Asian/Americans will figure prominently in President Obama's final State of the Union address

TONIGHT'S State of the Union (SOTU) will be President Barack Obama's last and with nothing to lose and clearly fed up with the Republican efforts to stymie his proposals, could be one that most people will remember.

If you are familiar with previous State of the Union speeches, the President will often point to the gallery when trying to turn an important issue into a personal story. Seated around the First Lady Michelle Obama will be invited guests who will serve as the President's show-and-tell. This year is not exception. Among the guests will some who by their presence will raise the profile of Asian/Americans and their contributions to America: a formerly homeless veteran from Hawaii, a newly arrived Syrian refugee, a former U.S. soldier who is Muslim and an Indian/American tech engineer. 

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"I'M STILL in disbelief. We're leaving tomorrow, and I'm still in denial," Cynthia Dias, 64, a Vietnam-era Navy hospital corpsman and registered nurse said Jan. 10 to the Las Vegas Sun. 

Cynthia Dias

"I was pinching myself. Am I dreaming? Really? This Hawaiian in Las Vegas is going to see the White House and meet with President Obama and his wife?" she said in astonishment.

Dias served during the Vietnam War on a hospital ship treating wounded soldiers.
"There were so many amputees I was helping when they came in, one after another," she said. "When you have helicopters dropping off wounded on a stretcher, you don't have time to think. You just go and do your job."

Dias said her "most impressionable moments" came later, however, when she was stationed stateside at Naval Air Station Lemoore, 30 miles south of Fresno, California.

"I had to go with the chaplain to tell families that a soldier had been killed in combat," she said. That alone was enough to trigger bouts later on with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Because of PTSD she had trouble holding on to a job. About a year ago, Dias says, she was able to move from a homeless shelter for women and children into a former Las Vegas motel that was renovated through private donations to provide 122 units of housing for veterans.

While staying in Veterans Village, residents like Dias get access to health care, job training and counseling. Now she is a volunteer helping veterans through their issues, help them receive assistance and eventually, stabilize them enough that they can stand on their own.

* * *

Satya Nadella

IMMIGRATION will most likely be a common thread throughout the SOTU citing the accomplishments of recent immigrants and children of immigrants. 

Satya Nadella is one such immigrant. Born in India, he is Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, a position he’s held since February 2014 at the company he joined in 1992.  

In September, the Microsoft announced a new $75 million effort to expand computer science education, including opportunities for engineers from Microsoft and other companies with teachers to team-teach computer science. 

Originally from Hyderabad, India, Satya received a master’s in computer science and a master’s in business administration from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and University of Chicago, respectively.

* * *

Refaai Hamo

IN CONTRAST, Refaai Hamo's journey to America was more treacherous. He and his family spent two years waiting for approval to go to the U.S. before arriving in Detroit on Dec. 18.

He had fled Syria after a missile fired by Syrian government forces destroyed the complex where he and his family lived, the White House said. Hamo’s wife, one of their daughters and five other family members perished.

In Turkey, Hamo was diagnosed with stomach cancer. After being granted refugee status in the United States, he and his children are now trying to build a new life in Troy, Michigan, a Detroit suburb.

* * *

Naveed Shah

NAVEED SHAH, a Muslim and former U.S. soldier, who was a child when his parents immigrated to the country from Pakistan. Shah joined the army in 2006 and served in Iraq.

The symbolism there is also unmistakable, at a time when Donald Trump, the front-running Republican presidential candidate, has fanned anti-Muslim feelings among some Americans, proposing to temporarily ban all Muslims from the country.

* * *

In case someone doesn't get the President's broad drift on the benefits of immigrants and their role in making America great, President Obama will also introduce Oscar Vazquez, who arrived as a child in the United States before voluntarily returning to Mexico as a young adult and struggling to finally obtain legal status in the United States, will underline Obama’s support for putting millions of the undocumented on a path to citizenship.

* * *

STICK AROUND for the Republican rebuttal to Obama's farewell SOTU, it will be delivered by Nikki Haley, the Indian/American governor of South Carolina. 

Gov. Nikki Haley

Haley was born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa in Bamberg, South Carolina, on January 20, 1972, to an Indian Sikh family. Her parents, Ajit Singh Randhawa and Raj Kaur Randhawa, are immigrants from Amritsar District, Punjab, India. Her parents originally immigrated to Canada and then immigrated to the U.S., a roundabout, but well-known path by immigrants who to want to forego the long waiting period for most immigrants from Asian countries. 

Last summer, Haley received national attention when she advocated for the removal of the Confederate flag from her state's capitol after a Euro/American terrorist gunned down  African American in a Charleston church prominently displayed his admiration for the secessionist banner on the Internet. The move gained her respect from both Democrats and Republicans.

In contrast to the GOP candidates running for President, she may appear as a moderate, but everything is relative. However, the wannabes have moved so far to the radical right, that Haley's positions (she's for a more restricted immigration policy and against allowing Syrian refugees into South Carolina) are still far to the right.

Perhaps, the fact that she is from a religious and ethnic minority and a woman, the GOP hopes to appear more inclusive to counter the largely anti-immigrant, anti-woman positions taken by the frontrunners for the Republicans' presidential candidates.

The State of the Union will air live from various television stations, at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Sports fan Seiji Ozawa at the Kennedy Center Honors

SEIJI OZAWA is a Red Sox fan. Who would have thought ... that interests as divergent as the all-American pastime and composer Johann Sebastian Bach could be found in a single individual?

After 29 years conducting the Boston Symphony, it makes sense. The Japanese/American conductor is also a fan of the New England Patriots.

The legendary conductor, 79, was honored three weeks ago at the Kennedy Center Honors event in Washington D.C. but the occasion was aired only last night (Dec. 29) on CBS. If you get a chance, you should view it. It was a whale of a show! It made me so proud to be American.

RELATED: Seiji Ozawa Receives Kennedy Center Honors

Ozawa's multiple interviews gave a glimpse of the revered conductor as a regular guy with a wide range of interests and who has lived an extraordinary life. It took place on the red carpet prior to the formal ceremonies and performances. He touches on why, instead of pursuing a career as a pianist, he became a conductor, (ironically because of a sports-related injury). 

He finds time to come out of retirement to occasionally conduct orchestras around the globe.

To honor Ozawa, close friend  cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed Tchaikovsky's "Andante Cantabile." Ma, who was similarly honored in 2011, performs with such "soul." 

Ozawa's fellow 2015 inductees included director George Lucas, actresses Rita Moreno and Cecily Tyson and songwriter Carole King.

For more Asian/American & Pacific Islander news, read AsAm News.

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A group of 10-year-olds takes on global warming

EVER fry some lumpia or spring rolls and then wonder what to do with a pan full of cooking oil? A group of 10-year olds from Westerly, Rhode Island, came up an answer so simple you wonder why it isn't being duplicated across the country.

In a world full of cynicism and negativity, it is easy to forget that we try to improve the current environment so our children will not have to refight the same battles for justice,  equality and opportunity.

Too often we forget to highlight the young people themselves who have not been tainted by the slights of ignorance and arrows of discrimination.

Here's a story that reminds us that perhaps we worry too much and our children will be just fine.

In fifth grade, Cassandra Lin learned that if the world's addiction to fossil fuels continues, it's only a matter of time before her entire town would be underwater. (When you use carbon-emitting energy like we do, that can happen.)

"My next step was to rally my classmates to action," said Cassandra. "I got together with a group of my friends and we formed a community service team dedicated to helping the community and environment at the same time.'

"What could we, eight ten-year-olds, do to help solve this issue? We already knew that global warming could be slowed down by replacing fossil fuels with alternative energies, such as biodiesel." 

Following this, we visited the Energy Solutions Expo at the University of RI, where we found that biodiesel could be produced from waste cooking oil.

Cassandra Lin

"What finally brought us to a revelation was an article in the local paper' she said. "The article was about a local charity in our area called the WARM (Westerly Area Rest and Meals) Center, which had initiated a campaign titled 'One Dollar Makes A Difference', in which residents donated $1 each week to go towards emergency heating assistance. We were astonished by this realization – people in our own community were struggling to heat their homes in our harsh New England winters. Surely, we thought, we could help these needy families. 

"And then, a solution came to us. This solution became Project TGIF – Turn Grease Into Fuel.", said Cassandra, now a teenager

“We kind of thought, 'This is a kid's project,' you know," said Jason Lin, Cassandra's father. "'It will probably last a year or two the most.'"

That was seven years ago. The kids that started it all are seniors in high school and making plans for college. The project and its members have received numerous international awards and recognition.

Their little project is now warming the homes of about 400 families. 

Since its launch, Project TGIF has been incredibly successful both in terms of combating climate change and helping those in need. Through partnerships with 132 (!) restaurants, they've recycled enough cooking oil to offset 3 million pounds of CO2 emissions, according to the EPA's estimations.

The lesson here is: Don't tell young kids that they're too young to make a difference. They have a bigger stake in preserving their planet and ensuring a livable future than us adults. 

For more news about Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders, link to AsAm News.

What's up with Jeremy Lin's hair?

Jeremy Lin's hair-dos and don'ts have evolved through the years.

SO, ... what can you say about Jeremy Lin's hair?

The hair style sported by Jeremy Lin that caught GQ's attention.

How a man wears his hair says a lot about the guy, so they say. I used to believe that.

We all go through "phases"  in our tonsorial life. I went through several hairstyles in my attempt to bring attention to myself. From the "good boy" look with lots of pomade, rebellious Sal Mineo style with lots of pomade, California relaxed surfer style, the modified "mod" Beatle-like cut, long past the collar, my "adult" look with lots of mousse, eventually resorting to the embarrassing comb-over and, finally, to my current style, which is shaved. (Which, by the way, attracts too much attention from airport security. Just saying!) It all got to be too much.

Jeremy, the only Chinese/American player in the NBA, is getting a lot of attention these days because he changes his hair so often. He has even generated some scorn in GQ, which struggled with what to call his latest style. Man-bun? Top-Knot? Samurai? Or, as some have speculated, a modern-day version of the pig-tail worn by Chinese coolies in the 19th century.

His hair style hasn't changed his style of play, which some say is reckless abandon or daring. His play generates almost as many adjectives as hair style.

RELATED: Jeremy Lin opens up about race

I think Jeremy's changing hair is - in a way - his attempt to counter stereotypes. It's his own private joke on a society that wants to pigeonhole him. 

The native of the San Francisco Bay Area talked about the racial bias he's encountered as a professional baskeball player and the stereotypes he's had to disprove over and over again: can't jump, not fast enough, can't shoot, not aggressive, He's been defying stereotypes his whole life. His hair is just another way of dismantling the unathletic-Asian stereotype that has been imposed on him - from the height of LInsanity to his current team,  the Charlotte Hornets - there's a lot we can learn from his story.

Jeremy Lin should be able to wear his hair any darn way he wants to.

UPDATED: Since this post was written, Jeremy Lin wrote an essay in the Oct. 3, 2017 issue of The Players' Tribune about his most recent hair style.

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Campaign launched: Asian/Americans #NotTheSame

AS ASIANS, we've all had to contend with the image that most Americans have for us. Even worse, they can't tell if we are Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Cambodian or any of the other 48 or more ethnicities originating in Asia that inevitably leads to that question we've all hear: "What are you?" or, "Where are you from?" which leads to the dreaded follow-up query, "Where are you REALLY from?" 

Or, they confuse you with another Asian co-worker, or they assume that we're all engineering or math students, or believe that we're united on all issues, or they think we're all alike.

Not only do we have to do something extraordinary to stand out, or assume the personality traits that are he complete opposite of the stereotypes assigned to Asians; instead of being safe, we take unnecessary risks; we laugh too loud at an unfunny joke; we tip higher than the server deserves; we drink more than we should; we drive too fast an aggressive; we don't raise our hand in class even though we might know the answer and so on, and so on.

And then, there's that darn model minority myth that hangs over all of us like a dark cloud.

To break through that cloud, a light is trying to leak through. The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund with the partnership of a score of other agencies serving the AAPI community will begin a month-long campaign this December to raise awareness about the varied — and often unheard — stories of struggles experienced by members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

The mission of #NotTheSame is to raise awareness and to counter the "model minority" myth that assumes all young Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders are successful and have unlimited access to college and opportunities. This campaign is inspired by the unheard AAPI stories of homelessness, poverty, refugee struggles, bullying and prejudice.

The above video was created by the Jubilee Project. A 30-second version  will air on Comcast and NBC affiliates during the month, but it will be mainly a campaign waged online and on social media. About 30 young Asian American and Pacific Islanders were asked to share their stories for the video on how the words they would hear growing up affected them. Share the video and/or join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by using #NotTheSame.

Some of the young people whose stories were featured in the video.

Fades & Fadeaways: Filipino/American behind the clippers of NBA stars

Jay R. Mallari, barber of the NBA's MVP, in his L.A. shop working on a customer.

HERE'S to Filipino barbers:

Growing up in a Filipino/American neighborhood in a California suburb, a neighbor who used to be a barber in the Philippines set up a barber chair in his garage.

That's where all the neighborhood men and boys would go for their haircuts. The smell of aftershave and pomade and talcum power, the leather barber's chair - it was a biweekly visit to a man's environment. wherec conversation would center about the San Francisco Giants, the high school football team or somebody's upcoming birthday party, christening, Bataan Day observances or whatever social occasion that the close-knit Filipino/American community would be preparing for.

The experience was an integral part of my childhood; a rite of passage for all the young boys, to take part and be accepted into the realm of men. The ritual was comforting in a way, providing a brief respite from the environment where we were looked at as strangers and foreigners; a world where the Filipino/American WWII veterans who lived in the neighborhood were "allowed" to buy the modest homes by the white realtors.

I continued going to the garage/barber shop well into my teens but eventually, the old man retired. His barber's chair disappeared from the garage. That chapter in my life ended when my family moved to a newer neighborhood across town - the first Filipino family to move to the "white" part of town. But that's another story.

The memories of haircuts in the cool, dark garage came flooding back to me as I viewed the video below about a Filipino/American barber who started out cutting hair in his garage in Vallejo, California. As a kid, Jay R. Mallari wanted a pair of Nike Jordan shoes and he took cutting his friends' hair to raise the money.

RELATED: The Warriors' Asian connection

He has built his fundraiser into a career. "It's about relationships," Mallari says. "I have 30 minutes to gain a customer's trust."

Nowadays, he is flown from his Los Angeles barbershop to the Bay Area to cut the National Basketball League's most exciting player, Stephan Curry. Among his tips might be tickets to a Golden State Warriors game.

Before Curry's 5-country trip to Asia last off season, he taught the league's MVP how to say "Salamat po!"

"Manila won't know what hit them," responds Curry.

As an added bonus, I included a clip of Mallari cutting Curry's hair at his home during which Curry's wife make them a fruit drink. Mallari orders mango, of course.

Curry's home in a rich Bay Area suburb is a far cry from what I remember as a young boy, but I wonder if he will remember his haircuts in the same vein as I value the hazy, dreamy memories of the past.

FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH: White House celebrates Filipino American History Month

'STAND UP AND BE PROUD TO BE PINOY"

Filipino American Trailblazers at the White House on Sept. 30, from left to right: Cristeta Comerford, White House Executive Chef, Apl.de.ap, co-founder of the Black Eyed Pease; Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura, singer; Geena Rocero, model/founder of Gender Proud; Jo Koy, comedian; Ronnie del Carmen, co-director at Pixar Animation Studios and moderator Billy Dec, member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA proclaimed October as Filipino American Heritage Month. He invited prominent Filipino Americans to the a conference at the White House.

"Generations of Filipino Americans have lent their unique voices to the vibrant diversity of origins, cultures and communities, that make  American what it is," said Obama in a statement read at the White House event, which hosted the event for the first-time, a history-making moment in itself.

“Seventy years ago, the United States and our allies overcame forces of tyranny and oppression that threatened not only the Pacific but the entire world—a victory made possible in part by thousands of Filipino-Americans who fought for our nation but who for far too long were denied the compensation they had earned,” the President said.

"Fifty years ago, courageous farm workers in Delano helped bring about progress that would forever change the labor movement," he said, "both within the Filipno-American community and for our country as a whole."

“You know, it’s a good indicator that you’ve arrived when you don’t only have your own month but that the White House is saying they want to celebrate it, too,” said Nani Coloretti, the keynote speaker who is the highest ranking Filipino-American in the Obama administration. Coloretti is deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Its important to acknowledge your roots, said the Maui-born and raised Coloretti. Her grandfather was a labor organizer in the sugar cane industry.

Nani Coloretti

The Filipino American National Historical Society announced that the theme of this year’s celebration would be “1965: Tipping Point for the Filipino American Community” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of three momentous events, the organization’s national president Mel Orpilla said. In 1965, the Immigration and Nationality Act was passed and Filipino farm workers (Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and many more manongs) lead the Delano Grape Strike. Additionally, at that time, Filipino American men were either enlisting in the military or fighting in the Vietnam War.

The three-hour event at the White House included a panel of "trailblazers." Its worth your time to listen to the hour-long video below. There are lots of tidbits, information and inspiration from these standouts in their respective professions. 

“As a community we need to collaborate, reach out, and not be ashamed to represent our culture,” Apl said.

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POPE FRANCIS: Filipina/American is music director for the Madison Square Garden Mass

The music director for the Friday Papal Mass is Dr. Jennifer Pascual, who is also in charge of the music at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. 

OVERSEEING THE MUSIC for the Papal Mass that will be held in Madison Square Garden this Friday, Sept. 25, is a Filipina/American – Dr. Jennifer Pascual, the Director of Music of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The religious ceremony is expected to attract 20,000 to the sports arena, home of basketball's New York Knicks and hockey's New York Rangers.

Dr. Pascual was appointed Director of Music at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City in 2003. She is the first woman to hold this position, one of the most prestigious sacred music appointments in the United States.

Aside from directing music at St. Patrick’s, a center of Catholic life in America, Jennifer is also host of the popular radio program “Sounds from the Spires” on the Catholic Channel 159. She currently teaches and serves as Director of Music at the St. Joseph’s Seminary and College in Yonkers, New York.

Born in Los Angeles, Jennifer proudly said that her parents are both from Manila and met in California. Her father is a U.S. Navy veteran while her mother is a retired nurse.

Dr. Jennifer Pascual

Jennifer has an extensive background in music. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Organ Performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY where she studied with David Higgs and taught undergraduate theory courses. She holds a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the Mannes College of Music in New York City where she studied with Nina Svetlanova and studied organ privately with Mc Neil Robinson. She received the Bachelor of Music Degrees in Piano and Organ Performance, magna cum laude, and Music Education from Jacksonville University in Florida where she taught both organ and piano in the University’s Continuing Education Department. She was on the artistic staff of the Boys Choir of Harlem, Inc. from 1994 to 2003. 

Dr. Pascual is a member of the American Guild of Organists; New York Archdiocesan Music Commission, currently serving as its chair; Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians, having previously served on the Steering Committee; Liturgical Organists Consortium; EastWest Organists; and National Association of Pastoral Musicians, where she serves on the National Board and is a frequent recitalist and clinician at national conventions. 

She was a featured soloist in the 2004 and 2012 International Bamboo Organ Festival in Manila and is a recipient of the Paderewski Medal and Theodore Presser Award. Jennifer has performed in Austria, Canada, Italy, Russia, the Philippines, and throughout the United States. 

This is not her first Papal Mass. In April 2008, she had the privilege of overseeing all of the liturgical music for His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to New York in addition to conducting music for the Masses at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Yankee Stadium and the Ecumenical Service at St. Joseph’s Church. Two weeks later, she conducted the St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir for President George W. Bush at The White House for the National Day of Prayer. In December 2008, she named a Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great in recognition of service to the Church. She also conducted in performance twice during that Christmas season at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.

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Ellen Pao refuses settlement but drops discrimination lawsuit vs. Silicon Valley firm

Ellen Pao

AN ASIAN/AMERICAN woman's historic lawsuit that exposed Silicon Valley's dark underbelly is over.

In a statement released yesterday (Sept. 10) to Re/Code, Ellen Pao said she would not pursue an appeal against her former employer, the storied venture capital firm of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Her suit claimed gender discrimination and retaliation from her bosses.

Pao lost the case in a jury trial in San Francisco earlier this year and was weighing her next steps.

“I think I brought these important issues to the forefront of the conversation, but the online aggression has had a toll on me and my family,” she said. “That so many people heard what I had to say, against all that was brought to bear against me, is a testament to the depth of the problem related to women and tech … [But] I have gone as far as I can go and cannot commit the resources and time that would be needed to continue.”

Pao's full statement.

As part of the end of the lawsuit, Pao said she would pay Kleiner Perkins close to $276,000 in legal fees, which carried a 10 percent annual interest. But Kleiner had previously said it would waive those fees if she dropped the appeal, so it is not clear if Pao will be on the hook for those costs that included witness fees.

Pao did not settle with Kleiner Perkins because she didn’t want to be prevented from speaking about the case, she said. "Settlement might have provided me with financial benefits, but only at the great cost of silence," Pao said. "I refuse to be silent on these important issues."

That means she’s still liable for $276,000 in legal fees, though Kleiner previously said the firm would waive the fees if Pao dropped her appeal.

Still, Pao underscored that the court system in California is stacked against her and others who claim discrimination against their employers. In California, plaintiffs must prove intent, a very difficult process, especially if the discriminatory processes are institutionalized as the way of doing business. 

RELATED: Three Asian/American women challenge Silicon Valley bias

“I think it is wrong that employees have to pay in this situation, but I simply cannot afford the risks of more costs to fight a firm with massive PR and legal resources,” she said. “The court system is not set up to create an even playing field.”

Kleiner has asserted since it won the trial earlier this year that Pao had no grounds for appeal, which Pao did not agree with. In a statement, she said: “To be clear, Kleiner and I have not reached any agreement to settle this matter. Settlement might have provided me with financial benefits, but only at the great cost of silence.”

naisaglobal graphic

Kleiner Perkins issued this statement: “We are glad to put this trial behind us. There is no question diversity in the workplace is an important issue. KPCB remains committed to supporting women and minorities in venture capital and technology both inside our firm and within our industry.”

The high tech industry's problem with diversity has been a hot topic in boardrooms since they released their workforce numbers a few years ago. What the records of their hiring practices showed was an overall lack of Latinos and African/Americans and the small number of high-level Asian/American executives and managers even though Asian/Americans make up a large portion of their workforce. 

"I have a request for all companies: Please don’t try to silence employees who raise discrimination and harassment concerns," Pao wrote in her op-ed. "Instead allow balanced and complete perspectives to come out publicly so we can all learn and improve. I and many others are eager to hear more stories being shared by women and minorities. I turned down offers to settle so I can keep telling mine. We need to keep telling our stories and educating people on how it can be that women and minorities form such a small fraction of our investor base, our tech workforce and our leadership."

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BuzzFeed beefs up its Filipino content

TWO RECENT hires by BuzzFeed gives you an idea why that site is so popular with Asians, Asian/Americans and other minorities.

Last month, Advertising Age, noted BuzzFeed's successful strategy of targeting ethnic groups with their very specific content:

"Asian-Americans have quietly overtaken Hispanics as the fastest-growing multicultural segment in the U.S., albeit from a much smaller base, and brands are taking notice. Combined with the fact that the median household income for Asian-Americans surpasses that of the total U.S. median income by 28%, you have a highly lucrative segment that demands to be courted.

"By publishing content aimed at specific ethnic groups such as "22 Signs You Grew up With Immigrant Chinese Parents" and "21 Annoying Comments Filipinos Are Tired of Hearing," BuzzFeed has become a destination for Asian-American voices that are fresh, funny and truthful." In order to make that strategy work, BuzzFeed knew it had to create relevant content.

In 2013, while in college, Matt Ortile started out as an editorial fellow and summer staff writer for BuzzFeed. He was given free rein to talk about his Filipino identity.

Matt Ortile

Today, Ortile, at the ripe, old age of 23, has been given the role of Buzzfeed Philippines editor.

"It's quite casual, but it's been a lot of fun producing Filipino content for Filipino audiences," he said.

But for Ortile, writing BuzzFeed Philippines  #Asianallows him to stay close to his Filipino roots.

"How I dealt with being someone of color, someone who is gay, it was just really sticking to what I knew -- finding a home in that, really learning to love that part of myself," he added.

A week before Ortile's appointment, BuzzFeed hired Meredith Talusan as its first openly transgender writer assigned to write about issues concerning that community.

EDITOR'S NOTE: In earlier versions of this post, a picture of Manish Dayal was misidentified as Matt Ortile. We apologize for the error and any confusion it may have caused.

"My goal is to examine transgender issues for BuzzFeed in dynamic and multifaceted ways," Talusan told The Huffington Post. "I think BuzzFeed is an amazing fit because they also publish in many genres, and I'm really excited to see how I can utilize as many of them as I can to give readers a really deep picture of what it means to be trans in the U.S. and the world today, while still finding ways to have fun."

Talusan, whose background is in academic and creative writing, said she believes in tackling serious issues with a certain level of humor -- what she calls "balancing social commitment with self-care."

BuzzFeed LGBT Editor Shannon Keating told HuffPost:

Meredith Talusan

"Meredith's particular worldview — as someone who grew up in the Philippines, as an academic, as a trans woman well-connected to the world of trans advocacy — will enable her to take on a wide variety of projects," Keating said.

The Philippines is a viral heaven for BuzzFeed. While only 4 out of 10 Filipinos are internet users, the Philippines ranks No. 1, with 6.3 hours, when it comes to the number of hours spent using the internet per day. The U.S. ranks 12th.

When it comes to number of hours spent on social media daily, the Philippines is tied with Argentina for the top spot.

Buzzfeed's Philippine-related stories have gone viral, many reaching more than a million hits.

"Anytime a Filipino topic comes up on a global platform, one of the first comments will always be, I'm proud to be Pinoy right? You can't help but feel so happy and proud to see your motherland on a huge, huge global stage," Ortile said.

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Bruno Mars asked to do Super Bowl 50 half-time show

In his gold lemay jacket and looking like a 50s doo-wop group two years ago at the Super Bowl 48, Filipino American superstar Bruno Mars and his band was asked to perform at Superbowl 50 in 2016. 

SUPER BOWL 50 isn't until February 2016 and the San Francisco Bay Area is already getting ready for the Big Event. Venues are being constructed in the Bay Area, hotels and tourist venues are sprucing up and law enforcement is still trying to figure out how to avoid the inevitable traffic jams.

For the Super Bowl’s golden anniversary, the NFL has asked a big name to return to the stage. According to Entertainment Weekly sources, Bruno Mars has been offered the headliner spot for the Super Bowl 50 halftime show. He would also be the "curator" of the half-time show, which means he can determine what other entertainers he wants on stage with him. It should be noted that neither Mars or his representatives have confirmed the singer's acceptance.

Bruno Mars started his previous Super Bowl
show on the drums

The pop star previously fronted the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show in 2014 with a guest appearance from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Before being usurped by Katy Perry’s turn at this year’s big game, Mars’ performance was the most-watched halftime show ever. This year, Mars’ profile rose even higher thanks to Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk,” on which the 29-year-old Hawaii native contributed vocals. (He also participated in a fake Twitter beef with Ed Sheeran.)

The Hawaii-born Filipino/American entertainer is at the height of his popularity. His video of "Uptown Funk" won MTV's Video Music Award as the Best Male Video performance two weeks ago.

I hope those out-of-owners planning on attending the NFL's Championship game realize that the 49ers' almost-spanking, brand new Levi Stadium is in Santa Clara, not San Francisco. When Taylor Swift had a recent concert there, Uber rides were costing $150 one-way from SF to the Santa Clara venue.

Below, watch Mars energize the TV audience and those in attendance during his half-time performance in 2013.

Using broken English, Trump mocks Asian negotiators: "We want deal"

NO! NO! NO! He didn't say that, did he? Did he? Unfortunately, he did.

At an Iowa campaign stop, businessman Donald Trump, frontrunner in a crowded Republican field may as well have said "Ching, chong!" Author of the book, "Art of the Deal." Trump played out an imaginary negotiation with Asians if he was elected President.

The Mocker

"Negotiating with Japan, negotiating with China, when these people walk into the room, they don't say, 'Oh hello, how's the weather, so beautiful outside, isn't it lovely? How are the Yankees doing? Oh they are doing wonderful, great,' " Trump said in his speech. Using broken English, he continued, "They say, 'We want deal.'"

Unbelievable! In my entire life, I have never seen a presidential candidate be so blatant and unapologetic with his racism against Asians.

“Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen Asian Americans portrayed as the perpetual foreigner – dismissing our strong American roots, ignoring our contributions and treating us as expendable,”  said Carl Hum of Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

In the last few days, with the "anchor baby" controversy and now this, Republicans have demonstrated how much they value the Asian/American vote. The answer is: Not much!

Anchor babies: The blowback continues

YOU KNOW you're in trouble when Donald Trump starts making fun of you for something you said. Trump wasted no time turning his attention on Jeb Bush, his rival for the GOP presidential nomination.

"In a clumsy move to get out of his 'anchor babies' dilemma, where he signed that he would not use the term and now uses it, he blamed ASIANS," Trump tweeted. Trump then wrote, a few minutes later, "Asians are very offended that JEB said that anchor babies applies to them as a way to be more politically correct to Hispanics. A mess!" 

For once, he was right.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush tries to clear up his controversial statements about "anchor babies."

Bush, claimed birthright citizenship was “the specific case of fraud being committed where there’s organized efforts–and frankly it’s more related to Asian people–coming into our country.” This follows his earlier statement that the term "anchor baby," a derogatory term used to describe the children of undocumented immigrants, was not offensive. In his attempt to clarify his statement, he also said he is NOT for the abolishment of the 14th Amendment and the use of the birthright citizenship clause, which he called "noble."

Despite his awkward attempt to mollify the Latino American community by claiming he meant in reference to Asians. It didn't take long to get a reaction. Asians/Americans almost blew up the social media networks talking about Bush's statement. One student, Redondo High (California) student Jason Fong, started #MyAmericanStory which has taken off in the Twitterverse. AngryAsianMan.com and Reappropriate.com among others chimed in with scathing critiques.

The Organization of Chinese Associations – Asian Pacific American Advocates issued a statement condemning Bush’s comments.

“Our immigrant communities have consistently been painted as an invasion force and the use of the term ‘anchor baby’ is a clear example of this,” said Michael W. Kwan, OCA National President. 

“Governor Bush has now doubled down on his original insensitivity with the use of the derogatory term ‘Anchor Baby’ by characterizing ‘Asian People’ as a whole as non-citizens looking to take advantage of the system. This faulty rhetoric makes millions of law-abiding Asians a target for anti-immigrant and xenophobic attitudes, which will help spread the myth that Asian Americans are somehow less American than white Americans.”

Lawmakers in the 48-member Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) are “strongly condemning” former Bush for linking the derogatory term “anchor babies” to Asian immigrants.

On Monday, when told in Spanish that many Latinos consider the term “anchor babies” to be an offensive slur, Bush defended himself, saying that his critics should “chill out.” The GOP presidential candidate added, “Frankly, it’s more related to Asian people coming into our country, having children, and taking advantage of a noble concept, which is birthright citizenship.”

Bush’s comments come at a time when the Republican presidential candidates are taking on more extreme and anti-immigrant positions to describe undocumented immigrants. Donald Trump was the first candidate to fully embrace the term “anchor baby,” while Bush has maintained that it isn’t offensive and he’ll keep using it until someone gives him a better word.

Several members of Congress aren’t pleased that Bush is trying to downplay the offensive nature of the term, which suggests that undocumented immigrant parents use their U.S. born children as an “anchor” to prevent them from being deported, by pivoting to the Asian community.

“As the representative of the only Asian American majority district in the continental United States, and as a proud American of Japanese descent, I strongly condemn these statements,” CAPAC Chair Emeritus and Rep. Mike Honda told ThinkProgress in an emailed statement. Honda and his family were thrown into a Japanese internment camp while his father served in the U.S. military during World War II.

Honda also stated that he considered the language to be a “slur against all immigrants” and that “The 14th Amendment of our Constitution guarantees citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States, and we cannot stand by and let anyone diminish that right.”

“In Silicon Valley – one of the most diverse areas of our country – we celebrate people from all backgrounds and their contributions to our nation. As the representative of the only Asian American majority district in the continental United States, and as a proud American of Japanese descent, I strongly condemn these statements.”


Rep. Mark Takano of Riverside, CA considers Bush’s remarks to be “offensive, whether he is referencing Hispanic Americans or Asian Americans.” He emailed statement to ThinkProgress, saying, “This type of language is being carelessly used by not just Governor Bush, but by a number of Republican presidential nominee front runners. The GOP needs to realize this is not about being politically correct. It is about treating American citizens with the respect they deserve.”

“No matter which ethnic group you’re referring to, ‘anchor babies’ is a slur that stigmatizes children from birth,” CAPAC Chair and Rep. Judy Chu said in a statement. Chu is the first Chinese/American women elected to Congress. “We need a conversation that leads to a solution on visas and naturalization and seriously considers how we can integrate the 11.5 million undocumented immigrants already living and contributing here. All that is accomplished through talk of anchor-babies — be they from Latin America, Asia, Europe, or Africa — is to use xenophobic fears to further isolate immigrants.”

“It doesn’t matter which community the term is applied to,” Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, a California Latina, issued an emailed statement, “Throwing around dehumanizing insults is unworthy of those seeking our nation’s highest office. ”

Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who came to the United States as a young child, tweeted tersely: “Really Jeb? This is still remarkably offensive and out of touch, regardless of which group you’re referring to.”

RELATED: Anchor babies: Bush targets Asians

The so-called “birth tourism” to which Bush tried to divert attention — in which immigrant women travel to the United States to give birth so their babies will have U.S. citizenship — does happen, though infrequently and shouldn't be used to muddle his original reference to anchor babies.

A  2009 Pew Research Center study said that about 350,000 children are born to families where at least one parent is undocumented. However, 61 percent of those parents arrived in the U.S. before 2004, 30 percent arrived from 2004 and 2007, and only 9 percent arrived from 2008 and 2010. U.S. citizens can only sponsor their parents at age 21, two decades of uncertainty for undocumented parents who could still be flagged for deportation. 

Asian immigrants in the United States have long been characterized as an invasive force or a menace to whites. Laws were passed denying citizenship was directed at Asians in the Chinese Exclusion Acts of the 19th century. Anti-Asian laws forbidding land ownership and inter-racial marriage were in the books up to the mid-20th century.* No matter how long we've been in America, Asian Americans have always been seen as foreigners, strangers and outsiders.

*UPDATE: Earlier versions of this post said that the Chinese were the only people denied U.S. citizenship. The U.S. Supreme Court's Dredd Scott Decision denied citizenship to anyone of African ancestry - free man or slave.

Bush's gaff does nothing to correct that impression of foreigness among the fearful followers of Bush and the rest of the GOP presidential wannabes.

Ironincally, several years back, Bush warned the Republicans to engage the Asian American electorate. He said in 2013:

"Asian-Americans are actually the canary in the coal mine, I believe, for Republicans ... If we have lost connectivity to emerging voters, not because of our policies so much, but because we are not engaged in issues of importance to them, then I think we pay a price."

Right, Mr. Bush.

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