Vanessa Hudgens' Philippine trip might be a propaganda ploy for Bong Bong Marcos

Vanessa Hudgens arrives in Manila.

Vanessa Hudgens, beware!  I'm not sure if Filipino American actress Hudgens is aware that her so-called documentary about her first visit to the Philippines is being directed by a Marcos propagandist. Instead of a documentary, it might turn out to be a commercial.

Paul Soriano, who is directing the documentary, is President Bong Bong Marcos' communication specialist and handled the PR for Marcos' presidential campaign. He also directed the new President's first State of the Nation Address.

"For me, if we can support our president it just means that our country will be better," says Soriano.

When Soriano was sworn-in in October last year as the Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications, the government press release explained:

“Soriano is tasked to advise the Chief Executive and assist departments and agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, on matters that will enhance their information dissemination programs and initiatives.”

“I’ll reach out. I read, and people message…people that I really respect…. We may have a lot of disagreements but maybe we can agree on one thing and let’s do that together…. For me, if we can support our president, it just means that our country will be better,” he added.

Film director Paul Soriano and Philippine President Bong Bong Marcos.

Soriano's connection to the son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos goes even deeper.

Soriano is related to the Philippines' First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. Additionally, both President Marcos and the First Lady were wedding sponsors or godparents to Soriano and his wife, TV personality and YouTuber Toni Gonzaga. Gonzaga was also among Marcos’ top celebrity endorsers in 2022, according to Rappler, the online news outlet co-founded by Maria Ressa, who was targeted of President Rodrigo Duterte, Bong Bong Marcos' predecessor.

At a press conference in December of 2022, the presidential adviser on creative communication, said he will be rolling out ways to “creatively communicate what’s in the heart” Marcos, Jr.

Singer/actress Hudgens, whose popularity exploded for her part in the High School Musical franchise from  Disney Studios, landed in the Philippines Monday (Manila time), and was met at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by Soriano and other Department of Tourism officials.

When news about the proposed documentary was first reported, there was no mention about the connection to Marcos and the possibility that it would be used as a propaganda piece lauding the current administration.

Bong Bong Marcos, (aka Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.) who was elected last year, is the son of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos who with his wife, Imelda, ruled over the Philippines for two decades with an iron hand and enriched themselves with ill-gotten wealth. Some estimates assert that the Marcos family stole up to $30 billion from the Philippine people. Despite that dark legacy, using a campaign of lies, half-truths and misinformation, he won the election last year.

On Hudgens' schedule later this week is a "courtesy" visit to Malacanang Palace, the Philippine President's residence in Manila. 

The documentary will follow Hudgens as she visits the homeland of her mother. With her sister Stella and mother Gina, Hudgens will film in Manila and travel to Palawan, a popular tourist destination.

Don't be surprised if Bong Bong Marcos, or one of the other members of the Marcos family, makes an appearance in the Hudgens documentary.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Documentary will be made of Vanessa Hudgens’ first trip to the Philippines

Vanessa Hudgens and her mother, Gina.

Like many other Filipino Americans, actress Vanessa Hudgens is proud of her family roots. She will be traveling to the Philippines for the first time this month and her trip to her mother's homeland will be filmed and turned into a documentary.

The star of High School Musical and the three Princess Switch movies will be accompanied by her mother Gina Guangco-Hudgens and her younger sister Stella on what promises to be be an emotional journey of self-discovery as she meets her mother's family, visits the part of the Philippines where her mother is originally from.

"My mom is from the Philippines, and growing up, there weren't really that many women who looked like me and my mom and my family on screen. It’s so important to share all the different stories because America is a massive melting pot, [just like the] world," the Hudgens told Glamour UK.

The yet-to-be-named documentary will showcase her close relationship with her mother and family. The film is being produced and directed by Filipino filmmaker Paul Soriano.

“We are honored to work with Vanessa for this film project,” says Soriano. “It’s inspiring to note that with everything she has achieved in life, she wants to discover her Filipino roots and pay homage to her mother’s country. Hopefully, this opens doors for many more collaborations to come.”

Hudgen's mother immigrated to the US at the age of 25 and married Greg Hudgens, a firefighter who died in 2016. 

The singer-dancer-actress did her first feature in the film, Thirteen, but her breakout role as Gabriella Montez was in Disney's High School Musical series. 

Filming of the untitled documentary is slated for later his month and so far, will include shooting in Manila and the island of Palawan.

In the past, Hudgens has expressed the hope that her mother's immigrant story is worthy enough to be made into a movie. 

“I feel like ours is such a relatable story to so many women all over the world,” Hudgens said. “The more that we can share, the more we can lift each other up.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Holiday movies to cheer up the AAPI audience weary from the hate and pandemic

Filipina American Vanessa Hudgens stars, and stars, and stars in the Princess Switch movies
on Netflix. In case you're wondering, only the smiling one on the right is Filipina American.

It’s that time of year and Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders  need Christmas movies more than ever as relief from the hate and pandemic.

What with all the negativity that could affect the mental health of Asian Americans: anti-Asian hate incidents occurring around the nation, a mutating pandemic that keeps thwarting our scientists' best efforts (no thanks to the anti-vaxxers), a stubborn U.S. Senate who can't seem to overcome its partisanship depriving Americans of President's Biden's historic Build Back Better plan that could transform our society by helping the middle-class survive decades of corporate America's greed.

Who can blame anybody for wanting a little escapism? We can use some light fare offered by the seasonal holiday-themed movies that flood our entertainment platforms this time of year to take our minds off the events that could dampen our spirits.

Most of the offerings are romantic comedies, except for Harold and Kumar, which I included because of the stereotype-busting nature of its lead characters played by John Cho and Kai Penn.

Maybe you're a student home for the holidays or you're visiting family. It's cold outside and there's a fire in the fireplace and its time to curl up on the couch. You've earned it. So we've listed some of the movies that might appeal to Asian Americans and Pacific Islander audience who want to see casts that look like them.

Princess Switch, Princess Switch: Switch Again, Princess Switch: Romancing the Star:

It's Christmas so its time for Vanessa Hudgens appearing on Netflix. The three Princess Switch movies start as a variation of the "Prince and the Pauper" but throw in mistaken identities and love interests and its all harmless but enjoyable fun.  During the course of the trilogy, one of the three reveals her Philippines heritage. In the third film of the franchise, a third look-alike appears giving us more Vanessa.  The Princess Switch trilogy offers a healthy dose of charming, light-hearted, twin-swap fun and is delightful viewing for any hopeless romantic. The three movies are Available for streaming on Netflix.

Love Hard

Love Hard is a modern-day take on the Cyrano de Bergerac story, but instead of whispering sweet nothings to the would-be Lothario, it's a case of online catfishing. The film's outcome is predictable after the first five minutes but you can't help but root for the character played by Jimmy Yang (Crazy Rich Asians, Silicon Valley). The rom-com stars Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries) as Natalie, Jimmy O. Yang as Josh, the guy who catfished her, and Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever) as Tag, who Natalie thinks is her dream match. Also features Harry Shum Jr. and Charles Melton. The 2021 film can be streamed on Netflix. 

Nina Dobrev must choose between two Asian American guys in 'Love Hard.'

Last Christmas

the movie debuted in 2019 after Henry Golding shattered the Asian male stereotype in Crazy Rich Asians with his sexy, charming, leading-man handsome portrayal of the film's Nick Young. After that movie, it was easy for casting agents to cast him in similar roles. In Last Christmas, he plays the handsome, equally-charming leading man again in this romantic boy-meets-girl film inspired by George Michael's hit "Last Christmas." Playing opposite Golden is Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke, who portrays Kate, a frustrated Londoner who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. It also stars Michelle Yeoh. The chemistry between the two attractive actors definitely works. Golden's role is not race-specific, but ... hell, his Asian features are clear to see.

The Christmas Bow 

The Hallmark film debuted in 2020 and stars Lucia Macarelli. The Korean American is a professional violinist who acts, not an actress who plays the instrument. She plays Kate, a promising musician whose lifelong dream of playing in the Rocky Mountain Philharmonic is put on hold by an accident. Reconnecting with Patrick, an old family friend, and his young cousin Gavin (Kenneth Cummins, “The Road Home for Christmas”), while recovering at home during the Christmas holiday, she finds love in someone who believes in her.

A Sugar & Spice Holiday

The predominantly Asian cast includes Jacky Lai, who plays Suzie, a rising young architect, returns to her small hometown in Maine for Christmas, where her Chinese American family runs the local lobster bar. Following the death of her grandmother, who was a star baker in their community, Suzie is guilted into following in her footsteps by entering the local gingerbread house competition. Everybody's favorite AAPI father Tzi Ma plays Suzie's dad and Lillian Lim plays the mother. Love interest is Billy, played by Tony Giroux, whose grandparents are from China. Lots of culturally specific references and moments in the Lifetime production.

'Sugar and Spice' could allude to the Asian touches to this movie like this
Chinese American holiday feast.

Holly & Ivy

Holly & Ivy follows Nina, a woman who finds out her fatal illness has returned, and she won’t be able to care for her adoptive kids. Her neighbor, Janel Parrish plays her neighbor Melody and offers to take the kids – Holly (Sadie Coleman) and Ivy (Piper Rubio) – to stay at her home. Handsome contractor Adam, played by Jeremy Jordan is the love interest but it is the strong performances by Chinese American actress Parrish and Nichols help convey the close friendship between the two women. Add the engaging portrayals by the two kids and before you know it, you'll find yourself emotionally invested in the character-driven Hallmark movie. Available on Apple TV or Amazon Prime.

Chinese American actress Janel Parrish stars in 'Holly & Ivy'

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas 

Tired of rom-coms and want a little zaniness for the holidays? A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas is a 2011 American buddy stoner comedy film directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson and written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. The sequel to Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008), it is the third installment Harold & Kumar franchise, and stars John Cho, Kal Penn, and Neil Patrick Harris. The film follows estranged friends Harold Lee (Cho) and Kumar Patel (Penn) as they reunite to hunt for a Christmas tree. The characters created by Cho and Penn shatter the Asian nerd model minority stereotype, which I applaud heartily. The Harold and Kumar franchise launched the careers of  three actors  (including Neil Patrick Harris) who eventually become big stars. Join the irreverence on HBO Max and Prime.

John Cho, center and Kal Penn, right, are the central figures in this zany Christmas film.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

On Glamour's cover: The real Vanessa Hudgens

Glamour magazine chooses Vanessa Hudgens as its cover star for December.

In her interview, the Filipina American star talks about her long Hollywood career, her performance in the latest movie Tick, Tick ... Boom that is generating rave reviews and talk about awards and where she is now at age 33.

But two paragraphs in the Glamour interview stood out:

While Vanessa is understandably hesitant to talk too much about projects before they happen, there is one that she doesn’t mind putting out there: her own mother’s story of coming to the United States at the age of 25. “My mom is from the Philippines, and growing up there weren’t really that many women who looked like me and my mom and my family on screen,” she says. “It’s so important to share all the different stories because America is a massive melting pot, [just like the] world. There are so many different stories that need to be told so that we are exposed to them and can have more empathy towards different people.” Her hope is that her mother will write a book that Vanessa can one day turn into a film.

She continues: “As an immigrant, coming into the States and not knowing anyone, I can’t even imagine how difficult and challenging that is and what challenges she faced as a woman. And my father was a firefighter, so he was gone for a week and home for a week.” She says that while he was away, it was just her and her mom, Gina, until her younger sister, Stella – also an actor – came along. But at the time, her mother was finding her way in a new country with a young child. “I feel like that’s such a relatable story to so many women all over the world. The more that we can share, the more we can lift each other up.”

Vanessa Hudgens and her mother Gina.

READ the entire Glamour interview here.

With Hollywood producing so few roles that are Filipinos, she has been able to leverage her star status to make some of the roles she plays characters of Filipino descent with throwaway lines in her short-lived TV series Powerless ("I'm half-Filipino.") and one of the princesses in the Princess Switch trilogy ("My family is from the Philippines and we do hugs.").

Neither of the two roles were written as Filipino characters, but by the casting of Hudgens and I'm sure, at her suggestion, the writers were able to tailor the character to match Hudgens' real life ethnicity which she doesn't hesitate to proclaim. She doesn't want little Asian American kids growing up with no one on television who might look like them.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

Vannesa Hudgens apologizes for her blundering comments about coronavirus

Vanessa Hudgens interrupted her make-up totorial on Instagram to comment about COVID-19.

Self-quarantine is making some people a little batty, or at the very least, off their game. For example, consider Vanessa Hudgens.

Like many of us, the actress is heeding officials' suggestions by staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

She is usually adept in the use of her social media but Monday (March 16) she committed a grievious blunder when she gave the impression of shrugging off the medical warnings on the pandemic and its deadly consequences saying the deaths were, well, "inevitable."

The High School Musical star posted an Instagram story Monday about applying make-up during which she began talking about Covid-19, the virus spreading around the world, including the US. "Even if everybody gets it, like yeah, people are going to die which is terrible, but inevitable?" she said.

What made the message even worse was the way she said it so nonchalantly and seemingly uncaring. You have to watch the video below:

The blowback against her "insensitive" comments was immediate and strong.

"What people like Vanessa Hudgens don’t realize is that while they are missing Coachella, the rest of us are missing paychecks. While she struggles to stay relevant, the rest of us struggle to provide for our families," tweeted @TaraHobbit.

The next day, the 31-year old Filipina American actress tried to ease the sting of her earlier words.

"It's a crazy time, it's a crazy, crazy time and I am at home and in lockdown and that's what I hope you guys are doing too," Hudgens said. "Yeah I don't take this situation lightly, by any means, I am home."

The lack of an apology made her attempt to walk back her words seem insincere, so about a half-hour later, came her delayed mea culpa.

"I realize my words were insensitive and not at all appropriate for the situation our country and the world are in right now," she wrote. "This has been a huge wake up call to the significance my words have, now more than ever. I'm sending safe wishes to everyone to stay safe and healthy during this crazy time."

The California-raised actress gained fame as the lead actress in Disney's High School Musical and its two sequels. She wowed critics with her performance in the live Grease, In her short-lived TV series Power, she played a character who was half-Filipino. Her latest film was a rom-com for Netflix, A Knight to Remember.

As of Tuesday night, there are about 200,000 people with coronavirus and 6,000 in the US. There have been over 100 deaths in the US alone. Experts believe the situation will get worse before it gets better.

The US Centers for Disease Control suggest self-quarantining oneself to avoid contact with anyone who might be a carrier and to help stem the spread of the virus.

Vanessa Hudgens' latest movie arrives just in time for the holidays

NETFLIX

Vanessa Hudgens and Josh Whitehouse start in Netflix's 'The Knight Before Christmas.'

Is Vanessa Hudgens becoming the queen of holiday romcoms? Thanksgiving will soon be here and Christmas is right around the corner, so it must be time for a Hudgens starrer.

The Knight Before Christmas is the latest movie by the Filipina American actress. It will be premiering on Netflix this Nov. 21. Last year, Netflix debuted The Princess Switch with Hudgens starring in the made-for-the-holidays fun flick.

Just from the title you can safely guess that the plot involves some time travel, some romance, some comedy, some harmless fun. In the perfectly titled Knight Before Christmas, she plays a kind science teacher who has been disillusioned by love and he's the cursed medieval knight, played by Josh Whitehouse (Poldark), who she must help return to his time

Holiday movies is like money in the bank for actors. If done well enough, you can be assured that it will be revived year after year assuring you of an annual presence in America's living rooms.

And yes, she already has her 2020 holiday film lined up: The Princess Switch: Switched Again.

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TGIF Feature: Vanessa Hudgens returns in another TV live musical - 'Ren: Live't

SCREEN CAPTURE: YOUTUBE

Vanessa Hudgens' next production in in 'Rent: Live'

AFTER THE RAVE reviews that she richly deserved for her performance in Grease Live, Vanessa Hudgens will return to television to star in Rent: Live

The 29-year old Filipina American will play the role of Maureen Johnson in Rent:Live, a bisexual performance artist. The character is a major part that involves a lot singing and fans will likely be most excited to see Hudgens belt out Maureen's biggest song, "Take Me or Leave Me."

Interestingly, this is not the first time Hudgens starred in Rent. Back in 2010, she starred in the Hollywood Bowl's staging of the musical playing Mimi Márquez, the erotic dancer who is addicted to drugs and is HIV-positive. In the live TV produciton, the pop singer Tinashe will play Mimi.

The rest of the Rent: Live cast includes Hamilton breakout Jordan Fisher as Mark Cohen, The X Factor contestant Brennin Hunt as Roger Davis, recent Jesus Christ Superstar show-stealer Brandon Victor Dixon as Tom Collins, RuPaul's Drag Race star Valentina as Angel Dumott Schunard, former Disney Channel star Kiersey Clemons as Joanne Jefferson, and R&B singer Mario as Benjamin Coffin III.

Hudgens' breakout role was starring in the Disney Channel hit musical movie franchise  High School Musical, which, of course, involved a lot of singing and dancing.

She shone in 2016's Grease Live as tough girl Rizzo. She dedicated her performance in the live telecast to her father, who died a day before the broadcast. 

The Salinas-born California actress starred in NBC's short-lived Powerless, in which she made sure that her character was identified as a Filipina American. Alas, the sit-com was not picked up for a second season.

Most recently, Hudgens was a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. In her first season on the show, she helped select the first Filipina American winner in 2018, Hannahlei Cabanilla.

For the Fox production, Hudgens will tackle the charming yet narcissistic lesbian performance artist Maureen. “Vocally, emotionally, it's a tough part,” says Hudgens,

When Rent first appeared on Broadway, it was a revelation: a contemporary musical tackling today's issues with a cast of actors of color.

It's message that is just as relevant today: The way to overcome a time of adversity is to unify, to address it together. That's a lesson that we need to learn today. 

'Rent: Live' airs on the Fox network, Sunday, Jan. 27. Check local listings for time.

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Filipina American dances her way into America's heart

FOX NETWORK

Hannahlei Cabanilla reacts upon winning 'So You Think You Can Dance."

AMERICA'S FAVORITE dancer is Hannahlei Cabanilla, a Filipina American from Orange County.

The 18-year old UC Irvine student was chosen by the show's viewers as winner of the 15th season of So You Think You Can Dance competition.

“It was the best moment of my life,” she told reporters following the show on Monday, Sept. 10.

“My hands were sweating, my heart was pounding, my hands were shaking. I would be happy with whatever the results are cause I’ve had such an amazing experience, but it’s so amazing that I’m America’s favorite dancer!” she said.

For her prize, Hannahlei took home $250,000, as well as a magazine cover and a role in Fox's upcoming live broadcast of the Tony-winning musical Rent, which is scheduled on January 27, 2019 on Fox.

“I’m going to take my parents on a trip, because they’ve supported me throughout this whole process and throughout my whole dance career and I just owe it to them,” said Hannahlei.

In her first appearance before the judges, Hannahlei's dancing impressed Vanessa Hudgens. “It was just magical, truly magical," Hudgens told her. "Hannahlei, my fellow Filipino girl, you make me proud. You’re just like a dream. Your lines are just so astonishing, so beautiful.”

Hannahlei is the second-straight Asian American to win the the dance title.

Last season, Lex Ishimoto was voted “America’s favorite dancer” title. Ishimoto is from Irving in Orange County. Hannahlei joked “there’s something in the water down in Orange County, so watch out.”

Watch Hannahlei's dancing on Kelly and Ryan the day after she won her title.

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Asians & Asian Americans at the Billboard Music Awards

The Korean K-Pop group won Top Social Artist award.

A K-Pop group was named  the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards last Sunday, and almost everybody on Asian internet sites starts talking about Asians getting noticed by the music industry. 

I don't want to take anything away from BTS accomplishment thus becoming the first K-Pop crew to ever win a Billboard award. They beat out some heavyweights including Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, and Shawn Mendes.

BTS has a huge international following but are almost unknown in the U.S. and they were the fifrst K-Pop group to win the Billboard award.

Zayn Malik, former member of One Edition.

However, they were not the only other Asians or Asian/Americans at the awards show as some other writers seemed to infer. In fact,  Vanessa Hudgens, a Filipina/American, was in the middle of things during the entire show as the co-host. 

Zayn Malik, whose parents are from Pakistan, won the Billboard Music Award for Top New Artist. He was unable to attend the Las Vegas event, he tweeted, because he was working on a new set of songs.

Bruno Mars, another Filipino/American, was nominated in three categories. He livestreamed a smooth, sexy performance of "Versace on the Floor" from London where he was in concert.

Is that old debate of "Who is an Asian?" cropping up again? Is it because that Hudgens, Mars and Malik are not east Asian that they were were rendered invisible to the commentators?

Certainly, there could/should be more Asian/Americans up there on stage, but let's not forget to give credit to those who are paving the way for others to follow them.

Vanessa Hudgens with her co-host Ludicris.

Last Sunday, it was particularly difficult not to notice Hudgens, who used the emcee gig to remind everyone of the singing capabilities this young woman, a product of the Disney machine that keeps churning out stars. Hudgens made everyoen forget about the cancellation of her television series Powerless.

The former High School Musical star opened the show by taking co-host Ludacris' challenge to show off her her Nicki Minaj rhyme skills after the Monsta herself wrecked the stage with a killer medley. Then she switched gears and did a more than adequate job doing Celine Dion's "The Power of Love" crushing the soaring notes.

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Will your favorite AAPI actor be coming back on TV next season?

When 'Fresh Off the Boat introduced the Huang family three years ago, who knew it would become the longest running show featuring an Asian American theme.

LAST WEEK was a mixed bag of good-news, bad-news for AAPI TV fans and for the casts of these shows that star or feature AAPI actors.

GOOD NEWS: Fresh Off the Boat got renewed for a fourth season. Every year the sitcom is renewed it breaks a record for the longest-running TV show featuring an AAPI theme. We get to hang out with the Huang family as they continue to assimilate and at the same time retain their identity as an Asian/American family.

BAD NEWS: Dr. Ken, starring Ken Jeong and loosely based on his real life as a physician turned comedic actor, was cancelled after two seasons. 

GOOD NEWS: 2 Broke Girls, was finally cancelled after six seasons. The show featured one, Han Lee played by Matthew Moy, of the worst stereotypes of Asian/American men on TV today: sexually unappealing, effeminate, socially awkward, thick thick accent.

BAD NEWS: 2 Broke Girls will stick around for quite a while in reruns.

Matthew Moy tweeted out this picture of the cast in their final bow and a series of black hearts.

GOOD NEWS: Even though it receives one of he lowest ratings in the CW Network shows, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend got a third season. The romantic musical comedy co-stars Vincent Rodriguez III and ocassionally features his Filipino/American family and his hip Filipino/American priest will be around for another.

BAD NEWS: The Vanessa Hudgens vehicle Powerless, a midseason replacement sitcom for NBC, flamed out and won't be back next year.

GOOD NEWS: Priyanka Chopra, the lead in Quantico, will return as FBI agent Alex Parrish. There was some doubt if there would be a third season since the show's ratings dipped this year compared to its first year.

BAD NEWS: The TV version of Rush Hour couldn't match the Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker chemistry from the movies though Jon Foo and Justin Hines gave it their best shot, their onscreen chemistry fizzled.

GOOD NEWS: Elementary, the updated Sherlock Holmes detective series starring Lucy Liu as Dr. Watson was on the bubble all week. At the last minute, CBS renewed it for a sixth season.

BAD NEWS: Pretty Little Liars is in its seventh and final season. The gang will graduate from the long-running series. That means saying goodbye to Emily Fields played by Shay Mitchell. Watch her say her tearful farewell.

Shay Mitchell

MORE GOOD NEWS:  

• Agents of SHIELD, starring Ming Na Wen and Chloe Bennet in two action-filled heroic roles;
• Hawaii 5-0 with Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park playing prominent members of the core group of actors, and a whole host of AAPI actors who play Hawaii residents. 
• Into the Badlands starring Daniel Wu as THE hero and Aramis Knight as his protege was confirmed for a third season by AMC; 
• Scorpion with Elyes Gabel and Jadyn Wong will be back for a fourth season on CBS.
• AMC's Humans which introduced us to the Gemma Chan, whose portrayal of a beautiful robot is anything but wooden,
• Designated Survivor, whose return was questionable, just made the cut, which is good news for fans of Maggie Q and Kal Penn. (Earlier versions of this blog misidentified Kal Penn. It has been corrected - editor.)
• Code Black, starring handsome leading man Reza Jaffrey, will be back to operate the L.A. emergency room,
• The Magicians with Arjun Gupta won't disappear. It will return to the Syfy channel for its third season,
• Superstore returns with the wonderful cast of off-beat store clerks including Nico Santos and Nicole Bloom along with regulars Kaliko Kauahi and Jon Miyahara.
• The Good Place gets a second season in which Manny Jacinto plays a Filipino who shatters Asian stereotypes,
• The OA, a surprise hit for Netflix, gives fans a chance to discover Jason Perea whose role should be expanded in the second season, 
• The Man in the High Castle, that tells an alternate history in which Germany and Japan won WWII, has a whole bunch of Asian/American cast members led by veteran actors Joel de la Fuente and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa,
• Riverdale loses breakout star Ross Butler, who played key character Reggie, but in its second season he'll be replaced by another Asian/American hunk Charles Melton,
• 13 Reasons Why will have a second season even though the 13 tapes have been heard. That will hopefull give us a chance to explore the back stories of the Asian/American characters played by Ross Butler and Michele Selene Ang.

Ross Butler leaves fictional Riverdale High for Liberty High in "13 Reasons Why."

The fate of a handful of other shows, ie. Aziz Ansari's and Alan Yang's Master of None, in what has become TV's second and third rounds of programs will be decided later this year. 

Some new shows will be introduced next fall with AAPI cast members. That's exciting. Watch out for my yearly preview of the coming season - as always, from an AAPI point of view.

Based on this list, it may appear that there are a lot of AAPI actors working but in reality, it's just a drop in the bucket. Minority actors are vastly underrepresented on in the entertainment industry that includes television, according to a UCLA report on diversity in Hollywood.

The report points out minorities make up 40 percent of the U.S. population but only 13.6 percent of lead actors in theatrical films and 10.1 percent of Hollywood directors.

Darnell Hunt, the report’s lead author  said, “At the heart of it is the fact that Hollywood is simply not structured to make the most of today’s market realities.”

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TGIF FRIDAY: Actress makes her character hapa.

Vanessa Hudgens (center) has made her 'Powerless' character Emily Locke a Filipino/American,

THREE CHEERS for Vanessa Hudgens!

The actress starring on NBC's Powerless made her character half-Filipino!

I'm pretty sure that when the concept for Powerless was first thought up and they wrote for the lead character, Emily Locke, they weren't writing for a person of mixed race, much less a Filipino/American. I searched for the DC backstory of Emily and couldn't find any reference to her ethnicity.

When Hudgens was cast in that role, it would have been easy to  stay silent and let the writers fill out her character. I'm almost certain that she must have said something to the creative team behind Powerless about being Filipino/American to help flesh out her  character's back story.

This is the first role the California-raised actress has played in which her character reflects her real-life heritage.

Powerless is a sitcom about an insurance company that cleans up after the havoc and destruction created by various super heroes.

You can count on one hand the TV roles that are identified Filipino/American:

• Josh Chan of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend played by Vincent Rodriguez III. This role opened the door for an entire Filipino/American family to be introduced - a television first.
• Sgt. Wu of Grimm played by Reggie Lee. Not much is known about Wu's character outside of his life chasing Vessens, but in one episode, he talked about his grandmother scaring him with tales of the mythical Aswan, a Filipino monster that eats children.
• Mateo of Superstore played by Nico Santos. Originally the character was supposed to be Latino and straight, but once Santos got the role, he was able to tailor the back story to mirror his own.

And ... uh, that's it!

There are another handful of Filipino/American actors on television but their ethnic background has never been explored or deliberately kept mysterious or, in the case of those appearing in space sagas, are from some other planet.

RELATED: 'Powerless' premieres

Watch the video. It's just a snippet and her line, "I'm half Filipino," is passed over so quickly you might miss it. What's wonderful is that it was in the context of the episode's plot, the revelation was no big deal. There was no music swelling, dramatic drumbeat to emphasize or knowing looks to mark, what in some states, is a common, everyday moment.  

When someone like Hudgens -- with her star power growing with each role that she undertakes -- uses her influence to define her ethnicity rather than play a white or Latina woman, it's a big deal at so many levels; from the youngster looking for role models, students struggling with their identity to those Americans whose definition of what an American looks like is limited to being white.

Well done, Miss Hudgens. Salamat!

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