ICE in Irvine opposed by Asian American residents, students and politicians

For a long time, Irvine was seen as the "safe" suburban dream—the master-planned capital of the Asian American middle class. But that dream is feeling more like a nightmare lately. 

Long the bastion of Republican conservatism in deep Blue California, at first glance, the City of Irvine and Orange County might appear to be a friendly locale for ICE facilities.

However, the news that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has set up shop in a tower block near the 2000 block of Main Street has sent a shockwave through a community that’s 45% Asian.

ICE claims the office building will be used by street level agents and lawyers allaying community fears that it would be a detention facility.

This isn't just about a new office; it's about a shifting frontline. While the national narrative often ignores Asian Americans in the immigration debate, the data tells a different story.

"The establishment of an ICE office in Irvine sends a threatening message to thousands of Irvine families: you are being watched, and you are not safe," said Irvine Councilmember Kathleet Treseder.

"When agents conduct enforcement operations that tear parents from children and neighbors from their homes, that is not “public safety.” That is trauma. That is destabilization. That is fear tactics," she posted on social media.

Stop AAPI Hate reports that ICE arrests of people from Asian and Pacific Islander (A/PI) countries quadrupled between 2024 and 2025. For a community where 65% are foreign-born, the sight of tactical gear in the "safest city in America" is a loud wake-up call that nobody is immune.

What the City is Saying: "Our Hands are Tied"

City Hall is trying to play it both ways—expressing "surprise" while admitting they can't do much to stop a federal lease.

Mayor Larry Agran has been vocal about the lack of communication from federal agencies, criticizing ICE for not being transparent about their operations near childcare centers and gyms.

The City of Irvine released statements clarifying that the Irvine Police Department (IPD) is not involved in federal enforcement. They’ve even activated an Emergency Operations Center to monitor the situation and launched a legal resource page for residents.

Federal officials insist these aren't "broad raids" but targeted operations for specific individuals with criminal records. But for families watching neighbors being taken away in "30 seconds," that distinction feels pretty thin.

However, as we have seen in other parts of the country, undertrained agents unfamiliar with the Constitution and the law, have flouted the civil rights of immigrants and US citizens, detaining anyone whom they "suspect" of being an undocumented immigrant based on one's accent or the color of their skin.

UC Irvine: The student resistance

The UC Irvine campus,  58%  of its student body is of Asian descent, is a cornerstone of the local Asian American community, is officially on high alert.

The New University Editorial Board of the campus newspaper has been blunt, warning that while UCI is a "sanctuary" in spirit, the university cannot legally bar federal agents from campus property.

Students are particularly worried about the revocation of student visas as a tool to silence political activism.

We aren't just seeing fear; we're seeing fight. Hundreds of students from UCI and local high schools like Northwood and Portola have staged walkouts, proving that the next generation isn't interested in the "quiet" model minority stereotype.

The Bottom Line

ICE is bad for business. A recent UCI survey found that there was a$59 million loss in revenue in Orange County since ICE stepped up its activities. Some of that loss is also due to the poor the economic conditions that is affecting entire country.

"What we're hearing from businesses is deeply concerning," said Raiven Greenberg, policy coordinator for the Social Impact Hub who created the survey. "Owners in sectors from hospitality to retail are telling us that their customers are afraid to come out.

"You see the streets are dormant, businesses are empty, people are scared and people are hiding," said OC Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said. "That is not a formula for a healthy workplace."

Is ICE targeting Asians? The numbers say enforcement is ramping up, and the "model minority" myth won't provide a shield. Whether it's at a scheduled immigration interview or a local business near Bake Parkway, the community is learning the hard way that when the enforcement machine expands, everyone is at risk.

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. 

FilAm cinematographer wins historic Oscar; "Demon Hunters" continues award-winning run

SCREEN CAPTURE

Autumn Durald Arkapaw's Oscar victory made history.

The 98th Academy Awards wasn't just a night of glitz; it was a powerful reminder that there's a pool of talented Asian Americans that Hollywood is just starting to recognize.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s Oscar for Best Cinematography for her work on Sinners is historic as the first woman to win in that category.

Arkapaw, 46, is of Filipino descent on her mother’s side and African American Creole on her father’s side. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, she was immersed in the local Filipino community, often spending time with her aunties and cousins in Fremont.

Named after her father’s favorite movie, Cheyenne Autumn, she eventually became the first woman to shoot a feature film in both Ultra Panavision 70 and IMAX 15-perf film formats.

Before her Oscar-winning work on Sinners, she built an impressive resume including Marvel's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the Emmy-nominated series Loki.

Her mother was in the audience. During her emotional acceptance speech, Arkapaw looked toward her and credited her for her success, stating, "This little girl that—their mother, who is over there, told them that they could do anything—had to meet Ryan (Coogler)," the movie's director and producer.

In accepting her statuette, she asked all the women in the audience to stand up, saying she wouldn’t be there winning an award if it wasn’t for them. “I feel like I don’t get here without you guys,” Arkapaw said. “I really, really, truly mean that.”

Speaking to the press after accepting her Oscar, she said: "I’ve learned over the past few months going through this process that it does take a village to make stuff like this happen. But this isn’t about me anymore. This is about so much more, and I know that, and I wanted it for all the ladies in the room, and I wanted it for all the girls at home.

“The one thing I was going to say that I have written down was that a lot of little girls that look like me will sleep really well tonight, and I know that," she added. "Just that, just being on stage getting this award for a movie like that will change so many girls’ lives, because they’ll be inspired when they weren’t before.”

Arkapaw is not the first Oscar winner of Filipino descent. She was preceded by:

• Robert Lopez (2014, 2018): Best Original Song ("Let It Go", "Remember Me").
• Gigi Dement, Stephen Dypiangco, & Stefanie Walmsley (2011): Produced God of Love (Best Live Action Short Film).
• H.E.R. (Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson) (2021): Best Original Song ("Fight for You" from Judas and the Black Messiah).

More AAPI Oscar winners and contenders

Beyond Arkapaw, the 2026 Oscars showcased a diverse array of AAPI talent that dominated key categories:

Maggie Kang and Michelle L.M. Wong made history as the first Asian women to win Best Animated Feature for K-Pop: Demon Hunters. 

Director Kang began her acceptance in tears. “For those of you who look like me, I’m so sorry that it took us so long to see us in a movie like this,” she said. “This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere.”

The Oscar was the latest honor bestowed on the feature, having won in the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and Producers awards earlier this year.

The songwriting team of Korean Americans EJAE, Ido, and Teddy Park took home Best Original Song for the global hit from Demon Hunters, "Golden," marking the first time a K-pop track has ever won an Academy Award.

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"Golden" was one of two musical productions during the Oscar awards night with
dancers dressed in Korean hanboks

While EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna acted as the singing voices for the film’s trio of main characters, while Arden Cho, May Hong and Ji-young Yoo were the speaking voices for the characters for the animated feature, Netflix's most viewed show last year.

“[I’m) so, so proud to be Korean. Growing up, people didn’t know where Korea was or what Korea was, and that’s why it’s so incredible to have the song ‘Golden’ being sung all over the world, singing the Korean lyrics word by word,” EJAE told the media after the show.

“It means so much and I think this award is about that representation,” she continued. “Today is about celebrating culture and music that unites all culture, and we need that right now. It’s a great honor to have.”

The Best Picture Oscar went to One Battle After Another; Best Actor went to Sinners' Michael B. Jordan; and Best Actress went to Hamnet's Jessie Buckley and Best Director went to Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another.

        FYI: Click here for complete list of winners.

It should be noted that there were only two musical productions during the telecast: one from Black-oriented Sinners and the other from K-pop Demon Hunters, perhaps an attempt by the Academy to showcase more diversity to counter the criticism of the awards show being too white-centric.

“This year, our music performances are inspired by two of the most powerful cultural phenomena in film: Sinners, the most nominated film in Oscars history, and K-Pop Demon Hunters, a global pop culture sensation,” noted the show's Executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan.

At the 2026 Oscars, Chloé Zhao was back in the spotlight with a Best Director nomination for her latest masterpiece, Hamnet. While she didn't take home the statue tonight, she remains a monumental part of this conversation as the first Asian woman to ever win Best Director (for Nomadland in 2021).  Even without the win this time, her continued presence at the top of the game is a massive win for AAPI representation, proving that our creators aren't just "one-hit wonders" — they are becoming the new establishment.

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. 

Autumn Durald Arkapaw: The Filipino American visionary making Oscar history

Autumn Durald Arkapaw, right, might be making history at the Oscar awards.

When the lights go up for the 98th Academy Awards today, all eyes in the Asian American community will be on Autumn Durald Arkapaw. 

The cinematographer for Ryan Coogler’s Southern Gothic epic Sinners isn’t just capturing ghosts on screen — she’s busting through some of Hollywood’s thickest glass ceilings.

As a mixed-heritage Filipino American (her mother is Pinay and her father is African American/Creole), Durald Arkapaw just became the first woman of color — and the first Filipino American — to snag an Oscar nod for Best Cinematography.

Groundbreaking tech, personal roots

On Sinners, she went big—literally. She’s the first woman to serve as DP on a feature shot entirely on IMAX 65mm. But for Autumn, the Mississippi setting wasn't just a backdrop; it was a homecoming. With her father’s family hailing from New Orleans and Mississippi, she’s spoken about the deep emotional resonance of filming in the South. She even managed to get her paternal aunt into the film as an extra, rooting the high-concept supernatural thriller in real family history.

Autumn is known for being "craft-first," but she doesn't shy away from the weight of her identity. In various interviews throughout this awards season, she’s touched on what it means to be "the first."

She often stresses that while being a "female cinematographer" or a "minority DP" are labels the industry focuses on, her goal is to make the work so undeniable that those labels become secondary to her talent.

She has expressed a quiet pride in showing younger Filipino American and Black filmmakers that the "technical" side of the house—the world of heavy cameras and complex lighting — is a place where they belong.

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, she keeps her private life low-key. Howeveer, she carries that classic FilAm drive. Whether it’s the moody, neon-soaked halls of Loki or the vast, haunting landscapes of Sinners, her "eye" is a blend of her art history background and a heritage that spans two cultures known for their resilience and storytelling.

Future collaboration

Following the success of Sinners, Durald Arkapaw is set to reunite with Ryan Coogler once again for a reboot of The X-Files at Hulu, starring Danielle Deadwyler. She is scheduled to lens the pilot episode, which begins shooting in Vancouver in April 2026. And the pair are discussing working on Black Panther 3.

From the Bay Area to the AFI Conservatory to the Dolby Theatre, Autumn Durald Arkapaw is proving that our stories look better when we’re the ones controlling what and how we see.

More than 10 years ago, Arkapaw made "Variety’s 10 Cinematographers to Watch" list. Today the cameras will be on her.

In an interview with "Variety‘s" Awards Circuit Podcast, she says, “You dream about those things. It’s a dream come true,”

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. 

AAPI Small businesses in New York City get a boost from new fund

A new loan program is available for small businesses in New York City.

It’s no secret that the heartbeat of New York City isn’t found in the glass towers of Midtown—it’s in the AAPI-owned noodle shops in Flushing, the bodegas in Sunset Park, and the bustling storefronts of Manhattan’s Chinatown. 

However, for too long, Asian American entrepreneurs have been running on grit and pocket change while traditional banks looked the other way.

"Small, local businesses are the backbone of a thriving community," said Clara Wu Tsai, founder of the Social Justice Fund and Governor of the New York Liberty. "Investing in their success creates a ripple effect of economic opportunity across New York City. We are proud to partner with Renaissance and TAAF and look forward to seeing the continued growth of the businesses receiving this support."

That’s why the launch of the NYC Elevating Business Loan Program feels like a rare win for the community. With $5.5 million on the table, this isn't just another government press release; it’s a lifeline. 

For a mom-and-pop shop, a $100,000 low-interest loan is the difference between fixing a broken walk-in freezer or finally expanding into the space next door.What makes this shift different is the muscle behind it. The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) isn't just cutting a check; they are tackling the systemic "wall" that keeps immigrant business owners out of the room. 

By putting up $500,000 to unlock millions more in state funding, TAAF is betting on the fact that AAPI businesses—which already pump $72 billion into the city's economy—can do even more if they aren't strangled by predatory lending or language barriers.

Eligibility requirements

• The program is specifically tailored for under-resourced entrepreneurs who may not qualify for traditional bank loans.

• Your business must be located within the five boroughs of New York City.

• The program supports small business owners, including those in AAPI and other underserved communities.

FYI: Small business owners interested in applying can visit https://www.renaissancesbs.org/loan-program/nyc-elevating-business-loan-program, email info@renaissancesbs.org, or call 212-964-6022. Assistance will be available in English, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish, and applicants may access no-cost business counseling, financial analysis, and application support.

The real game-changer? 

The multilingual support. We’ve seen it before: a brilliant entrepreneur with a solid business plan gets derailed by a 50-page application in a language they haven't mastered. By offering counseling in Chinese, Korean, and Spanish, this program acknowledges that "accessibility" means more than just a lower interest rate.

One of the program's first loans was awarded to Brooklyn entrepreneur Matt Vuong, owner of Icedu Inc. d/b/a Pho Table. "Access to capital is one of the toughest challenges for a small business owner looking to grow," said Matt Vuong. "The NYC Elevating Business Loan Program made a real difference for me by providing funding to hire new staff and do more marketing to spread the word about our restaurant. The loan application process was simple and fast, and I'm really grateful for their support."

For the AAPI community, this is about economic sovereignty. It’s a move toward ensuring that the neighborhoods we built stay in our hands, even as the city gets more expensive by the 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. 

Oakland celebrates hometown hero Alysa Liu

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Oakland's hometown hero Olympic champion Alysa Liu yells, "This is for y'all."

Alysa Liu didn't want a parade. She wanted a party and that's what she got as thousands of Oaklanders flooded Frank Ogawa Plaza Thursday to give a hero's welcome to their homegrown champion, Alysa Liu.

“What’s up, Oakland!” Liu said. “This is for y’all,” she added, holding the gold medals around her neck as the crowd cheered.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist stood before a sea of nearly 7,000 fans who turned out for a massive homecoming rally that felt more like a family reunion than a formal ceremony. 

“She’s our hero,” said US Rep Lateefah Simon . “She’s an American hero. She brought that gold to Broadway. If you want something done, have a young woman of color do it.”

At just 20 years old, Liu has already etched her name into the history books as the first American woman in 24 years to take home individual Olympic gold in figure skating, but today was all about the Town.

The energy in downtown was electric as Mayor Barbara Lee handed Liu the Key to the City, acknowledging the skater's historic double-gold performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The plaza is just a few blocks from the skating rink where Liu trained and Oakland School of the Arts which she attended.

In a move that felt uniquely Oakland, the event skipped the traditional parade in favor of a community-focused celebration at Liu’s own request. The stage was a showcase of local greatness, with emcee Sway Calloway keeping the crowd hyped while Kehlani and G-Eazy performed for their fellow native daughter.

The honors didn't stop at the key; the city officially declared March 12 as "Alysa Liu Day." Figure skating icon Olympic gold medalists figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and boxer Andre Ward shared the stage. Bay Area legends including Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr shared heartfelt messages  to congratulate the young star who has captured the world's attention.

While Liu recently made the tough call to withdraw from this month’s World Championships to catch her breath after the "crazy" whirlwind of Olympic success, she isn't going anywhere. She has already confirmed she has no plans to leave the ice and is fully committed to the 2026–2027 competitive season. Fans won't have to wait long to see her back in action, as she is set to headline the Stars on Ice tour starting this April in Japan before bringing the show across the United States.

Beyond the rink, Liu is looking to flex her creative muscles in the fashion world, hinting at new design projects and a fresh vision for her upcoming programs. As she signed off on her latest update with a promise to see everyone next season, it’s clear that while she’s taking a well-deserved moment for herself right now, the reigning queen of the ice is just getting started.

At the end of the sold-out celebration there was an appearance from another Oakland School for the Arts alum: Oakland's own Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Kehlani, Liu’s favorite artist. Her performance had Liu and Mayor Lee dancing to her performance.

It’s a rare thing to see an athlete with this much perspective at such a young age, especially one who could still be at the top of her game for years to come.

“Representation matters so much,” she said during a press conference ahead of the main event. “We don’t really realize it. Having one person is sometimes all you need and I’m honored and grateful that I can be that for some people.”

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. 

'Sinners' ode to Chinese Americans' unheralded role in the deep South

Li Jun Li as Grace Cho had a pivotal role in 'Sinners.'

When we talk about American history, we usually get it in black and white ... well, mostly white. But Ryan Coogler’s motion picture Sinners is opening a conversation about the "cracks" in that history — specifically the Mississippi Delta Chinese, a community that lived in a tense, racial "in-between" for over a century.

As we head into the 2026 awards season, Sinners isn't just a win for representation; it’s a history-maker. The film has emerged as a major Oscar frontrunner following its record-breaking 16 Academy Award nominations and significant wins at key precursor ceremonies.

The film recently dominated the 2026 Actor Awards (formerly the SAG Awards) and the NAACP Image Awards, significantly shifting the momentum in its favor.

The film has shattered the all-time record for the most Oscar nominations for a single film with 16 nods, surpassing classics like Titanic and La La Land. For a "Black" movie — directed by a Black filmmaker with a predominantly Black cast with key roles by Asian Americans — to dominate the Academy in this way is a sea change for the industry.

History they didn't teach you: The "Middle Men"

The story of Grace and Bo Chow in Sinners is pulled from a rarely-discussed chapter of the post-Civil War South. After Reconstruction, Southern planters recruited Chinese laborers as a potential replacement for freed Black workers on cotton plantations.

When plantation life proved exploitative, these immigrants found a unique economic niche: grocery stores. Chinese grocers often lived in Black neighborhoods and served Black residents whom white merchants refused to serve.

WARNER BROTHERS

Hailee Steinfeld, who is part Filipino/Black costars in 'Sinners.'

In the film, the Chows operate two stores across from each other—one for Black patrons and one for white. This reflects the real-world segregation where Chinese families were "neither white enough to belong nor Black enough to be fully excluded".

FYI: The 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu on Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. PDT).

Systemic Limbo: While they were often "middlemen" in trade, they faced their own fierce discrimination. They were excluded from white social organizations and even forced to attend separate schools or Black schools after the 1927 Supreme Court case Gong Lum v. Rice ruled that excluding Chinese children from white spaces was legal.

By including the Chows, Coogler didn't just add "diversity"; he showed the historical bonds between marginalized groups. In the film, Grace and the Moore family are described as "family, basically," illustrating the multiracial community building that happened in the heart of Jim Crow.

View from the edge: Breaking barriers 

The significance of Sinners earning 16 nominations cannot be overstated. It is the most-nominated film ever by a Black director and the first to sweep 14 wins at the Black Reel Awards.

Ryan Coogler achieved a rare "trifecta," earning personal nominations for Best Picture (as producer), Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

It remains to be seen if the record-breaking haul signals more than just a trend that Hollywood is finally making room for Black-led films that are culturally specific and formally ambitious, rather than just focusing on "suffering." 

By including the Chow family, Coogler didn't just add "diversity;" he showed the historical bonds between marginalized groups. In the film, Grace and the Moore family are described as "family, basically," illustrating the multiracial community building that happened in the heart of Jim Crow.

With no AAPI-centric or themed film among the Oscar nominees, we’re rooting for Sinners not just because it’s a powerhouse film, but because it finally centers the complex, layered history of everyone who lived through — and resisted — the American racial hierarchy.

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. 

'The Pitt' takes advantage of its Asian American storylines

THE PITT
Kristin Villanueva, left, plays nurse Princess, and Amielynn Abellera portrays Perla, in the HBO Max series "The Pitt," will have expanded roles in upcoming episodes.

 The television series The Pitt, has been praised for the realism of issues, problems and people of an urban emergency room. For Asian Americans, Filipino Americans in particular, the award-winning show is about to get more real. 

As The Pitt winds up its second season the pcoming episodes tackle the problem of ICE and the federal agencies impact on the ER, especially its immigrant staff. 

That could mean trouble for the Filipino staff, Dr. Trinity Santos (played by Isa Briones), RNs Princess (Kristin Villanueva), and Perlah (Amielynn Abellera).

When casting for the show, the producers wanted the show to reflect a real-life ER and if you've ever stayed in a hospital for any length of time, most likely, that would mean Filipino medical personnel.

A win for the ensemble

The industry is finally taking notes. Just this week, the cast took home the Actors Award for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series. For those of us tracking "Views from the Edge," seeing the Filipino trio stand on stage alongside Irene Choi, Supriya Ganesh, and Shabana Azeez felt like a seismic shift.

This win validates what we’ve known all along: when you stop treating Asian characters as "background techs" and start treating them as the emotional heartbeat of the story, you don't just get a better show—you get a winner. For the Filipino community, which has historically been the backbone of the American medical system with none of the glory, seeing three Pinay actresses recognized as the best team on television is a full-circle moment we won't soon forget.

What makes The Pitt head and shoulders above other medical shows is that although the cast is large, each character are given moments within the show to round out the character's backstory. The Filipino trio will get plenty of screen time in the coming episodes of this season.

Already, we've seen the Filipino nurses converse in Tagalog when sharing gossip and discovered that Dr. Santos, who is of mixed racial heritage, is also a kababayan.

The lullaby heard round the world

If you haven't seen the clip of Dr. Santos (Isa Briones) singing to a "Baby Jane Doe" in a quiet corner of the ER, your social media feed is about to get hit with a tidal wave of feels. In a scene that has the FilAm community in a collective sob, Briones leans into her roots with a haunting rendition of "Ili-Ili, Tulog Anay."(roughly translated "Sleep Little One, Sleep.")

This wasn't just another TV moment; it was a cultural earthquake. By choosing a specific Hiligaynon lullaby — a suggestion from Briones actual father, Broadway’s Jon Jon Briones — Briones brought an ethnographic precision to The Pitt that we rarely see on prestige TV. It wasn’t just "representation"; it was a deep dive into the specific regional soul of the Western Visayas.

Seeing the hospital’s most "hard-edged" resident soften into her heritage to comfort an abandoned child is a masterclass in how to bridge the gap between the "model minority" myth and human reality

A new disruptor: Joy Kwon shakes things up

While the Filipino "trio" of Santos, Nurse Princess, and Nurse Perlah has built a fortress of kapwa (shared identity) in the breakroom, a new force has arrived to test those walls. Enter Joy Kwon (played by Irene Choi), a sardonic, hyper-individualistic Korean American first-year student.

Joy is the ultimate "lone wolf." With a photographic memory and zero interest in the hospital's social shorthand, she is the perfect foil to the established AAPI dynamic. We’re hearing whispers that upcoming episodes will see Joy challenge the "Pinay Power" duo, sparking a nuanced debate on workplace gatekeeping vs. cultural safe spaces. It’s a sophisticated look at intra-Asian friction that moves far beyond the monolithic "Asian" label.

Joy Kwon also has run-in with South Asian character, Dr. Victoria Javadi (Shabana Azeez) who navigates the halls of the hospital under the watchful, often critical eye of her mother, Dr. Eileen Shamsi, Joy arrives with a very different kind of baggage.

Irene Choi plays Joy Kwon

For Victoria, the hospital is a family business. Her struggle is about carving out an individual identity while carrying the weight of two generations of South Asian medical excellence. It’s about maintenance of status and the fear of being the "weak link" in a chain of success.

Joy, conversely, is the classic "disruptor." Her family background—whispered to be rooted in a gritty, working-class Korean American experience—doesn't offer the safety net of a senior attending mom. For Joy, her photographic memory isn't just a party trick; it’s her only weapon in a system where she doesn't have a "legacy" to fall back on.

While the Filipino trio provides the show's cultural heartbeat through their shared kapwa, the tension between Kwon and Javadi provides its intellectual friction. It’s a bold look at the fact that "Asian American" isn't a monolith—it’s a spectrum of class, history, and expectation.

ICE visits 'The Pitt'

The Pitt  executive producer John Wells and star Noah Wyle have confirmed that the series will tackle the real-world impact of ICE raids on hospital environments. 

At the request of HBO executives, the production team was asked to ensure the episode presents a "balanced" view that acknowledges multiple perspectives on the issue rather than taking a singular political stance.

Wyle described the show's approach as a "Rorschach test," where the drama aims to depict the "realistic" and "untenable" situations doctors face without making overt value judgments, allowing the audience to draw their own conclusions.

        FYI: You can stream 'The Pitt' on HBO Max. New episodes on Thursdays.

Wells emphasized that ICE raids are a "real issue in emergency rooms" and that the show's priority is depicting how these events affect patient care and the medical team's duties.

The ICE storyline is expected to heavily involve the show's Asian American immigrant and first-generation staff, who have been central to the series' portrayal of the "backbone" of the American healthcare system. That might mean the Filipino staff might be central to the plot.

The ICE storyline is expected to be intertwined with other narrative threads reflecting the fictionalized impacts of President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," including significant cuts to Medicaid.

View from the edge: A lesson for Hollywood

A plea to the Hollywood decision-makers, producers and writers:

When you stop treating Asian characters as "background techs" and start treating them as the emotional heartbeat of the story, you don't just get a better show — you get a winner by engaging the viewers. Beyond simple representation, it becomes representation that matters.

For many Filipino American viewers, seeing their reality reflected on screen is long overdue. The show challenges outdated tropes and offers an authentic portrayal—from nurses speaking Tagalog to scenes that capture deep-rooted Filipino values such as utang na loob (debt of gratitude) and kapwa (shared identity).

For the Filipino American community, which has historically been the backbone of the American medical system with none of the glory, seeing three Pinay actresses recognized as part of the best team on television is a full-circle moment and portraying them as three-dimensional human beings is history unto itself.

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. 

Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu are being honored by their hometowns

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As Grand Marshall of San Francico's Chinese New Year parade Eileen Gu was greeted with cheers.

Olympians Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu are back home in the Bay Area and their hometowns are celebrating their athletic accomplishments.

While the national media often tries to frame their careers through a lens of geopolitical tension, the local Asian American community is offering a much warmer, more nuanced embrace. From the streets of San Francisco to the rinks of Oakland, the sentiment is clear: these are our daughters, and we are proud of them.

In San Francisco, Eileen Gu recently took center stage as the Grand Marshal of the Chinese New Year Parade. Despite the "traitor" labels tossed around in the darker corners of the internet, the crowds in Chinatown roared with approval. 

Community leaders have been quick to point out that Gu’s success is an affirmation of the Chinese American identity, a bridge between two worlds that many locals navigate every single day. To the people who watched her grow up, her choice to represent China isn't a betrayal—it’s a personal journey of heritage.

Across the Bay Bridge, Oakland is gearing up for a massive rally at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza to honor Alysa Liu. The vibe in the East Bay is one of pure hometown pride, focusing on Liu’s signature grit and the "Oakland swag" she brings to the ice. 

FYI: The city of Oakland is planning a massive homecoming rally for Alysa Liu on Thursday, March 12 at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall.

Even with the complex history involving her father’s political activism, the community is rallying behind her as a hometown hero who has navigated immense pressure with grace.

As for Alysa, she seems to be everywhere you turn as she bathed in the Olympics afterglow: on talk shows, interviews by major media and in two giant murals (one in Oakland and the other in Los Angeles where she goes to school.)

She is a lively interview. Since the Olympics she announced she would not compete in the upcoming World Skating Championship this year. Not unusual as she values her frends more than the rigors of training and then, there's school where she is majoring in psychology at UCLA. 

She also said she and her family lean towards progressive causes especially around the environment and immigration, mentioning some of the "No Kings" protests in which she has participated. Liu has also defended Eileen Gu's decision to ski for China.

Liu and Gu first met each other at a Bay Area Chinese banquet when Alysa just won the US figure skating title at the age of 13. At that point, Gu was 15. They sang karaoke together, and, says Alysa, they've been friends ever since.

Alysa Liu is a favorite in the talk show circuit for her outspokeness and lively personality.

Despite the heavy political discourse that has followed them since the 2022 Beijing Games, both Gu and Liu remain steadfast in their perspective: they see themselves as athletes first, regardless of whether they are representing China or the United States.

Liu has been particularly vocal in her defense of Gu, labeling the intense scrutiny over national loyalty as "hypocritical," she says in an intreview in the New York Times. She points out the irony of critics who tell immigrants to "go back to where they came from" suddenly becoming outraged when an athlete chooses to represent their ancestral heritage. 

For these two, the bond of their shared Bay Area upbringing and Chinese descent outweighs the noise of international politics.What resonates most within the AAPI community is how both young women insist on being athletes first. They are rejecting the rigid binary that demands they choose one side of their identity over the other. 

To Liu and Gu, it isn't about geopolitical maneuvering; it’s about a love for the game and the drive to compete at the highest level. They’ve made it clear that while flags may change, their identity as competitors and friends remains unchanged.

By standing by each other and dismissing the outside noise as "hypocritical," Liu and Gu are modeling a new kind of cultural solidarity. They prove that you can represent different flags while sharing the same roots, reminding us all that the bond of community is far stronger than any political headline.

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. 

Filipino American among the first US soldiers to die in Trump's war

Chief Warrant Officer Robert Marzan was among the first US soldiers to die after Donald Trump ordered US military to join Israeli force to launch an  attacke against Iran.

In a heartbreaking blow to the Filipino American community and the sprawling military family of Northern California, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan has become the first Filipino American casualty of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

At 54, Marzan was a "gentle giant" of the 103rd Sustainment Command who had dedicated over three decades to service, only to have his life stolen by an Iranian drone strike at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, on March 1.

The tragedy carries a particularly bitter sting: Marzan was just two months shy of finishing his final deployment and returning to Sacramento to celebrate his 55th birthday with his wife, Tina, and daughter, Felicia.

His death underscores the heavy, often overlooked price paid by immigrant communities and people of color who form the backbone of the U.S. military. As a Filipino American born to immigrant parents, Marzan’s journey reflected the dual identity of many in the diaspora—balancing a deep pride in his heritage with a tireless "servant’s heart" for his country.

He was born and raised in Elk Grover, California where he attended high school. The tight-knit agricultural community was  among the first to honor him with flags flown at half-staff. His parents were immigrants from the Philippines.

From the halls of Elk Grove to the corridors of power in Sacramento, flags now fly at half-staff, serving as a somber reminder that the cost of geopolitical instability is always measured in the lives of dedicated individuals like Marzan.

Marzan's loss is a stark prompt for a progressive re-evaluation of the endless cycles of violence that claim our best—men like Robert who should have been home blowing out birthday candles rather than standing in the crosshairs of a drone strike.

As Virginia and California leaders offer their condolences, the focus remains on a family whose homecoming celebration has been cruelly replaced by a funeral, reminding us all of the human faces behind the tactical maps.

"Yesterday, I joined my colleagues on the House floor to mourn the loss of six American servicemembers, including Chief Warrant Officer Three Robert M. Marzan of Sacramento," said Rob. Ami Vera.

"We have a solemn responsibility to care for the families of the fallen and for every American who wears our nation’s uniform."

        RELATED: Millions of Filipinos in the line of fire.

Marzan was among he six members of the Army Reserve who died March 2 when a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, one day after the US and Israel launched a surprise attack against Iran, killing many of Iran's leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“The sacrifices made by military families are immeasurable, and California stands in solidarity with them, united in grief and gratitude. Chief Warrant Officer Three Marzan's steadfast commitment exemplifies the highest ideals of our state and our country,” Newsom and Kounalakis wrote in a statement.

Newsom also ordered flags at the State Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space to be flown at half-staff in his honor.

As of March 8, specific burial details for Marzan have not been publicly released. His remains were transferred to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware on March 7, in a somber ceremonial return attended by Donald Trump and family members.

Irene Mary, Marzan's neice, wrote on Facebook: "While the entire world now knows your name uncle, you have always been my loving and fun uncle, grandma’s baby, a devoted husband, protective and loving father, baby brother, cousin and best friend to many.

“You’re our Hero with a servant’s heart, you lead with love and bravery, you gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country, an honorable soldier, and I believe God welcomed you home."

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. 

Jesse Jackson included Asian Americans in the Rainbow Coalition

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SCREEN CAPTURE / ABC

Jesse Jackson held a rally in San Francisco's Chinatown bringing Asian Americans
into the Rainbow Coalition.

OPINION

Jesse Jackson was buried Friday, March 5.

One of the highlights of my career as a journalist was covering the 1984 Democratic Convention in San Francisco and getting inspired by the big-name speakers of which Jesse Jackson stood out. For those of us in the Asian American community, Jackson’s "Rainbow Coalition" wasn't just a catchy campaign slogan—it was a radical invitation to finally take a seat at the political table.

Civil rights activist Jackson campaigned for the Presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. The nomination went to Vice President Walter Mondale who eventually lost to Ronald Reagan in a landslide.

Reporting for the Philippine News during those high-stakes days at the Moscone Center felt like a watershed moment. For the first time, our Filipino American news outlet wasn't stuck behind a rope line or treated as an afterthought — we were credentialed and respected alongside the mainstream giants. It was a tangible shift in how our community's voice was valued in the national arena.

Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition rhetoric that year was a jolt to the system. He didn’t just mention "yellow" alongside "black, brown, and white" for the sake of a rhyme; he dug into the raw nerves of our history. From the convention stage, he bridged the gap between the Black civil rights struggle and our own, decrying the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Rock Springs Massacre where 28 Chinese miners were killed, as part of a shared American legacy of exclusion.

Prior to the 1984 convention Jackson held a landmark rally at Portsmouth Square, the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown, to champion his Rainbow Coalition and forge a historic Black and Asian alliance.

At a time when civil rights were often framed solely as a Black-White issue, Jackson's presence in Chinatown acknowledged Asian Americans as a significant political force. He was introduced at the event by local activists like Eddie Wong and Mabel Teng. A month later, Teng later introduced Jackson at the DNC, becoming the first Asian American to introduce a major candiate at a national political convention.

“The Rainbow Coalition includes Asian Americans, now being killed in our streets — scapegoats for the failures of corporate, industrial, and economic policies,” said Jackson from the DNC stage.

Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition transformed the Democratic Party.

He argued that under Reagan-era policies, immigrant and minority communities were unfairly blamed for domestic economic decline while being denied the benefits of national prosperity. (It is the same racist GOP playbook used by Donald Trump.)

Perhaps most powerful was how Jackson personalized the Asian American experience. He brought Lily Chin — the mother of Vincent Chin, who was murdered in Detroit by disgruntled autoworkers who thought he was Japanese — into the national spotlight, drawing a straight line from her son's murder to the lynching of Emmett Till. He saw us not as a "model minority," but as fellow "scapegoats" of failing economic policies.

Jackson's advocacy also extended to long-overdue justice for Japanese Americans. Long before the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 finally authorized reparations, Jackson was using his platform to demand redress for the families who had been stripped of their rights and dignity in US concentration camps during WWII.

Jackson was a frequent critic of the Marcos dictatorship before and after the Democratic convention.

He formally pledged his support for the democratic movement in the Philippines and called for the end of the Marcos dictatorship. His opposition was most prominent during the final years of the Marcos administration:

In February 1986, as the "People Power" Revolution began in the Philippines, Jackson met with a coalition of Filipino groups in Los Angeles to pledge his support for the rebellion against Marcos.

During that L.A. meeting in 1986, Jackson publicly called on President Ronald Reagan to provide a plane for Marcos to leave the Philippines, effectively advocating for his removal from power.

Jackson's approach transformed the language of justice into a framework that allowed Filipino Americans to advocate for themselves as a distinct and essential "patch" in the American quilt, rather than a separate or invisible community. 

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That 1984 convention also gave us a moment of pure representation:
Mabel Teng making history as the first Asian American woman to introduce a presidential candidate on a national stage. Jackson's Rainbow Coalition transformed  the Democratic Party which, from tha point on, became the party advocating for diversity and inclusion of communities living on the edge of America politics.

Looking back, 1984 reminds us that the fight for visibility of all the AANHPI communities was forged in that "Rainbow" of solidarity — and as a journalist for the Philippine News, I had a front-row seat to the change.

Jesse Jackson was buried Friday, but his legacy lives on.

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.