VOL 41 NO 20 | MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022 by Northwest Asian Weekly

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VOL 41 NO 20 MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

FREE 40 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Local residents dismayed at Marcos Jr. winning Philippine presidency

Images provided by scam victim

$170,000 lost to Pig Butchering scam

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Left: Singaporean passport of the scammer. Right: Message to victim about MDTCOIN

By Becky Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Photo by Assumta Ng/NWAW

“Bongbong Marcos winning the presidential elections gives many of us pause,” said Maria Batayola of the Filipino American Political Action Group of Washington. The namesake son of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos appeared to have been elected Philippine president by a landslide in an astonishing reversal of the 1986 “People Power” prodemocracy revolt that ousted his father. Batayola said, “No matter how Marcos denies the cruel corrupt dictatorship of his father through martial law, many Filipinos and the world remember. In the 1980s, many of us Filipinos and our allies protested the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship. This does not bode well for our people.” Marcos Jr. had more than 30.8 million votes in the unofficial results with more than 97% of the votes tabulated as of May 10. His nearest challenger, Vice President Leni Robredo, a champion of

A local protest group, part of the May 1 protests, in the Chinatown-International District

human rights, had 14.7 million votes, and boxing great Manny Pacquiao appeared to have the third highest total

with 3.5 million votes. (see MARCOS on 12)

The mental health toll of being a model minority By Vivian Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

■

(see SCAM on 14)

Op-ed published in Asian Weekly led to controversial plaque removal By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Photo from ICHS

The month of May recognizes and celebrates two important observances—Mental Health Awareness Month and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. For International Community Health Services (ICHS), a nonprofit health clinic primarily based in Seattle, this month is a confluence of their original mission. Founded in the early 1970s, ICHS initially focused on providing medical treatment to low-income Asian immigrants in Seattle’s Chinatown neighborhood. Now, the organization serves a diverse set of patients all over the region, and provides several services including primary care, dental care, behavioral care, and more. Jia Yin Lee is a behavioral health specialist at ICHS. She provides mental health support to patients as part of the integrated care team model, as well as behavioral interventions to

Connie Trinh’s (an alias) curiosity cost her $170,000. A seemingly harmless online conversation with a stranger turned her into a victim in the Pig Butchering scam, named for the way the scammers build trust over time by feeding their victims with financial or romantic promises— fattening the pig. The empty promises soon turn into painful realization and shame when the scammers vanish with the victims’ money. It’s social engineering that tugs on heartstrings and purse strings. “The scam is a variation on a theme, made easier with cryptocurrency,” said Jason Chan,

ICHS behavioral healthy specialists assist patients of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations.

patients who have issues with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. “Mental health and wellness should not be a privilege but a right to anyone regardless of race, age, or any other circumstance,” said Lee.

Stigma against mental health treatment Asian Americans face a unique challenge when it comes to addressing their mental health. (see ICHS on 10)

If you’ve been to Volunteer Park, you may have unwittingly been exposed to American propaganda about some of its worst deeds. A panel of academics from the University of Washington on May 7 met to justify a decision by the city to take down a commemorative plaque last year. They described the park as infused with the racist and imperialist history of the United States. “Volunteer Park is one of the most important public spaces in Seattle, and yet like many of the public spaces in Washington and the U.S., it is permeated with the legacies of the U.S. Empire,” said Vicente Rafael, professor and historian of Southeast Asian history and American colonialism. Christoph Giebel, an associate professor in the Jackson School of International Studies and of history who focuses on colonialism and imperialism in Asia, moderated the May 7 panel. In a press release, speaking of the plaque, he said, “There is simply no way around this misrepresentation.” Giebel’s May 2021 op-ed in this paper, along with a community complaint, led to the decision to remove the plaque, which glorified the U.S. conquest of the Philippines from 1898-1906 as one of liberation. Over 250,000 people of the Philippines were (see PLAQUE on 13)

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asianweekly northwest

40 YEARS

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

Grand Master Cho Ki Seung (left)

Washington State Grand Master Cho Ki Seung executed his rank testing at the headquarters of World Taekwondo in Seoul, South Korea and received his official 9th Degree Dan Certificate last month. Rising to the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt is an extraordinary achievement that only a few martial artists ever attain. Cho immigrated to the United States in 1993 and moved to Lynnwood in 1995 to open his own school. He has owned, operated, and been chief instructor at Master Cho’s Taekwondo in Lynnwood for 28 years. Cho also serves as president of the Korean Sports Association of Washington State, and as director of the Taekwondo Association for the Disabled in Washington State. 

Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce announced leadership changes and CEO search The Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce has announced plans to conduct a search for their new president/CEO, as well as leadership transitions in the meantime. The board appointed Samantha Le as the interim president/CEO. Le was a long-time member of the

3D model of traffic boxes

James Hong gets star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

The boxes will be placed at the northeast corner of South Kent-Des Moines Road and Pacific Highway. 

James Hong, one of the most prolific Asian American actors in history, got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 10. Hong, 93, who was joined by celebrity guest speakers, including Daniel Dae Kim, unveiled his James Hong star in a ceremony, becoming one of just 19 people of Asian descent to make it on the walk. Kim said, “No one will have blazed the trail the way that James Hong has. … Today, during the heart of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, it’s only fitting that we honor someone who personifies the term ‘trailblazer.’” 

Morisawa designed new traffic boxes Pacific Northwest artist Naoko Morisawa made a trio of boxes with pink waves for the City of Des Moines Traffic Box Project.

Photo from Naoko Morisawa

Chamber and joined as the executive vice president in the fall of 2021. Parties interested in the president/CEO role should submit a cover letter outlining their interest and qualifications for the position as well as a resume to CEOSearch@ SeattleSouthsideChamber. com on or before May 31st Samantha Le for priority consideration. Position will remain open until filled. 

K-pop star AleXa wins NBC’s ‘American Song Contest’

Photo from NBC

Photo from Grand Master Cho Ki Seung

Grand Master Cho Ki Seung attains rank of 9th Degree Black Belt in taekwondo

AleXa

AleXa, a K-pop artist who represented her home state of Oklahoma, was crowned the winner of NBC’s “American Song Contest” on May 9. AleXa’s original song “Wonderland” won America and the National Jury’s vote for best hit song. “Wonderland” has been the most streamed song from the competition with over 2.7 million streams. AleXa will also appear at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, airing live on May 15 from Las Vegas on NBC. Alex Christine, known professionally as AleXa, grew up in Tulsa. She was first drawn to K-pop because of its strong performance identity. 

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

■ COMMUNITY NEWS Poll: Seattle voters split on Mayor Harrell’s performance so far By H. Stuart Elway / Crosscut. com REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION Bruce Harrell has been mayor for just over 100 days and is off to an encouraging start, according to the latest Crosscut/Elway Poll. Twice as many Seattle voters were encouraged (40%) than were discouraged (19%) by what they have seen so far from the new mayor when asked in a recent poll. A 41% plurality had not formed an opinion. It’s early days. The issue of homelessness was the criterion most used to evaluate the new mayor. More than a third of those encouraged by his performance (36%) cited Harrell’s focus on, or approach to, homelessness as the reason they were encouraged. On the flip side, nearly half (48%) of the discouraged poll respondents also cited his approach to homelessness as the main reason for their appraisal.

Bruce Harrell

It is no surprise that homelessness is the standard by which the mayor will be judged. In our poll last September, 48% of voters volunteered it as the No. 1 priority for the next mayor. Some 23% of Harrell supporters said then that his stance on homelessness was why they were voting for him, making it the top reason for support-

ing him. Among supporters of his election opponent, Lorena González, 11% said her position on homelessness was the reason they supported her. In this survey, voters encouraged by Harrell’s work so far outnumbered discouraged voters in every demographic category except voters under 35, although opinions were not uniform. In some ways, the response pattern to Harrell reflects the familiar new Seattle, old Seattle political fault line. Older and more established voters were most likely to be encouraged by what they have seen so far. Positive responses went up with age, length of time in the city, income, home ownership and attention to city news. Younger, less established voters leaned toward a positive view of the mayor, but were also less likely to have any kind of opinion. Only 21% of those 35 and younger had a positive opinion of the mayor so far, compared

Only 21% of those 35 and younger had a positive opinion of the mayor so far, compared with 61% of those 65 and older. with 61% of those 65 and older. Among those who had been in Seattle for 20 years or fewer, 33% said they were encouraged by Harrell’s performance so far, while 50% of those with a longer tenure gave him positive marks. Significant differences also appeared among people according to whether they say they had experienced crime in their neighborhood. Among people who reported neighborhood crime, 45% were encouraged, compared with 33%

who had not. The types of voters who put Harrell into office are also the most encouraged by what they have seen. Because it is so early in his administration, these responses may still reflect hopes as much as observations. And being “encouraged” is not the same as “supporting,” but it’s a step in that direction. With four in 10 voters waiting to see what Harrell does before forming an opinion, his next steps will be critical. 

asianweekly northwest

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

40 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Census ready to study combining race, ethnicity questions By Mike Schneider ASSOCIATED PRESS U.S. Census Bureau officials said May 6 they are ready to start examining changes that would combine race and ethnicity questions and add a Middle Eastern and North African category to the 2030 census questionnaire, but they have to wait for another federal office to start the conversation. That office is the White House Office of Management and Budget, which sets the definitions on race and ethnic background for all federal agencies. The Census Bureau has been using Office of Management and Budget standards which were set in 1997. If the proposals are adopted for the 2030 census, they would mark one of the biggest changes to the census questionnaire in recent years. Several years before the last census in 2020, support was growing for combining the race and ethnicity questions into a single question and adding the Middle Eastern and North African category, also known as MENA. Census Bureau research said doing so would increase the accuracy of the once-a-decade U.S. head

count, particularly among Hispanics and people of Middle Eastern or North African descent who are unsure how to answer the race question. But those efforts were dropped after President Donald Trump became president. As a result, there was no MENA category, and the race and ethnicity questions were separated on the 2020 census form, leading to overwhelmingly large numbers of Hispanic respondents to answer “some other race” for the race category, Census Bureau officials said. “We are not surprised by the results. Our research predicted them,” Merarys RiosVargas, chief of the Ethnicity and Ancestry Branch at the Census Bureau, told members of the Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee on Friday. One of the committee members, Helen Hatab Samhan, a retired executive at the Arab American Institute, said it was preferable to add MENA as an ethnic category, such as Hispanic, rather than a race category like white, black, Asian, American Indian or Native Hawaiian. Among the items the Census Bureau wants to research is the lack of responses to the race question among Hispanics,

Several years before the last census in 2020, support was growing for combining the race and ethnicity questions into a single question and adding the Middle Eastern and North African category, also known as MENA.

how Hispanics identified their race when they did answer the question and whether the location of the respondents made any difference in whether they answered those questions, officials said. Once the conversation with the Office of Management and Budget gets going, it will be “jump-started” because the Census Bureau already has a trove of research, Census Bureau Director Robert Santos told committee members. The census data are used for allocating

congressional seats among the states, redrawing political districts and distributing federal funding. In a May 6 statement, the Office of Management and Budget didn’t provide a timetable for when it would examine the issues raised by the Census Bureau. “We are actively working to help ensure the Federal statistical system efficiently, effectively, and accurately captures the diversity of the American people,” the statement said. 

■ SPORTS Asian Games in China postponed because of spread of COVID-19 By Stephen Wade AP SPORTS WRITER Less than three months after Beijing hosted the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the Olympic Council of Asia said on May 6 that this year’s Asian Games in China are being postponed because of concerns about the spreading omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country. The OCA said it had not picked new dates but said they would be announced “in the near future” after talks with local organizers and the Chinese Olympic

Committee. The OCA statement said local organizers were “very well prepared to deliver the games on time despite the global challenges. However, the decision was taken by all the stakeholders after carefully considering the pandemic situation and the size of the games.” The postponement reflects a growing concern among the Chinese leadership about rapidly spreading outbreaks from Shanghai to Beijing in an important political year. The ruling Communist Party is holding a major meeting this fall

and doesn’t want any signs of instability, pandemic-related or not. China is staying with a “zero-COVID” strategy of lockdowns and other restrictions despite the economic costs and the fact that many other countries around the world are loosening up and trying to live with the virus. China’s state-run television also reported the Asian Games postponement in a brief statement, but did not specify anything about rescheduling. The Asian Games were to take place from Sept. 10-25 in the eastern city of

Hangzhou and would involve more than 11,000 athletes—more than the typical Summer Olympics. The last edition was in 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The World University Games, another major multi-sport event, have also been postponed, organizers said. They were scheduled for last year but were postponed until 2022. They were to take place this year from June 26-July 7 in the western city of Chengdu. About 6,000 athletes were believed to be involved. (see ASIAN GAMES on 6)

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

PSY’s new album, video turn corner from ‘Gangnam Style’ SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean superstar PSY said his new album marks a “farewell to ‘Gangnam Style’“—the hit song that propelled him to superstardom exactly a decade ago. Indeed, the music video for the lead single—“That That” featuring Suga from BTS—shows PSY in the famous blue suit he wore in the “Gangnam Style” video. “So, a guy in a blue tuxedo comes out and gets a slap from Suga and goes on his way,” alluding to his old self walking away from the past, PSY told The Associated Press during an interview before the album’s release. His latest album “PSY 9th,“ released on May 6, has 12 songs, including one featuring Korean-Canadian rapper Tablo. PSY, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, swept the world with “Gangnam Style” in 2012. The song, with its addictive horseriding dance and catchy melodies, made a global splash and currently has over 4.4 billion views on YouTube. In an interview, PSY discussed the long gap in recordings, whether he’s still pressured by the global success of “Gangnam Style,” and what he envisions for himself and the Korean pop industry. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: “PSY 9th” took five years. What took so long? PSY: One can’t satisfy everyone. People’s taste is subjective. But if I let someone listen to my music and even if that person isn’t from the industry, if that person says, “This is not that great,“ I make a change. There are 40 to 50 people I play my music to when it’s ready. Until they collectively say, “This is the best it can get,” I search for the song. So... I also make a lot of changes. Our artists find this difficult when working with me, and I want to change the habit, but it’s hard to correct it. When I make music, I listen to it on a cellphone speaker, on a big speaker, and do my best to try to find a fault... I kill many songs, and I’ve been in that process for a long time. AP: Who are those 40-50 people? PSY: Every artist in my company and some of our label employees. There are young and old people including my parents... The most random person is my best friend— someone my age living everyday life who has been continuously monitoring my songs ever since my first album. AP: It’s been 10 years since “Gangnam Style.” Are you still conscious of “Gangnam Style?” Do you feel pressure? PSY: The hidden theme of this music video is “Farewell to Gangnam Style.” So, a guy in a blue tuxedo comes out and gets a slap from Suga and goes on his way. There is a hidden theme in the song of me and Suga in new outfits sending old PSY off. It’s not a serious video but there is such a scene.

“One can’t satisfy everyone. People’s taste is subjective.”

But personally, and work wise, the success of “Gangnam Style” was a very big event so it’s impossible to not be conscious of it permanently. But at the same time, it’s been a long time, and right now I feel very free and easy. So instead of being conscious of it, I think of it as the biggest trophy on my shelf, nothing more or less. Right now, I’m just mesmerized by doing new music with new friends.

Photo from Korea.net

By Juwon Park ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP: So how long did it take you to get over “Gangnam Style?” PSY: I couldn’t get over it at all for the 7th album. I was largely over it five years ago when I released my 8th album. Now, I am completely over it. AP: What’s your favorite song in your music career? PSY: There is a song called “It’s Art” in my 5th album. Whatever I write, it’d probably be difficult to beat that song. AP: Why? PSY: Even though I’ve been doing music for a long time, there are some of my own songs that still make me proud. That’s the song. It’s emotional and has nice beats and messages, and the audience loves the song. I’d never promoted the song, but it went viral and became the song that I sing after

PSY ‘Gangnam Style’ at Seoil College, Seoul, IN 2012, at the height of “Gangnam Style’s” fame.

“Champion” and “Gangnam Style” during concerts. AP: If there were to be the biggest change in the Korean pop industry in the near future, what would that be? PSY: K-pop will continuously level up in terms of the size of budget and efforts going in, and the standard of trainees... I think the next change will be metaverse... Metaverse will bring changes to the K-pop industry by getting rid of boundaries for stage and audience. AP: Are you preparing any NFT or metaverse-related project?

PSY: It’s my first time revealing this. I am preparing a character of myself that sings and dances. Thankfully, people are used to an illustration of me because I’ve been using it as my album cover ever since my debut... But PSY as a singer should remain active offline for a long time. I am not known for a muscular body or welltrained dance moves. The audience gets thrilled by my vibe and atmosphere on stage, so an audience-free concert won’t be an option for me. But I am working closely with artists in my label to prepare for the metaverse world. 

asianweekly northwest

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

40 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOW THRU JULY 10 EMBODIED CHANGE: SOUTH ASIAN ART ACROSS TIME Seattle Asian Art Museum, South Gallery Fri-Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. seattleartmuseum.org NOW THRU FEB 19, 2023 EXHIBIT, “WE ARE CHANGING THE TIDE: COMMUNITY POWER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE” The Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle Thu-Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. wingluke.org/we-are-changingthe-tide

MAY

12 VIRTUAL PROGRAM: THE APIA SCHOLARS 2022 STORY SLAM 8-9:30 p.m. Register at apiascholarsstoryslam2022. vfairs.com

17 LANGUAGES OF MEMORY: A SOUTH SOUND JAPANESE AMERICAN DAY OF REMEMBRANCE Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma 6-8:30 p.m. washingtonhistory.org

6-29

ARTIST AKIO TAKAMORI WITH A GALLERY SHOW Vashon Center for the Arts, 19600 Vashon Hwy. SW, Vashon 5-8 p.m., First Friday Free admission gallery.vashoncenterforthearts. org

UW OFFICE OF MINORITY AFFAIRS & DIVERSITY CELEBRATION UW Hub Ballroom 6 p.m. washington.edu/omad/ celebration

The Switzerland-based International University Sports Federation, which runs the games, said they would be held in 2023 but gave no date or details. “Continued uncertainty over conditions has made rescheduling the sensible choice,” FISU president Leonz Eder said in a statement. Both events were expected to take place using the “closed-loop” system that was in place for the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics. It kept athletes and media isolated from the general population of Beijing and required daily tests and frequent

A GLIMPSE OF CHINA, A VIRTUAL SEATTLE CHINESE CULTURE & ARTS FESTIVAL Online on Facebook and YouTube 12-1:30 p.m. seattlecenter.com

22 LAKE WASHINGTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS PHOENIX RISING IN CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE & CULTURES OF ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE Bastyr University Chapel 3 p.m. lwso.org

temperature checks for everyone involved. The Winter Olympics were a relatively small event with only 2,900 athletes. The Winter Paralympics had about 700. The spread of the omicron variant in Shanghai and Beijing seems to have made holding both events impossible, even though just a few weeks ago organizers said both events would go ahead. Much of Shanghai—a finance, manufacturing and shipping hub—has been locked down, disrupting people’s lives and dealing a blow to the economy. The OCA also announced that the Asian Youth Games, which were scheduled for Dec. 20-28 in Shantou, China, would be

Commerce 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. For Zoom link, contact rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com

CISC SUNSHINE GARDEN AT SEATTLE OFFICE SUNSHINE GARDEN SENIOR DAY 10 a.m.-1 p.m. cisc-seattle.org

CISC AFTER SCHOOL

(ASIAN GAMES from 4)

PROGRAM AAPI VIRTUAL ART WORKSHOP WITH THE SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM 11-11:45 a.m. cisc-seattle.org

ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE NIGHT T-Mobile Park 6:40 p.m. $5 of every ticket sold through this special offer will benefit the Wing Luke Museum Tickets: mlb.com/mariners/tickets/ specials/asian-americanpacific-islander

JUN

DENISE LOUIE EDUCATION CENTER 2022 DINNER & AUCTION, “THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT!” Magnuson Park Hangar 30 Seattle 5:30 p.m. In person or via Zoom Register at https://bit.ly/371tvOh

9 2022 VIRTUAL TOMODACHI GALA 7 p.m. youtube.com/c/JCCCWA jcccw.org/tomodachi-gala

CLUB MEETING WITH ILONA LOHREY AND AHI MARTINMCSWEENEY ABOUT WA STATE LBGTQ+ Chamber of

CHOW MEIN DINNER AND BAKED GOODS SALE RETURN! NVC Memorial Hall 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

canceled. The youth games, which had already been postponed once, will next be held in 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Two international track meets scheduled to be held in China this year were also called off. The Diamond League meets in Shanghai and Shenzhen were taken off the calendar “due to travel restrictions and strict quarantine requirements currently in place for entry into China,” organizers said in a statement. Organizers said a substitute event will be held in Chorzow, Poland, on Aug. 6. The strict “zero-COVID” policy has been closely identified with President Xi

Jinping, the head of the ruling Communist Party, and was strongly reaffirmed at a meeting of the party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee on May 5. “Relaxation will undoubtedly lead to massive numbers of infections, critical cases and deaths, seriously impacting economic and social development and people’s lives and health,” the official Xinhua News Agency said in its summary of the meeting’s conclusions. The meeting “stressed the importance of unswervingly adhering to the dynamic zero-COVID policy and resolutely fighting any attempts to distort, question or dismiss China’s anti-COVID policy.” 

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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.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

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MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

asianweekly northwest

■ A&E

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

■ SPORTS Hawai’ian filmmaker THE LAYUP DRILL explores identity with

40 YEARS

Courtesy: Ha’aheo Auwae-Dekker

newly premiered documentary

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. In this month’s column, we look at the start of Major League Baseball (MLB), the end of an amazing perfect inning streak, and some notable picks in the NFL Draft.

Ha’aheo Auwae-Dekker

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “My name is Ha’aheo Auwae-Dekker. I’m going to be graduating from Seattle University in a month…I’m a 22-year-old filmmaker. I’m the middle child of five kids to my wonderful mother. I’m originally from Moku O Keawe, the Big Island of Hawai’i.” This newly fledged and about-to-be-released into the world filmmaker speaks with confidence. She did not plan to go into film. She considers Hollywood and the film industry to be wasteful representations of capitalism. In high school, she found the idea of taking film classes at The Center School to be pretentious. She preferred drawing and painting. Then, at 17, she participated in the apprenticeship program for Real Girls, a now-defunct Seattle organization “mostly dedicated to getting marginalized voices into filmmaking in an industry that’s so dominated by white men. I did it, and I absolutely fell in love with it, and I just kept doing it.” As a film major, Ha’aheo has created a documentary, the first she has shown outside of class or to her family. Now traveling the festival circuit, the short film, called “Malihini” (which means tourist in Hawai’ian), was a centerpiece documentary at the Seattle Asian American Film Festival in March 2022 and recently screened at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth. Ha’aheo made the film for herself, in Social Justice Cinema class, but was encouraged to share it by her professor, who said, “You’d be doing the world a disservice by not showing your work.” In the film, Ha’aheo interviews her mother, Henrylyn Kau’i Auwae, while the viewer watches several scenes layered together—driving in the car, at home, in the yard, and inside the house, where Henrylyn performs a hula, the dance once forbade by white missionaries. The setup of the film is deceptively simple— something any of us might have done for a school project—yet, it’s not simple at all. The questions asked are of the soul, and the scenes, though seemingly casual, are stitched together purposefully to create a mood and message. Ha’aheo and her mom drive through the city at night. There is that peculiar ambience of empty streets and colored lights, when you are close in your car, talking of important things. The city is blurry, and we understand that the city is not home. At one point, the camera lands on a sign—“Asian Plaza”—just as the daughter is asking the mother, “Do you feel like you’re an American?” Henrylyn’s answer: no. “I live on this continent. And yes, I was born in the United States, but I was born as a native of the Kingdom of Hawai’i.” She adds, “I still respect the land. I still respect the people, the keepers of this land.” (see MALIHINI on 11)

Suzuki, Kwan starts season off right The start of the season began a week

or so late due to a labor dispute between owners and players. However, the games began in early April. Shohei Ohtani remains one of the marquee players in baseball. The Anaheim Angels pitcher and outfielder continues to amaze with his ability to lead off a game batting, as well as being a part of the team’s pitching rotation. As of early May, the Angels have been one of the surprise teams of the season, leading the American League West. In addition to Ohtani, Japanese sensation Seiya Suzuki is coming

as advertised. The former Nippon Professional Baseball player from Japan is off to a hot start for the Chicago Cubs. Suzuki, who the Seattle Mariners courted to play for them this year, decided to go to the Cubs and signed a 5-year, $85 million contract. The 27-year-old outfielder is making an impact with the club with his bat earning NL Rookie of the Week in April and NL Rookie of the Month for April. A surprise start to the season came (see LAYUP on 11)

Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility in Ellensburg

We aspire to lower our carbon emissions to net zero by 2045 and help others do the same. TOGETHER, we can go beyond net zero carbon. Learn more at pse.com/TOGETHER

YOUR VOICE

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

asianweekly northwest

BE KIND TO YOUR MIND May is Mental Health Awareness Month TIP 1. Pause. Breathe. Notice how you feel 2. Take breaks from the news 3. Make time to sleep, exercise and unwind 4. Reach out and connect with others 5. Seek help if you feel overwhelmed or unsafe

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40 YEARS

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

(ICHS from 1) Long plagued by the “model minority myth”—a stereotype that assumes all Asians achieve a higher level of success than the general population—Asian Americans frequently wrestle with an invisible pressure to live up to that image. But this pressure to excel and outperform leaves limited room for individuals to recognize any mental health issues that come up in the pursuit of excellence. Cultural attitudes can also prohibit access to mental health. “Asian values emphasize a community mindset where people collectively share their successes and challenges,” said Lee. And when mental health issues come up, people shy away from sharing these vulnerabilities because it can be perceived as a weakness, or a crack in the community. Generational trauma—a concept where one generation experiences trauma and passes it down to the subsequent one—may also drive a stigma against receiving mental health treatment. Learned habits from an older generation, such as an aversion to addressing or seeking out help with mental issues, can also lead to this stigma. Lee offered an example of emotional expression as a learned habit. If one’s parents weren’t able to teach their child healthy emotional expression, said Lee, it’s likely because they never acquired the skill set themselves. Therefore,

the child inherits the same learned habits and passes it down to their own children, reinforcing the generational trauma and stigma.

Photo from ICHS

Rise in mental health struggles In recent years, there’s been a trend of an increased need for mental health services across all age groups, said Lee. Each age group encounters specific struggles unique to their age range and environment. But no matter the situation, anxiety, frustration, and loneliness are common symptoms across all sub-groups. While a mental health crisis has spiked for all, Asian American women faced a notable increase. According to a January 2022 study by the American Psychological Association, Asian American women have the highest rate of suicide among all women over 65. “This age group is a unique one,” said Lee. “Many were immigrants who carried collective trauma from the process of immigration—this reinforces their isolation and loneliness, and neither their native country nor their adopted one truly feels like home.” “The quality of care for immigrants at that age is also not ideal. Some may struggle to access social benefits due to a lack of status or income during the early years of immigration.” Separation from family, particularly children, can also be devastating for mothers due to the value of a collective family

When a patient arrives for an appointment, ICHS primary care providers will inform a patient that they have a behavioral health provider as part of their care team and how their behavioral health has an impact on their physical health.

unit in Asian culture. “It’s hard for parents to find meaning in life when they’re separated from their children,” said Lee. Additionally, with life expectancy higher among Asian women than men, many women are often left to shoulder the emotional burden of their family’s estrangement without their spouse. Without any family connection, mothers in this situation often cannot find meaning in their life. While familial relationships may dictate how Asian women process their mental health, men face a different set of challenges. Gender roles and expectations cause men to suppress their feelings, especially if they’re the family’s breadwinner. The burden of providing for the family, said Lee, leaves no room for vulnerability. “It’s a common trend to have men brought into the clinic by their wives and families,” said Lee. “It’s not impossible, but it’ll take more time [for men] to overcome [generational stigma] compared to Asian American women.”

How to address and manage stigma Although it’s challenging to overcome learned habits, environmental influence can help combat existing stigma. Lee suggests that people look into integrated care—a service model that ICHS specializes in. With integrated care, a patient could go to a clinic and address one issue while also receiving care for other

aspects of one’s well-being such as physical, mental, dietary care, and more. Because an integrated care team offers comprehensive care, said Lee, it can be especially helpful for older Asian Americans because it’s much easier for them to recognize physical issues and symptoms instead of emotional ones. Then, when they come in to have a physical issue examined, mental issues can also be addressed—even in their native tongue. “As a member of an integrated care team, it’s just as helpful to have behavioral knowledge as it is to have medical knowledge, and to then communicate with a medical care provider to help them understand the physical and mental well-being relationship,” said Lee. Community can also play a fundamental role in providing mental health care. “Support groups would be a great choice if seeking professional help is disapproved of in the family or culture” said Lee. “Nowadays, with technology and social media, it’s much more convenient to find people that share your common values and issues. The benefit of being part of a support group and community is that it eliminates feelings of loneliness, but it also provides an opportunity to learn more about mental health in general. It could even be an entry point to seeking professional mental help on an issue.” In addition to ICHS’s services, Lee suggested other local nonprofits, such as Chinese Information and Service Center, ICHS Legacy House, or Asian Counseling and Referral Service, that provide community or social activities that cater to Asian adults. “You don’t have to utilize their individual therapy sessions,” said Lee. “You can still join their group activities to find and connect with other people.”  For more information, visit ichs.org. Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Weekly Specials Prices Valid May 11-17, 2022

California Roll

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MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

SPONSORED CONTENT

Comcast celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander excellence and resilience

Content provided by Comcast

May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, which gives us an opportunity to recognize the excellence and resilience of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Throughout the month, Comcast NBCUniversal will be highlighting the diversity and impact of AAPI communities, with a focus on spreading awareness and education. As one of the nation’s largest distributors of multicultural programming, we are passionate about leveraging our platforms to celebrate AAPI communities yearround through our Asian American Film & TV collection, where our Xfinity TV customers can access thousands of hours of high-quality Asian and Asian American entertainment in one curated destination on demand on Xfinity X1, Flex, and Stream. This year’s collection celebrates the cultures, honors the resilience, and recognizes the contributions of the AAPI community

(LAYUP on from 8) from Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. Kwan, who is of ChineseJapanese descent, played collegiate baseball at Oregon State prior to making it with the Guardians. The 24-year-old California native burst on the scene this season. Kwan made the Guardians roster this season and recorded his first hit as a major leaguer on opening day. He then became just the sixth player since at least 1901 to have a five-hit game within his first three major league games. He also became the first player since at least 1901 to reach base safely 15 times in his first four games. Breaking down Kwan’s accomplishments in the first week of his major league career is amazing. Through his 19 plate appearances, Kwan made 26 swings and did not miss on a single one. As of April 11, he had not swung and missed at a pitch in his batting attempts. He had not struck out since a AAA game on September 26, 2021. While his outstanding batting has slowed in the last couple of weeks, he is still having a

with award-winning movies, the best in Bollywood movies, historical documentaries, globally recognized anime movies, and other must-watch AAPI stories. Xfinity X1 customers can say “Asian American” in the X1 Voice Remote to access this content. NBCUniversal will also be uplifting and highlighting the diversity of AAPI communities through its “AAPI Amplified: Stronger Together” campaign. We are also committed to providing resources to Asian-owned small businesses through our Comcast RISE program, where entrepreneurs like Maikaru, owner of Mainasty Productions in Seattle, have received support in the form of monetary grants, complimentary marketing services, and technology makeovers. Throughout the month, we are also placing special attention on individuals who are tackling critical challenges facing AAPI communities while also celebrating the rich and varied influence of Asian leaders and changemakers, including special

great start to his major league career. His latest effort was getting the game winning walk-off single in a win over the San Diego Padres. For his efforts, Kwan received the accolade of being the AL Rookie of the month.

Japanese pitcher’s perfect inning streak comes to an end Perhaps another Japanese baseball player is coming over from Japan soon. The pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines, Roki Sasaki threw 17 straight perfect innings (not giving up a hit, walk, or hitting a batter) last month. Sasaki threw a perfect game on April 10, the first in Japanese baseball in 28 years. He then added another 8 perfect innings in his next start on April 17. He was pulled from that game after throwing 102 pitches. However, his streak of 17 perfect innings ended with his next start, as he gave up a hit in the first inning back. In the 17 innings of perfection, Sasaki had 33 strikeouts against 51 batters. At just 20 years old, the right handed pitcher

Comcast Newsmakers features with Noël S. Harmon, PhD, President & Executive Director of APAI Scholars, and Mitchell T. Maki, President and CEO of the Go For Broke National Education Center. These interviews and more are available free and ungated to the general public online and on social media. Comcast customers can also access them on Xfinity X1, Flex, and Stream using the voice command “Comcast Newsmakers.” As part of an ongoing partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Comcast NBCUniversal is supporting the Mis/Disinformation Project, an effort to address how misinformation and disinformation campaigns across social media focused on issues affecting the community, including safety and immigration, are harmful to AAPI communities. NBC Asian American is also publishing a multimedia project called AAPI Action, highlighting 100 of the solutions developed over the past two years to fight anti-Asian hate, from local fundraisers to national

uses a 100 mph fastball and a split-finger fastball to keep batters off balance. Despite his recent success, Sasaki is not looking to come to the MLB anytime soon. His father was killed in the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent meltdown of three nuclear reactors in the northeastern Japanese prefecture of Iwate. While he has no immediate plans to relocate, one would think that Sasaki’s overwhelming talent may draw him to the MLB in the future.

Luke Wattenberg and Kyle Hamilton get drafted The NFL Draft took place in late April with a couple notable Asian American draftees. The first was Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton was drafted 14th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 220 pound Hamilton is the son of a former professional basketball player in Greece and his mother is of Korean descent. He

legislation. The team will also publish hidden history feature stories throughout the month focused on highlighting AAPI culture. All year long, Comcast’s Asian Pacific American Employee Resource Group provides its members with professional development, community outreach, cultural enrichment, leadership, and networking opportunities, all in service of creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive work environment. During the month of May, Comcast will be welcoming Kenji Yoshino, Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU School of Law and the Director of the Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, as the guest speaker for our employee DE&I Speaker Series. These initiatives are all part of the company’s commitment to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, and leverage our platforms to tell the story of the incredible impact that AAPI communities have on our company and country. 

was born in Greece and briefly lived in Russia prior to moving to the Atlanta, Georgia area. The athletically gifted Hamilton started 13 games for the Fighting Irish in his freshman year. In 2021, he earned All-American honors for his play. The University of Washington (UW)’s Luke Wattenberg was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 5th round of the NFL Draft. Wattenberg, an offensive lineman for the Huskies, will get the chance to protect former Seahawks quarterback and current Broncos signal caller Russell Wilson. Wattenberg is of Korean and Norwegian descent among other ethnicities. Wattenberg played guard and center at the UW and his versatility may serve him well in Denver. “It’s an amazing feeling for sure,” Wattenberg told reporters after he was picked by the Broncos. “It’s something that has been in the back of my mind for a long time, and it’s crazy that it’s finally here.  Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON — NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Sealed bids will be received for KC000571, S 360TH ST AND 32ND AVE S SIGHTLINE IMPROVEMENT AND SCHOOL PATHWAY PROJECT; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via the E-Procurement system, until 1:00:59pm on 5/26/2022. Late bids will not be accepted. The public bid opening will only be conducted on-line following the Bid Close Date and Time; see Invitation to Bid for details. There is a 3% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract. There is a 10% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract. King County in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises as defined at 49 CFR Part 26 will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex in consideration for an award. Brief Scope: This project provides for the improvement of S 360th Street at the intersection of 32nd Avenue S in King County by clearing and grubbing, grading, constructing a reinforced cement concrete retaining wall/sidewalk, cement concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk, drainage, planing bituminous pavement, commercial HMA, planting, erosion control, pavement marking, and other work, all in accordance with the attached Plans, these Special Provisions, the Standard Specifications, the KCRDCS, and the APWA/WSDOT Standard Plans for Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction. Estimated contract price: $285,893.50 Prospective bidders can view more details at: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/solicitations Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/supplierportal

asianweekly northwest

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

40 YEARS

David Della

Ador Pereda Yano

Cindy Domingo

Rick Polintan, a member of the Union of Democratic Filipinos, said the news was discouraging. “Marcos looted the coffers of the Philippines and left the economy in shambles. He led the martial rule by jailing political opponents and assassinated thousands of people, including two Union activists here in Seattle—Gene Viernes and Silme Domingo.” “As the sister of Silme Domingo… the outcome of the Philippine elections has been a most traumatizing event for my large extended family,” said social advocate Cindy Domingo. “The election of Bong Bong Marcos and Sarah Duterte… is a major setback for democracy and economic development in the country.” “Hopefully, Bong Bong Marcos learned the lessons of his father’s policies and behaviors that led to his downfall,” said Tony Ogilvie, former president of the Filipino Chamber Commerce of the Pacific Northwest. “Perhaps he will promote democracy and continued economic development so that more Filipinos will be able to get good paying jobs and escape the pervasive poverty that so many Fillipinos are still experiencing. We will see.” Marcos Jr.’s running mate, Sara Duterte, the daughter of the outgoing president and mayor of southern Davao city, had a formidable lead in the separate vice presidential race. The alliance of the scions of two authoritarian leaders combined the voting power of their families’ political strongholds in the north and south, but compounded worries of human rights activists.

Frank Irigon

Maria Batayola

Dozens of anti-Marcos protesters rallied at the Commission on Elections, blaming the agency for the breakdown of vote-counting machines and other issues that prevented people from casting their votes. Election officials said the impact of the malfunctioning machines was minimal. A group of activists who suffered under the dictatorship said they were enraged by Marcos’s apparent victory and would oppose it. “A possible win based on a campaign built on blatant lies, historical distortions, and mass deception is tantamount to cheating your way to victory,” said the group Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law. “This is not acceptable.” David Della, former Seattle City Councilmember, said, “It seems that there was political amnesia and forgetting what happened under [Ferdinand Marcos’] oppressive, anti-democratic rule. The Filipino people deserve better, to take the country forward, not backward with this election. I only hope that the forces of democracy and decency will not allow the country to go backward but to stand up and organize again.” Ador Pereda Yano, president of the Filipino American Political Action Group of Washington grew up in Manila and left with her family due to the oppressiveness of Marcos’s martial law. “I am saddened for many Filipinos who were hoping for a government that cared for improving the lives of many Filipinos long afflicted by poverty, limited opportunities, human rights abuses, and widespread corruption.”

Presented by LY ASIAN WEEK NORTHWEST ST O P E INES & SEATTLE CH

TH N O M E G A T AAPI HERIhoto contest video & p

Tony Ogilvie

Photo from the Associated Press

(MARCOS from 1)

Rick Polintan

Local Filipino civil rights activist Frank Irigon said of Marcos Jr.’s apparent victory, “Frankly, I was disappointed, but let’s pray that history doesn’t repeat itself. That it’s not a case of like father like son, but the opposite!” Marcos Jr., a 64-year-old former provincial governor, congressman, and senator, has defended the legacy of his father and steadfastly refused to acknowledge and apologize for the massive human rights violations and plunder under his father’s strongman rule. After his ouster by the largely peaceful 1986 uprising, the elder Marcos died in 1989 while in exile in Hawaii without admitting any wrongdoing, including accusations that he, his family, and cronies amassed an estimated $5 billion to $10 billion while he was in power. A Hawaii court later found him liable for human rights violations and awarded $2 billion from his estate to compensate more than 9,000 Filipinos who filed a lawsuit against him for torture, incarceration, extrajudicial killings, and disappearances. Robredo has not conceded defeat, but acknowledged the massive Marcos Jr. lead in the unofficial count. She told her supporters the fight for reforms and democracy won’t end with the elections. “The voice of the people is getting clearer and clearer,” she said. “In the name of the Philippines, which I know you also love so dearly, we should hear this voice because in the end, we only have this one nation to share.” Domingo said Robredo’s courage and

Bongbong Marcos

love of country ushered forth a massive pro-democracy movement. “I too will not be silenced, and I will continue to build solidarity with the Filipino people in their fight for truth, justice, and democracy.” Batayola stressed, “The best thing we can do is to stay vigilant, be vocal, be supportive, and pass the U.S. House Resolution (HR) 3884 that is intended to suspend the provision of security assistance to the Philippines until the Government of the Philippines has made certain reforms to the military and police forces.” “The Philippines is at a major crossroads—historically, economically, and politically,” said Polintan. “We are witnessing and experiencing a spontaneous outpouring of massive people, the Pink Movement, supporting Robredo… She represents political reform and addresses the economic plight of the poor and underrepresented.” He added, “We can look forward to this Pink Movement to push for reforms and accountability after this election. Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos have been awakened to fight for and look forward to a brighter future.”  Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com

Show us how you celebrate AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Heritage Month in May. Whether it’s a family gathering, adorable children (and adults!) celebrating traditions, in all forms including arts and craft, or the awesome family cook showing off a delicious meal, we’d love to see the unique ways in which you and your family celebrate AAPI heritage. There will be two categories of competition: videos and photos. Prizes: Judges’ Choice awards and People’s Choice Awards (readers vote). The winners will be announced in early June. Winners will receive gift certificates to restaurants and grocery stores, and Asian snacks. Deadlines: submit photo(s) and video(s) by May 20. Please submit your photo(s) and/or video(s) to james@nwasianweekly.com. For videos (not to exceed 60 seconds), please submit it by posting on your Facebook and tag us #NWaapi to consider. The winning video will be posted Northwest Asian Weekly’s YouTube channel. All photo and video submissions must be original content. Fill out the information below. You may also submit via mail to: Northwest Asian Weekly, 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104.

2022 Winners of Lunar New Year Photo Contest

Name:_________________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________________________________________ Describe in one to two sentences what the photo or video is about. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ SPONSORED BY

ELLEN FERGUSON

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

asianweekly northwest

Predictions and advice for the week of May 14–May 20, 2022 By Sun Lee Chang Rat—You hold much more leverage than you think. That won’t always be the case, so use it while you can.

Dragon—Your time is valuable, so treat it as such. You, not somebody else, decide how you want to use it.

Ox—By sheer force of will and determination, you are able to turn the ordinary into something truly special.

Snake—To the extent that you can define success for yourself, focus on what is truly rewarding to you.

Tiger—It is not exactly what you started out building towards, but it is still satisfying in its own way.

Horse—Although it feels different initially, forgiveness is a greater gift to yourself than to the one who is forgiven.

Rabbit—Rather than letting someone else control the agenda, make sure that you assert your priorities.

Goat—Skills can be learned, but passion is another story. Nurture both, as the combination will make you stronger.

Monkey—Did you accidentally leave something out? Don’t panic, as you should be able to add it in later on. Rooster—As fiercely independent as you are, you can be swayed by good reasoning from a trusted source. Dog—Your current situation has a number of benefits and drawbacks, but the former should far outweigh the latter. Pig—When you know the rain is coming, then you can prepare so that you are not left out in the cold.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 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, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

*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.

(PLAQUE from 13) massacred in the most brutal ways, with the violence justified by racism that duplicated the racism inherent in the U.S. at the time, said the panelists. So unnerving was the presentation and subsequent panel discussion that members of the audience in the Stimson Auditorium in the Seattle Asian Art Museum were driven to outrage. “We are the only empire in history in which we grab lands, but the populace doesn’t even know about it,” said one man. “Will Volunteer Park itself be renamed?” asked another, in a chat discussion. For the most part, the presenter and panelists laid out a straightforward history of the depredations committee by U.S. “volunteers” in the Philippines, which make Russian atrocities in Ukraine appear less singular. The panelists, experts in colonialism, also put the brutal conquest in perspective: as part of a “long story” that is entrenched in

the West about the desirability of empire and the need to convert people seen as sub-human. Abe Ignacio, the co-author of a book about political cartoons about the war, led off by noting the history as one of the “most forgotten” of all American wars. What led to the loss of 50-fold the numbers of dead as compared to the nearly contemporaneous Spanish-American War is taught only as “a footnote about an insurgency,” he said. Some of the brutalities he mentioned—including soldiers hunting down thousands of Filipinos in “rabbit shoots” and cutting off women’s arms to get bracelets— were fueled not only by racism but by a perspective that had dominated westward expansion since the founding of the 13 colonies: white supremacy. Giebel said when he first sighted the plaque and its false narrative, he thought of the parallels between the conquest of the Philippines and the war against Vietnam, “particularly the racialized agenda.” At the same time, U.S. interests

were motivated by a desire to secure coaling stations for steamships and a jumping off place for access to the China market, said Ileana M. Rodríguez-Silva, associate professor and historian of Latin American and Caribbean history. In securing the Philippines for itself, which it bought from Spain for $20 million, the U.S. also hoped and anticipated gaining access to a captive market. As the people of the islands became “civilized,” the U.S. expected to be able to sell a wide array of products to them, Garcia described the calculations. There were, however, notes of protest. Black soldiers, sent to fight in the Philippines, wrote to American newspapers devastating accounts of the looting and burning alive of Filipinos. Out of 127,000 U.S. troops deployed, 6,000 were Black. Figures such as Mark Twain spoke out against the war, marking it as a turning point in which America had become an imperialistic power. Even the presidential election at the time hung on the war, as Wil-

liam Jennings Bryan ran on an anti-imperialist platform. He lost. Still, Giebel said that there is no excuse for supporting such a war given the presence of opposing voices. “Nobody can hide behind the argument that people back then didn’t know better,” he said. Rafael said the period should also be understood as only one part of “a continuum” of the Philippines’ struggle for independence. He described the revolt against the American invasion as the first revolution against western imperialism in Asia. After the defeat of the Spanish in 1898, the Philippines had established a Republican government with a separation of powers and sent ambassadors to other countries, including the U.S. But U.S. propaganda at the time, rooted in genocidal and racist social underpinnings, fulminated that “Orientals” were unable to have self-governance. U.S. troops provoked a minor retaliation by Filipinos, then proclaimed their troops had been subject to an “unprovoked attack,”

shortly before Congress was voting whether or not to annex the Philippines. It passed by one vote. Vicente argued that U.S. imperialism had deep roots in a Christian narrative of needing to convert others. In answer to a question about the Catholic church’s role, he said it had played a significant part in oppression by keeping people uneducated. But he said during the Marcos era, it had risen to the challenge of helping to end the dictatorship. One of the goals of understanding the colonial history of the West, he said, was to question the narrative that the only safe world is one in which there is one empire led by the West. He described the process of becoming aware of our own biases that further such a narrative as seeking to “decolonialize” our thinking. Asians are still seen as “forever immigrants” here. “And the wrong kind,” he said.  Mahlon can be contacted at info@nwasianweekly.com.

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON — NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Sealed bids will be received by the King County Procurement Services Section through the County’s E-Procurement system for the following listed bids. Instructions on how to submit a bid electronically, view any current bid opportunities, express interest, communicate with the Buyer via Message app and/or successfully submit a bid through the E-Procurement system prior, and more are provided on the County’s website: https:// kingcounty.gov/procurement/registration King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. KC000487 OPENS: 06/02/2022 Metro Flexible Services Pre-Proposal Conference: Monday, May 16th at 9:30 AM via MS Teams Conference Call: 1.425.653.6586 Conference ID: 915 898 564# KC000569 OPENS: 05/31/2022 Market Research Consultants-Evaluation, Research & Data Services Pre-Proposal Conference: Tuesday, May 17th at 1:00 PM via MS Teams Conference Call: 1.425.653.6586 Conference ID: 298 513 594# KC000563 OPENS: 05/26/2022 ITB - Vehicle Mounted Crane & Boom and/or Hi-Rail Equipment Inspections, Maintenance, & Repair Services Pre-Proposal Conference: Wednesday, May 18th at 9:30 AM via MS Teams Conference Call: 1.425.653.6586 Conference ID: 703 122 731#

asianweekly northwest

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

40 YEARS

CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Kitsap Transit

WORK IN HEALTHCARE

Assistant Planner

Helping Families Grow

Assistant Safety Trainer

ORM Fertility, an internationally recognized fertility center is looking to hire bilingual clinical professionals, fluent in Mandarin to support our diverse patient community locally and around the world. Competitive salaries and generous benefits packages with stipends for additional translation services above the starting rates. If you want to work for an organization, non-hospital environment whose mission is to help all types of families realize their dream of parenthood, ORM is a place for you.

Plan, schedule, coordinate and deliver training and education programs for Operators & other CDL holders. Also plan, organize and implement the agency’s wellness program. Sal: $5021.50 - $6751.33/ mo, DOE. Job announcement, reqs, appl. packet & benefits info at http://kitsaptransit.appone.com/. Closes: 4:00 pm Fri, 06/03/22.

All mandarin speaking employees will receive an hourly stipend in addition to their base rates! Base rates include: Registered Nurse Coordinator - $38 - $45 DOE https://oregonreproductivemedicine.applicantpro.com/jobs/2177602. html Nursing Services Coordinator - $20- $25 DOE https://oregonreproductivemedicine.applicantpro.com/jobs/2177607. html Patient Services Coordinator - $18 - $22 DOE https://oregonreproductivemedicine.applicantpro.com/jobs/2177600. html Benefits: Medical, Dental, 401K, Paid Time Off Be a part of meaningful, lifechanging work. Learn more and apply today at ormfertility.com/careers

KITSAP TRANSIT IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

PSRC is seeking an Assistant Planner in the Transportation Planning Division. Please see our job announcement at https://www. governmentjobs.com/careers/ psrc. PSRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer Advertize in our Service Directory below. Just $10 a week! Minimum: 12 weeks for $120. Call John at 206-2230623 for more info.

Subscribe to the Northwest Asian Weekly $40 Name___________________________ Address ________________________ City ____________________State____ Zip Code ________________________ Phone __________________________ Mail to: NW Asian Weekly 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 or call 206-223-0623

NOTICE FIRST PUBLICATION

King County Housing Authority (KCHA) Asphalt Replacement at Multiple Locations BID DUE DATE: May 31, 2022 at 2:00 pm

REQUEST FOR BIDS KCHA is seeking qualified contractors interested in submitting bids for Asphalt Replacement at Multiple Locations. Work includes, but is not limited to, 2-inch grinding, asphalt, speed bumps, extruded curbs, wheel stops and striping at locations indicated on the plans and marked at the properties and other tasks as described in the bid documents... There are optional pre-bid meetings at the properties on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 and Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00pm. The locations, times and bid packets are available for download on KCHA’s website at http://www.kcha.org/business/construction/open/. All bids must be received by KCHA no later than the above due date and time. No Bids will be accepted after that date and time. If you have questions, please contact Michelle Jackson at MichelleJ@kcha.org. The estimate is $754,254.00.

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(SCAM from 1) former vice president of Information Security of Netflix and now a cybersecurity consultant. Because of the ease of clicking a button, victims are losing large amounts of money in a short amount of time. “Crypto enables all kinds of crime and scams. Anything originating online, you need to be careful with, especially with someone new,” Chan warned. Trinh met someone new online in March. It seemed innocuous. A person named Li Wei or Levy complimented Trinh’s photograph of her and her friends on Instagram. “Nice photo,” he said and followed with the question, “Do you know if God gives me one wish what would it be?” Trinh said, “Normally people would be saying things like ‘You look beautiful’ or ‘How are you doing beautiful.’” Trinh ignored those comments. This was different. She asked, “What is it?” Immediately, Li told Trinh to switch their chat to the untraceable messaging app, WhatsApp. Daily pleasantries and casual conversations turned into more personal ones. Li told Trinh he was from Singapore and wanted to learn about the U.S. He confided in her that his partner broke up with him. Trinh consoled him. Li claimed his parents lived in Thailand and him with his sister in Singapore, where they owned a design company. Trinh checked out his company on Instagram. Although the information was very new, she thought it looked legitimate. “There were so many red flags. But I was stupid, too,” Trinh blamed herself. Li continued to groom Trinh. He told her his company was hard hit during the pandemic. He had to invest in cryptocurrency to ensure his employees got paid. Li was willing to teach Trinh how to invest. He wanted to help her become financially independent because she’s “so nice.” Trinh said she never expressed any financial hardship or being unhappy to Li. “That’s why I am so upset at myself for even responding to a stranger. My life’s fulfilled. It’s fine. I didn’t even need money,” Trinh said. But she wanted to learn about

investing. Li claimed to have majored in global economics and had a respected professor who helped him understand and analyze investment data. Li advised Trinh to open a Coinbase account and download the platform MDTCOIN Exchange to start trading. Coinbase is a legitimate cryptocurrency exchange that can be linked to bank accounts. MDTCOIN may be linked to Li’s bank account. Trinh Googled MDTCOIN. There wasn’t much information online. Li told her the platform was new and only people with an invite would know about it. Trinh trusted Li. “He was very dedicated in teaching me. He told me at first just to invest $500,” she said. She would send the money via Coinbase to “her account” at MDTCOIN. Only later did she learn that she was depositing the money straight into Li’s wallet. Each day, based on Li’s analysis, they would buy low and sell high. The profit was 5% to 10%. “It was very realistic,” Trinh said. “Someday, he would say, ‘The data’s not good. Let’s not trade today.”’ She was cautious and withdrew the money to test the system. The small withdrawal worked. She put in more money—$3,000 so far. Li convinced Trinh to increase her investment. He also told her that MDTCOIN could broker a loan for her. There’s no telephone number for MDTCOIN Trinh could call. A customer service assistant helped her via chat. She borrowed $50,000 with a 21-day pay back. Her account quickly grew to $250,000. Li told her not to share with her family, yet, and wait to withdraw the money. She withdrew $2,000 anyway. It worked. She was hooked. To pay back the MDTCOIN loan, Trinh borrowed $30,000 from BECU, $10,000 from her mom, and $10,000 from her best friend. She had 30 days to pay back the credit union. Li had good data on Bitcoin trading, which got a higher yield. He told Trinh she would need another $150,000 to deal in Bitcoin. She borrowed the money from MDTCOIN and had 15 days to pay that back. Meanwhile, her account was going up 5% to 15% each day. To pay back the MDTCOIN loan, she borrowed $100,000 from three banks and some more from her friends. She

“You should never send money or ‘invest’ with people you’ve never met in person. Unfortunately, in many cases, the scammer is located overseas, which makes the investigation difficult.” — SEATTLE FBI’S WHITE-COLLAR CRIME SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT TAMMY MIZER

deposited the money in her Coinbase account then transferred the money to her MDTCOIN account. As soon as she paid off her MDTCOIN loan, Trinh saw her account go up to a million. “I was pretty excited because I would be able to withdraw the money and pay everyone back,” Trinh said. When it was close to the time to pay back her bank loans, Li told her to withdraw the money. She needed to pay a tax. MDTCOIN indicated Trinh owed about $170,000 in tax to the “International Tax Bureau.” Li offered to help her with $50,000, but she would have to raise $120,000. “He was still trying to get more money out of me,” Trinh said. Trinh tried to find information on this tax bureau. Nothing. She confronted Li, who denied everything. The pig was butchered. She finally told her husband. “It affects the trust I have with my husband,” Trinh said. “He could smell a scam miles away.” Trinh and her husband are paying off the loans with their savings and monthly payments. Life for their family of four is not as comfortable as before, and they’re careful with their spending. Their daughter’s future college expenses looms in the background. Trinh wants the community to learn from her mistake. “If it’s too good to be true, it’s too good to be true,” Trinh said. She knew that in her heart, but still fell for it. Seattle FBI’s White-Collar Crime Supervisory Special Agent Tammy Mizer said, “You should never send money or ‘invest’ with people you’ve

never met in person. Unfortunately, in many cases, the scammer is located overseas, which makes the investigation difficult.” The FBI has presence in many foreign countries and works closely with their counterparts there. “But we won’t have any chance of recovering the money if it’s not reported right away,” Mizer added. Trinh has reported her loss via the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at http://ic3.gov. The IC3 is the central repository for the collection of internet complaints. The complaints are analyzed and forwarded to relevant investigative agencies. According to the FBI, the IC3 received more than 4,300 complaints related to these social engineering scams in 2021. The loss was more than $429 million. The website is filled with information on the latest internet scams and preventions on becoming a victim of internet fraud.  Becky can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

YOUR VOICE

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

asianweekly northwest

Ha’aheo, when posed the question by the Weekly, said, “I don’t consider myself American. Hawai’i was illegally occupied and overthrown by the United States [in 1893]. Before then, Hawai’i was an independent nation. I’m a child of that independent nation.” Ha’aheo sees her position as a kanaka maoli (native Hawai’ian) as inherently political. “Because I’m Hawai’ian, I have to live my life as a political person because my existence is always made political.” She balks at “aligning” herself “with a corrupt system.” Ha’aheo’s activism is well defined. When she hears a question like, “What’s a good way to ethically travel to Hawai’i?” her voice quickens with passion. “You cannot ethically be a tourist in Hawai’i…tourism is inherently a pillar of capitalism. There’s no way to be a sustainable tourist because tourism relies on resorts, it relies on waste, it relies on taking native land.” She reminds non-Hawai’ians to respect boundaries, especially in a time when visitors only exacerbate the pandemic; and when, in her view, platforms like TikTok give people the “insidious” notion that they have a right to information. “Don’t expect native Hawai’ian people to answer you…So often, non-indigenous people come into spaces with this non-reciprocal energy to them…They’re ready to receive in a way that makes them feel good about themselves…but they’re not ready to give back…If you can provide that reciprocation... then we can get somewhere.” Ha’aheo wasn’t always as certain of herself as she is now. Growing up on the mainland, Ha’aheo struggled with not feeling “Hawai’ian enough.” Half-white, she felt she was “caught between two worlds,” and not “enough” of either. For Hawai’ians, connection to the ʻāina (land, family, home)

Courtesy: Ha’aheo Auwae-Dekker

(MALIHINI from 8)

Ha’aheo Auwae-Dekker (right) and her mother, Henrylyn Kau’i Auwae

is paramount. “When you’re Hawai’ian, you get asked three questions,” she explained. “One, what island are you from? Two, who’s your family? Three, what high school did you go to? I could never answer all three.” In the film, Henrylyn talks about the hard decision to leave Hawai’i, which she regrets, even though it brought opportunities to her children. It didn’t help that, when the family relocated to Seattle in 2012, they encountered the “Seattle Freeze”—and a Hawai’ian community more spread out than they had encountered in other states. “All my aunties and uncles in California were either Hawai’ian, Tongan, or Samoan,” Ha’aheo recalled. Here, “the closest Pacific Island community is Tacoma,” with “little pockets” elsewhere. The family does its best to stay connected. While she, too, humbly insists it’s not enough, Henrylyn endeavors to transmit

Hawai’ian culture. She has taught Hawai’ian language and is currently the owner of Ola Mai I Loko Mai on Airport Way, where she and her son, Elijah, specialize in Hawai’ian-style massage, or lomilomi. As mentioned in the film, she is a knowledge keeper. “If I don’t teach, who will?” When the family arrived in Seattle, Henrylyn taught hula at what was then Nikkei Horizons. “Hula is an extraordinary way to stay connected,” Henrylyn shared. “It’s a way to keep us grounded in who we are as a people.” She elaborated that, in the film, “That’s part of what Ha’aheo highlights… that feeling of disconnection [from] your grandparents’ culture and who you are, genetically.” In “Malihini,” Henrylyn’s hula flows like water. She smiles as if full of the knowledge of the heritage of what she’s doing and the joy of sharing that with her family. I miss my ʻāina every moment and every

second of every day,” Henrylyn says, in the most moving part of the film. “If I could, I would pack up and move today.” The Hawai’ian way of life is endangered. More and more, Hawai’ians are becoming like malihini, forced to leave the islands due to the high cost of living. “My mom says in the film, ‘I feel like a foreigner in a foreign country, on a foreign continent.’” When Ha’aheo realized the extent of the problem, the film’s name was born. “I thought of that…to describe a very Hawai’ian experience that’s particular to today.”  To support Ha’aheo’s newest project, go to indiegogo.com/projects/baby-teeth-ashort-film. Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

MAY 14 – MAY 20, 2022

40 YEARS

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Honor our heritage, community, and family today by getting vaccinated for a safer tomorrow. May is AANHPI Heritage Month—time to honor our community’s contributions to making America stronger. Take pride in our past by making history today. Stay healthy and get everyone in your family vaccinated. Talk to a doctor if you have any questions. Find vaccines and boosters near you at vaccines.gov

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