September 2022 Celebrate Mid-Autumnthe Festival with MooncakesDenverCenter for the Performing Arts Presents The Chinese Lady Volume 17 | Issue 9 East MarememberscommunityColfaxKaing
TUES FRI 9am 6pm SAT: 9am 1pm
Also known as the Moon Festival, we enjoy mooncakes and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the moon. In this issue, we share the meaning behind the festival and a list of Denver area events to participate in!
NOTE Annie
PRESIDENT’S Guo VanDan, Asian Avenue
Thank you to the leaders of Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU) and local officials for the collaborative work to re-envision Denver’s historic China town. Last month, a plaque that incorrectly depicted the 1880 anti-Chinese riot was removed from a building in LoDo. Up next, CAPU is organizing a film screening of “The Six” which tells the story of six Chinese men aboard the Titanic, and will also have an exhibit on Chinese immigration in America on display at Auraria Library through October 16.
Growing up in Denver, the changing seasons always ushered in a new era. This meant every three months, we had something new and exciting to look forward to. As autumn is around the corner, we will soon see the leaves change colors, put on our warmer layers, plan for Halloween outfits, and prepare for our first snowstorm. In the Asian community, this is also the time to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival by giving thanks for this year’s harvest.
President
September 2022 | President’s Note4
magazine Connect with us! hello@asianavemag.com@asianavemag We invite you to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, this month by enjoying mooncake, admiring the moon, or attending a local event!
Enjoy a performing arts show this fall! The Denver Center for the Performing Arts presents The Chinese Lady, which will run from September 9 to Octo ber 16. The Lakewood Cultural Center invites award-winning pianist, Daniel Hsu, to perform on September 29. On September 24, we celebrate Senior’s Day with a “Salute to Seniors” and pay respects to the Chinese seniors in our community. This event will highlight performances from the seniors includ ing tai chi, singing, and dancing.
Mortgages Online and Mobile Banking Business Services Savings Accounts And Much More! Checking Accounts efirstbank.com 1 800 964 3444 NMLS ID # 458768 | Member FDIC Visit us online or at any convenient location. See us for all your banking needs.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Festival, mooncakes are eaten to celebrate an admiration for the moon. They often are filled with lotus seed or red bean paste. Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this 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 Looking to promote your business? Asian Avenue magazine offers businesses a costeffective way to reach consumers in the Denver/Boulder metro areas and beyond. For more information, call 303.937.6888 or e-mail us at hello@asianavemag.com for our media kit and ad rates. Send story ideas to hello@asianavemag.com. Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.
paste
6 September 2022 | Table of Contents ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222 Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: hello@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com Find us @AsianAveMag #AsianAveMag SEPT 2022 17 ON SCENE: Denver officials and Asian American leaders remove plaque that inaccurately described the Anti-Chinese riot of 1880 18 ON SCENE: Fil-Am community thrives during the pandemic 20 ON SCENE: ElevAsian Night Market elevates Asian women and girls 21 ON SCENE: Asian Pacific American Bar Association hosts annual awards banquet 22 TAIWAN UPDATE: Working as one for the global good 7 EVENTS: September events 8 PERFORMING ARTS: A conversation with Seema Sueko, director of The Chinese Lady 11 COMMUNITY NEWS: East Colfax remembers and honors Ma Kaing 12 COVER STORY: Mid-Autumn Festival traditions 15 SPOTLIGHT: Award-winning pianist Daniel Hsu to perform at Lakewood Cultural Center 16 MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Easter Sunday’ features the quirks of a Fil-Am family 15 18 Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO President ANNIE GUO VANDAN Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO Web Designer JASON ZHANG Marketing Manager JOIE HA Editor DAMIAN SIU Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG on the cover
Moon
issue.
Avenue magazine
Can you imagine a world in which more AAPI women were lifted into leadership? What would this world be like? How would we stand to benefit in Colorado? Join us for a discussion on how we can collectively mold such a world into being. We want to know what you think it would take to make this world a reality. Then, we can work to implement your ideas! Light refreshments and coffee provided.
Crazy Ripped Asians - How Asian Guys Get “Ripped”
upcoming events Send community events hello@asianavemag.com.to 7Event Calendar | Asian Avenue Magazine
Sat. Sept. 17 | 2:30pm to 4pm Sweetwater Studio 11663 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs Ticket: $150 sweetwaterflowermarket.com/workshops
Ikebana Workshop: The Japanese Art of ArrangingFlower
Philippine-American Society of Colorado presents Ugnayan, an evening of cultural performances, music, and dance. Ugnayan, which means Unity, is a performance featuring indigenous and colonial dances of the Philippines.
“The Six” Film Screening
Yōkai Party! Sat. Sept. 24 | Begins at 7pm Savoy Denver 2700 Arapahoe Street, Denver Tickets: $50 Adult | $20 Child fb.com/JapaneseArtsNetwork
Discover and experience the beauty and pleasure of self-expression through ikeba na. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging in which nature and humanity are brought together in harmony; both the artist and nature work in a partnership to generate a beautiful moment sparked by the arranger’s innate sensibility towards natural materials. In this workshop, partic ipants will learn moribana which is one of the traditional styles of ikebana.
What happened to the Chinese men aboard Titanic? Join Colorado Asian Pacific United to talk about this journey of discov ery and then watch the ultimate result: the documentary “The Six.” In this not-to-bemissed fundraising event, we’ll learn the fate of the six Chinese passengers and see what it takes to track down a historical mystery. This event is part of the Museum’s “Heroine of the Titanic” exhibit which runs until Sept. 25 and is included with general Molly Brown House Museum admission.
Igniting AAPI Women’s Participation in Politics
Learn how as an Asian guy you can build your abs and aesthetics along with your physical and mental confidence. Join this free three-day workshop by Brandon Thammavong to stop spinning your wheels and start creating the best version of yourself! The workshop is designed to create bulletproof confidence, the catalyst to building a bulletproof physique. Take a step toward transforming your body and getting everything you’ve ever wanted.
Join the Japanese Arts Network for a YŌKAI PARTY - a celebration of Japanese culture and fundraiser benefiting ZOTTO, an immersive, supernatural Japanese folk tale experience opening in Sakura Square this November. Yōkai are spirits that abound in Japanese folklore. The event will include: story-sharing by professional storytellers, remounting of the “Stories of Solidarity” exhibition, showcasing cross-cultural histories from the Five Points neighborhood and a silent auction of original artwork by Japanese artists.
Monday, Sept. 26 | 6pm to 7pm Virtual via Zoom Search for event on EventBrite
Thursday, Sept. 15 | 6pm to 9pm Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 4255 W. Colfax Ave, Denver Tickets starting at $30 historicdenver.app.neoncrm.com
Sat. Sept. 17 | 9am to 11am Happy Living Center 14015 E Evans Avenue, Aurora Free to attend | RSVP required colorado5050.org
Ugnayan presented by PASCO Sat. Sept. 24 | Begins at 6pm Gateway High School 1300 S Sable Blvd, Aurora Tickets: $30 Adult | $10 Child philamsocietyofcolorado.org
Afong Moy ceased in 1850, Suh added to her story by hav ing her speak to audiences as if she were on exhibit into her old age, noting that many anti-Chinese attacks were committed against the immigrants who came after her.
September 2022 | Performing Arts8
Now, theatre audiences in Denver can learn about Afong Moy in the regional premiere of the play by the DCPA The atre Company running September 9 – October 16 in the
THE CHINESE LADY SEPT 9 - OCT 16, 2022 SINGLETON THEATER, DENVER
By Gil Asakawa A Conversation with Seema Sueko, Director of The Chinese Lady
Seema Sueko, director of The Chinese Lady, worked with Suh to add the reference to the Denver anti-Chinese riot. She feels part of the play’s mission is to make sure such incidents — like Afong Moy herself — aren’t forgotten and covered over by the mists of time.
“Lloyd’s real goal was that he wants people to add Afong Moy to their understanding of America,” Sueko says. “At the end of the day, if people walk out knowing this name Afong Moy, knowing she was here, and that Asian Amer icans have been here, you know, for centuries, that is his goal. But as he acknowledges, there’s very little in the his torical record of any perspective that she held (about her situation). So he readily acknowledges in the script, ‘this is not my voice. This is not my clothes.’ This is not any of that. He hopes that she felt she was a cultural ambassador of someSueko,sort.”who is half-Japanese and half-Pakistani and was raised in Hawaii, is familiar with Denver and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. She directed the 2018 DCPA
She notes the October 31, 1880 racist riot that burned down Denver’s thriving Chinatown in what is today LoDo. But that local reference was not in the original script.
The story of immigrants to the United States is often hazy in history. We learn about Columbus and later, the pil grims, but not so much about other arrivals to our shores (or the African slaves, or the Indigenous Peoples who were already here). Immigration from China to America began in earnest in 1849, when gold was discovered in San Francis co, and waves of Chinese sailed to California with dreams of the riches they’d find in “Gold Mountain,” their name for the country. Alas, their dreams went mostly unrealized as they faced racial animosity. But 15 years before the gold rush in 1834, one young Chi nese woman came to America not to make money for her self or her family, but for the two white men who brought her. Afong Moy, who was just 14 at the time, was put on display as “The Chinese Lady” with supposedly Chinese props and costumes and “performed” several times a day for paying audiences. She was apparently from a wealthy family because her feet were broken by binding, a sign of high social status. She was the first Chinese woman any one in America had ever seen in person, a curiosity like in a carnival sideshow. Her appearances were accompanied by Atung, an English-speaking Chinese man who served as interpreter for the audience. Afong Moy’s story was mostly forgotten, until playwright Lloyd Suh premiered his play, The Chinese Lady, in 2018.
SingletonAlthoughTheatre.newspaper articles and advertisements for
The book, like the play, puts Afong Moy in the context of her times. The play’s audiences won’t just get a profile of a young woman put into an unthinkable situation; they’ll get an introduction to the experiences and spirit of all AsianSuekoAmericans.firstheard of Suh’s play when a woman she direct ed in Vietgone was cast as Afong Moy. Early this year, the DCPA reached out to her and asked if she’d be interested in directing The Chinese Lady in Denver. “Of course, you know, the answer was ‘yes.’ Right away,” she says. The challenge of directing The Chinese Lady, she adds, is that because it’s a two-person play, she had to find ac tors who were able to carry the dramatic and comedic ele ments of the script and have a strong relationship. Atung, the intrepeter/caretaker/servant has a complex relation ship with Afong Moy. And since Afong Moy tells her story and the larger story of Chinese in America into the 20th century, it’s an epic story. Sueko says she’s inspired by that epic story, and Suh’s telling of “Maybeit.what I like to hold on to is her resilience,” Sue ko says, “and also this hope, even though it gets reframed, even as her awareness of things grows. She still hopes for building bridges. In the end, she still thinks of herself as an ambassador.”
9
Sueko has been learning more about Afong Moy to pre pare for directing the play. She cites a book she’s currently reading, The Chinese Lady: Afong Moy in Early America by Nancy E. Davis, which she recommends for its thoroughness.
The Chinese Lady | Asian Avenue Magazine Theatre Company production of Vietgone, a powerful sto ry about the Vietnamese refugee experience in the U.S. af ter the Viet Nam War. She lives in the Washington, DC area, and acknowledges that history is incomplete everywhere. She notes that although the area around northern Virginia and D.C. have many historical markers about the Civil War, there isn’t any memorial to the Asians who fought on both side of the conflict.
“This came out in 2019, right around when Lloyd’s play first came out. She has done incredible research in piecing to gether the historical record, based on newspaper clippings of the time, based on diaries of what people who gazed upon her wrote, based on what else was going on.”
Gil Asakawa lives in Denver and is a nationally known journalist, editor, author, speaker, and blogger focusing on Japanese and Asian American issues. Reprinted by permission of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
1250 WELTON STREET | DENVER, CO 80204 | 303.292.5000 | SLATEDENVER.COM MEETING SPACE CAPACITIES MEETING ROOM SQFT ROUNDS THEATER CLASSROOM CONFERENCE HOLLOWSQUARE U-SHAPE RECEPTION Assembly Assembly A Assembly B 2,0501,0251,025 1809090 220110110 434395 252550 252550 303060 105105210 1915 Board Room 400 14 Library (Pre-Function) 1,400 100 140 Study Hall Study Salon A Study Salon B 1,000500500 303060 454590 Total Meeting Space: 4,850 sqft A Lesson in Hospitality Back to School in 2022 Don’t miss a step and give your meeting extra credit. Formerly the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, our hotel function space and dedicated event team is ready to wel come and teach the fine art of meeting execution. Our hybrid technology and naturally lit space make us perfect for meetings. Our restaurant offers patio seating and private dining for all group sizes. Offer Includes: • One Complimentary Room per 25 Rooms Booked • Complimentary One Hour Wine Reception for Your Group (Based on Peak Rooms) • 1 VIP Pass (Complimentary Room Upgrade, Welcome Amenity, and Valet Parking) • 2:00 pm Early Check-In / 2:00 pm Check-Out • 3x Hilton Meeting Planner Points Book now through December 30, 2022. Subject to restriction and black out date applies.
11Community News | Asian Avenue Magazine
Michelle Christiance Photography
The ambitious community members who have applied for this scholarship as pire to use their education to support lo cal communities. They hope to give back to communities in Colorado to improve the lives of others. Learn more and donate at: gives.org/MaKaingScholarshipFundcolorado
Scholarships of $1,000 to $2,000 are awarded to highly-driven immigrants and refugees entering an institution of higher learning offset costs related to at taining a degree or credential.
On August 30, the Denver Police De partment arrested four suspects who had been at New Freedom Park on the night of the shooting. Denver police have categorized the area as a “hot spot,” plagued by frequent gun violence. Since Kaing’s death, some mobilization has come for the residents living in this area. Denver has installed more lights and surveillance cameras. They’ve also looked at police response times. Com munity meetings between community members, nonprofits, service providers, local officials, and press have been held to discuss meaningful solutions to erad icate violence and improve safety in the East Colfax community.
The Ma Kaing Scholarship Fund was established by the Refugee Action Co alition of Colorado and its member or ganizations, the International Rescue Committee in Denver, Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, and Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning.
East Colfax remembers and honors Ma Kaing
On July 15, 2022, Ma Kaing, a devot ed mother of four, wife, small business owner, and community leader was shot and killed by a stray bullet from gunshots fired from a park across the street from herThehome.family had worked late at their restaurant Taw Win Burmese and Thai Restaurant, 1120 Yosemite St, Aurora, to fulfill a catering order for the following day. Kaing was senselessly shot while un loading groceries with her children. Her 22-year-old son, Kyaw Oo, held his mom while his 17-year-old sister called 911. Oo’s mother would die on the sidewalk while he held her in his arms. Kaing immigrated to the US in 2007 from Myanmar, also known as Burma. She became an admired member of the East Colfax neighborhood and knew almost everyone in the Hidden Brook Apartments, an affordable housing com munity for refugees and immigrants. She was especially helpful to other Burmese refugees and made sure neigh bors had enough food and clothes. She grew vegetables in the community gar den and was on the board for the East Colfax Neighborhood Association.
A GoFundMe fundraiser, organized by Hope Communities, for Ma Kaing’s family has received more than $24,000 to help with memorial costs and the family’s liv ing expenses. Learn more and donate at: gofund.me/f1bbd3bf
Ma Kaing, a refugee from Myanmar, was a beloved community leader and pillar in Denver’s East Colfax neighborhood. She helped her neighbors, grew vegetables in the community garden, and distributed food and clothes to others. Her family also owned Taw Win Burmese and Thai Restaurant. The community and local nonprofit organizations continue to remember and honor her for her compassion.
FESTIVALMID-AUTUMNTRADITIONS
The festival is also a time for farmers to celebrate their harvest. Ceremonies are held both to give thanks for the harvest and to encourage the harvest-giving light to re turn again in the coming year. In 2022, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 10th (Saturday). Chinese people have a 3-day public holi day from September 10th to 12th.
The Legend of the Moon Festival
September 2022 | Cover Story12
The Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival is one of the major holidays celebrated by Chinese people. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month when the moon is believed to be the fullest and roundest. The roundness of the moon represents the reunion of the family. Members of the family gather together for a reunion dinner and to appreciate the moon while eating mooncakes on the eve ning of Mid-Autumn Festival. Children will also make and light paper lanterns for the holiday.
The festival was first introduced as an official holiday during the Tang Dynasty and became widely celebrated in the Song Dynasty. By the Qing Dynasty, it became of as important as the Lunar New Year Festival. With more than 3,000 years of history, there are differ ent stories on the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the legend of Hou Yi and Chang E.
The Moon Festival legend about Hou Yi and Chang E is often told to children at this time. A long time ago, there were ten suns in the sky, scorching many crops and peo ple to death. The Emperor of Heaven summoned Hou Yi to shoot down nine of the suns. Hou Yi succeeded, the weather soon recovered and life was saved. Hou Yi was rewarded with the elixir of immortality. While Hou Yi was still on the Earth, he met Chang E, they fell in love and wereHoumarried.Yiwanted to spend his life with Chang E forever, so he went to the Western Queen Mother to ask for the elixir of life. For the good deeds that Hou Yi had performed for the Earth, the Western Queen Mother agreed to give him the elixir, sufficient for two people, half each. Hou Yi returned home and told his wife. They decided to drink it together on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month when the moon was round and bright. But a wicked man named Feng Meng overheard them and wanted the elixir for himself. On the 15th day, before Hou Yi returned home from hunting, Feng Meng went to Hou Yi’s home and forced According to legend, Chang E lives on the moon to be close to her husband Hou Yi who is still on earth.
Chang E decided to live on the Moon because it’s clos est to the Earth. Hou Yi looked up at the moon and put the foods Chang E used to love in the garden as a sacrifice. Thus, people started admiring the moon on this day. Later, Chang E and Hou Yi came to represent the yin and yang respectively (the moon and the sun).
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with Na than Yip Foundation: Celebrate the Thanksgiving of the East with a fami ly-style lunch and kids’ activities on Sat urday, Sept. 10 from 11am to 1pm at Sa vory Vietnam in Denver.
13Mid-Autumn Festival | Asian Avenue Magazine
Nowadays, Chinese communities all over the world eat
Chang E to give him the elixir. She knew that she could not defeat Feng Meng so, with no other choice, she drank the elixir all by herself. When Hou Yi came back, he found that his wife had been lifted to Heaven.
He gained permission to give gifts to his friends in differ ent bases. These gifts were round mooncakes. Liu asked his subordinates to hide pieces of paper in the cakes with the date of the Han Chinese rebellion (the 15th night of the 8th lunar month). Thus, Liu got word to his people who found the revolutionary message when they cut open the moon cakes. They then set out together to overthrow the Mongolians, thus ending the Yuan Dynasty.
Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Colorado
Full Moon Festival presented by Conbini: On Sept. 26 from 1pm to 6pm, visit Improper City in Denver for global cuisine, live band and DJ, local vendors, and giveaways. Learn more about these Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations on the next page. Celebrate with our local community! The Denver community celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival at the Far East Center (photos from 2019).
mooncakes during the Moon Festival. Some countries like Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore also celebrate this tradi tional festival.
Mooncakes of all kinds are eaten during the Moon Festival. This round pastry can contain various ingredients in a thin crust. Most of the flavors are sweet, with lotus seed paste or sweet bean paste in the center.
Once, according to a Chinese legend, mooncakes helped the start of a revo lution. It happened during the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368) founded by Mongolians from the north. It was said that a Han Chinese rebel leader, Liu Bo Wen, planned to arouse the Han Chinese to rise up against the ruling Mongolians and end the Yuan Dynasty.
Here in Colorado, Asian supermarkets and bakeries offer mooncakes during this time of year. Some are also made at home and gifted to friends and family.
See some of the local festivities below:
Mid-Autumn Festival with Denver Asian Collective: Cele brate the Mid-Autumn Festival with lanterns, games, moon cakes, eats from Ninja Ramen, and climbing at Denver Boul dering Club on Sept. 14, starting at 6:30pm.
Mid-Autumn Festival at Far East Center: This annual cel ebration is back with a night market, street food, lion danc ing, and food eating contests. Located in Denver’s Little Sai gon District, the two-day celebration on Sept. 10 and 11 will be packed full of cultural performances and food.
Story of Mooncakes
Mid-Autumn Night Market at Jade Mountain Brewery: Enjoy beer releases, music, and local food vendors on Satur day, Sept. 10 from 2pm to 8pm at Jade Mountain Brewery in Aurora.
September 2022 | Cover Story14
“Hsu is a powerful artist whose bold approach created drama aplenty.” – Fort Worth Star-Telegram danielhsupiano.com
Award-winning pianist DANIEL HSU to perform at lakewood cultural center
American pianist Daniel Hsu is increasingly recognized for his easy virtuosity and bold musicianship. He captured the bronze medal and prizes for best performance of both the commissioned work and chamber music at the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competi tion, and is also a 2016 Gilmore Young Artist, first prize winner of the 2015 CAG Victor Elmaleh Competition, and bronze medalist of the 2015 Hamamatsu International Piano Competition.
Characterized by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a “poet... [with] an expressive edge to his playing that charms, questions, and coaxes,”
Daniel Hsu, Cliburn Competition pianist, opens the 2022-2023 season at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Pkwy, with a bold, poetic piano performance on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. The evening program features Beethoven’s Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, op. 110, which he performed during his preliminary recital at the Cliburn Competition and is included on his first album. Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor, S. 178 and Schumann’s Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15 complete the program. Tickets start at $25 Call 303-987-7845 or visit Lakewood.org/LCCPresents.
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Daniel began studying piano at age 6, made his concerto debut with the Fremont Symphony Or chestra at age 8, and gave his recital debut at the Steinway Society of the Bay Area at age 9, before being accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music at the age of 10. Since then, he has made his debuts with the Philadelphia Orchestra and at Carnegie Hall as part of the CAG Winners Series at Weill Recital Hall, and performed across the United States, China, Japan, and Europe. A sensitive and keen collaborator, he has worked with the Tokyo, Taiwan, North Carolina, and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras, amongst others, under the baton of conduc tors Leonard Slatkin, Nicholas McGegan, Cristian Măcelaru, Ruth Reinhardt, Hannu Lintu, Marcelo Lehninger, and Stilian Kirov.
Photo Credit: Ralph Lauer, The Cliburn Photo JeremyCredit:Enlow,TheCliburn
15Spotlight | Asian Avenue Magazine
Now 25 years old, Daniel graduated from Curtis in spring 2019, where he studied with Gary Graffman, Robert McDonald, and Eleanor Sokoloff. Also gifted in programming, he contributed to the creation of Workflow (now known as Shortcuts), which won the 2015 Apple Design Award and was acquired by the tech giant in 2017.
© 2022 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS. All Rights Reserved.
‘Easter Sunday’ puts Filipinos front and center in Hollywood
Easter Sunday, from DreamWorks Pictures, is direct ed by Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers franchise, The Dukes of Hazzard, Beerfest), from a script by Ken Cheng (Sin City Saints series) and Kate Angelo (Sex Tape) based on a story by Ken Cheng. The film is produced by Rideback’s blockbuster pro ducers Dan Lin (The Lego Movie franchise, It franchise) and Jonathan Eirich (Aladdin, The Two Popes), and is ex ecutive produced by Seth William Meier, Jessica Gao, Cheng, Yang, Koy, Joe Meloche and Nick Reynolds.
Reviewed by Mary Jeneverre Schultz
From left: Joe Valencia (Jo Koy) and Marvin Ma (Jimmy O. Yang) get into some trouble in the film Easter Sunday.
September 2022 | Movie Review16 After many years of touring the US in comedy clubs as a stand-up comedian, Jo Koy, 51, finally debuts in his first Hollywood movie. During a recent episode of Family Feud, hosted by Steve Harvey, the comedian shared that director Steven Spielberg discovered his stand-up show and wanted to feature him in this movie. His family, especially his son and mother, inspires his one-show standup comedy. His mission is sharing Filipino culture with the world. And this movie will continue his auda cious intention of reaching a world wideStand-upaudience.comedy sensation Jo Koy (Jo Koy: In His Elements, Jo Koy: Comin’ in Hot) stars as a man return ing home for an Easter celebration with his riotous, bickering, eating, drinking, laughing, loving family, in this love letter to his Filipino Ameri canThecommunity.infamous Filipino accent, food galore and even the Santo Nino is highlighted throughout the movie. It feels like only Filipinos will get the jokes, but laughter erupts at the right plac es, so maybe mainstream America could be ready for those cultural puns. Filipinos, the third largest and oldest Asian eth nicities in the U.S., are ready for movies about their culture. With the global success of Crazy Rich Asians back in 2018, diverse populations of the US are hun gry for more mainstream movies. Balikbayan boxes are also featured in the movie as relatives pack clothing, perfume, cosmetics, and oth er frill items. Trying to beat each other in accomplish ments, an infamous Filipino trait, is also strewn in the story line between the two matriarchs of the family. Famous Filipino figures such as Manny Paquio are featured in subtle ways. Even the Karaoke machine comes out when the family imitates tunes from the musical rap group, Black Eyed Peas. One of the band members, apl.de.ap, is a Filipino American rapper. Easter Sunday features an all-star comedic cast that includes Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley series), Tia Carrere (True Lies, Wayne’s World films), Bran don Wardell (Curb Your Enthusiasm series), Tony nominee Eva Noblezada (Broadway’s Hadestown), Lydia Gas ton (Broadway’s The King and I), Asif Ali (WandaVision), Rodney To (Parks and Recreation series), Eugene Corde ro (The Good Place series), Jay Chan drasekhar (I Love You, Man), and Lou Diamond Phillips (Courage Under Fire).
From left: Susan (Lydia Gaston) plays the mother of Joe Valencia (Jo Koy), who comes home for Easter with his Filipino family.
On Scene | Asian Avenue Magazine 17
“Racist relics of the past like the plaque need to be replaced with public statements that accurately represent the communi ty and its contributions to the city of Denver and the Centennial state.”Mayor Michael Hancock was among the city leaders who partic ipated in the ceremony. The action came after a formal apology from the city earlier this year regarding the riots that took place in Denver’s Chinatown in the late 1800s.
Linda Lung (right) is a descendant of a Chinese family who operated a business in the historic Chinatown. Jason L. Hanson was handed the plaque from Mayor Hancock to be preserved at History Colorado.
According to CAPU leaders: “Finally, the day has come. The offensive plaque ‘Hop Alley/Chinese Riot of 1880,’ located on the wall of a building across from Coors Field at 20th and Blake Street, has been taken down. Free from the false narrative of a rac ist plaque, the community now has the opportunity to tell its story, own its history, and speak truth to power. Justice for all.”
“For the Colorado Asian Pacific community, removing the plaque is a significant event, for it illuminates a misleading nar rative about Denver’s historic Chinatown that has stigmatized the Chinese people then and now,” said Dr. William Wei, a board member of Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU).
DENVER OFFICIALS AND ASIAN AMERICAN LEADERS REMOVE PLAQUE THAT INACCURATELY DESCRIBED THE ANTI-CHINESE RIOT OF 1880
The history of Colorado’s Chinatown may be in the past, but re minders of the discrimination still exist today. In an effort to change that, Denver made an important step on August 8, 2022. Members of Denver’s historic Chinese families and local Asian American leaders helped remove an anti-Chinese plaque off a building near Coors Field in the LoDo neighborhood.
Linda Lung, a member of the Chinese family whose descen dants operated a business in historic Chinatown, was at the vent. “Let’s take this opportunity to capture and record the true and accurate history of the Chinese and all AAPI stories, to preserve and celebrate this proud and rich history for future generations,” saidAfterLung.the plaque was removed, Mayor Hancock handed it to Ja son Hanson, chief creative officer and director of interpretation and research at History Colorado for preservation, at its museum. The plaque will be preserved and placed at the History Colorado museum in Denver.
It isn’t lost on TFC that at a time when other small busi nesses shut down their operations and lost revenue, the TFC business owners thrived. Why? Blame that on the in domitable Filipino spirit of resilience. Credit that to the dis tinctly Filipino bayanihan spirit of helping each other. These are all worth celebrating. And in the Filipino culture, there is no better way to celebrate than through a fiesta. Hence, the Fiesta sa Colorado Springs (The Fiesta) came into being. But The Fiesta wanted to be more than just a cele bration. It wanted to make history by gathering the biggest number of Fil-Am entrepreneurs here in Colorado and to open its doors to as many people as possible. And it also wanted to give back.
On August 21, TFC delivered. And history was made.
The Fil-Am live band that provided entertainment in the courtyard area.
TFC Founder: Edmond Viloria Event Chair, Fiesta sa Colorado Springs: Harmony Cabie-Quinto Admin Team: Aurelia Grinstead, Lexie Cosico-Bassett, Jv Libunao, Lorraine Jones, May Bonafe Morillo, Ruth Ober, Sahlee Godoy Hughes, Yolanda Viloria, Zima McCartney
Hundreds more lingered outside and lined up for hours to have a taste of the Filipino dishes that were offered by the outdoor food vendors.
The fun run was put on hold and in its place, the Tinda hang Filipino sa Colorado (TFC) was born.
Sixty-five (65) Fil-Am vendors from all over Colorado signed up. Over 20 of these are food vendors including 4 food trucks. This was unprecedented. From the initial 500 estimated attendees, the TFC welcomed nearly 1,300 Coloradans who paid to enter Creekside’s Grand Hall.
Last August 21, with the tail-end of the pandemic in sight, the TFC celebrated its 2nd year with its first in-person anni versary celebration.
FIL-AM COMMUNITY THRIVES DURING THE PANDEMIC
A Fil-Am live band played in the Courtyard serenading Fiesta attendees while they feasted on Filipino dishes in side an exquisite tent with chandeliers. A game of pabitin by the Gazebo was arranged for the children attendees. The line to the entrance wrapped around the building but attendees were willing to wait and stay under the sun. It Vendors filled up inside Creekside’s Grand Hall for Fiesta sa Colorado Springs.
18 September 2022 | On Scene
The TFC started as a small group of Fil-Am small business owners in Colorado Springs and a handful of consumers that were searching for Filipino food. From that small group came the beginnings of a 4,000-strong online community of Fil-Am entrepreneurs and their throng of supporters. Out of the shadows of what could be among the dark est years in man’s history came a community so resilient, so united, and so determined they not only survived the pandemic, they thrived inspite of it.
Two years ago, a simple conversation between two Fil ipino-American (Fil-Am) business owners in Colorado Springs, one owned a cargo/shipping business while the other owned a marketing company, sparked a fire to sup port and organize the Fil-Am business owners in Colorado with a fun run. Then the pandemic happened and the world, as we knew it, changed.
By Harmony Quinto Tindahang Filipino sa Colorado Team
As the Guest of Honor, Philippine Consul Ad Honorem Donna LaVigne cut the ribbon to officially open the event.
The nonprofit FACSC handed out certificates of appre ciation to the participating TFC vendorsvl who helped the organization raise funds for the Fil-Am Scholarship Fund.
Officers of Filipino-American Community of Southern Colorado (FACSC) gave certificates of appreciation to the TFC vendors who helped the FACSC raise money for the Fil-Am Scholarship Fund.
And just like any other huge event, The Fiesta needed all hands on deck. It took a village and the 11-man Admin Team of the TFC knew that.
The event’s Guest of Honor was no less than Philippine Consul Ad Honorem Donna Lavigne who not only officially opened the event during the ribbon-cutting ceremony but who was also the Chair of the Board of Judges for the 2nd TFC Karaoke Singing Competition.
Aside from hosting a plethora of various goods from the non-food vendors, the indoor Grand Hall witnessed a sing ing competition among talented individuals of all ages. Filipinos, after all, are not only known to love singing but are known to be very good at it. The contestants did not disappoint. And on the Loft, a dance party of zumba, line dancing, and other dances rocked the house.
Consul Lavigne was joined by judges Ms. Vivian Ego nio-Norman (President, Filipino-American Community of Colorado), Mr. Rolando Nono (US Army veteran and founder of the Filipino-American Community of Southern Colorado), and Mr. Benlue Paningbatan, a tenor from the University of Santo Tomas. The grand prize went to Ms. Judith O’Harrow. The event was hosted by Ms. Juna McMullen, the 2021 TFC Karaoke Singing Contest Champion. It has been quite sometime since The Fiesta put Colora do Springs on the map by offering a celebration of noth ing but the best of the Filipino culture. Yet conversations in town still revolve around that one epic summer day when the Fil-Am community made history by coming out, step ping forward, and shouting out loud, “we have arrived!”
And in recognizing its own, the TFC launched “The Bayani han Award,” to honor TFC vendors who, even in the absence of title or position, go above and beyond in helping out other organizations in the community. This year’s recipients were Choi’s Kitchen and The Filipino Food Truck.
Tindahang Filipino sa Colorado | Asian Avenue Magazine 19 was their very own Fiesta after all!
The Bayanihan Awards went to Mark Llarena of Choi’s Kitchen (shown above) and Lorry Martinez of The Filipino Food Truck for going above and beyond to help the Fil-Am community.
Fiesta sa Colorado Springs made history by being the biggest gathering of Filipino-American entrepreneurs in Colorado.
September 2022 | On Scene20 Asian Girls Ignite (AGI), an organization that is building a strong community of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) girls and women, held Colorado’s first AAPI women-focused and Asia-inspired night market on August 27. The fundraising event featured food from Asian women-owned vendors in cluding Meta Asian Kitchen, Mukja Food Truck, Yuan Wonton, Zin Zin’s Burmese Cuisine, and No Ke Aloha. Drinks and des serts came from Not Yo Mama’s Cupcakes, Taeko-san Takeout, Tea Street, Stem Ci ders, and Comrade Brewing Company. The performing arts stage was lively with dances by Kalama Polynesian Danc ers, Spirit of Cambodia, Mudra Dance, Royals, and GĐPT Nguyên Thiều Buddhist Youth Group. Mirai Daiko, a women’s drum ensemble, and other performances left the crowd dancing to the music. Artist Grace Gee, owner of Healing Grace Studio, invited guests to participate in her art exhibit, Bubbling Up: BIPOC Sto ries of Racial Injustice by writing down ex periences of discrimination. “This unforgettable event meant a lot to me. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) girls and women only make up 1.5% of Colorado’s population,” said Mehgan Yen, co-founder of AGI. “Day to day, it’s rare to see another AAPI girl or woman when we’re out and about but we dominated at ElevAsian Night Mar ket. We led, we united, we celebrated — all during a time where anti-Asian hate crimes have skyrocketed 339% nationwide.”
Proceeds from the event will go to wards AGI’s 2023 programming for mid dle and high school girls. Learn more about AGI and their upcoming programs at: asiangirlsignite.org.
ELEVASIAN NIGHT MARKET CELEBRATES ASIAN WOMEN AND GIRLS
The 2022 Minoru Yasui Student Scholarship awards were granted to Zoe Na gasing, Malia Eastman, James Fukuzawa, and Jinu Shin.
On Scene | Asian Avenue Magazine 21
Each year, APABA and the APABA Founda tion presents the Minoru Yasui Community Service Award to an individual or group whose community service exemplifies the achievements of Mr. Yasui, who challenged the laws applied to Japanese-Americans during World War II and advocated for civil rights and liberties of American citizens. This year, Harry Budisidharta, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Development Center and a longtime leader in Colorado’s Asian community, was honored with the award.
Heather Wong received the 2022 Governor Ralph Carr Award.
- Deborah Yim, President-Elect of APABA
ASIAN BAR ASSOCIATION HOSTS ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
Harry Budisidharta (second from left) was awarded the Minoru Yasui Community Service Award.
The Governor Ralph Carr Award is given to a young attorney, who has exhib ited a commitment to public service through public sector work or a substan tial commitment to community service. This 2022 award recipient was Heather Wong.
The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado (APABA) celebrated its annual Awards Banquet on August 25. Catered by Savory Vietnam and Mochi nut, the event honored students and professionals in the legal field, and leaders who have made notable contributions to the Asian Pacific American community. Guests enjoyed performances by Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu Association and the Academy of Chinese Martial and Cultural Arts.
“As an immigrant from Indonesia, Harry understands first hand the challenges that refugee and immigrant communities face. We believe this is a big part of what has driven Harry to focus his legal career in public service, from serving at the Colorado State Public Defender’s office to private practice, finally to working at APDC since 2015.”
By: Jaushieh Joseph Wu Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of China (Taiwan)
Sadly, Taiwan is unable to participate in the largest and most important forum of global cooperation due to the relentless sup pression by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). By deliberately conflating its “One China” principle with the UNGA Resolution 2758—the resolution that determined who represents “China” in the organization some 50 years ago—Beijing is misleading the world by spreading the fallacy that Taiwan is a part of the PRC. Contrary to these false claims, the resolution does not take a po sition on Taiwan, nor does it include the word “Taiwan.” The longterm status quo is, the ROC (Taiwan) and the PRC are separate ju risdictions, with neither subordinate to the other. The people of Taiwan can only be represented in the international community by their free and democratically elected government.
Our shared obstacles require all hands on deck. Those grave interconnected crises cannot be resolved until the entire world comes together. Taiwan has proved to be a reliable and indispensable partner, and the people of Tai wan stand ready to contrib ute. Let’s work together as one for the global good!
Working as one for the global good
The UN Charter states clearly that the purposes and principles of the United Nations are to maintain international peace and stability, and that international disputes should be resolved by peaceful means. However, Beijing continues to conduct military exercises in areas around Taiwan, undermining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, escalating tensions, impacting international trade and transportation, and putting regional peace and secu rity at Suchrisk.irresponsible actions need to be condemned and brought to a halt. Given the current circumstances, it is even more important that UN and its member states stop allowing such a member, which ironically is a member of the UN Securi ty Council, to dictate the positions of the organization to suit its own political agenda.
The global community is confronting a number of unprecedented crises: from the ongoing challenge of COVID-19 variants and stalled efforts on climate change, to supply chain disruptions and Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Now more than ever, China’s increasing rhetorical and military intimidation is jeopar dizing regional peace and stability. All these will impact security and well-being of the world. As the UN members meet again in New York this year, it is worth reminding these leaders that all people—including the people of Taiwan—deserve to have their voices heard and to be part of the collaborative effort to tackle these challenges for the global good.
The theme of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges” pointedly reminds us of the grave challenges facing the international community: the COVID-19 pandemic, food and energy shortages, disrupted global supply chains, and climate change, the list goes on. When the UN talks about “joint solu tions” and “solidarity” to tackle “interconnected crises,” we could not agree more. Taiwan is more than willing and able to be part of such joint solutions. And the 23.5 million resilient Taiwanese people surely should not be excluded from such important glob al Weefforts.are thankful that countries worldwide are beginning to re alize what Taiwan can offer and many support Taiwan’s robust participation in the UN system. Among them, the European Par liament overwhelmingly approved a resolution on July 6 this year expressing support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. The G7 countries have also ex pressed similar support. In particular, US Secretary of State Ant ony Blinken publicly encouraged all UN member states to join the United States in support of Taiwan’s meaningful participa tion in the UN system last October.
Further, Taiwan is committed to combating climate change, with a blueprint for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and pol icies in place to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As the world’s 22nd-largest economy in terms of GDP and a major semiconductor manufacturer, Taiwan plays a key role in global supply chains. And as a defender of democracy, Taiwan is working to safeguard the status quo and support the rulesbased international order. While China is using coercion to ex port its brand of authoritarianism abroad, Taiwan lets its free and open society lead by example.
22 September 2022 | Taiwan Update
The wrongful interpretation of UNGA Resolution 2758 has long deprived Taiwan of the right to participate in the United Nations and its specialized agencies, and it has also denied the international community of an opportunity to benefit from Taiwan’s contributions. Worse yet, the PRC’s efforts to rewrite Taiwan’s status at the UN further undermine global peace and stability. Beijing’s recent dangerous military maneuvers sur rounding Taiwan is a case in point.
A beacon of democracy in Asia and a force for good in the world, Taiwan is a valuable partner that can help overcome these global challenges. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandem ic, Taiwan has provided humanitarian support across the globe, including much-needed masks and medical supplies, as well as developing and sharing its homegrown vaccine. Taiwan also sent over 550 tons of relief supplies to the people of Ukraine fol lowing the Russian invasion of their country, in addition to mak ing over US$40 million in donations for Ukrainian refugees.
Register to vote and get voter resources at: coloradosos.gov/go/vote E-mail cacendenver@gmail.com if you have questions or need support to better understand Colorado’s election process. To register in Colorado you must: - Be a citizen of the United States; - Be a resident of Colorado 22 days prior to Election Day; - Be 18 years old on or before Election Day; and - Not be serving a sentence of detention, confinement, or parole for a felony conviction. Colorado YouElection---ColoradoTuesday,ElectionGeneralDayNovember8,2022voterregistrationdeadlinesInPerson:ElectionDayByMail:Postmarked8daysbeforeElectionDayOnline:8daysbeforeElectionDay.DayRegistration:canregisterandcastaballotupthroughElectionDay by appearing in-person at a Voter Service and Polling Center during the Early Voting period or on Election Day. YOUR VOTE COUNTS! Join CACEN at upcoming events and trainings to get our community registered! And to educate the AAPI community about the voting process. Learn more at cacendenver.org.
The Chinese Lady By Lloyd Suh by Seema Sueko
MaloneKylebyIllustration
Directed
SEP 9 – OCT 1 6 SINGLETON THEATRE TICKETS START AT $35 DENVERCENTER.ORG ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SEASON SPONSOR A CONTEMPORARYMASTERPIECE UNLIKEYOU’VEANYTHINGSEENONSTAGE.
