Voting in California is so easy

Although California's election day is June 2, voting has been underway for a few weeks already.

As a California resident, I voted yesterday by dropping off my sealed ballot at a secured metal drop box in front of the school district offices. No lines. No hurry. No worries.

If you want to vote this way, visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov to find your nearest drop box.

If you choose to mail your ballots, it is a bit more complicated. The Secretary of State website recommends that you mail your ballot five days before election day. That deadline was yesterday, May 28. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received not later than 7 days after Election Day. However you decide to go ahead and mail over the weekend, you're taking your chances with the Post Office. If mailing on Election Day, the website recommends getting a manual postmark from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office.

There's a good number of us who still prefer to go to a polling place, chat with your neighbors volunteering to work at the polls and go through the process and personally slip your ballot into the drop box. To find your polling place, click on caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov. 

Even if you missed the registration deadline earlier this month, you can still register to vote on June 2. You can still go to your county elections office, vote center, or polling place on or before Election Day to complete conditional voter registration (often referred to as "Same Day Voter Registration"). Contact your county elections office for more information or visit vote.ca.gov.

View from the edge

Despite the ease in voting in the state, the overall turnout rate of eligible voters in California in the 2024 presidential general election was 62.1%. The national average for the same year was 64.1%.

The Golden State is home to a third of the nation's total AANHPI population and make up 17.34% of the voters, according to APPI Data. But voter registration of AANHPI is historically low. People who have studied the lackluster turnout at the polls, say various studies is the lack of specific outreach, not only from the candidates but from the Democrats and Republicans.

One of the biggest problems facing AANHPI is the feeling that they are being overlooked by the major parties, which translates into indifference. They want to feel like they matter. Few politicians recognize this abstract but overlooked need. If you don't speak directly to the diverse groups under the AANHPI umbrella, that is interpreted as "If you don't think my vote matters and don't address my concerns, why should I vote for you."

“Latinos, Asian Americans, and young people represent California’s future and they will dictate the future of electoral participation as well,” said Eric McGhee, a PPIC research fellow who authored a report, California’s Missing Voters: Who Is Not Voting and Why. “California has been a creative and energetic force for voter participation, and it must redouble its efforts to ensure future civic engagement.”

Democracy is not for bystanders.

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. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Asian and Asian American artists' AMA wins signal changing music industry

K-Pop sensation BTS won major recognition at the AMA awards show.

Asian and AAPI artists dominated the American Music Awards, smashing records and rewriting the narrative on mainstream music's biggest night. From K-pop global icons to R&B heavyweights, the Asian American and Pacific Islander community didn't just show up—they swept.

Here is how our community made their presence known at the AMAs:

In the midst of their first tour since fulfilling their mandatory military service, the global phenomenon BTS continued their historic AMA legacy, adding three more massive trophies to their collection:

• Artist of the Year
• Best Male K-Pop Artist
• Song of the Summer for their track "SWIM"

Filipino-Puerto Rican superstar Bruno Mars continues his reign as an R&B powerhouse, dominating the genre categories with major wins:

• Best Male R&B Artist
• Best R&B Album for The Romantic
• Best R&B Song for his track "I Just Might"

Next-Gen AAPI trailblazers take the stage

The night also belonged to first-time AAPI voices and collaborative powerhouses who broke barriers in the general fields:

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• The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X (Featuring Korean-American vocalists Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI): Took home the coveted Song of the Year, Best Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Song for their breakout track "Golden". Singer EJAE also secured Best Soundtrack for “KPop Demon Hunters”.

• KATSEYE: The recognition as New Artist of the Year cemented the Kpop-inspired girl group's rising global presence. The group won Best New Artist, Best Music Video, Breakthrough New Artist.

• Raja Kumari: She shattered glass ceilings as the first artist of Indian origin to win an AMA, recognized for her stellar collaboration on the track "Renegade (We Never Run)."

• During their acceptance speech, the Filipino American Sophia Laforteza took a moment to acknowledge the artists who helped pave the way for globally minded groups like Katseye. “We want to give a special shout-out to BTS tonight for inspiring us to represent our culture at a global scale,” she said , closing her speech with “Maraming, maraming salamat!”

During KATSEYE's acceptance speech, Filipino American member Sophia Laforteza took a moment to acknowledge the artists who helped pave the way for globally minded groups like Katseye. “We want to give a special shout-out to BTS tonight for inspiring us to represent our culture at a global scale,” she said , closing her speech with “Maraming, maraming salamat!”

Perhaps the emotional highlight of the evening was the reunion of the Black Eyed Peas. Fergie reunited on stage with will.i.am, Taboo, and apl.de.ap to accept the newly created AMA for Best Throwback Song for their 2009 hit, "Rock That Body."

During the AMA show, Black-Eyed Peas' Apl.de-ap thanked the group's Filipino fans.

 Apl.de.ap gave a proud shoutout to Filipino fans during the broadcast, stating, “Thank you to all the fans around the world who voted for this song, ‘Rock That Body.’  “Maraming salamat, mahal ko kayo, mabuhay ang Filipino.”

        FYI: For the complete list of AMA winners, click here.

Fergie, who left the group in 2018 for a solo career, gave a sweet shoutout to her 12-year-old son Axl and told the group she was "so happy to be reunited again with my brothers."

The announcement of their award was greeted with a standing ovation and sparked a social media frenzy hoping for a permanent reunion but no announcement about getting back together was forthcoming.

View from the edge

Forget the days when a global act would score a flash-in-the-pan debut, only to plummet into obscurity the following week once the superfans stopped clicking. In 2026, our community is exhibiting some serious staying power on the Billboard charts, and the mainstream industry has no choice but to change the way it counts the numbers.

Mega-groups like BTS are proving that international acts possess long-term commercial endurance. Their 2026 track "SWIM" didn't just spike upon release; it went on to become the longest-charting song of the year in the Top 10 of both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. US charts.

Over on the Billboard Hot 100, the trio of Asian American powerhouse singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami (the voices behind Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters) completely took over the airwaves. Their anthem "Golden" locked down the #1 spot for eight weeks, a history-making run that deservedly earned them Billboard’s 2026 Women of the Year honors.

KATSEYE, performed 'Pinky Up' at the AMA show.

Instead of waiting for traditional Western record labels to slowly "incubate" or introduce foreign acts to the American public, a new wave of mobile-first fandoms is launching artists onto the charts instantly. Multilingual groups like KATSEYE, Stray Kids, and aespa are landing on U.S. streaming charts on day one, erasing the historic "lag time" between overseas success and American recognition.

The sheer volume of global streams has forced major trade publications to adapt. With platforms altering data collection metrics to track 360-degree, multi-platform engagement, our digitally native, highly organized fandoms are leading the charge in how modern chart success is measured.

Groups like BTS are attracted thousands of fans in Mexico City in short notice to an appearance with Mexico's President and during their California stops on their worldwide tour, the group had their diverse fans singing along in Korean.

The Billboard 200 albums chart is increasingly occupied by hybrid localized acts. By mixing Western pop styling with international production and multilingual lyrics, these cross-border entities are proving that multiculturalism is highly marketable to general American audiences.

The best example of this international fusion was when  R&B artist Bruno Mars joined Black Pink's Rose for their international hit APT.

Change in the music industry, in terms of representation, is occurring at the speed of light. It can't come soon enough. Now, if only the Grammys will catch up to the international nature of the music industry.

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. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Code Red in Newark: ICE agents pepperspray US Senator Andy Kim

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Just before getting peppersprayed, Senator Andy Kim tried to de-escalate the confrontation.

This incident is ridiculous. ICE agents pepper-sprayed a US Senator. The incident with New Jersey's Korean American Sen. Andy Kim demonstrates, once again, the need to rein in Donald Trump's out-of-control army.

The thin veneer of constitutional governance didn't just crack outside Newark’s Delaney Hall—it was blasted apart by a cloud of federal-grade pepper spray.
When Kim was filmed on Monday clutching an ice pack while street medics frantically flushed chemical irritants from his eyes, the imagery captured something far deeper than a chaotic protest. It gave a visceral face to a raging constitutional crisis: a rogue executive branch physically assaulting the very lawmakers empowered to oversee it.

"My eyes were hurting, my throat was burning," Kim said afterwards.

The clash

The powder keg ignited over a hunger strike inside the privately run, 1,000-bed immigration warehouse. Roughly 300 detainees are currently risking starvation to protest what advocates call "inhumane" living conditions, including acute medical neglect.

When Kim, Governor Mikie Sherrill, and other New Jersey Democrats showed up for a critical oversight visit, they were met with immediate stonewalling. Sherrill was completely blocked at the gate. Senator Kim only forced his way inside after making a direct, high-stakes phone call to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

But the true ugly underbelly of federal enforcement was waiting for Kim when he stepped back outside.

Faced with a tense standoff between an armored ICE vehicle, heavily weaponized agents, and a human chain of peaceful demonstrators, Kim did what a leader is supposed to do: he stepped into the gap. Putting his hands up in a universal "stop" motion, the Korean American senator tried to broker a de-escalation.

The federal response? In an interview with CNN''s Jake Tapper, Kim said:

US Sen. Andy Kim had his eyes flushed out after
getting pepperspreayed by ICE agents.

"So I tried my best to get between the ICE agents and the crowd as the ICE convoy decided to just go ahead and plow through the crowd, which was just absolutely so dangerous of an action that they were doing. So I remember the pepper balls starting to get shot towards my feet and past me. I did not get hit directly by a pepper ball, but certainly between the pepper balls and then the pepper spray that was happening, I’d certainly had an irritation and burning sensation in my eyes and my throat.

"But more broadly, this was something that was avoidable. We were trying to find a way to be able to move forward that wasn’t gonna escalate in this way. But ICE decided that they just had enough and they were gonna just move ahead. And I just thought that was an incredibly dangerous action for them to do. And that continued problems, that continued threat of violence and escalation continues today. Tomorrow, I mean, ... we’re seeing just a heightened level of danger right now in New Jersey."

Lawless enforcers

Let’s cut through the Department of Homeland Security’s spin, which quickly dismissed the oversight visit as a "political stunt."

The law is unequivocal. Under Section 527 of the DHS Appropriations Act, no taxpayer funds may be used to block a Member of Congress from entering or inspecting an immigration detention facility. Period. Full stop. Federal courts reaffirmed this exact mandate earlier this year in Neguse v. Noem, ruling that the executive branch lacks the authority to gatekeep congressional oversight.

ICE’s defense rests on an unconstitutional house of cards—specifically, an agency-invented rule requiring a seven-day advance notice for visits. But a federal agency’s internal memo cannot override statutory federal law.

Furthermore, under standard DHS Use of Force Directives, federal agents are legally restricted to using force that is "objectively reasonable." Deploying chemical weapons against a visible, compliant federal lawmaker attempting to peacefully negotiate a crowd clearance violates the core tenets of acceptable law enforcement behavior.

Kim to take action

Can these agents be disciplined? On paper, absolutely. The DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) and ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) possess the clear authority to suspend, terminate, or recommend criminal assault charges against the officers involved.

But in the Trump regime, "can" and "will" are miles apart. With a DHS leadership that treats congressional oversight like an enemy insurgency, internal investigators will face immense institutional pressure to sweep this under the rug as standard "crowd control."

Kim hasn't signaled an intent to file personal charges or lawsuits. He knows the battlefield is systemic. Instead of getting bogged down in an uphill legal battle against qualified immunity, Kim is taking the fight back to Washington, demanding the permanent shutdown of Delaney Hall and drafting legislation to cut off the administration's ability to buy up more corporate detention warehouses.

When federal law enforcement agents feel entitled to pepper-spray the lawmakers who hold the purse strings, the balance of power is no longer just threatened. It's on fire.

“What we saw here is unfortunately just what we see all over the country,” Kim told NJ.com. “It’s sad, it’s a sad day.”

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. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

AANHPI Heritage Month: The famous meal when Obama met Bourdain

Totally comfortable in a working -lass restaurant, then-President Barack Obama and cultural
commentator Anthony Bourdain enjoy a simple meal in Hanoi.

The image remains etched in the collective memory of both Vietnam and America: Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain, two global icons sitting on low plastic stools in a cramped, fluorescent-lit noodle shop in Hanoi. 

When President Obama joined food writer Bourdain for a bowl of bún chả in 2016, it wasn’t just a staged photo op for CNN’s Parts Unknown. It was a masterclass in culinary diplomacy and a homecoming of sorts for a president whose palate was shaped far from the White House.

There is nothing to make the restaurant stand out from its surroundings. Located at 24 Lê Văn Hưu in Hanoi's Hai Ba Trung District, Bún Chả Hương Liên is a no-frills, family-run establishment. Up the stairs with other members of my small tour group to the small dining room there is a picture of Obama and Bourdain hanging over the table where they shared a simple Vietnamese meal on May 23, 2016. 

I sat there, trying to find a comfortable position on the low plastic stool.  There I enjoyed a steaming bowl of pho, perspiring a bit because there was no air-conditioning but the windows remained open to the warm tropical air letting the busy street noise filter into the cramped room. I noted the photograph of the President and the food writer/philosopher extraordinaire.

That original table, along with their plates and beer bottles, is now famously preserved in a glass case — a "museum piece" that Bourdain dryly admitted he wasn't sure how to feel about.

While the world marveled at the sight of a sitting US President navigating a crowded street stall, Bourdain noted that Obama didn’t need a tutorial. There was no fumbling with the chopsticks and no hesitation at the sight of the heap of fresh herbs. 

Bourdain later remarked on the President's effortless technique, stating, "He’s the only guest I’ve ever had on the show who enjoyed the food, handled the chopsticks, and drank the beer from the bottle."

This comfort wasn’t an act; it was muscle memory. Growing up in Hawaii and spending formative years in Indonesia, Obama didn’t just "eat" Asian food—he lived it. From the savory comfort of Hawaiian plate lunches to the spicy street stalls of Jakarta, the President was raised in the "umami" belt. 

Bourdain, reflecting on the meal, said, "I believe he had been looking forward to this for a long time. It was a bowl of cold rice noodles and grilled pork in a broth with some fermented fish sauce—all the things he grew up with." He famously added that Obama "handled the sticky, hard-to-separate noodles like a professional."

For the locals in Hanoi, seeing the leader of the free world treat their national dish with the respect of a regular was transformative. Obama wasn't there to colonize the menu; he was there to enjoy a meal he fundamentally understood. 

This moment signaled a seismic shift in U.S.-Vietnam relations. On May 23, 2016—the same day the meal was filmed—Obama officially announced the full lifting of the 50-year-old arms embargo on Vietnam. While the policy change was strategic, the meal was the emotional anchor that humanized the "former enemy" through the simple act of breaking bread.

Today, tourists and locals alike flock to the shop to order the "Combo Obama." For approximately 120,000 VND ($5.00 USD), you get the exact set they shared: a bowl of special bún chả, a fried seafood roll, and a cold Hanoi beer. It remains a testament to the idea that the best way to understand the world is to sit down, grab a blue plastic stool, and eat like a local.

Through the years, I've forgotten what kind of pho I ordered at Bún Chả Hương Liên except that it was hot and delicious. To the staff there, I was just another foreigner trying the local fare. It was about as close as I could get to Obama and Bourdain, two men I admired from afar. A simple meal with so much meaning.

Afterwards, I exited into the busy street -- scooters zooming by, car horns honking, dodging the traffic, both motorized and pedestrian, and the buzz of conversations of Vietnamese passers-by.  I boarded the small tour bus still trying to memorize the experience of my  tiny taste of history. 

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. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Memorial Day 2026: US’ broken promises to AANHPI veterans is nothing new

 
It is a pattern as old as the republic itself: America makes a promise when it needs your help, and tears up the contract the second it becomes inconvenient.

Over 250,000 Filipinos answered the call of President Roosevelt to fight for the US during WWII.

For Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, this history is written in ink and blood. The Rescission Act of 1946 is not just a "budget-saving measure" or a legislative technicality. It is a calculated act of betrayal by the United States government.

When the shadow of imperial Japan loomed over the Pacific in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt didn't hesitate. He officially drafted the Philippine Commonwealth Army directly into the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).

Filipino soldiers were legally serving under the American flag. They were promised full U.S. veterans' benefits, healthcare, and the GI Bill. They held the line at Bataan and Corregidor. They endured the Death March. They bled for a country that called them its own nationals.

But once the war was won, Congress decided their sacrifice was too expensive. With the stroke of a pen, the Rescission Act retroactively declared that their service was not "active military service." Uncle Sam got the victory, and Filipino veterans got the shaft.

A familiar playbook of deception

To anyone paying attention to the "views from the edge" of American history, this wasn't an isolated incident. It is part of a long, dark tradition of institutional dishonesty and structural colonization:

• The stolen Kingdom of Hawaiʻi: In 1893, US-backed sugar barons and military forces engineered an illegal coup against Queen Liliʻuokalani, toppling a sovereign constitutional monarchy just to secure a Pacific refueling station.

• The Original Sin of the Spanish-American War: Decades before WWII, the US.had already perfected the art of the backstab in the Philippines. In 1898, Filipino patriots had spent years fighting Spain and had successfully surrounded Manila, ready to claim independence. Instead of supporting their revolutionary allies, U.S. commanders went behind the back of Emilio Aguinaldo and cut a secret deal with the Spanish. They staged a farcical, pre-arranged Mock Battle of Manila so Spain could "save face" by surrendering to white Americans rather than the Filipinos who actually won the war. The US then bought the Philippines from Spain for $20 million in the Treaty of Paris, locking out the Filipino patriots entirely and turning the islands into an American colony.

• The abandonment of Hmong and Lao soldiers: The betrayal didn't stop in 1946; it was repeated a generation later in the jungles of Southeast Asia. During the Vietnam War, the CIA ran a "Secret War" in Laos, recruiting over 30,000 Hmong and Lao soldiers to fight communist forces, rescue downed American pilots, and block the Ho Chi Minh Trail. US officials explicitly promised to take care of them and their families. But when the US pulled out in 1975, they abandoned their loyal allies to face brutal retribution, labor camps, and genocide by the victorious communist regime. For decades, the U.S. government denied these veterans official recognition, healthcare, or military burial honors, treating their sacrifice as a deniable classified asset.

• The shredded treaties with Indigenous Americans: Hundreds of peace treaties were signed with Native nations, promising land and sovereignty "as long as the rivers run." Every single one of them was systematically violated, broken, or rewritten by the U.S. government when gold, oil, or land expansion beckoned.

• The ongoing courtroom battles for tribal sovereignty: This Native American struggle is far from ancient history; it is actively raging in federal courts today. Tribal nations are constantly forced to sue the federal government just to make Uncle Sam honor those centuries-old promises. From landmark Supreme Court battles like McGirt v. Oklahoma—which finally forced the state to recognize reservation boundaries—to ongoing corporate and state attempts to strip away tribal land, water rights, and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Indigenous communities are still on the front lines defending their survival against a government that prefers its treaties broken.

View from the edge

The Rescission Act belongs on that exact same shelf of shame. The US government has always treated people of color as temporary wartime commodities or obstacles to empire.

Whether it is trying to close out a fund for centenarian Filipino heroes to balance a congressional budget, or continuing to deny full medical care to Hmong elders who rescued downed American pilots, the underlying theme hasn't changed. 

The US government still treats AAPI service as a temporary contract. The legislation we see today isn't just about policy—it is a continuous, generational fight to force an empire to pay its historical debts. Shamefully, the Rescission Act of 1946 is still n the books and should be repealed.

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. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

The US-born Miss Philippines ignites a familiar debate in the diapora

Filipino American Bea Millan-Windorski crowned Miss Philippines

UPDATED 5/22 for clarity and context.

Growing up in the United States Filipino Americans often found themselves having to say, over and over, "I am an American." Ironically, in the Philippines, that same person has to prove, "I am a Filipino."

That's the situation Bea Millan-Windorski, the new Miss Universe Philippines, finds herself in. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, her historic win has reignited a fierce, ongoing debate over ethnic gatekeeping and what it truly means to be "Filipino enough."

"Throughout this whole journey, I’ve just been trying to be enough for myself and enough for younger Bea, who was proud to be Filipina and felt rejected by both Americans and Filipinos back home," she revealed in a Manila interview. She described the painful reality shared by many in the diaspora: being treated as "not American enough" in the US, while simultaneously criticized as "not Filipino enough" by self-appointed gatekeepers in the Philippines.

For a long time, Filipinos have had a love-hate relationship with their beauty queens. They love the attention the women bring to the Philippines, but at the same time, most of the winners are of mixed race bringing up the parallel and complicated question about beauty standards aligned with western definition of beauty.

The internet backlash to Milllan-WIndorski was swift. Critics labeled her as an "opportunist" because she was raised in the US, and only recently secured her Philippine passport. To vocal skeptics on social media, her lack of local "lived experience" made her a performative outsider chasing a crown.

However, her defenders—including pageantry veterans—wasted no time dismantling this narrative. They pointed to her deep familial roots in La Union and Nueva Vizcaya. More importantly, they highlighted her tangible activism in the US, where she an active member of the Asian Student Union and took to the streets to march against anti-Asian hate and championed the rights of Filipino migrant workers.

Bea Millan-Windorski, 23, graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She earned a double degree in History and International Relations with comprehensive honors.

She hopes as her new platform, she will be able bring attention to some of her interestings, including her own initiative, Open Doors, Open Hearts, for which she raises international awareness for families displaced by climate change.

She also wants to help Overseas Filipino Workers obtain better working conditions and rights in the countries where they have to work and at the same time, create opportunities in the Philippines so that Filipinos don't have to seek foreign employment.

A predictable cycle in Philippine pageantry

This uproar highlights a recurring double standard in international pageantry. Critics are acting as if a mixed-heritage winner is a brand-new concept, conveniently forgetting that Millan-Windorski is stepping into a well-established legacy.

In fact, the country's very last Miss Universe winner — the iconic Catriona Gray — is herself Filipino Australian. The Philippines has long celebrated mixed-race women on the global stage when they bring home the gold, making the sudden policing of Millan-Windorski's identity looks a bit hypocritical.

Gray, herlsef, also had to endure similar criticism when she was selected Miss Philippines in 2024 but all that disappeared once she won the Miss Universe crown.

Not surprisingly, Gray, a full-time resident of Manila, was among the first to congratulate Milllan-WIndorski.

Millan-Widorski's win is a direct byproduct of the Philippines’ multi-million dollar "beaucon" industrial complex. For decades, mainstream media has treated beauty pageants as a superficial hobby, but here the Philippines has taken the contests to another level. 

The reality is that pageantry in the Philippines is an economic juggernaut that rivals major sports leagues in corporate backing, media dominance, and societal impact as it involves the intersection of culture, representation, and economics.

As Asia’s undisputed pageantry superpower, the country has transformed beauty contests (locally known as "beaucons") from small-town fiesta entertainment into a highly lucrative industry. The massive business infrastructure has translated directly into unparalleled international dominance. The Philippines is the first Asian country to achieve victories across all six most prestigious global crowns

In her own words

For Millan-Windorski, the victory is deeply personal. In a series of raw, post-coronation media appearances, she candidly clapped back against the "performative" labels by exposing the lifelong trauma of navigating a dual identity.

For her own part, Bea responded to the backlash during an emotional interview on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, stating that she has held dual citizenship since birth and spent her life trying to fight for the Philippines abroad.

Defending her right to represent the Philippines, Bea stated: “Maybe it's time to stop this kind of prejudice and division. Whether someone is mixed or not, they are still people, they still deserve respect, recognition, and a place in this world.. At the end of the day, beauty, talent, and humanity should never be measured by someone's bloodline.”

She added: "I’ve worked so hard to pick the Philippines as my home, and by winning this crown, I feel like the Philippines has finally picked me."

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. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

AAANHPI Heritage Month: Let's just say it, 'Barack Obama is our first AANHPI President'

In 2015, standing amidst the high-stakes theater of the Paris Climate Conference, then-President Barack Obama leaned into a piece of his identity that is rarely mentioned: "I am an island boy."

It wasn’t just a catchy soundbite; it was a tactical play for empathy in a room full of leaders whose nations were literally being erased from the map. By referencing his years in Hawaii and Indonesia, Obama signaled to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) that he didn’t just see sea-level rise as a data point—he saw it as the loss of a home.

We often talk about the "global stage," but Obama’s remark was a reminder that policy is personal. He wasn't just a president negotiating a treaty; he was a kid from Honolulu reminding the world that when the tide rises, it doesn't care about your borders.

Obama often says that what is best in him comes from Hawaii. He calls the islands a "melting pot" that shaped his worldview.

In a 1999 essay for the Punahou Bulletin, a quarterly magazine for Punahou School, he wrote: "The opportunity that Hawaii offered — to experience a variety of cultures in a climate of mutual respect — became an integral part of my world view, and a basis for the values that I hold most dear."

Growing up in Honolulu, he saw people of all backgrounds living together. This experience gave him a unique perspective on the world. He learned the value of diversity and the importance of finding common ground.

Obama often says that what is best in him comes from Hawaii. He calls the islands a "melting pot" that shaped his worldview.

Obama’s Pacific upbringing deeply influenced his foreign policy. As president, he launched the "Pivot to Asia" (and away from the traditional Eurocentric view dominating US policies). This strategy aimed to strengthen ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific region. He believed the future of the United States was tied to the Pacific. He worked to increase trade, boost security cooperation, and promote human rights in the region.

        RELATED: Adobo and lumpia at the White House

One of the centerpieces of the "Pivot to Asia" was the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This massive trade agreement involved 12 countries, including the United States, Japan, and Vietnam. Obama argued that the TPP would create jobs and level the playing field for American workers. However, the agreement faced strong opposition from both political parties and was one of the first things scrapped by the Trump in the opening days  of his presidncy.

Despite the setback of the TPP, Obama’s Pacific legacy remains. He strengthened alliances with Japan, South Korea, and Australia. He also engaged with China on issues like climate change and maritime security. His focus on the Asia-Pacific region reflected his belief that the United States must be a leader in the 21st century.

Obama’s connection to the Pacific is more than just political. It is personal. He spent his formative years in Hawaii and Indonesia. He grew up among Asian and Pacific people. Through his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, who was born in Indonesia, his immediate family These experiences gave him a deep appreciation for the cultures and traditions of the region. He often spoke about the "spirit of aloha" and its importance in building a more peaceful and prosperous world.

Former President Barack Obama body surfs in Hawaiian waters.

In his memoir, A Promised Land, Obama reflects on his time in Hawaii. He writes about the beauty of the islands and the warmth of the people. He also discusses the challenges he faced as a young man of mixed race. These experiences shaped his identity and his commitment to social justice.

In Janny Scott’s biography of Obama’s mother, A Singular Woman, one of her interviewees maintains that Obama's time in Indonesia taught him a valuable lesson: ‘This is where Barack learnt to be cool … if you get mad and react, you lose. If you learn to laugh and take it without any reaction, you win.’…" Eerily similar to, "When they go low; we go high."

The Javanese have a word for this kind of bearing. They call it halus - defined by some scholars as: “Formality of bearing, restraint of expression, and bodily self-discipline."

Obama’s Asian-Pacific upbringing was a defining factor in his life and presidency. It gave him a global perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the world today. His legacy in the Asia-Pacific region will continue to be felt for years to come.

“I try to explain to them about the aloha spirit,”  Obama said to a gathering of fellow Hawaiians. “And it’s that spirit that I am absolutely convinced is what America is looking for right now.”

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

Filipino American basketball players shine in NBA Conference Finals

'Representing' in the NBA, from left, Jared McCain, Jordan Clarkson and Dylan Harper.

History has already been made in the 2026 NBA playoffs, ensuring that an NBA champion of Filipino descent will be crowned this year. With Dylan Harper, Jared McCain, and Jordan Clarkson all anchoring squads in the Conference Finals, there is a staggering 75% mathematical probability that the Larry O'Brien trophy will be hoisted by a player representing Pinoy heritage.

For Asian American basketball fans who have long watched these courts from the sidelines, this isn't just a deep postseason run — it is a groundbreaking cultural milestone.

The Filipino American ballers are:

Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs): The standout rookie—who carries a 50% Filipino lineage through his mother, Maria Pizarro-Harper—cruised through the opening round by averaging 22.4 points and 6.8 assists per game. He has since become the youngest guard in league history to record multiple playoff double-doubles.

Jared McCain (Oklahoma City Thunder): The charismatic guard, who proudly claims his 10% Filipina maternal roots, provided lethal floor spacing in the first round. He averaged 14.2 points while shooting a blazing 41% from the three-point line to push OKC into a deep postseason run.

Jordan Clarkson (New York Knicks): The veteran statesman of Pinoy basketball pride (25% Filipino heritage) provided his signature spark off the bench as the sixth man, in the first round. He averaged 16.8 points and 4.1 assists, steadying the Knicks' secondary unit during high-pressure moments

How to catch the Conference Finals action

The television and streaming broadcast rights are split cleanly by conference for this round of the postseason:

Conference / Series	Network TV Channels	Premium Streaming Platforms
Western Conference Finals (Spurs vs. Thunder)	NBC	Peacock
Eastern Conference Finals (Knicks vs. Cavaliers)	ESPN / ABC (Game 3)	ESPN+ / WatchESPN

For cord-cutters without traditional cable, every single matchup can be streamed live via live-TV digital platforms such as DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV. Complete series tip-off times and daily schedule updates are hosted directly on the NBA Official Website.

After the first game in each conference, Clarkson's New York Knicks and Harper's Spurs hold a 1-0 edge in the best-of-seven series. Both hard-fought games wound up in overtime, with the Spurs surviving double overtime over the reigning champion Thunder.

If you're a basketball fanatic, this time of year is the ultimate and with these basketball players representing our community, the playoffs have become more meaningful and personal.

FYI: For live updates and the full, detailed schedule, visit the NBA East Finals Page and NBA West Finals Page. I can also provide the 2026 NBA Finals schedule or key defensive matchups.

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