VOL 36 NO 20 | MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

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MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

FREE 35 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Happy Mother’s Day! Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Being a parent AND single — takes it to another level. This Mother’s Day, we want to recognize single moms, acknowledge their struggles, and appreciate their love, commitment, and never-ending devotion. see MOTHER’S DAY on 16

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Anh-Dao Phan and daughter Amanda Dang

(left) sons, Jayden Julea Tse and

and Evan (rig

A day of drama in Seattle mayoral race

Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

VOL 36 NO 20

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Sen. Bob Hasegawa

Frances Lou

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Felicity Wang

An h-Dao Phan and daughte r Nina Dang

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45TH STATE SENATE CANDIDATE

JINYOUNG ENGLUND

CELEBRATE ASIA New work by ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ composer featured » see 7

PICTORIAL API Heritage Festival » see 8 Jinyoung Lee Englund

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “If not me, then who?”

Jinyoung Lee Englund, 33, feels that now is the right time and right place to run for the state senate seat in the 45th Legislative District, which includes Duvall, Kirkland, Sammamish, and Woodinville.

Dino Rossi was appointed to the late Andy Hill’s senate seat last December, after Hill passed away from lung cancer.

The special election taking place in November with primaries in August is to elect someone to finish Hill’s four-year

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term, while Rossi is finishing up the third year.

Englund said that Rossi is fully supportive of her running and is ready to pass the baton.

Though Englund never met Hill, she admired his results-driven work style and his desire to solve community problems.

“People loved Andy Hill because what he did was that he talked to people instead of assuming what people wanted, instead of pushing a party agenda. He did that by doorbelling and going door to door and asking, ‘What matters to you? see ENGLUND on 16

A&E Anna Akana on tackling the mental illness stigma. » see 9

COMMUNITY » 2 CALENDAR » 6 SUDOKU » 6 ASTROLOGY » 13

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The good, the sad, and the ugly happened on the same day.

On May 9, Sen. Bob Hasegawa formally announced his bid for Seattle mayor in downtown Seattle, a few hours after Mayor Ed Murray, in West Seattle, said he is dropping out of the race.

If elected, Hasegawa, who was born and raised in Beacon Hill, would be the first Asian American mayor in the city’s 152-year history. (Seattle elected Black mayor Norm Rice in 1989.)

“It’s time,” said Sen. Maralyn Chase, who introduced Hasegawa at his press conference on the steps of Wells Fargo Center. “Seattle is an international city,” with strong ties to Asian countries. “Bob is organically connected to the city.”

Hasegawa, 64, has been a state senator for the 11th district since 2013, and was a state representative before that.

A progressive Democrat, Hasegawa was a delegate for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders at the Democratic National Convention in 2016. A union leader, he learned the power of collective bargaining when he first worked for UPS as a truck driver. As a Japanese American with internee parents during World War II, Hasegawa fights for social justice, especially for people of color. He voted against tax breaks for Boeing in 2013 when it threatened to move its plant out of state.

In his agenda, Hasegawa envisions a state bank to improve finances for the state. He would also like to reform the Democratic Party, instead of creating a new party — a lesson he learned a long time ago from his union experience. When he’s unhappy with the union, someone said, “Why don’t you form a new one?”

Hasegawa said no. “We need to regain control of our system. We need to reform the system so it can work for us.”

However, the challenge Hasegawa faces is “a fundraising freeze,” he said. He cannot raise money during the legislative session for his campaign until it ends. It’s hard to say when the session will end. A mayoral campaign can cost as much as half a million dollars, depending on the number and strength of his opponents. How will Hasegawa beat the odds? see HASEGAWA on 10

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35 YEARS

MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Christopher Chen of Sammamish named U.S. Presidential Scholar

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced on May 5 the selection of Christopher Chen of Sammamish, Wash. as a 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholar.

Chen attends The Overlake School in Redmond and is one of 161 outstanding American high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic Christopher Chen excellence, leadership, citizenship, service, and contribution to the school and community. 

Asian Hall of Fame exhibit at SeaTac Airport

memorabilia representing current honorees inducted in the Seattle-based Robert Chinn Foundation’s Asian Hall of Fame.

The foundation’s Board of Directors and members of Seattle’s Asian Pacific Islander communities gathered to inaugurate the exhibit, which honors the achievement, inspires the next generation, and builds a national community of Asian Pacific Americans. 

Helen Gym wins Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award

Helen Gym, the first Asian American woman to serve on the Philadelphia City Council, received the Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award on April 17.

She is the first Asian American recipient of the award, which recognizes women in state and local government.

A second generation Korean, Gym was commended for Helen Gym her leadership in fighting for sanctuary cities and immigrant rights. Gym was presented the award at the We Are EMILY gala in Washington, D.C. on May 3. 

Unsettled/Resettled: Seattle’s Hunt Hotel

The Asian Hall of Fame exhibit opened on May 3 at SeaTac Airport, presenting a collection of images and

Yoshiko Tokita-Schroder points to herself in a photo of her and her family in the “Unsettled/Resettled: Seattle’s

Hunt Hotel” traveling exhibition at Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. She was born in the Cadillac Hotel, which her parents managed before their forced removal and incarceration during World War II. After release, the Tokitas were one of about 30 families who found support from the Japanese Language School (dubbed the “Hunt Hotel”) in transitioning back to Seattle. The exhibition is on permanent display at the Japanese Community and Cultural Center of Washington. 

Canlis, Filipino American snags James Beard Award

From left: Brian Canlis, Nelson Daquip, and Mark Canlis.

Nelson Daquip, the wine and spirits director at Seattle restaurant Canlis, took the stage on May 1 with Canlis’ owners, as they were presented the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program.

Daquip, a Filipino and native of Hawaii, left Alan Wong’s in Honolulu 15 years ago to continue his food and beverage career in Seattle.

The Canlis brothers turned the microphone over to Daquip and he shared his thank-yous, ending his remarks, “with gratitude and aloha, thank you all very much.”

Daquip’s bio on Canlis’ website says he became the mostrapidly promoted employee in the restaurant’s history, rising from server assistant to wine director in four years. 

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THE DOCTOR IS IN. Accepting new patients

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YOUR VOICE

MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

■ COMMUNITY NEWS Lockes divorced, remain good friends

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Former Washington governor Gary Locke told the Northwest Asian Weekly on May 10, “It has never been a secret that we are divorced; we have simply not advertised it.”

In regards to the former first lady, Mona Locke, Gary Locke said, “We remain very good friends and do things together in the community, especially with the kids.”

The Lockes filed for divorce in 2014, and it was finalized in April 2015. Mona Locke posted on her Facebook page on April 15, 2017, “As of today, Gary and I have been divorced for two years. As you may know (until recent media coverage), we have kept it quite private. For that I am thankful as it has allowed us time to process and rebuild our friendship in a constructive and supportive way, out of the public eye and media scrutiny. To this day, we remain very close, partner on fun and worthy projects, and are focused on being the best parents we can be.”

This is a more direct confirmation of her divorce from Gary Locke. Last October, Mona Locke penned a widely read Facebook essay on sexual harassment in which she stated that she is the “former wife of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce who then became U.S. Ambassador to China.”

The two met when she was a television reporter at a Seattle station. They tied the knot in 1994. The Lockes have three children — Emily, Dylan, and Madeline.

In addition to public appearances and speaking engagements, Gary Locke works part time at law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, where he serves as a consultant advising clients on U.S.-China issues. 

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UW students ‘Stay Spoke,’ create movement for AAPI Heritage Month

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Can you name five Asian American Pacific Islander influencers off the top of your head?

This is the challenge that spurred two University of Washington (UW) Bothell students to reach out to their friends and become influencers themselves.

The month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and Leah Shih and John Kim have used their social media savvy to build BeSpoken, a project to honor the Asian American experience.

“We wanted to represent the Asian American voice,” explained Shin, a sophomore. “BeSpoken is about Asian American communities speaking up and speaking out,” said Kim. They found it challenging to name more than five Asian American influencers and leaders wellrepresented in the media. The two decided that they should try to do something to change this. Sparked by this past November’s presidential election, the two devised a strategy to change the landscape of AAPI perceptions in the media. see STAY SPOKE on 13

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MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

35 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS China compiles its own ‘Wikipedia,’ but public can’t edit it

By LOUISE WATT ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIJING (AP) — It’ll be free. It’ll be uniquely Chinese. It’ll be an online encyclopedia to rival Wikipedia — but without the participation of the public. And don’t expect entries on “Tiananmen Square 1989” or “Falun Gong spiritual group” to come up in your searches, either.

Scholars and experts hand-picked by Beijing to work on the project say only they will be able to make entries — the latest

example of the Chinese government’s efforts to control information available on the internet.

The scholars say truth is their guiding light, and their editing and review process is a rigorous one. If there is a difference of opinion, a committee should figure it out, said Zhang Baichun, chief editor of the history of science and technology section.

“Of course, science does not come from democratic votes, to convince others you see WIKIPEDIA on 14

Body of 85-year-old 1st large Chineseclimber recovered from made passenger jet makes its maiden flight Everest, cremated

By LOUISE WATT and ANDY WONG ASSOCIATED PRESS SHANGHAI (AP) — The first large Chinese-made passenger jetliner completed its maiden test flight on May 5, a milestone in China’s long-term goal to break into the Western-dominated aircraft market.

The takeoff of the C919 brought cheers and applause from hundreds of invited guests at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and was broadcast live on Chinese state television. The jet soon became invisible on a windy and polluted day in Shanghai, which was also in the path of dense sandstorms from the north.

After the 1 1/2 hour flight was over, the test pilots came down smiling from the plane, wearing orange overalls with the Chinese flag.

With the flight, the official Xinhua News

Min Bahadur Sherchan

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The body of an 85-year-old climber who died attempting to regain his title as the oldest person to scale Mount Everest was flown to Kathmandu where family and supporters

FOLKLIFE NW ASIAN WEEKLY.pdf

Agency said China had become “one of the world’s top makers of jumbo aircraft,’’ becoming the fourth large jet producer after the U.S., Europe and Russia.

China is touting the C919 as a rival to single-aisle jets such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. It was originally due to begin flying in 2014 and be delivered to see C919 on 13

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

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Proposals will be received for E00491E17, Architectural and Engineering Services for Central Maintenance Facility; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on May 22, 2017.

Total Estimated Price for Phase 1: $1,800,000 Total Estimated Price for all Phases: $3,800,000 There is a 20% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractor and Supplier (SCS) firms on this contract.

All solicitation documents are published at: https:// procurement.kingcounty.gov/procurement _ovr/login. aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fprocurement_ovr%2fdefault.aspx Contact: Esther Decker, 206-263-9323, esther.decker@ kingcounty.gov.

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held a funeral.

The death of Min Bahadur Sherchan has also revived concerns about allowing elderly people to attempt scale see SHERCHAN on 15

MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

YOUR VOICE

■ NATIONAL NEWS

asianweekly northwest

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Taiwan-born Navy officer pleading guilty, but not to spying

By BEN FINLEY ASSOCIATED PRESS NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A Taiwanborn Navy officer accused of espionage struck a deal with the U.S. government and agreed on May 4 to plead guilty to several charges, but not to spying involving China or Taiwan.

Lt. Cmdr. Edward C. Lin is pleading guilty to mishandling

classified information, communicating national defense information, failing to report foreign contacts, and lying about where he was going to while on leave.

Court documents did not reveal whom Lin was accused of spying for. But officials told The Associated Press last year that the country involved is China or Taiwan, and possibly both.

Lin’s sister, Jenny Lin, wrote to members of Congress last year and said the Navy lacks evidence to support the charges.

An official list of Lin’s Navy assignments said he joined the service in December 1999 as an enlisted sailor

and attended Navy nuclear training at Charleston, South Carolina, from 2000 to 2002. He then attended Officer Candidate School and gained his commission in May 2002.

He attended the Navy War College at Newport, Rhode Island, and served for nearly two years in Washington on the staff of the assistant secretary of the Navy for financial management and comptroller.

His official Navy biography says he was assigned to the Special Projects Patrol Squadron at Kaneohe, Hawaii, from Feb. 15, 2014, to March 25, 2016. see LIN on 15

Lt. Cmdr. Edward C. Lin

■ EDUCATION

US colleges send warm welcome overseas amid dip in interest

By COLLIN BINKLEY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Many U.S. colleges and universities, seeing declining numbers of applications from overseas, are trying to reassure potential international students they will be welcome on campus despite what they see in the news.

Schools are ramping up marketing efforts geared toward foreign students to combat growing fears that President Donald Trump’s stance on immigration reflects a United States that is becoming less welcoming to foreigners.

Nearly half the nation’s 25 largest public universities saw undergraduate applications from abroad fall or stagnate since last year, according to data colleges provided to The Associated Press in response to public records requests. Eight schools did not provide data, while six saw gains.

“Students are telling us that they don’t feel safe here in the United States. That they’re concerned about discrimination, racism,’’ said Katharine Johnson Suski, admissions director at Iowa State University, which is not among the largest 25. “This year it was a little more important to make sure that they felt comfortable with their decision.’’

Iowa State is ramping overseas mailings to sell students on the school’s Midwestern charm. Similarly, Purdue University sent overseas applicants a note from two mayors touting Indiana’s “friendly smiles’’ and hospitality. On a recent trip to India, the president of Portland State University told prospective students they’d be safe on his campus. Dozens of other schools produced online videos to welcome foreign students.

Colleges and universities have received a financial boost in recent years from international students, who are typically charged higher tuition rates than American peers who live in state. Some schools have come to rely on revenue from foreign students, whose enrollment has climbed sharply over much of the past decade, according to federal data.

But the data obtained by the AP provide evidence enrollment figures at some schools could drop next fall.

International applications to the University of Arizona are down 24 percent compared with this time last year; California

State University, Northridge, is down 26 percent. The University of Houston has seen a 32 percent drop, although it’s still accepting applications and its numbers will likely rise.

The U.S. Department of Education did not immediately comment.

Philadelphia’s Temple University sparked a chain reaction in November when it posted an online video featuring students and staff members saying “You are welcome here’’ in multiple languages, set to upbeat piano music. Since then, more than 100 other schools have made similar videos and circulated them abroad. Temple also hosted seven overseas receptions for admitted students, more than in the past.

The University of Minnesota is considering a phone campaign. The University of Florida has produced videos featuring “global Gators’’ and is offering online video chats.

“Given the current climate, it seems

like this is something which is even more important,’’ said Joseph Glover, provost at Florida. “Obviously we are concerned about the situation, like every other public university in the United States.’’

Safety concerns are nothing new among international students, but many schools say anxieties have grown since Trump was elected. Some students have said Trump’s “America first’’ rhetoric and his proposal to ban immigration from six majorityMuslim nations have given them pause.

Some application deadlines fell before the election, but even Trump’s campaign rhetoric cast doubts, experts say.

Students in India have been particularly alarmed, especially after a gunman shot two Indian men at a Kansas bar in March, killing one, after allegedly saying “get out of my country.’’

Portland State President Wim Wiewel was in India soon after the shooting to meet prospective students, and the discussion

quickly turned to safety. Wiewel and his wife reassured families that Portland is friendly to foreign visitors.

“People in America recognize that even though there are a few crazies around, it’s not like it’s open season on Indians or Muslims,’’ Wiewel said. “Having us talk to them totally took away their fears. But the problem, of course, is we can’t talk to everyone.’’

Some government officials are trying to tackle the problem, too. Several of the videos feature cameos from state governors or congressional members. A top official from America’s embassy in India penned a newspaper column late last month stressing that “U.S. colleges and universities take pride in providing safe and welcoming environments.’’

Along with India, fewer applications have been coming from China and Saudi see EDUCATION on 11

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MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAY 11

CID PUBLIC SAFETY RECEPTION Four Seas Restaurant, 714 S. King St., Seattle 4:30 p.m.

206-838-8718

12 CELEBRATE ASIA Benaroya Hall, 200 University St. 7 p.m. seattlesymphony.org CELEBRATE INNOVATE MAKE POSSIBLE Seattle Center 5 p.m.

206-302-4515 events@path.org

13 THE ROBERT CHINN FOUNDATION HONORING JOHNNY DAMON, DANIEL DAE KIM, DUY-LOAN LE, AND SONITA LONTOH AT THE ASIAN HALL OF FAME DINNER Fairmont Olympic Hotel 6 p.m.

Register to contact@ asianhalloffame.org FILM SCREENING, “WHO KILLED VINCENT CHIN?” Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 1:30–4:30 p.m.

UW NIGHT MARKET 2017 University of Washington, Red Square 5:30 p.m. uwnightmarket.com MICRONESIA NIGHT Husky Union Building, 4001 E. Stevens Way N.E., Seattle 6 p.m.

FILIPINO WWII VETERANS CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL MEMORIAL TRIBUTE FUNDRAISER DINNER Renton Pavilion Event Center, 233 Burnett Ave. S., Renton 5:30 p.m. $125/ticket filvetrepregion8@gmail. com

15 THE METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL FOR A SPECIAL CEREMONY HONORING GORDON HIRABAYASHI King County Courthouse, 12th Floor Lobby, 516 Third Ave., Seattle 10:30 a.m.

206-477-0623 2017 ASIAN PACIFIC HERITAGE NIGHT WITH THE MARINERS Safeco Field, 1250 1st Ave. S., Seattle 7:10 p.m. mariners.com

16

DAY OF EXILE AND IMPRISONMENT Ober Park, 17130 Vashon Hwy. S.W., Vashon Island 12 p.m. friendsofmukai.org

18 HAPPY HOUR FOOD WALK Seattle’s ChinatownInternational District 4 p.m.

35 YEARS

Seattle 5:30 p.m. $150/ticket, $1,500/table of 10, $750/table of 5 interimicda.org FAMILY 2.0 AN API LGBTQ GATHERING North Seattle College, 9600 College Way N., Seattle 9:30 a.m. jacl.wufoo.com FILIPINO NIGHT 2017 UW, Kane Hall, 1410 N.E. Campus Parkway, Seattle 6 p.m. $5–$10

19 UPDATE OF HEALTH CARE POLICY IN OUR STATE AND NATION WITH DR. ROGER STARK, WPC’S HEALTH CARE POLICY ANALYST China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 11:30 a.m.

20 SEATTLE CENTER FESTÁL: A GLIMPSE OF CHINA-CHINESE CULTURE AND ARTS FESTIVAL Seattle Center, Armory Free admission chinaartandculture.org INTERIMCDA’S 2017 GALA DINNER & AUCTION, “SUSTAINING LEGACY. BUILDING COMMUNITY. AFFECTING CHANGE.” Seattle Design Center, 5701 6th Ave. S.,

JUNE

21 SPRING FESTIVAL HARAMATSURI Seattle University Campion Hall, 914 E. Jefferson St., Seattle 12 p.m.

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23 ART IN THE US-JAPAN RELATIONSHIP: PRESERVING THE FLOATING WORLD Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave., Seattle 6 p.m. $15–$25 jassw.info/event-2503305

45TH ANNUAL FRIENDSHIP DINNER & AUCTION, “BRAVING THE NEW WAVE” Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle 5:30 p.m.

RSVP by May 15 $145/person cisc-seattle.org _____________________ HAVE AN EVENT TO PROMOTE? PLEASE SEND US THE DETAILS TO INFO@NWASIANWEEKLY.COM OR NWAWCAL@GMAIL.COM.

IN MEMORY OF JULIE LOCKE 1927—2017 Julie Locke (Bo Kam Ng) passed away April 6, 2017, in Seattle, WA, in the peace and comfort of her home of more than 63 years. She was born on January 11, 1927, in Hong Kong, 3rd oldest among 10 children.

In 1947 Julie was introduced to Jimmy who served with the U.S. Army in Europe during WWII. Asked of his first impression of Julie, he said: “She was so beautiful!” They soon married and moved to Seattle.

Julie partnered with Jimmy in running Sadie’s Café in the Pike Place Market in the 1950’s and then Florentia Street Grocery in 1960 until their retirement 22 years later.

Julie specialized in traditional Chinese dishes, including dim sum delicacies. She had a passion for sewing and knitting, making dresses and sweaters for the girls, suits for Jimmy, comforters, and even re-upholstering the living room sofa. She also had a thirst for knowledge, evidenced by her attending college classes at age 50 and reading English and Chinese newspapers and magazines daily.

Julie battled Parkinson’s for 40 years. Determined not to let it defeat her, she regularly exercised, first by swimming and later by riding a stationary bike.

Julie was preceded in death by Jimmy, her husband of 63 years. She is survived by children Marian (Peter) Monwai, Gary Locke, Jannie (Edward) Chow, Jeffrey (Doris) Locke, and Rita (Joe) Yoshihara; 15 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and 4 brothers and 1 sister.

Memorial service: Saturday, May 20, 11:30 am, Chinese Baptist Church, 5801 Beacon Ave. S, Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kin On Nursing Home, 4416 S. Brandon, Seattle 98118; or Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, 2053 152nd Avenue NE, Redmond 98052.

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MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

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Photos by Brandon Patoc

Celebrate Asia (Seattle Symphony)

Chiaki Endo plays the koto.

Indian dancer Sharmista Mitra Dohray in a post concert performance.

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra commemorates the Asian cultures with its own event, Celebrate Asia.

This year is the ninth year that the Seattle Symphony is hosting the event that will take place on May 12. The first half of the program is dedicated to film music by well-known Japanese composers and the second half will include a special appear-

ance by award-winning Indian composer A.R. Rahman.

Elena Dubinets, Seattle Symphony’s Vice President of Artistic Planning, has worked there for 15 years.

Major donors and former Seattle Symphony Orchestra board members Yoshi and Naomi Minegishi proposed the idea of creating a concert that not only celebrates a single Asian community, but embraces multiple Asian communities in Seattle, Dubinets explained.

“We decided to go for it, but it wasn’t easy because it wasn’t part of our regular

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offerings or subscriptions. We had to build a population for this special concert, but now we sell out every year,” Dubinets said.

Every year, a special committee consisting of community members from various Asian groups get together to discuss topics and recommend themes for the concert.

This year’s recommendation was to feature different communities on the main stage, as well as feature a more extensive Indian representation. The group also wanted to represent Japanese music a little more as they have never dedicated half the program to Japanese music before.

Dubinets expressed excitement about working with the show’s host, Aleksa Manila, who hails from the Philippines and is an important advocate for gay rights in Seattle’s LGBTQ community.

“We wanted to be inclusive of the entire representation of our area and to add diversity in every possible angle,” Dubinets said.

The show will include several world premieres including Rahman’s “Flying Lotus.” Though Rahman will be attending as a composer, attendees will still be able to see CELEBRATE ASIA on 13

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35 YEARS

MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

■ PICTORIAL ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE

MONTH CELEBRATION

The Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration was held at the Seattle Center Amory with 13 cultural Asian performances. The Alan Sugiyama Hum Bow Contest and Filharmonic a capella group were the highlights of the celebration.

There were also food trucks outside, children’s activities and a display of nations. Throughout the day, there were 4,600 attendees. The API Heritage Celebration serves as a kick off for API Heritage month.

PHOTOS BY JOHN LIU/NWAW

The Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill team marches through the crowd.

10 contestants from local TV stations compete to eat 5 hum bows the quickest.

KOMO 4’s Ryan Yamamoto & Morgan Chesky hold up the Hum Bow Winner’s plaque.

They are flanked by Alysa Sugiyama and Mari Sugyama.

The winners of the Alan Sugiyama Hum Bow Contest: KOMO 4’s Ryan Yamamoto & Morgan Chesky. They finished all 5 hum bows in under 1 minute. (Photo by Vivian Huang/NWAW)

Shiori spreads her wings before belly dancing to the music.

Spectators gather for the lion dance performance on stage.

The Filharmonic dazzles the crowd with a capella versions of famous pop songs.

Peter Tsai has helped organize the API Heritage Celebration for over 10 years.

Morning Star, Korean Cultural Dance

John Chen and Tammy Le emceed for the celebration.

UW Khmer Dance Team perform a traditional Khmer dance.

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

Northwest Wushu demonstrate a few ways to kick butt!

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

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Finding laughter after tragedy

By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Photos by Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services

“We had a really good relationship,” filmmaker, actor, and comedian Anna Akana, 27, said, describing her sister Kristina.

“Like any relationship with any sisters three years apart, we fought a lot over her borrowing my clothes, her tagging along.

We had a good relationship for the most part. She was the one who actually wanted to get into entertainment. She would do talent shows and was really outspoken and creative, which I really admired.”

“So when she killed herself in 2007, when she was 13, it was devastating to our entire family. None of us saw it coming. For two years, I kind of wanted to figure out whether I would go the college route or the military route. I had always assumed that I’d go into the military to follow in my dad’s footsteps.

After she died, all of it felt pointless.”

Akana was 17 when her sister committed suicide.

Suicide rates in teens

In the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. suicide rate was actually on a downward trend, attributed to advances in medicine.

A new class of antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), were coming out, ones with fewer adverse side effects than their predecessors.

Prior to the 1980s, a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) were used to treat depression.

Today, the majority of drugs prescribed to treat depression are SSRIs. They are better tolerated and safer than TCAs and MAOIs. Yet, the downward trend of suicide rates — across all age groups — experienced an abrupt stop around 1999 — and then began increasing. Among young girls, in particular, the statistics are stark. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study (“Increase in Suicide in the United States, 1999-2004”) found that girls between the ages of 10

Anna Akana with President/CEO of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, Dr. Kita S. Curry

Anna Akana with veteran actor George Segal

and 14 experienced the greatest jump in suicide rate, tripling from 0.5 to 1.7 per 100,000 people.

Experts attribute the increase partly to economic stagnation, which resulted in many people lacking access to health care — thus, lack of access to antidepressant medications.

Also according to the CDC, suicide is the second leading

cause of death of those ages 10 to 24. More teens and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.

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5/5/17 11:47 AM

asianweekly northwest

10

35 YEARS

MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

OPINION

Hasegawa for mayor

What interesting timing for Hasegawa and Murray to announce on the same day, within hours of each other. Was this pre-arranged?

Hasegawa said he had decided since April 22 to join the race. As a former McGinn supporter, Hasegawa did share his news with McGinn, who is also running for the mayoral seat. Did he talk to Murray also? He sent out press releases only the day before, on May 8.

“I didn’t talk to Murray,” said Hasegawa. Mike Fong, Murray’s chief of said there was nothing magical about the timing of the announcement. “The mayor made his decision on the weekend,” said Fong. “It’s something that he has been thinking about and it had nothing to do with Sen. Hasegawa.

He took time to think about the next step, to give enough time for those who want to run for mayor. People shouldn’t make the rampant assumption.” Fong explained that it took a bit of planning to make the mayor’s press conference happen and it’s not something they would have adjusted so as not to clash with Hasegawa’s original announcement plan. “It’s the most significant announcement the mayor has made. He’s an effective mayor in getting things done. It’s unfortunate (this happened).”

Meanwhile, Hasegawa learned about the unexpected press conference online, and instantly moved his meeting to 2 p.m. instead. “I am trying to be respectful ... It’s a horrible thing he (Murray) is going through.”

Although Hasegawa had not communicated with the mayor, Murray was aware of Hasegawa’s intent to run through a third party last week, according to a source who had initially backed Murray, but is now switching his support to Hasegawa.

Several city leaders, including The Seattle Times, were pressuring Murray not to seek re-election or resign. Murray said he would serve out the remainder of his term through December.

Murray held a fundraising dinner with 300 Chinese community members last week at the China Harbor Restaurant.

Now that he is not running for a second term, that group of supporters would likely go to Hasegawa. A source said Murray had been thinking about dropping out in the last two weeks.

I talked to some members of the Asian community, and none of them could flat out say that Murray didn’t commit sexual abuse of teenaged boys three decades ago. Most said they don’t know if he did it. And all agreed that he has done some good things for the Asian community.

Some felt bad for Murray’s husband, Mike Shiosaki, who

Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

HASEGAWA from 1

Hasegawa mayoral announcement on May 9, with supporters looking on.

keeps a low profile and was forced to put on a good face during the campaign.

Can Hasegawa win without money?

By law, Sen. Bob Hasegawa, a mayoral candidate, is not allowed to raise funds during the special legislative session.

And it is hard to say when the session will end. The primary election is on Aug. 1, less than three months away.

The law is strict even with in-kind donations. After Hasegawa’s press conference, a man immediately asked if he could volunteer to create graphics for Hasegawa’s campaign materials. No, Hasegawa said. What about charging a low rate? Again, the answer was no. So, what’s the silver lining?

Hasegawa used Bernie Sanders as an inspiration — a grassroots campaign, or what he called “bottom-up.”

“The power of the people can defeat the power of money politically,” Hasegawa said. “We can prove that people can beat money in politics, and now is the time.”

“The Democratic Party doesn’t have leadership (after the last election),” he said. There’s a lot of people waiting and willing to do something to make a difference since Trump winning the presidency, he said. “The energy is bursting.”

His colleague, Chase, said Sanders had very little money when he first started his presidential campaign. Sanders relied only on small donations, but his donor base was big.

Sanders’ supporters were passionate, mobilized quickly, showed up in large numbers for rallies, and voted.

Chase said there are 175,000 Sanders supporters in the city of Seattle. She has the list of names, which will come in handy to mobilize support for Hasegawa. Hasegawa wanted to make sure that people speak louder than money. “He’s principled,” said Chase. “He is loyal to the people, not Wall

Street. He wants to make sure everybody gets economic opportunity, not just the wealthy.”

Hasegawa said he has to use his own money first to finance his campaign. When asked how much money he would put into his campaign, he said, “Whatever it takes.” Already, a team of people are planning on Hasegawa’s behalf to raise money.

Hasegawa also has another advantage — this is not a reelection year for a senate seat. If he loses in the mayoral race, he can still keep his seat in Olympia.

Community reaction towards Hasegawa’s run

“Supporting a progressive Asian American for mayor, with real governance experience, whose first priority is the wellbeing of people, for me is a no-brainer,” said Matt Chan, a community volunteer.

His wife Gei enthusiastically held a campaign sign for Hasegawa.

“I have faith that Bob will lead us in the right direction,” said Ali Lee, a community organizer. “Sen. Hasagawa is engaged in the community and not just an observer. He knows what it takes to create change.”

Troy Chen, a University of Washington student who attended Hasegawa’s event, said, “As a Chinese American, I support Bob who has dedicated his life to minorities and immigrants.” It’s good to see someone running the city with a progressive agenda and core values, Chen said.

“Everyone in our community should be excited about Bob’s campaign,” said Dan Shih, an attorney. “In the legislature, Senator Hasegawa has been a champion for working families, small businesses, and disenfranchised communities. But just as important, Bob is out there for our community. I don’t know how he juggles it all, but at community events large and small, Bob shows up and is there for us.”

“Voting to elect Seattle’s first Asian American mayor to me is an honor,” said Gei Chan. “Bob Hasegawa’s experience shows me he’s ready for the job.”

Disappointed that no Asian American woman is running for the seat, Dolores Sibonga, former Seattle City Councilmember, said, “What about (Rep.) Sharon Santos? Run, run, run.”

In the meantime, McGinn has not gained too much traction in the Asian community. Other possible Asian candidates include Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim, who has been talking to potential supporters recently.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

11

OPINION

■ EDITORIAL

135th anniversary of Chinese Exclusion Act

The Seattle City Council and Mayor of Seattle proclaim May 6, 2017 to be a Day of Inclusion.

May 6, 2017 marked the 135th anniversary of the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was the first law to expressly target and prohibit a specific group from immigrating to the United States.

The law was signed by President Chester A. Arthur and imposed a 10-year ban on Chinese immigration or naturalization. It was reauthorized and expanded several times in the following decades, and was not repealed until 1943.

In 2012, Congress passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), which formally expressed regret for the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act. “It (The Chinese Exclusion Act) split families apart, created a second-class citizenry, and disenfranchised an entire

ethnic community,” said Chu in a statement.

“In fact, my own grandfather who had been here legally since 1904 was forced to carry a certificate of registration at all times for almost 40 years, or risk deportation.”

“Unfortunately, 135 years after the Chinese Exclusion Act was signed into law, our nation is once again debating whether an entire group of people should be banned from entering the United States based on their country of origin,” said Chu. She went on to say that policies targeting immigrants, Muslims, and refugees do not succeed. She called the Chinese Exclusion Act “one of the darkest periods in our nation’s history,” and that we cannot allow history to repeat itself.

Those darkest periods included the forced internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and the special registration

of foreign nationals from 25 countries in the aftermath of 9/11. They were imposed under the guise of keeping us safe, but really sought to divide us.

A film, “The Chinese Exclusion Act” produced by Steeplechase Films and the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), premiered at CAAMFest in March. Ric Burns and Li-Shin Yu started making that film five years ago, long before Donald Trump even considered running for the presidency.

In the film, you see the country grappling with deep, existential questions. Who gets to be American? How do we define citizenship? When and why ought people be blocked from coming to the United States?

History need not repeat itself. We must take a stand and say, “never again.” 

EDUCATION from 5 Arabia, which previously sent large numbers to American colleges. Experts say factors at play include economic turmoil in China and India, but some have blamed the downturn on a “Trump effect.’’

Officials at the University of New England say Trump’s election has complicated plans to recruit Moroccan students. At a February open house in Tangier, the election was a frequent concern.

“Several students wearing hijabs wondered whether they would be welcome in the United States, given the election of Donald Trump and the rhetoric they were hearing,’’ said Anouar Majid, vice president for global affairs at the private school in Biddeford, Maine. “We assured them that the United States is very welcoming.’’

When he applied to the University of New England, 17-year-old Aymane Lamharzi Alaoui was worried about discrimination, he said. Since then, he has spoken with family members in Boston and believes Americans are more welcoming than some of Trump’s comments suggest.

“I know there’s an increase in xenophobia and racism in the past couple of months in the U.S.,’’ he said in an interview. “I’m sure there are some places where I wouldn’t be very welcome, especially places in the southern United States, but I think most of the country is very tolerant.’’

For most colleges, it’s too early to know how many overseas students will enroll next fall.

But many say any loss could be a blow.

At Iowa State, where applications are down 23 percent, international students bring valued diversity, said Suski, the admissions director.

And there is also the revenue they provide.

“There will,’’ Suski said, “be a financial impact on our campus come this fall.’’ ■

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asianweekly northwest

12

MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

AKANA from 9

The beginning

Akana grew up in a military family. Her father is Japanese and Hawaiian. Her mother is Filipina and white. Due to her dad’s career in the U.S. Marine Corps, the family moved every two to three years.

Akana describes her family as having so much laughter when her sister was alive. However, after Kristina’s death, Akana internally shut down and had a hard time finding any humor or happiness in life.

It wasn’t until she watched Margaret Cho’s stand up that she laughed again. “[It was] the first time in the two years since my sister’s death.”

Thereafter, Akana started up her very popular YouTube channel, with more than 1.8 million subscribers. Her channel features a comedy-forward style that presents relatable topics to young people — Akana not only talks about her sister’s suicide and her own struggles with depression, but she also talks about race, dealing with bullies, and lighter topics such as how to apply makeup.

Her popularity on YouTube has been parlayed into other media. Akana has directed and produced a web series and is slated to appear on “Stitchers,” a TV show for young adults on the Freeform network.

It is perhaps her advocacy work in suicide prevention that makes her resonate so strongly with her young fans.

“Asian Americans are the highest group prone to depression of any race, but the least likely to get mental health help,” said Akana. “Asian women are in the second highest group to commit suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in teens. I feel like all those stats are [reflective of] the experiences in my life. … I think being open and having a conversation about that kind of stuff [is important], providing people with resources. I talk about my clinical depression ... I’m also open about how I’ve been in therapy for years. Being open and candid about what is going on [helps eliminate stigmas about mental health].”

Early puberty

Studies have linked early puberty with depression in teen girls. According to the May 2016 study, “Age at Onset of Puberty and Adolescent Depression: ‘Children of 1997’ Birth Cohort,” researchers looked at the heath records of a group of 8,327 children born in Hong Kong April-May 1997.

Researchers found that girls who had earlier breast development (compared to their peers) had a higher risk of depression symptoms or an increase of depressive symptoms. The researchers did not see the same correlation in boys, and these results also took into account factors such as socioeconomic status, weight, or parents’ marital status — that is, this is an issue that crosses cultural backgrounds.

In the early 20th century, an American girl got her first period around age 16 to 17. Today, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the age has decreased to 13 and under. This trend downward is being studied and may be attributed to many things, such as overweight children, greater exposure to environmental contaminants — such as the plastic compound phthalate.

Early breast development is controlled by estrogen, but past research has eliminated estrogen as a driver of depression. Researchers have stated that more studies need to be done on this, though there is educated speculation that the social and cultural context of puberty — not just its biological — may inform the correlation between the rise of depression in girls who go through puberty early.

Jane Mendle, a clinical psychologist at Cornell University, told the New York Times that the onset of puberty changes

the way adults and peers treat these young girls. Often, girls are bullied when they physically mature earlier than peers. Additionally, handling the physical and hormonal changes of puberty at an earlier age also means that these girls are not as cognitively and emotionally developed to work through the challenges that are usually reserved for girls a few years older — or more.

A 2015 Newsweek story, “Puberty comes earlier and earlier for girls,” pointed out that early maturing girls attract unwanted sexual attention from older boys and also adult men. The age in which girls have to learn to “cope” (for lack of a better term) with these responses from boys and men is decreasing more and more.

Other studies (“Pubertal timing and vulnerabilities to depression in early adolescence: differential pathways to depressive symptoms by sex”) find that along with higher rates of depression, girls who start puberty earlier are also more prone to obesity and drug abuse. These girls are also more likely to smoke cigarettes and have eating disorders — all issues that permeate their later adult lives.

The issue of stigma

“I don’t think there is one overarching trait for people who commit suicide. I think the generalization that the only people who commit suicide [show signs of] always being depressed. Sometimes there are people who [commit suicide and appear] completely fine.”

“My sister was a little manic depressive,” adds Akana.

“She was gregarious and great a lot of times, but she was also a 13-year-old girl going through stuff. … I don’t know if [her suicide] was a brash decision … or if it was a sign of mental illness. Suicide is the second highest cause of death for kids 12 to 17. It’s confusing [to be that age].”

Akana explained that she thinks the context around teen suicide is a little different than adult suicides. As teens are still developing in many ways, they tend to behave in a much more impulsive way.

Studies have also shown that most teens (certain studies put the number at 90 percent) who commit suicide had some form of mental health issue.

According to the CDC, about 20 percent of Americans experience a mental health disorder in a given year. Of that group, only a quarter of them feel that others are understanding or compassionate about their illness. This dissonance is stigma.

People with mental illness are more likely to encounter police and law enforcement than medical health professionals. They are also more likely to be blamed for violence even though the reverse is true — they are more likely to be the victims of violence. They have high rates of homelessness.

And yet, there is the persisting, pervasive belief that those with mental illnesses are merely weak and need to mentally move past their illness.

According to the CDC, Asian Americans report fewer mental illnesses than whites — however this could be due to stigma. More young Asian Americans in their teens, for instance, report considering suicide compared to their white counterparts (18.9 percent to 15.5 percent). Asian American females are also twice as likely to attempt suicide (15 percent) compared to their male counterparts (7 percent).

Barriers to mental health care for Asian Americans include language barriers, but also lack of awareness of resources and services. Attributed to Asian culture, which places a taboo on discussing mental health, Asian Americans also tend to ignore, deny, and neglect symptoms of mental health illness.

Akana said that even after her sister’s death, her parents’

35 YEARS response to Akana’s own clinical depression was ‘typically Asian.’

“When I told my parents I had depression, they gave me a bag of niacin,” she said. “They are old-school.”

Recognition

For her advocacy work around suicide prevention and reducing stigma surrounding mental health illnesses, Akana was honored with the Mental Health Ambassador Award at the 2017 Erasing the Stigma Leadership Awards on April 27. The event was organized by Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, a leading Los Angeles-based nonprofit provider of free community mental health and substance use services for children and adults for over 75 years.

“It’s an honor [to get the award],” said Akana, before the awards ceremony took place. “And I’m super excited to get to talk to everyone. It’s nice to be in a group where we’ve all experienced the same thing and get where each other is coming from.” ■ For more information about Anna Akana and her current projects, visit annaakana.com. For more information about Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, visit didihirsch.org.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 800273-8255. The Crisis Text Line can be reached via texting “Home” to 741741. To reach Seattle-based, API-based help for mental health issues, visit or contact Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) at acrs.org.

Stacy Nguyen can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.

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YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

asianweekly northwest

13

Predictions and advice for the week of May 13–May 19, 2017

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — If it doesn’t work, why keep going back? Shift your focus to finding something that actually does the job.

Dragon — Although you want to know all the variables before moving ahead, at some point, you will just have to take a risk.

Monkey — As your responsibilities grow, it is more important than ever to maintain a solid organizational system.

Ox — Are you worried that the task at hand might be beyond your abilities? There is no doubt that you will rise to the occasion.

Snake — Tighten the loose connections when you become aware of them, as they could cause problems down the line.

Rooster — Why battle over something that doesn’t mean that much to you? Save your ire for what really matters.

Tiger — Don’t assume that you know the whole story. You may only be aware of what is being told to you.

Horse — Someone is thinking about you today.

Reach out to your loved ones and let them know that they are in your thoughts as well.

Dog — If you figure out what you need before you go, then you will spend far less when you reach your destination.

Rabbit — There are times when a temporary solution works better than a permanent one, especially when the situation is in flux.

Goat — The promises you made at the beginning are going to be due soon. Figure out what still needs to be done and make haste.

Pig — Once you decide on the goal, the means to get there should become quite evident to you if you are looking.

What’s your animal sign?

Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

CELEBRATE ASIA from 7 experience his compositions. The piece is his first-ever symphonic work that is not related to a film’s soundtrack.

In addition, Dubinets said this year they would feature Central Asian dance specialists from Tajikistan, as well as a dance demonstration from a Taiwanese artist.

There is also the annual composition competition, where composers under 35 submit a piece related to Asia. Composers do not have to be of Asian descent. This year’s winner is Indiana University student Christopher LaRosa. He created a piece based on Japanese mythology called “The Tide Jewels.”

Guests can expect the annual lion dance that leads the

C919 from 4 buyers in 2016, but has been beset by delays blamed on manufacturing problems. It’s now unlikely to carry commercial passengers until at least 2019.

Mohshin Aziz, a Kuala Lumpur-based aviation analyst at Maybank Kim Eng Securities, said it wouldn’t be clear for 7-9 years whether the C919 can make a dent in Airbus and Boeing’s duopoly.

“This is just the test flight,’’ he said. “Eventually it needs to have some cornerstone customers, of which it will have because there are state-owned airlines, some of them are going to be forced to use it.’’

Mohshin said other potential customers would wait to see what experience the first customers have. “You are not going to spend a lot of money on something you don’t know,’’ he said.

The aircraft’s maker, state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd., or Comac, will seek certification from China’s civil aviation authority and foreign regulators before making any deliveries.

Bao Pengli, deputy director of Comac’s project management department, said the manufacturer planned to make two planes a year from now to 2019 to obtain proof of safe flight before any mass production is started.

STAY SPOKE from 3 Working with friends at other colleges, they have amassed a following across the country to come together and share their AAPI role models. The mission is to bring to light AAPI leaders that “have shattered the bamboo ceilings from generalizations to stereotypes,” according to a press release.

Shin and Kim contacted 20 students they knew on Facebook and the following spread. Currently, there are approximately 73 students participating from 13 colleges, including the University of Southern California, Drexel University in Philadelphia, University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, and Seattle University.

The BeSpoken Project seeks to gather students to pull together photos of people in the AAPI community that inspire them and write about why they chose that individual.

Students pose in a similar fashion to their role models in

audience members into the auditorium, which is always a fun event. After the main concert event, the annual taiku drumming display will take place as people exit the auditorium.

For extra excitement, they are also planning a festive Bollywood dancing party in the lobby for those who would like to dance the night away.

The planning committee for Celebrate Asia is already preparing for a major 10th anniversary event next year.

There will be a partnership with the Seattle Chinese Orchestra, where there will also be kids from their training program performing. They will be singing and dancing to Chinese folk tunes with Indian elements. The Seattle Chinese Orchestra were featured in the first Celebrate Asia

event almost 10 years ago.

Celebrate Asia is presented as part of the Seattle Symphony’s New Music WORKS initiative, which is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. New Music WORKS features commissions, concerts, and educational activities that use composition as a catalyst for collaboration and engagement in music. ■

Comac says it has 570 orders from 23 domestic and foreign customers. Most are state-owned Chinese airlines.

The handful of foreign customers includes GE Capital Aviation Services and Thailand’s City Airways.

The plane can be configured with 155-175 seats and has a standard flight length of 2,530 miles.

The jet’s development is a key step on the path laid out by Chinese leaders to transform the country from the world’s low-cost factory into a creator of profitable technology.

At the same time, China’s aviation market is growing rapidly as a rising middle class travels more for leisure and business.

Boeing forecasts that an annual 6 percent growth in China’s air passenger traffic over the next two decades will create demand for 6,810 new planes worth a total of $1 trillion — the first trillion-dollar aviation market in its forecast. Of the new planes, 75 percent are expected to be single-aisle.

Airbus has five joint ventures in China, including a factory that assembles A320s in Tianjin, a port city near Beijing, that opened in 2008. Mohshin said much of China’s aircraft technology started from Russia, and the Tianjin factory has since given China’s supply chain vital experience.

“I would say that a lot of their technology mirrors

Airbus,’’ he said.

Comac says more than 200 Chinese companies and 36 universities have been involved in research and development of the C919.

But it relies on foreign-made technology for critical systems, including its engines, which are made by CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric’s aviation subsidiary and France’s Safran Aircraft Engines.

The first deliveries of Chinese-developed engines are expected in 2020, according to the company tasked with making them, AVIC Commercial Aircraft Engine Co. Ltd. Airbus delivered 153 aircraft to Chinese operators last year, including 141 from the A320 family, Eric Chen, president of Airbus Commercial Aircraft China, said in an emailed statement.

“We believe C919 will bring new competition to the market,’’ he said. “And we welcome competition, which is good for the development of the industry.’’

Boeing says it delivered more than 160 planes to China in 2016, and more than half of China’s fleet are Boeing planes.

China’s first domestically made commercial jet, the twin-engine regional ARJ-21, flew its first passengers in June 2016, eight years after its first test flight. That smaller jet is a rival to aircraft made by Bombardier Inc. of Canada and Brazil’s Embraer SA. ■

photos. The website, aapibespoken.com, features photos of these college students with a short paragraph on what it means to be an AAPI in today’s culture. They are then asked to upload the photo onto social media and challenge others to join with the hashtag #StaySpoke.

“We never meant for this to be a political movement,” said Shin, “We wanted it to be a social movemen ... We are speaking out for our own identity.”

“We want Asian American students to speak up.” Kim added, “We want them to feel like they can do greater stuff.”

The two recall that it was very challenging to get people to join and follow through with the project. “It was interesting to listen to their stories and speak out about their own identity,” stated Kim. The duo partnered with t-shirt maker Cotton Bureau to sell shirts and stickers. The website states that 90 percent of proceeds from shirt sales will be donated to AAPI

initiatives.

One of the students participating in the movement chose Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu as an AAPI influencer. They reached out to Yu via Facebook and she responded positively to the acknowledgment.

The group is not sure about what will happen after this month, but a local meetup might be a possibility. Regardless, the project to create awareness among students of the many AAPI leaders out there is a way to highlight Asian American heritage month. ■

The pre-show begins at 5:30 p.m., main performance at 7 p.m. and post-show activities at 9 p.m. Tickets for Celebrate Asia start at $40.

Nina Huang can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

For more information on the project, visit aapibespoken.com.

Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

14

MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017

WIKIPEDIA from 4 will have to present the most convincing proof,” he told The Associated Press.

The effort to compile 300,000 entries that span science, literature, politics and history is being led by the ruling Communist Party’s central propaganda department, which guides public opinion through instructions to China’s media, internet companies and publishing industry as well as overseeing the education sector. They have instructed the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, known for its offline Chinese Encyclopedia, to produce it.

The ruling party has struggled to manage public opinion in the internet age, when citizens can comment on news and topics of outrage and post photos of protests on social media — at least until such messages are scrubbed away or rendered unsearchable by censors.

China also regularly blocks overseas sites including Facebook and Twitter, and has periodically blocked Wikipedia’s English and Chinese versions. Currently, the Chinese Wikipedia is inaccessible in the mainland.

Jiang Lijun, senior editor at the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, said on May 4 that they plan to have entries on political leaders, the history of the

35 YEARS

Communist Party, and subjects including virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the European Union.

The online Chinese Encyclopedia will focus primarily on entries that are less likely to change as opposed to recent events, and with academic value, “while also trying to strike a balance between that, being timely and what people are searching for,” she said. She declined to comment on how events that are politically sensitive in China, like the Cultural Revolution and the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, would be treated.

Qiao Mu, an independent media analyst in Beijing, said the Chinese Encyclopedia would be “quite different” from Wikipedia because of the need to toe the line on political taboos.

“If it’s not blocked in China, the publisher must accept censorship, either self-censorship or censored by authorities,” he said.

He said the encyclopedia would likely present a single, official version of sensitive historical events, and exclude items like the Tiananmen crackdown and the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual group, which “never exist on the internet.”

The publishing house behind the Chinese Encyclopedia is paying 20,000 scholars and experts from universities and

research institutes to write entries and it is slated to go online next year. Jiang said initially the encyclopedia will just be in Chinese, but they are also doing research to see how viable an English version would be.

Jiang said they met with a team from San Francisco-based Wikipedia to learn from their experience.

Wikipedia is edited and maintained by hundreds of thousands of volunteers around the world, and has more than 40 million articles encompassing nearly 300 languages. More than 900,000 entries are in Chinese, compared with more than 5 million in English.

“There is Chinese content on Wikipedia too, but sometimes it is not as accurate as it could be,” said Jiang.

Jiang said that as Wikipedia’s content is generated by users, they can create more entries faster. “But we try to eliminate self-promotion and inaccuracy as much as possible.”

Zhang, the professor of history of science and technology, said the online version will make it easier to reach more people, particularly young readers.

To create the history of science and technology entries, Zhang said professors from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Natural Sciences first hold

meetings with veterans and young experts in their fields to form a committee. The committee will then find the most authoritative person on the topic to write the draft, including sometimes foreign experts, said Zhang, who is director of the institute.

The draft is reviewed by a section chief editor and then the committee.

“If there is a difference of opinion, all deputy and chief editors should participate in the discussion and figure it out together,” Zhang said. “We will reason things out with the author until we reach an agreement, or change the author.” ■

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“The Northwest Asian Weekly provides me with timely API community news, human interest stories, and notices of upcoming events. It connects me with our diverse ethnic communities across the region, state, country, and indeed, the world. Thank you to the dedicated staff and may the NWAW celebrate many more anniversaries!”

— Frieda Takamura “The Northwest Asian Weekly helps me to feel more connected and I always learn! I first read Assunta’s blog, then the Editorial, and ‘Names in the News.’ Finally, I get organized by starting at the front page.”

— Ken Colling, former Goodwill CEO

The only weekly English-edition newspaper serving the Asian community in the state of Washington for 35 years.

SHERCHAN from 4 mountain peaks where the conditions are harsh and oxygen level low.

Sherchan’s body was flown by helicopter to Kathmandu on May 7, a day after the Nepali died at the Everest base camp.

At a community center, his family,

LIN from 5 A Navy press release about Lin’s attendance at his naturalization ceremony in Hawaii in December 2008 said he was 14 when he and his family left Taiwan.

Send in your thoughts to editor@nwasianweekly.com.

Join us for our 35th Anniversary Celebration dinner on Oct. 21 at China Harbor restaurant. For tickets, please go to http://35nwawf.bpt.me, or email rsvp@ nwasianweekly.com, or call 206-223-0623. To sponsor the event, contact Assunta Ng at assunta@nwasianweekly.com. For more info, visit nwasianweekly.com/35years.

friends and supporters offered flowers and a colorful scarf as Buddhist monks chanted a religious hymn and burnt sandalwood incense.

Sherchan first scaled Everest in May 2008 when he was 76 — at the time becoming the oldest climber to reach the top. 

“I always dreamt about coming to America, the ‘promised land,”’ Lin was quoted as saying. “I grew up believing that all the roads in America lead to Disneyland.” ■

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THE OBJECTIVE: Design a wearable outfit or garment that incorporates recycled materials and/or NWAW/Seattle Chinese Post newspapers.

Entries due {JULY 3} Trashion Show {JULY 15}

_________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________ E-mail: ___________________________________ _________________________________________ Brief description of your design: _______________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ ________________________________________

TO ENTER, SEND: — Your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.

— Up to to 3 photographs of your design — A brief description of your work Entries can be directed to RSVP@NWASIANWEEKLY.COM or mailed to: Northwest Asian Weekly Attn: Trashion Fashion 412 Maynard South Seattle, WA 98104 (Multiple entries and all ages welcomed!)

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15

asianweekly northwest

16

35 YEARS

MAY 13 – MAY 19, 2017 a blessing! I do what’s best for the kids because they always come first.

MOTHER’S DAY from 1

Akemi Matsumoto

Being a single mom is a choice. Women can have children by themselves. It’s part of the women’s movement. At 36, I was not married and I wanted to have a child. So I went to the sperm bank and got pregnant.

My dad was happy that it was a boy. I was financially stable, and had lots of friends to support me. My friends even babysat for me. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

I don’t find it challenging being a single mom. I own my own house and have enough money. I think it’s easier when it’s one person making decisions, instead of two. Any child is lucky to have one loving parent. Sometimes, two parents don’t always get along.

Anh-Dao Phan

For the single mom who gives more than just love. For the days that takes more strength and courage than you think you have, to overcome the struggles of making the right life decisions for your children. All those school events you attended alone without a partner, you always find joy in your children’s eyes that filled up your heart.

And through the hardships, tears, and loneliness, you gave it all to build their dreams so that they can discover a future of hope and happiness. That is the reward that heals your soul of this broken family, it will make your heart whole again.

Julea Tse

It’s hard, but I take it one day at a time. If you have family support, it is

ENGLUND from 1 What would make the quality of your life better?’ That’s what we’re doing, I’m not going to pretend to know what 150,000 people in our district want. We’re going to talk to as many people as we can,” Englund explained.

“Andy was the kind of leader that respected everybody regardless of ideology and background. He didn’t get caught up in bipartisan politics and that’s the type of leadership that I want to carry forward,” she said.

“With all the bipartisan bickering nationally and in our state, it’s time for our generation to step up to take leadership.

From a diversity standpoint, America is a country of immigrants, we need to make sure that people are represented at the table.

Hopefully there will be others who want to do this, but someone’s got to start,” Englund explained.

Her team and supporters have already raised $225,000 and Englund has personally visited nearly 1,000 homes in her first 19 days of campaigning.

Englund hopes to bring her millennial mindset and collaborative leadership style to serve and represent the community.

“My parents taught me to always respect your elders and that’s the type of spirit that we bring to our campaign. We want our team to be multigenerational. I believe that we are a healthier community and society when there are multiple generations working together and when we have a balanced government,” she said.

Protecting Washingtonians from a new income tax and having fully funded education are top priorities for Englund.

She described how Washington is able to be competitive for jobs because there’s no state income tax, and that’s what makes the state stand out.

“Education is a big issue, people value K-12 education and making sure kids have equal access. In Olympia, they have to make that the first item to address, not the last. For me, I don’t think the gut reaction should be, ‘We need more money, so we need to raise taxes’ — we should be more thoughtful. If we value education, then we should put it at the top and then figure out how to find ways

It was a unique set of emotional challenges that can, at times, feel overwhelming.

It’s like hiking the Mt. Rainier trail with a heavy backpack. The backpack has all the essential stuff in it and weighs you down sometimes.

But because it is essential stuff, you want to keep it for emotional reasons — we call it sweet burden.

I’ve never received any child support. I have to work extra hours and borrow money in emergencies.

Many times, I cannot sleep at night because there might be some expense that needs to be paid, and I don’t know where to find the money. I don’t want my kids to see those moments of weakness, because I didn’t want them to worry.

The biggest difference of being a mom and a single mom is we are expected to be superwoman. We spend the day working full-time, and then it’s mommy duty at home, it’s easy to forget about taking care of yourself. But those fade away when my kids smile and laugh!

HARD. It’s exasperating, it’s exhausting, it’s overwhelming, and it’s just me. It’s surviving a full day of work on three hours of interrupted feet-in-my-face sleep. It’s mastering simultaneously putting on makeup while singing Chinese poems and searching for that lost microscopic Lego man’s head. It’s unclogging the toilet, bringing home the bacon, going to the gym, doing the laundry (for the fifth time that day, as he gets potty trained), and making the tough decisions by myself. It’s remembering all the doctor/dentist appointments, cleaning the house, chopping up organic kale into itty bitty pieces and getting it into a patty so no one knows its “choy,” and trying to be present while winding up the Hot Wheels, and thinking about what bills I forgot to pay, then feeling guilty for being preoccupied. Actually, HARD is an understatement.

Yet the biggest challenge of being a single mom is seeing the shame and disgrace society has associated with the unconventional family structure. But in the end, I know in my heart that both my child and I will be just as strong, confident, motivated, capable, and humble. And we have created a mother-son bond that is unique, unbreakable, and unbelievable!

“It doesn’t matter beebee,” I told my sweet child, kissing him softly, “because we are both happy and you are loved so very much.”

Frances Louie

Stacia Kennedy

Felicity Wang

As I thought about what to write for this Mother’s Day edition and what challenges I experience as a single mom, my curious 3-year-old blindsided me and asked, “Mama, why are you and baba separated?”

Oh boy …. Of all the never-ending “why” questions out of this inquisitive little monster, this was one I dreaded most. Tears I didn’t want him to see welled up in my eyes, as I figured out how to explain to my innocent child about a world so complicated. Single parenting is

to save in our budget and be responsible stewards of taxpayer money,” she explained.

From Englund’s fintech experience, she learned that we can leverage technology for social good.

“The solution isn’t always more money, but we can be more creative in how we solve problems,” she said.

“People in the older generations tend to be more hierarchical, but I’m more of a flat organizational collaborator. Let’s hear everyone’s ideas and go with the best onetype of person,” she said.

If elected, Englund’s plan for the first few months would be to work with constituents to figure out what their smart and stretch goals are in terms of what they want to achieve.

“I am not Trump, anyone who knows me knows what I value. What I want to see in our state is balance. In this current storm of political bipartisanship, our campaign

I missed a ton of firsts. The first time he walked or his first word. I worked so many hours that he was the first one at daycare and the last one to leave. The best part of being a single mom was and still is seeing him smile. The days where he said, “Mom, thank you,” were the best days ever! *Stacia recently married. 

has the opportunity to be the ray of sunshine through the dark storm clouds of bipartisanship. We’re the next generation and we’re going to do things differently,” Englund asserted.

Englund has a close relationship with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.

She has been inspired by Chao as someone who has broken glass ceilings as the first Asian American woman appointed to the George Bush administration and lasted all eight years. Englund explained that most people burn out and physically cannot handle the work after a few years, but Chao persevered.

On the personal side, Englund’s husband of almost five years, Geoff, is the most important person in her life. This political campaign is a huge sacrifice, but Englund explained that her husband’s calling is to be a U.S. Marine, while hers is to serve the community.

“America is the home of immigrants and diversity. I feel like it would be a real honor if I become elected,” she said.

If elected, Englund would be the first Republican Korean American elected to the Washington state senate.

Englund encouraged young Asian Americans to be civically minded and to volunteer with her campaign. It’s a great way to learn by going out and doing it and meeting great people along the way. She looks for people who have integrity, character, and a good work ethic.

“Asian Americans have an opportunity to make history, I invite everyone to make history with me,” she said.

The primary election is on August 1 and the special election will take place on November 7. ■ Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.