People Power revolution anniversary comes and goes with barely a mention in the Philippines

One Feb. 25, 1986m thousands of Filipinos on EDSA Blvd. holding up their extended thumb and forefinger to form an "L" for L"aban" (Fight!)

If he had his way, Philippine President Bong Bong Marcos would have the Filipino people forget the People Power revolution that kicked his family out of Malacanang Palace.

Last October Marcos Jr. issued issued Proclamation No. 368 which eliminated February 25t the anniversary of the bloodless revolution as a national holiday.

Critics say that it is Marcos' attempt to diminish what he previously said was one of the "darkest days" for his family when his father, the dictator Ferdinand Marcoswas, and his family fled from the People Power revolution in 1986.The only official mention of the anniversary was a proclamation from the National Historical Commission of the Philippine which issued a statement on Facebook.

Much of the protests took place on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue,the highway encircling Manila, giving the actions the name of the EDSA revolution.

“The EDSA People Power Revolution was a series of demonstrations from 22 to 25 February 1986. It was a civil resistance campaign against the regime of violence and electoral fraud. The peaceful revolution led to the departure of former President Ferdinand Marcos ending 20 years of dictatorship and restoring democracy in the country.” .

The Marcos family and their supporters have spent years and part of their ill-gotten fortune rewriting history of the 20 years spent under the Marcos dictatorship. The success of the disinformation campaign led to the election of Marcos, Jr. to the Philippine presidency two years ago.

In 2023, his first year in office, Bong Bong Marcos observed the anniversary, saying “I once again offer my hand of reconciliation to those with different political persuasions to come together as one in forging a better society – one that will pursue progress and peace and a better life for all Filipinos."

This year, there was no official statement from Malacanang.

It is a watershed moment in in Philippine history that should not be forgotten. For those of us in the United States, it was a moment of pride and visibility, knowing that Filipino presence in the US media was almost zero. The protestors in EDSA were our cousins, brothers, sisters, titos and titas. 

        READ: As editor of the Philippine News, I had a unique perspective of that day.

In the US it was Feb. 24. We watched on television, with baited breath, minute by minute, as the events occurred leading to the eventual Marcos family's departure.

Following is the Feb. 25 timeline (as reported on Wikipedia):

FEBRUARY 25, 1986

• 12:00 MN:
  • Marcos loyalist soldiers fire through barbed wire barricades on Nagtahan Street, injuring several people.
  • Some of Marcoses’ belongings are taken out of Malacañang.
• 3:30 AM: Marines rejoice as orders to attack Camp Crame are canceled.
• 3:45 AM:
  • Airplanes carrying reinforcements ordered by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Fabian Ver head for Clark Air Base.
  • The troops stay there for the duration of the revolt.
• 5:00 AM:
  • On the phone to Washington, President Marcos asks US Sen. Paul Laxalt if he should resign. Laxalt's reply: “I think you should cut, and cut cleanly. The time has come.”
  • Marcos tells Labor Minister Blas Ople, who is in Washington lobbying for the Marcos regime, that he is not stepping down because first lady Imelda Marcos does not want him to.
• 5:15 AM: Marcos gives the go-signal for his family to prepare to leave.
• 6:00 AM: Rebel soldiers advance towards the Broadcast City complex with hundreds of people with them, accompanied by a rebel S-76 helicopter
• 8:00 AM: People are called to guard Club Filipino in San Juan in case Marcos attempts to disrupt Aquino's inauguration as president.
• 10:00 AM: Aquino arrives at Club Filipino. Opposition lawyer Neptali Gonzales reads a resolution proclaiming her and former Sen. Salvador Laurel as duly elected President and Vice President.
• 10:46 AM:
  • Aquino was sworn in as President by Senior Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee, and Salvador Laurel as Vice-President by Justice Vicente Abad Santos, at Club Filipino in San Juan.
  • Aquino appoints Enrile as Defense Secretary and Ramos as AFP Chief of Staff.
• 11:45 AM: Marcos enters Malacañang's Ceremonial Hall for his own inauguration.
• 11:55 AM: Just as President Marcos addresses the crowds at Malacanang Palace, RPN-9, BBC Channel 2 and IBC-13 all sign-off as rebel soldiers capture the Broadcast City complex, transmitters and studios of said stations. The New TV-4 and GMA Network continue airing as usual. The President had just taken what would be his final inauguration oath of office beforehand.
• 3:45 PM:
  • Loyalist soldiers try to ram down barricades set up at Tomas Morato and Timog Avenue in Quezon City, but people power prevails.
  • On Nagtahan, pro-Aquino groups and loyalists coming from Marcos’ inauguration clash.
• 4:30 PM: Imee Marcos’ husband, Tommy Manotoc, relays the offer of US Brig. Gen. Ted Allen to use American helicopters or boats to move Marcos from the Palace.
• 5:00 PM:
  • Marcos calls Enrile again to coordinate his departure from Malacañang.
  • His aides start packing not only clothes and books but also boxes of money that have been stored in his bedroom since the start of the election campaign. Prime Minister Cesar Virata negotiates Marcos’ departure with Aquino.
• 6:30 PM: Imee and Irene Marcos plead with their father to leave Malacañang after he tells his remaining men that he has decided to die there.
• 7:00 PM:
  • US Ambassador Stephen Bosworth asks Cory Aquino if Marcos can be allowed two days in Paoay, Ilocos Norte province, before heading abroad. To prevent possible regrouping of Marcos loyalists, Aquino refuses.
  • In Malacañang, luggage are loaded on boats, which proceed to Pangarap golf course across Pasig River where US helicopters are to collect the Marcoses.
• 7:30 PM: The families of Ver and Eduardo Cojuangco motor to Clark Air Base in Pampanga province.
• 8:40 PM: A convoy of heavily secured vehicles makes a beeline for Clark.
• 8:45 PM: The Marcoses and other government officials board helicopters. Some of their possessions are loaded on the choppers.
• 9:05 PM: President Marcos and his family leave the Malacañang Palace and are now on Clark Air Base, Radio Veritas and The New TV-4 announced the departure. As news of their departure reaches the people, the millions who gathered at EDSA rejoice, since their departure sparks the conclusion of the revolution. Crowds already position along Mendiola Street, Recto Avenue and Legarda Street, having arrived there late in the afternoon to await the departure of the First Family and had already encountered the pro-Marcos crowd at Nagtahan earlier
• 9:20 PM: Within minutes of the announcement of the departure of the Marcos family, President Aquino makes her first ever live address to the nation as chief executive via Channel 4
• 9:30 PM: Remaining members of the presidential household and employees begin to pack up and leave the palace complex while the pro-Aquino crowds began to walk to the gates
• 9:45 PM: Marcos lands in Clark and is met by Bosworth. People in the area welcome him with chants of “Cory! Cory!”
• 9:52 PM: DZRH announces: The Marcoses have fled the country.
• 10:00 PM: US Air Force TV station FEN confirms Marcos’ departure.
• 11:30 PM: Pro-Aquino crowds force the opening of the Malacanang Palace gates, as they open thousands of Aquino supporters and participants of the revolution storm the palace complex with little resistance

Nuns stopping tanks. Girls giving flowers to the soldiers. Soldiers refusing to fire on the crowds. The phone calls to the White House. The shoes. What a day.

The next day, I remember the sun was shining in California. A reporter asked me how I felt. I responded, "See this smile? I can't stop smiling." 

We will not forget. We must not forget!

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

SAG-AFTRA: More acting accolades for Steven Yeun and Ali Wong

SCREEN CAPTURE / NETFLIX

Ali Wong and Steven Yeun won SAG-AFTRA awards for their work on the series 'Beef.'

Who better to judge an actor's performance than other actors? Steven Yeun and Ali Wong won Best Actor and Best Actress in a Screen Actors Guild'sTelevision Movie or Limited Series  for their work as the lead actors in Beef.

"I want to thank my 83-year-old mother, who's here tonight in her pearls and her Tevas because she doesn't give a f---," Wong said as she accepted her award.

Speaking directly to her mother, Wong said: "I know it was really hard when I told you I wanted to do stand-up comedy. I hope you feel like it's all worked out."

TheSAG-AFTRA awards Feb. 24 makes it a clean sweep for Wong and Yeun. The dramedy series created by Lee Sung-jin already won the actors awards from the Golden Globe, Critics Chioce and Emmys.

        FYI: For the complete list of SAG-AFTRA award winners, click here.

The seris, which is streaming on the Netflix channel, is noteworthy because it presents a different side of Asian Americans that  strays from the model minority stereotype usually depicted in maistream media. A road rage incident spirals into a one-upmanship series of revenge acts between the two mentally and emotionally flawed characters portrayed by Yeun and Wong.

The SAG-AFTRA awards honor the best film and TV performances of the year at the 2024 SAG Awards, with the motion picture Oppenheimer and TV series The Bear led in their respctive categories. It was streamed live on Netflix.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Dance workshops with Vincent Rodriguez III can transport fans into the world of 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'

SCREEN CAPTURE

Vincent Rodriguez in a musical number in 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend fans have a chance to pretend they are part of the cast through dance workshops taught by one of the show's stars. 

Vincent Rodriguez III, who plays Josh Chan in the groundbreaking rom-com,  is offering fans an opportunity to learn the dance moves performed in the series.

Rodriguez's Filipino American character was the object of attraction of the series' obsessive character Rebecca Bunch, wonderfullly played by Rachel Bloom. It was one of the few times in mainstream media the Asian American male was a romantic lead, countering the stereotype of the sexless, unattractive male stereotype that haunts generations of Asian American male egos.

        RELATED: Why you should be watching 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'

The series lasted only three entertaining seasons and opened the door for a wider depiction of Asian American men.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was not the ordinary usual rom-com. It was a musical. At any moment or crucial juncture in the plot, the cast could break into song and dance to move the story along.

The singing and dancing came easy to Rodriguez because of his stage musical background honed on Broadway and Bay Area high school productions. Although he has been able to find other roles after Crazy Ex-Girlfriend wrapped, the Daly City, California native misses his first passion of singing and dancing.

        READ: The original article from The San Francisco Standard.

Since January, Rodriguez has been teaching fans dance moves through workshops dedicated to the choreography that award-winning chreographer Kat Burns created for the the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend series at Uforia Studios in Nob Hill, reports the San Francisco Standard.

"It’s really about giving back and reconnecting with my roots,” Rodriguez told the Standard. “I want to help the artists get to do what they love and discover what there is to discover about themselves.”

"I don’t care if you mess up the choreography,” Rodriguez told the reporter who took part in the class. “This is not a place for critique. This is a place for fun, creativity and play.”

SCREEN CAPTURE / SAN FRANCISCO STANDARD

Vincent Rodriguez (in checkered shirt) teaches fans dance moves from
'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.'

FYI: Vincent Rodriguez III teaches a Groov3 dance fitness workshop on March 23 from 12:00-3:30 p.m. at Uforia Studios in Nob Hill and the next ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ dance workshop at Uforia on March 24, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Follow @uforiastudios or @vrodrigueziii on Instagram for updates.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

'Good Morning America' feature Cool to Be Kind spotlights New York's own Robin Hood

FACEBOOK / PETER BOND

Peter Bond, right, with one of his new friends.

A Filipino American good Samaritan has earned the monicker of “The Robin Hood of NYC” for his one-man homeless assistance effort.

In a world filled with hate and negativity, Peter Bond's kindness and compassion stands out and led to his feature in Good Morning America 3 Cool to Be Kind segment Monday, Feb. 19.

Peter credits his Filipino heritage as one of the inspiring forces behind his work as he strives to be a role model for others by sharing his efforts on social media. Born in the Philippines, he was instilled with gratitude and the importance of giving back

Bond, 29, has made it his life’s mission to help the homeless in his area while inspiring others to do the same by showcasing his work on social media,

Besides offreing financial help, he also takes the time to make a human connection with each individual he helps.

FYI: Watch more of Peter Bond's acts of kindness by clicking here or here.

Watching other social media influencers perform good deeds, Bond wanted o make sure that a Filipino was included in those discussions.

Unlike the mythical Robin Hood, Bond doesn't rob from the rich to give to the poor. The financial assistance he gives to the indigent comes out of his own pocket.  When he began his journey of helping others, he used his saving from his job at Chipotle and began working extra shifts.

According to New York Weekly, Bond’s first step toward becoming the “Robin Hood of NYC” took place in in 2021 when a homeless stranger asked him for change. Instead, the young man gave him a $20. When Peter saw how grateful the man was, he knew he wanted to keep doing this. 

FYI:To follow or assist Peter Bond, he can be contacted via:

• Instagram
• Facebook: bondgives
• Twitter
• Youtube

After that first time incident, a friend suggested that Bond document his work on social media. His videos went viral. Online crowdfunding not pays for his genrous passion. 

"I currently work at a smoothie shop. I’m trying to make my videos my full-time career. I’m not known for anything special, but hopefully known as someone who cares in the future," he told SDVoyager.

"I’m just proud that I’m helping change lives, and the more resources, money, and connects I garner, the more people I can help and help change their lives permanently."

DITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

More than ever, the US needs to remember February 19, another day that lives in infamy

SMITHSONIAN

Thousands of American citizens of Japanese descent were rounded up an incarcerated because
of Executive Order 9066.

With the rise of anti-Asian sentiment, new attempts to deprive land ownership by people of Asian descent and the increasing heat generated by the tensions with China, it seems that most Americans have forgotten what happened o February 19, 1942, another day that lives in infamy.

On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which gave the US Army the authority to remove civilians from the military zones established in Washington, Oregon, and California during WWII. This led to the forced removal and incarceration of some 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast, who had to abandon their jobs, their homes, and their lives to be sent to one of ten concentration camps scattered in desolate, remote regions of the country.

No Japanese Americans were ever charged, much less convicted, of espionage or sabotage against the United States. Yet they were targeted, rounded up, and imprisoned for years, simply for having the “face of the enemy.”

FYI: For a list of events and observances around the nation fo the 82nd Day of Remembrance, click here.

“Executive Order 9066 (is) an unconstitutional and discriminatory policy born out of prejudice led to the unjust internment of Japanese Americans in incarceration camps," says Senator Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii.

"Now, diversity is under attack with over a dozen states enacting laws targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion—from limiting curriculum of diverse histories to restricting LGBTQ+ youth from accessing health care or playing sports aligned with their gender."

Every February, the Japanese American community commemorates Executive Order 9066 as a reminder of the impact the incarceration experience has had on our families, our community, and our country. It is an opportunity to educate others on the fragility of civil liberties in times of crisis, and the importance of remaining vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms of all.

“A day of remembrance is a day to atone for our country's wrongs. Japanese internment is an episode in American history that highlighted a failure in leadership to uphold the Constitution," says Rep. Mark Takano, D-CA. "My family lost land, upward mobility, and their dignity to race-based fear -- we cannot allow that to happen again. Join me in remembering this injustice while recommitting ourselves to uphold our country's founding principle of justice for all.”

The family of Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, was among the thousands rounded up and  incarcerated because of Executive ORder 1066.

“Although it has been 82 years since President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, families continue to bear scars from the xenophobia and hate that stripped 120,000 people of Japanese descent of everything from the most basic human rights to homes and life savings," says the fresman lawmaker. "As one of millions of descendants of internees, on this Day of Remembrance, I ask that we act with urgency to learn from the mistakes of our past and recommit ourselves to being a nation free of intolerance and prejudice.”

The day may be forgotten by most mainstream media and barely mentioned in history textbooks, but the lessons that can be learned from that Executive Order 9066 has gained new significance in the context of today's racial tensions.

"Disturbingly,... the same hysteria that led to the racial targeting and stripping of property ownership rights from Japanese Americans has reemerged today in federal and state-level measures that aim to limit the civil rights of our communities," says Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Contressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

"This uptick in shameful, anti-Asian fear-mongering and discrimination is why now, more than ever, we must speak up in the face of injustice and ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of our past. As we observe this Day of Remembrance, we must stand together and recommit to safeguard the civil rights of all Americans.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Immigrant family of four found dead in their California home

An Indian immigrant couple immersed in Silicon Valley's high-tech world and their two young children were found dead in their San Mateo, California home.

The family of four has been identified by family and friends as Anand Sujith Henry, 37, Alize Benziger, 38, and their 4-year-old sons, Noah and Neithan, according to the Daily Mail.

"Based on the information we have at this time, this appears to be an isolated incident with no danger to the public as we are confident the person responsible was located within the home," states a police report. "This investigation continues as detectives work to gather evidence, speak to witnesses and family members, and determine a possible motive."

San Mateo Police officers were dispatched to the 4100 block of Alameda de las Pulgas on the report of a welfare check. After arriving officers were met with no response, they searched the perimeter of the home and did not see any signs of forced entry into the house. Finding an unlocked window, officers entered the home and located four people dead; an adult male, an adult female, and two children.

"The male and female were located deceased from gunshot wounds inside a bathroom. A 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine were also found in the bathroom, according to police reports.

The children were found in another bedroom but the cause of death is still unknown because there were no signs of trauma to their bodies, say police. The investigation is continuing.

The couple were originally from Kerala. Anand. They lived in San Francisco before purchasing their $2.1 million home in San Mateo, a modest home in the high-priced Bay Area market.

Henry had worked as a Software Engineering Manager at Google for eight years and Meta/Facebook for 17 months before co-founding an artificial intelligence firm called Logits in 2023. He had earlier worked at Salesforce and had interned at Adobe Systems, according to his social media profile.

The reports also said Henry had filed for divorce in December 2016 but had reconciled before the birth of twins, Benzinger's mother was reportedly living with them before recently returning to India.

Police also acknowldged they had been dispatched to the residence several timse but did not go into dtail on the nature of those visits.

What makes this incident particularly disturbing is that it is the second such murder-suicide involving highly educated and financially accomplishedl Indian immigrants. In January, a similar incident in Massachusetts in occurred where Rakesh Kamal, 57, fatally shot his wife Teena Kamal, 54, and their college-going daughter Arianna Kamal, 18 before turning the gun on himself.

The Kamals had co-founded an education systems company called EduNova in 2016, but had dissolved it in 2021 after financial setbacks that undercut their affluent lifestyle in a $ 5 million suburban home.


The tragic stories appear to underscore the pressure on Asian and Asian American professionals trying to live up the model minority stereotype  as a model minority, to present themselves as successful and wealthy.
Indian-Americans have the highest average household income among all ethnicities in the US ($126,891, almost twice the US average of $65,316), but that topline would barely qualify as modest in the Bay Area and other affluent pockets in America.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Expat's episode 5 is a movie unto itslf focusing on Filipino diaspora

On their day off, Hong Kong's domestic workers gather among themselves.

Episode 5 of the series Expats is the one we've been waiting for and probably the one people will remember.

The Nicole Kidman starer for Amazon is what convinced director Lulu Wang to take on the project with the permission to focus on the other expatriots, the domestic workers who work for Hong Kong's upper class.

The episode, titled “Central,” is 96 minutes long, more like a short film than a TV episode, and centers on the often hidden world of domestic workers, most of whom are from the Philippines. 

“I was so nervous about how I was going to be able to portray Hong Kong and making sure that the bubble of the expat world was intentional, that I was examining it as opposed to just indulging in it,” Wang tells Vanity Fair. “How do you both be in that world without celebrating it, but also not judging it either?”

FYI: Expats is available for streaming on Amazon.

When it came time to debut the series at the Toronto Film Festival last year, Wang chose this episode to show because it places the story in the context of a Hong Kong in transition, just like the expatriots who people the upper stories of the high-rise apartments dominating the former British colony.

In this special episode, the series goes outside the main storyline of the three American women -- Kidman who plays Margaret, Indian American Sarayu Blue portraying Hillary and Korean American Ji-young Yoo as Mercy -- and looks into the lives of the domestic workers who live in the periphery of the central story.

“Central,” Wang ventures beyond the world where the three women live, allowing the viewer to follow Margaret’s Filipino nanny Essie beyond the walls of Margaret’s home. Played by Ruby Ruiz, Essie is the “heart and soul” of the story, a warm caretaker who is also devastated by the disappearance of Margaret’s son. Puri, Hilary’s “helper” as the wealthy expats call them, is played by Amelyn Pardenilla, helps her employer through her marital woes.

This focus makes sense: the workers are expatriates, too. Hong Kong's domestic workers, mostly from Malaysia and the Philippines number in the hundreds of thousands. The domestic workers we see in the margins finally get to shine, as they spend their day off gossiping and pursuing their own interests.

On their day off, the workers gather to gossip, talk about family bck in their home countries, share their homeland cuisines and to provide emotional support for each other.

“Don’t be stupid. She’s not your friend,” a friend tells Puri, Hillary’s helper, about her relationship to Hillary. Another adds, “You can’t get too close. We know everything about these people, things their closest friends don’t even know.”

“The first time I saw them, I was blown away,” Wnag says in an interview. “Hundreds and thousands of women, and there’s such a sense of community—but they’re also there because they have nowhere else to go.”

“In order to show that the expat world is a bubble, I had to break out of that bubble and give it context,” wang says.

When Wang pitched her version of the series to Amazon, she started with the concept for the fifth episode. “It has to be a feature-length and it’s going to be shot differently, and I need the time and scope of an indie feature film for that episode,” she said, adding that Kidman’s character would be more or less in the background of that episode. To her surprise Kidman supported her and Amazon agreed in order to appease their international star.

The first four episodes of Expats show the American expatriots flitter about their high-rise apartments with their catered parties and international high-finance world. This episode contrasts the world of the elite to the world at street level there political revolution is bubbling and the working class diaspora created by the elite's business decisions.

RogerEbert.com writes: “'Expats' could have just been this, a feature-length film about these working-class women and the thin line between family member and employee they must walk."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Super Bowl: Filipino American rappers Saweetie and P-Lo release 49er video

Just in time for the Super Bowl, Filipino American rappers Saweetie and P-Lo combined to show their support for their favorite football team, the San Francisco 49ers.

This Sunday, the Forty-niners will be meeting the Kansas City Chiefs in the ultimate sporting event in the US. the National Football League's Super Bowl.

, "I'm excited to share our new 49ers single designed to hype up the team and The Faithful for this playoffs run! I want to thank the 49ers organization for this opportunity," said the Grammy-nominated artist.

"Shout out to P-Lo for doing what he does. I love that we were able to collaborate and make something that's so Bay-triotic, as P-Lo would say."

FYI: "Do It For The Bay" is available on streaming platforms like Spotify, including the 49ers Official Spotify profile. The music video can be viewed here.

Saweetie has a personal tie to the 'Niners. Her grandfather is the forme 49err linebacker Willie Harper, who wonthe Super Bowl in 1981.

Born as Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, the Filipino/Black rapper grew up in Hayward, a San Francisco suburb.

Bay Area rapper, producer, and patron to local sports teams P-Lo said, "Big thanks to the 49ers for their commitment to bridging sports and Bay Area culture. I've been wanting to release music with Saweetie and with both of us being die-hard 49ers fans, this a great opportunity to come together and show our pride for The Bay."

The song includes homages to the 49ers and their fanbased known as the Faithful, and serves as a new rallying song for the region at an important moment for the organization.

P-Lo, left, and Saweetie collaborated withe the NFL's 49ers for their latest rap video.

Released ahead of the San Francisco 49ers playoff run, "Do It For The Bay," was  developed in partnership with the San Francisco 49ers.

"We're grateful to iconic Bay Area artists and 49ers Faithful, Saweetie and P-Lo, for creating a song that celebrates our team and gives The Faithful a new song for their gameday soundtracks," said Allie Dicken, Senior Director of Brand Marketing for the San Francisco 49ers. "We're lucky to be based in a region that is thriving with talent, diversity, and innovation, and excited that Saweetie and P-Lo were able to capture those values in this new anthem for The Bay."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Olivia Rodrigo winds up emptyhanded at the Grammys

Even though she was nominated in six different categories, Olivia Rodrigo did not win a covented trophy at the 2024 Grammys last Sunday.

The Filipino American singer/songwriter's "Vampire" was nominated for three Grammys — Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Pop Solo Performance — while Guts is up for both Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album and album cut "ballad of a homeschooled girl" earned Rodrigo her first-ever nod in the Rock Category (for Best Rock song).

This year, Olivia was up against some strong competition, losing out to Miley Cyrus and the current unstoppable force, Taylor Swift, in the pop categories.

In 2022, she won three Grammys for her debut Sour album back in 2022. Those Grammy wins were Best Pop Solo Performance with "Drivers License," Best New Artist with Sour and Best Pop Vocal Album for Sour."

At the awards show, Rodrigo did a dramatic performance of "Vampire" From her second albumd dressed in a red gothic gown with Taylor Swift seen singingand dancing  along in the audience.

“I love singing about rage,” Rodrigo told the Associated Press before the awards show. “I think I’m a very happy kind of, you know, generally excited person. And I think that in my music and my songwriting, I can kind of express parts of myself that are not so easy to talk about in everyday life… I love just having a song where I can kind of scream and get all of my emotions out. I think it’s so therapeutic.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

US Postal Service issues dragon stamp for Lunar NewYear

As it has done for the last three years, the US Postal Service rissued a new stamp honoring Lunar New Year.

The stamp features an image of a yellow dragon mask symbolizing strength, health, and luck.

The Postal Service unveiled the Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon Forever stamp in Seattle's historic Chinatown - International District last Jan. 25. 

“For more than three decades, the Postal Service has issued stamps highlighting the Lunar New Year and this subject has been some of the most successful stamp releases in the long history of the Postal Service,” said Eduardo H. Ruiz, Jr., USPS vice president of retail and delivery operations for the Postal Service’s WESTPAC Area, who served as the dedicating official.

“The Postal Service has one of the most diverse workplaces in the United States, and its customer base is as diverse as the country itself. This stamp is a great example that reflects our nation’s rich, multicultural heritage and traditions.”

FYI: The Postal Service printed 22 million stamps that are now on sale at Post Offices and usps.com. 

Beginning in 2020, in observance of the Lunar New Year holiday, the US Postal Service introduced its third Lunar New Year series. This is the fifth Forever stamp in that series, which will continue through 2031 with stamps for the Year of the Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.

On February 10, millions of people around the world will celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday. Beginning on the night of the second new moon following the winter solstice, the Lunar New Year festival celebrates the coming of spring and a time of renewal. It also marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, the fifth of the 12 animals associated with the Chinese zodiac. The Year of the Dragon ends on January 28, 2025.

THE STAMP DESIGN

The dragon stamp was created by artist Camille Chew, who constructed the dragon mask out of hand-printed paper, then cut, scored, and folded it into shape. She embellished the mask with acrylic paint and other paper elements, like flowers and tassels, and covered the back of the mask in a layer of papier-mâché. The completed mask was photographed on a white background.

Utilizing gold and red as the predominant colors, the dragon mask incorporates elements with symbolic meaning. Gold signifies prosperity in the coming year, while red is considered lucky—colors befitting the dragon sign, which is said to be the most auspicious among all the animals in the Chinese zodiac.

With guidance from art director Antonio Alcalá, Chew worked on this series of stamps to create contemporary Lunar New Year imagery. Referencing the colorful and beautifully adorned masks used in Lunar New Year parades, Chew’s three-dimensional art evokes feelings of celebration and festivity. Illustrations of the 12 zodiac animals, done in the artist’s unique style, form vertical lines on the left and right sides of the pane of 20 stamps.

The Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon panel of 20 stamps are issued as Forever stamps. Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1‑ounce price.

“The Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon stamp is much more than US postage,” said Joël Barraquiel Tan, director of Seattle's Wing Luke Museum. “It reflects a much larger narrative about inclusion and equity, as the Wing Luke Museum is dedicated to advancing racial and social equity, we applaud the Postal Service for promoting greater awareness of Asian culture and heritage through its stamp program as the dragon represents power, nobility and honor.”

"For many Asian Americans, the Lunar New Year celebrates a chance to leave behind the troubles of the past year and invite prosperity and good luck moving forward,” said Connie So, professor of University of Washington and president of the OCA Greater Seattle-Asian Pacific American Advocates.

“This Year of the Dragon stamp ceremony recognizes the importance of the diversity and cultural significance Asian Americans bring to the United States and provides ...  an opportunity to promote the significance of the Lunar New Year.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

TikTok CEO faces xenophobic questiong from US Congressman

CAPTURED / C-SPAN

It got tense when a US Senator questioned TikTok CEP Chew Shou Zi abouthis ties to China.

The racist ilne of questioning by Congress members warned by Asian Americans was in full display Wednesday when  TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi was grilled by Senator Tom Cotton.

During a Senate meeting Jan. 31, Chew, along with other social media heads Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X CEO Linda Yaccarino, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Discord CEO Jason Citron were questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Even though the hearing was supposed to be about children’s online safety, when Chew was questioned by Republican Sen. Tom Cotton,the inquiry veered widely off the subject as Cotton grilled the CEO about his ties to China.

Cotton asked Chew, “You…often say you live in Singapore. Of what nation are you a citizen?”

“Singaporean, sir,” answered Chew.

Cotton followed with, “Have you ever applied for Chinese citizenship?” To this, Chew said he served his National Service (NS) in Singapore for two and a half years.

Chew reiterated that he does not hold other citizenships. Singapore does not allow dual nationality.

In response to another Cotton inquiry, Chew said his wife and two young children are American citizens. When he was asked if he had applied for American citizenship, he said: “Not yet.”

Cotton asked: “You…often say you live in Singapore. Of what nation are you a citizen?”

“Singaporean, sir,” Chew replied.

Then came a question of whether Chew has ever been a member of the CCP. This time, the TikTok CEO was clearly agitated.

"Senator," Chew responded forcibly, "I’m Singaporean — no!"

Cotton rephrased his question for further clarification. Chew was  asked if he has any links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to which he replied: “Again, I’m Singaporean”.

Cotton then asked: “Have you ever applied for Chinese citizenship?” To this, Chew said he served his National Service (NS) in Singapore for two and a half years

To be clear, the Singapore-based TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company. The Chinese government does own a portion of that company.

“TikTok is not available in mainland China,” Chew said in response to Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

BACKLASH

“This line of questioning from Senator Tom Cotton is disgraceful, blatantly racist, and deeply dangerous,” AAPI Victory Fund, a political action committee posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Cotton's line of questioning drew a sarcastic reaction fro Rep. Ted Lieu, D-CA. on his  X account, directed at Cotton::

"FYI, in Asia there are different countries. Citizens of different countries may look similar to you, but in fact they are from different countries.

"Happy to provide additional basic facts to you or your staff that I learned in elementary school. Ask anytime."

The Washington Post’s Drew Harwell described Cotton’s line of questioning as “McCarthy-esque,” referring to former US Senator Josph McCarthy, who in the 1950s charged that communists had infiltrated the government and the motion picture industry.

"Not everyone who looks Asian is Chinese, and we're definitely not all members of the Chinese Communist Party. This is racism, plain and simple," Rep. Grace Meng posted on her X account.

Chew’s relationship to China was already discussed exhaustively when he appeared before Congress last March, and Cotton didn’t make clear what his line of questioning had to do with online child safet.

Afterwards, Cotton told NBC: “It’s entirely reasonable to pursue a line of questioning about whether he himself, like his company, is subject to the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.”

The qeustioning by the Republican senators was clearly targeting Chew because of his race.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was never asked by his company's ties to China or the CCP Apple, despite many years of suspicion from members of Congress about the tech giant's ties to the Chinese government influences the content.

AAPI members of Congress have warned that increasing tension between China and the US has ramped up anti-China rhetoric which in turn could increaase anti-Asian American racism and attacks, which has seen a rise because of the previous administration's rhetoric tying the pandemic to China.

“Already, Asian Americans have been suffering three years of anti-Asian hate due to Trump calling Covid-19 ‘China virus’ and ‘kung flu,’” Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, told NBC.

“But now, the rhetoric and tension about the U.S.-China relationship comes on top of that, potentially escalating that violence. Today, the focus has shifted to extremists engaging in racial profiling of Chinese Americans.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.