2026 Olympics: Snowboarding champ Chloe Kim honors her immigrant parents and US diversity

Chloe Kim seeks her third gold medal at the Olympics.

As Chloe Kim prepares readies herself in her quest for an unprecedented third gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, she’s making sure the world knows who paved the path to Italy.

In a poignant reflection shared just as the torch was lit, Kim pivoted from the technicalities of her run to the emotional weight of her heritage. For Kim, this isn't just about American gold—it’s about Korean American grit.

Kim spoke candidly about the "leap of faith" her parents, Jong Jin and Boran Yun Kim, took when they emigrated from South Korea.

"They left behind everything they knew — their language, their comfort, their entire support system — just so my sisters and I could have a shot at something bigger," Kim shared. "Every time I strap into my board, I’m carrying the weight of that sacrifice. I’m living the American Dream they dreamed for me before I was even born."

Kim's event is the Women's Half-Pipe which begins competition Wednesday.

For those of us watching from the Edge, Kim’s words hit home. She’s acknowledging the specific, often quiet struggle of immigrant parents who "empty their tanks" to fuel their children’s ambitions

RELATED: Chloe Kim wins gold medal in 2022

Kim's statement

Just before she begins her quest for a third gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, considering her timing, Kim posted on social media what can only be interpreted as a response to the anti-immigrant hate emanating from the Donald Trump regime: 

I can’t believe I’ve arrived in Milan to represent my country at the Olympic Games for the third time. If you told little me that, she wouldn’t believe you
This one feels especially meaningful for so many reasons.

My parents left South Korea in search of a better future for their family. They left behind everything they knew so that my sisters and I could have the chance to one day live the American dream. Their sacrifice is one I will never take for granted.

So when I stand at the top of the halfpipe, competing on the biggest stage in sport, I do so with immense pride. I am representing my country but I am also representing those who took a leap of faith, who came to this beautiful nation carrying hopes, dreams, and courage.

I am proud of my heritage.
I am proud of my journey.
And I am proud to represent a country that is strongest when it embraces diversity, dignity, and hope.

GO TEAM USA!!

Kim indicated that the hatred has persisted throughout her career, particularly escalating since 2020, and has forced her to take measures for her personal safety.
Kim noted that representing Team USA is an honor, but representing the immigrant experience is her "true north."

Her response came amid a broader political climate where several Team USA athletes at a press conference expressed "mixed emotions" about representing the country during the Trump regime's aggressive immigration enforcement and questionable ICE operations.

A half-pipe teammate Bea Kim (no relation) said, "I think there are a lot of different opinions in the US right now. Obviously, we're very divided." The18-year old from California added, "I personally am very proud to represent the United States. That being said, I think diversity is what makes us a very strong country and what makes us so special."

"Nowhere else in the world can an individual express themself with the level of freedom Americans can," added Bea Kim, who is participating in her first Olympics.

"The Olympics are more than just sport. They represent global unity and peace," wrote Bea Kim in a social media post on Sunday. "Diversity is what makes the United States so special. It is woven into the very fabric of our country."

Freestyle skiers Chris Lillis and Hunter Hess expressed heartbreak over ICE raids, while figure skater Amber Glenn noted the difficulties faced by the LGBTQ+ community.

American athletes Bea Kim, left, and Chloe Kim share a hug during a press conference.

"There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of," Hess said at he news conference in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. "Wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the US.

"I'm representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the US. I just think if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I'm representing it."

Chloe Kim shared that the prevalence of hate crimes and online abuse has led her to carry protective items like pepper spray and a knife for everyday safety.

The statements by the athletes have drawn rebukes from the Trump regime and radical conservatives who equate criticism as being unpatriotic, an ironic sentiment  from people who support the Jan. 6 Insurrection.

As Chloe Kim chases her third consecutive gold this week, Kim has made one thing clear: The medals might go in her trophy case, but the victory belongs to the man who quit his job to drive her to the mountains and the woman who taught her how to stand tall in a world that doesn't always see her.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

2026 Oympics: Asian American women help US figure skating team to gold medal

US SKATING

US figure skaters in the team competition include, from left: Evan Bates, Madison Chock, Ilia Malinin, Alyssa Liu, Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, Elie Kam and Danny O'Shea.

In a historic display of talent and grit, three Asian American women — Alysa Liu, Madison Chock, and Ellie Kam — anchored Team USA to a second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the figure skating team event.

The victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan wasn't just a win; it was a testament to the depth of Asian American excellence on the ice, as these athletes delivered under immense pressure to fend off a fierce challenge from Japan.

• Alysa Liu: Returning to the Olympic stage as the reigning world champion, Liu set the tone early by placing second in the women’s short program, securing 9 critical points.

• Madison Chock: Alongside partner Evan Bates, Chock dominated the ice dance segments, winning both the rhythm and free dance to lock in a perfect 20 points for Team USA.

• Ellie Kam: Making her Olympic debut, Kam and partner Danny O'Shea delivered a clean free skate to finish fourth, providing the 7 points that ultimately kept the US tied with Japan heading into the final event.

The 2026 Winter Olympic figure skating competitions are taking place at the Milano Ice Skating Arena (also known as the Mediolanum Forum) in Assago, a suburb of Milan, Italy.

"I was so proud of Ilia and everybody on our team," Danny O'Shea, US team captain for the team event, said. "It took every single point for us to do it today, and at the end of the day, that's what it takes. The team event is something special because it really does bring everyone together to support each other, build each other up and find ways to get one more point."

It is the second straight gold medal for the US team. It was awarded  first place in 2022 after the initial first-place Russian skaters were disqualified after it was found using performance-enhancing drugs.

The 2026 event proved that the figure skating competition is going to be stiff with Japan and the US trading first and second place throughout the event.

The gold was finally secured by  two-time world champion Ilia Malinin, whose final free skate broke a 68-68 tie, giving the US a 69-68 victory over second-place Japan. Host country Italy earned third place.

"I feel happy. I'm so glad to be here," said Malinin, 21, skating in his first Olympics. "This Olympic movement, this Olympic experience was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me, so just being able to go out there, that's what I'm grateful for."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Breaking: Filipino American sets record in the Super Bowl

Seattle Seahawks place kicker Jason Myers watches one of his Super Bowl record-setting five field goals sail between the goalposts.

Quick: Who scored the most points in Sunday's Super Bowl LX? Hint: He is a Filipino Amercan.

When the confetti fell at Levi's Stadium Sunday, the "12th Man" wasn't just celebrating a second Lombardi Trophy — the Filipino American community was celebrating one of its own. Jason Myers, the Seattle Seahawks' reliable specialist, didn't just participate in Super Bowl LX; he owned it, proving once again that Pinoy Pride has a permanent home on the NFL gridiron.

In a defensive battle between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots  where every point mattered, Myers was "nails" all night. He accounted for 17 of Seattle's 29 points, drilling field goals from 33, 39, 41, 41, and 26 yards. By going 5-for-5, he stands alone with the most field goals ever made in a single Super Bowl.

"It's made me who I am"

For those of us following the intersection of culture and sport, Myers is more than a stat line. He has been a consistent voice for the AAPI community, especially during the #StopAsianHate movement. 

"I am proud to say I am Filipino," Myers has said. "It’s a tiny little group when you get to pro sports ... once you find out (someone else is Filipino), it’s always met with a smile and a hug."

Besides Myers, there are several other NFL players with Filipino heritagem including:

• Cam Bynum (Safety, Minnesota Vikings): Heavily represents his Filipino heritage, often wearing the Philippine flag and engaging in community activism there.

• Josh Jacobs (Running Back, Green Bay Packers): Features the Philippine flag on his helmet, honoring his maternal grandmother.

• Andrei Iosivas (Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals): Known for his speed and is of Filipino descent.

• Johnny Wilson (Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles): A 6'7" receiver who takes pride in his Filipino roots.

• Sean Rhyan (Offensive Lineman, Green Bay Packers): Proudly honors his Filipino mother and heritage.

• Nikko Remigio (Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs): A speedy receiver and return specialist.

• Tyler Allgeier (Running Back, Atlanta Falcons): A key offensive contributor.

• Tariq Castro-Fields (Cornerback, Carolina Panthers): A defensive back.

• Zaire Barnes (Linebacker, New York Jets): A developing linebacker.

• Dillon Gabriel (Quarterback, Cleveland Browns): Listed as a quarterback with Filipino heritage.

Myers' heritage isn't just a footnote; it's central to his identity. From honoring his great-grandfather who served in the US Navy to hosting free specialist camps in his hometown of San Diego, Myers carries the weight of representation with a quiet, familiar credibility.

Myers continues to give back through free performance camps at his alma mater, Mater Dei Catholic High School, ensuring the next generation of specialists has a path to the pros.

He has used his platform to stand firm with the AAPI community against discrimination, plainly acknowledging his lineage even when the spotlight isn't on him.

Sunday's record-breaking performance cements his place in NFL history, but for Filipino Americans, he’s already a Hall of Famer for making our community seen on one of the world’s biggest stage.

View from the edge

Myers has been increasingly open about his heritage. In a landscape where Asian Americans often feel invisible in professional contact sports, Myers has used his platform—specifically during the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" initiative—to honor his roots.

"I’m proud of my Filipino heritage," Myers has shared in various interviews and social media posts. "It’s important for me to represent that community and show the younger generation of AAPI athletes that there is a place for them in this league."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

2026 Olympics: The Philippine diaspora sends two skiers to the Winter Games

Tallulah Prouix and Francis Ceccarell represents the Philippines in the 2026 Games.

The closest thing to snow in the Philippines is the shaved ice in halo halo, a wonderful dessert full of fruit, sweet legumes, flan and Ube ice cream. That’s why some people are surprised to see the tropical country field a team for the Winter Olympics.

When the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics kicked off Feb. 6, the Philippine flag was flying flying high on the slopes—thanks in large part to the global Filipino diaspora.

While the Philippines might not have snow, it certainly has a deep well of talent and pride living abroad. This year, two alpine skiers raised far from the islands—are proving that "Laban Pilipinas" knows no borders.

Meet the Historic Duo:

At just 17, Tallulah Proulx is already a history-maker. The Uhah-based skier is the first-ever Filipina and the youngest athlete to represent the nation at the Winter Games. Inspired by her late grandmother and her mother’s heritage, Proulx hopes to be a role model for young girls everywhere, showing them they belong in winter sports.

Francis Ceccarelli, 22, was born in Quezon City but raised in the mountains of Tuscany, Italy, by his adoptive parents. A seasoned skier who began competing for the Philippines in 2023, Ceccarelli is fulfilling a lifelong goal to honor his birth nation on what is essentially his home snow in Italy.

“Since I started skiing, my Filipino identity has always been with me,” Ceccarelli told Olympics.com.

“It represents where I was born and where I'm from. It was a goal for me to ski for the Philippines, because it is not every day that we have a Filipino athlete skiing at international level,” he said.

“Competing in the country that adopted me for the country where I was born represents for me a special bond between the two nations I love the most.”

The two skiers wil be competing against elite skiiers from countries where skiiking with more training facilities and, well, more snow. For the Philippines' athletes, its the journey that matters. 

"I hope that me being at the Olympics and representing the Philippines opens up a whole new exposure to sports and what it can become," Proulx told CNN about Filipino representation in the Winter Olympics.

Ceccarelli and Proulx will compete in the giant slalom and slalom events beginning February 14,

A growing trend of diaspora support

The presence of these athletes isn't an accident. This marks the Philippines' seventh appearance at the Winter Olympics, continuing a tradition that began in 1972. 

The Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation has been active in identifying and recruiting "kababayans" living in colder environments to represent the motherland. This strategy allows the Philippines to field a competitive team in sports that are geographically impossible at home.

The Filipino curling team celebrate the Philippiines first gold medal in the Asian Winter Games.

Beyond the alpine slopes, the diaspora’s influence has extended into other winter sports, with curling teams primarily composed of Filipino Swiss members also vying for their place on the world stage in recent years. The team barely missed qualifying for the Olympics after winning the gold medal in the Asian Winter Games. 

The Philippines' curling team, predominantly based in Switzerland, consists of skip Marc Pfister, Enrico Pfister, Christian Haller, Brayden Carpenter and Alan Frei.

.

Whether they grew up in the Rockies or the Apennines, these athletes are showing the world that you don't need a cold climate to have a warm heart for your heritage.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Asian Americans have a reason to celebrate Black History Month

Artists: Alex Chiu & Viva La Free

A mural at the Portland Chinatown Museum reads "We are hee as immigrants because Black freedom fiighters in the Civil Rights Movement fought for us to exist in this land."

If you’ve ever looked at the vibrant, diverse tapestry of Asian America today and wondered, "How did we get here?"—the answer isn't just found in a travel agency. It’s found in the streets of Selma, the lunch counters of Greensboro, and the halls of a Congress finally forced to reckon with its own soul.

To put it plainly: The 1965 Immigration Act wouldn't have happened without the Black Civil Rights Movement. And Asian Americans would not be the fastest growing ethnic group in the US, according to the US Census. Roughly 68% of Asian American adults are first generation immigrants.

February has been designated Black History Month and all communities of color, including th AANHPI communities are indebted to the Civil Rights Movement led by Black icons like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, John Lewis, Rosa Parks and so many others who literally bled on the streets to gain those rights so many take for granted today.

Here is how the fight for racial justice at home cracked open the door for millions of  immigrants from Asia.

The Hypocrisy of the "Golden Door"

Before the mid-60s, the US immigration system was, frankly, a mess of institutionalized racism. Since the 1920s, we had a "national-origins quota" that was designed to keep America as white as possible. If you were from Great Britain or Germany, the door was wide open. If you were from Asia? You were essentially persona non grata.

But as the Civil Rights Movement gained steam, the optics became impossible to ignore. How could the US claim to be the leader of the "Free World" while enforcing Jim Crow at home and "Europeans Only" at the border? The movement stripped the mask off the idea that discrimination was just "the way things are."

In 1965, the same momentum that gave us the Voting Rights Act gave us the Immigration and Nationality Act (also known as Hart-Celler). It did something revolutionary for the time: it abolished those racist quotas.

Instead of looking at your skin color or your country of origin, the law shifted to two main pillars:

• Family Reunification: If you had family here, you could bring them over.

• Specialized Skills: If you were a doctor, engineer, or scientist, the US wanted your talent.

The Wave Nobody Saw Coming

When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill at the foot of the Statue of Liberty, he actually downplayed it. He said it "is not a revolutionary bill" and wouldn't "reshape the structure of our daily lives."

He was wrong.

Free from the old bans, Asian immigration didn't just grow; it exploded. We're talking about a 663% increase in just the first decade.The "Brain Drain": Highly educated professionals from India, the Philippines, and South Korea rushed to fill gaps in the American workforce.

Those higly educated professionals with specialized skills then used the "family" provision to bring their siblings, parents, and cousins.

Within the new law were provisions that eventually allowed for the influx of Southeast Asian refugees following the Vietnam War.

Before the 1960s, Asian Americans made up only 0.5% of the US population. The Act allowed for a massive increase in immigration, especially from South and Southeast Asia, growing the community to approximately 7% of the population today.

Why It matters today

It’s a powerful reminder of how interconnected our struggles are.

The Asian American community as we know it—our Chinatowns, our Manilatowns, K-towns and Japantowns, and Little Saigons, our suburban enclaves in Jersey City, Daly City and the San Gabriel Valley—those ethnic enclaves, originally born out of racial biases meant to corral us in and keep us out of other parts of the cities, are now sources of cultural pride and worthy of preservation and growth.

We are direct beneficiaries of the courage shown by Black activists who demanded that America live up to its promise of equality.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, while primarily focused on African Americans, provided legal protections against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin that applied to all people of color, including AAPI individuals. This set the stage for challenging discriminatory practices in employment, education, and public accommodation

Inspired by the Black Power movement and the fight for racial justice, young Asian Americans in the late 1960s began to unite across diverse ethnic lines (Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, etc.) to form a cohesive "Asian American" identity. This movement focused on fighting against racism, imperialism, and for social justice.

The era spurred the creation of ethnic studies programs, Asian American community organizations, and health centers, as activists demanded representation and resources tailored to their needs.

The 1967 Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia, which struck down laws banning interracial marriage, benefited AAPI individuals who faced legal restrictions on marrying outside their race.

Unfortunately, today there are those in America feel threatened by immigrants of color. Encouraged and led by the regime of Donald Trump, the push for mass deportation isn't simply following the law; the aggressive enforcement

in too many cases federal authorities have expanded the list of "undesirable immigrants" to include those who are here legally or who are following the proper steps to eventuallly become citizens. Even US citizens have been victims of the regime's dragnet, detained for hours or months before ICE realizes its error.

There are conservative forces who would do away with the gains of the Civil Rights Movement. The US Supreme Court, once the champion of civil rights, has weakened the Voting Rights Act so that it is a shadow of itself and allowed conservative lawmakers to impose new Jim Crow-like barriers to voting. 

The Civil Rights Movement didn’t just change the law for Black Americans; it changed the very definition of who gets to be an American. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Census: AANHPI community is fastest growing group in the US but there's danger ahead

AANHPI fought for disagregated data leading up to the 2020 Census.

America's reputation as the land of opportunity and promise is taking a hit among would-be immigrants thus achieving Donald Trump's goal of the making America white again.

In addition, In a series of executive orders and policy shifts, the Trump regime has moved to fundamentally reshape how the U.S. Census Bureau counts the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community—a move advocates warn could leave the "fastest-growing" group in America both underrepresented and underfunded.

Population growth in the United States has slowed significantly with an increase of only 1.8 million, or 0.5%, between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to the new Vintage 2025 population estimates released Jan. 27 by the US Census Bureau.

This was the nation’s slowest population growth since the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the population grew by a historically low 0.2% in 2021. The slowdown also comes after a sizeable uptick of growth in 2024, when the country added 3.2 million people and grew by 1.0%, the fastest annual population growth rate since 2006.

“The slowdown in US population growth is largely due to a historic decline in net international migration, which dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million in the period from July 2024 through June 2025,” said Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for Estimates and Projections at the Census Bureau. “With births and deaths remaining relatively stable compared to the prior year, the sharp decline in net international migration is the main reason for the slower growth rate we see today.”

Currently, the estimates of NIM are trending toward negative net migration. If those trends continue, it would be the first time the United States has seen net negative migration in more than 50 years.

Despite the slowdown in immigration growth, AANHPI is still the fastest growing demographic in the US according to Census estimates.

if you’ve been following this blog, you know the "model minority" myth usually hides the real struggle. While the Bureau hasn't released a 2026-specific "America Counts" report yet, the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates just went live on January 29, 2026, and they tell a story of a community that's growing fast but still fighting for visibility.

About us:

Here’s the breakdown on what the numbers say about us:

Strength in Numbers: The AANHPI community has topped 26.8 million—with 25.2 million identifying as Asian (alone or in combo) and 1.6 million as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

The Big Three: Chinese (5.5M), Asian Indian (5.2M), and Filipino (4.6M) remain the largest groups followed by Vietnamese (2.3M) and Korean (2.0M).

NHPI Community: Native Hawaiians are the largest detailed group (approx. 693,679), followed by Samoan (268,539) and Chamorro (159,845).

Citizenship & Veterans: Roughly 73.2% of the Asian population and 85.9% of the NHPI population are US citizens. Military service remains prominent in the NHPI community, with 6.6% of adults identifying as veterans.

The Education Gap: On the surface, 56.6% of Asians have a bachelor’s degree, but look closer—the NHPI community sits at 25.6%. This is why we keep screaming for data disaggregation; you can't fix what you don't count.

Hustle and Business: There are now over 650,000 Asian-owned firms with employees, proving we aren't just part of the workforce—we’re the ones creating the jobs.

Regional Concentration: Nearly half of the NHPI population continues to reside in Hawaii and California. For the Asian population, more than half live in just four states:
California, New York, Texas, and Washington.

View From the Edge: Danger ahead

The Trump regime's suspicion of the immigrant community could undermine Census' collection for disaggregated data, something the ANNHPI community has been asking for for decades.

Here is what will happen if the Census Bureau sticks to Trump's edicts:

Undocumented neighbors disappear: By directing the Department of Commerce to exclude undocumented residents from the count used for congressional apportionment, the administration is effectively erasing a portion of our community. Since many AANHPI families live in mixed-status households, this move creates a "chilling effect" that keeps even legal residents from opening their doors to census workers.

Cutting the advocacy cord: On day one, the administration revoked Executive Order 14031, which officially shuttered the White House Initiative on AANHPI. Without this body and its advisory commission, the community loses its primary seat at the table for ensuring the census provides linguistic access and accurate data disaggregation.

Expert voices muted: The official disbanding of the Census Bureau National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations in June 2025 means there are fewer experts in the room to explain why a Hmong farmer in Minnesota or a Tongan family in Utah might be missed by generic counting methods.

Trump's "New Census": The Trump regime has proposed a new data collection model that may rely on administrative records and election info rather than traditional door-knocking. For communities with high numbers of non-citizens or limited-English speakers, this shift risks a massive undercount that could drain resources from local hospitals, schools, and infrastructure for a decade to come.

With billions of dollars and political power at stake, these changes aren't just administrative—they’re personal. An undercount doesn't just mean a smaller number; it means our concerns go unheard and our resources are misallocated.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

K-pop makes small inroad at the Grammy's; Bruno, Laufey and Paguia represent

It’s official: When it comes to the Grammys, the Recording Academy is still playing the same tired game of "look, but don't touch" with K-pop.

Despite Rosé and Bruno Mars practically blowing the roof off the building with their opening performance of "APT" at the Grammy awards Sunday, the night ended in a way that felt all too familiar to anyone who’s been paying attention.

Katseye's performance of their hit "Gnarly" nominated Best New Artist and Best Performance by a duo/group, reinforced the high energy and entertainment value of K-pop.

If you’re feeling a sense of déjà vu, you’re not alone. This year’s shutout of Rosé in the major categories—losing Record of the Year and Song of the Year—mirrors the frustrating history of BTS at the Grammys. For years, the Academy used BTS for ratings, inviting them to perform "Dynamite" and "Butter," yet repeatedly denied them a win in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category.

A trophy for K-pop

There was one win, however: the Grammys finally "gave" K-pop a trophy this year, but even that felt like a backhanded compliment. The win for "Golden" from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack happened in the Visual Media category during the pre-show, away from the main stage.

The team for "Golden" meant Grammys for EJAE (Kim Eun-jae), the Korean-American singer, songwriter, and producer, also known as the voice of character Rumi and her co-singers Korean Americans Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami; producers Teddy Park and Park Hong Jun and Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam and Jeong Hoon Seo, songwriters and producers.

Laufey
. 

There were other winners

Asians were not completely shut out at the Grammy's.

Everyone's favorite Asian Icelander, Laufey, won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

“I owe everything to my music education, to my arts education … we cannot cut arts funding, it’s so important. What you all do here is so important. I love you all so much,” she told the crowd.

The trophy balances out the Grammy she won last year.

Additionally, Marco Paguia, the Filipino American music director/pianist and the original cast of the Buena Vista Social Club. won Best Musical Theater Album for their work on the Broadway musical.

Paguia's Grammy win, follows the Tony Awards’ Best Orchestrations and a special Tony  that he earned last June for his work on the Buena Vista Social Club.

Let's not forget that Bruno Mars energy. Besides singing with Rosé at the show's opening, he had everyone dancing to his new song "I Just Might," which he debuted last night. It's almost a given: he'll be among the nominees next year.

SCREEN CAPTURE

The 6-member K-pop group Katseye performed at the Grammys Sunday night.

View from the edge

For K-pop, the pattern is clear: the Academy loves the global viewership and the high-octane energy K-pop brings to the telecast, but they still refuse to grant these artists the "prestige" of a General Field win. 

Rosé was good enough to open the show, but apparently, her historic impact wasn't "enough" to take home the hardware.

The Grammy's problem is that it tries to be all things to all genres, and when a new genre comes along like K-pop, it doesn't know how to categorize it. "APT" and "Gnarly" tried to bridge the gap with English lyrics, but, apparently, to no avail. However, "Golden" was able to break through which perhaps signals an opening.

Years ago, the recording industry was criticized for not recognizing country music and hip-hop so it had to make new categories to give those genre's their deserved recognition. The academy had the same problem with Latin music and gospel. The solution was the same.

Does the Academy need a complete overhaul of its voting block to finally recognize K-pop as global pop, or are these "performance-only" invites just the new normal?

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

2026 Olympics: Filipino American hockey star left off US Olympic team

NHL

Jason Robertson, one of the top scorers in the NHL didn't make the Olympic team.

 

In the high-stakes world of international hockey, where the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" legacy still casts a long shadow, USA Hockey GM Bill Guerin made a move that has fans and pundits buzzing: leaving Filipino American Jason Robertson off the 2026 Olympic roster. 

General Manager Bill Guerin and Head Coach Mike Sullivan emphasized "stylistic fit" and "balance". They chose more physical, defensively responsible forwards like Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller to handle specific checking roles that they felt did not suit Robertson's "pure scorer" style.

Robertson didn't hide his disappointment. While he was left off the Four Nations roster last year, he felt this season's star-making goal production had proven he belonged. 

The Dallas Star winger admits the snub "hurts your ego" but maintained a professional front.

“I thought that this year was different from last year. Obviously last year [for 4 Nations], I didn’t think I was good enough," he told reporters. "Now, I think I did. It’s their choice and their decision, and that's it."

Management’s logic was simple, if controversial: they aren't just picking the 12 best players; they’re building a team with specific roles. While Robertson entered 2026 leading all American-born NHLers in points, Guerin and Coach Mike Sullivan prioritized "two-way play" and "physical presence".

View from the edge

Sullivan, who is the New York Rangers' head coach,  selected two members of the Rangers, Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller, despite having significantly less than half of Robertson's total.

Management’s logic was simple, if controversial: they aren't just picking the 12 best players; they’re building a team with specific roles. Guerin and Sullivan emphasized building a cohesive team rather than just selecting top point-producers.

Guerin said Trocheck and Miller fit the physicality of the  "grit-and-grind" style established during the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off.

Robertson's absence is akin to leaving NBA star scorer Stephen Curry off the Olympic basketball team because he's not a great defender. As we saw in the 2024 Paris Olympics, it was his scoring, not his defense, that won the Gold Medal for the US.

It should be noted that the two NHL players scoring more than Robertson, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, were named to Team Canada.

Critics argue that leaving home three of the top seven American goal-scorers—including Robertson—is a massive risk if the US struggles to find the back of the net in Milan. Even Dallas' goalie, Jake Oettinger, who did make the cut, called Robertson the "most pure goal-scorer" he’s ever played with.

“I think they leaned into familiarity,” said Malia Poblete, a writer for The Hockey News based in Eugene, Oregon. “A lot of the players had opportunities to connect in their careers earlier. However, there are no doubts these picks still have talent.”

FYI: The Olympic hockey games begins on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with  Slovakia taking on Finland. Team USA begins action on Thursday, Feb. 12, on NBC.

Robertson, born and raised in California, is one of several NHL players playing for US and Canadian teams of Asian heritage. They include:

• Nick Robertson (Filipino/American, Jason's brother): Toronto Maple Leafs
• Kailer Yamamoto (Japanese/American): Edmonton Oilers (recently with Seattle Kraken/Utah)
• Nick Suzuki (Japanese/Canadian): Montreal Canadiens
• Matt Dumba (Filipino/Canadian): Minnesota Wild (now Arizona Coyotes/Tampa Bay Lightning)
• Kiefer Sherwood (Japanese/American): Colorado Avalanche (now Nashville Predators)
• Kole Sherwood (Japanese/American): Columbus Blue Jackets
• Jonas Siegenthaler (Thai/Swiss): New Jersey Devils
• Akito Hirose (Japanese/Canadian): Vancouver Canucks

Robertson was named to the reserve Olympic team. If there are injuries he'd be the first off the bench, but as of now, he'll have to watch from the sidelines as Team USA tries to reclaim gold for the first time since 1980.

Despite the blow to his ego, Robertson stated he won't change his style: "I'm not going to change the way I play. I’m happy to keep doing what I do ... I just strive to be the best at whatever I can be. It so happened that this year was the Olympic year, and that's not gonna stop me from doing that the rest of the season. I love the game. I just keep playing. And that's the beauty of it."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.