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Asian Responsibility: Giving Back To Your Parents

By Tim | Friday, April 9, 2010

The practice of giving your parents money is probably much more common in Asian-American immigrant families than in any other sub-culture. As an Asian-American son of immigrants I felt the pressure of having to give back to my parents my entire life. As the only son, I probably had extra pressure to do give back to my parents. I was lucky in that I was successful enough to be able to help my parents out. At first it was small things like picking up car payments for my mom, but later in life, it was outright gifts of cash when she was about to take a trip to Vegas or Tahoe. The Orange County Register picked up on the Asian practice of giving back to one’s parents in a recently published article. The topic itself wasn’t surprising; but some of the comments made by the children who supported their parents were interesting.

Some of the expected comments included:

It is the ultimate symbol of gratitude that a child can show to his parents

It’s just expected in our culture

We do it without even thinking and without our parents even having to ask

They raised me, and I want to help and repay them back somehow

A couple of the more interesting quotes were:

In a weird way, it is kind of like buying the parents’ love and approval, I don’t want to say it, but it’s true

In my parents’ eyes, I know I’m not respected as much as my other sisters [who give the parents more money], and I feel like I can never measure up

They haven’t said anything to me but I know they must think I’m a slacker [for not giving parents money]

Not surprisingly for those that didn’t have the means or capabilities to support their parents, there was a slight undertone of regret and disappointment. I also know that every time I did something for my parents it put extra pressure on my siblings and my cousins. When I bought my mom a car, my aunt was one of the first to ask her son, “When are you buying me a car?”. I imagine my cousins weren’t too happy with me back then.

But in the end, as hard as it was sometimes for me financially to give to my parents (and as difficult as it was on my siblings and cousins); I look back on what I was able to do for my parents when they were living, and I do wish I had been able to give more. It may have been buying approval as one of the article’s quotes says, but the joy it brought my parents would have been worth it.

Photo credit: Sang H. Park, OC Register

| Posted in Family, Observations | 8 Comments

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“Taiwanese Susan Boyle” Would Also Like You To Know He Dances, Too

By Ernie | Thursday, April 8, 2010

So in case you decided to take your “I’m Taking a Break From the Internet” moment over the past 36 hours, you’ve missed a YouTube clip of Eric Lin — otherwise known as Lin Yu-chun — hit a note-for-note rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You, reaching viral proportions and having it broadcast over every single nationally syndicated morning show, drive-time radio program and Internet website as the “Taiwanese Susan Boyle.” Which begs the question: do any of the Taiwanese talk shows know how big this guy is getting?

The answer: Uhmm, kind of. This news clip from CTi today does a segment on him, but never actually brings up the fact that a foreign audiences has suddenly become totally engrossed that he does a pitch perfect version of Whitney Houston’s hit — there’s no reference to YouTube at all. Instead, the clip shows chest-popping in his red bow tie and bowl-cut, then sashaying across a dance floor. Yes, seriously. No, I don’t understand why, either.

| Posted in Entertainment, Music, Viral Like SARS, WTF | 6 Comments

Shopping With GASP!

[Apr 10] NORTHERN CA: 2nd International Lao New Year

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Come out to San Francisco’s Civic Center this Saturday for all- day and night festivities celebrating Lao New Year! Events include the Miss Lao International Pageant, a Tak Baht, or Buddhist alms offering, ceremony, lots of Lao food (papaya salad!), and educational and cultural events.

Over Half of Filipino-born Adults Have a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

By Jeff | Thursday, April 8, 2010

“Filipino Immigrants Record Higher Levels of Postsecondary Learning than US Population Overall”

That statistic that was the subject line of a message to 8asians about a spotlight on Filipino immigrants done by the Migration Policy Institute. Using data from the US Census Bureau’s 2008 American Community Survey, the 2000 Census, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Immigration Statistics for 2008, they compiled a variety of interesting facts about Filipino migrants to the US. According to the data that they used, just over half of Filipino-born adults age 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2008 compared to 27.1 percent among all 31.9 million foreign-born adults and 27.8 percent of all 168.1 million native-born adults.

Other interesting facts:

Nearly one of every four employed Filipino-born women worked as a registered nurse. (this includes The Wife, my mother, my sister-in-law, and a host of other Filipinas that I know!)
About 87,000 Filipino immigrants have served in the US Armed Forces (this includes my dad)
46.7% of Filpino migrants live in California (that includes The Wife, my parents, my brother-in-law, etc…)

One thing to note is that these data points are presented without context. For example, take the statistic that Filipino have more college education than the general US population. That may be true, but as Efren points out, the Filipino school system has no junior high school, so a 17 year old immigrant might have a year of college already while a comparable native born teen would still be in high school. Also, the statistic says nothing about under-employment of Filipino immigrants. I personally know trained dentists working as hygienists, doctors working as nurses, and college grads working as mailmen.

Other immigration information is available on other Asian (and non-Asian) migrant populations here, such as on Koreans, Indians, and Chinese.

| Posted in Current Events, Education, History | No Comments

Louise, The Fly Girl Who Could

By Sanjay | Thursday, April 8, 2010

After stumbling through some Tivo suggestions, I found this new show on The CW called Fly Girls. Hot flight attendants living under one roof! Sweet! Asian chick in the picture — double sweet!

It was an interesting show, with the vibe of The Hills on MTV, a very dramatic styled “reality” (questionable?). The show follows the life of 5 young women who leave behind their normal lives to pursue working for Virgin America Airlines as Flight Attendants.

Of course, the Chinese-Vietnamese American, Louise, had a sobby back-story about how her Asian family had dreamed of her growing up to become a nurse. We are later introduced to her older sister, Yung, who is the epitome of the stereotypical concerned Asian elder who does not approve of the life of glitz and glamour over the fundamental Asian-American dream of going to school, becoming a nurse, and being apart of the well assimilated Asian American collective/model minority.

What made me look twice was the sparse use of Vietnamese when the two enter a Vietnamese restaurant here in Hollywood. The awe-inspiring two-liner translated to: “What’s the house special — is it the fish?” OOOhhh, how exotic!

But in all seriousness, It raised a few points in my mind: A) That’s probably the most Vietnamese a regular viewer of The CW has ever heard before, B) Aww man, here we go picking at the model-minority thing again, and C) Damn- sounds like my older siblings…

When I thought back at when I told my parents that I didn’t want to be a doctor (…or lawyer… or engineer) and wanted to work in Television instead, they almost passed out. My dad asked me [seriously concerned for life] “But, how will you live?”

Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling is not easy, and we are the most important generation of Asian Americans yet; how we stand up to our families to find our true paths in life, will affect the types of jobs we can get, how often we are portrayed in media as something other than “the good, obedient ones”, and how future Asian Americans will be able to live in a world where we too can become explorers, journalist, television producers, and heck- even flight attendants!

So, the tip of the captain’s hat to you, Louise — thanks for being you. Unless, its just in the script.

| Posted in Entertainment, TV | 4 Comments

ABDC: Poreotix Called Out for “Self-Deprecating Asian Jokes”

5 Comments

I watch API representation in media, so I wanted to catch up on America’s Best Dance Crew, and especially the all-API team Poreotix. Tonight, they were called out for doing their ching-chong accent and ‘self-deprecating Asian’ jokes; at the end of the show they went up for elimination against Hype 5-0, another all-API crew. Poreotix won, and in the process came up with an awful term, “Asian Booty Disease.” What the hell is that supposed to mean? Enough with the anti-Asian BS; if we expect Adam Carolla to be affirming of Asians, why don’t we start with ourselves? And why is JC Chasez calling a guy ‘Jet Li’? – Ken C.

Wow. Just, wow: Half-Drag on Pilipinas Got Talent

By Efren | Thursday, April 8, 2010

The Philippines has their own version of the now infamously popular America’s Got Talent called Pilipinas Got Talent (obviously) with their own Pinoy spin on things. Mostly cute kids and talented male and female singers and dancers but once in a while something just makes you go, “Wow” and “WTF,” usually both at the same time.

Check out this gem done by a Reggie Ramirez from Davao City in the Philippines. I’m not sure what to make of this, except, wow.

| Posted in Entertainment, Music, WTF | 2 Comments

[Apr 10] NORTHERN CA: SVSA Culture Night 2010

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The Stanford Vietnamese Student Association (SVSA) proudly presents…

Một Dòng Sông, Hai Ngã Rẽ
Rivers of Time: The Shaping of Generations

SATURDAY, APRIL 10TH
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
DINKELSPIEL AUDITORIUM (471 Lagunita Dr.)
STANFORD UNIVERSITY

ADMISSION:
Free with SUID or $5 Without (Children 12 & Under Free)

ALL proceeds benefit the Immigrant Resettlement and Cultural Center (IRCC)
Donations are appreciated!

COMPLIMENTARY Vietnamese food at intermission!

Featuring:

SVSA Traditional, Couples, and Hip Hop Dances · Cynthia Bui Ao Dai Fashion Show · UC Berkeley VSA · Live Music by Mavien Bliss · Vovinam Martial Arts · & More!

FB event http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104956302875237&ref=ts
Promo Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pipRBurg1lM
Website: http://www.stanfordvsa.org

Please come early to ensure seating!
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[Apr 10] SOUTHERN CA: Living Space: new work by John Pham

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Art show opening

John Pham at GR2

April 10, 2010 – May 5, 2010
Reception: Saturday, April 10, 6:30 -10:00

GR2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
gr2.net
(310) 445-9276

Giant Robot is proud to host Living Space, an art show featuring new work by John Pham.

John Pham is a Los Angeles-based, Xeric Grant-winning artist and creator of the ongoing graphic novel series Sublife, published by Fantagraphics, in addition to making work for various galleries and clients.

The work in Living Space portrays a cartoon world with its own set of laws and internal pop-inspired logic. The flat, vibrant colors and abstract lines clash with caricatures of urban, Los Angeles streetscapes and the people who live there. Rules of perspective and representation are willfully ignored in the gouache paintings on panel; the familiar figures, faces and places are distilled into contorted, colorful versions of themselves. Everything becomes, in effect, a cartoon. At first glance, the fluorescent-skinned, fractured people and pop candy-colored buildings may seem alien and off-putting. Upon further inspection, and with some familiarity, they prove inviting, friendly and, most importantly, human. The pieces will be mostly gouache paintings on panel with a few sculptures.

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, as well as an online equivalent.

A reception for the artist will take place from 6:30 – 10:00 on Saturday, April 10. For more information about the art show, GR2, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
[email protected]
(310) 479-7311

###

[Apr 10] NORTHERN CA: Kollaboration SF `10

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Within 10 years, the Kollaboration Movement has expanded into 10 different cities. On April 10, 2010, the movement comes to the Bay Area where the “1st Annual Kollaboration SF Talent Show” will be held at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts. Come watch and support talented performers who carries Kollaboration’s mission to envision a better representation of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the media.

—————————————————————————————————————————–

***Competitors***

Alex Salazar (Acoustic)
Andrew Plan (Acoustic)
Charito Soriano (Acoustic)
HyDef (Dance Crew)
Jean & Bromley (Dance Duo)
Michelle Martinez (Hip Hop Singer)
Mickey Cho (MC)
Slashton (Band)

***Guest Performers***

Kero One (MC)
Groove Against Machine (Dance Crew)
Joey Guila (Comedian)
Mark Zhang (Comedian)
Shin-B (MC)

((((More Guest Performers to Come!))))

***Special Guest Judges***

Kero One (Collaborated with rap artists such as Talib Kweli and endorsed by Will.I.AM)
A.J. Sioson (Executive Producer of the Battlefest Live U.S. Tour)
Christina Luna (Label Manager/Talent Agent with past clients such as Gabe Bondoc)
Victoria Pham (2009 Miss Asian America)
Harry Shum Jr. (Dance star of the popular hit Fox show GLEE)

Hosted by Kollaboration Founder/Comedian Paul “PK” Kim!

Performer Bios: http://kollaborationsf.org/show/performers
————————————————————————————————————————–

Originally started in Los Angeles, Kollaboration is an annual event and movement produced by young Asian and Pacific Islander (API) professionals and students to promote a strong API presence in entertainment and media. Our high-energy shows across the nation provide a unique chance for young API artists to showcase their talents.

Tickets are on sale now on our website! Pre-order them for $15 before April 1st. Save those ticket stubs for discounted admission to our after party event (TBA)!

To learn about more about our show, performers, judges, and ticket sales, please visit our website: http://www.kollaborationsf.org

Kollaboration is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization

David Byrne and Fatboy Slim Create a Danceable Imelda Marcos Soundtrack

By Dino-Ray | Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Who would’ve thought that the shady life of Imelda Marcos would warrant two discs of 22 songs? Apparently, musician David Byrne and British DJ Fatboy Slim did.

Yes, you heard that right. The former member of the New Wave band, Talking Heads and the “funk soul brother” (who was more relevant in 1998) created Here Lies Love, an album of songs that serve as a soundtrack to the former shoe-hoarding first lady of the Philippines.

Unfortunately, the poignant pop single “Louboutins” by Jennifer Lopez. Instead, it includes artists like Cyndi Lauper, Steve Earle, Tori Amos, Sia, Natalie Merchant, Santigold and a whole roster of other cool people (What? No Jocelyn Enriquez?)

I wonder if they actually knew this album would be dedicated to a woman who was exiled to Hawaii. According to the product summary on Amazon.com, the album is “surprisingly thought provoking” and Byrne was envisioning it as a piece of musical theater.

Really?

This musician and muse arrangement is awkward; it’s the equivalent of finding out your parents use Facebook (which actually happened to me recently). It also has the potential to be a guilty pleasure album – like listening to Justin Bieber.

Even though the album cover reminds me of a program cover to events involving Filipina pageantry, the songs are, indeed, quite danceable. And if you really want to think about it, the songs that trace Imelda’s rags-to-riches life might be insightful. It may even be the most brilliant album ever – but still, it’s Imelda-meets-dance music. That’s just weird.

| Posted in Entertainment, Music | 1 Comment