They Call Us Bruce 2013: They Call Us Here Lies Love

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.

What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

In this episode, we welcome Arielle Jacobs and Jose Llana, the stars of the revolutionary new Broadway musical Here Lies Love, an immersive roof-raising disco musical that tells the story of Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos. They discuss the unique thrill of performing in this groundbreaking, form-busting theatre experience, their immense pride in being a part of Broadway's first ever all-Filipino cast, and the complicated responsibility of narrativizing this very real history of the Philippines -- The Good, The Bad, and The WTF.

[UPDATED] White woman says she feels Filipino, insists she's "transracial"

But that's not how this shit works.



This is a joke, right? Or maybe some kind of performance art? A Florida woman claims that although she was born white, deep down inside she feels Filipino, and now identifies as "transracial."

A Tampa woman calling herself "Ja Du," who was born white, tells WTSP that she now considers herself Filipino. She insists that she is transracial -- someone born one race, but identifies with another.

"Whenever I'm around the music, around the food, I feel like I'm in my own skin," Ja Du says. "I'd watch the History Channel sometimes for hours you know whenever it came to that and you know nothing else intrigued me more but things about Filipino culture."

No, Ja Du. No.

Filipino veterans to receive Congressional Gold Medal

In recognition of their U.S. military service and sacrifices during World War II.



It's about damn time.

This week, Filipino veterans of World War II will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, after a lengthy battle for national recognition of their U.S. military service and sacrifices nearly 75 years ago.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the United States. The award will be presented at a ceremony on Wednesday in the U.S. Capitol to honor the 260,000 Filipino soldiers who fought alongside American forces during the war and more than 57,000 Filipino troops who died.

More here: Fought and forgotten: Filipino World War II veterans honored with medal 75 years later

Neighbor's racist rant caught on camera

Woman calls her Filipino neighbor an "orange savage," among other things.



In Las Vegas, a woman was caught on camera going off on a racist tirade against her Filipino neighbor, calling him an "orange savage" and telling him to "go back to where you came from," among other things.

Man captures neighbor's racist rant on camera

The altercation was apparently set off by an argument over leaves. Leaves. The unnamed woman can be seen hurling racial slurs at her neighbor, Dexter Manawat, who began filming when she told him to "go back." Clearly, he knew some shit was about to go down, and it did.

"Where did I come from?" Manawat asks.

"From some piece of shit Manila-ass, fucking ghetto living under a tarp piece of shit land," the neighbor replies. She also called him "like orange savages" and an "orange motherfucker" -- whatever the hell that means -- and he's "one fucking generation out of the jungle, like loin cloth wearers."

Filipino veterans to be awarded Congressional Gold Medal

President Obama signs the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act.



On Thursday, President Obama signed the "Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act," awarding a Congressional Gold Medal, our nation's highest civilian honor, to the thousands of Filipino veterans who fought for the United States during World War II.

S. 1555, sponsored by Senator Mazie Hirono and Representative Tulsi Gabbard, honors more than 260,000 Filipino and Filipino American soldiers who fought under U.S. command during the second world war. The bill unanimously passed in both chambers of Congress earlier this year.

"The Filipino veterans of World War II overcame many challenges in their fight for compensation, family reunification, and verification of wartime service," Senator Hirono said in a statement, calling the medal a long overdue but fitting tribute. "By signing our bill into law, President Obama recognized these veterans' courage and perseverance, both during the war and in the decades of battles for benefits that followed."

Congress passes bill to honor Filipino World War II veterans

House passes the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act.



On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S.1555, the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, recognizing Filipino veterans who fought for the United States during World War II with a Congressional Gold Medal, our nation's highest civilian honor.

S.1555, sponsored by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), honors more than 260,000 Filipino and Filipino American soldiers who fought under U.s. command during the second world war. The Senate passed this bill unanimously over the summer, and it will now be sent to the President to be signed into law.

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, applauded the passage of the bill and called the recognition of Filipino veterans "long overdue."

"During World War II, more than 200,000 Filipino soldiers served bravely alongside American forces and played a critical role in ultimately helping the United States to achieve victory in the Pacific," Chu said. "We in CAPAC have made it a top priority to ensure that these Filipino World War II veterans receive the benefits and recognition that they deserve, and the passage of today's bill is a tremendous victory for our veterans and the broader Filipino American community."

New policy allows Filipino veterans to reunite with families

USCIS announces implementation of Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program.



On Monday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the implementation of the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole program that will offer certain beneficiaries an opportunity to seek parole and come to the United States to be reunited with their family members.

Under the policy, USCIS will offer certain beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions an opportunity to request a discretionary grant of parole on a case-by-case basis so that they may come to the United States as they wait for their immigrant visa numbers to become available.

Among other things, the policy recognizes the extraordinary contributions and sacrifices of Filipino veterans who fought for the United States during World War II. The policy also enhances the ability of such elderly veterans and their spouses to obtain care and support from their family members abroad.

Lea Salonga to guest star on 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'

CW's musical comedy is officially the Filipino-est show on television.



Whaaaaaat. Broadway star Lea Salonga will guest star in the season finale of the CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. This is, hands down, the most perfect casting of a singing Filipino in the history of television.

Tony Award-Winner Lea Salonga to Sing in CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND Finale

The Tony Award-winning actress, who currently stars in Broadway's Allegiance, broke the news on Twitter that she'll be appearing in the acclaimed musical-themed comedy -- and singing too. (Of course she'll be singing.)

Filipino WWII veterans can now reunite with their families

New policy will give families of Filipino veterans an easier path to immigration.



This week, the White House announced that family members of Filipino World War II veterans will be granted special permission to reunite with their parents and come live and work in the United States.

Filipino World War II Veterans Will Get Easier Path To Reunite With Family

Filipino American veterans, who have been waiting for years to bring family members to the United States, will soon be able to do so through the Obama administration's new policy, announced with a spate of other recommendations to modernize and streamline the legal immigration system.

This has been a long time coming. During World War II, the U.S. government promised Filipino soldiers citizenship in recognition of their service, but it took more than fifty years to make good on that promise. The new policy will help the thousands of these veterans, many who are elderly and in need of care, to reunite with their families. Under the current family immigration system, it can sometimes take decades to obtain a visa.

Meet the three Filipinos not rooting for Manny Pacquiao

These lone outsiders are supporting Floyd Mayweather. Traitors.



Are you ready for the Filipino Superbowl? I am referring, of course, to the long-awaited, much-anticipated fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Billed as the "Fight of the Century," Manny has the global support of fellow Filipinos worldwide... except for these three guys. In this video, AOL's 2 Point Lead tracked down the three Filipinos who are coming out of the shadows to profess their support for Mayweather.

Take a look:

Fund This: The Park's Finest June Battle Plan

Some love for The Park's Finest, some of the best darn barbecue in Los Angeles -- with a Filipino flavor. This is barbecue "born from the backyards of Southern California boogies. 50% Mom. 50% Pop. 100% L.A."

Masterminded by Chef Johneric Concordia, the business started as small-scale catering company before opening a humble sit-down location last year. Holding it down in Echo Park, The Park's Finest is satisfying stomachs and staying true to its community roots. And the Food. Is. Damn. Good.

But things are about to get crazy for The Park's Finest -- a good way. The restaurant will soon be featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, a popular show that will likely send a deluge of new hungry customers through their doors. It's going to be awesome. But can they handle it?

This is their battle plan. In order to handle the hustle, The Park's Finest has launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund job training and capacity development before things blow up with the DD&D onslaught:

Assemblywoman condemns racist anti-Filipino letter

Some more on that racist letter that was recently mailed out in the Bay Area city of American Canyon... Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, who represents California's 4th Assembly District (including American Canyon), has responded with a statement condemning the letter, which uses racist language and falsely purports to be from a state agency. From the Assemblywoman's press release:

A racist letter to the "filthy" Filipino community

What the hell? This was shared on Facebook and passed along by several readers... This letter, purporting initially to be from the "California Department of Consumer Affairs Board of Barbering & Cosmetology," was apparently mailed to Derek Valencia, who lives in American Canyon, California.

It starts off with a bunch official-sounding legal speak about a revoked cosmetology license, but if you read on, it quickly devolves into some real racist bullshit directed at the "filthy" Filipino community, signed by "Concerned American Canyon Neighbors." Here's the full text of the letter, transcribed: