Case of the murder of UC Berkeley student is solved 24 years later

TWENTY-FOUR years after the death of a Filipina/American student at UC Berkeley, police have finally solved her murder.

UC Berkeley police believe Grace Asuncion, a 20-year-old pre-med student, was stabbed to death in February 1992 by John Iwed, who died from a drug overdose in 1993. 

Grace Asuncion

Iwed was a suspect early in the investigation but police were not able to gather the evidence needed to convict him of the murder. Police did not say why they focused on him initially but did say he had no affiliation with the university and did not know Asuncion.

UC Berkeley police Sgt. Sabrina Reich said in a release last week that the case is considered closed. She said police are "confident we had identified the right person."

The Alameda County district attorney’s office reviewed the case, but prosecutors could not file charges because Iwed succumbed to a drug overdose nearly a year after Asuncion was found dead, according to Reich.

Police informed Asuncion’s family in July of the new evidence, said her older brother John Asuncion in Agoura Hills, California

“It was a surprise, as you can imagine,” John Asuncion, 47, told the Los Angeles Times. “It opened up the old wounds, of course. Speaking for myself, I had accepted — it is what it is. A cold case.”

Before his death, Iwed had confessed to his wife that he attacked and killed Asuncion while high on psychedelic drugs, KTVU-TV reported. His wife later told police, but detectives could not verify the account.

Grace Asuncion, a resident of Agoura Hills, California, who was majoring in molecular and cell biology, was stabbed multiple times Feb. 7, 1992,  in the offices of the student group, Pilipino American Alliance. Reports at the time said she often stayed after hours to do her homework in the fifth floor office. 

Her body was found by a custodian. There were no signs she was sexually assaulted or robbed and no motive was ever released.

A year after her death, Asuncion's parents filed a wrongful death suit against the university which ended with a $750,000 settlement.

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Honoring Tim Lincecum's remarkable career; Fil/American pitcher designated for assignment

Tim Lincecum, in his prime, was unhittable which led to winning the Cy Young award for two consecutive years.

By Louis Chan
Reprinted from AsAm News
A PHOTO of two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum’s trade mark fist pump and smile hangs on my wall.

The picture actually had been put away in my closet, but when I heard the charismatic, yet quiet ex-San Francisco Giant had been sent bags packing by the California Angels, I decided to put his picture back up.

Too many memories of better days to let Timmy collect dust.

His bid to comeback to prominence apparently is over after going 2-6 with the Angels during which he give up an average of nine runs a game after not being resigned by the Giants.

You had a feeling something wasn’t right with the Filipino/American pitcher when he kept pushing back his audition this off season. He had been working on his game in private away from view of the public, refusing to let even the scouts see until he threw himself an open audition attending by some 20 teams after the season started.

Its been a steady decline that started in 2011. Sure, there were glimpses of the old Timmy including his second no-hitter against the San Diego Padres in 2014. It was moments like that that gave long time fans hope the Timmy magic had not completely disappeared, but it did. In 2014, the last of the Giants three most recent World Series championships, Lincecum was a non-factor appearing as a reliever for just one inning the entire post season.

I prefer to remember the glory days. He quickly became the team’s name plate after coming up from the minors in 2007. After Barry Bonds left the team, it was Timmy who would bring the Giants back to greatness and lead the team to the first of three World Series titles starting in 2010.

Who could forget, let alone hit, his 97 mile per hour fast ball. Who could forget his back to back Cy Young Awards for being baseball’s best pitcher in 2008 and 2009. Who could forget Timmy playing a key role in the 2012 World Series coming in as a reliever at pivotal points during the post season–doing whatever it would take to bring home another championship.

It’s expected Lincecum will clear waiver. He’ll then have to decide if he wants to continue to work on his games in the minors where the Angels have offered him a spot.

Timmy, your glory days may be gone, but you’ll always have a place up on my wall and in my heart.

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TGIF FEATURE: Singer Jessica Sanchez dips into fashion

Reprinted from AsAm News

SEASON 11 American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez is trying her hand at fashion.

The songtress has teamed up with the Australian apparel brand Pins to Kill (P2K) to release limited edition Jessica Sanchez leggings.

When you see Sanchez model her new line, you can definitely see her inspiration.

It’s a look that’s befitting of the young Filipina/American from San Diego.

The singer models her leggings.

“The fact that I get to put out something that’s all my own is so exciting,” she says. “Music has always been what I want to do with my life, and these songs are all me.”

P2K specializes in customized leggings. Customers are encouraged to upload their design, photo and artwork to create their own customized leggings.

The Jessica Sanchez Leggings will only be available for two weeks beginning two days ago.

More information can be found here.https://pinstokill.com/

In case you've forgotten how talented Sanchez is, listen to her she sing 'The Prayer'

last month during American Idol's final show.

You can buy Jessica's new single 'Call Me' here.

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Legacy of the "Battling Bastards of Bataan"

The plaque honoring my father, along with similar plaques for the other survivors of Bataan, hang in a San Francisco Bay Area Filipino-American social hall.

LAST NIGHT, April 8, one of my grandnieces lit a candle in memory of my father and about 80 other survivors of the Bataan Death March who had decided to make this California community their piece of the American Dream.

Twenty years ago, there would have been a score of survivors honored. Today, there are none. But their memory lives on in little ceremonies across the United States.

Three generations after the events of World War II, young Filipino Americans are being reminded about their great grandparents. My grandniece never met my father, but she is connected to him as part of the long story of immigration.

Thousands of American and Filipinos POWs died during the Bataan Death March.

The Filipino/American soldiers made up what is often called the second wave of Filipino immigration to the United States. 

While the First Wave, farmworkers and students of the 1920s are slowly finding their way into the history books especially in ethnic studies in various colleges; and the Third Wave, those who came as a result of the 1965 Immigration Reform Act, are being addressed by contemporary social programs and affirmative action policies; the historic role of the Second Wave is being forgotten as the soldiers grow older and pass away.

Outgunned and without any air support, the U.S. forces fought for months longer than anyone expected. The reinforcements and supplies, including food, that were expected never arrived. They were abandoned by the strategists back in the U.S. The poem below became their rallying cry: 

"No Mama, no Papa, no Uncle Sam; We're the Battling Bastards of Bataan."

The battles of Bataan and Corregidor, which fell a month later, resulted in the surrender of 75,000 to 80,000 American and Filipino soldiers on April 9, 1942. It was the largest surrender of U.S. military personnel in history. The U.S. force that surrendered was made up of over 65,000 Filipinos and 12,000 American non-Filipinos.

The prolonged battle delayed the Japanese war machine and forced them to rethink their strategy. It gave the allies time to regroup and reinforce defenses in Malaysia and Australia.

The infamous Bataan Death March that followed the surrender saw thousands of the malnourished, wounded and disease ridden troops perish during the forced march of 40 miles in the tropical heat with little food and water.

They may not have met their great grandfathers
but the young girls are aware of the debt they
owe them. 

But what is little noted in the history books is the critical role the Filipinos who survived and were part of US units such as the Philippine Scouts when they immigrated to the United States.

Once here, they wanted a piece of the American Dream. Most importantly, they were able to bring their families with them. Their children went to U.S. schools and their wives entered the work force.  Despite housing discrimination laws and  practices that prevented them from buying in certain neighborhoods or communities, they helped established  stable Filipino/American middle-class.

Prior to WWII, Filipinos in America was largely a bachelor society. The general image of Filipinos in the U.S. was as farmworkers, servants, waiters, domestic help and primarily male. Racist laws limited the immigration of Filipino women, prevented Filipinos and other Asians from buying homes and marrying people of other races in order to start families.

The Filipino image underwent a massive change with the post-WWII immigration of Filipino American soldiers and sailors. The survivors of Bataan and Corregidor were joined by the 1st and 2nd Filipino regiments of the U.S. Army made up of Filipino volunteers who were already in the U.S. Because of the role Filipinos played in the war as U.S. allies, Filipinos became allies, heroes, saviors and comrades-in-arms. In short, it was difficult to not see them as human beings.

Helping change the perception of Filipinos were the thousands of U.S. military personnel who fought along side the Filipinos who proved themselves in battle, whose loyalty was unquestionable and whose belief in America and democracy could not be denied. 

It is fitting and important that the accomplishments and sacrifices of the Bataan and Corregidor survivors, most of whom have passed away, are still remembered and honored by their children's children's children, their living legacy.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Don't miss out on additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective be following @DioknoEd on Twitter.

First U.S. school named after Filipino/American heroes

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Gym class at Alvarado Middlle School reflects the school's diversity.

WHEN LABOR LEADERS Larry Itliong and Phillip Vera Cruz instigated the 1965 Grape Strike in California, more than likely, they never envisioned that one day, a school would be named after them.

This Friday, Dec. 18, Union City's Alvarado Middle School will officially transition to its new name of Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School in honor of the history-making Filipino/American heroic figures.

The New Haven Unified School District in the eastern side of San Francisco Bay will have the distinction of being the first district in the country to recognize the efforts and contributions of Filipino/Americans by naming a school in their honor. This historic change highlights the work of the labor movement and the spirit of the United Farm Workers.

It is fitting in that the district’s other middle school is named in honor of Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez, Larry Itliong, and Phillip Vera Cruz, together, worked in collaboration to radically change this country’s labor policies when they formed the United Farm Workers and worked for improved working conditions for farmworkers.

The name change did happen without a struggle. Honoring the labor leaders was first proposed in 1992. The neighborhood surrounding the school is predominantly Filipino/American.

Members of the Latino community protested the name change since the school was named after Juan Bautista Alvarado was a 19th-century Mexican governor when California was part of Mexico.

Supporters of the Itliong-Vera Cruz name pointed out that there was already an elementary school, two streets, a neighborhood and a park named after Alvarado.
Among the speakers on behalf of the name change was Erica Viray-Santos, a San Leandro teacher and former New Haven teacher: “We are not just trying to rename a facility, we are trying to instill a strong sense of self … This is not just Filipino history, it’s American history.”

“This renaming does not divide us but unites us," said a student from James Logan High, where the middle school's students go for 9th grade. "This is history in the making. We are part of this history. I say ‘we’ even though I am not Filipino. I am the people. I am Itliong, I am Vera Cruz.”

The school district finally agreed to the name change but said proponents had to pay the $60,000 cost even though when Chavez was similarly honored the school district footed the bill.

Local political representatives, led by Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle, along with donations from state Sen. Bob Wieckowski and Assemblymembers Bill Quirk and Rob Bonta came up with the funds to pay for the name change.

The dedication ceremony will be held in the school’s gymnasium at 31604 Alvarado Boulevard, starting at 1 p.m. The program will include performances from the school’s Ballet Folklórico dance group, band and choir, Alvarado Elementary School’s Anak Ng Bayan dance group. Members of the Itliong and Vera Cruz families are expected to speak as well as Assemblymember Bonta, a Filipino/American and who sponsored a bill last year declaring every Oct. 25 as Larry Itliong Day in California.

In anticipation of a large community turn out, off-site parking has been arranged in the lot of St. Anne’s Church located at 32223 Cabello St. According to a district press release, a shuttle will transport community members between the parking lot and the school site starting at 12:15 pm with the final shuttle to the ceremony leaving the lot at 1:05 p.m. Shuttles will also be transporting attendees back to the lot after the ceremony.

The ceremony will also be broadcast live, on-line at go.mynhusd.org/icvmsceremony

Visitors are invited to a small celebration after the ceremony in the school’s Multipurpose Room.

The district asks that community members not arrive on site in anticipation of the ceremony before 12:15 pm as school will still be in session.

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Filipinos divided; big project OKd for San Francisco's SoMa

An artist's rendering of what the open space in the 5M Project might look like.

LIKE the fight for the International Hotel, home to Filipino and Chinese elders came to symbolize the fight for tenants rights in San Francisco, working class Filipinos find themselves in the center of another struggle for affordable housing in the South of Market.

Last Tuesday (Nov. 17), the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved the 5M Project that - depending on who you believe - could provide jobs, open space and housing for low and middle-income city residents in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood, or it could be another blow leading to the eventual demise of another Filipino neighborhood.

The meeting, which last hours, pitted developers vs. housing advocates, Tenderloin housing advocates vs. SoMa activists, city planners vs. neighborhood activists, and Filipinos vs. Filipinos. Little children read their arguments. Elderly Filipinos testified. Eventually, the project was approved 8-3, with Supervisors John Avalos, Eric Mar and David Campos voting against it.

“It’s a Filipino heritage zone but if we are going to get Filipinos displaced out of the community then it’s a graveyard,” said West Bay Pilipino Multi Service Center Executive Director Vivian Zalvidea Araullo.

“There’s nothing to compare with 40 percent housing,” countered Ray Balberan of United Playaz, a SoMa youth group. “There’s nothing to compare with $10 million going directly into the community, into direct community services. There’s nothing like that and jobs for the community. We want it to go forward and we will fight for it to go forward.”

Earlier negotiations between 5M executives and Supervisor Susan Kim, who represents SoMa, was able to gain more open space, less parking, less office space and increased the affordable housing to at least 40% of the new housing. In addition, millions would be given to maintain and improve Victoria Manalo Draves park, Bessie Carmichael School and the yet to open Filipino Cultural Center.

“It’s not about tearing down buildings, it’s about rezoning an area and what the impact that is going to be on the people already there,” Avalos told the San Francisco Chronicle.  “I want to stand on the right side of history.”

A rendering looking down 5th Street, the office buildings will tower over the Chronicle Building.

San Francisco has some of the highest real estate prices in the nation caused by the high demand/low supply dynamic and is seeing most of its neighborhoods that have traditionally provided housing for the working class fall victim to gentrification. What's happening is that a lot of highly-paid tech workers brought in by all the high-tech companies wanting to locate in San Francisco. Silicon City is competing with Silicon Valley. 

Developers and landowners, taking advantage of the market, want to fill that need by building new projects or raising rents, driving out the low-wage workers and their families to the outlying cities and suburbs. Most big cities would kill to have San Francisco's  problem.The direction the city is moving now would eventually choke the diversity and energy that makes San Francisco unique and so attractive to tourists and 21st century companies. 

UPDATE: A discussion on this project, SoMa and the Filipino neighborhood seems to have broken out at reddit. 

The 5M Project is huge and it's right smack in the middle of SoMa, which planners would like to turn into a Filipino Heritage District. What critics fear is that the project would raise the value of the land surrounding it, causing landlords to find ways to evict tenants to raise rents and landowners to consider more profitable projects. 

Sure, it may bring in construction jobs in the short term but what about after the project is built? Will they provide job-training to the remaining residents so that they can work in the financial and high-tech sector? Will they donate laptops to the students at Bessie Carmichael to inspire the children to loftier goals? Will there be any Filipinos left in 10 or 15 years?

Construction of the 5M Project should begin within a year. When the construction dust clears, there will be 400 luxury units and 241 below-market-rate units, most of it blocks away from the project site.

Once again, Filipinos are being forced to become the source of housing so the rich can live in San Francisco. Will SoMa suffer the same fate as Manilatown?

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Spa worker freezes to death in cryotherapy chamber

A FILIPINA/AMERICAN spa employee froze to death earlier this week in what appears to be an accident.

Chelsea Ake-Salvacion

The Henderson, Nevada salon where Chelsea Ake-Salvacion, 24, died in a cryotherapy chamber has been closed as her relatives are questioning the circumstances around her death.

The body of Ake-Salvacion, a native of Hawaii, appeared "frozen in solid ice" and had "blue" skin, family members told reporters.

Authorities said she was found Tuesday morning as employees arrived at the Rejuvenice day spa. Police believe that there was no foul play involved and are not launching a criminal investigation into the matter.

According to a police report obtained by ABC News, it appears that Ake-Salvacion had set the levels improperly on the machine, which uses extremely low temperatures to treat various ailments, and "froze to death." Treatments normally last a few minutes. It is believe that Abe-Salvation had been in the chamber for 10 hours.

The official coroner's report will not be released for six to eight weeks and the case is being investigated, but the initial report filed by the Las Vegas Police Department gives the most detailed insight so far into the situation.

The owners of Rejuvenice on Monday said they were “devastated by this accident” and are “voluntarily scrutinizing each and every one of our internal procedures to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.” 

“All Rejuvenice employees undergo very strict and rigorous training, our cryochambers are never locked, and guests and employees are always supervised during the entirety of the treatment to ensure their safety,” the company said Monday, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

Because Ake-Salvacion used the chamber for personal use outside of business hours,  Teri Williams, a Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) spokeswoman, said OSHA does not have jurisdiction over the case. 

Medical examiners told Abe-Salvacion's family that she likely died within "seconds," according to the Review-Journal.

Chelsea Abe-Salvacion was used in promotional material for the spa's cryotherapy treatments.