Jimmy Carter introduced human rights into US policies, helped oust Philippine dictator

When former US President Jimmy Carter introduced human rights into his foreign policy initiatives, it marked the beginning of the end of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship.

Carter's administration stressed adherance to human rights in its relationships with other countries and marked a cooling of support for Ferdinand Marccos, who had declared martial law in the Philippines marked with detaining Marcos critics and the "disappearance" of scores of anti-Marcos crticis. Until Carter came into office, previous US administrations had tolerated the Marcos dictatorshop in order to maintain US military bases in the Philippines.

“Jimmy Carter brought the human rights movement into the halls of power and worked to create a government guided by human dignity,” said Tirana Hassan, executive director at Human Rights Watch.

Carter died Dec. 29 at the age of 100. Although his presidency lasted only one term, he continued his advocacy for human rights after he left the White House.

Carter was sworn in as the 39th president of the United States in 1977 and immediately stood out with a foreign policy agenda that prioritized international human rights. He championed principles drawn from the United Nations 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which for the first time established an internationally recognized foundation for “freedom, justice and peace in the world.” 

After the "secret" bombing in Cambodia and US defeat in Vietnam and Watergate affair led to the ouster of President Richard Nixon tarnishing the institution of the Presidency, Carter's emphasis on human rights was a breath of fresh air and provided encouragement for the growing anti-Marcos movement both in the Philippines and in the United States. 

Carter’s human rights records had its shortcomings. Walking the tightrope between national security and how much he could do to persuade the Philippine dictator to return tdemocracy to he Philippines. At times he failed to condemn abuses of longtime allies—such as Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines and Suharto in Indonesia—in favor of other US interests. 

But behind the scenes, he kept pushing for democratic reforms under Marcos' martial law regime by tying those reforms to the future of the US military bases in the Philippines. One of the enduring legacies of Carter in the Philippines was the 1979 amendment to the Military Bases Agreement. The Philippines gained greater control over its sovereign territory with the US pledging $500 million in military and economic aid over five years as compensation.

In 1986 he was among the independent monitors of the Phiippines elections in 1986, which Marcos staged under pressure from the US. The monitors reported numerous voting anomalies but Marcos was declared the winner over Corazon Aquino, the widow of assassinated Marcos foe, Ninoy Aquino.

'I think Marcos stole the election,' said Carter, after the Marcos-controled Philippine Senate declared Marcos the winner  on Feb. 15.

"The outcome would have been Aquino's victory if the election had been fair," said Carter.

'It would please me if President Reagan would announce that as far as the United States is concerned we did not recognize this as a legitimate election and we were not any longer going to support the Marcos government.'

Carter predicted that Marcos' rule would last no 'more than a few more weeks or a few more months.' Indeed, on Feb. 22, the famous People Power revolution was launched, forcing Marcos and his family to flee Manila to live in Hawaii.

He is perhaps best known for brokering the Camp David Accords, which resulted in a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. But his foreign policy efforts included the first visit by a US president to sub-Saharan Africa, the end of longstanding support for the abusive Somoza government in Nicaragua, and prompting Congress to mandate annual State Department human rights country reports. His administration created formal procedures to focus policymaking attention on human rights.

Carter established the Department of Education, which elevated programs to support students in poverty and with disabilities to the cabinet level while providing the executive branch with a vehicle for civil rights work. He also appointed more women and people of color as federal judges than all previous US administrations combined.

After leaving office, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, founded The Carter Center in 1982. They worked to address issues they did not adequately address in the White House, focusing primarily on promoting peace, supporting democracy, and improving health around the world.

Jimmy Carter hands over the keys of a new Habitat for Humanity-built house in the Philippines.

Carter’s 1994 trip to North Korea led to an agreement with Kim Il Sung to put his nuclear program on hold, which may have headed off a developing crisis. Following the 1991 coup against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti, Carter brokered eleventh-hour negotiations with opposition leaders that averted US military intervention and restored Aristide to power.

Through The Carter Center, the former president also secured the release of political prisoners in North Korea and the Gambia, monitored over 100 elections in 39 countries plus the United States, and helped to nearly wipe out Guinea worm disease, which during the 1980s afflicted millions of people in poor and remote areas.

He and Rosalynn demonstrated their commitment to providing housing to those in need by establishing a decades-long partnership with Habitat for Humanity. They worked alongside thousands of volunteers to build affordable housing in 14 countries.

In 1999, the former President and his wife and Habitat for Humanity came to the Philippines as part of Jimmy Carter Work Project, which builtalmost 300 homes for low-income Filipinos with the assistance of over 14,000 volunteers from 32 countries.

In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the first US president to receive the award for contributions made after leaving the Oval Office. The Nobel committee cited “his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”

Throughout his post-presidency, Carter used his platform to speak up on some of the most pressing human rights issues of the era, promoting racial justice, the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, the rights of women, and more. In 2007, he published Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, courageously recognizing Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians and calling for an end to Israeli human rights abuses.

“Jimmy Carter’s commitment to human rights has left an indelible mark on the global human rights landscape,” Hassan said. “He set a powerful example for world leaders to make human rights a priority in their policies at home and abroad.”

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

Los Angeles Chanatown apartment owners face new lawsuit

 

Elderly tenants of Cathay Manor Apartments protest conditions

 

A couple of days before Christmas, California sfiled a lawsuit against the landlords of  the troubled Cathay Manor apartments in Los Angeles' Chinatown for alleged mismanagment of the housing intended for low-income elderly residents.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced Dec. 23, the  filing of a lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court to involuntarily dissolve C.C.O.A.   Housing Corporation, a nonprofit public benefit corporation that incorporated in California in 1979 to provide affordable housing for “elderly persons and handicapped persons.” 

"C.C.O.A. and its board failed vulnerable seniors at Cathay Manor by providing substandard living conditions," said Bonta, the first Filipino American elected to the state's Attorney General.

With the dissolution, millions of dollars can go to a legitimate charity providing affordable senior housing," he said in  statement.C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation’s sole charitable activity was the operation of Cathay Manor, a 268-unit apartment complex in downtown Los Angeles that is financed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under a Housing Assistance Payment contract. The residents of Cathay Manor are low-income senior citizens, many with disabilities or impairments that require them to use wheelchairs or walkers to travel any distance. In 2023, C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation was forced to sell Cathay Manor as a result of pervasive and persistent mismanagement. 

Following an investigation by the Attorney General, the A.G.'s complaint seeks the appointment of a receiver pending the court’s resolution of this case and to transfer the proceeds from the sale of the building to another charity with a similar charitable purpose to provide affordable senior housing. In addition, the complaint seeks an accounting of all financial transactions the charity has had with its directors and any related entities.

FYI: A copy of the lawsuit can be found here.

“There is simply no denying that C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation and its board members failed our seniors miserably when they operated Cathay Manor. It was and still is inexcusable,” said Bonta. “While C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation no longer owns or manages the building, my office is taking legal action to ensure that the proceeds from the sale of Cathay Manor cannot be used, in any way, by the organization’s current leadership. 

"Their track record speaks for itself. They cannot be trusted to do the right thing. Instead, the funds should be distributed to one of the many legitimate charities that actually provide affordable senior housing in the Los Angeles area. At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to holding unscrupulous charities accountable and tackling our state’s housing crisis — today’s lawsuit is a continuation of those efforts,” Bonta said upon filing the legal action.

“For years, I’ve heard from Cathay Manor residents about the unacceptable conditions they’ve faced under C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation,” said US Representative Jimmy Gomez. “That’s why I pushed for an investigation, and I’m glad to see California Attorney General Bonta taking action. I’ll keep fighting to protect Chinatown seniors and hold landlords accountable to ensure they meet their responsibilities to our communities.”

C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation is currently defending multiple actions filed against it — including a lawsuit filed by Cathay Manor tenants relating to poor living conditions — and criminal charges filed by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office in 2021. 

The newest lawsuit would not adversely impact the ongoing civil and criminal actions. The appointment of a receiver would allow a neutral party to manage C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation’s affairs, including oversight of the existing lawsuits. If the court grants dissolution of the charity, the receiver would also manage the winding up of C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation’s affairs. Further, C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation would still need to satisfy debts and liabilities in order to dissolve.

Following the sale of Cathay Manor and the payment of existing debts and liabilities, C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation currently has more than $8.5 million in a restricted bank account. As a condition for approving the sale of Cathay Manor, the Attorney General required all proceeds to be put in a restricted bank account. In June 2025, a final payment of $70 million is due to C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation from the sale of the building, which will also be placed in the restricted bank account. 

During the course of the Attorney General’s investigation, C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation’s current board members failed to provide any kind of plan as to how the funds would be properly used to provide low-income housing in the future.

Cathay Manor provides housing for the elderly.

Gong Donald Toy, also known as Don Toy, is named as a defendant in today’s complaint. He has been a Director of C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation and its President and Chief Executive Officer since the incorporation of the organization in 1979. In addition, Janet Lim, Sing Foo, and Jimmy Victoria — all of whom are former and current C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation board members — are named as defendants.

“C.C.O.A. and its board members demonstrated a complete and total disregard for the Chinatown community and the seniors who resided at Cathay Manor,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “They cannot be allowed to benefit from the sale of the building that they so woefully mismanaged and neglected. They have already shown us who they are and I applaud Attorney General Bonta’s efforts to hold them accountable for their egregious breach of the community’s trust.”

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

Legendary Filipino American R&B pioneer passes away

Filipino/Black American artist Sugar Pie Desanto continued to perform well into her 80's.

Filipino/Black American R&B singer Sugar pie DeSanto died at the age of 89 on Dec. 20, 2024. The legendary performer paved the way for Black Filipino American performers H.E.R. and Saweetie.

Views From the Edge first wrote about R&B singer Sugar Pie DeSanto in 2017, giddy with my admittedly late "discovery" of a bit of Filipino American history.

Back then, the music pioneer was known only to hard core music fans but she was already a legend in the R&B genre. Later, in 2020, she was still performing. She showed up at a San Francisco music festival and dang, if she didn't do her trademark sommersault at the age of 85.

FYI: Read what others have said about Sugar Pie DeSanto: NY Times, SFGate, San Francisco Chronicle, KQED, AsAmNews

SF Gate described her performance this way:

"DeSanto, who stood a petite 4 feet 11 inches and performed into her eighties, loved to shock audiences by selecting a large, handsome fellow out of the audience as a prop for her signature feat. Without warning, she would climb on the man, wrap her legs around his waist, and dangle upside down. Once, she took this acrobatic display even further, draping her legs around a man’s neck. Recalling this moment with laughter, she said, 'I told him, don’t drop me. If you do, you’re in trouble!'”

Still sassy after all these years.

“My sister was one of a kind and you will never see anyone like her again,” wrote Domingo Balinton, her brother, in a Facebook post that noted that DeSanto died in her sleep. “She was full of energy and commanded respect when she walked on stage as well as in life. I am truly going to miss her.”

During her lifetime, she performed with other music legends such as Etta James and James Brown. The latter, nown for his own dance moves, jokingly asked her to tone down her performance because she might overshadow his own act.

Her brother writes that she died in her sleep in her home in Oakland, California. 

DeSanto was born Umpeylia Balinton in Brooklyn, New York to a Black mother and Filipino father in 1935. The family moved to San Francisco’s post-WWII Fillmore District as a child. She was the oldest girl of 10 siblings.

DeSanto's mixed racial heritage is due to the anti-miscegenation laws that were prevalent up to the Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court decision rendered in 1967. Until then, the anti-misegenation laws banned marriages between Whites and people of color. However, most of the racist laws did not prevent the marriages between Native Americans, Blacks and Asians.

In recent years, Black and Filipino personalities have become more prominent and pay homage to their mixed racial roots. Among the artists who may have benefitted from the door-opening by DeSanto are R&B artist H.E.R. (also known as Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson) and rappers Saweetie and Guap, all of whom were raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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

New York state establishes AAPI Commission

Earlier this year, New York Gov. Kathleen Hochul, center, introduced some of the
commissioners of of the newly formed state AAPI Commission.

New York installs 13 members to the newly formed New York State Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission.

Thirteen Asian American leaders were sworn in at Queens College on Dec. 12, pledging to strengthen the connection between the Asian American community and New York State. 

Although New York State Governor Kathleen Hochul, could not join the swearing-in ceremony in person, her office shared her message.

"Welcome to the first-ever meeting of the NYS Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission. We established this Commission because your voices are essential to our state's future, and we are always looking to gain a deeper understanding of one another. We invested $35 million to protect Asian American New Yorkers from Hate Crime and set $30 Million to local AAPI organizations to serve their communities."

New York State is the home of more than 1.7 million AAPI, about 10% of the total population. New York City alone is home to more residents of Asian descent than any other city outside of Asia. T

The New York Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission is tasked with enhancing the community's economic and social well-being and addressing the health and educational needs critical to AAPI communities throughout the state. Its mandate includes making policy recommendations, coordinating programs, implementing public education campaigns, and raising awareness among AAPI individuals about state and local resources.

Hochul has been proactive in supporting the AAPI community, highlighted by her approval of legislation making Lunar New Year and Diwali public school holidays. 

Under her leadership, the state made historic investments last year, allocating $30 million to empower community organizations to fight hate and enhance wellbeing. This year's state budget includes an additional $30 million for these crucial initiatives and an extra $35 million to enhance security for organizations particularly vulnerable to hate crimes and vandalism.

The Commission will be led by Chair Gaurav Vasisht, the first Asian American and Indian American to lead the nonprofit New York State Insurance Fund, 

The other members of the commission are:

• Ambrosia Kaul, Coalition of Asian American Children and Families
• Andrew Sta. Ana, Asian American Federation
• Dr. Joyce Wu, Doctorate of Pharmacy
• Jeffrey Gu, Make Us Visible
• Faustina Sein, Karen Society of Buffalo
• Marjorie Hsu, Westchester Asian American Advisory Board
• Kyung Yoon, Korean American Community Foundation
• Peter Tu, Flushing Chinese Business Association
• Tal Shaw, Chair, Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association
• Tim Law, Chinese American Social Services Center
• Maf Misbah Uddin, Labor leader
• Neeta Bhasin, the founder of Diwali at Times Square, Sammaan for All

Hochul signed the bill establishing the commission earlier this year. The legislation was authored by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, the first Indian American elected to the New York Legisture.

“I introduced this historic legislation to meet this critical moment in time: Asian Americans are now the fastest growing ethnic group and making large gains in representation across many fields," said Rajkumar at the signing ceremony.

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

Rachel LaMont crowned winner of ‘Survivor’ and $1 million

SCREEN CAPTURE

Rachel LaMont after she was named Sole Susrvivor.

Updated Dec. 21, 12:30 a.m.

Rachel LaMont earned seven votes from the 8-person jury to become the winner of the 47th season of the reality TV series Survivor.

"I am the kind of person that believes that everything happens for a reason, and timing is everything," she said in a Parade interview after the last episode which aired Wednesday.

"And just being here and seeing all the people here and the vibe of this season, I genuinely feel like this is my season. This is the one that it was meant to be. And it's great."

The 34-yeaar old Bangkok-born Rachel won the competition by winning the final immunity challenge that included crawling through mud and winding up with a puzzle. As the challenge winner, she was assured of being in the final three and the power to choose who would be the second person in the final three, which turned out to be Sue

Rachel also had the power to choose who among would be the third finalist by having the other two -- Teeny Chirichillo and Sam Phalen -- compete aagainst each other by building fire.

As the final three answered the questions from the jury, made up of contestants they helped to eliminate, Rachel's onfidence wavered when Sam gave a convincing argument that he deserved the jury's vote.

‘I am so stressed out that I’m losing right now, but I’m also having so much fun," she told the NY Post. "Just talking, interrupting each other, talking over each other, correcting stuff for the jury. It was so much fun. It was the most dynamic moment.  Even thought truly there was a part of me that was like, ‘Am I about to lose the game at final tribal?’"

"I think Rachel will go down as one of the best overall players to ever compete on Survivor," said host Jeff Probst. "She made the most of every opportunity, and when in trouble, always found a way out. Her dominant challenge performance speaks for itself, and her final argument to the jury about why she deserved their vote was very well-crafted with just the right amount of confidence and humility.

"And in addition to all of those player qualities, she was also a really fun human. I enjoyed talking to her at challenges and Tribal Council."

Rachel, who immigrated to the US with her family at age 7, is married and a graphic artist from Southfield, Michigan. "I basically make apps that you interact with look pretty. So I design what they look like and the colors and all of that good stuff," she told Parade.

It might not be the last we see of Rachel. In a post-game interview with Entertainment Weekly, she responded to the question if she would play again. “How could I not? This is the most incredible adventure. I still think all the time about just sitting on Beka beach in the dirt with my friends around the campfire playing a crazy game, and if they called, of course I would go.”

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

Man admits guilt for spying; harassing Chinese living in US

SCREENSHOT

Chen Jinping, right, and his co-defendant Lu Jianwang.

Not only do Chinese immigrants in the US have to worry about adjusting to life in an unfamiliar culture, they have to contend with harassment and threats from their country of irigin, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).

Chen Jinping, 60, of New York, New York, pleaded guilty today (Dec. 18) to conspiring to act as an illegal agent of the government of the PRC, in connection with opening and operating an undeclared overseas police station, located in lower Manhattan, for the PRC’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

“Today’s guilty plea holds the defendant accountable for his brazen efforts to operate an undeclared overseas police station on behalf of the PRC’s national police force — a clear affront to American sovereignty and danger to our community that will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to pursue anyone who attempts to aid the PRC’s efforts to extend their repressive reach into the United States.”

As alleged, Chen Jinping and co-defendant “Harry” Lu Jianwang , both US citizens, conspired to act as illegal agents of the PRC government and also obstructed justice by destroying evidence of their communications with an MPS official. While acting under the direction and control of the MPS official, the defendants worked together to establish the first known overseas police station in the United States on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of the MPS. 

The so-called police station — which closed in the fall of 2022 — occupied an entire floor in an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Lu and Chen helped open and operate the clandestine police station. None of the participants in the scheme informed the U.S. government that they were helping the PRC government surreptitiously open and operate an undeclared MPS police station on U.S. soil.

The "police station" occupied an entire floor of the glass building in New York City's Chinatown.

“Not only was the police station set up on the order of MPS officials, but members of the Chinese consulate in New York even paid a visit to it after it opened,” said Michael Driscoll, the FBI’s assistant director in charge of its New York office. “It is our belief that the ultimate purpose of this illegal police station was not to protect and serve but rather silence, harass and threaten individuals here in the United States.

The two suspects were alleged to be the leaders of a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 that described its mission as a “social gathering place for Fujianese people,” and over the past several years, he built what prosecutors describe as a “relationship of trust” with the Chinese government.

The nonprofit sent counterprotesters to Washington in 2015 when members of the Falun Gong religion protested Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to the U.S., and Lu helped the Chinese government locate other dissidents in the U.S.

In another instance, one of the alleged Chinese agents began harassing a Chinese American who was advising a California candidate for the US Congress.

In October 2022, the FBI conducted a judicially authorized search of the illegal police station. In connection with the search, FBI agents interviewed both defendants and seized their phones. In reviewing the contents of these phones, FBI agents observed that communications between the defendants and an MPS official appeared to have been deleted. 

In subsequent consensual interviews, the defendants admitted to the FBI that they had deleted their communications with the MPS official after learning about the ongoing FBI investigation, thus preventing the FBI from learning the full extent of the MPS’s directions for the overseas police station.

Chen faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Per Chen’s plea agreement, the government has agreed to dismiss the obstruction of justice charge against him. Lu has pleaded not guilty to both of the charges against him and is awaiting trial.

The PRC's aggressive interference in the lives of Chinese immigrants not only violates their rights in the US, the strategy also gives red meat to racists' anti-Asian assaults, which rose signicantly during the pandemic and spurred by Trump's anti-Chinese rhetoric during his first term as President and  continued during his 2024 re-election campaign.

“Today's acknowledgment of guilt is a stark reminder of the insidious efforts taken by the PRC government to threaten, harass, and intimidate those who speak against their Communist Party,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch. 

“These blatant violations will not be tolerated on U.S. soil. The FBI remains committed to preserving the rights and freedoms of all people in our country and will defend against transnational repression at every front.”

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

Three Filipino American labor leaders inducted into Hall of Honor

 

From left: Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and Peter Velasco were honored for their
role in the United States labor movement.

Three Filipino American labor leaders were recently inducted in the Hall of Honor by the Department of Labor.

The U.S. Department of Labor inducted Filipino American labor leaders Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, and Peter Gines Velasco into its Hall of Honor, on Nov. 20 recognizing their pivotal roles in advancing farmworkers’ rights during the 1960s. These leaders made significant contributions to the labor movement, particularly through their work during the Delano Grape Strike.

• Larry Itliong, born in the Philippines in 1913, immigrated to the United States in 1929. He became a prominent labor organizer, advocating for fair wages and improved working conditions for farmworkers. 

• Philip Vera Cruz, who arrived in the U.S. in 1926, was instrumental in organizing Filipino farmworkers and served as vice president of the United Farm Workers (UFW). 

• Peter Gines Velasco played a significant role in uniting Filipino and Latino farmworkers, particularly during the Delano Grape Strike, which became a defining moment in the labor movement.

Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su honored the inductees, stating, “Itliong, Vera Cruz, and Velasco rallied farmworkers… to courageously organize for fairer wages and humane treatment.” 

In 1965, these leaders orchestrated the Delano Grape Strike, where over 800 Filipino farmworkers protested against poor working conditions and low wages in California’s grape vineyards. Their efforts with Mexican American leader Cesar Chavez led to the formation of the UFW, marking a significant advancement in the labor movement.

The ceremony included performances from “Larry the Musical,” celebrating Itliong’s life and contributions. The induction highlights the significant contributions of Filipino Americans to the labor movement, inspiring future generations to continue advocating for workers’ rights and social justice.

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

Filipina American breaks glass ceiling when she was sworn into California legislature

 

X

Jessica caloza takes the oath of office for the California Assembly.

The historic moment was not lost on Jessica Caloza, the first Filipina elected to the California Legislature.

"As the first Filipina elected to the State Legislature, I’m honored to break this glass ceiling because women—especially women of color—belong in all spaces where decisions are being made, including at the Capitol.," said Caloza after being sworn in Dec. 3.

Caloza, a long-time public servant, immigrant and women’s right advocate, took the oath of office at the State Capitol in Sacramento to represent California’s 52nd Assembly District, which is home to South Glendale, East Los Angeles, Northeast Los Angeles, and Dodger Stadium.

"As an immigrant and the proud daughter of working-class parents, I’m deeply grateful for the outpouring of support," Caloza posted on social media. "Thank you to the voters of Assembly District 52 for placing their trust in me. From East L.A. to Northeast L.A. to Glendale, I am committed to serving the needs of all our diverse communities. 

"More importantly, I will work to deliver results for our most pressing issues—tackling the cost of living, building more affordable housing, creating good-paying jobs, protecting our environment, and investing in our public schools."

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

✨

Woman who attacked Asian American student given six-year prison sentence

Though the attacks on Asian Americans are off the front pages, anti-Asian hate continues to spread rising to the point that it has apparently become accepted as normal behavior.

Billie Davis, 57, was sentenced Wednesday to 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing a federal hate crime when on a bus, she stabbed  an Asian American woman.

On Sept. 17, the Indiana white woman pleaded guilty to causing bodily injury to an 18-year old victim, identified in court papers only by her initials, Z.F., through the use of a knife, because of Z.F.’s actual and perceived race and national origin.

“Racially motivated violence has no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Billie Davis

“This defendant pulled out a knife and viciously attacked a young woman who was simply riding a public bus to school, seriously injuring her because she was of Chinese descent. The sentence imposed for this heinous hate crime should send a strong message that perpetrators of hate-fueled violence will be held accountable.”

According to documents filed in connection with this case, on Jan. 11, 2023, Z.F., a woman of Chinese descent who was enrolled at Indiana University at Bloomington, was riding a Bloomington Transit bus on her way to school. Davis boarded the bus, sitting behind Z.F. As Z.F. stood to exit the bus at her stop, Davis reached for a folding knife from inside her pocket and stabbed Z.F. in the head approximately seven to 10 times. 

The student, who asked to remain anonymous out of safety concerns, has since returned home, says attorney Kathleen DeLaney, who is representing the student's family.

Davis later admitted to the police that she attacked Z.F. because she was Chinese and because Davis believed Z.F. was the “enemy.” adding that it "would be one less person to blow up our country" Davis used racist slurs when referring to Z.F.

Since the pandemic began when Donald Trump use racist slurs to connect the coronavirus to China, calling it "Kung Flu" or "China Virus," combined with anti-Chinese rhetoric in the ongoing trade wars between the US and China resulting in racists to believe that Asians were open game for their attack.

According to the Stop AAPI Hate Center, nearly 1900 hate crimes against Asian Americans were reported by victims, and around 69% of cases were related to verbal harassment, including being called the “Chinese Coronavirus.”

"The serious federal prison sentence imposed here should demonstrate our commitment to stopping this hate," said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana.

“Every person deserves to feel safe in their own community, and no one should be made to fear violence on their way to school simply because of who they are,” said Myers. “Violent hate should have no safe harbor in Indiana or anywhere in our great country. That’s why our Justice Department has prioritized prosecution of hate crimes and community outreach through our United Against Hate initiative."

Anyone who has suffered a potentially hate-based violent incident should call 911 to address immediate safety issues, and then report the event to the Justice Department or FBI. Together we can make our community safer for everyone.”

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

'Shogun' earns four Golden Globe nominations

'Shogun,s' Hirokuke Sanada, left, and Anna Sawai received Golden Globe nominations.

Shogun is the big hope for Asian American representation in this year's Glden Globe awards show. The series' actors were among the artists who received Golden Globe nominations. In total, the sweepingl saga that takes place in feudal Japan garnered four nominations.

Moana 2, Disney's sequel to the original Moana, a coming of age of Polynesian princess Moana, was nominated for Best Animated Motion Picture. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson reprises his role of the demi-god Maui.

Although there were no AANHPI nominated in the motion picture categories, there was a greater presence in the television nominations.

The epic saga that takes place in feudal Japan, Shogun, earned four nominations: Best Drama Series; Hiroyuki Sanada, Best Male Actor in a Drama Series, Anna Sawai for Best Female Actor in a Drama Series; Tadanobu Asano for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Maya Erskine earned a nomination for her role in Mr & Mrs. Smith in the Best Female Actor in a Drama Series. Mr. & Mrs. Smith was also nominated for Best Drama Series.

FYI: For complete list of Golden Globe nominees, click here.

Even though Wicked is a commercial success, which eaerned a nomination in the category Cinematic and Box Office Achievent, and a nod for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical, and its two lead actors, Cynthia Erivo and Arianna Grande, received nominations, director Jon M. Chu, failed to get recognized.

People magazine wrote: "The splashy adaptation of the Broadway musical has been hailed as one of the greatest — and most ambitious — movies of the year. Though the blockbuster itself landed one of the six coveted slots for best picture - musical or comedy, and two of its stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, were both honored for their acting, the visionary behind the movie, Chu was notably missing from the list of best directors."

In years past, AANHPI creatives have been overlooked but after mounting criticism of the lack of diversity, the association broadened its membership to include more journalists representing publications from Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Earlier this year, Shogun earned acting Emmy's for Sanada and Sawai and an Emmy for Best Drama Series.

Emelia Perez, the musical about a trans drug lord, led the entries for mmotion pictures with eight nominations. 

The Bear, with five nominations, led the television entries.

The 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards is set to air live from the Beverly Hilton on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET.

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

Two Asian Americans are odds-on favorites to win 'Survivor 47'

SCREENSHOT / SURVIVOR

Andy Rueda, left, and Rachel LaMont strategize for the final episodes of "Survivor 47."

If you're a fan of Survivor, the reality show, you're in for a rare treat with two Asian Americans poised to be among the finalists for the $1 million dollar prize.

Andy Rueda and Rachel Mont, a Filipino American and Thai American respectively, are among the final six contestants in the reality show.

It is not the first time an Asian American has been among the finalists, but it is the first time that there are two Asian Americans in position to win Survivor, one of the most popular of the reality show genre, currently in its 47th season.

Oddsmakers say the two Asian Americans contestants are the two most likely winners of Survivor 47.

According to the betting odds in the days before the finale aired Wednesday, LaMont is the most likely to win. According to Bet Carolina, LaMont had a 38.5% chance of winning Survivor 47. Right behind her is Rueda, who has a 26.7% chance.

Despite having partly grown up in Dexter, Michigan, LaMont was actually born in Thailand and spent her first few years in that country. As she explained to Entertainment Weekly, she feels her ability to “assimilate” gave her a leg up on Survivor:

“I was born in Thailand and lived there until I was seven, but I never spoke Thai. Then I moved to the US and didn’t understand American culture. I was the youngest in my family by nine years. I’ve always been forced to understand social dynamics to assimilate from a young age, and I think I’m pretty good at it as a result.”

Though the graphic designer of Southfield, Michigan was nearly voted out she was saved by another Asian American player, Sol Yi, who awarded her immunity. The episode included a brief snippet when Yi and LaMont discussed their Asian upbringing. She has been able to not only recover but has been able to ally herself to an alliance of underdogs to put herself in great standing among the final six.

In last week's episode, despite losing a key ally, Caroline Vidmar, Rachel enters the Final Six with a Block-a-Vote advantage that she must use at the next Tribal Council. Knowing how savvy Rachel has been with advantages, it's safe to say she would use it to help take out one of the two threats left, Genivieve Mushaluk or Sam Phalen. From there, she has an idol no one knows she has, which she can play at the Final Five. Next, LaMont  would probably be the odds-on favorite to win immunity at the Final Four, given she's won it the most of anyone left.

LaMont is well liked, hasn't burned anybody or betrayed any confidences putting her in a strong position for the final three grilling where the last three survivors try to convince the jury, made up of ousted players, why they deserve to chosen as the final survivor, 

FYI: The two-hour Survivor 47 finale will be aired on CBS, 8 p.m. EST.

Aside from LaMont, Survivor 47 has another remaining player that the betting odds say also is likely to win the season. According to Bet Carolina, Filipino American  Rueda, of Buffalo, NY, had a 26.7% chance of winning Survivor 47.

After coming up with an intricate plan, "Operation Italy," conceived during an Italian meal prize with Genevieve Mushaluk and Sam Phalen. As a result of Andy's intricate plan working to perfection, the three underdogs were able to vote out a member of a bigger alliance.

Despite his successful plan weakening the larger alliance, Rueda's impressive move may come too late in the game. In the past, Survivor players have spoken about how hard it can be to change the jury members' initial perception of a player late in the game. If that is the case with Survivor 47's jury, they may be influenced by Ruda's apparent emotional breakdown in episode one when he felt he was being dismissed by the other players on his tribe and practically begged to be voted out.

(He was right to be hurt. Maybe a bit of racism came to the fore when his tribemates cheered on a white player broke open a coconut. When Rueda did the same thing, the reaction was "meh.")

While he was able to survive that first vote, (because his rivals didn't see him as a threat) it seemed like his tribemates didn't take Andy seriously during the first several episodes of the season. However, lo and behold, Andy was routinely shown talking about how he was secretly manipulating the game during his confessional interviews. Is Rueda  just a great actor and a secret genius strategist? We'll find out tomorrow.

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