Hispanic Heritage Month: the Mexican-Filipino genetic connection

"The Forgotten Filipinos of the Galleons" is painted by American artist Arthur Breede.

If history books mention the Filipino sailors that manned the Manila galleons centuries ago at all, they say the crewmen  endured "harsh conditions." Truth is: most of them were slaves. No wonder they jumped ship the first chance they got to escape their Spanish captains.

While the exact total number of Filipino crewmen who jumped ship in Mexico is unknown, evidence shows a significant and widespread desertion, with one galleon experiencing 70 of its 75 Filipino crew members deserting in Acapulco alone in 1619. 

Over the centuries of the galleon trade, 1565-1815, many of the estimated 60,000 Filipinos who survived the 50-60 day journey from Manila to Acapulco as crewmen escaped upon arrival at Mexico's west coast blending in with the local residents. Some of the galleons' Filipino crewmen formed their own communities, most notable in the Louisiana bayous where they founded the first documented Asian American communities in North America.

Sometimes, the most powerful stories aren't in history books but are whispered in our DNA. We've always known about Filipino resilience, our ability to travel and thrive, but now science is confirming a piece of our story that was nearly forgotten. 

The history books often ignored their names and their fate. But our genes, it turns out, have a much longer memory. Genetic evidence is finally giving a voice to the tens of thousands of Filipinos who made the long and perilous journey to Mexico during the Spanish colonial era.

It is fitting that Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15, overlaps with Filipino American History Monthwhich starts Oct. 1 because new evidence confirms the cultural and genetic history. shared by the two countries, both former colonies of Spain.

It's in the genes

Scientists have confirmed a distinct Southeast Asian genetic signature within the Mexican population, particularly in the coastal state of Guerrero. Why Guerrero? Because its port, Acapulco, was the main destination for those galleon ships.

Analysis of this DNA traces its arrival to approximately the 17th century, right in the thick of the galleon trade. This is not a coincidence; it’s a genetic echo of our ancestors stepping onto Mexican soil.

For over 250 years, the Manila Galleons facilitated trade between Asia and Mexico.

        RELATED: Filipinos gave birth to Mexico's mezcal

One study found that as much as a third of the population sampled in Guerrero carried up to 10% Filipino ancestry. In some individuals in Acapulco, that figure was even higher. This wasn't just a handful of people; it was a substantial migration that left a lasting mark.

Filipinos mostly settled in the regions near the terminal ports of the Manila galleons. These include Acapulco, Barra de Navidad, and San Blas, Nayarit, as well as numerous smaller intermediate settlements along the way. They also settled the regions of Colima and Jalisco before the 17th century, which were seriously depopulated of Native American settlements during that period due to the Cocoliztli epidemics and Spanish forced labor.[

One sizable Filipino community settled in Coyuca, on the Costa Grande, 50 km north of Acapulco. Coyuca was apparently known as Filipino Town at one point in its early history. They also settled in significant numbers in the barrio San Juan of Mexico City, although in modern times, the area has become more associated with later Chinese migrants.

The loss of cultural identity of early Filipino migrants to Mexico is the result of several factors. The most significant factor being the use of the terms indio and chino. In the Philippines, natives were known as indios, but they lost that classification when they reached the Americas, since the term in New Spain referred to Native Americans. In Mexico, they were called chinos, leading to the modern confusion of early Filipino immigrants with the much later Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Names might be forgotten, but the people aren't

The Filipinos settling in Mexico introduced mangoes and a game called “cara y cruz” (heads and tails). The Filipino sailors and their descendants were known locally as “Chinese Indians” and brought their expertise in the cultivation and use of palm trees with them. 

In Tagalog, palm fronds are known as “palapa” and by the end of the 18th century, this name was in use, too, for the palm-roofed shelters which remain a distinctive style of architecture along Mexico’s coasts.

'China Publana" garb has become part of Mexico's traditional garb.

The coconut palm’s sap is known locally as tuba. Filipino newcomers fermented the resulting coconut wine into a potent drink. Henry Bruman, a University of California geographer, documented how Filipino seamen and women on the Manila Galleon also introduced simple stills, for making tuba to western Mexico during the late 16th century. These techniques were quickly adapted by Mexicans who used the distillation process to turn their native agave plants into tequila.

Some historians say the famous "China Poblana" was a Filipino woman who became a patriotic leader in Mexico's fight for independence from Spain. Her garb of white blouse and long colorful skirt along with the hairstyle of braided hair became emblematic of female patriots of Mexico. Today, the clothing is among the traditional clothing of working class Mexican women.

The genetic confirmation is more than just a scientific report. It's a testament to the resilience of our people, who not only survived a brutal colonial system but also contributed to the cultural and genetic tapestry of another nation. It's another example of how our history—marked by injustice and exploitation—is also a story of survival and undeniable presence. It tells us that even when our names and stories are erased, our legacy remains, written deep within us.

For Filipino Americans, the genetic proof of the linkage between Mexico and the Philippines. It's the retrieval of a long-lost story. It's a reminder of a struggle of the human struggle for freedom.

It's another example of how Filipino American history—marked by injustice and exploitation—is also a story of survival and undeniable presence. It tells us that even when our names and stories are suppressed, our legacy remains, written deep within us. It is a legacy that deserves to be honored, a story that deserves to be told.

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. 

AANHPI businesses are hurting as Trump's tariffs take a toll on household budgets

Asian grocery owners are being impacted by Trump's tariffs.

Have you seen the price of jasmine rice lately?  Yikes! How about the cost of coffee? Double yikes!

The tariff is not being hurting the Thai rice growers. The 19% tariff is being paid by the rice importers and by the time it reaches the grocery story, that added cost is being passed on to the American consumers.

Just as disconcerting: Tariffs on imported coffee, such as those implemented by the Trump administration on countries like Brazil, Vietnam, and Indonesia, increase the cost of raw coffee beans for US roasters and retailers. Because the US imports almost all of its coffee, these elevated costs are often passed on to consumers, resulting in higher prices for their morning cup of coffee whether or not you brew your own java or you opt to buy a latte at Starbucks

Coffee businesses have limited options to absorb these costs, sometimes leading to price increases, and while there are efforts to exempt coffee from tariffs, they face challenges in implementation.

Major coffee-exporting nations face significant US tariffs, including 50% on Brazil, 20% on Vietnam, and 10% on Colombia. These high rates are exacerbating existing price pressures due to factors like global supply issues and weather.

Coffee companies and roasters initially absorbed some of these increased costs, but are now forced to raise prices. This creates tension between needing to cover costs and risking customer loss. Some businesses are transparently showing the impact of tariffs on customer receipts.

Trump's tariffs are significantly impacting Asian American-owned businesses, many of which import goods and ingredients from Asia. 

“President Trump promised to lower costs on day one, yet costs have skyrocketed due to his tariffs — especially for the over three million Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-owned businesses across our nation,” said Rep. Grace Meng, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

“These mom-and-pop stores are being forced to make an impossible choice: raise prices or close their doors for good. We refuse to be treated as collateral damage in the administration’s trade wars, and CAPAC will continue fighting for lower costs and a more affordable America.”

This has resulted in several negative effects:

• Increased Costs and Prices: Businesses are facing higher costs for imported goods, including agricultural products, cultural items, and traditional medicines that are not produced domestically. Some businesses, especially in Chinatowns, have reported increasing prices for their products by an average of 50% to absorb these higher costs, while others have seen costs for specific items, like medicinal oils, skyrocket from $500 to $13,000 per shipment overnight.

• Reduced Demand and Sales: Higher prices are leading to lower consumer demand as customers, including seniors on fixed incomes and working-class Americans, cut back on purchases. Businesses have seen sales decline and customers buying fewer items.

• Threat to Survival: Many Asian-owned small businesses operate on thin margins and are still recovering from the pandemic. They are facing the difficult choice between raising prices, which deters customers, or risking closure. Some are considering shutting down or laying off workers.

It is not just jasmine rice, Trump’s tariffs affect the price of basmati rice, grown primarily in India and Pakistan. 

Other items that will include higher prices iniclude: beef, shrimp, salmon, tuna, tilapia, dried fish, ginseng, Goji berries, Korean and Japanese cosmetics and skincare products, traditional Chinese medicine, matcha, loose-leaf tea, soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, Sichuan peppercorn, black pepper, cumin, turmeric, chili powder, paneer, kimchi, dry noodles, joss papers, incense, takeout containers, cell phones, computers, clothing, shoes, and more.

SHUTTERSTOCK

AANHP shoppers feel the pinch at their favorite Asian American groceries.

Tariffs spark anti-AANHPI sentiment

On August 29, a federal appeals court ruled that most of Trump’s tariffs are illegal but allowed the tariffs to remain in place while the case moves through the appeals process. The Supreme Court recently agreed to consider the appeal on an expedited timeline. Meanwhile, tariffs continue to create uncertainty for small businesses and consumers—including for Asian-owned businesses that import agricultural goods, cultural products, and traditional medicines that cannot be produced domestically.

Asian American entrepreneurs own 11% of small businesses in the US and nearly 20% of restaurants that can be found in 70% of counties across the country. Chinatown businesses in particular have reported lower demand and increased costs for goods, with some hiking prices by an average of 50%. According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, consumer prices rose 0.4 percent in August, driving the annual inflation rate to 2.9%, the highest since January, in part due to Trump’s tariffs.

Grocers that cater to Asian consumers like H Mart, 99 Ranch, Seafood City, and Island Pacific, import over half of their items from Asia are now forced to raise prices in response. Consumers are cutting back on salon visits in order to save money due to rising costs from tariff policies, with 42 percent of typical salon patrons going less in the last six months in favor of at-home treatments and 24 percent giving up those services entirely.

Many Asian-owned businesses have not recovered from the pandemic and already operate on thin profit margins. These businesses cannot afford to absorb higher costs from Trump’s tariffs, but are hesitant to raise prices, especially for seniors living on fixed incomes and working-class Americans. 

These uncertain economic conditions come on the heels of Trump’s Big Ugly Law that makes life harder for working families by kicking more than 15 million people off their health insurance and raising the costs of food and utilities.

Zooming out from the impact on Asian American businesses, the pressure from tariffs is not only financial but also threatens the cultural fabric of ethnic enclaves like the nation's Chinatowns, where many small, immigrant-owned businesses depend on imported goods from clothing to the trinkets sought by tourists as souviniers.

There is also the fear that the broader economic uncertainty will spill over to an already strained environment for Asian American communities, who also face racist  rhetoric emanating from tariff debate. The last time that occured was during the pandemic when nonAsians blamed COVID19 Asians and Asian Americans resulting in a surge  attacks on people of Asian descent and an environment of racist hate that still lingers to this day. 

This fear is rooted in the history of linking trade and economic issues with anti-immigrant and xenophobic rhetoric, which has historically been associated with surges in violence against Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI).

Political rhetoric surrounding tariffs can transform immigrants and foreign countries of origin into targets, making them scapegoats for broader economic problems. According to the organization Stop AAPI Hate, this type of political scapegoating is dangerous and increases the risk of violence. 

'Rice is life'

Despite being major rice producer, the Philippines can't grow enough rice for its own needs. Therefore, the Philippines is the world's largest rice importer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projected Filipino rice consumption to be around 151.3 kilos per person annually in early 2024, with a total consumption volume increasing from previous years.

Filipinos have a saying: "Rice is life." In the Philippines, rice is eaten with every meal, breakfast, lunch, dinner and throw in the mid-afternoon merienda. Rice is more than just food for sustenance; it's deeply intertwined with Filipino culture, family, celebrations, and even language, embodying a cultural preference that makes a meal feel incomplete without it.

Like many AANHPI consumers, I start my day with a good cup of coffee and end it with a healthy portion of hot, steamed rice with my meal. But with with both food staples going up in price (Thanks, Trump's tariffs), I might have to cut back a bit. But, what the heck! Who am I kidding?

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. 

• 
  

Jessica Sanchez wins 'America's Got Talent'; her curtain call is having a baby

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT

Jessica Sanchez's journey of 20 years culminates in her win on 'America's Got Talent.'

The winner of the 20th anniversary season of America's Got Talent  is Jessica Sanchez!

“I haven’t watched anything back yet, but all I know is that I was a complete mess on stage, emotionally, just crying, and then afterwards, I’ve just been doing interviews and stuff, and I feel like the adrenaline has been crazy,” she told the Inquirer.

The 30-year old singer first competed on AGT during its debut season 20 years ago when she was just 10 years old and advanced to the Semifinals via a wildcard, but was eliminated.

Two decades later she returned to the show on the AGT's 20th season, and in an America's Got Talent first, she competed while pregnant throughout the season. She's currently 9 months along and expecting a daughter later next monthl. She and her husband plan to name the little one, Eliana.

The performance that put her over the top and earned her the $1-million top prize was her rendition of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' 2024 hit, "Die With a Smile," which she sang Tuesday.

All four judges praised her performance. Judge Simon Cowell “I felt there was an extra 10% from you, from before,” he explained. “Actually, there are two of you. So it’s like a duo.” Having Sanchez return for the 20th anniversary of AGT was “so important,” he continued, “to show that even if you don’t win the first time, you’ve got to always believe in yourself, right. And that’s what you’ve done.” The arrangement was “beautiful” and Sanchez, he remarked, “sounded amazing” and praised her for her best performance yet.

Sanchez's parents are Edita Bugay Sanchez, whose family is from Bataan,  Philippines, and Gilbert Sanchez, a Mexican American from Texas.

Sanchez's win makes her the second artist of Filipino descent to win a singing competition in the US. Sofronio Vasquez was the first Filipino to The Voice in December of 2024.

"My heart is overflowing with gratitude for all the love and kind words that have been pouring in," Sanchez wrote in an Instagram post on Sept. 14. 

"I never imagined I’d be spending these final weeks of pregnancy away from home, in the middle of such an exciting competition. I truly believe God’s plan is greater than my own," said the 30-year old Sanchez to the Inquirer. "This journey has been so unexpected, yet so beautiful, and I wouldn’t have it any other way."

“I’m about to go home and be a mom. So that is freaking crazy,” she said. “I have a drive back to Texas — because I can’t fly — so I have to drive back to Texas and just prepare for my baby girl, for our baby girl.”

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. 

• 
  

Jimmy Kimmel's suspension shows that dictators follow a playbook

SCREEN CAPTURE

Filipino American journalist Maria Ressa with Jon Stewart compare the attack on free speech.

All this talk about free speech spurred by the Jimmy Kimmel suspension  is starting to look uncomfortably familiar.

One of the highlights of my journalism career is when I learned that I was among the journalists with an arrest warrant issued by the government of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos. I was so proud.

As managing editor of the San Francisco-based Philippine News my name was included along with PhilNews publisher Alex Esclamado and the other editors of the Filipino American weekly. The newspaper was noted for its strong anti-Marcos stance amid the coverage of Filipinos in the US, from baby births, weddings to discrimination against Filipino Americans and the Filipino-instigated Grape Strike.

But whatever we did at the newspaper, it was nothing when compared what our peers in the Philippines were experiencing under the strongman Marcos.

When Marcos declared martial law in 1972, he didn't just target political opponents. He went after something just as powerful: the free press. And he didn't do it quietly. He did it with a methodical, ruthless precision that left no room for dissent.

Here's the scary part, the stuff that should make you wake up at night because of what is happening in the US today under the Donald Trump dictatorship is uncomfortably similar.

In 1972, in Manila newsrooms, the lights went out.

It started in the dead of night, just as martial law was being declared. Marcos had his military forces shut down the biggest media outlets in the country: newspapers like the Manila Times, magazines like the Philippine Free Press, and even TV stations like ABS-CBN. Can you imagine? The Philippines press was noted as having one of the most vibrant journalism in Asia. One day, there was a vibrant, messy, free-wheeling, public conversation happening, and the next day, it's just gone. Poof.

The media void wasn't left empty for long. Marcos and his cronies—his buddies, his business partners—created their own media empire. Outlets like the Daily Express and the Bulletin Today popped up, and they all served the same master: Marcos. Their job wasn't to inform. It was to glorify. They sold the "New Society" myth, painting a picture of progress and peace while the reality was far, far darker. It was a lie, and they were the ones who made sure you believed i

Journalists who dared to question the narrative were rounded up and thrown in jail. Sometimes, they were tortured. Some of them never came back. Marcos wasn't just killing the message; he was killing the messenger. 

Some of the most influential media figures at the time were immediately taken into custody. These included:

• Teodoro Locsin Sr., publisher of the Philippines Free Press
• Chino Roces, publisher of the Manila Times
• Eugenio Lopez Jr., owner of ABS-CBN
• Prominent writers Luis Beltran, Maximo Soliven, Amando Doronila, and Juan Mercado.
•  Many journalists were held in military stockades for years.
• 34 Filiilpino journalists were killed during the Marcos regime.

This is the playbook of every authoritarian regime. When you can't win an argument, you make sure no one is allowed to present a counter argument. Hitler did it. Stalin did it. Putin and X are doing it. And, Trump wants to do it. 

Emergence of the "Mosquito" press

But here's the thing about a good story—it finds a way to get out. A small, underground "mosquito press" emerged despite the censorship and Marcos' strongarm tactics. These brave individuals published their stories in secret, and their whispers became a chorus of defiance.

At the Philippine News, visitors from the Philippines would smuggle out these stories which the PhilNews reprinted. Then, we mailed the newspaper to key members of Congress and open-minded members of the media.

The legacy of Marcos's attack on the press lingers to this day. We still see echoes of his tactics in the way the media is threatened and attacked. But we also see the spirit of the mosquito press in those who continue to fight for the truth, no matter the cost.

Most recently, disgraced President Rolando Duterte tried to silence Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa and Rappler, the online news outlet she helped found in Manila. Ressa was hit with several arrest warrants and convicted of cyberlibel. In 2021, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her defense of press freedom.

After ABC suspended Kimmel's show, Jon Stewart hosted Ressa on his Daily Show during which Ressa told Stewart, "I told you so."

In an earlier interview Ressa issued a warning that the US was in danger of following the Philippines during Duterte's rule including legal harassment, arrests, revoking licenses.

In that earlier interview, Stewart countered that the institutions in the US were more stable and the bullying of a free press could not possibly happen here. Sadly, he was wrong and that's why he invited Ressa back to his show. 

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel returned to his show Tuesday.

Kimmel reinstated

Although Disney CEO Bob Iger allowed Kimmel to return to ABC today, the Trump threat to media outlets remains. Sinclair and Nexstar, which together own about 20% of the ABC affiliates, said they would still not air Kimmel's show on their stations.

Although not well known by the general public, the Kimmel situation brought them into the spotlight exposing their undue influence in the information industry and disproves the GOP assertion of the so-called "liberal "leanings of mainstream media. If they are successful in having the FCC approve their expansion, the two corporations operate hundreds of television outlets and thus control the direction of news dissemination and our national conversation.

In his opening monologue Tuesday evening, an emotional Kimmel thanks his supporters in the entertainment industry and the thousands of ordinary Americans who were angry at Trump's attack on the First Amendment. 

"But I don't wanna make this about me because — and I know this is what people say when they make things about them — but I really, this show is not important," said Kimmel.

"What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this. I've had the opportunity to meet and spend time with comedians and talk show hosts from countries like Russia and countries in the Middle East who tell me they would get thrown in prison for making fun of those in power, and worse than being thrown in prison. They know how lucky we are here. Our freedom to speak is what they admire most about this country."

"We have to speak out against this bully," Kimmel warned. "He’s not stopping. And it’s not just comedy. He's gunning for our journalists, too. He's suing them, he's bullying them."

The intense outcry against ABC and the Disney Corporation saved Kimmel, this time. But Trump, Carr and his FCC said that this won't be the last attack against free speech.

The dismantling of America's free press is happening right before our eyes in real time. Yesterday they went after Steve Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel. Tomorrow it could be Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers or the all-woman panel of The View, all critics of the Trump regime.

"I think we're going to test ABC out on this. Let's see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million," Trump said in reference to the network settling his lawsuit over comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos.

Trump, like dictator Marcos, systematically works to undermine public trust in journalists and media institutions that published critical reports. 

Trump popularized terms like "fake news" and repeatedly called the media "enemy of the people" to label unfavorable press coverage and outlets. What that constant barrage of negativity does is erode public trust in one of America's institutions and creates an environment of chaos. 

Democracy needs an informed citizenry in order for it to work. It is incumbent on us educate ourselves by continuing to demand and fight for a free press. As ABC and Disney has learned from the pressure they received in temporarily silencing Kimmel, the American public demands a free press, an essential weapon to fight corporate complicity. and authoritarianism.

So beware. The Jimmy Kimmel episode is only Round One.

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. 

• 
  

accusations of “fake news” and flooding the information void with manufactured news, lies and their own twisted version of "fake news." 

 So, remember this: the freedom to speak is a muscle you have to exercise. If you let it atrophy, you'll find it's too late to use it when you need it most.

You can vote for Jessica Sanchez in 'America's Got Talent' semi-finals

Jessica Sanchez on America's Got Talent makes it to the show's Top Ten.

It may not have been Jessica Sanchez's best performance for "America's Got Talent," but it was good enough to get her into the Top Ten and a chance to win $1-million.

Sanchez had a good excuse for her l3ss-than-perfect performance; she's nine-months pregnant.

Despite her apparent discomfort she sang JVKE's "Golden Hour,"  good enough to garner enough audience votes to move on to this week's semi-finals on the competition reality show.

"I'm so proud that you are my golden buzzer. You get better and better your. It's perfection. Your voice, your little belly, your story. I mean, there's nothing I would change about you. How do you do your singing? So amazing. I'm so happy for you," judge Sofia Vergara said.

FYI: "America's Got Talent"airs new episodes on NBC on Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m Central. The show’s newest champion will be announced during the grand finale on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

"I believe in exactly what Simon said to you the last time. First of all, you look beautiful tonight. And, secondly you sound beautiful, but he said with the right song choice, you could take this all the way and be the million-dollar winner. America's going to decide whether that was the right song choice. For me, it's just the choice. And hopefully they love that song more than me," said judge Howie Mandel said.

"Well, can I just say your vocals were just magical? They really were," said former Spice Girl Mel B. "You have a range that's very similar to Mariah Carey, you can go up, down, and around the corners, and you always land on point. Now, whether that song affected everybody the way you wanted it to, I'm not sure, but I could see that that it affected you and that's the most important thing. I was beautiful."

It was expected that Judge Simon Cowell would give her a Golden Buzzer, advancing her to the Top Ten, but he decided to give the reward to another performer. The usually acerbic judge described the Filipino American singer's "Golden Hour" rendition as a “moment.” Not only is she talented, but she has “never given up over all of these years,” he remarked. And importantly, she is “very very likeable.”

After her performance, Simon Cowell acknowledged her bravery in performing while unwell, stating she was a very brave person, but ultimately did not hit his Golden Buzzer.

Rounding out the Top Ten are, Steve Ray Ladson, rapper and singer Mama Duke, singer and musician Micah Palace, and Team Recycled. impressionist Chris Turner,  acrobatic groups Light Wire and Sirca Marea, singer  Jourdan Blue, and the Leo High School Choir.

Sanchez, who originally competed on AGT 20 years ago as a 10-year old making it to the semi-finals, recently took to social media to reflect on her long journey.

"Today I officially step into my 9th month of pregnancy. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for all the love and kind words that have been pouring in. I never imagined I’d be spending these final weeks of pregnancy away from home, in the middle of such an exciting competition. I truly believe God’s plan is greater than my own. This journey has been so unexpected, yet so beautiful, and I wouldn’t have it any other way," she posted on her Instagram page earlier this mpnth.

Now Sanchez needs votes from the audience if she wants to advance to finals the next day. She hopes fortune and viewers will vote for her again. As she told AGT host Terry Crews, “I just keep telling my baby, please just stay in there another week.” 

FYI: Viewers vote for acts on America's Got Talent by registering for a free NBCUniversal Profile on the official AGT or NBC app (iOS and Android) or via the website, NBC.com/AGTVote. Once registered, viewers can cast up to 10 votes per act, per voting method (app or website) during the live show voting window, which typically runs from the start of the live show on Tuesday nights to Wednesday morning.

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. 

• 
  

Jimmy Kimmel draws the ire of Trump, show suspended

EDITOR'S NOTE: Excuse me if I wander off my usual coverage of Asian Americana, but sometimes, events  impact our lives even if, on the surface, there is no apparent direct tie to the AANHIPI communities.

Jimmy Kimmel, left, was suspended after FCC head Brandon Carr, right, threatened ABC.

I had to watch "All The President’s Men” again just to remind myself of the idealism -- naive as they might be -- that attracted me to journalism as a career: Exposing corruption and coverups, offering new approaches to old problems, bringing attention to and giving a voice for  the powerless and, of course, seeking the truth.

If I had to make that decision in today's climate, I might not make the same choice because of what happened to Jimmy Kimmel. The hard truth: journalism is not a calling, its a business where the bottomline overrides principles.

Following direct and indirect pressure from the FCC, Disney which is the parent company of ABC, suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" indefinitely on September 18, sparking a major debate over free speech, censorship and corporate ownership. 

ABC's decision to punish Kimmel came after he made comments concerning the recent killing of ultra-conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Most of the coverage on Kimmel's silencing has focused on the right of free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

During his opening monologue on Sept. 15, Kimmel suggested that conservative supporters of Donald Trump were politicizing the killing of activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel mocked Trump's response to the killing and said the "MAGA gang" was "doing everything they can to score political points."

Who really owns US media

One might disagree with Kimmel's comments about Kirk's suspected killer. One might even say the monologue wasn't funny, but that's not what I'm focusing on. Here is the story behind the story.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr publicly condemned Kimmel, and suggested the agency could pursue "remedies" against the network, an apparent reference to ABC's broadcast license. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” he said.

The threatening message was loud and clear. Conservative-leaning affiliate owners, including Nexstar and Sinclair, announced they would preempt Kimmel's show on their stations. Sinclair Broadcast Group owns or operates 38 ABC affiliates, while Nexstar Media Group opeorates 28 ABC affiliates.   

Within hours of the affiliates' announcement, ABC's parent company, Disney headed by CEO Bob Iger, indefinitely suspended Kimmel's show.

On Wednesday Sinclair Broadcast Group, which has a reputation for a conservative viewpoint in its broadcasts, called on Kimmel to apologize to Kirk’s family and make a “meaningful personal donation” to the activist’s political organization, Turning Point USA. Sinclair said its ABC stations will air a tribute to Kirk on Friday in Kimmel’s time slot.

Nextstar, besides its ABC affiliates, owns or partners with more than 200 stations in 116 US markets, and owns broadcast networks the CW and NewsNation, as well as the political website The Hill and nearly a third of the Food Network.

Kissing up to the Trump government

It is not coincidence that all three media corporations, Nexstar, Sinclair and Disney, need FCC approval for expanding their influence.

• Last month, Nexstar announced a $6.2 billion deal to buy TEGNA Inc., which owns 64 other TV stations.In order to do that, Nextstar is asking Carr to bend the FCC rules that prevents an entity to own more than 39% of the market.

• Sinclair is also asking an exemption from the 39% rule because it seeks  a mixture of station acquisitions and sales — all of which require the approval of the FCC.

• Disney is paying $10 million to settle FCC allegations that the company allowed personal data to be collected from children who viewed kid-directed videos on YouTube without notifying parents or obtaining their consent as required by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA Rule). It also seeks FCC approval for the entertainment giant to purchase ESPN.

The actions of the FCC and media companies. alongside the billionaire owners of the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, both of which withdrew editorials endorsing Kamala Harris, and the always present Fox conglomerate, which also owns the Wall Street Journal and New York Post, and other conservative outlets should do away with the MAGA criticisms of the so-called "liberal" mainstream media.

Disney's decision was loudly criticized by journalists and First Amendment advocates. 

“Jimmy Kimmel is the latest target of the Trump administration’s unconstitutional plan to silence its critics and control what the American people watch and read. Cowering to threats, ABC and the biggest owner of its affiliate stations gave the Trump FCC chairman exactly what he wanted by suspending Kimmel indefinitely and dropping the show," said Christopher Anders, director of the Democracy and Technology Division at the American Civil Liberties Union, said:

Hollywood figures and unions, including the Writers Guild of America (WGA), condemned the move, organizing protests outside Disney Studios to defend free speech. Protestors held signs saying "ABC Bends the Knee to Fascism," and WGA president Meredith Stiehm called it a "frontal assault on basic First Amendment principles".

I strongly sympathize with all the altruistic journalists out there trying to do their job but are hindered by their higher ups more concerned about the bottom line and political motivations and abandon any journalistic principles and good intentions.

The results were all part of the plans of conservatives' Project 2026 battle plan. In fact, Carr was the author of that portion concerning the FCC and taking control of the media by silencing the critics and delivering only the Trump-approved messages, even if they are false or incorrect.

“This is beyond McCarthyism. Trump officials are repeatedly abusing their power to stop ideas they don’t like, deciding who can speak, write, and even joke," states the ACLU's Anders. "The Trump administration's actions, paired with ABC's capitulation, represent a grave threat to our First Amendment freedoms.”

Republicans are the majority of Congress, they dominate the Supreme Court and now they are seeking control of the Fourth Estate. Trump has shown he can order the military to do his bidding against Americans and ICE is acting like the Gestapo overriding peoples' Constitutional rights.   

America's freedom and rights are getting weaker not by a revolution, but slowly, a constant drip eroding the nation's democracy. Trump and billionaire enablers have the country closer to becoming a dictatorship and a possible Trump third term.

Even more troubling, in an interview with CNBC, FCC head Carr said, "We're not done yet."

Trump posted on Truth Social in response to the news about Kimmel, calling it "great news for America," as he threatened two other late night hosts.

"Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done," the post wrote. "Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy (Fallon) and Seth (Meyers), two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!"

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. 

• 
  

 

Hmong American wins special election for Minnesota legislature

Former Hmong refugee XP Lee elected to the Minnesota legislature.

A Hmong refugee won the special election to replace his mentor, the late Melissa Hortman, who was allegedly assassinated by a radical conservative gunman.

Xp Lee won the District 34B special election Tuesday (Sept. 16), which will return the House to a 67-67 tie after he is sworn in.

The Democrat won with 60.8% of the vote over Republican candidate Ruth Bittner’s 39.1%, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Lee is a health equity analyst at the Department of Health and a former Brooklyn Park city councilor. He said his win Tuesday is a “thank you” for everything the community has given him.

“My story is proof of what’s possible in our country and our state: I was born in a refugee camp, our family got our papers, and we came to this country when I was 10 months old. I worked hard in school, later I joined a union, and I have been serving my community in every way I can,” he said in a statement.

In a statement, House DFL Caucus Leader Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) congratulated Lee for his win Tuesday. “Xp Lee is going to make a fantastic member of our team. He’s a union member, a father, and a testament to what’s possible when we make sure we don’t leave anyone behind. His story is the American Dream.”

With Lee's victory, there are now six Hmong politicians serve in the Minnesota state legislature. This includes one state senator and five members of the state House of Representatives. All are members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.

The main issues facing the Hmong community in Minnesota include significant health disparities, socioeconomic challenges, cultural tensions between generations, and recent threats of deportation. With a population of around 96,000, the community, the ssecond largest Hmong population in the United States after California's Hmong community, is actively working to address these systemic issues. The majority of the Hmong population resides in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, especially in Ramsey County (St. Paul) and Hennepin County (Minneapolis).

Lee is filling he seat left vacant by the slaying of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, who was killed along with her husband in their home June 14.

The suspect, Vance Boelter, has been charged with the homicides. The attacks, which were described by authorities as politically motivated, occurred on June 14, 2025, when Boelter, posing as a police officer, shot the couple at their home in Brooklyn Park

Lee said his campaign team did their best to make Hortman proud.

“I have never lost sight of the situation that brought us to this moment, and I will work hard every day to carry forward Speaker Melissa Hortman’s legacy,” Lee stold NPR.

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. 

•