energy-rich African countries, where these areas will create internal struggles that spill over into global crises. Expect Al Qaeda to surge again.
The metal, wood and fire energy will create plenty of natural disasters and man-made problems: deadly hurricanes, typhoons, and tornadoes in August through October; deadly snowstorms in the Northeast; avalanches in Europe, particularly at the Alps; volcanic eruptions; and, frequent mass civic protests and violent riots globally.
Tensions stand to grow with China, our biggest creditor to whom we owe some $800 billion. However, opportunities exist if the U.S. partners with China with working to solve the world’s most challenging problems, such as climate change, nuclear proliferation, and global financial reform.
President Barack Obama has called for “cooperation, not confrontation” with China, so the U.S. may defer any imminent trade wars. Obama, born in the year of the Metal Ox, carries metal and earth energies, according to his birth chart - a wood goat birth month carrying earth, fire, and wood. Obama was able to utilize the water energy over the last few years to catapult his fame and keep lady luck by his side, culminating in a Nobel Peace Prize at the end of 2009. But, this year the absence of water will prove trying for Obama. The U.S. will have to be on guard as North Korea and Iran press to build nuclear arms and the President must continue to work with Russia on nuclear disarmament, says Sun.
Swimming may just be the panacea to increase Obama’s luck this stormy year. While he will be able to start new initiatives, this year will be full of compromise and President’s Plan A’s will more likely be his Plan B’s.
The elements also indicate popular business and investment sectors. According to Sun, the metal energy points to some profits in metal industries, transportation, government, criminal justice, and even auto segments. GM and the U.S. auto industry will make a comeback with new products, including electric and fuel efficient vehicles, predicts Sun. The fire energy pulls in sectors such as solar green energy projects, high tech, information technology, computer software, fire arms, entertainment - movies, television, show business, and opera, and oil and gas.
Tapping into the absent water energy industries will provide profits this year, pointing to the import/export, travel, shipping, moving company, cleaning, musical, magic entertainment, Internet, seafood, chemical, fruit juicing, wine spirits, and tea and coffee industries.
During last year’s Earth Ox, Sun explained that the confluence of earth and water would produce a rich soil to grow wood, representative of the U.S. dollar, indicating a rebound for the weakened currency and stemming a global free fall. This year, Sun predicts that the dollar will come back alive and do some rebounding. Oil and gas will be volatile within the $68 to $108 per barrel range. Gold prices will start to race up to the $1,350 level in the second half of 2010.
The stock market will be volatile like the Tiger. Sun says watch for the market to pull back big in June and less so in October. Good investments in the Metal Tiger Year should center on the metal energy industries - engineering, hardware, manufacturing, transportation, and high-speed rail. Sun also predicts that the earth energy from Track 8 combined with the elements of this year will make for strong commodities trading activity.
According the “Nine Spots of Flying Stars” theory, Sun says that good locations this year are northwest, middle, north, and west, while bad locations are southwest, northeast, south, and southeast. The directionals can apply to one’s home, a city, a state, a country, or the world. Sun says the southwest location will experience bad accidents, disasters, or misfortune. A metal wind chime placed at this directional can breakup with bad energy.
For Bay Area political followers, Sun predicted last year that San Francisco Mayor Newsom, a Fire Goat, would have a challenging year as he set into the California gubernatorial race because the Fire Goat posed conflicts with the Ox. Sun saw more positive energy with his family life with an addition to the family and indeed, daughter Montana Tessa was born in the fall. As of this writing, Newsom has not yet decided whether to seek the Lt. Governor’s seat. While Sun believes the likelihood of success for Newsom in that race is good, the Metal Tiger brings Newsom a renewed energy to focus on city business and produce with high productivity, efficiency, and good results.
Sun predicts a strong year for Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a Fire Horse. Last year, Sun advised that Ma should focus on planting new seeds during the Earth Ox Year, removing anything that was unproductive for strong gains in 2010. In the elective year of the last of her three two-year term limit, will reap benefits from her workaholic nature. The Metal Tiger will provide Ma with strong energy and vision, combined with timely strategy and outstanding leadership to achieve a very successful year. She will bring strong financial gains for California, no doubt in part to her role in bringing the high-speed rail project to fruition. Her personal life will be equally strong as Sun sees wedding bells for Ma next year.
A little meditation and conflict resolution training will help this year and for the next 24 months. Next year –the Year of the Rabbit — and another metal year looks to be another fierce year, more sticks than carrots.

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - A faltering economy and unstable job market is leaving many uncertain about their futures. Joey Yap plans to change that by using feng shui and astrology to help prepare people to flourish in 2010 in their careers, health, and relationships by capitalizing on their best dates in their astrological forecast.

Yap, the Founder and Master Trainer of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics, an academic institution represented in over 30 countries worldwide, will be hosting a seminar, entitled “Feng Shui and Astrology 2010, “Succeeding in Turbulent Times” at the Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel located at 2500 Mason St. in San Francisco on Saturday March 20, 2010, from 10am to 5pm.

A revered international feng shui master, Yap, will be showing attendees, in this powerful one-day seminar, how to explore their astrological forecast for 2010 in the year of the Metal Tiger. The seminar will discuss how to select auspicious dates for different types of personal and professional endeavors, discover which opportunities and challenges are in store as well as how Feng Shui, Chinese Astrology, Date Selection and Face Reading (Mian Xiang) can be used as potential tools to steer your life towards success and happiness. He regularly fills convention halls with upwards of 3,000 people and his students comprise of thousands globally.

Yap, a frequent guest on TV and radio talk shows is the best-selling author of many books including Stories  Lessons on Feng Shui, Mian Xiang: Discover Face Reading, BaZi-The Destiny Code and its sequel, BaZi-The Destiny Code Revealed, Feng Shui for Homebuyers-Interior and Feng Shui for Homebuyers-Exterior, Personal Date Selection and Feng Shui for Home Owners - Apartment Buyers. He also writes for Mastery Journal, a monthly eZine on Feng Shui and Astrology devoted for world-wide readers. His works have garnered him many rave reviews by international newspapers and magazines such as International Herald Tribune, Prestige Singapore, Sunday Times Australia, and many others.

Tickets are now on sale today and can be purchased at www.masteryacademy.com/

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This event is part three of the ongoing North Korea: Human Face program series. The program is co-sponsored by the World Affairs Council, the Center for Pacific Rim, the Japan Policy Research Institute, and the Nautilus Institute.

Date & Time: Wednesday, March 17th at 6pm. 7pm reception with Korean refreshments
Location: Korean Center/1362 Post Street, San Francisco
See www.iic.edu and www.koreancentersf.org.

About the discussion:
Winter is a dangerous time for North Koreans, as it is when they are most likely to run out of food and coal. Given the endemic energy shortage in the DPRK, projects that promote energy efficiency and the transfer of energy-efficient technology to the country are a necessity. This talk will discuss the impact of cooperative, humanitarian energy efficiency projects in North Korea which have a direct and significant impact on the lives of many North Koreans, build in-country human capacity, and helps to open the door to
further engagement.

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>>Arts- MYX® launches Billboard Photo-BOMB Contest

>>Nation- Chevron Allows Supervisor to Harass Employee with “Stupid Jap” Slur

>>Global- Indian Prime Minister Singh takes gamble with Pakistan Talks

>>Commerce- Senators urge US to Combat China Currency Policy

Bay/Cal

Cathay Pacific offers Student Aviation Program

San Francisco- Cathay Pacific has opened applications for its third US “I Can Fly” program, inviting students with a passion for aviation to participate in the popular program.

The third “I Can Fly” US program will run from mid-March through May and offers high school students a rare behind-the-scenes look at the airline industry. The 9-week academy covers a range of aviation topics and explores various careers in the industry from engineering to in-flight catering to passenger sales. The program runs weekly and operates after school hours out of San Francisco International Airport or within the vicinity of downtown San Francisco.

“The previous two “I Can Fly” programs proved to be a successful and meaningful experience for both the students and our staff instructors,” said Dennis Owen, vice president Marketing - Americas. “We’re pleased to offer another group of students the opportunity to learn about the aviation industry and assist them in making future career choices.”

The “I Can Fly” program was launched in 2003 in Hong Kong and due to its success was brought to the US for the first time in March 2009.
For further details or to apply for the US “I Can Fly” program please visit www.cathaypacific.com/us/icanfly by March 5th.

Arts

MYX® launches Billboard Photo-BOMB Contest

Redwood City, Ca- MYX® rings in the Chinese New Year with a fun contest for camera bugs with an eagle’s eye and a wicked sense of humor.

MYX® recently launched an outdoor campaign in over 40 locations and on over 100 buses playing strategic routes in the San Francisco Bay Area to announce its carriage on Comcast’s Digital Preferred Tier on Channel 368. To celebrate the launch and in keeping with the excitement for the Lunar New Year, the channel kicks off its MYX® Billboard Photo-BOMB Contest from March 1-12, 2010.

“I think all of us have ‘photobombed’ in our lives. We love hopping in a photo right before it is taken,” said MYX® Channel Head Miguel Santos.

The contest is open to all ages 12 and up, contestants need to find a MYX® billboard or bus ad, take a picture of themselves in front of it, and then send the picture, including the location where it was sighted, to any of the following MYX® accounts: myx.tv on the web, myxtv on Twitter, and facebook.com/myxtv on Facebook.

MYX® will select randomly one winner every weekday within the 12-day duration of the campaign. Daily prizes include giveaways from renowned apparel brand Johnny Cupcakes and the Bay Area-based Upper Playground. A surprise grand prize awaits the last winner on March 12.

Nation

Chevron Allows Supervisor to Harass Employee with “Stupid Jap” Slur

Richmond, Ca- John Suzuki worked at Chevron for over 35 years as an award-winning patent liaison in Chevron’s Law Department in Richmond, Calif. Suzuki was forced to take early retirement this month rather than risk his health by returning to work under a supervisor who harassed and threatened him.

The doctors had diagnosed Suzuki as being at high risk of another heart attack after he had at least two episodes of severe chest pains following incidents in which his supervisor, Alan Klaassen harassed him by yelling at him, making false accusations and threatening him. After one such incident in January 2008, Suzuki went to his doctor, who told him that he had to reduce his workload or else he might have a heart attack. When Suzuki told Klaassen and a manager, Frank Turner, what his doctor said, Klaassen and Turner laughed at Suzuki.

Things came to a head in August 2009 when Klaassen again yelled at Suzuki, waved his fist in his face, threatened him calling him a “stupid Jap.” Hiring a private attorney, Chevron conducted an investigation into the matter and found no corroboration into Suzuki’s claims.
On February 1, in fear of losing his benefits Suzuki opted for an early retirement with Cheveron. Suzuki and other supporting Asian American Organizations have begun a letter writing campaign to actively tackle the situation.

Those interested in contacting Chevron should write to: John S. Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Chevron Corp., 6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA 94583. For more information on the story go to: http://foundasian.org/2010/02/chevron-allows-supervisor-to-harass-employee-with-stupid-jap-slur

- foundasian.org

Global

Indian Prime Minister Singh takes gamble with Pakistan Talks

New Delhi- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s pursuit of the peace talks with Pakistan began Thursday in a gamble that could shape the 77-year-old politician’s legacy.

The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan met in New Delhi, the first talks between the countries since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said afterward the two sides had agreed to “stay in touch.” However no date was set for another meeting.

Mr. Singh could face fierce domestic opposition. The countries’ last round of talks, which began in 2004, was premised on Pakistan’s promise to shut down militants on its soil. But after the Mumbai attacks, India broke off dialogue and said relations couldn’t improve without concrete action by Islamabad on terrorism.

Indian officials say Pakistan has made some progress rounding up and prosecuting suspects in the Mumbai attacks. But for many Indians, Pakistan may not have done enough. Any further terror attacks from Pakistan in India would put New Delhi under severe pressure to call off the talks.

- Wall Street Journal

Commerce

Senators urge US to Combat China Currency Policy

Washington DC- A group of 15 U.S. senators on Thursday insisted that China’s currency practices are effectively a subsidy, and urged Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to take action.

“There can be no doubt that China’s policy of large-sale intervention in the exchange markets and the significant undervaluation of its currency acts as a subsidy to Chinese exports,” the senators said in a letter. A number of manufacturers have brought cases in recent years asking the Commerce Department to treat China’s currency practices as a subsidy, including a pending case brought by U.S. paper companies.

The Commerce Department has declined those requests, saying that currency manipulation does not meet the technical definition of a subsidy that can be offset under U.S. law.In their letter, the senators strongly disagreed.

“The bedrock of our economic system is fairness and China’s currency practices violate that principle in every single way. … The Commerce Department has yet to take this issue seriously and we must keep pressing the agency until it does the right thing,” Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a statement.

- Wall Street Journal

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Against all odds, it has survived, thrived and blossomed into three buildings with a fourth Chinese Hospital in the works.

Currently undergoing a capital campaign, this is one hospital that serves the Chinatown community well and it is soundly supported by the community.

In 2006, the City of San Francisco’s population rose to nearly 40% Asian. The residents have far exceeded its original boundaries, with many residents settling in the outskirts of town and even settling in the suburbs of the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

UCSF is combining Chinese Hospital’s vision of serving the Chinese community with bilingual outreach to Chinese and Asian Americans. With figures indicating that the number one killer of Asian Americans are heart attacks and the number three killer was strokes, the first-ever Asian Heart and Vascular Center was created as a part of the world-renown University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.

AHVC was founded in an effort to bridge the cultural and language gap that often prevented Asian patients from receiving the best possible cardiovascular care that they need.

AHVC Director Dr. Gordon Fung, MD, MPH, said there is a myth that Asians are at low risk for heart and vascular disease, but that is definitely not true.

“Heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of death of Asian Americans,” said Fung. “But many Asian don’t seek care or they seek care late, either because they don’t understand their risks or because they have trouble communicating with their doctors regarding their symptoms.”

While Asian-Americans share risk factors with the general population, such as high rates of hypertension, obesity, diabetes and smoking, studies have shown there are important differences in cardiovascular risk factors in Asian Americans.

The AHVC program includes Asian-focused clinical research, treatments, medical students training, and community education. In time, other medical disciplines such as cancer, diabetes, and orthopedics to name a few and will be included in the UCSF Asian-focused medical center.

What a bonanza of a dream, to know that the finest of research and the most advanced medical care and technology will be available to the entire Asian community in the greater Bay Area at the world-renowned UCSF Medical Center. That is something to be valued, as our quality of life can only become better and better. We applaud the UCSF Medical Center for bringing us forward.

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>>Arts- Kearny Street Workshop holds “Understanding Bollywood through Music”

>>Nation- CAPAC Applauds President’s nomination of Goodwin Liu

>>Global- 17 Die, 26 missing in Indonesian Landslide

>>Commerce- Eli Lily Merk and Pfizer Inc collaborate for Asian Cancer Research

Bay/Cal

Scholarships Available for 2010 Summer Study Abroad

San Francisco- The deadline to apply for the 2010 Nikkei Youth Cultural Heritage Program is Friday March 5, 2010. Partial scholarships of $500 are available for students applying for the program through the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California.

The Program is sponsored by the JCCCNC in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Hawaii. Each cultural center will choose up to four college students to participate in a month-long intensive language study and home stay program in Kobe, Japan.

The NYCH Program, in cooperation with the Kobe YMCA Language School is designed for Nikkei youth to gain a better understanding of their ancestral and cultural background while discovering Japan in a unique and exciting way. This program will allow participants to immerse themselves in Japanese culture through Japanese courses.

This program is open to students at any level of the Japanese language skills. Applicants must be 18 years of age and older and have completed a minimum of one semester of college studies.
For more information and to download the application, visit
www.jcccnc.org or call Aya Ino at (415) 567-5505.

Arts

Kearny Street Workshop holds “Understanding Bollywood through Music”

San Francisco- The Kearny Street Workshop organization will be holding a workshop highlighting the art of Bollywood. The workshop will explore the magical aesthetics of Bollywood music through screenings, discussions, in class performances, field trips and lectures. 

Bollywood film songs will also be used to examine the context of South Asian Culture. The songs and films will be viewed in both Hindi and English. Special focus will be given to the film composers such as Burman, Naushad and Rhaman, along with time to discuss the films Maqbool, Omkara, Mughal e Azaam, Dil Se, Sholay, Qurbani, Silsila, Jodhaa Akbar, Lagaan, Devdas and Umrao Jaan.

Robin Sukhadia will facilitate the workshop. With a Masters of Arts in World Music from the California Institute of the Arts, Sukhadia has been studying various forms of Bollywood and world music for the past six years.

Registration is $180. Friendly special: sign up with a friend for a discounted registration of $150 per person. To register by check, please send check or money order to: Kearny Street Workshop, P.O. Box 14545, San Francisco, CA 94114-0545. Or pay online at kearnystreet.org. Please include your full name and contact info.

Nation

CAPAC Applauds President’s nomination of Goodwin Liu

Washington DC - Today President Obama nominated Goodwin Liu for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Liu is currently Associate Dean and Professor at the University of California Berkeley School of Law. Judicial diversity has been a top concern of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and as such has endorsed Asian American, Pacific Islander, and other diverse candidates for the bench, including Professor Liu.

“CAPAC is pleased with the President’s nomination of Goodwin Liu to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. As an acclaimed education and constitutional law scholar, CAPAC members are proud to support his nomination,” said Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), chair of CAPAC.

Liu was an associate at O’Melveny & Myers in Washington, D.C. He has also worked for the Corporation for National Service, where he helped launch the AmeriCorps program.
CAPAC Members are pleased that President Obama is committed to nominating individuals of the highest caliber, such as Goodwin Liu, to the federal bench, while at the same time making judicial diversity a top priority.

Global

17 Die, 26 missing in Indonesian Landslide

Jakarta, Indonesia- Rescuers have found 17 dead bodies after the landslide in West Java of Indonesia on Tuesday morning, and struggled to find 26 others predicted to be buried under the rabbles Head of National Disaster Management Agency Syamsul Ma’ arif said on Wednesday.

Ma’arif who has just returned from the scene along with Vice President Boediono said that heavy machinery equipment had arrived in the scene for the further evacuation of those still buried.

“So far, the rescuers attempt to evacuate 26 people predicted still under the rubbles after they found 17 dead bodies,” he told Xinhua over phone.

“For anticipating of other possible landslide, the vice president asked over 55 families to be temporarily relocated,” he said.

Logistic such as medicine and other relief aids have been provided for the survivors. The vice president donated 200 million rupiah funds, 100 blankets, 50 tents and 100 family kits, while Health Ministry provided medicine, he said.

Indonesia has been frequently hit by landslide and flood during the wet season which occurs regularly from December.

- xinhuanet.com

Commerce

Eli Lily Merk and Pfizer Inc collaborate for Asian Cancer Research

London- Pfizer Inc. announced today that it has joined pharmaceutical powerhouses Eli Lilly & Co. and Merck & Co. to form a not-for-profit company to speed research and treatment for Asia’s most common cancers.

The Asian Cancer Research Group Inc. “is about sharing information for the common good,” the companies said in a joint statement.

The major pharmaceutical firms said their independent company “represents a prime example of a growing trend in pre-competitive collaboration in which large pharmaceutical companies combine their resources and expertise to rapidly increase knowledge of disease and disease processes.”  The new company initially will target lung and gastric cancers.

- Marketwatch.com

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Film screenings, filmmaker tributes, and panel discussions take place at the Castro Theatre, Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, Clay Theatre, and VIZ Cinema in San Francisco, Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley, and the Camera 12 Cinemas in San Jose. Tickets go on sale beginning February 11 for CAAM members and February 15 for the general public.

For more information or tickets please visit: http://festival.asianamericanmedia.org/2010

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With a vision for bringing the best in Korean cinema to the American filmgoers, KOFFLA will feature over 60 features and shorts from established and emerging Korean filmmakers from around the world, including special sections for Korean horror, outstanding directorial debuts, Korean-American cinema, and a retrospective of action director Ryoo Seung-Wan (The Crying Fist, City of Violence). Notable special events include a Master Class with cinematographer Kim Hyung-ku (Memories of Murder, The Host) and Actorfest KOFFLA, a one-day event for actors and aspiring actors to participate in panels, workshops, and meet & greet sessions with Hollywood and Korean talent agents, actors, and casting directors.

The red carpet Opening Ceremony will take place at 6 PM on March 4 at the Egyptian Theatre with a screening of Le Grand Chef II (starring Kim Jung-Eun and Jin-Gu). The closing award ceremony will be held at the Laemmle Music Hall followed by the closing film, Hur Jin Ho’s A Good Rain Knows, starring Jung Woo-Sung and Gao Yuan Yuan.

The latest information on KOFFLA is available on their website, www.koffla.org.

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