"Fight the Virus. Fight the Bias."

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.


Alan Yang Teams With Ad Council To Racism Against Asians During COVID-19
As we all know, there's been a surge in racism against Asians Americans since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. To combat the wave of harassment and discrimination Tigertail director and Master of None co-creator Alan Yang has partnered with the Ad Council's Emmy-winning "Love Has No Labels" for a new PSA titled "Fight the Virus. Fight the Bias," which looks to dispel racism against the Asian American community.

* * *


Little noticed, Filipino Americans are dying of COVID-19 at an alarming rate
For a variety of reasons, Filipino Americans have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus. People with roots in the Philippines account for about one-quarter of the Asian Americans in California, yet data shows that Filipino Americans account for at least 35% of COVID-19 deaths in the state's Asian population.

* * *


Man Arrested For Racist Attack on Calgary Woman
And up in Canada... Calgary police arrested a man on Sunday after a video surfaced of him spitting on an Asian woman and using a racial slur against her. The video shows the woman, who identified herself as Jessica Lau on Instagram, being filmed from behind while longboarding along a park path. Moments later, a cyclist coming from the opposite direction spits at Lau and calls her a "fucking chink." The cyclist was later identified as Justin Williams, who was reportedly arrested with charges pending. According to police, it's too soon to say whether the incident will be charged as a hate crime (really?) but it could also possibly be a case of aggravated assault due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hey Canada, stop trying to top our American racism.

* * *


Woks for Washington
"Woks for Washington aims to support the Asian restaurant community in the DC area during COVID-19 by purchasing and delivering meals from restaurants to essential workers. Preserving Asian cuisine serves as a major way for the Asian community to continue to share what makes us so diverse with the rest of the world, since it's often one of the easiest and most palatable ways (pun intended) in which people can experience our culture. This is an effort to help preserve Asian American culture and cuisine, while supporting the heroes keeping our families safe." Find out more at woksforwashington.com.

* * *


HIFF @ Home Summer Fest
The Hawaii International Film Festival presents its first-ever HIFF@Home Summer Fest, a mini film festival available entirely online. Scheduled for August 7-14, they've got a killer lineup of the latest award-winning films fresh from the film festival circuit. Titles include Alice Gu's Donut King, Shiro Tokiwa The First Supper, Yi Chen's First Vote, Unjoo Moon's I Am Woman and Hong Khaou's Monsoon, among many others. A Summer Fest Pass is $40 and gets you online access to the full slate of films. For more information, go here.

'Float' is the first Pixar film to feature Filipino Americans

Bobby Rubio's personal animated short premieres on Disney+.



I won't lie: I stayed up late to watch The Mandalorian on Monday night, as soon as the new Disney+ streaming service went fully operational. I'm a Star Wars geek and I could wait no longer. With that out of the way -- it was great -- I want to make sure you watch the best film on the platform: the Pixar original animated short Float.

Directed by story artist Bobby Rubio, Float is the first Pixar film ever to feature Filipino American characters.

In Float, a father discovers that his is son is different from other kids in the most unusual way. To keep them both safe from judgement, Dad covers him and keeps him out of sight -- but when his son's ability becomes public, Dad must decide whether to run and hide or to accept his son as he is.

Rubio originally conceived the story as a comic... with a significant difference. The characters were white.

Dante Basco to direct 'The Fabulous Filipino Brothers'

'Hook' and 'Avatar' star will make his directorial debut in the dark romantic comedy.



Dante Basco, best known for his role as Rufio in Steven Spielberg's Hook and as the voice of Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender, will make his directorial debut in The Fabulous Filipino Brothers. And it looks like he's bringing his whole family along for the ride.

Set in Basco's hometown of Pittsburg, California, and starring Dante and his brothers -- Darion, Dionysio and Derek -- the dark romantic comedy weaves together four vignettes, narrated by their sister, Arianna Basco.

The story follows the brothers and their shenanigans. One of them ventures off to a cockfight for reciprocity while one flies to old Manila where an old flame is rekindled. Another brother delves into the hidden sensuality of Filipino cuisine, while the last brother, struggles to heal deep wounds and finds love in an unexpected package. All this, leading to a shotgun wedding in the backyard of the family house.

More here: Dante Basco To Make Directorial Debut With 'The Fabulous Filipino Brothers'

Darren Criss wins Golden Globe for 'American Crime Story'

"Son of a firecracker Filipino woman from Cebu" is the first Filipino American to win a Golden Globe.



In another historic moment at the 76th Golden Globe Awards, Darren Criss took home the trophy for Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie for his chilling portrayal of spree killer Andrew Cunanan in the FX anthology series American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.

Criss, whose mother is from the Philippines, is the first Filipino American actor to win a Golden Globe. In a heartfelt acceptance speech, he acknowledged his heritage and dedicated the honor to his mother.

"As we’ve seen, this has been a marvelous year for representation in Hollywood, and I am so enormously proud to be a teeny, tiny part of that as the son of a firecracker Filipino woman from Cebu that dreamed of coming to this country and getting to be invited to cool parties like this," Criss said. "Mom, I know you're watching this. You are hugely responsible for most of the good things in my life. I love you dearly. I dedicate this to you."

TJ Cox declares victory in the last undecided House race

The 116th U.S. Congress will include 20 AAPI members -- the most ever.



More than three weeks after election day, we have a winner.

In California's 21st Congressional District, TJ Cox defeated three-term Republican Rep. David Valadao on Wednesday, giving Democrats a gain of seven House seats in the state and 40 nationwide.

Cox is only one of two Filipino Americans currently elected to the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, in New Jersey's 3rd District, Andy Kim became only the second ever Korean American elected to the House. Their victories, along with Michael San Nicolas' victory for Guam's delegate representative, solidifies a historic number of AAPI members in Congress.

The 116th United States Congress will include 20 AAPI members -- the most ever.

Darren Criss wins Emmy for 'American Crime Story'

'Assassination of Gianni Versace' star wins Best Actor in a Limited Series.



Darren Criss made history at 70th Emmy Awards, winning Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his portrayal of Andrew Cunanan in FX's The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

By our calculations, Criss is the first Asian American actor to win in this category, only the second actor of Asian descent to win in any acting cateogry, and the first Filipino American actor to win an Emmy. Ever.

Criss received wide acclaim for his haunting star turn as real-life killer Andrew Cunanan (who was Filipino American, like Criss). Season two of the FX true crime anthology series chronicled Cunanan's notorious 1997 murder spree, in which he killed four men before shooting famed fashion designer Gianni Versace in Miami.

"Oh, my God, you guys are witnessing the most extraordinary moment of my life thus far," Criss exclaimed as he took the stage to accept the award.

A Filipino American DJ finds her groove in 'Flip the Record'

Marie Jamora's retro short is screening as part of the PBS Online Film Festival.



A little-known but lasting explosion of hip hop culture grew out of the Filipino American community of 1980s San Francisco. The short film Flip the Record, written and directed by Marie Jamora, takes us into the beat of an aspiring mobile DJ crew in '84. Vanessa, sick of the constraints and boring piano lessons in her conservative Filipino American household, starts teaching herself on the sly how to scratch on her older brother's turntables. Flip the Record follows Ness as she discovers her talents and place in the local music scene of the era.

After screening on the festival circuit, Flip the Record is now available to watch as part of the 2018 PBS Online Film Festival. The key to this film is in the feel of the details, from the retro fashion to the fresh dance moves, and even the hot-off-the-press homemade business cards. And of course, the music. It's a fun, vibrant look back at an influential but overlooked era in Filipino American pop culture.

Check it out:

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."

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.)

School to be renamed for Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz

Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School will be the nation's first school named in honor of Filipino Americans.


A mural in Los Angeles' Historic Filipinotown honors Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz.
This week, a Bay Area middle school will be officially renamed in honor of labor leaders Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz. It is believed to be the first school in the nation to be named in honor of Filipino Americans.

Union City school first in nation named for Filipino-Americans

On Friday, Alvarado Middle School in Union City will be renamed Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School. Itlong and Vera Cruz were key figures in the west coast labor movement, working with Cesar Chavez in the 1960s to organize agricultural laborers and improve working conditions.

The name change was approved by the school board in 2013 after a vigorous community debate over whether to retain the name Alvarado, in honor of a 19th century Mexican governor.