VOL 36 NO 22 | MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

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VOL 36 NO 22

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

FREE 35 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Teardown to Tang-tastic The man who transformed an eyesore in West Seattle

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

BEFORE 3243 Belvidere Ave SW a year ago, with a tarp on the roof.

AFTER

You may not know his name.

But you’ve likely heard of one of his latest projects.

Jimmy Tang, 37, is the developer behind 3243 Belvidere Avenue Southwest in Seattle — once the neighborhood eyesore and worthy of only a teardown — now a gleaming, new, and Jimmy Tang modern luxury home.

Originally from Vietnam, Tang’s father (of Chinese descent) died when he

The newly-built house on the same lot.

see TANG on 16

BOUNDLESS Frank Irigon gets MLK Medal of Distinguished Service

Photos by Eugene Takawa

a startup devoted to empowering immigrants

Frank Irigon (left) and Rod Dembowski.

From left: Ron Goncalves, paralegal; Sedar Sutay, co-founder & CTO, Xiao Wang, co-founder & CEO; Doug Rand, co-founder & president; Crystal Cui, principal designer.

By Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Boundless is launching its first product to help U.S. citizens and green card holders apply for visas for their spouses.

Xiao Wang, co-founder and CEO of Boundless, plans to expand services in the future to assist other family members with visa applications.

The idea of empowering immigrants to feel confident about the visa process gnawed at Wang for years. After talking with hundreds of immigrants like himself, he saw how the legal immigration process was fraught with common problems and stresses. Every immigrant had a story sharing common themes. It humbled

■

Wang, listening to how hard it was for others to immigrate legally. In comparison, Wang said, “I had it easy.”

Wang became obsessed thinking about using technology to empower immigrants and ease the pain of the visa application process. “I would go to sleep thinking about this.

I would be at my day job thinking about this, and I thought about it on the weekends. You should talk to my wife,” he said softly, laughing. “I talked to enough immigrants and heard enough stories to see how the process was broken. There came a time for Wang when he decided, “I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do this.”

Wang realized people were resigned to a process that was see BOUNDLESS on 13

King County Counbilmember with recipients of the MLK Medal.

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Metropolitan King County Council presented Francisco “Frank” Irigon with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal of Distin-

guished Service. Irigon, a leader in the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community, was recognized on May 23 for decades of community activism and human rights leadership.

“There are few more deserving of this honor than Frank, known to

many as Uncle Frank,” said Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Rod Dembowski, who presented the award. “He is a tireless advocate, a humble agitator, who is see IRIGON on 11

Murakami challenging Lorena González

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Pat Murakami has thrown her hat in the ring for Seattle City Council, Position 9, currently held by Lorena González.

“I’m running for Position 9 because Seattle is broken,” Murakami told the Northwest Asian Weekly.

Lorena González

see MURAKAMI on 4

Pat Murakami

BLOG The wedding that made Publisher Ng cry. » see 10

KAKEHASHI AT SIFF Building bridges between two cuisines. » see 11

412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

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35 YEARS

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Photo by John Liu/NWAW

Mariners celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Night

On May 15, County Council Vice Chair Rod Dembowski unveiled a plaque honoring Hirabayashi in the County Council’s lobby, just steps away from where Hirabayashi was imprisoned for refusing to comply with the order, which ordered the forced removal of Japanese Americans.

Hirabayashi’s son Jay said it is “really significant for our family to have my dad’s sojourn recognized as a significant stand for the rights of all Americans.”

Also in attendance at the ceremony were members of Hirabayashi’s legal team, who successfully fought to overturn his conviction in the 1980s. 

Nadong commissioned to Army

From left: Calvin Terada, Nancy Hatfield, and Reverent Ogui of the White River Buddhist Temple. Ogui blessed the occasion with a prayer.

Mariners Asian heritage night.

Photo provided by the King County Council

Hirabayashi’s act of courage and resistance memorialized

Photo provided by Annie Nadong

The Seattle Mariners celebrated Asian Pacific Heritage Night at Safeco Field on May 15. Fans who attended got the chance to receive an Asian Pacific Heritage Night t-shirt. $5 of every ticket sold through a special online offer benefitted the Chinese American Citizens Alliance and the National Association of Asian American Professionals. 

Gavin Nadong (middle) with mom, Annie and dad, Erwin, at the military commissioning day at the USS Midway.

Gavin Nadong, 22, a 2012 graduate from Curtis Senior High School in University Place, has been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and will be serving with the Army Nurse Corps.

His mother shared with the Northwest Asian Weekly that her son recently graduated from San Diego State University as a distinguished military graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors.  Jay Hirabayashi (left) with King County Council Vice Chair Rod Dembowski standing next to the plaque of Jay’s Father, Gordon Hirabayashi.

Members of the Metropolitan King County Council unveiled a plaque of Gordon Hirabayashi for refusing to comply with Executive Order 9066.

Never Again—Executive Order 9066 Day

The Auburn City Council and Mayor Nancy Backus declared May 22, 2017 to be Never Again — Executive Order 9066 Day. On May 22, 1942, members of the Army traversed the Auburn Valley, stapling white, text filled posters on

On behalf of the City of Seattle, congratulations on the Northwest Asian Weekly's 35th Anniversary.

Thank you for everything you do for our community!

— Mayor Ed Murray

Photo provided by the City of Auburn

asianweekly

telephone poles with the message: “ …all persons of Japanese ancestry, both alien and nonalien, will be evacuated…by 12 o’clock noon, P.W.T., Friday, May 22, 1942.”

Evacuees formed roughly 28 percent of Auburn’s population. They were PTA presidents, farmers, mechanics, homemakers, and students — leaving their homes with only one week of preparation.

The declaration on May 15 was made to recognize the injustice of this dark chapter of American history, and in hopes that no other such orders will be made throughout America and the City of Auburn’s future. 

New image of Sky Metalwala

Bellevue police released a new ageprogressed image on May 13 of Sky Metalwala, a boy who has been missing since 2011. Sky is half Indian and half Caucasian. The image depicts what Sky would look like now, as a 7-year-old.

Sky has been missing since Nov. 6, 2011. His mother reported she had left him in her vehicle after it had run out of gas in Bellevue.

The photo was revealed on May 13 at a missing children’s safety fair in Tumwater. Bellevue’s Chief of Police was present, along with Sky’s father, Solomon Metalwala.

If anyone has any information about the case, call Bellevue Police at (425) 452-7658 or email JMccracken@bellevuewa. gov. 

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

YOUR VOICE

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MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

35 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Yale dean is placed on leave over offensive Yelp reviews

By PAT EATON-ROBB ASSOCIATED PRESS

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Yale University dean has been placed on leave over offensive reviews she made on Yelp, including one in which she refers to customers of a local restaurant as “white trash.”

Pierson College Dean June Chu issued a public apology after reviews from her personal Yelp account began circulating at the Ivy League school.

Pierson Head Stephen Davis sent an email on May 18 informing members of the residential college that Chu had been placed on leave after he discovered there Pierson College Dean June Chu were numerous “reprehensible posts,” not the two he had been led to believe existed.

“If you are white trash, this is the perfect night out for you!”

Chu wrote in a review of a local Japanese steakhouse.

Davis, who is in charge of the college’s administration, said that review and another that described movie theater workers as “barely educated morons” were “deeply harmful to the

denigrate or stereotype others, and that extends to any form of discrimination based on class, race, religion, age, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.”

Chu did not immediately return phone and email messages seeking comment.

Las week, she wrote to students that she was wrong to make the remarks.

“There are no two ways about it,” she wrote. “Not only were they insensitive in matters related to class and race; they demean the values to which I hold myself and which I offer as a member of this community.”

Chu was appointed Pierson’s dean in May 2016 after serving as an assistant dean of undergraduate students at Dartmouth College and before that as director of the Pan Asian American Community House at the University of Pennsylvania.

Her biography on the Yale website said that during her career she has “sought to help students not only succeed academically but to support their holistic academic experience and multifaceted identities.”

Davis did not directly address Chu’s long-term future with the school. ■

community fabric.”

He said he discovered that there were other “reprehensible posts” that represented a more widespread pattern, compounded the harm of the first two and damaged his trust in Chu and her ability to lead the college.

“Let me be clear,” he wrote. “No one, especially those in trusted positions of educating young people, should

Thailand’s chunky monkey on diet after gorging on junk food

By KAWEEWIT KAEWJINDA ASSOCIATED PRESS BANGKOK (AP) — A morbidly obese wild monkey who gorged himself on junk food and soda left behind by tourists has been rescued and placed on a strict diet of lean protein, fruits and vegetables.

Wildlife officials caught the chunky monkey — nicknamed “Uncle Fat” by locals — after photos of

the animal started circulating on social media last month.

Wild monkeys roam free in many parts of Thailand, attracting tourists who feed and play with the animals.

Most of the monkeys are macaques like Uncle Fat, and they typically weigh around 20 pounds.

Uncle Fat weighs three times that, tipping the scales at around 60 pounds. see MONKEY on 14

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MURAKAMI from 1 There had been some speculation that González would jump in the Seattle mayoral race. Those rumors were put to bed last week with her filing for re-election.

Murakami is the president of the South Seattle Crime Prevention Council. She said the city’s policies are largely to blame for the current homelessness crisis and drug epidemic. “Our leaders are creating a public safety and public health catastrophe,” Murakami said. “Councilmember González voted to allow developers to build housing in Seattle with a pittance of as little as two percent affordable units. How is that progressive?”

Murakami said she wants to restore the voice of neighborhoods. “Long-term residents are being priced out of the City, while gentrification is being fast tracked. …

I will listen to the residents of Seattle and ensure development works for everyone.”

Murakami is also involved in the local Japanese community. “I helped the Japanese community in the Central Area ensure a problematic program would not negatively impact the neighborhood,” she said. “I volunteered for many years for the JapanAmerica Society of the State of Washington as the English-speaking presenter, doing ‘Japan in a Suitcase’ presentations in schools.”

Murakami moved to Seattle in 1975, and is the owner of a computer firm based in Seattle, with offices in Mount Baker and Georgetown. She earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Washington and a master’s in Business Administration from the University of Puget Sound.

Murakami is married to husband Shiro and they have a son, Ryk.  For more information, visit votepatmurakami.org.

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Proposals will be received for E00490E17, Sediment Management Services for Wastewater Treatment Division; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on JUNE 2, 2017.

Total Estimated Price for Phase 1:

$1,400,000 Total Estimated Price for all Phases: $2,100,000 There is a 15% 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: Ruth Williamson, 206-263-9333, ruth.williamson@kingcounty.gov

YOUR VOICE

■ WORLD NEWS

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

asianweekly northwest

5

China rappers to Seoul: ‘Big brother’ opposes missile shield

By MATTHEW BROWN ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEIJING (AP) — A rap group backed by China’s government is warning South Korea in a music video that “you’re going too far” with the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system, as Beijing seeks to bring its state-supported cultural forces to bear in the international dispute.

A member of the group CD REV said government officials

Japan’s Princess Mako to marry ocean-loving legal assistant

By YURI KAGEYAMA ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOKYO (AP) — Princess Mako, the granddaughter of Japan’s emperor, will marry an ocean-loving legal assistant who can ski, play the violin and cook.

Japanese nuptials tend to be highly ritualized, especially for a royal family member, and the buildup to the wedding is likely to take time. A public announcement would come first, then a wedding date would be set and then the couple will make a formal report to the emperor and empress.

Quasi-public NHK TV reported the news on May 16 and the Imperial Household Agency confirmed the report to Japanese media who belong to an exclusive “press club” system.

But the agency declined comment to The Associated Press.

The man who won the princess’ heart spoke to reporters the following day, and his comments dominated national TV coverage though he gave few details.

Kei Komuro said he works as a legal assistant and had just spoken over the phone with Mako, who had been a fellow student at International Christian University in Tokyo.

“When the right time comes, I’d like to talk about it,” he told reporters, bowing repeatedly, see MAKO on 12

worked with them on the video and helped to promote it on foreign websites, many of which are blocked in China by official censors emboldened by the ruling Communist Party’s warnings against foreign “cultural infiltration.”

In the song, group members chant that “about THAAD we say no, no, no,” a reference to the U.S. Army’s missile defense system formally known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense.

Later in the song, they refer to South Korea, saying, “this time, kid, you’re going too far” and “your big brother’s annoyed,” a nod to China’s view of itself as the pre-eminent political and economic power in northeast Asia.

Beijing vehemently opposes the missile shield, saying its powerful radar will allow it to monitor missile launches, aircraft flights and other sensitive activities in northeastern China. South Korea and the U.S. say it is necessary to guard against North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons activities that threaten South Korea, Japan, U.S. territories

and possibly even the continental United States.

CD REV’s Wang Zixin told The Associated Press that the group hopes to rally Chinese worldwide against the deployment of THAAD and demonstrate China’s “tough stance” on the issue.

“We would see government reports and comments, but at the same time, we see the whole event from the position of Chinese,” Wang said.

In the video, the group also takes shots at what Wang referred to as “vulgar behavior” within China, such as vandalism against South Korean-made Hyundai vehicles.

The video — viewed by Wednesday more than 300,000 times on Facebook and Twitter and almost 2.7 million times on the Chinese video-posting site Maiopai — represents the latest example of China’s use of non-diplomatic channels to broadcast its displeasure with South Korea. see RAPPERS on 14

asianweekly northwest

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MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

35 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAY 26

ASIANS IN ENTERTAINMENT AND MEET ELAINE KAO & JIYON HALSTROM Stone Lounge Bellevue, 1020 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue 6:30 p.m.

27 HELPING TO SEED AND GROW CROPS AND MAINTAIN DANNY WOO GARDEN Danny Woo Children’s Garden, 310 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 9 a.m.

UW BOTHELL VSA PRESENTS, “LOTUS IN FULL BLOOM” UW of Bothell, 18115 Campus Way N.E., Bothell 5 p.m. $10–$12 uwbvsa@gmail.com

28 6TH ANNUAL PRIDE ASIA Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 12 p.m.

CELEBRATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, “OCA-GS SPRING LUNCHEON” Seattle Public Library

Auditorium 12:30 p.m.

JUNE 1

BRUCE LEE EXHIBIT PART 3 Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 10 a.m.

Free admission PUBLIC HEARING: CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT REZONE Seattle City Council, 600 4th Ave. Floor 2, Seattle 5:30 p.m.

3 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 MABUHAY MAJESTY Seattle Center 3 p.m.

8TH AYAME KAI GUILD ANNUAL STEAK DINNER Seattle Buddhist Temple, 1427 S. Main St., Seattle 5 p.m.

SEATTLE’S PHILIPPINE SOIRÉE, A CULTURAL NIGHT PRESENTATION

Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St., Seattle 5:30 p.m. fylpro.org

3&4 SEATTLE CENTER FESTÁL: PAGDIRIWANG PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL Seattle Center, Armory and Mural Amphitheatre Free admission festalpagdiriwang.com SUMMER MAHOUTO MARKET Nagomi Tea House, 519 6th Ave. S. Ste. 200, Seattle 11 a.m.

6 SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL UW, Meany Hall Studio 267 5 p.m. confucius.washington. edu

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THE HANDICRAFTS OF GUJARAT WITH MARILYN ROMATKA & COURTNEY NEVITT Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle 1 p.m. $15–$20 friendsofasianart.org

15 HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY LAND TRUST’S 25TH

ANNIVERSARY DINNER PARTY, “BUILDING MOMENTUM FOR OUR NEXT 200 HOMES” Edgewater Hotel, The Olympic Ballroom, 2411 Alaskan Way, Seattle 6 p.m. homesteadclt.org

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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.”

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MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

YOUR VOICE

■ AT THE MOVIES

asianweekly northwest

7

Filmmaker enters cage for directorial debut

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY A yoga class changed Jeff Unay’s life.

It was not the actual health benefits of the class. Unay was

introduced to Joe Carman at the gym. A grizzled mixed martial arts fighter in his late 30s, Carman was training for his next fight, although he admitted to Unay that he was not telling his family. “I need it in my life,” he told Unay.

The two hit it off and soon thereafter, Unay, a producer and

director, found a subject for his film.

He asked Carman if he could film him for what Unay thought would be a short documentary. Three and a half see FILMMAKER on 13

SIFF Partners with WASA to host second annual China Stars Showcase

By Tiffany Ran NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

“Knife in the Clear Water”

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)’s continued efforts to represent a diverse array of films from multiple countries include discovering many notable films coming out of China. This led the SIFF team to debut a China Stars Showcase in 2016, a film lineup dedicated to films from the Middle Kingdom, curated in partnership with WASA North America group, a Beijing-based arts, culture, and real estate firm promoting Chinese art in North America.

Members of the SIFF staff visited Beijing filmmakers at last year’s first Macau International Film Festival and reached out to the Beijing Film Academy. SIFF will be presenting five student films this year prior to China Stars featured films. This year’s China Stars lineup include films spanning all regions of China and covering different styles and genres.

“For SIFF, in our mission to be able to be a true international film festival, we’re always looking for cross cultural communications.

For us, it’s so important to have a special representation of contemporary Chinese films, as well as historical Chinese films, to be able to explore that long history. The relationship between China and the U.S. are so important to us today that being able to tell those stories through film, both established films and student films that we’re showing, is a terrific way for us

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35 YEARS

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

■ AT THE MOVIES

ANGKOR AWAKENS Malaysian filmmaker

A chilling, tearful, and hopeful survey of a nation

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY I wondered how the film could go on from the killing. And after watching awhile, I wondered how the country of Cambodia could go on from the killing.

Robert H. Lieberman, a film director, novelist, and student of the human condition, teaches physics at Cornell University. He opens his documentary “Angkor Awakens: A Portrait Of Cambodia” without any of the famous grisly Khmer Rouge massacre photos or film clips. The stacks of skulls, the scattered skeletons, the bodies, flesh still on, lying in pits, come later. No,

Lieberman begins his film with a long shot of a long stairway. A stairway running all the way up one side of a mountain.

And through the horrors, through confusion and resignation, that stairway stuck with me. Cambodia’s past, a long climb to great heights. Cambodia’s shame, a long climb by murderous lunatics who killed, depending on sources, 1.5 million people to twice that number. Cambodia’s future, for everyone agrees it must have some future, is a long climb to some unclear destiny.

What can Cambodia become? How to tell feasible from infeasible? What should Cambodia become? How to tell the right path from the wrong? Is democracy the see ANGKOR on 12

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By Tiffany Ran NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Chef Nobuo Fukuda never quite felt like he fit into the rigid confines and strict culture of his family in Japan. He moved to the United States at the age of 17 seeking a different life,

working in a ski patrol before becoming a selftaught chef and opening his own restaurant, Nobuo, at Teeter House in Phoenix, Ariz., and winning a James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest in 2007.

A childhood experience with a moon rock was Fukuda’s first bridge to American culture. His father wished for Fukuda to see KAKEHASHI on 15

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

What is the world coming to, when four white American guys cannot make it in an industry they know nothing about!

By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY This month, we learn that Asians can do other things besides engineering and doctoring. Like, Asians can be underwear models and they can make stop-motion films and they can get really, really mad when their K-pop gets co-opted.

Dat body

Eddie Huang is a restaurateur, television personality, writer, and is kinda known for his blunt, tell-it-like-it-is personality.

His memoir, “Fresh Off the Boat,” was adapted into the popular TV show of the same name. (Huang famously trashed the show for essentially pulling punches and

being too watered down.)

Now he can add professional underwear model to his list of achievements.

Huang teamed up with MeUndies for a panda-theme line, Pandamonium, and promoted it by taking off his clothes, reclining in sexy poses, and having his picture taken.

To GQ, he describes himself and the experience thusly: “I’m Asian, fat, and I’m short. These are like, the three cardinal sins of being an underwear model.”

Huang actually goes on to speak a lot about body image issues and selfacceptance in the interview, especially within the lenses of being Asian and being within cultures of hypermasculinity.

Here’s something really amazing that he

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A-pop! said: “A lot of times, as a man, you don’t feel empowered or enabled, or you’re not given the opportunity to speak about negative body image or how insecure you are about the way you look. We’re supposed to just be measured on our abilities and our work. This was a thing I really struggled with.”

OMG. <3

American Girl dolls, still making me feel inadequate decades after youth’s first blush

In the 1990s of my youth, my [white] female classmates were always bringing in American Girl dolls for show-and-tell on Fridays. I never had an American Girl doll because I was like, languishing in the purgatory of lower middle class for the first five years of my life, and my super Vietnamese mom refused to even spend dollar bills on brand name school supplies — so forget American Girl dolls, man.

I guess this is really the story of one young girl’s early life of wanting.

This was how American Girl dolls and their association with whiteness became cemented together in my mind. American Girl dolls were originally founded by a schoolteacher in 1986 and featured mail-order dolls that represented fictional historical characters.

For years, the line-up comprised a bunch of historical white girl dolls with white girl problems, like how to be a friggin’ American patriot and dump tea in a harbor and fight against the tyranny doled out by those taxloving redcoats. And there was one Black girl doll, Addie, with her historical Black girl problems — like how to become literate when you are owned by a white man who doesn’t even see you as a human being.

In 1998, Mattel acquired the parent company of American Girl and shifted from historical dolls to contemporary ones, probably because Mattel figured out that kids hate history — or that it’s real tricky to portray history from the point of view of anyone not-white.

Fast-forward to last month, the American Girl line-up has expanded to include the firstever ethnically Korean doll, Suzie “Z” Yang.

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Z is an American from Seattle (holla). She’s armed with a bunch of cameras, a tripod, and a tinyass dog, and one of her favorite things to do is shoot her own stop-motion films.

At first, I was like, “Ha ha! Try hard much?”

And then I was like, “God, what an annoying millennial.”

And then I was like, “At least she speaks English fluently.”

And then I was like, “How come she wears glasses only sometimes? Are those reading glasses or are they fake hipster glasses?”

And then I looked down at my phone, which has like, three stop-motion videos currently stored on it. I looked down at my annoying tinyass dogs. I looked across the street through my fake hipster glasses, which impair my vision because they are not real glasses, and I sort of see that it’s storming on the other side of the see A-POP on 12

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35 YEARS

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

OPINION

A wedding to emulate

Andy and Shinny serve tea to Shinny’s mom

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The lavish wedding of Pippa, Princess Kate Middleton’s sister, was held on the same day as our nephew’s modest wedding — on May 20. While Andy’s wedding might have been much smaller, it was hilarious and touching. I never cry at weddings, but I did during this one.

There were no celebrities at Andy’s wedding. But he and his bride Shinny were able to present an intimate and lovely occasion. Astonishingly, he managed to get a 20 percent discount from Palisade, the restaurant where his wedding was held. A

valuable tip for future couples to emulate.

How did they save money at the Palisade?

It’s one of the most elegant restaurants in Seattle with a view to boot! Were there strings pulled? None. Did he have connections?

Zero. More on that later…

The weather was perfect and the view was wonderful for pictures. They couldn’t have picked a better venue and date.

I have known friends who spent thousands of dollars just on the wedding gown and the tux. Let me assure you, those items like the gown, flowers, food, and decorations are important, but not the most important elements to make the event memorable.

What makes a wedding come alive? It is

the personal touches — the love that the new couple express to each other, and how they share the joy and fun with their guests.

Andy and Shinny aced it.

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

Andy Cheung and his best man danced to entertain the guests

The singing vow

Music and action ... “You are my destiny, my love…you are you are my everything, no matter where we are.”

As soon as Andy, a computer nerd and sports fanatic, opened his mouth to sing instead of saying his vows, we burst out laughing. It was worthy of a Broadway performance, and the melody was borrowed from a Korean drama!

We all cried — the bride, his mother, and me. Andy himself, too. But he insisted, that’s just “sweat on my face.” “...You’re my delight of all the one I am searching for no matter where we go. Our fate had led us here our destiny.”

Wow, we had no idea that he could be so bold and funny. At the end of the song, he kissed the hand of his bride. Every detail was noted, and it made for great memories and of course, photographs.

Andy brought down the house with humor to surprise his bride and impress his guests. He also danced to lead the beginning of the ceremony. He and his best man danced to hip hop music to entertain us, and the crowd went nuts.

Shinny shows off her gold bracelets, and gifts from in-laws and mom

Cutting the cake

The tea ceremony

The tea ceremony is part of a traditional Chinese wedding, to show respect and thank the parents by serving them tea. I persuaded Shinny to do one.

“You can get jewelry,” I said. And the couple also received red envelopes with lucky money. I am sure jewelry was not Shinny’s reason for doing it. It’s more fun for the guests to witness the ritual.

The couple also served tea to senior relatives including older brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, and grandparents. I did that at my own tea ceremony decades ago, by kneeling on the floor.

Today, couples usually stand during the ceremony. The bride usually wears a traditional red and gold dress, symbolizing good luck.

It could create embarrassing situations if the couple forgets to inform their loved ones about the ceremony, as the relatives might not have prepared the gifts. Shinny bought her Chinese bridal outfits from Modern Hair Design in Chinatown.

One sweet moment I will never forget was when Shinny switched from speaking English to Chinese, addressing her widowed mother. “You are welcome to come live with us. We sincerely invite you mom, to join us.”

Being a mother, I understand how wed-

Wedding ceremony

dings make some parents feel. While it is a happy occasion for the newlyweds, it is also a bittersweet time for goodbyes. Parents might feel like they’re being abandoned — when grown children fly out of the nest.

What a thoughtful gesture expressed at the right moment, at the right time and place, in front of family and friends! It meant a lot, not only to the mother, but to all the family members. see BLOG on 14

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

YOUR VOICE

■ EDITORIAL

asianweekly northwest

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OPINION

Rethink the wall The new face of illegal immigration

What comes to mind when you hear the words “illegal immigrant”?

According to a report released on May 22 by the U.S. Homeland Security Department, nearly 740,000 people who came by air or ship stayed past their visas during a recent 12-month period.

This confirms a report earlier this year from the Center for Migration Studies that more people joined the illegal immigrant population by remaining in the United States after their temporary tourist, student, or work visas expire — rather than by illegal border crossings. Roughly 40 percent of the 11 million undocumented workers in the United States are foreigners who arrived legally and simply never left.

Visa overstays accounted for less than 1.5 percent of the 50.4 million visitors who arrived by plane or ship during a recent 12-month period, the U.S. Homeland Security Department said. The report includes people who arrived in

the United States by plane or boat, but not ground border crossings.

President Donald Trump vowed during last year’s campaign to finish building a system to record when visitors leave the country by using biometric identifiers, like facial or iris scans, but he has focused much of his attention on building a wall and hiring more border agents. The proposed wall — at a cost estimated to be as high as $25 billion — would not address people who arrive legally.

Homeland Security last year published the number of overstays for the first time in at least two decades, saying 527,127 people who came by air or ship stayed past their visas from October 2014 to September 2015.

This year’s report added student and foreign exchange visitors and many visa categories for temporary workers, while last year’s only counted business travelers and tourists. Homeland Security said it will make additional

improvements in future reports, including more data on people who cross by land.

Canada occupied the top slot for overstays among business travelers and tourists, followed by Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, and the United Kingdom.

And China had the largest number of student overstays, followed by Saudi Arabia, South Korea, India, and Brazil.

Two of the Sept. 11 hijackers were student visa overstays.

Trump’s revised executive order temporarily banning travel from six terrorism-prone, Muslim-majority countries contains some language related to combating visa overstays.

The United States certainly needs to get control of its borders. But while Trump wrings his hands about immigration, he should remember that many people are here illegally simply because the government hasn’t come up with a way to keep track of them. 

■ LETTER

Summit gives thanks to the Chinatown-International District Dear Editor, For more than two years, Summit Sierra (Washington’s first charter public high school) has had the privilege of calling the Chinatown-International District (CID) home.

The community has made our students, families, and faculty feel welcome, as we provide this public school option to Seattle.

Just as the community has welcomed us with open arms, we hope to welcome the community into our home and provide a space for community meetings and gatherings.

We have had the pleasure of hosting the Friends of Little Saigon’s festival and neighborhood and community meetings.

We have also engaged community organizations from the CID and surrounding areas in our Expeditions course program. During the school year, Summit Sierra students take four electives in two-week sessions, where they explore new or existing passions, such as culinary arts, drama, music, sports, student leadership, photography,

IRIGON from 1 quick to raise his voice to call out injustice. While Frank is well known in the Asian Pacific Islander American community for his work, many King County residents have been positively impacted by his constant diligence in protecting our civil rights.”

Born in the Philippines, Irigon came to Washington state when his father was stationed at Fort Lewis.

Irigon also served in the military and used the GI Bill to attend the University of Washington (UW), where he received his bachelor’s degree and Master of Social Work. At the UW, Irigon was active in the anti-war and human rights movements. He was the first Asian American to serve on the UW student government (ASUW), and served as Vice-Chair of the UW Asian Student Coalition.

Irigon was a leader in the effort to preserve the

and video and film production. We work with community partners like the Massive Monkees, a world famous break dancing crew, to develop expeditions. The lists of electives offered are driven by student interests, enabling students to explore their passions and obtain real-world experiences outside of their core subjects.

The cornerstone of Sierra’s curriculum is each student’s personalized learning plan. We develop a personalized learning plan with each student and their family. Each student can go at their own pace and learn the material at a very deep level, only progressing once they’ve shown competency in a subject. Personalized learning plans also allow teachers to provide the right support to students at the right time so each student is served in the best way possible and reaches his or her maximum potential. Also, these plans allow on-track students to take on more challenging coursework to keep them interested and engaged. In addition, each student is paired with a mentor, who helps them set short-term and long-term goals and check in on weekly progress.

Chinatown/ International District. As a student, he protested the building of the Kingdome and became involved with several issues threatening the vitality of the International District.

Irigon developed and supervised a number of human service programs in the region and served as executive director of both International Community Health Services and Washington Asian Pacific Islander Families Against Substance Abuse. He has actively served his community since retirement, as an advocate for social justice, equality in the legal justice system, public education opportunities, and equity for King County’s retired and elderly residents.  Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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Dedication to the communities and families we serve is the driving force of our students’ academic success. Summit Sierra students continue to grow academically, and our school communities are thriving. The CID has given our families and students a diverse place to learn and grow. It’s a place where diversity is celebrated and where each student that walks through our doors is paired with the tools to succeed in any pathway they choose after graduation. In partnership with the CID, our families and students we will continue to work to ensure equitable outcomes for all students. ■ We are excited to share the Summit Sierra community with more students in Seattle. Summit Sierra is currently enrolling 9th, 10th, and 11th graders for the 2017-18 school year. For more information on enrolling a student, visit summitps.org/schools/washington/summit-sierra.

— Malia Burns Founding Principal and Executive Director Summit Sierra

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01160C17, Brightwater IPS Effluent Water Reuse; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on June 6th, 2017. Late bids will not be accepted.

The project is to modify the existing Brightwater (BW) Treatment Plant effluent water (EFF) at the Influent Pump Station (IPS) to reuse for Raw Sewage Pumps motors VFD units cooling system heat exchanger and to fill the air gap tank of the utility water supply system in the BWIPS, in-lieu of existing Reclaimed Water (RW).

Estimated contract price: $324,000 Pre-Bid Conference: May 31, 2017 @ 10:00AM, 22509 SR 9 SE Woodinville, WA 98072. A site tour will be conducted immediately following the conference.

Hardhats, vests, and safety boots are required for site tour.

There is a 5% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract.

There is a 5% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract.

Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement. kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/default.aspx

asianweekly northwest

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MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

MAKO from 5 wearing a suit and tie.

The couple, who are both 25, met at a restaurant in Tokyo’s Shibuya about five years ago at a party to talk about studying abroad, and they have been dating several times a month recently, NHK said.

Komuro was once tapped as “Prince of the Sea” to promote tourism to the beaches of Shonan in Kanagawa prefecture, a facet of his profile highlighted by local media.

Women can’t succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Mako’s father and her younger brother are in line to A-POP from 9 street because Seattle weather has been nuts lately, am I right? And then I was like, “Oh my God.” The best part of this realization is that Z is so much younger and more talented than I am. Her entire future is like, supernova bright.

Unlike mine. She gets like, a million hits on her YouTube channel.

Unlike me.

White American “K-pop” boyband dreams of making it in South Korea! Internet tries to quash dreams

succeed Emperor Akihito, but after her uncle Crown Prince Naruhito, who is first in line.

Once she marries, Mako will no longer be a princess and will become a commoner.

NHK said Mako has already introduced Komuro to her parents, and they approve. A formal announcement could come as soon as next month, Japanese media said.

Unlike royalty in Great Britain and other European countries, the emperor and his family tend to be cloistered, although they travel abroad and appear at cultural events.

Akihito, 83, is the son of Hirohito, Japan’s emperor during World War II.

commonly associated with K-pop music videos. Lazy.

Oh, and other people are ticked because of cultural appropriation.

TV cancellations and renewals

In general, nothing devastatingly egregious happened in TV cancellations and renewals this month.

The sword pretty much fell where I expected it to. Here’s a handy chart of Asian-y stuff that you can expect to see another season of, and stuff you have to say byez to (see chart on the right-hand side) *I have to tell you that these lists are not comprehensive because I have not watched every single TV show out there. I did my best!

‘Master of None’ is back!

I’m not super knowledgable about K-pop, but from what I understand, the training that is required to become a K-pop star is much like the training that ColdWar-era Russian kids underwent to become KGB agents. It is serious effin’ business, y’all.

So that’s why the internet was generally WTF that four mostly white guys from New York City are taking a comparatively lackadaisical approach to K-pop.

EXP Edition is a boy band that was actually conceived as a thesis project by Columbia grad student Bora Kim two years ago (it’s unclear whether Kim is still involved with the group). EXP Edition has one half-Japanese American member.

Otherwise it’s basically four mostly white American guys playing around with colored smoke bombs and having a pillow fight of sorts in a . . . subway tunnel?

While their recent single, “Feel Like This,” is sung in Korean, there is no insane choreography that is

35 YEARS Akihito expressed his desire to abdicate last year, and Japan has been preparing legislation especially for him so he can.

Until Japan’s defeat at the end of World War II, Hirohito was viewed as divine, and no one had even heard his voice.

But the times are changing, and the Japanese public harbors a feeling of openness and familiarity toward the emperor and his family. People are likely to see Mako’s marriage as a celebration, although the rituals will continue to be tightly orchestrated. ■

ASIAN-Y STUFF RENEWED “13 Reasons Why” — the internet keeps trying to convince me that Ross Butler (Singaporean, BritishDutch, Chinese-Malaysian) is gonna be a breakout heartthrob. Good job, Ross Butler’s PR person.

“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” — Ming-Na Wen! Ming-Na Wen! (And Hapa Chloe Bennet, but really Ming-Na Wen!).

“The Big Bang Theory” — a show so popular that it makes me not want to write about it. Co-starring Kunal Nayyar as Rajesh Koothrappali.

“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” — the romantic-yet-slightly-dimwitted male lead is super good-looking person Vincent Rodriguez III, who is good at defying stereotypes. Rodriguez III also breakdances like an angel.

“Designated Survivor” — Maggie Q and Kal Penn are in this show, and they also inexplicably play characters with white-people names, Hannah Wells and Seth Wright, which has not been explained yet, but I fully expect an entire episode dedicated to this next season.

“Elementary” — co-starring gorgeous and ageless vampire-person Lucy Liu as Jane Watson, whose whiteperson last name was explained at one point.

“Fresh Off the Boat” — everybody who reads this column must know this show already. But it bears repeating: all-Asian main cast includes Hudson Yang, Randall Park, Constance Wu, Forrest Wheeler, Ian Chen, and Lucille Soong.

“The Good Place” — co-starring beautiful people Jameela Jamil and Manny Jacinto. I know they are known for other things, but I’m being superficial here.

“Hawaii Five-O” — CBS’s inexplicably Asian AF show, starring Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, Masi Oka. Eighth season upcoming, which means Kim and Park (Oka has left the show) must be pulling in some serious cash money. Yay! “The Mindy Project” — heading into its final season. I used to care about this show a lot, and now I have to force myself to care. Sigh. Starring and created by Mindy Kaling.

“New Girl” — coming back for a super short eight-episode final season. Co-starring Hannah Simone.

“Superstore” — funny comedy with a really diverse cast. The APIs are Nico Santos, Nichole Bloom, and Kaliko Kauahi.

ASIAN-Y STUFF CANCELLED I don’t have much to say about Netflix series “Master of None,” which sprung from the creative minds of Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang — just that its entire second season was released this month, and I binged it in a single day. It is so freaking good, there’s a lot of stuff to chew on in terms of ethnic and cultural identity, and the Ansari-Yang duo deserve all of the acclaim they’ve been getting for this series. ■ Stacy Nguyen can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.

ANGKOR from 8 only solution? Lieberman starts with the horrors, sensibly enough, not in terms of horror, but in terms of a game plan.

The genocide of Cambodians by Cambodians, the Khmer Rouge massacre. It’s what many Americans know about the country through movies ranging from “The Killing Fields” to “Swimming to Cambodia,” and the lesser-known “Enemies of the People,” featuring surviving members of the Khmer Rouge leadership.

The killing also sits heavy in the minds and souls of many survivors and their families. Many don’t want to talk about it, especially the ones who went through it. They’re ashamed of losing their families. They’re ashamed of what they had to do to survive, which sometimes included killing their own.

The Cambodian concept of “baksbat” (translating

“2 Broke Girls” — Matthew Moy was part of the main cast. I totally abhorred this crappy show. Moy played an effeminate, perma-foreigner Asian stereotype and everyone making this show seemed to be okay with that BS. I’m glad this piece of garbage finally got cancelled.

“Dr. Ken” — starring and developed by actual medical doctor and super funny person Ken Jeong. This show’s all-Asian cast included Suzy Nakamura, Albert Tsai, and Krista Marie Yu. Everyone I talked to said they thought this show was bad when it first came on, but I really dug it because our moms deserve a PG, multi-camera sitcom with a laugh-track, too. I’m sad to see this one go, but I guess this frees up Ken Jeong to go do other hilarious stuff. For one, he just got cast in “Crazy Rich Asians,” with Constance Wu. "Powerless" — you probably haven’t heard of this awkwardly dull DC Universe comedy (an oxymoron if there ever was one) because this year was its freshman season. No one watched it because it was not a very entertaining show. It did feature two Asian Hapas, Vanessa Hudgens and Danny Pudi.

ASIAN-Y STUFF THAT IS ON THE BUBBLE STILL! “Quantico” — even if this one is eventually cancelled, I’m pretty sure “Quantico” lead, Priyanka Chopra, will be okay! She’s Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s foil in the new “Baywatch” movie, you know. (Johnson is half Samoan, which puts him firmly in the PI of API. He’s so Asian-adjacent! He’s so one of us! I feel like people always forget this about him! So I like to remind people! I love you, Dwayne!)

as “broken courage”) resembles Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but includes the notion of submission, giving up on life, living with one’s feelings without expressing them, and the loss of any idea of togetherness. This, Cambodian mental health experts say, forms a way of life for many survivors of the genocide.

And a people, not to mention a nation, must have a concept of togetherness to go on. Cambodia, some of the talking heads suggest in the film, can survive, because “baksbat” keeps it in survival mode. But it cannot truly thrive. It cannot assemble a forward-thinking and feeling version of itself.

Not everyone agrees on what way “forward” lies.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had many ideas.

He’s controversial, and he defends police action against Cambodian protesters by saying that Americans don’t blame Obama for police actions in America. He may have

a point.

But younger people ask questions now. And older people sometimes answer. People take to the streets, and danger, and sometimes death, results. However, says a young woman, she’s excited by the energy on the streets, energy in the air. Energy, to take the country and the people, somewhere new. Up a new staircase to a new peak. ■ “Angkor Awakens: A Portrait Of Cambodia” opens Friday, May 26, at Seattle’s Seven Gables Theatre, 911 N.E. 50th Street. Director Robert H. Lieberman will take questions at showings on Friday and Saturday nights.

For prices, showtimes, and more information, visit www. landmarktheatres.com/seattle/seven-gables-theatre.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Have a story idea that you think would fit perfectly in Northwest Asian Weekly?

We want to know about it. Send it to us at info@nwasianweekly.com.

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

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Predictions and advice for the week of May 27–June 2, 2017

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — Listening carefully to instructions at the beginning should allow you to avoid costly mistakes down the line.

Dragon — As eager as you are to offer solutions and suggestions, often the best thing is simply to hear your partner out.

Monkey — At some point, you may have to concede that too many alterations indicate a less than desirable fit overall.

Ox — Despite your strong independent streak, you should still try to work collaboratively for a worthy cause.

Snake — Although mistakes have been made, there is no reason to continue them going forward. All it takes is for you to decide that another way is better.

Rooster — A deeper understanding can only happen if you look beyond the surface and dig down to what is underneath.

Tiger — Something that started out as a passing fancy is quickly turning into a much more substantial endeavor.

Horse — Your sense of humor could attract the attention of a like-minded soul. Enjoy the camaraderie that develops from it.

Dog — An odd request has you a little suspicious.

There is undoubtedly more to the story, but it may not amount to much in the end.

Rabbit — Are you keeping score in matters of love? Set the right tone by leaving the past where it belongs — behind you.

Goat — Just as quickly as calm has descended, it could evaporate. Do your best to insulate yourself from these changes.

Pig — While there are many similarities between you and a new friend, it is the differences that makes your time together interesting.

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.

FILMMAKER from 7 years later, Unay had a full-length documentary.

Shooting without a crew, Unay carried his 25-pound camera and followed Carman to the gym, work, and to his fights. He also spent a great deal of time at the Carman home filming the family. Morning and night, Unay was a fixture aside Carman and his family who, for the most part, did not interact directly with Unay while filming.

The movie is uncomfortably compelling as the sport it covers.

“The Cage Fighter” is not an underdog story or a triumph of the competitive spirit or someone overcoming adversity. It is about family and coping with its struggles.

Carman is a flawed person. He supports his family as his wife suffers from an undisclosed illness. He has four daughters from a previous marriage, and they range in age from pre- to early teens. The film covers a custody issue that is heart-wrenching for a variety of reasons. Overall, from all indications, he has carved out an existence with a loving family that is disrupted due to his thirst to fight. He doesn’t tell his family that he is fighting again, but admits that it is the only thing that makes him feel good. There is also an underlying issue with his father, which might serve as a reason for his continued fighting career.

Carman works as a boilermaker and master plumber, and fought in MMA when he was younger. At some point, he told his family he was done with the sport. However, Carman is not a remarkable fighter. Although in shape, he does not

BOUNDLESS from 1 at best confusing, scary, and complicated, and at times, expensive. “All these negative adjectives — they were almost like a rite of passage for people coming to America. Not only do you have to create a new life and leave everything behind and come to this new country, but you must also navigate the immigration system.”

The more Wang talked in depth with people about their journey through the immigration process, the more Wang saw the same “pain points” over and over again. The realization consumed Wang, and he began formulating the idea for Boundless with Greg Gottesman, fellow Stanford alumni and managing director of Pioneer Square Labs (a startup studio).

Pioneer Square Labs partnered with Boundless late last year and began creating technology to change the way people apply for visas. There was no single event or “aha” moment for Wang that compelled him to leave Amazon to build a startup company designed to empower immigrants. “It just became something I couldn’t NOT do.”

“It’s not just about me,” said Wang when asked about the personal satisfaction of doing something meaningful.

“Boundless can truly improve the lives of millions of people and their families trying to make a new life in America.” If all it takes is getting information to folks who need it, but can’t find it, “it’s the least I can do. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make sure this (Boundless) becomes successful.”

Before forming Boundless, Wang spent nearly three years at Amazon. He was a senior product manager and helped launch Amazon’s first cashier-less convenience store before formally resigning this past February. He emigrated from Nanjing, China to the United States when he was 3 years old, joining his parents who had left Wang behind in China with

sport the ripped muscles and carved abdominals as one of his opponents in the film. MMA is a sport that “eats its own,” as once skilled fighters that age are usually consumed by much younger, quicker, and stronger fighters. This is the same here, as Carman faces an opponent who is at least 10 years younger.

The result should not be surprising.

Upon Carman’s request, Unay didn’t tell his family until two months into the project that he concealed the fact that he was training for an MMA fight.

When he returned from a fight with his face bruised and battered, Carman revealed the truth. Unay captured the interaction between Carman and his family.

The documentary does not present itself as a traditional one.

There are no first person interviews or people talking to the camera. Unay made a concerted effort to show the reality of the situation and the raw emotion that comes with it.

Maintaining a full-time job, Unay spent most of his spare time filming the Carmans or sifting through what he had filmed. “Instead of going home at night and sitting in front of my TV, I just decided to go over to their (Carman’s) house and filmed them watching TV.” In one scene, the Carman children discuss whether or not they should confront their father about his fighting. The conflict between the children is hard to watch, as they are concerned that telling the truth would disturb their mother and cause further trouble. “It’s just about people,” Unay said about his decision to make “The Cage Fighter.” “At some point, you

have that sense that a person cuts you off,” explained Unay. “I filmed with Joe for three and a half years and never once did he (Joe) or anyone in his family tell me to turn the camera off.”

“It’s so rare to be so emotionally honest in front of the camera.”

Unay started the film in 2013. There were 149 “shoot” days, including some long hours. There were 420 hours of footage, and the editing took 7 months to complete.

It was Unay’s directorial debut. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University in New Orleans and then attended Full Sail University, where he completed the Computer Animation program. He took a job with Weta Digital, a company out of New Zealand, where he worked on two Academy Awardwinning visual effects films: King Kong (2005) and Avatar (2009). He won a Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Live Action Character in a Motion Picture for Avatar. He had the chance to work with filmmaker James Cameron on the set of Avatar. ■

extended family members to pursue a better life in America.

Wang ultimately graduated from Stanford with a master’s degree in engineering, and graduated from Harvard Business School with a Master’s in Business Administration. He continued his upward professional trajectory, eventually landing at Amazon.

officials involved in immigration policies, so they can provide the latest information to users. By creating a database of all available objective information, the Boundless’ technology can predict the outcome of the process and how fast it will take, to the rate of speed of processing different types of visa applications processed at specific locations. Users will have all the information they need to make their decisions with peace of mind.

Wang is committed to ending the common stresses and obstacles shared by immigrants pursuing a new life in America, particularly in today’s climate of heightened uncertainty.

Boundless wants people to feel confident that they have completed forms accurately, that they understand the process, know how long it takes (six to nine months), how much it will cost, and what happens after you submit your application packet. “That’s one of the common stress points,” said Wang, “because once you mail your application, it’s out of your control.” Boundless tracks applications and provides alerts at every step, from start to finish.

Boundless plain-talked ambiguous questions on visa applications, so people feel comfortable and understand what they need to do and how to provide accurate information — particularly useful for immigrants whose first language is not English. “We guarantee satisfaction,” said Wang. He can’t ensure all applications will get approved, but he’s sure users will be happy and satisfied with the level of service provided. ■

Technology and human ingenuity versus the immigration process

An immigrant himself, Wang has combined the finest technology with a human touch, to gather, collate, track, and provide information in a way that’s understandable, accessible, and more widely available than any resource currently out there. The internet gives you piecemeal information on all sorts of immigration issues and it can quickly take you into a maze of rabbit holes.

Boundless is a team of six people that Wang will double over the next two months. Most of the current team members immigrated to America and share Wang’s passion for empowering immigrants.

Users are not charged for services (about $500) until Boundless sends a completed visa application for legal review by outside, independent immigration attorneys. Although the process is the same for everyone, people’s situations and backgrounds are individual and unique. Boundless may decide providing information and tracking services is insufficient and legal advice is required. Wang has consulted with top immigration and ethics attorneys and has the Washington State Bar Association’s support, so they don’t cross over into the unauthorized practice of law.

Boundless collects data and objective information published by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and stays in regular contact with government

• June 1 – SIFF Cinema Uptown Theater, 7 p.m.

• June 4 – Kirkland Performance Center, 3:30 p.m.

For more information, visit thecagefighterfilm.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/cagefighterfilm.

Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Boundless does not provide legal advice, and the information they give is free. People can sign up now for more details at www.boundless.co.

Arlene can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

14

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

MONKEY from 4 “It was not easy to catch him,” said Kacha Phukem, the wildlife official who conducted the capture and rescue on April 27. “He was the leader of his pack, and when I tried to go in, I had to fight off a flock of them with sticks.”

The subordinate monkeys fed into Uncle Fat’s bad habits.

“He had minions and other monkeys bringing food for him but he would also re-distribute it to younger monkeys,” said RAPPERS from 5 Last year, there were reports that China had stopped giving approval to performers of Korean pop music, or “K-pop,” to play shows in China, on the heels of Seoul signing the agreement to host THAAD. In March, South Korean officials voiced concerns that Beijing was limiting tourism to their country as an unofficial sanction.

South Korean retailer Lotte, which provided the land for the THAAD deployment, has also been boycotted by

BLOG from 10

Saving money

To save money, our nephew decided to have a buffet lunch, rather than a dinner.

A dinner can cost double or thrice as much.

Andy invited 30 close friends and relatives, who traveled from Hong Kong, New York, and Los Angeles, to the feast buffet for dinner.

Instead of buying fresh flowers, one of his relatives made silk flowers for the wedding. Also, the smaller wedding cake was complemented with colorful cupcakes. I prefer my individual chocolate cupcake to a slice of wedding cake.

To pay for the wedding, Andy bought 44 Costco gift cards. Palisade is part of

35 YEARS

Supakarn Kaewchot, a veterinarian in charge of the monkey’s diet.

“After he ate food given by humans for a while, he developed a fat mass, which became a type of benign tumor,” Supakarn said. “He is now in critical condition where there is a high risk of heart disease and diabetes.”

Uncle Fat is believed to be between 10 and 15 years old.

To help him lose weight, his new diet is limited to 400 grams worth of lean protein, fruits and vegetables twice a day.

Supakarn said she hopes that within a few months they can consider releasing him to the wild.

She said Uncle Fat is an example of why people shouldn’t feed wild monkeys unhealthy food.

“I understand that people feel sorry for the monkeys and want to feed them when they see them,” Supakarn said. “But please don’t feed them food that people like to eat like snacks and soda. It is very bad for their health and the problem is entirely man-made.” ■

Chinese customers and seen construction halted on an amusement park it was building in northeastern China.

Such moves underscore a willingness on the part of China’s Communist Party leaders to fan the flames of antiSouth Korea sentiment, said Korea expert Sung-Yoon Lee of Tufts University in Massachusetts.

“THAAD retaliation is a Chinese governmentengineered project,” Lee said. “It can be controlled and reversed by Beijing. ... The Chinese public has no interest in the complexities of missile defense systems.”

South Korea’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the song, and the video did not appear to garner much attention on the country’s social media platforms.

During a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, South Korea’s new president, Moon Jae-in, said he was aware of Chinese worries about THAAD and asked Xi to help resolve difficulties facing South Korean businesses operating in China. ■

Costco’s gift card program. For every $100 spent, customers receive 20 percent off. Andy saved $880.

“You are so cheap,” I joked.

“No, I am being smart,” he replied.

Create your own fun day

I have seen brides and grooms look exhausted on their big day because they have overworked themselves to prepare for the event. But Andy looked sharp, and Shinny looked radiant. I have never been to a wedding with so much laughter from the couple and the guests alike.

The bride giggled so much that I swore that she must have done it at least several hundred times. Her laughter sounded like music to my ears.

My advice to those planning their weddings — it’s your day, do whatever

you want and have fun.

Most traditional weddings tend to be serious and formal. From the music, to the ceremony, to a romantic setting, to the flowers, everything is so predictable in most weddings. It’s fine if that’s what you want, I am cool with that.

However, if you want to make it unique like my nephew’s wedding, a little originality such as designing your theme song and ordering the kind of festive cake, which guests enjoyed, truly made a difference.

On your wedding, create something you can claim to be your own. Don’t just copy from another wedding. Happy wedding day! ■

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

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15

“When I first moved to Seattle 12 years ago, I was told I didn’t need to subscribe to the Seattle Chinese Post because there are many other free options. I disagree. The Chinese Post is very full and a complete newspaper with a variety of news stories. I know this paper is more influential than others. I just renewed my subscription for another three years.”

— Tong Tong, technology research tester “The Northwest Asian Weekly and the Seattle Chinese Post serve an incredibly diverse community that has shaped our city’s identity for generations. Congratulations to Assunta and the rest of the newspaper staff who have dedicated themselves to ensure the Chinatown-International District and the Asian Pacific Islander community continue to have a strong, independent voice.”

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CHINA STARS from 7 to develop,” said SIFF’s new executive director, Sarah Wilke.

“Knife in the Clear Water” follows a farmer in a primarily Muslim Ningxia Province, who is asked to sacrifice a beloved bull in a religious ceremony. A newly restored version of “Love and Duty,” a 1931 silent film features China’s renowned starlet Ruan Lingyu in a romantic drama filmed at the height of Shanghai’s “Old Hollywood” era.

A more recent “Song of Cotton” is based on a short story by National Book Award winning author Ha Jin and follows a caretaker who develops a bond with her patient, an ex-boxer who suffers from dementia.

In fantasy-comedy “The Door,” an auto mechanic finds a door to an alternate universe where different decisions in his life led him to become a wealthy playboy, but his efforts to exist in both dimensions brings up humorous and expected problems.

In “Soul on a String,” a devoted Buddhist encounters a varied cast of characters on his trek through Tibet, while a pair of meteorological engineers fall in love during the difficult construction of the Qinghai-Tibet railway in “The Beautiful Kokonor Lake.”

Most unique and notable are the additions of two animated films, including “Have a Nice Day,” a noir feature with Tarantino-esque dialogue making its North American debut through SIFF, and family friendly “Tea Pets,” a “Toy Story” spin on clay figurines said to bring good luck to tea drinkers.

WASA’s collaboration with SIFF precedes the art firm’s much anticipated opening of its first North American branch in downtown Bellevue, where Artistic Director Eugene Zhang and his team plan to feature a rotating exhibit of works by Chinese artists to include paintings, and pottery.

“Seattle is an international city that has more recently included more of our friends from China. It’s also a city developed around tech and IT, so there are great advancements here in engineering and science. Our

KAKEHASHI from 8 be “kakehashi,” — a bridge between Japanese culture and the rest of the world. “Kakehashi: A Portrait of Chef Nobuo Fukuda” is Seattle-based filmmaker Andrew Gooi’s first full-length film derived from “Food Talkies,” Gooi’s series of food shorts, which earned him two James Beard nominations this year.

Gooi studied and worked as an engineer in Arizona and picked up filmmaking as a hobby. During an economic downturn, Gooi jumped into professional video work and he was hired as a videographer by a grocery company to create videos introducing their food.

“Food Talkies” was born from his desire to create a cinematic short introducing a pig trotter vinegar soup made by his grandmother. The series became his hobby and passion project, which Gooi did for free alongside his full-time job. “Food Talkies” came with a wave of cinematic chef-focused food media, like “Chef’s Table,” “Mind of a Chef,” and “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” but Gooi chooses to spotlight lesser known chefs including Gloria Perez, the matriarch behind Seattle’s famed La Carta de Oaxaca, and Mr. Tam, a Hong Kong pastry chef making mooncakes by hand, to name a few.

“The Door”

“Song of Cotton”

company made the decision to develop in the Seattle area to broaden its artistic scene to include more art and artists from China,” said Zhang.

“Back then, there were many prestigious Chinese who sought to exhibit abroad. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to come, but they didn’t have the proper venue a vehicle to facilitate it. We hope to provide more opportunities for them by opening a U.S. branch,” he adds.

The firm aims to create exchange programs between Western and Chinese artists. Zhang hopes through SIFF China Stars and other events to continue bringing Chinese filmmakers to the United States, with hopes for collaboration, inspiration, and promotion of China’s vibrant and fast developing art scene.

While the films for this year’s showcase were selected to touch on diversity of regions and genres, Zhang plans, with the increasing number of films in the running, for next year’s lineup of films to be picked through submissions only and with more rigorous judging in efforts to raise the bar, thereby the quality of work shown each year.

“The Seattle Film Festival is among the nation’s most prestigious in film festivals. This was part of our decision to begin our North American efforts here in Seattle, particularly with promoting and doing outreach of films.

We want to invite Western filmgoers to enjoy more Chinese films, but also from our observation, we’re not seeing as much participation of Chinese Americans in these film festivals and our hope is to draw them in and provide them a medium where they can get to know such films as well,” said Zhang of his goals next year.

At a recent China Stars press conference hosted by SIFF and WASA North America, Chinese oil painter Hongtao Li gifted one of his paintings to SIFF to signify the partnership and collaboration between the two groups. Li’s work will be among the first to be exhibited at WASA’s Bellevue branch upon its opening in September 2017.

SIFF’s China Stars showcase launches on June 1 with a WASA Showcase event and it will host its inaugural China Stars Awards on Friday, June 9 at the Pan Pacific Hotel to honor actress Qin Yi with a Lifetime Achievement Award and “The Door” director Dong Liang with a China Stars Emerging Artist Award. 

“It’s because of films like ‘Chef’s Table’ and ‘Jiro,’ because of people like [David Gelb] and other filmmakers, who have created food documentaries, that I’ve been fortunate to have this platform and interest,” said Gooi.

“I jokingly tell people I’m the poor man’s ‘Chef’s Table.’ There’s a lot of chefs and individuals who are not chefs, but have great food stories in this world and we’re all kind of doing our part in capturing the story.”

Fukuda is no Jiro, Gooi is quick to say. It’s easy with the rise in popularity of films like “Jiro” for many to view Fukuda, his food, and “Kakehashi” as being similar, but this is not the case.

“As I filmed more, I realized that Chef Nobuo’s story is misunderstood from a lot of editorials in Arizona that I read. A lot of times, he’s treated like Jiro, a chef that’s been perfecting something for 20 or 30 years, and he’s so anti-that. He’s not anti as in he hates it, it’s just that he’s so free-spirited to be bogged down by one thing. That’s one of the main reasons why he left Japan,” said Gooi.

In “Kakehashi”, the narrative switches between the peace and serenity Fukuda has in his present as a chef at Teeter House, with the frenetic energy of Japan where he returns to revisit and recount his past. Fukuda did not set out to be kakehashi, but his father’s

words remained in his mind, and became the title of a film that chronicles his journey to his restaurant kitchen in Arizona. His menu, diverse in range and techniques, include an amalgamation of flavors that include raw fish and yuzu, to balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese.

At Teeter House, Gooi introduces majestic lighting, a serene pace, and a languid storytelling of Fukuda’s past. In Japan, Fukuda walks among the busy fish market, catches up with old friends at a karaoke bar, and interacts with his sister in their childhood home.

His life, now made up of the juxtaposition of these two opposing places, comes together in this 45-minute biopic where skilled pacing plays as strong of a role in narrative as the actual story itself. “Kakehashi” contains much of the cinematic elements that resemble mainstream food documentaries, but evolves beyond a mere glorification of a chef’s craft to tell an immigrant story where one builds homes in two countries, and creates a legacy that acts as a bridge between cultures. 

For more information on WASA North America and China Stars, visit siff.net and wasaglo.com.

Tiffany can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

For more information about Food Talkies and “Kakehashi,” visit foodtalkies.com.

Tiffany can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

16

35 YEARS

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2017

TANG from 1

BEFORE

was only four months old. He and his siblings were adopted by an uncle, and a church sponsored the family to move to the United States in 1984.

A product of Seattle Public Schools, Tang said his childhood was rather uneventful and he mostly stayed out of trouble. “It wasn’t too bad for me. I made a lot of friends, and I’m easygoing.”

Tang attended the University of Washington (UW) and in his junior year, while pursuing a computer science degree, he interned at the Bon Marche. He impressed his boss so much, the company kept him on and eventually he moved into the IT department. He worked with the company through college and beyond. Tang also earned a master’s in computer science from the UW. Most recently, he worked at Expedia as a systems application engineer.

Techy stuff to real estate

Tang said it was the book, “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” by Robert Kiyosaki that opened up his eyes to the benefits of passive income.

That was in 2004.

“I started looking for rentals and bought my first two duplexes when I was 24, in Tacoma,” said Tang.

How does a 24-year-old buy two duplexes, you might wonder?

“In 2004, money was free,” Tang laughed. “I got a 5/1 ARM (5/1 adjustable rate mortgage with an interest rate that is initially fixed for five years then adjusts each year. The “5” refers to the number of initial years with a fixed rate, and the “1” refers to how often the rate adjusts after the initial period.) with zero down on one duplex — it was my primary residence.

And the other was an investment property and I put 20 percent down from money I saved up from my job.”

Tang said he also bought homes at a discount, renovated them, and sold them for a profit — known as a “flip.”

“I did one to two flips at a time. I did well until the market crashed in 2007. I got out of flipping for awhile and just held onto the rentals that I had.”

Tang got back into real estate in 2012 through wholesaling (A real estate wholesaler contracts with a home seller, markets the home to his potential buyers, and then assigns the contract to the buyer.) to build up some capital. He also flipped one or two homes at a time while working full-time at Expedia, a job that he quit in September 2014. “I’ve just been doing this (real estate) full-time since then.”

AFTER

3243 Belvidere

Lessons learned

As far as construction projects go, Tang said Belvidere was relatively painless because he hired a general contractor who had more experience with these types of builds.

He said he learned a lot and his biggest takeaway for next time is, he will spend more time in the planning phase — on the architecture and design.

“We have a ladder which goes up to the rooftop deck. To me, it’s not the best location for it. I would definitely change the way we enter or go up to the rooftop deck.”

He also said he would switch the direction of the staircase from the main floor to improve the flow and make the kitchen feel more spacious.

“It didn’t look that way (so tight) on the plans,” said Tang.

Tang beat out 40 other interested buyers for 3243 Belvidere Avenue Southwest in the North Admiral neighborhood of West Seattle in May 2016 — the house described by the listing agent as a “major fixer” and “dangerous to enter.” Only licensed and bonded contractors were allowed inside, and only after signing a liability waiver.

The house had been vacant for at least two years. There was a tarp on the roof, the floors and ceilings were collapsing, and it was infested with mold.

The asking price was $200,000. Tang’s winning bid was more than double that, at $427,000. To put that in perspective, five years ago, the average house in Seattle (in move-in condition) cost a little under $427,000.

This house wasn’t just a simple flip.

Tang tore it down to its foundation and after waiting five months for permit approval, construction began in November.

The brand new luxury home hit the market on May 11.

Formerly a three bedroom, one bathroom house at 2,100 square feet, it has been transformed into a four bedroom house with three and a quarter baths, and a total of 2,845 square feet of living space. Tang added another story and a rooftop deck with stunning 180 degree views of Puget Sound.

Tang shrugged off criticism of the modern design, and that it doesn’t fit with the neighborhood. “I know everyone has their opinion, and I respect that.” Tang said. “You can’t build for everybody. And there are people who like it.” He added that he wasn’t the first to build a modern home in that neighborhood.

“To capture the view, it (the house) needed a rooftop deck.

And I can’t do that with a craftsman (style home).”

Tang also believes the new house increases the values of surrounding homes and the neighborhood.

He has received and accepted an offer as of May 20. The sale is currently pending.

Those TV shows…

When asked what advice he would give to people who have watched flipping shows on TV and now want to do it in real life, Tang laughed and said, “It doesn’t take 30 minutes!”

“Overestimate the time (to finish the job) and budget — add a contingency fund,” he said. “Run the deal past other, more experienced investors and make sure all your numbers, your rehab, and ARV (After Repair Value) are right.”

Tang said too often, inexperienced flippers will miss major issues like the foundation, or they don’t do a sewer scope. It can cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix.

What makes him tick

In his down time, Tang enjoys all kinds of sports and staying active. “I like dancing, I used to breakdance,” he said, “but I’m 37, so I think I’m retired off of that.”

Always impeccably dressed in fitted button down shirts and pressed pants, Tang has a girlfriend (sorry ladies!) and he enjoys dining out and catching up with friends. His favorite food is Vietnamese and his go-to dish is oxtail pho. He tries it at every Vietnamese restaurant that has it on the menu, and he said the Great American Casino in Tukwila serves the best oxtail pho. “It has smaller chunks, smaller pieces that fall off the bone, I love it.”

His outlook on life, “Follow your vision. You can’t please everybody, and have faith it will work.” ■ You can follow Jimmy’s latest projects on tangrei.com and facebook.com/tangrei.

Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

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Rain or shine.

PRIZES: First Place: $250 + goodies + announcement in NWAW/SCP Second Place: $150 + goodies + announcement in NWAW/SCP Third Place: $100 + goodies + announcement in NWAW/SCP Honorable Mentions: Announcements in NWAW/SCP *If you need newsprint for your design, please come to the Asian Weekly’s office at 412 Maynard Avenue South to pick up back issues.

2015 1st place winner julie stone & Karissa Lew ► bit.ly/23vQmIK

2016 1st place winner rebecca bartenetti ► vimeo.com/175177387