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ASIAN VOTER OUTREACH
By Jim T. Chong, APANR Content Contributor “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
One of the fundamental privileges we have in this country is the ability to vote. There is a quote that you may have heard growing up...”Every vote counts.” This is true now more than ever. One vote can make a difference, but one voice is even more powerful. We are all a part of that voice.
our communities, but to future generations as a whole. One of the easiest and most powerful ways to do this is to vote. Throughout this year, the Asian Pacific American News & Review (APANR) is dedicated to raising issues that are relevant and also to highlighting the things that matter most when it comes to local APA communities.
We encourage the Asian community as a whole to take a stand on issues that are relevant not just to
Decide to take some time to understand the issues we are facing today...for these will either create or reduce opportunities for us in the future. Education is the first step toward taking action. APANR strives to take part in the democratic process by providing the kind of information voters need to make intelligent, informed choices at the polls.
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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, now officially proclaimed Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, takes place in May. It celebrates the culture, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
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From the Editor
Fay A. Olympia
May is here and it is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month! This celebration is, of course, very special to us at APANR, and in this issue, we feature President Obama’s last API Heritage Month Declaration. The Central Valley is Ground Zero for Asian Pacific American history and continues to be home to one of the largest API populations in the country, with ethnic roots from all over the Asia-Pacific region, from China, Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan, mainland and island Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, etc., as well as Oceania. API history is closely linked to the
stories of API immigrant families, such as that of Grant Din’s own Angel Island family story in this issue. Stockton and Sacramento play host to many non-profits serving the API community and one of the ongoing initiatives for many of these organizations is to get people to vote during this critical election year. Robert Benedetti and Jim Chong weigh in on why we Asians and Pacific Islanders should vote. And as Baby Boomers transition into retirement and Sandwich Generation status (supporting both their children and their parents in multiple ways), both regular contributors Jodi King and Jim Chong reflect on what this means to them, their life’s work and what it could mean to us, as well. Where I come from, the month of May is when Filipino Catholics celebrate the festival called Flores de Mayo (flowers of May) culminating with the Santa Cruzan (a religious pageant featuring processions of regally dressed queens of all ages commemorating Reyna Elena or Helena of Constantinople, mother of Emperor Constantine. She is said to have found the true cross in Jerusalem.) Here in Stockton, early residents of the Little Manila historic district continued this
Asian Pacific American News & Review Mission Statement
The Asian Pacific American News and Review is a bi-monthly newspaper dedicated to providing a single, comprehensive publication, both in print and online, that seeks to raise awareness of issues of interest to Asians and associated ethnic groups in Northern California.
Objectives
Educate — inform readers about the issues facing Asian Pacific Americans. And also to give a voice to the community for sharing and lauding accomplishments and concerns. Participate — promote and encourage readers to take an active role in raising awareness of the Asian Pacific American community and its contributions and concerns.
Advocate — Ask readers to be an advocate for the community as an
informed, involved member. While we most directly address the concerns of Asian Pacific Americans, our publication is not a racial or ethnic sorting. It is a gathering of all those who wish to gather.
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practice, and similar to what is done in the Philippines, crowned festival queens based on who raised the most funds for charitable causes. June, on the other hand, is another important month for Filipino and other Muslims in the API community as Ramadan commences on the evening of Sunday, June fifth, and ends on the evening of July 5th. This is a solemn time of fasting and rededication for the faithful who fast during daylight hours. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims the world over celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Fast-Breaking. Whether your traditions involve these May or June festivals, or you observe other kinds of celebrations, we wish you and all the generations in your family blessing, good health and long life!
The opinions expressed by contributing writers are their own and do not reflect the opinions of the newspaper’s owner, Editor, or staff.
Publisher Dennis Lee (209) 327-2407 dennislee99@gmail.com Editor Fay A. Olympia apanreditor@gmail.com Content Manager Cynthia Lau cynthia.j.lau@gmail.com Art Director Remi Estrella Advertising/Outreach Dennis Lee (209) 327-2407 dennislee99@gmail.com Edgar Calderon (916) 627-8701 Multicultural History Editor Lucky Owyang come.to.chinatown@gmail.com Marketing/Advertising Consultant Susan Cruz (209) 477.5001 scruz@cruzintergrated.com
178 West Adams Street Stockton, CA 95204 Phone: (209) 327-2407
Contributing Writers Jodi King Mary Nicholson, PHC Jim Chong Scott Tibbedeaux Grant Din
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Collaborative Partnerships Jim Chong
Next Issue
Contributing Photographers Tim Ulmer Dorcas Yee Jack Funamura
July/August 2016 Senior Living
Advisors May O. Lee Jodi King Alex Eng Linda Ng
Asian Voter Outreach
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Presidential Proclamation of API Heritage Month Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are the fastest growing racial group in our country, growing over 4 times as rapidly as the population of the United States. As one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse groups in America, the AAPI community reminds us that though we all have distinct backgrounds and origins, we are bound in common purpose by our shared hopes and dreams for ourselves and our children. Our Nation’s story would be incomplete without the voices of countless Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who have called the land we all love home. This month, we honor the irreplaceable roles they have played in our past, and we recommit to ensuring opportunities exist for generations of AAPIs to come.
to face obstacles to realizing their full potential. One in three AAPIs does not speak English fluently, and certain subgroups experience low
The AAPI community’s long and deeply rooted legacy in the United States reminds us of both proud and painful chapters of our history. Confronted with grueling and perilous working conditions, thousands of Chinese laborers on the transcontinental railroad pushed the wheels of progress forward in the West. Japanese American troops fought for freedom from tyranny abroad in World War II while their families here at home were interned simply on the basis of their origin. And many South Asian Americans in particular face discrimination, harassment, and senseless violence often in the communities in which they live and work.
levels of educational attainment and high levels of unemployment. AAPIs also often experience heightened health risks, and millions of AAPI men, women, and children in the United States live in poverty.
Today, AAPIs lend their rich heritage to enhancing our communities and our culture. As artists and activists, educators and elected officials, service men and women and business owners, AAPIs help drive our country forward. Yet despite hardwon achievements, AAPIs continue
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My Administration is committed to supporting and investing in AAPI communities. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 20 million uninsured adults have gained health insurance coverage, including 2 million AAPIs. Among Asian Americans under the age of 65, the uninsured rate has declined by 55 percent since 2013. Last year, we brought together thousands of AAPI artists; advocates; and business, community, and Federal leaders from across America for the first-ever White House Summit on AAPIs to discuss the key issues facing their communities. The Summit was hosted by the White House Initiative on AAPIs, which I reestablished during my first year in office and is housed within the Department of
Education. We are working with Federal agencies to build stronger and more robust regional networks across our country that improve access
to Federal resources and expand opportunities. We have worked to protect civil rights, foster educational equity, and create economic opportunity across our country. Because a lack of detailed data perpetuates the false notion of AAPIs as a model minority, we are working across Government to improve data collection to counter existing stereotypes and to shed light on the realities faced and resources needed by the AAPI community. Through the White House Task Force on New Americans, Federal agencies are working with cities and counties around America to build welcoming communities that allow immigrants and refugees to thrive. And we will continue working to allow more high skilled immigrants to stay in our country — too many talented AAPIs are held back from fully realizing our country’s promise, and too many have suffered the consequences of our Nation’s broken immigration system.
circumstances have long come to our country with the faith that they could build a better life in America, and spanning generations, the story of AAPIs in the United States embodies this promise. During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, let us celebrate the many contributions our AAPI brothers and sisters have made to the American mosaic, and let us renew our commitment to creating more opportunities for AAPI youth as they grow up and embrace the hard work of active citizenship, adding their unique voices and experiences to our Nation’s narrative. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2016 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to visit www. WhiteHouse.gov/AAPI to learn more about our efforts on behalf of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentyninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth. BARACK OBAMA
Peoples of diverse backgrounds and MAY/JUNE 2016
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BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
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The Fair is returning to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton! Wednesday, June 15 5PM-11PM
E N T E R TA I N M E N T & AT T R A C T I O N S
Thursday, June 16 - Sunday, June 19 Noon-11PM TICKET PRICING BUY ONLINE OR IN PERSON!
Adults $10
Kids 6-12 $5
Children 5 & under FREE
Seniors, military, students with ID $7 Unlimited Rides Wristband $30
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Jackson Michelson Journey Unauthorized Salute to Foreigner Vendetta Wrestling Petting Zoo BMX Freestyle Team Wild About Monkeys K9 Kings Dog Show & more!
sanjoaquinfair.com (209) 466-5041
dbi DBI Beverage Inc.
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1658 S Airport Way Stockton, CA 95206
EMPRESA VALDIVIA VOLUME 14.NO.3
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Visiting a Different State... of Mind If you daydream, get so into a movie or book that it seems real, or lose track of time entirely during a relaxing activity, you’re simply giving the conscious part of your mind some time off to take a little side trip, shifting mental gears from beta brainwaves into alpha; which is a good thing. People who pray devoutly and people who meditate are in alpha. If prayer is talking to God one can think of meditation as listening to God, although often calming music or a sound such as OM or a word such as peace or a phrase such as I am at peace is introduced into the stillness. Eastern religions rely more on meditation, western on prayer. Ideally, the two overlap. One difference between the spiritual practice of meditation and therapeutic self-hypnosis is how the inner voice expresses itself. What during meditation would be stated in first person - “I this or I that”- would during self-hypnosis typically become “You this or you that.” Even without deliberate input, the combination of still body and quiet mind alone allows the subconscious mind to do the deep psychological and spiritual housecleaning that we cannot make happen, but which happens automatically when we provide the opportunity. Altered states of mind (whether named or unnamed) have existed in every culture as long as mankind has existed. How fortunate that we can all “go there” through a still body and quiet mind, and return better for the travel. Ginny Lucas has earned a PhD in psychology and a Doctorate Degree (DCH) in clinical hypnosis. She founded Stockton’s Evergreen Professional Hypnotherapy in 1992 and in 2003 was Stockton’s Small Business Person of the Year. She is a certified instructor of Traditional Yoga, with more than 40 years teaching experience. “Traditional,” she explains, “means before Yoga became westernized and commercial.” VOLUME 14.NO.3
Thursday, May 26, 2016 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Micke Grove Park in Lodi
www.SJSeniorDay.org or call at: 209-468-1104 E-mail: seniorawarenessday@sjgov.org
Community Information and Resources BINGO * EXHIBITORS * CLASSIC CARS * ENTERTAINMENT * FOOD * WELLNESS WALK * SENIOR ART SHOW *FREE PARK ENTRANCE*
San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) provides free shuttle service to Senior Awareness Day event at Micke Grove Park. From 8 am to noon, shuttle buses will leave every half hour from eastbound Yokuts Ave, just east of Claremont Ave, in Stockton. Returning buses will leave the park every half hour until 3 pm.
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HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS By Jodi King This is my 15th year in the interior decorating business. My husband is now retired, my parents are aging and now I have the opportunity to give back to them a portion of the caretaking they gave to me. Every time I see them I wonder how they will be the next time. Even our dogs are in their senior years, and my time with them is more valuable to me than ever before. I struggle with juggling priorities, and realize that I want to focus on healing, and connectedness in a pure form with all of God’s life force. That means being with nature and with the intention of being at peace with my surroundings. Giving myself space to enjoy the
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quiet and to renew is at the top of my priorities. I have contemplated whether I want to continue my career in interior decorating, and then came to the conclusion that creating a place that is in harmony with nature is healing and something that I enjoy. Creating a space that has good vibrations isn’t about how expensive a piece of furniture or art is, or if it’s new or damaged. It’s amusing
that people want to make their old worn tables and cabinets look like new, and the new ones that are in the market are made to look worn. Creating a space that heals the heart is about surrounding yourself with the furnishings and décor that are balanced with the room. It’s about valuing the space in the room, more than the things used to fill it.
Notice how the energy changed in this home by placing furnishings that are balanced in size and neutral in color? There is nothing spectacular about any of the pieces, but they all complement the space, and each piece contributing to the peaceful feeling of the room. That’s how I want to live my life: to have every piece of time, of doing, be a part of creating peace in my heart, and to the heart of all of God’s creations. Every day. Every moment. And all of the pieces fit together in Love.
Jodi King, Owner ARTISTIC INTERIORS BY JODI 916.837.4159 see before and after pictures! www.ArtisticInteriorsbyJodi.com Home is where the ART is!
Brain Health to Beat Stroke “BH to BS” By Danny Nuss
Second Annual Brain Health 5K Run/Walk On Saturday, June 25th, Healings in Motion and Partners for Stroke Awareness will host the second annual fundraiser Brain Health 5K Run/Walk in Downtown Stockton near McLeod Lake Park at Weber Point. Registration opens at 7:00 am and the run/walk begins at 8:15 am. “This is a great opportunity to support our local community and your participation directly benefits stroke survivors and their families in our community” said Mary Nicholson, Founder and Executive Director. “Will you join us in the fight against stroke?” Proceeds from this year will directly support future educational programs and resources for families and medical providers. Healings in Motion is MAY/JUNE 2016
nine year-old 501(c)(3) non-profit agency focused on brain health, stroke awareness, community education and supporting the advancement of local medical services. Healings in Motion successfully advocated for area hospitals to become Certified Stroke Centers improving stroke care and survival rates for countless families! “We would love your help”, said Danny Nuss, Co-Chair of this year’s 5k walk/ run. “Come out and join us this year as a runner, walker, or volunteer.” For more information about participation, registration, and sponsorship opportunities please visit us online at http://BrainHealth5K. eventbrite.com or at www. healingsinmotion.org. You are also welcome to contact Danny Nuss by phone at (209) 479-4983 for direct assistance.
Survivor-BrainWalk
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“Purple Rain” As my own father starts to lose his memory and I serve as a parttime caregiver, it becomes more By Jim T. Chong important to me that I understand what gratitude and appreciation is all about. I write this specific article to honor my mother, Hing (who had passed away on Oct. 9th, 2007) & my father Wing Chong, with the understanding that the statement “life is too short” is so very true. With the recent passing of Prince, we have seen some very honorable and notable posts highlighting his achievements. Sometimes, the true appreciation for someone is realized when they are no longer with us. I remember listening to the first song I heard from Prince, “I Want To Be Your Lover,” which had a very upbeat and memorable melodic line. Since then, he topped the charts with such songs as “Little Red Corvette,” “1999,” “When Doves Cry,” and of course… “Purple Rain.” In researching the life of Prince, I came to understand why he chose to change his name to the unnamed symbol (formerly known as Prince)… and that there was an actual noble cause based on principle that he was fighting for. I have also learned to respect his accomplishments and what he has done to help others to achieve their own success.
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Hearing about Prince’s death came at a time for me when others I knew had also recently passed away unexpectedly. I had to sit back and take a deep breath every time I became aware of someone else passing away…and it made me reflect. With reflection, comes appreciation when we take time to really think about life. My appreciation has grown more deeply for my parents, becoming aware of all the sacrifices they had made for my two sisters, my brother, and me. An “Aha” moment came when I realized something important I needed to learn with the passing of time…that we can easily forget the things that we should be thankful for. Last month when I wrote about “Teach Your Children Well,” I didn’t realize how deeply I felt about what I wrote in the article until I re-read it live on my radio show and felt the surge of emotional gratitude for my parents. I then understood that I had grown to better appreciate the sacrifices of the past made for me by my parents so that I could have opportunities in my lifetime that they never had. I encourage you to do a little research on your own cultural and family heritage…and not to take for granted the more personal things in life like family, lifelong friends, and our freedom. To extend that out a little further…when one truly understands the sacrifices made for our freedom, we can take time to also reflect and think about the people that have gone before us so that we can enjoy the simple “freedoms” we in this country.
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You might consider saying “Thank You” to those that you already know who have served our country so that we can take advantage of the privileges we enjoy…privileges such as voting, opportunities to serve, and the honor of passing on the history and gratitude to the next generation. The truth is, we cannot pass on what we don’t know. We serve as the mirror of the past to inspire the youth and to help give them a focused purpose for the future. Some say that “Purple Rain” was a metaphor for a place to be free from the challenges and storms that occur in life. Many before us have built the foundation for our “Purple Rain.”
Foundations and Organizations. He is also the founder of the upcoming “WokStar Production”. Contact Info: JTC.WokStar@gmail.com (209) 534-8000.
Tune in on Money 105.5 FM on Thurs & Fri 2pm and join us for “The Rush Hour For Success” with radio personalities Jim T. Chong “The Wok Star” and “The Theatre Queen” Cami Ferry.
Learn more about your past and pass it on to the youth and let it inspire you to do something great. Remember that today will soon become the past and the history of tomorrow. I encourage and invite you to join me in appreciating caregivers and those that give selflessly to others. Register for the Inner Safari Caregiver Appreciation Day at http:// caregiverappreciation2016.eventbrite. com. About The Author: Jim T. Chong is an S4L Executive Speaker/Trainer/Writer/Published Author and specializes Navigator for LTC/Senior Benefits, Financial, Retirement, Life and Business Strategies, a published author & Executive Speaker/Trainer, and is on the Executive Team/Board of various
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SPECIAL TO THE APA NEWS AND REVIEW
Valley Organic Farming Family Featured In Documentary Changing Season: On still in college studying The Masumoto Family sociology. Being a multiFarm, an award-winning generational Japanese documentary from the American farming family Center for Asian American in California’s conservative Media, explores family Central Valley, the farming with a twist. Masumotos stand in Mas is turning 60 and the shadow of forced the physical rigors of an wartime dispossession artisanal organic peach and relocation of Japanese operation have taken a Americans. toll. The Masumotos grow Mas Masumoto For better or worse Nikiko some of the healthiest, and has inherited her father’s passion tastiest, fruit in the region. Farming for justice, and just as her father, in California’s Central Valley has she chooses to express it in organic provided Mas with a lifetime of farming. Changes are a way of life as experiences, inspiring seven books farm seasons pass—without them, about a love of the land and the including adequate supplies of water, struggle to succeed. Consumer there is no harvest. They watch with culture is catching up with the slow concern the falling water table under food values that prize his heirloom their farm and whether varietals, affording they’ll have to change Masumoto peaches, crops—including their nectarines and grapes a beloved peaches—in the level of public adulation future. and modest financial success. Changing Season: On The Masumoto Family Farm In the midst of a won the Best Director for prolonged drought Mas a Documentary Award wonders what the future at the Los Angeles Asian holds for the family Pacific Film Festival and business his grandparents Nikiko Masumoto Best Feature Documentary started. It’s possible that at the Sacramento Asian the fourth generation Pacifi c Film Festival. Jim Choi is to farm the land will be daughter director and Chihiro Wimbush is Nikiko, who has returned to become the editor of the documentary. Don what she calls “an apprentice farmer.” Young is the producer for CAAM, Nikiko’s mother, Marcy, brings in and Stephen Gong and David Hosley a critical second income working are co-executive producers. The in the city while brother Korio is MAY/JUNE 2016
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program will be broadcast on public television stations across the country in May, which is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. KVIE Channel 6 broadcast the program on May 2 and May 8. Mas and Nikiko Masumoto have written a companion volume to the documentary, which is titled Changing Season: A Father, A Daughter, A Family Farm. It addresses the transition to becoming a farmer in a series of essays and what it means to pass something on to a new generation. It will be available in June from Heyday Books. Links: caamedia.org/changingseason-on-the-masumoto-familyfarm.
https://heydaybooks.com/book/ changing-season/. About the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM): A nonprofit organization headquartered in San Francisco, CAAM is dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. CAAM funds, produces, distributes and exhibits works in film, television and digital media. The bulk of its support comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and CAAM supplies a number of public television programs annually to PBS and its affiliated stations. Stephen Gong is the executive director of CAAM.
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OUR CUP OF TEA By Teresa M. Chen, Pacific Complementary Medicine Center The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, is indigenous in Yunnan, in the southwestern region of China, bordering India, Burma, and other Southeast Asian countries.
Map of China highlighting the Yunnan province From Yunnan, tea drinking spread northward via Sichuan to the Qin and Han capitals (221 BCE-220 CE). From the Tang capital of Chang-an (618-907 CE), the trade of tea turned westward along the Silk Road to Asia Minor. Along the Yangtze River, tea spread eastward downstream to all the southern provinces where the moderate climate was hospitable to the propagation of tea plants. It was also during the Tang dynasty when tea spread to Korea and Japan. From Yunnan and Qinghai, going westward and negotiating the rough terrains of the Himalayas, is an ancient route known as cha-ma gudao (the ancient trail of tea-horses) carrying tea into Tibet. Tea drinking quickly spread from the courts to the common people. By the middle part of the Han dynasty, at the time of the first century CE, making tea had become a regular chore in a gentleman’s household as demonstrated by a written contract retaining a houseboy. Tea became widely popular during the Tang VOLUME 14.NO.3
dynasty when tea was regarded as one of the Seven Daily Household Necessities along with firewood, rice, oil, salt, bean paste, and vinegar, Not only did tea hobbyists devise rules for making tea, games were also designed to compete for titles of the best teamaker or the best tea connoisseur. Though the medicinal benefit of tea was recognized early on and documented, it was so outweighed by the economic benefits of trade and taxation that tea was placed in a class of its own. Tea was not distributed by regular herb dealers nor sold in ordinary herb shops. The tea market was tightly controlled and regulated by the government, bringing in great wealth for the Central Kingdom. For centuries tea was a Chinese monopoly until it was challenged by the Dutch East Asia Company and Great Britain. The Britons, eager to even their trade deficit with China, did two things: (1) they sold opium to the Chinese and waged the Opium Wars (1839-42; 1856-60) and (2) they cultivated tea in their Indian colony of Assam. Their tea plant, endemic to Assam, with bigger leaves than that of Camellia sinensis, is known botanically as Camellia assamica. From fully fermented leaves, they produced black tea favored by Europeans. Soon the consumption of black tea overtook that of green tea and China’s dominance in tea trade was shattered. Japanese growers who had started growing tea as early as the Tang dynasty and perfected the processing of matcha, green tea in powder form, joined the Europeans in producing black tea for export as well as for internal consumption during the Meiji Restoration when modernization/Westernization began in 1868. Next to water, tea as a beverage is the most consumed drink in the
world, outdistancing coffee, soda, and wine combined. Besides quenching thirst, tea offers a calm alertness. Zen Buddhist monks drink tea during meditation, supposedly to keep them from drowsiness and to clear their mind. Different tea-drinking cultures prepare their tea differently. For example, Tibetans add yak butter to their boiling tea while the people from Pakistan to Turkey add spices. Americans prefer iced tea while boiling water has always been an important part of tea making in China and Japan. Tea can be enjoyed by itself or accompanied by finger food or hors d’oeuvres or something more substantial like cakes and sandwiches as with English high tea or with dim sum in a Cantonese teahouse. On formal occasions, certain rituals and etiquette are observed. For example, in Japanese chanoyu (‘tea ceremony’), the setting, the hanging scroll, the flower arrangement, the utensils, as well as hot water and green tea powder, have to be carefully selected while deliberate steps are to be followed. Chinese gongfu tea, an elaborate and unhurried way of serving tea, is being revived among modern-day tea connoisseurs and promoted by proprietors of teashops in Taiwan. Classical purple-clay Yixing ware and modern glassware are used in gongfu tea.
Iron teakettle on charcoal
Yixing teapot with glass tea container After a lifetime of tea-drinking and over thirty years of Japanese chanoyu practice, I am beginning to realize that it is no big deal to leisurely enjoy a cup of tea, alone or with friends. It is just part of ordinary life.
Pouring tea from a teapot into teacups
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APAPA Sacramento Mayoral Candidate Town Hall and Spring Mixer APAPA Greater Sacramento Chapter hosted a Mayoral Candidates Town Hall and Spring Mixer on April 18, 2016. Over 300 people were in attendance along with Sacramento Mayoral candidates: Angelique Ashby, Tony Lopez, Russell Rawlings, and Darrell Steinberg. Community organizations which came out included: CAIR-SV, CAPITAL, Chinese American Council of Sacramento, East Bay Asian Youth Center, GSVACC, Slavic American Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, SCIFA, and TOFA. Photos courtesy of Tia Gemmell. 1) Community Panelists 2) General Public 3) General Public 4) Candidates with Panelists 5) Candidates with APAPA-GSC Board Members and CC Yin.
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Why Vote, 2016? By Robert Benedetti, CSU Sacramento and University of the Pacific is as important as voting is. That is the reason every Californian receives a voting guide available in several languages.
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oting is a civic duty in a democracy; in some, including Australia, Singapore, and many Latin American countries, citizens are punished if they fail to vote. However, there are other reasons to vote than that it is expected or that you might be fined! First, your vote does make a difference. Recently several California elections, including the primary race for Secretary of State and the general election race for state senator in the district that includes Stockton, were decided by a handful of votes. In 2000, the Florida’s Presidential vote, which decided the election, went to George W Bush by only 537 ballots. Moreover, if you vote, you set an example for friends and neighbors, and together your social circle can make a significant impact on the vote counts. Second, voting is a wake-up call for you to check and to evaluate how government is serving you. We all lead busy lives and need appointments to be sure that we are monitoring the basic social infrastructure of our city, state, and nation. Like we regularly go to the doctor and the dentist, elections are the opportunity to gain information about how the city, state, and nation are running. Getting ready to vote VOLUME 14.NO.3
Third, voting is the only viable alternative for the selection of leaders in a representative democracy of our size. The other possibility is election by lot, and that leaves so much to chance. If we do not vote or select political leaders by lot, a small minority would designate them and the majority would lose the power to determine its fate. Voting is simply the best way for us to select leaders. Fourth, voting has gotten a great deal easier. You can do it by mail these days and an increasing number of Californians do. In fact, you can sign up to have the ballot sent to you for every election. This way its arrival reminds you to vote and you need never miss an election. If you prefer to vote at a voting station, you can select from many locations. Every precinct location is well marked, is open extended hours and fully staffed to make voting quick and easy. Fifth, according to a survey done in 2012 by scholars at UC Riverside, 14.14% of the voters registered in California are Asian Americans. This is the highest percentage of Asian American voters in any state in the US. The numbers are high enough to be of significance to elected officials who want to guarantee they win a majority of votes in every election. However, to preserve politicians’ attention, Asian Americans must be voters. In 2012, the Pew Research Center reported that only about three in ten of the eligible Asian American votes have cast ballots in midterm elections since 1998, a much lower
turnout rate than among whites, or blacks, but virtually the same as Latinos. Even if one’s candidate does not win, the threat and promise of votes for the next election influences those elected to take groups like the Asian American community into account. By voting you automatically increase the willingness of representatives to discover which issues are important to the Asian American community and to act accordingly. Sixth, California is one of a handful of states that allows voters to legislate as well as select leaders. The initiative process is alive and well, offering voters the chance to make law by voting for propositions each election. In the past voters have limited taxes, determined sentencing for crimes, directed funding of education and mental health, and determined term limits for legislators. Seventh, reform movements in the 20th Century created the primary system to replace the nomination of party candidates by conventions dominated by party regulars. Voters can now set the list of candidates as well as decide between them;
however, this system only works if the voters take part and go the polls for primary as well as general elections. Eighth and finally, voting is one more way to take charge of your life, to decide the ways in which government will structure your obligations. Greek philosophers claimed that participation in government made citizens mature; by seizing control of their environment they could claim to be taking control of the forces that determine their lives.
Register; consider voting by mail, and make marking your ballot a habit. This way you help the political system stay healthy, keep the interests of Asian Americans in front of elected officials and take charge of your social surroundings.
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WHY
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Apply now to start Law School in the Fall of 2016
MULTIPLE SUBJECT TEACHING CREDENTIAL
Accounting Business Administration Community Studies Court Reporting Criminal Justice Early Childhood Education Liberal Studies Paralegal/Legal Studies
Master of Arts in Education, Emphasis in: Teaching �Educational Administration Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
Get the facts about becoming an Attorney! Law School Information Meeting is held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm
Apply Now! Summer Quarter Starts July 5, 2016
www.humphreys.edu
Military Friendly
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WASC Accredited
Stockton Campus
Modesto Campus
6650 Inglewood Ave. Stockton
3600 Sisk Road, Suite 5-A. Modesto
(209) 478-0800
(209) 543-9411
Financial Aid
Day, Evening & Online Classes
Stockton Campus 6650 Inglewood Ave. Stockton www.humphreys.edu
(209) 478-0800
WASC Approved Cal Bar Accredited Financial Aid Military Friendly Evening Program
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Chinese Cultural Camp Photos
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APAPA Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association Solano County Chapter (APAPA-SOC) Empowering and Engaging Asian and Pacific Islander Americans
The Confucius Church of Stockton at 212 E. Lafayette Street is excited to hold its 6th Annual Chinese Culture Camp this summer from June 13-18, 2016! While continuing to offer traditional favorite activities such as lion dancing, folk dancing and hands-on cooking, organizers are also creating brand new classes, including Mah Jongg basics, drumming and badminton. Instructors come from the Stockton Chinese Community. The camp is held from 8:30 - 12:30 each day and includes a healthy snack. Registration forms for campers (grades 1-6), counselors (7th grade through college, community service hours granted) and volunteer instructors can be downloaded at www. stocktoncba.org or obtained by calling (209) 462-6442. Camp participants are multicultural. Forms are due May 27th. A program fee of $75 is charged for campers only.
Non-profit 501(c)(3) Tax ID #55-0849384 www.apapa.org
APAPA Solano County Chapter
VOTERS EDUCATION FORUM Guest Speakers (*confirmed)
Debora Allen* Assemblymember District 14 Candidate
Michael Coan* Solano County Supervisor District 2 Candidate
Ryan Detert* Assemblymember District 3 Candidate
Asm, Bill Dodd* State Senate District 3 Candidate
Tim Grayson* Assemblymember District 14 Candidate
Gabe Griess* State Senate District 3 Candidate
Nils Palsson* Assemblymember District 5 Candidate
Mike Reagan* Solano County Supervisor District 5 Candidate
Mae Torlakson* Assemblymember District 14 Candidate
Mariko Yamada* State Senate District 3 Candidate
Saturday, May 21, 2016
1:00PM Reception | 2:00PM Forum | 4:00 Networking
Solano Community College Vallejo Campus 545 Columbus Parkway, Vallejo, CA 94591 Community Partners Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Solano County, Inc. Filipino Community of Fairfield, Suisun & Vacaville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Solano County Kairos Public Schools Solano Community College District
Thai Cultural Council Vallejo Education & Business Alliance Vallejo Community Access Television Vacaville Chamber of Commerce Touro University
Statewide Sponsors
Sandy Chau
Johnson & Gina Chiang
KENSON VENTURES Ken Fong
Hsing Kung
Andrew K.C. Wong
For more information, please contact Gregoria Torres, Solano County Chapter President, twin2greg@yahoo.com, (707) 334-0874
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ASIAN VOTER OUTREACH SUPPORTER (209) 453-6938 cell ALAN4SSEN@AOL.COM 1136 JUNEWOOD COURT | LODI, CA 95242
STRONG FISCAL LEADERSHIP to
PROTECT STOCKTON'S FUTURE
Paid for by Susan Lenz for City Council
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Do you want to vote for the President on June 7, 2016? All voters can vote in a primary election. Voting for President depends on the party you are registered with. If you are registered with a political party: You can vote for a candidate running for President in that party.
If you are registered with no party preference, you can vote in the Presidential primary for the following parties:
If you registered with no party preference and want to vote in the Presidential primary for one of the following parties:
Democratic
Republican
American Independent
Green
Libertarian
Peace & Freedom
You can select the party ballot at your polling place. If you vote by mail, you were sent a postcard to select a party ballot.
You must re-register to vote with that party by May 23, 2016.
Register to vote online at www.registertovote.ca.gov
June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election Key Dates and Deadlines Description of Event
Deadline
Military and Overseas Voter Vote-By-Mail Ballot Delivery Period
April 8 - April 23, 2016*
Vote-By-Mail Ballot Mailing Period
May 9 - May 31, 2016
Last Day to Register to Vote
May 23, 2016
New Citizen (sworn in after May 23, 2016) Voter Registration Period
May 24 - June 7, 2016
Last Day to Request Vote-By-Mail Ballot
May 31, 2016
Election Day (7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
June 7, 2016
Last Day to Receive Vote-By-Mail Ballot (Postmarked No Later Than June 7, 2016)
June 10, 2016
* Date falls on a weekend or state holiday; it does not move forward to the next business day. San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters . (209) 468-2890 . www.sjcrov.org . vbm@sjgov.org
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Small Blended Beverages Small Frappé, Smoothie, Shake or Frozen Lemonade
180-560 Cal.
Strawberries Grown on California’s Central Coast! ©2016 McDonald’s. M 55229.1
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