Steph Curry's barber apologizes for slighting Philippine flag

ABS/CBN

Filipino American barbers trimmed hair during the Golden State Warriors' Filipino Heritage Night.

Golden State Warrior star Steph Curry's personal barber issued an apology this week for unintentionally misusing the Philippine flag.

The incident occurred during Filipino Heritage Night earlier this month at the Oakland-based NBA World Champ's Oracle Arena.

Mallari had gathered together a group of Filipino barbers in the San Francisco Bay Area -- members of the National Filipino Barbers Association -- to give free haircuts to basketball fans. Pictures and videos of the unique event were transmitted on social media. Mallari was taken aback by the online blowback.

He had used replicas of the Philippine flag as a cape to protect his customers from the hair being trimmed. Filipinos were not amused.

Mallari took to Facebook to issue an apology and statement citing that his intentions were to showcase Filipino pride at the Warriors’ heritage night. He admits he did not know that according to the Philippine constitution, the flag cannot be used as drapery, nor as a costume or uniform.

INSTAGRAM

J.R. Mallari with his most famous client.

“I just kept reading and reading and by the time you know it, I understood that it is in the law that you cannot use the flag that way. And it so dear to my heart I know that I don’t ever want to disrespect the Filipino culture,” he told Balintang America.

Mallari told the The Filipino Channel Balitant America, an American affiliate of the Philippines' ABS-CBN network, that he collected all the capes and has stored it.

“I will not use at any other event in respect to what that means to our culture. So where those capes are going to be? It’s going to be in a memory in a lot of us, especially those attending that event.”

Through the years, Mallari has built a special relationship with Warriors guard Curry. He often goes to Curry's home to give the star player a hair trim. (See below)

Despite the unexpected reaction, Mallari says he is pleased for the opportunity to showcase Filipino American talent and presence.

“After the event, I was really, really excited. I was enthused. I was just motivated. So I was on a real good high in terms of my emotions. And it just caught me by surprise. I’m not, in any way, angry at all,” said the Bay Area-based barber.

“Even during these conversations online my goal is to continue to connect, to continue to build relationships, to be more aware of my culture. And as far as the National Filipino Barber Association and everyone who has participated they’re more aware of what’s going on.”

__________________________________________________________________________

Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy joins NBA star Steph Curry dancing the Nae Nae

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

WHO WOULD have thought that U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy knew how to to the Nae Nae?

He demonstrated his moves last week with NBA All-Star guard Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and students at Manzanita Community School in east Oakland, California as part of the basketball team's partnership with Kaiser Permanente and Playworks to promote fitness and health.

Born in Great Britain, Murthy, 38, is the first Asian/American appointed to the position of Surgeon General. He was approved for a four-year term as the 19th Surgeon General of the United States in Dec. 2014 and sworn in six months later. A physician at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and a teacher at Harvard Medical School, his nomination stalled in the Senate for more than year, mostly because his belief that gun violence is a public health issue had enraged the National Rifle Association.

Watch the Surgeon General's dance moves.

After achieving over one million push-ups and sit-ups during the one-week Winter Get Fit Challenge period, the 240 students heard from Murthy, who as Surgeon General and founder of the nonprofit Doctors for America, expressed his admiration for the students taking control of their health and encouraged them to continue being active and mindful of their bodies.

“It took my breath away to hear that you all completed one million sit-ups,” said Murthy. “That is an accomplishment you should all be proud of, and I encourage you all to keep challenging yourselves.”

Dr. Murthy is responsible for communicating the best available scientific information to the public regarding ways to improve personal and public health. He also oversees the operations of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, comprised of approximately 6,700 uniformed health officers who serve in nearly 800 locations around the world to promote, protect, and advance the health and safety of our nation and our world.

Dancing the Nae Nae is not a prerequisite for the job ... but, it helps.

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

###