Archive | January, 2009

LunarFest

28 Jan

57486We’re in the midst of the Lunar New Year Celebrations and there are quite a few events going on in the city. We’ve already mentioned that there is a Chinese New Year Celebration happening in Chinatown this Sunday, February 1.

Well, there’s also LunarFest that will be happening at the Vancouver Art Gallery this Sunday, February 1 too. Inspired by the ancient tradition of Lunar New Year, LunarFest celebrates Vancouver’s cultural diversity with the first ever “Lantern-A-Mania”. Prepare to be dazzled by a spectacular sea of lights as thousands of uniquely decorated lanterns brighten the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza.

The event will begin at 3pm and last until 8pm.

So, after celebrating in Dr. Sun Yatsen Garden, head over to the Vancouver Art Gallery to continue the festivities!

For more details, visit Chinatown Chinese New Celebration and LunarFest.

Call for Films for Filmmakers Showcase

28 Jan

film-cameraFilmmakers telling stories that explore Asian-Canadian culture are invited to submit full-length or short films to the 2009 Filmmakers Showcase. Selected films will air on Shaw Multicultural Channel in May 2009 in celebration of Asian Heritage Month. The Filmmakers Showcase will accept independently-produced films and videos by Asian-Canadian artists, or films and videos that explore Asian-Canadian themes.

The deadline is Friday, January 30, 2009.

For more details you can visit: Filmmakers Showcase by Shaw Multicultural Channel.


Free Films @ National Film Board

26 Jan


Western Eyes (2000) by Ann Shin, 39min 30s
This documentary presents two Canadian women of Asian descent who are contemplating eyelid surgery. Maria and Sharon, of Philippino and Korean heritage respectively, believe their looks–specifically their eyes–get in the way of how people see them. Layering their stories with pop culture references to beauty icons and supermodels, filmmaker Ann Shin looks at the pain that lies deep behind the desire for plastic surgery.

The National Film Board of Canada recently made available a large number of films for free streaming off their website. Check out this and many other great films at http://nfb.ca/explore-by/title.

Check out family favourites like The Cat Came Back, films on historical injustices like Minoru: Memory of Exile and Unwanted Soldiers, or heartwarming tales of triumph over adversity like Sleeping Tigers: The Asahi Baseball Story.

If you have any other great films to suggest, leave them in the comments!

"We Don't Like Brown People"

25 Jan

SUN0123N-Victim 1.jpgWhile making a delivery in the early hours on Wednesday, January 21, Phil Khan was approached, beaten and robbed by three men. The three assailants turned out to be police officers. The incident began when one police officer had asked Khan for directions to Broadway and Cambie. Smelling alcohol on him, Khan attempted to be calm and cooperative, yet, the cop grabbed Khan and proceeded to beat him. Around 5-7 minutes later, two other men had joined in on the beating of the 47-year old delivery man.

Besides suffering a heinous beating, he was also robbed of $200. When Khan asked for help, the police officers said, “We are the police, you don’t need help. If you don’t behave, if you don’t do anything, we have a Taser.” Perhaps the most shocking thing about this incident is that the attack may have been racially motivated as Khan recalled one of his attackers saying, “we don’t like brown people.”

So far, no charges have been laid on the three police officers but they have been either suspended or re-assigned to administrative duties. Last year, ACCO got a few comments from people that racism no longer exists in Vancouver because Asians are so well-integrated. This story however sheds light on the fact that racism is still prevalent in our multiethnic society especially since the crime was committed by people who were supposed to serve and protect us all regardless of our skin colour. For the full story, please go to: Surrey man says off-duty cops robbed, racially abused him.

Happy Lunar New Year!

23 Jan

ox-p13_476x357Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and we’re entering into the Year of the Ox.

What are people born in the Year of the Ox generally known for?

Well, people born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. They tend, however, to be eccentric and bigoted, and they anger easily. They have fierce tempers and although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are mentally and physically alert. Generally easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with Snake, Rooster, and Rat people.

Be sure to check out all the festivities that will be happening in Chinatown on Sunday, February 1 at Dr. Sun Yatsen Garden. There will be live music, a parade, face painting, fortune telling and much more! The celebration will begin at 10:30 am and last until 4:00 pm. For more information, click here: Chinese New Year Celebration at the Garden.

'I wanted it to look like a sign of hope' – Jason Wu

21 Jan
michelleo_dv_20090121100410

The New First Lady and President

Yesterday, millions of people around the world were glued to their television sets as they witnessed the long-anticipated inauguration of Barack Obama. Although the 44th President was sworn in at noon, the festivities were just beginning as President Obama and his First Lady attended 10 Inaugural Balls later that night. The attention may have been on the President for most of the day, but it was First Lady, Michelle Obama, who stole the spotlight at night.

Already hailed a fashionista, style bloggers everywhere were eager to see what gown the new First Lady would wear for the Inaugural Balls and specifically, who would she be wearing. Michelle ended up choosing a one-strapped ivory gown that highlighted her toned arms, and its designer is 26-year-old Jason Wu.

Wu was born in Taiwan but studied at Parsons in New York City. Although a relatively unknown designer, he has already designed for Michelle Obama during the campaign. Despite working with Michelle Obama’s style team, Wu only discovered his creation had been chosen when he watched her on television.

jason_wu2

Jason Wu

His reaction?

Wu was “awe-struck” as he thought it was a “long-shot” for the First Lady to pick his dress. Yet, he became deliriously delighted as the Obamas not only signify a new direction for America but they also made “Jason Wu” a household name in the Fashion World.

It’s great to see Michelle Obama choosing a dress by a young designer when she could have had her pick of dresses from the likes of Chanel, Michael Kors, and Diane von Furstenburg. It truly shows the genuineness behind their message of the importance of young people in changing America, and she certainly has given an amazing opportunity to Asian American designer, Jason Wu.

For the rest of the article on Michelle Obama’s dress, you can find it at: Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Ball Gown Designed to Convey “Hope”.

VACT Casting Call – Flower Drum Song

19 Jan

513bk8b6bwlThe Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre is producing Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical, Flower Drum Song for May 2009. Flower Drum Song is based on the novel by Chinese American novelist, C.Y. Lee, and tells a story of a Chinese girl, Mei Li, arriving to San Fransisco in preparation for an arranged marriage to night club owner Sammy Fong. Sammy’s disinterest in Mei Li and his love for his leading showgirl Linda Low, results in him trying to pawn his wife-to-be off to a shy Wang Ta. Love triangles are created as each character tries to figure out who they really want to be with.

The significance of Flower Drum Song is that it is the first Broadway musical that featured an almost all Asian cast. Moreover, unlike other musicals such as King and I, Miss Saigon and South Pacific, this was the first musical that focused on Asian Americans.

The Vancouver Asian Theatre is looking for 22 actors for their production and will be accepting resumes for auditions until February 1, 2009. For more information, you can click on the photo or  Flower Drum Song Casting Call.

Best Chinese Dishes in Vancouver!

19 Jan

chinese_food_In Vancouver, there is definitely no shortage of Chinese restaurants. Choosing a Chinese restaurant then is often not easy for not only do you have to take into consideration of the type of restaurant (congee-noodle houses,  extravagant seafood banquet halls, etc) but more than likely, you’ll also be stumped with deciding on which regional flavour-inspired cuisine you want to indulge in. For example, there is the classic Cantonese cuisine where dishes are slightly sweeter and sauces are often thicker. Then there are the fusion flavoured dishes from Singaporean restaurants which often mixes Chinese, Malaysian and Indian styled cooking together. And we can’t forget the popularity of Taiwanese restaurants especially the bubble tea joints that are frequented by the young and old.

The Vancouver Sun recently published an article highlighting 25 of the best Chinese dishes and restaurants in the city. The recipients of the honours were decided upon by a panel of 23 judges. Whether you’re craving dim sum, king crab or a bowl of wonton soup, you can find the best places for these dishes and more at  “Found: Vancouver’s Best Chinese Dishes”!

Bon Appetit!

Want to be a Cultural Navigator?

16 Jan

Do you have a writer’s bug that eats away at you because you just have so much to say to the world? Then consider being a Cultural Navigator!  Schema Magazine is an Asian Canadian magazine that strives to reflect the most culturally mobile and diverse generation of Canadians, the generation we’ve called Cultural Navigators. In doing so, Schema is a showcase of their unique sensibilities, interests and their pursuit of ethnic cool.

Using a new model for cultural identity, or “schema”, the magazine envisions individuals as dynamic identities that move through a complex web of cultures. Cultural Navigators see themselves as the product of these networks, available to them through immigration, family roots, and residency in diverse cities all over the world. The webzine explores this unique evolution and experience of Canada’s diversity, and the things–be it food, music, art, film or comic books–that we seek out, enjoy and produce as part of our diverse daily lives. We call this innovation ethnic cool.

Cultural Navigators crave this cultural innovation in the arts, media and public life , and Schema Magazine delivers in three formats:

* Your Daily Dose of Ethnic Cool, a fresh perspective on mainstream culture,
* Feature Articles & Interviews (currently being expanded), and a
* Podcast (currently in development).

Chances are, you’re a Cultural Navigator:

* Use their mobility in, through and around cultural spaces;
* Value their ethnicity, but are not defined by it; and
* Are at the heart of today’s mainstream

Why don’t you consider being one, too? Check out the internship opportunities:

Canada's Largest Source of Immigrant Workers are Filipino

16 Jan

A recent article published in the Asian Pacific Post reported that the Philippines have overtaken China as the leading source of immigrant workers to Canada. Whereas the number of Chinese who moved to Canada decreased by one third between 2005-07, the number of Filipino migrants have doubled within the past decade. The article cites that the reason for this is a direct result of the economic boom in China which have seen more people staying within the country for work, and thus, the service-sector jobs in Canada are being filled with Filipino workers. The executive director Flordeliz Dandal of the Kababayan Community Centre stated, ““Most Filipinos who come to Canada are really motivated to work and then send their salaries back home… They don’t care about politics, and they don’t yet have time to engage in Canadian political life unless they have been here a long time.”

I found this article interesting as it resonates with many stories of other Asian immigrant groups who came to Canada solely for the purpose of sending remittances home. It’ll be interesting to watch the Filipino community grow and establish stronger roots in Canada within the next decade and see what role they would play in the political arena.

For the rest of the article, you can find it here: “Filipinos are No. 1!”


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