Author Archives: Efren

About Efren

Efren is a 30-something queer Filipino American guy living in San Francisco. In the past, he was a wanna-be academic even teaching in Asian American studies at San Francisco State, a wanna-be queer rights and HIV activist, and he used to "blog" when that meant spewing one's college student angst using a text editor on a terminal screen to write in a BBS or usenet back in the early 90s. For all his railing against the model minority myth, he's realized he's done something only a few people can claim--getting into UCSF twice, once for a PhD program in medical sociology which he left; and then for pharmacy school, where he'll be a member of the class of '13. He apologizes profusely for setting the bar unintentionally high for his cousins. blog twitter

Manny Pacquiao, Filipino Homophobia And Masculinity

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Efren

UPDATE: Shortly after this article was published, the LA Weekly reported that Pacquiao was misquoted, saying that “homosexuality goes against the word of God — not that gays should literally be put to death.” The blog post remains for reference … Continue reading →

Posted in Discrimination, LGBT, Sports | 9 Comments

Anti-Alcoholism Drug Works Better on (East) Asian Americans

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Efren

Here at 8Asians, we always love having an excuse to put up the picture of Drunk Ernie, especially since a picture of a drunk me isn’t quite as hilarious, even if I am also a fat gay Asian guy who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Drink, Health, Lifestyles | 12 Comments

Eyewear Envy: Glasses for Us

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Efren

A few weeks ago, I was alerted to an online store, Eyewear Envy, an online eyeglass store that specializes in frames that fit Asian faces. The shop is run by Katherine Manalo, OD, an optometrist who graduated from UC Berkeley’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Health, Lifestyles | 3 Comments

Is New York Ready For Balut? (Maybe.)

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Efren

From the Atlantic Wire comes a report that a new Filipino restaurant in New York City, Maharlika, is offering the infamous delicacy balut, the boiled slightly developed duck egg. To his credit, Adam Martin, the author of the piece sums … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Drink, New York | 7 Comments

No Look Pass Doc Takes A Look At Basketball & Coming Out

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Efren

In No Look Pass, Emily Tay is an extraordinary young woman born to Burmese immigrants, raised in Los Angeles Chinatown, Harvard educated, starter for their women’s basketball team, and now a professional basketball player in Germany living with her female … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, LGBT, Local, Movies, Southern California | 1 Comment

San Francisco Bachelor Auction Featuring Grant Imahara

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Efren

For those of you eligible straight ladies who are in the Bay on June 23, the Guardsmen are having their annual Bachelor Auction to help support their programs for at-risk youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. Among the many fine–and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dating, Lifestyles, Local, San Francisco Bay Area | 6 Comments

Mother’s Day with 8Asians: My Mother, the Human Being

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Efren

8Asians is celebrating Mother’s Day all week (Pssst…Don’t forget, it’s May 8th!) by doing what we do best: writing about the women who raised us, nurtured us, taught us, spoiled us, protected us and occasionally for some, drove us up … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Observations | 2 Comments

Filipino Blogger Uproar Over Hoax Study That Claims Filipinos are Gullible

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Efren

So in the past few days, there’s been an uproar within the Filipino blogosphere about a study that claims Filipinos are gullible. In this study purported to be done by Harvard, they have ranked first in gullibility. And of course, … Continue reading →

Posted in DUDE WTF ASIA, Observations, WTF | 11 Comments

Looting Does Exist in Japan

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Efren

After reading the various articles about looting and the so-called “exemplary” behavior of the Japanese who were directly affected by the recent earthquakes and tsunami (as discussed by my fellow colleague, Mike), I immediately thought, “Bullshit.”  I was convinced that … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Discrimination, Observations | 12 Comments

Asian Americans & Smoking: A Silent Epidemic

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Efren

As I go through pharmacy school and learn about all the different diseases that people go through, I’ve been particularly interested in seeing how these diseases affect Asian Americans, including how smoking tobacco has affected us. Personally, it’s affected me … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Lifestyles | Leave a comment

San Francisco Assured of First Asian American Mayor

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Efren

In breaking news reported by SFGate, San Francisco’s current board of supervisors just voted Ed Lee to be its first Asian American mayor. Although there will be a new board of supervisors once current mayor Gavin Newsom takes on his … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, San Francisco Bay Area | 2 Comments

Politeness Pays: Filipino American Wins Largest Lottery Prize in the Philippines

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Efren

Now here’s another reason why you should have good manners: According to the BBC, a 60-something Filipino American visiting the Philippines won the largest lottery prize ever there: 750 million pesos or about $17 million. According to the winner, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations | 1 Comment