Asian Avenue magazine - October 2018 by Asian Avenue magazine

asian avenue magazine

Connecting Cultures Linking Lives

October 2018 Volume 13 Issue 10

OCTOBER CELEBRATES

FILIPINO AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Why do so many Asians wear eyeglasses?

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DENVER API Affinity Group We want to know your thoughts on: Events * Support & Resources * Fun Activities Frequency of Gatherings

Sun, October 21, 1-3pm 1290 N. Williams St, Denver, CO 80218 Annex Building at south end of Main House Parking is available in Cheesman Park Come enjoy refreshments and meet members of our LGBTQ Asian Pacific Islander community! RSVP at EventBrite.com, search "PFLAG Denver" The gathering is FREE!

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October 2018

in this issue EVENTS

Event calendar

SPOTLIGHT

Chinese violinist Xiao Liu dazzles with Denver Philharmonic

HUMOR COLUMN

My Grown Up, Confounding, Exasperating, Exhilarating Blessing of a Son

COVER STORY

Celebrate Filipino American heritage in the month of October

October celebrates Filipino American Heritage Month! Check out the programs and activities of the Filipino organizations in Colorado.

A Place for Us tells the story of a Muslim Indian family

Global Seed Savers: Preserving food diversity throughout the Philippines

CAFE PEEK

MOVIE REVIEW

Doppio Coffee: the new trendy spot on Colfax serving craft coffee and desserts

FEATURE

Have you seen Crazy Rich Asians? Notice the emphasis on food and the game of mahjong movie?

Q&A interview with author Fatima Farheen Mirza

Henry Golding stars in A Simple Favor alongside Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick

HEALTH

Why do so many Asians wear eyeglasses by Dr. Jeong

DENVER MARKET

Establishing a Commercial Real Estate Broker Partnership

ON SCENE

12 6

October 2018 | Table of Contents

BOOK REVIEW

TAIWAN UPDATE

United Nations Global Goals- Taiwan can help

ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: info@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com

Mending Faces provides hope for children with a new smile Nathan Yip Foundation raises $24,000 for educational programs

Find us @AsianAveMag

#AsianAveMag

Dear Asian Avenue readers,

magazine

We are happy to celebrate our Filipino American community this month in honor of Filipino American Heritage Month! Check out the line-up of Filipino organizations in Colorado to see if you are interested in joining one or attending an event!

asian avenue staff & support Publisher & Founder: Christina Yutai Guo President: Annie Guo VanDan Senior Designer: C.G. Yao

Stop by Doppio Coffee for a craft coffee, seasonal drink, or my favorite: avocado toast. The trendy, new spot on Colfax is owned by an Indonesian family—the Kho’s. They infuse popular Asian ingredients into their drinks and foods including coconut and matcha. This creates unique drinks and foods, such as the coconut matcha mojito and coconut chia bowl that you won’t find anywhere else! Check out the article by Dr. Jeong, optometrist at Envision Eyecare, explaining why it is so common for Asians to wear glasses. Many Asians I know started wearing glasses at a young age—including myself. Learn more about what can be done at a younger age to prevent near-sightedness. It was our pleasure to meet and interview Chinese violinist Xiao Liu, who played with the Denver Philharmonic on Sept. 28. He is remarkably talented and strikingly charismatic. His hope is that classical music will be more accessible for people of all backgrounds to enjoy in the future. Stay warm as the weather changes!

asian avenue www.asianavemag.com magazine

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Marketing Manager: Joie Ha Staff Writer: Patricia Kaowthumrong Staff Writer: Amy Ng

contributing writers Danchen Astle, Wayne Chan, Denise Gliwa Jeannette Herreria, Dr. Chu Jeong, Jessica Jorgensen, Sherry Manning, Dr. Jaushieh Joseph Wu

contributing photographers Rhonda Diltz, Peter Iovino (Lionsgate)

on the cover Philippine American Society of Colorado (PASCO) dances at the Aurora Global Fest. The organization along with other Filipino groups and families in Colorado will be celebrating Filipino American Heritage Month this October.

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editorial To submit story ideas, letters to the editor or calendar events, e-mail info@asianavemag.com. Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission. The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine. Authors may have consulting or other business relationships with the companies they discuss.

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Publisher’s Note | asian avenue magazine

upcoming events Christmas Cantata

i.e. the needs of the LGBTQ Asian Pacific Islander community in Denver. Meet members of the community, enjoy refreshments and share your thoughts in this safe space for the API LGBTQ community and its allies. Please spread the word and mark your calendar!

Wednesday, October 10 | Starts at 7pm Denver Coliseum 4600 Humboldt St, Denver, CO 80216 Cost: Free tickets Must present ticket for entry First come, first served for best seating For more info, visit christmascantata.us or call 720.470.6689. PRESENTED BY AWARD-WINNING GRACIAS CHOIR

Denver Coliseum

October 10, 2018 4600 HUMBOLDT Gracias Christmas Cantata is uniqueST,and WEDNESDAY AT 7 PM DENVER CO 80216 dynamic. Experience world-class music and MUST PRESENT TICKET FOR ENTRY. theater, as well as a powerful message that FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED FOR BEST SEATING. ONLY AND UPThe WILL BE ADMITTED. will moveAGES your5 heart. Cantata message spreads the good newsTICKETS of the Gospel of Jesus FREE Christ. What His birth means for our salvation At www.christmascantata.us or CALL 1.720.470.6689 and what His death and resurrection mean for our redemption. This special message speaks to the true heart of God. We can truly be thankful when we know the depth of our savior’s love and sacrifice.

Bitsy Theater presents Aloha: Postcards from Polynesia October 12 to November 18 The BiTSY Stage 1137 S. Huron Street, Denver, CO 80211 Free and open to the public Secure your tickets at bitsystage.com.

Tour the islands of Polynesia with our favorite demi-god, Maui, while he regales you with his stories of creation. Who knows, you might even pull an island or two from the ocean! Enjoy Westword’s Best Children’s Theater in Denver!

NaFFAA Region V’s Filipiniana 2018 Gala

Saturday, October 13 | 6pm to 11:30pm DoubleTree by Hilton DTC 7801 East Orchard Rd. Greenwood Village, CO 80111 For more information, call or text Olive Joy at 720-943-0983 or visit: www.naffaaregion5.org.

October 2018 | Event Calendar

Send community events to info@asianavemag.com.

In celebration of the Filipino History Month, the National Federation of the Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region V is holding its Filipiniana 2018 Gala to benefit one of our member organization. You can contribute to these efforts by purchasing a ticket, donating an item for our silent auction, or become a sponsor. There will be silent auctions, door prizes, cultural dances, live band and dancing. Dinner will be accompanied with performances by different cultural dancers.

Global Seed Savers 8th Annual Nourish Event

Saturday, October 20 | 11am to 2pm Posner Center for International Development 1031 33rd Street, Denver, CO 80205 Cost: $50 General | $25 Student For more info, visit globalseedsavers.org/events. Join the 8th Annual Nourish Event, featuring delicious Filipino inspired brunch cuisine prepared by the Orange Crunch Catering, an exciting silent auction, and more. All proceeds from the event will support Global Seed Savers’ small holder farmers and food security programming throughout the Philippines.

Denver API Affinity Group Gathering

Sunday, October 21 | 1pm to 3pm Cheesman Mansion 1290 N Williams St. Denver, CO 80218 Free and open to the public RSVP at EventBrite.com, search “PFLAG Denver” Please join us for a discussion of forming a Denver PFLAG API Affinity Group! We want to know your thoughts on events, support/ resources, frequency and location of meetings

Asian Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Gala

Friday, November 2 | 5pm to 8pm Kings Land Chinese Seafood 2200 W Alameda Ave #44, Denver, CO 80223 Cost: $60 per person For more info and tickets, go to http://goo.gl/UmSeLz. Don’t wait to get your tickets for the Asian Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner and Gala—tickets will sell out! The gala will be a celebration of the chamber’s accomplishments this year and planned initiatives for 2019. A perennial favorite - complete with dim sum appetizers, 8-course Chinese banquet dinner, and desserts! Door prizes and silent auction items for all budgets! The event will begin at 5 p.m. for cocktails and networking, followed by the dinner program at 6 p.m.

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chinese violinist xiao liu dazzles with denver philharmonic By Annie Guo VanDan

At the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra’s Heroes show on Sept. 28, superstar Chinese violinist Xiao Liu received a standing ovation after performing Niccolò Paganini’s flashy first violin concerto. As one of China’s most renown emerging violinists, Xiao Liu became the youngest violin professor at Central Conservatory of Music, the country’s top music academy, at just 24 years old. Two years later, Xiao took gold at the prestigious First CCTV Violin TV Competition, cementing his star status in China. When he was 17, Xiao won the champion of the First “MIDO” International Violin Competition. Later that year, he won the grand prize in other three competitions including the Sumner Redstone prize and National Outstanding Music Achievement Award. He studied under internationally renowned violinist Midori and Professor Lin Yaoji. After earning a master’s degree from the Central Conservatory of Music, Xiao furthered his studies at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and the Thornton School of Music in the University of Southern California. As a soloist, he has performed on concert stages around the world. He has traveled extensively throughout China holding recitals and masterclasses, always to enthusiastic audiences.

October 2018 | Spotlight

He has worked with many renowned orchestras and conductors including Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Colombia National Symphony Orchestra, Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Okko Kamu, Irwin Hoffman, Alejandro Posada, Steve Davis, Zhu Hui, Tan Lihua, Zhang Guoyong, Hu Yongyan, Fan Tao and Zhang Yi. In recent years, Xiao’s distinctive interpretations of modern musical works have received the attention of many international contemporary composers. Master composers such as Du Mingxin, Xiaogang Ye, Tan Dun, Chen Yi and Huang Anlun seek Xaio out to debut their new works at home and abroad. In 2006, he performed in the Palais des Nations, United Nations European Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, for an audience of thousands including ambassadors from more than 190 countries. At the 30th Anniversary Celebration Festival of the famous Japanese Chaconne Violin Company, he was invited to try out many valuable Stradivarius violins and was awarded the use of the Guarneri del Gesù violin at his solo concerts. Xiao Liu performs on a Joseph Gagliano violin made in Napoli, Italy in 1774.

About the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) is a nonprofit symphony orchestra founded in 1948 by Dr. Antonia Brico, the first woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic orchestra. The orchestra’s mission is “to continually redefine the way our community engages with and experiences classical music.” Metro Denver citizens support DPO through the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique funding source serving hundreds of metro Denver arts, culture and scientific organizations. More information is available by calling 303-653-2407 or online at www.denverphilharmonic.org.

In an interview with Asian Avenue magazine, Xiao describes what it is like to practice, perform and teach classical music. “Many people like music, but music is now categorized into different genres, such as pop, country, and classical.” “Classical music is often considered high level and not as popular in mainstream music. Jazz and hip hop on the other hand, are performed predominantly by African American artists, but people of all backgrounds enjoy it too. We want that for classical music.” “For those of us who learn and teach classical music, we wish this genre could be more accessible to the general public.” He says when it comes to studying and performing classical music, many people believe that listening to music is good

enough, so why learn how to play it? It is certainly not a leisurely degree to major in as it can be very technical and challenging and requires much practice. Liu says, “In everything we do, we should work hard for it. It is not about being a superstar, but being dedicated and committed to the music.” Xiao’s father was also a violinist, and his wife is a pianist. He says having a partner that also plays music professionally is advantageous because they have a mutual understanding in regards to the importance of practicing music—as it can take away from other family duties. While music runs in his family, he says his 10-month old daughter will be able to decide on her own if she would like to pursue music.

Violinist Xiao Liu performs with Denver Philharmonic | asian avenue magazine

Tyler, left, will be starting as a freshman at the University of California, Los Angeles this fall.

My Grown Up, Confounding, Exasperating, Exhilarating Blessing of a Son By Wayne Chan In about ten days, our oldest son Tyler is heading off to college. Maybe I need to provide a little background. Tyler is indeed our oldest child, but since he is a triplet, he’s only older by about three minutes because he came out first. Three minutes or three years ahead, you can still say that he was born to be a leader. Even the doctor remarked that Tyler was the one who got the whole delivery started when he broke his mom’s water. Evidently, he didn’t want to be stuck in there with his brother and sister anymore – he wanted out! I don’t know how the doctor determined that Tyler was the one who broke it – unless there’s some in utero interrogation technique that I’m not aware of. For the last 18 years, his mother and I have raised him the best we could. Of course we wondered: What kind of person would he turn out to be? What will he do with his life? I know we probably put more pressure on him to make the most out of his life than many. Some of it undoubtedly comes from being parents, but I’m sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that he and we have had to deal with the fact that his brother and sister are autistic. Since the age of two, Tyler’s life has been surrounded by a near constant presence of doctors, special needs therapists, alternative therapies and just a generalized feeling of organized chaos. Understandably, we and especially their heroic mom, focused most of our attention on what needed the most attention – Tyler’s brother Ethan and sister Savannah. With so much effort being spent on Ethan and Savannah, we

October 2018 | Humor Column

also wanted to make sure Tyler could grow up in an environment that was as “typical” as it could be. So, we decided early on that we would not let his brother and sister’s diagnosis stop us from doing anything. We went on vacations – flying all over the world. The first time we took the three of them out for dinner as a family we brought along a triplet stroller, three baby carriers, a backpack filled with diapers and enough milk to open a dairy. After fellow diners watched what we had to do to get through a simple dinner, they stood up to applaud our efforts as we got up to leave. Then there was the time we decided to take the triplets to the San Diego Zoo to visit the newly opened panda exhibit. As I was pushing the triplet stroller near the panda enclosure, half the people in the panda line left to surround us as apparently, we were the more exciting draw. Looking back at the last few years, as far as I can tell, Tyler has become just your average American boy, sometimes irritatingly so. When he was about six years old and we were in the car on a car trip. As he was looking at me from the backseat as I was driving, he pointed to the back of my head and said he noticed a gray hair. Since I was still in my 30’s and didn’t appreciate having any gray hairs, I asked Tyler to pull it out. He started digging into my hair and suddenly said, “I’m like your personal monkey!” And for the record, he ended up pulling about ten perfectly black hairs out while leaving the solitary gray hair in place. This is a boy who started playing tennis with me and after a

few points, innocently remarked to me – “You know, you don’t have to hit it so soft to me.” I told him, “I’m not trying to hit it soft to you!”\ Then the next time we played I deliberately tried hitting the ball harder and he said, “You know, you’re definitely hitting it a little harder to me now.” I told him to stop talking. And the last time we played (and I’m pretty sure it will be the last time), he said, “I want to beat you while you’re still young enough to play.” Faint praise, indeed. Still, we’ve discovered that having him grow up with two special needs kids has affected him – and I couldn’t be any prouder of him for it. In high school, he started a club called “Best Pals” where he

would recruit other students so that they could spend time at lunch with special needs kids just to keep them company. For his senior project, he started “Aceing Autism” which is a group of volunteers that gets together every weekend to teach special needs kids how to improve their hand/eye coordination by learning tennis. And in middle school, when he saw a group of bullies towering over a special needs kid during lunch – he stepped in front of the boy and stood up to the bullies and got them to stop. When he was younger, as I tucked him into bed every night, my last words of the night to him were, “You’re my hero.” As he heads off to school, those same three words keep running through my mind.

Tyler, middle, walks the family dog, Ally, with his sister Savannah (left) and brother Ethan (right).

Wayne Chan and his wife Maya Hu-Chan live in Southern California with their three children.

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CELEBRATE FILIPINO HERITAGE IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER The Filipino American National Historical Society established Filipino American History Month in the year 1988. Filipino Americans stand as the second largest Asian American group in the United States, according to recent U.S. Census. Historical records show Filipinos settling in the U.S. in 1587. It’s no wonder that in Colorado there are numerous Filipino organizations throughout the state. Filipino American Heritage Month (also known as History Month) is celebrated in the U.S. during the month of October. The fall month of October was chosen to celebrate and commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos, who landed in what is now Morro Bay, California on October 18, 1587. To celebrate Filipino American Heritage Month, we highlight the Fil-Am organizations in Colorado. With this list, take a look to celebrate Filipino American Heritage Month by: • Participating in an annual fundraiser, • Donating to their cause or • Joining the organization as a member and/or volunteer. FIL-AM COMMUNITY OF SOUTHERN COLORADO Based in Colorado Spring, Colo., the Filipino-American Community of Southern Colorado was founded on January 1, 1993 by Mr. Ron Nono. The group organizes a citizenship day, 4th of July parade, Easter egg hunt and various gatherings throughout the year. Interested in joining the organization? Find them on Facebook! GLOBAL SEED SAVERS The international organization works closely with smallholder farms in the Phil-

October 2018 | Cover Story

ippines to ensure food security and serves as the alternative to multi-national conglomerates controlling the world’s food supply. Executive Director Sherry Manning urges those passionate about the future to pay attention to climate change. Board vice president Carrie Evans shared her concerns about climate change and asked colleagues, friends and family to pay attention. “Climate change is wreaking havoc on our agricultural practices,” she said. “We have to be flexible on what plants will be good for us.” The organization plans a luncheon fundraiser every October. For more information on this annual event, read more on page 17 or visit: globalseedsavers.org.

MENDING FACES Just last month, Mending Faces, based in Broomfield, Colo., organized an annual fundraiser for its missionary trips to the Philippines. Mending Faces is a 501c3 charitable organization founded in 2010 by a passionate, experienced group of medical and nonmedical professionals to make a life-changing difference for underprivileged children born with facial deformities. The organization conducts medical

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

missions in the Philippines and other developing countries to provide surgical care at zero cost for children born with cleft lip and cleft palate. Healthcare professionals and outreach personnel donate their time, expertise, and fund their own travel and lodging expenses to participate in every mission. “We first provide hope with a new smile, and then opportunity for a brighter future with an education,” said executive director Maya Brook. Contact Brook about Mending Faces at www.MendingFaces.org. NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS Since 1997, this organization spearheaded the welfare and well-being of the four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. Giselle Rushford, trustee of NaFFAA, has been involved since the early years of the organization. She described citizenship drives, immigration issues and diversity growth. On October 13, NaFFAA is sponsoring its annual fundraiser and banquet at the Doubletree by Hilton DTC, starting at 6 p.m. The fundraiser will benefit Mending Faces.

Previous benefit galas went towards: • Purchasing fishing boats in Bicol when the area was hit by a typhoon on a Christmas Day; • Rebuilding an elementary school and multi-purpose buildings in Ormoc and Tacloban that were destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda; • Shipping two 40-foot containers of medical equipment and supplies donated by Project Cure after typhoon Frank devastated the province of Aklan; • Funding Gawad Kalinga Colorado Village (35 houses) after a landslide in Cabagan, Isabela, Philippines. The Filipiniana 2018, a benefit gala will include a silent auction, door prizes, cultural dances, live band and dancing. For more information, visit naffaaregion5. org/fundraising/filipiniana2018. NORTHERN COLORADO FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Founded in 1975 by Mauro Corral of Fort Collins, this organization began as a small group. The organization covers the northern tri-cities of Northern Colorado: • Greeley • Loveland • Fort Collins The organization showcases its cultural traditions through two annual events: a summer picnic and a Christmas gathering. For more information, visit their website at teres2009.tripod.com/NCFAA/ pages.

PHILIPPINE NURSES ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO This nonprofit organization of nursing professionals of Filipinos is dedicated to the medical community of the Rocky Mountain region under the umbrella of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA). The organization has committed its efforts to several community activities, which include: • Co-sponsoring an annual health fair geared towards helping the Filipino community in Denver,

the annual Global Fest in Aurora, the organization teaches the next generation an appreciation of the Filipino culture. The group fundraises for dragon boat races, organizes pot lucks and teaches the national Filipino language, Tagalog to anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the Filipino culture. Visit their website at coloradopasco.org. PINOY PALS Founder and past president Arlene Rapal organized Pinoy Pals through a social web portal found on Meetup.com. Through this social website, she organized monthly casual dinners at Sunburst Grill in Aurora to meet new friends and connect families of Filipino origins together. After five years, community theater actress Rapal, handed over the organization to Aurelia Jareno Grinstead to continue the meetings every two months. The word “Pinoy” is slang for Filipino.

• Participating in the Susan G. Komen Multicultural conference on breast health, • Sharing an inclusive framework through the Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice Health Fairs. Visit their website at www.pnaco.org. PHILIPPINE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF COLORADO (PASCO) Through cultural dances, parol making and showcasing traditional costumes at

The objective of the club is to share culture, the language, the love of music, family values and eat authentic Filipino food. It is ideal for members, who just recently moved in the state to meet other Filipinos and Filipino Americans. Visit their website for upcoming events at meetup.com/PinoyPals. SIBOL As the only-student based, Filipino organization in Colorado, this group

Filipino American Heritage Month | asian avenue magazine

brings together and transforms individuals by creating a community where diversity and identity is celebrated and where people can develop as stewards of society. President and college senior Marian C. Evans joined the organization to learn more about her culture and traditions. She shared the organization holds an annual Kamayan feast for students, faculty and individuals at its campus location in downtown Denver. Other events include ice cream socials, poetry reading and making Halo-Halo desserts (popular dessert filled with fruit, crushed ice, and ice cream).

During a phone interview, Evans confessed she discovered her uncle Robert de Dios serves as president for the Aurora-based PASCO. Her leadership has allowed her to be more curious about the Philippines. To learn more, visit fb.com/ sibolauraria. FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF COLORADO (FACC) As one of the oldest Filipino organizations in Colorado, FACC is best known for its annual day-long, summer event in June—filled with cultural dances, food and friendship through the Edgewater communities and surrounding neighborhoods. Since 1954, FACC has had a large mem-

October 2018 | Cover Story

bership of Filipinos and Filipino Americans. They are housed at 1900 Harlan Street in Edgewater. They offer citizenship classes, cooking classes, language courses and cultural workshops throughout the year. The group regularly practices Filipino traditional dance and performs at various cultural events around town. Visit their website at coloradofilipinos.org. UPLIFT INTERNATIONALE In 1989, maxillofacial surgeon and author Dr. Jamie Yrastora led a five-member medical group in the inaugural mission of Uplift International. Since then, the organization has returned to the Philippines with a team of medical professions and outreach volunteers. The program, called Operation Taghoy (Filipino word for whistle), an annual mission to the Philippines, to provide reparative surgical care to poor, rural children

born with facial deformities. So far, the organization has completed 24 trips, with 690 volunteers, performing more than 1,500 surgeries. Volunteers have come from across the states and The Philippines, Australia, Hong Kong, Belgium, Thailand, and United Kingdom. The organization plans its annual fundraiser dinner every summer to raise funds for this mission trip. For more information visit their website at www. upliftinternationale.org.

As you can see, this roundup of Filipino organizations offers a wide selection of activities that can fill up your calendar in the month of October and beyond. Check them out and see if there is one suited for you. And you don’t need to be Filipino to join one. All organizations welcome everyone, especially those interested in learning more about the culture and heritage of the Philippines. Mary Jeneverre Schultz is a Filipino American, who was raised in California, and now resides in Colorado. TGIF – “Thank God I’m Filipino.”

GLOBAL SEED SAVERS: PRESERVING FOOD DIVERSITY THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES Join us for the 8th Annual Nourish Event on Saturday, October 20

By Sherry Manning Global Seed Savers is a Denver based international development non-profit organization supporting smallholder farmers in creating local food security and fostering a healthy environment through technical training and the establishment of community-owned and operated seed libraries in the Philippines. We are committed to supporting food security in the Philippines. Through educating and empowering farmers to return to the historical practice of saving seeds they are no longer dependent on purchasing seeds after each planting and forced to use harmful chemicals to grow these seeds. Through our education and training programs Filipino Organic Farmers gain the hands-on skills and knowledge they need to propagate, store, save, and sell their own regionally adapted organic seeds. This empowers farmers to be self-sufficient and ensures that organic seeds are more readily available throughout the Philippines.

Program Accomplishments Since 2015

• Trained over 600 farmers in seed saving practices and sustainable agriculture. • Conducted over 2000 hours of technical training programs for farmers. • Doubled the membership of the Benguet Association of Seed Savers (BASS) from 7 to 25 farmers. • Open the first of its kind Seed Library

in the Philippines, stocked with over 30 different varieties of locally produced non-chemical seeds. • Our farmers save over 50% of their annual income through local seed access and production. This year we have been thrilled to see our work spread to new regions of the Philippines and are very excited to be forming a strong collaborative partnership in Cebu City. Cebu is located in the Central Visayas Region of the Philippines (see map) and a regional hub for all activity in the south. Our partners at the Cebu Farmers Market have already opened a small seed library and we are formalizing our continued collaborations in the coming months. This will likely include hiring a Cebu based Global Seed Savers Team Member to rep-

licate our successful model from Benguet Province with partner farmers in Cebu to manage the seed library development and expansion. We are excited to be forming a strong program model with hubs in the North and South of the Philippines and continuing to see our impact grow in local ownership and sustainability. Stay tuned for more news about these developments! Visit www.globalseedsavers.org to learn more about Global Seed Savers.

Nourish Event Filipino Brunch

Join us on Saturday, Oct. 20 in Denver for our 8th Annual Nourish Event to learn more about our work and support our dedicated farmers. As always the event will feature an exciting silent auction, Filipino inspired brunch cuisine prepared by Orange Crunch Catering, and more! This year, we are honored to have our Philippines Country Manager Karen Lee Hizola join us for the event. Karen has been a dedicated staff member for the last three years and a huge part of our programmatic growth and expansion throughout the Philippines. Meet Karen and hear firsthand how our work is changing lives during her keynote address! Saturday, October 20 | 11am-2pm The Posner Center for International Development 1031 33rd Street, Denver, CO 80205 Ticket Link: goo.gl/Xsssbe

Global Seed Savers| asian avenue magazine

DOPPIO COFFEE 1245 E Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80218 Tel: 303-537-7794 www.doppiocoffee.co

A trendy coffee shop for students and professionals alike, opened late August in Capitol Hill. And while there are many coffee cafes growing in popularity around the mile-high city, what makes Doppio Coffee especially unique is that it is owned by an Indonesian family—the Kho’s. “It is very rare to see a coffee shop like ours run by an Asian family,” said Davyn Kho, front end manager at Doppio Coffee. “We are proud of our Asian culture and want to infuse common Asian ingredients into our drinks and foods such as coconut and matcha.”

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@doppiodenver 18

October 2018 | Cafe Peek

THE DOPPIO COFFEE TEAM

By Annie Guo VanDan

Doppio means “double shot” in Italian.

The very fact that Doppio Coffee is run by a mother-son duo, Dhiana and Davyn Kho, emphasizes an important aspect of Asian culture: a family-owned business means all hands on deck. Everyone in the family works together to take care of the business. This includes Dhiana’s husband, Ben, who helps with the business aspects of the coffee shop, in addition to operating his real estate firm. The entrepreneurial family was influenced by the modern design and refined brews of other cafes such as Aviano Coffee in Cherry Creek and Sonder Coffee near Aurora. Dhiana explained that unlike Starbucks, Doppio serves craft coffee. Which means? “Craft coffee has a fuller, more satisfying flavor because it is made from higher quality beans. Our beans are from around the world, including countries like Guatemala, Brazil and Ethiopia,” said Dhiana. “We also make sure that we measure and time everything precisely to deliver on consistency.” If customers are interested in brewing their own drinks, they can purchase the Corvus beans to take home. While espresso drinks are the most popular orders at Doppio, customers also enjoy the “items from the kitchen” menu, including the avocado toast, pesto chicken panini and breakfast burrito. The popular crepe cake dessert include flavors:

Photos by Davyn Kho

matcha and tiramisu. The refreshing coconut chia bowl highlights chia pudding, in-house compote, coconut and honey. Davyn noted that coconut is very popular in Indonesian desserts and they hope more customers will want to try it. The Kho’s hoped to create a friendly, trendy vibe when they first opened. And it appears they have done just that. The diversity of their customers exemplifies the welcoming feeling they give to people of all backgrounds. Many of the returning customers have helped promote for them through word-of-mouth. In addition, Davyn spends much of his time building Doppio’s social media presence, especially through his photos on Instagram. Davyn, who is interested in photography, art, and fashion, is most suited to oversee the quality of the coffee art. He makes sure that all drinks are done with the best quality and technique before being served. Like many modern restaurants these days, Doppio Coffee has a glass garage door that is left open when the weather is warm. This gives the shop an open breeze feel with both indoor and outdoor seating. The summer specials featured iced drinks such as coconut matcha mojito and lychee iced tea (a popular drink in Indonesia). Now in the fall season, enjoy the specials: amber lattes and autumn lattes (which taste like pumpkin spice).

Doppio Coffee | asian avenue magazine

Lights... Camera... Eat! The importance of food in Crazy Rich Asians With vibrant and golden hues of brown, yellow and bronze colors, it’s amazing how the food just jumped off the screen during the viewing of Crazy Rich Asians. “Have you eaten yet?” is a common greeting in Asian culture as seen in the movie. All of the major scenes of the film included food: HAWKER FARE After enjoying first class on a 15-hour flight to Singapore, the couple is ready for a feast of sumptuousness. It was foodie heaven as one of the prominent movie scenes unfolded to the hawker fare, an open-air market full of food vendors that included street food that such as satay, fish balls noodles, shu mai, and everything in between. Nick (Henry Golding) and Rachel (Constance Wu) are enjoying the casual feasts of Singapore after traveling from the U.S. with Nick’s best friend, Colin (Chris Pang) and his fiancée Araminta (Sonoya Mizuno). Seasoned Singapore chef John See oversaw the displays of food for the movie, and he told the Michelin Guide that he orchestrated a team of 50 chefs to create the mouth-watering scenes. For the scene at the open-air food emporium, See said that 5,000 sticks of satay were made and $9,000 was spent on crab. LUNCH WITH GOH PEI LIN’S (AWKWAFINA) FAMILY Full of jokes, especially with Pei Lin’s father (Ken Jeong), the food is a miss during these scenes because the audience could not stop laughing. In the scene called “Gold Standard,” lots of noodles are dripping down Pei Lin’s brother’s mouth. Between laughter, food was not the main stars. It’s still nice to see a family dining together around the table. BANQUET FOOD The over-the-top extravagant banquets represented status quo. From lobster servings to unusual fish delicacies, food be-

October 2018 | Feature

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

comes a decadent indicator of wealth. The kitchen scenes of Nick’s mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) is played out as her inspecting the quality of the ingredients and preparation work from her staff before going out to the party guests. DUMPLINGS A favorite scene is Nick’s family sitting around the table and making dumplings for an army of thousands. For any Filipino, Korean or Taiwanese family, it could be making eggrolls, stirring kim chee or forming dumplings, it’s a familiar family gathering for most Asian households, whether you are in Singapore of the U.S. The theme of family and tradition is played out well in this scene and becomes a memorable point for most viewers reminiscing about their childhood. OTHER FOOD CONNECTIONS Director Jon M. Chu’s parents, Lawrence and Ruth Chu, established a restaurant back in the 1970s in Los Altos, Calif., called Chef Chu’s. The restaurant has evolved into a Silicon Valley destination, according to local newspaper The Mercury News. For visual readers, visit YouTube and insert “food” and “Crazy Rich Asians” in the search box. A slew of short video clips will pop up. In fact, USA Today posted a video of the cast gathering around the dinner table, sharing their favorite dishes. TIPS • Watch the movie at a theater that serves food. • Eat before you watch the movie or I guarantee your stomach will grumble loudly while watching these scenes. • Sneak in eggrolls or fried dumplings instead of buying popcorn to get the full Asian viewing experience. Mary Jeneverre Schultz confessed to watching Crazy Rich Asians three times before and during the premiere week. Follow her on Twitter @Jeneverre.

How Poker and Mahjong played a role in Crazy Rich Asians

By Jeannette Herreria

Gambling is a favorite pastime of Asians. In fact, four of the largest casinos are located in Macau, known as the gambling capitol of the world. They include: • The Venetian Macau • The City of Dreams in Macau • Casino Ponte 16 in Macau • MGM Grand Casino in Macau Asians are some of the biggest gamblers in the world, according to casino marketing consultant James Christensen. It’s almost guaranteed you’ll run into Asian and Pacific Islander individuals, walking around the casinos throughout Colorado in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. Scenes from Crazy Rich Asians In the movie, Crazy Rich Asians, both the games of poker and mahjong brought these popular games out. In the first scene, the main character, Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is playing a game of poker against a Caucasian male. Moving forward in the scene, Chu is demonstrating to her economics class how confidence and strategies are played alongside. She bluffs against the big hand of her student. Maybe, it’s a way to introduce her as a confident, strong, empowered woman. Fast forward to one of the last scenes of the movie. Chu plays against her boyfriend’s mother Eleanor Young (played by Michelle Yeoh). This confident career-drivPhoto Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

en Chinese-born American woman battles against wealthy, Singaporean protective mother in a game of mahjong. What is Poker? Poker is a family of card games, combining gambling, strategy, skill and a little luck. Poker games vary in the number of cards dealt, the number of shared or “community cards” and the number of hidden cards plus betting procedures. Of course, you’ll see different variations. In Las Vegas, Blackhawk and Central City, poker games include: • Texas Hold ‘Em • Three-card poker or Triple Draw • Pai Gow (Chinese Poker) • Omaha • Seven-card stud What is Mahjong? Played with 144 tiles, each of the four players receive 13 tiles to begin. Based on Chinese characters and symbols, each player takes a turn to draw and discard until they complete a legal hand using the 14th drawn tile to form 4 melds and a pair. The clacking of the tiles are familiar sounds in an immigrant house. This game was also showcased in the television series, Fresh off the Boat and the movie of Joy Luck Club. Mahjong, like poker, offers a variety of regional differences. It’s hard to describe the game until you are playing it live

around the kitchen table. Those familiar with the game of rummy will understand the basic rules of mahjong. Standard rules apply: • How a piece is drawn; • How a piece is robbed from another player; • Uses of simples (numbered tiles); • Uses of honors (winds and dragons; • Kinds of melds allowed; • How to deal the tiles; • Order of play. While it’s easy how Chu demonstrates poker in the first scene of the movie, it’s a little intriguing and mysterious to figure out the last scene, showcasing mahjong. Just check out the background stories of this scene through the variety of stories on the Internet. Director Jon M. Chu shares it was intentional to play the game as a way to represent Asians throughout the world, even immigrants, who have settled in the U.S. Chu ends the game with a assertive close, indicative through her confident exit out of the gambling parlor in Singapore. Through her actions, the audience gets she wins somehow. Hopefully, local organizations will pick up from the movie cues to begin social interactions with teaching this popular Asian game of mahjong. -------------------------------------------------Jeannette Herreria is still chasing the elusive royal flush in Chinese Poker.

Crazy Rich Asians | asian avenue magazine

bookreview A PLACE FOR US Author: Fatima Farheen Mirza Price: $27 | Pages: 400 ISBN: 978-1-5247-6355-8 Publisher: Penguin Random House Website: fatimafarheenmirza.com

Reviewed by: Mary Jeneverre Schultz

Mesmerizing, enchanting and captivating, this book takes your a traditional Muslim Indian family. heart away as the story of one Muslim Indian family in California The oldest daughter looks into her childhood and asks who unfolds in a way that shares the heartbreak of family bonds. was to blame for the family estrangement. Then, through the In a narrative that spans decades and sees family life through eyes of key characters, the story weaves back and forth bethe eyes of each member, A Place for Us charts the crucial mo- tween childhood memories through teenage angst and evenments in the family’s past from the bonds that bring them to- tually through the eyes of the head of the household. gether to the differences that pull them apart. What deep betrayIt makes the reader think about family relationships, bondals caused this close-knit family to fracture so devastatingly? ing with members and how actions, even small, can affect the “To be taken by Fatima Mizra’s heartrending and timely story paths of love. How does culture and tradition affect the future? is a gutting pleasure,” says Sarah Jessica Parker, editorial direc- This book seeks those answers through the traditional Mustor of SJP for Hogarth. lim faith. “It allows her reader to better underEven following traditions in another “I want readers to feel as stand what it means to reconcile one’s country can be difficult in assimilation. love of family and culture with a desire though they have been with As immigration becomes a bigger part to find one’s own path, and one’s own of today’s political climate, think of those these characters for their faith. Ms. Mizra painstakingly details the who struggle with being an American life of an Indian Muslim family in America whole lives—celebrated their and still holding on tight to their ancesand their children’s search to feel whole, tral traditions and culture. achievements, witnessed fulfilled, and content. She captures your Readers become involved with the their darkest, most private mind and heart with an urgency that family of Rafiq and Layla as they raise defies you to stop reading. I guarantee three children, two girls and one boy. moments.” you will be different when you close the How do parents instill values of their Mus- Author Fatima Farheen Mirza book.” lim faith? Siblings Hadia, Huda and Amar The book starts its story at the wedstruggle in carving a life for themselves ding of the oldest daughter. The whole family gathers together as they navigate through their American culture and maintain to celebrate the momentous event. Instead of following the their heritage. traditional method of suitors seeking mates, the oldest daughThis is a deeply moving and resonant story for our times: a ter chooses love. Because of the big day, an estranged member beautiful novel of love, identity and belonging that eloquently of the family, the youngest son, attends the wedding. So many examines what it means to be both American and Muslim. conflicts, distress and standards come into play as expected in Follow Mary Jeneverre Schultz on Twitter @Jeneverre.

October 2018 | Book Review

Asian Avenue: What inspired your novel A Place for Us? Fatima Farheen Mirza (FFM): In high school, I struck a deal with my father: if I could move away for college, I would study pre-med. Very quickly into my freshman year, I was miserable in chemistry, so I enrolled in creative writing classes. In one workshop, I became interested in the individuals of a specific family. It was also the first time I wanted to write about characters with a similar background to mine, and at first I hesitated. I did not want to exploit their lives, or do a disservice to the home I had come from, but in the end, the curiosity and care I felt for them won out. I switched from pre-med to creative writing and gave myself ten years to write this novel, and I told myself that my mission during those years was to do justice to their lives, and to learn how to write to the best of my ability, in order to capture their story with dignity and honesty. Eight years into my personal deadline, I finally completed the final draft. Asian Avenue: You have said, you’ve always wanted to be a writer. You wrote your first “memoir” when you were six, your first poems in the third grade, and wrote throughout middle and high school, yet you weren’t sure that you could pursue writing. Can you elaborate? FFM: Growing up, there were certain expectations my family had of me, a very clear path that had been outlined, one that placed a strong emphasis on marriage. When I first started writing the novel, it began to take on its own momentum, and I made decisions after considering what would be best for the novel. In a strange way, prioritizing it allowed me to advocate better for myself, navigate those expectations respectfully, and create my own path—one that at times took me far from the home I’d come from. I was lucky: my family put aside the expectations they once had and supported me in achieving this goal. And, I’m grateful for the novel, as in order to write it, I had to make my life the one I wanted to live and perhaps most of all, through fiction, through these characters, I have been able to return to that home, to understand it more deeply and lovingly.

q&a with Fatima Farheen Mirza

Asian Avenue: There are very few novels that explore what it is like to be Muslim in America. Were you thinking about this as you wrote? FFM: No, while I was writing I was only thinking of this family as a family, the characters as people. Of course, their faith and background is inextricable from how they move through the world, but in each scene I focused on what they would be interested in—their feelings for the person they’re feeling in love with, a fight or tender moment between siblings, or a parent not knowing how to communicate with their child, for example. Now, when I look back on the narratives I consumed my whole life, I realize that I have never seen a life like mine reflected in books or movies. Asian Avenue: What do you hope readers will take away from A Place for Us? FFM: I want readers to feel as though they have been with these characters for their whole lives—celebrated their achievements, witnessed their darkest, most private moments. I want them to be able to see that gulf between what we feel for one another and what we are able to articulate. These characters truly and deeply love one another, yet they fail to do right by each other because of their assumptions. I have loved writing this novel, and I have loved each of these characters, especially Amar, who the book revolves around trying to understand. To be a Muslim woman in America today is disheartening at times, and especially frustrating when I see the faith and community I’ve come from be so often misunderstood or vilified.

FATIMA FARHEEN MIRZA

This novel is also a love letter to and for my community. And it is for those readers, who—like my brothers and me growing up—hardly ever saw their lives reflected in fiction or music or cinema, so that they may know that a life like theirs is as rich and deserving of being the subject of a story, and perhaps better understand their own experience, or find it a little easier to tell their own particular story.

Author of A Place for Us

A Place for Us | asian avenue magazine

A SIMPLE FAVOR

starring Henry Golding Reviewed by Jeannette Herreria British–Malaysian actor Henry Golding plays Blake Lively’s husband, Sean.

Twists and turns, A Simple Favor is packed with surprises. Just when you think you might know the ending, the plot changes as a way to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. This modern, black-comedy flick uses contemporary ways of social media such as vlogging to tell a story. Categorized as a thriller, the movie showcases humor, drama and an on-the-edge, unexpected ending. Others place the movie as “suburban noir,” better defined as suburbia gone bad. “I really love playing with genres and I love twisting pre-set rules and movie tropes to have more fun with them,” says director Paul Feig. “When A Simple Favor came to me, it was like, ‘bingo!’ This is what I’ve been looking for.”

Anna Kendrick (left) plays Stephanie and Blake Lively plays her friend Emily.

While both the female actresses could be a draw for fans all over the world, the golden egg lies in Golding as the male lead between two strong female roles. During most interviews, promoting the movie, Golding confesses to nervousness and awe simultaneously between two powerful, lead actresses. To play the role, at once alluring and tricky, Feig chose Henry Golding, a quickly rising British-Malaysian actor also seen this year starring in Crazy Rich Asians. “Henry is handsome, he has a beautiful voice and he has that ineffable sense of cool—but most importantly, Henry is also a really talented and dedicated actor,” says the director. “He was ready to explore the minutia of Sean’s every word and I thought from day one, this guy is going to be a big star.” For Golding, the teetering triangle between his character, Emily and Stephanie was a magnet. “I was fascinated by the shifting dynamics between the three and how that changes drastically at times in the course of the story,” he says. “I was also fascinated by Sean as this struggling author who finds a new lease on life when his wife goes missing.” Golding credits Kendrick and Lively with bringing out the best in him. “Anna and Blake are forces to be reckoned with,” he muses. “Of course, I was nervous stepping in with them, but they were nothing but supportive. For me it was a gift just to watch them work. They make you believe every twist and turn.” This movie marks the second film for Golding in three months. Check out local listings for a theater near you.

October 2018 | Movie Review

Photo Credit: Peter Iovino | Lionsgate

SYNOPSIS A Simple Favor centers around Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a mommy vlogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind

her best friend Emily’s (Blake Lively) sudden disappearance from their small town. Stephanie is joined by Emily’s husband Sean (Henry Golding). The story shows the vast differences between the two women – one so good and wholesome while the other demonstrating an edgy snarkiness. Characterization is visible through houses, apparel and mannerisms. For Lively, it’s the first time she plays a sinister character. Her boldness and off-hand remarks keep the audience laughing out loud. Her style of high fashion, French music choices, stand-offish demeanor makes most viewers dream about having her as a best friend. On the other end of the spectrum, Kendrik plays a goody two-shoes, nerdy character that makes the audience cringe and think if anybody in their circle of friends are like this person. Her kitschy kitchen, brightly-colored dresses and mannerisms scream “I need attention.”

Young Asians seem to stay indoor longer, studying more and looking at digital devices more often.

Why do so many Asians wear eyeglasses? Have you ever noticed that there are so many more Asians wearing eyeglasses? Have you ever wondered why? At my optometry practice as well, we are frequently confronted with the unpleasant reality that Asian-Americans not just suffer from near sightedness or myopia (i.e., not being able to clearly see distant objects) more often than their Caucasian counterparts, but also experience much higher levels of myopia. For example, it is not uncommon for an Asian-American high school student to have a -5.00 myopic prescription. The truth is that the growing prevalence of myopia is not only an Asian-American problem, but also a global one. However, this phenomenon is especially acute in East Asia. According to a study published by the Australian National University in 2012, South Korea leads the pack, with 96 percent of young adults (below the age 20) having myopia. Also, with high numbers are 85 percent in Taiwan and 82 percent in Singapore. By contrast, about 30 percent of young adults in countries, such as UK, are myopic. Myopia occurs when the eyeball becomes too long relative to the focusing power of the cornea and lens of the eye. Light does not focus on the retina as it should, making distant objects appear blurry. It is the most common refractive error of the eye and like the others, myopia’s severity is measured in diopteres (a unit of refractive power measured in the negative, and which is written as D for

short), the same unit used to measure the optical power of glasses and contact lenses. According to World Health Organization (WHO), a person is considered myopic if he has prescription worse than -0.5D in either eye. Why are young Asians particularly prone to myopia? According to a 2015 study by WHO, there are two clear reasons. First, young Asians seem to spend less time playing outdoor than other races. As a result, Asians don’t get enough natural sunlight in their eyes especially in their elementary and middle school years.

Asians don’t get enough natural sunlight in their eyes especially in their elementary and middle school years. WHO says, “When children spend sufficient time outdoors (more than two hours/day), the risk of myopia was reduced.” Indeed, a group of researchers at Australia’s Brien Holden Vision Institute also found that myopia progression in Chinese children is up to 40 percent slower in summer, when they are exposed to more sunlight, than in winter. The second reason is related to the frequency of looking at up-close objects. That is, people tend to develop myopia when they look at near objects, such as books, smart phones and computers, for a long time. To be sure, the invention of

Learn more about Envision Eye Care and contact Dr. Jeong at envision-eyecare.com.

smart phones and online games contribute as well as the Asian parent’s emphasis on children’s academic excellence. In comparison, a much smaller rate of East Asians (say, 20 percent) was near-sighted in the 1960s when they didn’t look up-close as much. Simply put, young Asians seem to stay indoor longer, studying more and looking at digital devices more often. One may ask, beside the cosmetic issue of wearing eyeglasses, what’s the problem of being myopic? The problem is that high myopia leads to other eye problems, including the loss of vision. For instance, macular degeneration and retinal detachment are much more common among those patients suffering high myopia. Worse, these eye problems are hard to detect without proper checks. Most sufferers seek medical advice when their vision is already too low and the situation is irreversible. It is highly recommended that we let our children to play outside more and instill a habit of taking break from looking at up-close objects. I recommend a “20-20-20 rule”, meaning after looking at up-close for 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look at object 20 feet away. Dr. Chu Jeong, O.D. Envision Eye Care 5001 S. Parker Rd #204 Aurora, CO 80015 Tel: 720-507-7004 Health | asian avenue magazine

ESTABLISHING A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKER PARTNERSHIP By Danchen Astle Senior Vice President at Fuller Real Estate

When I obtained my real estate license 18 years ago, I had no idea that today I’d be spending so much time in a very exciting and rewarding unique segment of commercial real estate: representing business owners’ negotiating new commercial leases in the restaurant and hospitality sectors as well as advising the owners of family and locally owned restaurants when they relocate or expand into new locations. How did that happen? Back then I was also co-owner of a printing business with my husband, and we printed menu mailers for many local restaurants. We built some wonderful relationships with these owners, and typically when they learned I also had a real estate license they came to me for all kind’s advice – about business strategies, leases, marketing, locations, and so on. Based on this experience and passion for commercial real estate and the Food and Drink industry, I’m happy to share some real estate advice with my metro-Denver friends in the Asian restaurant community.

RESTAURANT AND HOSPITALITY COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IS A SPECIALTY When you choose a real estate broker, make sure the person is a commercial real estate broker and has specific knowledge and extensive experience in restaurant and hospitality real estate negotiations. One quick but important point of information: When you engage a commercial real estate agent as your tenant broker, you don’t pay that person any fees. The agent’s fees are paid by the landlord at the conclusion of the deal, but the agent is working hard on behalf of your interests. Now I’m sure you know many other brokers who focus on residential real estate. Some may be close friends or even family members. You may be tempted to tap them to find and arrange your next restaurant location. Please think twice about this because the stakes are high. It’s a pretty safe bet residential brokers won’t have a full appreciation of the very unique negotiating strategies you’ll need to use to get your best deal. In short, maybe a residential real estate agent can help you sign the papers, but they probably won’t be a value-added partner throughout the process and beyond.

October 2018 | Denver Market

Similarly, not every commercial real estate agent knows the hospitality and restaurant world. Arranging for a restaurant location is far different than finding office space. An engineering firm, for example, has many location options across this region. And in those negotiations, tenants can create leverage by actively negotiating with multiple building owners. But restaurant owners need to go where their customers are, and they must be far more mindful of where their competitors are. One 20-story office building can house several law firms. But a single neighborhood generally can only support one sushi restaurant.

BEFORE THE DEAL Make sure your real estate agent understands not only your goals, financial situation, and space requirements, but also your kitchen operations, and yes, even your cuisine and menu! Based on those factors and your unique brand, your broker should provide you with several good site options within your geographic target area and provide neighborhood analyses (income levels, population trends, and other demographic information) for each one. He or she should spend time with you closely inspecting and evaluating each site. Your broker also should be in tune with hospitality and restaurant activity across the region. Who’s moving in? Who’s closing? Who’s doing well? Who’s struggling? What areas are under development? What areas are underserved? Where could your restaurant ideally complement the stores and other eateries in the area? Finally, your broker should be well-known within the hospitality developer/landlord community so he or she can learn about premium space availability before the information goes public. Your broker should be a full-service, trustworthy, solid business partner, working not only for you but with you to represent your interests.

MAKING THE DEAL Because a restaurant landlord often has the upper hand in negotiations, once you’ve identified your optimal location, you’ll need to have a sense of how motivated the landlord is (and why). What items can be negotiated? How hard you can push on certain financial issues?

There are several key elements within a restaurant lease negotiation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not just the rates and terms, but also other important matters like the length of the build-out period and financial allowances for tenant improvements. If a landlord resists your offer in one of these areas, be prepared to push back in another so that the overall deal is the best possible arrangement. Your broker should be able to nimbly balance all these variables to your best financial advantage.

AFTER THE DEAL A good partnership between a restaurant real estate broker and a restaurant owner is forever. You should feel comfortable extending the relationship into other areas of running your business â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for example, advice and referral on general contractors, attorneys, accountants, branding experts, licensing matters and even tailoring your menu and cuisine to reflect a very localized community. A successful commercial broker will want this lifelong relationship with you and will help in any of these areas they can.

FINAL THOUGHTS

monitor foot traffic and make mental notes about possible locations? As a restaurant owner, you have the right to expect this level of knowledge, service, passion, and attention from your commercial real estate broker advisor. All they ask in return is for a chance to discuss things over a nice lunch at your establishment every once in a while!

Yes, your restaurant real estate broker partner needs to be well-informed, a skilled negotiator, and a trusted confidante. But one last thing. Make sure they have a passion for the restaurant real estate world. Do they check out new or trending restaurants and cuisines? Do they spend time driving through different neighborhoods to

Danchen Astle is Senior Vice President at Fuller Real Estate in Denver and has been an active real estate broker for 18 years. A native of Guangzhou, China, Danchen moved to the U.S. in 1992 and is fluent in Chinese Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. Contact her at dastle@FullerRE.com or 303.332.5955.

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Mending Faces provides hope for children with a new smile By Mary Jeneverre Schultz | Photos by Rhonda Diltz On Sept. 8, Denver-based Mending Faces raised $40,000 during its annual dinner banquet. Mending Faces was founded in 2010 by a compassionate, highly experienced group of medical professionals and others to make a life-changing difference for children born with facial deformities. Surgery allows these children to lead productive lives in their community and culture. The care is provided at no cost to the families. Medical and dental professionals plus outreach personnel donate their time and expertise. Volunteers fund 100 percent of their own travel and lodging expenses. Volunteers come from the following state and countries: Colorado, California, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington, Norway, Philippines, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, and United Kingdom. “We first provide hope with a new smile, and then opportunity for a brighter future with an education,” said executive director Maya Brook of Mending Faces. With a silent and live auction, the dinner banquet was attended by 100 guests, who participated

in interactive games. The Mending Faces Education Fund provides Mending Faces’ impoverished patients with much-needed access to school through scholarships. Children born with cleft lip/ palate have a disadvantage when it comes to feeding and getting proper nutrition. The birth defect can lead to malnutrition, difficulties speaking properly, and many other health problems. An unrepaired cleft lip/palate often leads to poor self-esteem, and sadly, many children are kept out of school. The ones that do attend school often miss weeks at a time due to sickness. The Mending Education Fund provides our patients—full of hope with new smiles—the opportunity to attend school, to become productive members of their society and develop improved self-esteem. Currently, the nonprofit organization provides 23 scholarships to children with past cleft lip/palate concerns. The next mission is scheduled for Jan. 27 to Feb. 1, 2019 in the Philippines. In addition, the organization is planning a mission trip to Latin American later in 2019.

Another fundraising banquet is set for October during Filipino American Heritage Month and NaFFAA Region V’s 20th Anniversary on Oct. 13, 2018 at the Double Tree Hilton DTC in Greenwood Village. Visit naffaaregion5.org to purchase banquet tickets online. Mending Faces is a 501c3 and donations can be made at: mendingfaces.org. For more information on the organization, Restoring Hope event or to learn more about how to support the mission, contact info@mendingfaces.org or call executive director Maya Brook at 303-531-5038.

Denver Commission hosts resource fair for Asian American Pacific By Jessica Jorgensen Islander community On Saturday, Sept. 8, the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission (DAAPIC) hosted a resource fair at Place Bridge Academy. Nearly thirty community providers were present at the fair providing information on legal, educational, and business resources, just to name a few. Because of the resource fair one woman got a job, a

October 2018 | On Scene

young child got enrolled in preschool, and two people signed up for library cards. The resource fair gave the community providers the opportunity to network and discuss potential future partnerships. All in all, the event was a success and DAAPIC looks forward to continuing its work in connecting residents with resources.

This group of young people enjoyed celebrating the Autumn Moon Festival at the Nathan Yip Foundation event and many of them shared stories about what the Festival means with the attendees.

From left: Stephanie Tung who came from Shanghai for the celebration pictured with the Mistress of Ceremonies Christine Chang Gillette, Anne Trujillo and Mike Kalush, current president of the Foundation.

Nathan Yip Foundation raises $24,000 for educational programs in rural communities throughout Colorado and China By Denise Gliwa In celebration of the Mid-Autumn Day, the Nathan Yip Foundation (NYF) hosted its annual dim sum lunch on Sept. 22. This year’s event was the largest ever with over 430 attendees. State Representative Paul Rosenthal presented the organization’s founders Linda and Jimmy Yip a Colorado flag for their work in Colorado and around the world. It was a Colorado flag that once flew over the State Capitol. A wonderful focus was on the children at this event. Four young supporters: Chloe Poston, Amaiyah Broxton, and Emma Winslow, told the story of the Autumn Moon Festival. It is the time of year that the moon is at its brightest, which is why lunar legends have always been attached to the celebration. The owner and founder of Little Red Hen Studio Jennifer Winslow brought several art tables for the little ones to design Chinese lanterns. Her studio will be the gathering spot for some of the projects created for the Nate’s Passport program. Nate’s Passport is a new program aimed at equipping youth Linda and Jimmy Yip founded the NYF in 2002 in memory of their son.

with the tools to think philanthropically. Spearheaded by longtime volunteer, Karen Valliant, Nate’s Passport encourages participants to complete various tasks and activities themed around the three T’s of philanthropy: Time, Talent, and Treasure, showing that there are many different ways to give back. Learn more at NatesPassport.org. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most popular Chinese festivals. It is all about quality time with family, the harvest, and sweet mooncakes. In celebration of the festival, the dim sum lunch is an annual fundraiser for the NYF. Supporters raised $24,000 at this year’s event. One of the foundation’s supporters are brothers Jason and Eric Zhang, founders of Green Island, a company that creates all natural bath and body products. This year they have donated their proceeds to NYF, raising close to $1,500 (including sales at dim sum lunch). Learn more about NYF at nathanyipfoundation.org.

NYF Executive Director Tarika The Little Red Hen Studio led art Cefkin with supporter Gary Corbett. projects for the children at the event.

Mile-High Happenings | asian avenue magazine

United Nations Global Goals-

Taiwan can help The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, set bold goals to shift the world onto a sustainable, resilient path. Here was also pledged the formation of a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development including all countries, all stakeholders and all people, such that no one would be left behind. Despite such a pledge, Taiwan’s 23 million people have been left out of this global effort. This violates the principle of universality upon which the UN was founded and deprives Taiwan as well as the international community of opportunities to work together for the common good. Taiwan, though not being allowed to participate in the UN’s meetings, activities and mechanisms, has never shirked its duties as a responsible stakeholder. In line with the agenda’s recommendation, Taiwan has released its first Voluntary National Review last year, detailing our whole-of-government approach to implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The concrete results we have achieved include alleviating poverty, zero hunger, reducing the percentage of low-income households to under 2 percent, cutting the maternal mortality rate to just 11.6 per 100,000 people and under-five child mortality rate to just 2.4 per 1,000, and improving our literacy rate to 98.7 percent. All of these are well above UN SDG standards. Taiwan also provides development assistance to other countries. Through the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), Taiwan’s official development assistance organization, we have launched various programs in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the

October 2018 | Taiwan Update

Caribbean. These programs aim to help countries in these regions to achieve clean energy, food security, food safety, sustainable agriculture, better education, health and well-being for all age groups, and disaster reduction and adaptation. TaiwanICDF also works with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to assist countries in Central Asia and Central and Eastern Europe to develop market economies and a green economy. While Taiwan’s valuable contributions have been widely acclaimed around the globe, the UN continues to ignore what Taiwan can offer. Taiwan’s tourists, experts and professionals are denied entry into UN premises simply because the UN does not accept the Republic of China (Taiwan)’s passport, which is recognized by almost every country in the world. The UN has refused to accredit Taiwan’s journalists covering its meetings and activities, yet the work of such people is in the interests of the people of Taiwan and the world. We are extremely disappointed that the UN continues to misuse 1971’s General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) to justify Taiwan’s exclusion and isolation. As we have pointed out before, this resolution neither addresses the issue of representation of Taiwan and its people in the UN system, nor defines the relationship between Taiwan and China. The so-called one-China principle has been challenged

By Dr. Jaushieh Joseph Wu Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of China (Taiwan) by many UN Member States. It is wrong for the UN, an organization created to serve all of humankind, to unilaterally define Taiwan’s status. Article 1 of the UN Charter proclaims that the purposes of the organization are to “achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights.” At this critical juncture when humankind is facing multiple challenges, global cooperation that includes all countries, all stakeholders, and all people is ever more important. By excluding a willing and able partner like Taiwan, the UN not only violates the fundamental human rights of Taiwan’s 23 million people but also greatly harms human welfare. To ensure the UN remains relevant to all people, the organization should stand up to external pressures and open its doors to Taiwan.

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2018.10.10

National Day Celebration

On Oct. 10, 2018, the people of Taiwan mark their 107th Double Tenth National Day. This special occasion comes amid renewed confidence in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-term economic prosperity. Recognized as an indispensable producer of key technologies, the nation is reaping the benefits of a new-look government strategy aimed at fostering the emerging sectors of the 21st century. At the core of this approach is the five-plus-two industrial innovation program. This initiative targets the fields of biotech and pharmaceuticals, green energy, national defense, smart machinery and Internet of Things, as well as promotion of two core concepts: the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development. Also comprising the Asia Silicon Valley project, the policy is transforming Taiwan into a hub of youth entrepreneurship and cutting-edge R&D. Complementing the initiative is the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program. It will meet Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs for the next 30 years in related areas like digital infrastructure, railways and talent cultivation. This commitment to boosting innovation-based growth is strengthened by the New Southbound Policy. A key plank in the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national development strategy, the NSP is deepening Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cooperation in the areas of agriculture, business, culture, education, tourism and trade with the 10 ASEAN member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. Progressing in lockstep, Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farsighted economic programs are delivering sustainable growth and provide cause for great celebration on Double Tenth National Day. ROC Embassies, Consulates and Missions