Thursday, May 21, 2009
100,000 People Attend Asian Heritage Street Celebration
Asian Heritage Street Celebration Draws 100,000 Attendees
-Festival highlights pan Asian culture and heritage-
SAN FRANCISCO (May 19, 2009) - Approximately 100,000 people of all ages and races overflowed Larkin Street from McAllister to Ellis Streets to enjoy the sunshine and celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in San Francisco on May 16.
Faces of AsiaThe fifth annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration - the largest gathering of Asian Pacific Americans in the nation - featured a muay Thai kickboxing ring, delicious pan Asian cuisine, J-cars, tons of arts and crafts booths, Asian American musical artists, martial arts, a cultural procession, carnival rides and games, and more.
Presented by California Pacific Medical Center and Subaru, the 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration took place in San Francisco's Civic Center in front of the Asian Art Museum, leading up to the Little Saigon District.
The city's three Asian American Supervisors Carmen Chu, Eric Mar, and President of the Board of Supervisors David Chiu, kicked off the street fair with warm wishes and greetings for fairgoers at the Asian Art Museum stage. Chiu told the crowd it was fitting that the nation's largest Asian street celebration took place in the city because San Francisco is "the heart of our country's Asian American community."
Proud San Francisco Unified School District Awards parents surrounded the Little Saigon Stage, in the early afternoon with camcorders and digital cameras to snap footage of their children during the fair's annual SFUSD Student Awards Ceremony. For excellence in nutrition and fitness, forty-nine students received glass plaques designed by Dave San Pedro and created by Art Crystal, Ltd. The ceremony was part of the annual SFUSD Student Awards Program that the AHSC has hosted annually to recognize the accomplishments of students who are of Asian Pacific Islander heritage in categories not typically celebrated.
Approximately 160 people took advantage of the free hepatitis B screenings presented by California Pacific Medical Center and the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign.
Alan Wang and Fiona MaAssemblywoman Fiona Ma and ABC7 anchor Alan Wang spoke at the Asian Art Museum Stage about the importance of getting screened for hepatitis B. Asian Pacific Islanders have the highest rate of the disease compared to any ethnic group, and it is estimated that 1 in 10 people in the API community have an undiagnosed infection. Both Ma and Wang have chronic hepatitis B and were infected at birth. Wang wore a jade ribbon during his 5pm, 6pm and 11pm newscast that evening, showing his support of hepatitis B awareness and is one of the first Asian American newscasters nationwide to do so.
In the late afternoon, the Asian Art Museum stage became a dance floor, as a crowd formed in front of the stage, bobbing their heads, swaying their hips and arms while jamming to the electric performance by Bay Area rapper Lyrics Born and wife Joyo Velarde.
"The crowd and event was fantastic!" exclaimed Lyrics Born, after his performance. "There aren't many Asians in the arts so it is important for others to see arts like myself out there performing to change that."
The AHSC, organized by the AsianWeek Foundation, is the only outdoor event in the Bay Area to rotate its location each year in order to showcase that APIs reside in all San Francisco neighborhoods. The first Celebration highlighted the Japanese community in Japantown, the second showcased the Chinese on Irving Street in the Sunset District, the third paid homage to the large Filipino community in the South of Market area, last year the fair returned to Japantown and this year the fair celebrated the large Vietnamese community in the city's Little Saigon neighborhood.
"I am very excited and proud that the Vietnamese community that the AsianWeek Foundation chose to host their event in Little Saigon This year. Everyone knows that there is a Chinatown and Japantown, but not many know about Little Saigon for the Vietnamese community," said Hang Le To, Program Director/The Founder of Au Co Cultural & Leadership Youth Team for the Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center.
This year's sponsors include California Pacific Medical Center, Subaru, Brown and Toland Physicians, Comcast, Kaiser Permanente, Visa, AT&T, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Golden Gate Disposal, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS 5/CW Bay Area, AsianWeek, Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, BART, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
###
About the Asian Heritage Street Celebration
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. It is the largest outdoor gathering of Asians in America and features arts and crafts vendors, two stages for live performances, carnival rides, import car shows, a kickboxing ring, Asian food vendors and more. This year's sponsors include California Pacific Medical Center, Subaru, Brown and Toland Medical Group, Comcast, Kaiser Permanente, Visa, AT&T, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Golden Gate Disposal, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS 5/CW Bay Area, AsianWeek, Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, BART, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities.
AsianFairSF. com
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Press Release on the Street Fair
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Angela Pang
AsianWeek Foundation
apang@asianweek. com
415.321.5894
LARGEST ASIAN PACIFIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES IN SAN FRANCISCO'S LITTLE SAIGON
5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration
Saturday, May 16
11am-6pm
SAN FRANCISCO (May 11, 2009) - The largest gathering of Asian Pacific Americans in the nation is back and bigger than ever. The 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration will be held Saturday, May 16, 2009, in San Francisco's Civic Center in front of the Asian Art Museum, leading up to the Little Saigon District. Presented by California Pacific Medical Center and Subaru, the fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The festival will include Asian American artists, DJs, martial arts, j-cars, a Muay Thai kickboxing ring, Asian street food, a karaoke contest, arts and crafts, anime, free hepatitis B screenings and more! New features this year include an Asian Heritage Street Celebration Best Dance Crew Contest and carnival rides and games for children.
A celebration of all Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, the goal of the Street Celebration is to promote and foster Asian Pacific American identity by bringing together community and encouraging the sharing of differences and appreciation of diversity. In five years, the AHSC has quickly become the country's largest assemblage of APAs, drawing over 80,000 people annually.
The AHSC is the only outdoor event in the Bay Area to rotate its location each year, in order to showcase that APIs reside in all San Francisco neighborhoods. This year, the fair celebrates the Vietnamese American community in Little Saigon.
"We are very excited to see the Asian Heritage Street Celebration to come to the Little Saigon Cultural & Commercial District," says Philip Nguyen of the Southeast Asian Community Center. "We welcome this fair heartily, which will help promote not only Little Saigon, but also the whole Southeast Asian community of the Tenderloin, and of the city of San Francisco."
Lan Le,of the Vietnamese Community Center of San Francisco, says he hopes the fair will raise awareness of the Vietnamese community and help kick-start the area's many Vietnamese businesses. Le said he hopes the neighborhood will transform into a tourist attraction like Chinatown and Japantown, that visitors "must see" in The City.
San Francisco is home to the second Little Saigon in the United States, a name officially given only four years ago to the two blocks of Larkin Street between Eddy and O'Farrell. Approximately 2,000 of the city's 13,000 Vietnamese Americans live in the Little Saigon/Tenderloin, with many arriving as refugees after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Vietnamese Americans have since made a home, creating schools, service centers and at least 250 businesses in the area.
To pay homage to the Vietnamese community, the San Francisco Little Saigon Gate - two eight-ton granite and marble pillars, a symbol of peace, happiness and safety for the Vietnamese that have settled here, were erected last July. They now stand at the intersection of Larkin and Eddy streets.
"It is a testament to the vision and dedication of the Vietnamese community in San Francisco that our Little Saigon is the setting of this year's Asian Heritage Street Celebration, " said city college board member Steve Ngo, the city's first Vietnamese American elected official. "What a wonderful occasion!"
The AHSC returns all proceeds to various Asian communities, including newer and underserved communities like the Cambodians and Samoans, as well as more established populations. The AHSC has donated more than $50,000 to over 40 Bay Area community groups and charities, who are selected for their role in assembling diverse elements within the Asian Pacific American community. Fundraising for San Francisco public schools is another mission of the Celebration, which has created a raffle program with the goal of teaching children about community philanthropy at an early age. The AHSC provides prizes and administrative support for students and school groups to sell raffle tickets, and all proceeds are returned to participating schools.
###
About the Asian Heritage Street Celebration
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. It is the largest outdoor gathering of Asians in America and features arts and crafts vendors, two stages for live performances, carnival rides, import car show, kickboxing ring, Asian food vendors and more. This year's sponsors include California Pacific Medical Center, Subaru, Brown and Toland Medical Group, Comcast, Kaiser Permanente, Visa, AT&T, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Golden Gate Disposal, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS 5/CW Bay Area, AsianWeek, Northern California Carpenters Union, BART, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities.
www.asianfairsf. com
Contact:
Angela Pang
AsianWeek Foundation
apang@asianweek. com
415.321.5894
LARGEST ASIAN PACIFIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES IN SAN FRANCISCO'S LITTLE SAIGON
5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration
Saturday, May 16
11am-6pm
SAN FRANCISCO (May 11, 2009) - The largest gathering of Asian Pacific Americans in the nation is back and bigger than ever. The 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration will be held Saturday, May 16, 2009, in San Francisco's Civic Center in front of the Asian Art Museum, leading up to the Little Saigon District. Presented by California Pacific Medical Center and Subaru, the fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The festival will include Asian American artists, DJs, martial arts, j-cars, a Muay Thai kickboxing ring, Asian street food, a karaoke contest, arts and crafts, anime, free hepatitis B screenings and more! New features this year include an Asian Heritage Street Celebration Best Dance Crew Contest and carnival rides and games for children.
A celebration of all Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, the goal of the Street Celebration is to promote and foster Asian Pacific American identity by bringing together community and encouraging the sharing of differences and appreciation of diversity. In five years, the AHSC has quickly become the country's largest assemblage of APAs, drawing over 80,000 people annually.
The AHSC is the only outdoor event in the Bay Area to rotate its location each year, in order to showcase that APIs reside in all San Francisco neighborhoods. This year, the fair celebrates the Vietnamese American community in Little Saigon.
"We are very excited to see the Asian Heritage Street Celebration to come to the Little Saigon Cultural & Commercial District," says Philip Nguyen of the Southeast Asian Community Center. "We welcome this fair heartily, which will help promote not only Little Saigon, but also the whole Southeast Asian community of the Tenderloin, and of the city of San Francisco."
Lan Le,of the Vietnamese Community Center of San Francisco, says he hopes the fair will raise awareness of the Vietnamese community and help kick-start the area's many Vietnamese businesses. Le said he hopes the neighborhood will transform into a tourist attraction like Chinatown and Japantown, that visitors "must see" in The City.
San Francisco is home to the second Little Saigon in the United States, a name officially given only four years ago to the two blocks of Larkin Street between Eddy and O'Farrell. Approximately 2,000 of the city's 13,000 Vietnamese Americans live in the Little Saigon/Tenderloin, with many arriving as refugees after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Vietnamese Americans have since made a home, creating schools, service centers and at least 250 businesses in the area.
To pay homage to the Vietnamese community, the San Francisco Little Saigon Gate - two eight-ton granite and marble pillars, a symbol of peace, happiness and safety for the Vietnamese that have settled here, were erected last July. They now stand at the intersection of Larkin and Eddy streets.
"It is a testament to the vision and dedication of the Vietnamese community in San Francisco that our Little Saigon is the setting of this year's Asian Heritage Street Celebration, " said city college board member Steve Ngo, the city's first Vietnamese American elected official. "What a wonderful occasion!"
The AHSC returns all proceeds to various Asian communities, including newer and underserved communities like the Cambodians and Samoans, as well as more established populations. The AHSC has donated more than $50,000 to over 40 Bay Area community groups and charities, who are selected for their role in assembling diverse elements within the Asian Pacific American community. Fundraising for San Francisco public schools is another mission of the Celebration, which has created a raffle program with the goal of teaching children about community philanthropy at an early age. The AHSC provides prizes and administrative support for students and school groups to sell raffle tickets, and all proceeds are returned to participating schools.
###
About the Asian Heritage Street Celebration
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. It is the largest outdoor gathering of Asians in America and features arts and crafts vendors, two stages for live performances, carnival rides, import car show, kickboxing ring, Asian food vendors and more. This year's sponsors include California Pacific Medical Center, Subaru, Brown and Toland Medical Group, Comcast, Kaiser Permanente, Visa, AT&T, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Golden Gate Disposal, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS 5/CW Bay Area, AsianWeek, Northern California Carpenters Union, BART, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities.
www.asianfairsf. com
Monday, May 18, 2009
5th Annual in Civic Center to Little Saigon San Francisco
Proclamation from Governor Schwarzenegger
It would be hard to imagine a California without the wonderful influence of our Asian Pacific Islander residents, whose customs have become an indelible part of our cultural fabric. The people of the Asia-Pacific region have not only played an integral role in the history of our state, but they also continue to strengthen California as outstanding leaders in every industry and field.
One example of this important and growing influence is that right now there are more Asian Pacific Islanders serving in our state government than ever before. These representatives – along with those working in appointed positions in academia, our justice system and on a wide variety of boards and commissions – reflect our diversity and bolster our state.
This May, as we pause to think about the Asian Pacific Islander experience in California, I extend our state’s gratitude to all who share this great heritage. Your accomplishments and triumphs, as well as your struggles and sacrifices, have shaped our state forever, and it is an honor to recognize this special month with you.
I hope all Californians will gain a greater appreciation for the Asian Pacific Islander cultures and the fantastic diversity that makes our state the greatest in the nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim May 2009, as “Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 15th day of May 2009.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Secretary of State
May 14, 2009 0
Asian Heritage Street Celebration Hits San Francisco’s Little Saigon
-largest APA Heritage Month celebration nationwide-
5th
SAN FRANCISCO (May 16, 2009) - The largest gathering of Asian Pacific Americans in the nation is back and bigger than ever, featuring more Asian American artists, more DJs, more martial arts, J-cars, a karaoke contest, anime, and FREE hepatitis B. New features this year include an Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC) Best Dance Crew Contest, and family-friendly carnival rides and games for children.
The 5th annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration will be held Saturday, May 16, 2009, in San Francisco’s Civic Center in front of the Asian Art Museum, leading up to the Little Saigon District. The fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is presented by California Pacific Medical Center and Subaru.
The goal of the AHSC is to promote and foster pan-Asian Pacific American identity by bringing together communities and encouraging dialogue and sharing of diversity. In the five years since its inception, the AHSC has quickly become the United States’ largest assemblage of APAs — drawing over 80,000 people annually to the annual weekend event.
The AHSC is also the only outdoor event in the Bay Area to rotate its location each year to best showcase both the diversity of San Francisco’s neighborhoods and its API residents and businesses. Starting in Japantown, the AHSC moved to the Sunset District’s Chinese community, paid homage to the large Filipino community in the South of Market area in its third year, and returned to Japantown in 2008. This year, the AHSC celebrates San Francisco’s Little Saigon and the Vietnamese community.
“We are very excited to see the Asian Heritage Street Celebration to come to the Little Saigon Cultural & Commercial District, ” says Philip Nguyen of the Southeast Asian Community Center. ” We welcome this fair heartily, which will help promote not only Little Saigon, but also the whole Southeast Asian community of the Tenderloin, and of the city of San Francisco.”
Lan Le, of the Vietnamese Community Center of San Francisco, says he hopes the fair will raise awareness of the Vietnamese community and help kick-start the area’s many Vietnamese businesses to become a “must see” in The City.
San Francisco’s Little Saigon is composed of two blocks on Larkin Street between Eddy and O’Farrell Streets, and was made official four years ago. Approximately 2,000 of the city’s 13,000 Vietnamese Americans live in the Little Saigon district of the greater Tenderloin district, with many arriving following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Vietnamese Americans have since made themselves at home, and operate at least 250 businesses in the area.
To pay homage to the Vietnamese community, the San Francisco Little Saigon Gate— two eight-ton granite and marble pillars — a symbol of peace, happiness and safety for the Vietnamese that have settled here, were erected last July. They now stand at the intersection of Larkin and Eddy streets.
“It is a testament to the vision and dedication of the Vietnamese community in San Francisco that our Little Saigon is the setting of this year’s Asian Heritage Street Celebration, ” said Steve Ngo, the city’s first Vietnamese American elected official and San Francisco City College Board Member. ” What a wonderful occasion!”
The AHSC returns all proceeds to various Asian communities, including newer and underserved communities as Cambodians and Samoans, as well as more established populations. The AHSC has donated more than $50,000 to over 40 Bay Area community groups and charities, who are selected for their role in assembling diverse elements within the Asian Pacific American community. Fundraising for San Francisco public schools is another mission of the Celebration, which has created a raffle program with the goal of teaching children about community philanthropy at an early age. The AHSC provides prizes and administrative support for students and school groups to sell raffle tickets, and all proceeds are returned to participating schools.
###
About the Asian Heritage Street Celebration
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. It is the largest outdoor gathering of Asians in America and features arts and crafts vendors, two stages for live performances, carnival rides, import car show, kickboxing ring, Asian food vendors and more. This year’s sponsors include California Pacific Medical Center, Subaru, Brown and Toland Medical Group, Comcast, Kaiser Permanente, Visa, AT&T, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Golden Gate Disposal, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS 5/CW Bay Area, AsianWeek, Northern California Carpenters Union, BART, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities.
May 14, 2009 0
AHSC Honors 50 SFUSD Students for Excellence in Nutrition and Fitness
-Ceremony to take Place at 1pm on Ellis St. Stage at May 16 event-
students
SAN FRANCISCO, May 8, 2009 – Fifty students will be awarded for excellence in nutrition and fitness at the 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration on Saturday, May 16, 2009. An awards ceremony will take place at 1 PM on the Ellis Street Stage on Larkin and Ellis Streets with an opening performance by the fourth- and fifth grade students of Argonne Elementary School, and former interim superintendent Gwen Chan and Kimochi, Inc. executive director Steve Nakajo will co-present the awards to students representing over 12 San Francisco Unified School Districts.
Argonne Elementary School’s young performers have spent the past five months in intense choreography training for this presentation, and will regale the audience with hip hop dance and drumming presentations.
The AHSC has hosted the annual SFUSD Student Awards Program since 2005, and recognizes excellence in students of Asian Pacific Islander heritage in categories including community service, athletics, visual and performing arts, and green science. Each year, the AHSC invites all San Francisco K-12 schools to nominate at least two students for the award program. This year’s participating schools include: Alice Fong Yu Alternative School, Balboa High School, E.R. Taylor Elementary School, Independence High School, Jefferson Elementary School, Jose Ortega Elementary School, Lawton Alternative School, Log Cabin High School, Sheridan Elementary School, Spring Valley Elementary School, Sunset Elementary, and Washington High School.
###
About the Asian Heritage Street Celebration
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. It is the largest outdoor
gathering of Asians in America and features arts and crafts vendors, two stages for live performances, carnival rides, import car shows, a kickboxing ring, Asian food vendors and more. This year’s sponsors include California Pacific Medical Center, Subaru, Brown and Toland Medical Group, Comcast, Kaiser Permanente, Visa, AT&T, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Golden Gate Disposal, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS 5/CW Bay Area, AsianWeek, Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, BART, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities.
www.asianfairsf.com
May 14, 2009 0
AHSC Collaborates with the Asian Art Museum for 2009 Event
SAN FRANCISCO (April 30, 2009)- The Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC) and the San Francisco Asian Art Museum have joined together to recognize the diversity of the Asian community in San Francisco and to promote Asian cultural arts and crafts.
This year’s event takes place on May 16, 2009 from 11 am until 6 pm, and marks the fifth annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration held in San Francisco. This year’s focus on the Vietnamese community in San Francisco brings the AHSC right at the doorstep of the Asian Art Museum in Civic Center, running up Larkin Street to the Gates of Little Saigon on Eddy Street, and spans 14 city blocks.
AHSC will feature special cultural booths on the courtyard steps of the Asian Art Museum, and the museum will be offing free admission tickets to fairgoers who patronize the many Arts and Crafts vendors at the Street Celebration. The museum will also remain open throughout the day.
“Our Arts and Crafts Vendors are at the center of the Asian Heritage Street Celebration. They carry on the beauty and artistry of the Asian/Pacific Islander culture in their quality and exquisitely crafted items,” said Ted Fang, organizer for the Asian Heritage Street Celebration. “We are happy that the Asian Art Museum is joining with us to promote their craftswork, and to help bring their beautiful, quality arts and crafts items to fairgoers.”
In partnership with the Asian Heritage Street Celebration and in recognition of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, the Asian Art Museum is offering:
Free admission: Participants spending at least $30.00 at any Arts and Crafts booth will receive a voucher for one free admission to the Asian Art Museum. 2-for-1 admission: Spend $10 to $30 at any Arts and Crafts booth and receive a voucher that entitles the individual to one complimentary general admission ticket when purchasing an adult admission ticket (normally $12) at the Asian Art Museum. All offers valid May 16 through June 10, 2009 and are limited to one per person.
“The Asian Art Museum welcomes the Asian Heritage Street Celebration to our Civic Center neighborhood on May 16 and we are pleased that together we can honor the vibrant and thriving Asian community in San Francisco,” says JayXu, museum director. “We are especially delighted to support the arts vendors participating in the Celebration by providing museum vouchers to their patrons and we look forward to their visits in the coming month.”
This partnership with the Asian Heritage Street Celebration is supported by Visa.
About the AsianWeek Foundation
The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501©3 committed to developing the voices of Asian America. Founded in 2004, The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Asian Pacific American Committee and over 150 organizations serving the approximate 525,000 members of the Bay Area Asian Pacific American community. All proceeds benefit local and national Asian Pacific American charities.
About the Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian Art, with a collection of over 17,000 artworks spanning 6,000 years of history. The museum is a public institution whose mission is to lead a diverse global audience in discovering the unique material, aesthetic, and intellectual achievements of Asian art and culture.
-###-
May 13, 2009 0
Performance Schedule
LITTLE SAIGON STAGE at Ellis Street
11:00:00 AM Miss National Asia Pageant
11:05:00 AM Citizen School Tinikling Performance
11:15:00 AM Pushin’ The Bay - Emcee T, Mac Mall and Ray Luv
11:25:00 AM Mark Munoz UFC Fighter Filipino Wrecking Machine
11:30:00 AM Planet Infinity’s More Than Medals Taekwando Team
11:50:00 AM UBI
12:00:00 PM Indonesian Consulate Dance Performance
12:10:00 PM Charlie Chin
12:45:00 PM Argonne Elementary School Dance Performance
1:00:00 PM School Award Presentation
1:30:00 PM Faces of Asia Procession Presentation
1:40:00 PM Nguyen Dance Company
2:00:00 PM Downe-FX
2:10:00 PM LIKHA - Pilipino Folk Ensemble
2:20:00 PM Go Bigg
2:30:00 PM AHSC’s Best Dance Crew - Contest hosted by WILD949
3:30:00 PM Animemyu plus CosPlay
4:00:00 PM US Wing Chun
4:30:00 PM Karaoke Contest
5:30:00 PM Kickboxing Demomonstration
ASIAN HERITAGE STREET CELEBRATION
Asian Art Museun Stage at Fulton Street
11:00:00 AM San Francisco Supervisors
11:05:00 AM Chung Ngai Dance Troupe
11:20:00 AM Amber Field
11:30:00 AM Rendezvous
12:00:00 PM Kaz-well
12:15:00 PM KAPAKAHI
12:45:00 PM Mango Kingz
1:15:00 PM Miles Outside
1:45:00 PM Curt Yago
2:00:00 PM REN THE VINYL ARCHAEOLOGIST
2:15:00 PM Native Elements
2:45:00 PM Lyrics Born with Joyo Velarde
3:30:00 PM Thomas’ Aparttment
4:00:00 PM The Campaign
4:20:00 PM Enoch
4:30:00 PM Drunken Hu?
5:00:00 PM Random Ninjas
+ Resident DJs Tone Def & Jay Plus, Greetings from Elected Officials, Raffle Prizes and More!
May 7, 2009 1
Entertainment for the 5th Annual AHSC
AMBER FIELD
Amber Field began playing piano at age five. She received a BA in Indian History from Pomona College and studied abroad in India. Amber chants and plays esraj, didgeridoo and drums in Bay Area yoga classes. amberfieldmusic.com
ANIMEMYU
animemyu Animemyu, a non-profit that serves to inspire people to learn about Japanese culture and language through Japanese animation musicals, is best known for its Sailor Moon Musical that has been performed for the past three years at the city’s Cherry Blossom Festival. animemyu@gmail.com
ARGONNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Argonne Elementary School is proud to present a class of fourth and fifth grade students in their debut performance of hip-hop and drumming. These dedicated students spent five months training and learning choreography during recess, lunch times and after school from their teacher, Julianne Eng.
BARNONE
CHARLIE CHIN
The Chinese Historical Society of America proudly presents an original History Alive! performance of Uncle Toisan by artist-in-residence Charlie Chin. This Chautauqua-style storytelling presentation features a Chinese American immigrant’s life in the U.S., highlighting the Chinese Exclusion Act, Angel Island, WWII and the civil rights movement.
CHUNG NGAI DANCE TROUPE
Chung Ngai Dance Troupe, established in 1966, serves to promote Chinese performing arts in the U.S. Students participate in a variety of cultural activities, including Chinese folk dancing, Chinese yo-yo, lion dancing, drumming and martial arts.
CITIZEN SCHOOLS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN INTERMEDIATE
Citizen Schools, a non-profit after school program for low-income middle school students, serves to educate students and strengthen communities by introducing kids to resources and activities available in their own backyards.
CURT YAGI
Voted the 2008 “Best of the Bay Singer Songwriter” by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, Curt Yagi’s music, filled with percussive guitar licks, breathy vocals, rhythmic beats and driving bass lines, will keep you going the entire day. curtyagi.com
DRUNKEN HU?
A group of four formed in 2006, Drunken Hu is a blend of alternative, hard rock, punk, metal and pop. myspace.com/drunkenhu
ENOCH
Hip Hop artist Enoch hopes to create music fueled by substance instead of greed. Enoch is working towards redefining the state of Hip Hop instead of just reinventing it. www.myspace.com/problemcausingsolution
GO BIGG
MANGO KINGZ
The Mango Kingz are six young entertainers joined by their common vision and love of music, to perform the kind of “head-bobbin’, toe-tappin’, get up out of your seat and dance” music known as “feel-good island music”. Take some oldies, pop, and r&b, add a little reggae spice and sprinkle some aloha over it, and you get an island style that won’t let you stop smilin’ and vibin’. A soothing mix of congas, drums, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and ukulele collectively form the background for this type of music, which we like to call “Island Flava”. As we expand our horizons when it comes to our musical talents, we hope to be able to continue to share our talents with everyone. Our goal, as musicians, is to spread the “Aloha”, or Love, we feel when we are on stage, with everyone in our audience. IT’S CONTAGIOUS! Are you ready for some Island Flava?
MARK MUNOZ
Mark was born February 9, 1978 on a US Military Base in Yokouska, Japan to Filipino parents Imelda Kenery of Santa Ana, Manila, Philippines and Rodolfo Munoz from Pasay City, Philippines. Munoz began to wrestle at the age of thirteen. In 1994, Munoz won the bronze medal in the 1994 Regional Sub-Section Wrestling Tournament and in that same year he went to Cadet World Wrestling Championships and took the 5th place in Moscow, Russia. In the following years in 19995 and 1996, Munoz won the California State wrestling Championship at 189 pounds for Vallejo High School two years in a row.
MILES OUTSIDE
An alternative hip-hop band based in the Bay Area, the members of Miles Outside are from various musical backgrounds including funk, rock, jam, hip hop, soul and drum and bass.
KAPAKAHI
Like the multi-cultural mix of musicians that make up the band, Kapakahi is about celebrating diversity in all its fun, funky glory with music that is a fresh and progressive mash-up of pop, reggae, hip hop and funk. kapakahimusic.com
KAZ-WELL
Kaz-well is a San Francisco-born hip-hop artist with tastes ranging from folk, rock and electornica. His album Fish Outta Water comes out later this year. myspace.com/kazwellmusic
AMERICAN CENTER OF PHILIPPINE ARTS
The newly founded American Center of Philippine Arts (ACPA) was founded by Jay Loyola, Herna Cruz-Louie and Jennifer Reyes in Oakland, CA in February of 2009. Our mission is to provide a unique educational and developmental platform for multidisciplinary Philippine arts through innovative hands-on classes, collaborations, networking opportunities, and showcasing events. We strive to nurture both traditional and progressive Philippine arts to strengthen our community and ethnic identity.
ACPA’s current programs include year-round Philippine folk dance youth classes for ages 5-18, dance classes for adults and supporting local Bay Area Pilipino college organizations and their showcase presentations. ACPA is continually seeking artists and volunteers in the community that have a passion for using Philippine arts to educate our communities to expand its programs.
LYRICS BORN
lyrics_born
One of the best-selling independent hip-hop artists of this era, Lyrics Born released his first solo album Later That Day in 2003, one of the top 5 most critically acclaimed American hip-hop records that year. His following albums include Same !@#$ Different Day and Everywhere at Once.
NATIVE ELEMENTS
Native Elements, a collective of musicians and singers, has been performing for over a decade. With its repertoire firmly in the roots-reggae tradition, the group combines their colorful influences into an amalgamation of positive, vibrant music that speaks from the heart. chris@native-elements.com
PLANET INFINITY
planetinfinityWinning heaps of awards at the 2009 American Tae Kwon Do Open Championship, Planet Infinity consists of youth who have a strong desire to share to the community how tae kwon do has impacted their lives. They will showcase martial arts skills and stunts to encourage other youth to strive to be not just champions in the game, but champions in life.
PUSHIN’ THE BAY — EMCEE T, MAC MALL AND RAY LUV
The “Chinese King of the Bay,” Emcee T is a hip-hop musician, producer and television host for East Bay independent channel, Pushin’ the Bay TV. Through his music, he strives to enable Asian youth to achieve their career goals while having fun through positive hobbies. His first album, Underestimated, will debut soon.
RANDOM NINJAS
Random Ninjas is a heavy rock band spawned from the critical mass of global culture in the heart of L.A. Strong edgy vocals completes the aural masterpieces to bring audiences a new cultural freedom of expression in RANDOMNESS.
RENDEZVOUS
THE MAHEA UCHIYAMA CENTER FOR INTL DANCE AND KA UA TUAHINE POLYNESIAN DANCE COMPANY
dance_co
Established in 1993, the MUCID Center serves to provide an environment where students of all ages and abilities can take part in a holistic multicultural dance experience through traditional training, lecture, demonstrations, performance opportunities and workshops with master teachers.
THE CAMPAIGN
THE VIETNAMESE PERFORMING ARTS GROUP / NGUYEN DANCE COMPANY
Devoted to teaching dance, Danny Quynh Nguyen established the Nguyen Dance Company in 1999. He is the first Vietnamese modern dancer, teacher and choreographer in the United States to receive his B.F.A. in Dance, Performance and Choreography from the California Institute of The Arts and his M.F.A. in Dance, Performance and Choreography from Mills College.
THOMAS’ APARTMENT
thomasapartmentA musical creation fusing hard-driving riffs, euphoric melodies, serious lyrical depth with an alternative-rock-pop sensibility, the five-member Thomas’ Apartment is back with their brand-new second record Synchrony after the success of their debut, self-titled 12-track album in 2004. thomasapartment.com
UBI
WING CHUN DEMONSTRATION ‘THE STORY AND STYLE OF GRANDMASTER CHRIS CHAN’
Grandmaster Chan Kam Shig (Christopher Chan) was the first Chinese instructor to teach Chinese martial arts to the American public. During the 1960s, Chan and his friend Bruce Lee introduced and spread the popularity of the Wing Chun system throughout the Bay Area. Chan was the chief director in charge of promoting the first U.S. Chinese Kung Fu Exhibition in 1967. Chan founded the U.S. Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy and is currently the president and chief Instructor. Uswingchun.com
Apr 23, 2009 0
Anime Street Pavilion Takes Over San Francisco May 16th
sailormoon07–Highlights include a Fashion show, Cosplay contest and anime vendors-
SAN FRANCISCO (April 8, 2009) – Time to bust out that Sailor Moon or Pokemon outfit and celebrate otaku (anime fan) culture! Anime fans are in for a treat as the Anime Pavilion returns, once again, to the Asian Heritage Street Celebration on May 16, with a fun daylong program including an anime theme runway fashion show, an anime Cosplay contest and masquerade, and Japanese rock performances.
The Pavilion, which has been a feature of the nation’s largest pan Asian street fair since 2007, celebrates the otaku culture in the San Francisco Bay Area and comes complete with local anime vendors, giving attendees a chance to pick up the latest manga. Past performers have included crowd pleasers – the Random Ninjas, The Slants, and Lemon Drop Kick. This year the Pavilion will also showcase original anime clothing lines from Japanese and Bay Area fashion designers. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win prizes by showcasing their own homemade anime costumes on stage.
The Fifth Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009 located at the Civic Center leading to Little Saigon and will feature j-cars, a Muay Thai kickboxing ring, scrumptious food, tons of arts and crafts, carnival rides and games, free hepatits B screenings, and more! The Asian Heritage Street Celebration gathers the diversity of the Asian American populations of the San Francisco Bay Area and promotes cross-cultural interaction through sharing of cultures, creation of innovative programs and entertaining activities for visitors and participants.
To participate in the Anime Pavilion as a vendor or to enter the Cosplay Contest visit
visit eigomanga.com/ahsc/ for details and visit asianfairsf.com to learn more about the 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration.
###
About eigoMANGA
eigoMANGA is a comic book publishing studio company that produces original Japanese-influenced comics as well as develop business and marketing projects geared towards the anime industry.
http://www.eigoMANGA.com/
http://www.eigoMANGA.com/ahsc/
About the AsianWeek Foundation
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities. In the fifth years since it’s inception, the outdoor event has quickly become the country’s largest assemblage of Asian Americans. www.asianfairsf.com
Apr 23, 2009 0
Martial Arts Exhibition at the AHSC
kickboxerskickboxingSAN FRANCISCO (April 22, 2009) For the third year in a row, this year’s Asian Heritage Street Celebration promises an action-packed, in-your-face, Bay Area martial arts round-up featuring students of all backgrounds. The free exhibition, put together in part by San Francisco’s World Team USA, is expecting a turnout of more than 100 participants and hundreds of spectators. The event will take place Saturday May 16 in Civic Center from noon to 5pm.
“The event will feature students who wish to exhibit their striking skills in the ring,” said Kru Sam (Chilaphanh) Phimsoutham, the chief instructor and owner of World Team USA, who organized the exhibition in last year’s 3rd annual AHSC in the South of Market Area. Participants will be matched up with other students of the same skill level, age, weight and experience. Various styles of martial arts also will be featured, including muay thai, san shou, kung fu, MMA (for mixed martial arts), karate, and jiu-jitsu.
The event organizers are planning at least 50 bouts, using muay thai (Thai Boxing) rules, and pankration rules. Participants will dress in full gear — shin guards, gloves, body gear, head guards, and mouthpieces. “We’ve invited people from all around the Bay Area — some as far as Fresno, Los Angeles, and even Las Vegas,” said Kenneth Giang, a staff member at World Team USA. “This is going to allow the crowd to just see a little bit of what martial arts is all about.”
What: Mixed Martial Arts Exhibition at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration
Where: Civic Center to Little Saigon
When: Noon to 5 p.m.
http://www.worldteamusa.com/
Apr 22, 2009 0
AHSC Announces Poster Winner For 5th Annual Celebration
-Filipino American Dave San Pedro Takes the Prize-
SAN FRANCISCO (April 20, 2009) - Dave San Pedro’s beautiful cherry blossom tree has been chosen as the official artwork of the 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC). His design was just one of 55 entries - the most submissions ever, for the annual AHSC poster contest held in conjunction with Kearny Street Workshop.
San Pedro wins the $500 grand prize and the opportunity to have his artwork prominently displayed all over San Francisco. His artwork will appear on CBS Outdoor Muni bus side and BART advertisements and Clear Channel bus shelters, plus newspaper advertisements, television commercials, the AHSC’s San Francisco Unified School District Asian Pacific American Student Awards, postcards, posters, and t-shirts promoting the free Saturday May 16 event, which will take place in front of the Asian Art Museum in Civic Center, leading up to Little Saigon from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A graphic artist, painter, photographer, and musician, San Pedro was born and raised in Bacoor, Cavite Philippines. He graduated from the University of Santo Thomas, Philippines with a degree in Fine Arts, majoring in Advertising. While attending, he garnered top prizes for his artwork. He later immigrated to Norfolk, Virginia and joined the U.S. Army as a musician. After serving, he joined the U.S. Postal Service in 1979 and retired in 2006. He also formed Five D’s Arts, LLC, a Kamiseta screenprinting, design, and photography studio. San Pedro is affiliated with several Filipino American community organizations including the Filipino American Veterans Association and the Maharlika Lions Club. His poster design inspiration came from previous AHSC posters, which incorporated a 2, 3, and 4 to signify the respective year of each event. Following the tradition, his cherry blossom branch forms a 5.
Al Perez, a member of the poster committee, chose the design because “it was simple and clever, especially with its incorporation of the five in the illustration.” San Pedro says he is “excited to win” and remarks that his artwork for the event “symbolizes life’s beauty and to waste no time enjoying every moment of it.”
To contact San Pedro, email philippinefiesta@fivedsarts.com.
About the AsianWeek Foundation
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities. www.asianfairsf.com
Apr 18, 2009 0
Food Booths
California Corn Roast & More
Roasted corn, baked potatoes and baked yams will all be roasted on site with our corn roaster. Fresh lemonade also available.
Delicious Kettle Corn
Kettle corn and bottled water
Hawaii BBQ
Chicken and pork kabobs, BBQ over rice, and chicken and pork grilled on charcoal BBQ
Hawaiian Regional Coffees
Coffees and teas and roasting demonstration
http://www.hawaiianregionalcoffees.com/
Irma’s Pampanga Restaurant
BBQ, lumpia, adobo and pancit
Korean American Association of San Francisco & Bay Area
Bulgogi (marinated beef), bibimbab (rice with vegetables) and galbi (marinated beef short ribs)
Mai Thai
Teriyaki chicken, Louisiana hot/mild links, all-beef hot dogs, vegetable fried rice and vegetable chow mein
New Filipinas Restaurant
BBQ chicken, pork, pancit, lumpia, rice, adobo, pork, chicken, water and soda
Saigon BBQ
On-site prepare: BBQ chicken and pork, and grilled pork/chicken with vermicelli noodles
It would be hard to imagine a California without the wonderful influence of our Asian Pacific Islander residents, whose customs have become an indelible part of our cultural fabric. The people of the Asia-Pacific region have not only played an integral role in the history of our state, but they also continue to strengthen California as outstanding leaders in every industry and field.
One example of this important and growing influence is that right now there are more Asian Pacific Islanders serving in our state government than ever before. These representatives – along with those working in appointed positions in academia, our justice system and on a wide variety of boards and commissions – reflect our diversity and bolster our state.
This May, as we pause to think about the Asian Pacific Islander experience in California, I extend our state’s gratitude to all who share this great heritage. Your accomplishments and triumphs, as well as your struggles and sacrifices, have shaped our state forever, and it is an honor to recognize this special month with you.
I hope all Californians will gain a greater appreciation for the Asian Pacific Islander cultures and the fantastic diversity that makes our state the greatest in the nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim May 2009, as “Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 15th day of May 2009.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Secretary of State
May 14, 2009 0
Asian Heritage Street Celebration Hits San Francisco’s Little Saigon
-largest APA Heritage Month celebration nationwide-
5th
SAN FRANCISCO (May 16, 2009) - The largest gathering of Asian Pacific Americans in the nation is back and bigger than ever, featuring more Asian American artists, more DJs, more martial arts, J-cars, a karaoke contest, anime, and FREE hepatitis B. New features this year include an Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC) Best Dance Crew Contest, and family-friendly carnival rides and games for children.
The 5th annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration will be held Saturday, May 16, 2009, in San Francisco’s Civic Center in front of the Asian Art Museum, leading up to the Little Saigon District. The fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is presented by California Pacific Medical Center and Subaru.
The goal of the AHSC is to promote and foster pan-Asian Pacific American identity by bringing together communities and encouraging dialogue and sharing of diversity. In the five years since its inception, the AHSC has quickly become the United States’ largest assemblage of APAs — drawing over 80,000 people annually to the annual weekend event.
The AHSC is also the only outdoor event in the Bay Area to rotate its location each year to best showcase both the diversity of San Francisco’s neighborhoods and its API residents and businesses. Starting in Japantown, the AHSC moved to the Sunset District’s Chinese community, paid homage to the large Filipino community in the South of Market area in its third year, and returned to Japantown in 2008. This year, the AHSC celebrates San Francisco’s Little Saigon and the Vietnamese community.
“We are very excited to see the Asian Heritage Street Celebration to come to the Little Saigon Cultural & Commercial District, ” says Philip Nguyen of the Southeast Asian Community Center. ” We welcome this fair heartily, which will help promote not only Little Saigon, but also the whole Southeast Asian community of the Tenderloin, and of the city of San Francisco.”
Lan Le, of the Vietnamese Community Center of San Francisco, says he hopes the fair will raise awareness of the Vietnamese community and help kick-start the area’s many Vietnamese businesses to become a “must see” in The City.
San Francisco’s Little Saigon is composed of two blocks on Larkin Street between Eddy and O’Farrell Streets, and was made official four years ago. Approximately 2,000 of the city’s 13,000 Vietnamese Americans live in the Little Saigon district of the greater Tenderloin district, with many arriving following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Vietnamese Americans have since made themselves at home, and operate at least 250 businesses in the area.
To pay homage to the Vietnamese community, the San Francisco Little Saigon Gate— two eight-ton granite and marble pillars — a symbol of peace, happiness and safety for the Vietnamese that have settled here, were erected last July. They now stand at the intersection of Larkin and Eddy streets.
“It is a testament to the vision and dedication of the Vietnamese community in San Francisco that our Little Saigon is the setting of this year’s Asian Heritage Street Celebration, ” said Steve Ngo, the city’s first Vietnamese American elected official and San Francisco City College Board Member. ” What a wonderful occasion!”
The AHSC returns all proceeds to various Asian communities, including newer and underserved communities as Cambodians and Samoans, as well as more established populations. The AHSC has donated more than $50,000 to over 40 Bay Area community groups and charities, who are selected for their role in assembling diverse elements within the Asian Pacific American community. Fundraising for San Francisco public schools is another mission of the Celebration, which has created a raffle program with the goal of teaching children about community philanthropy at an early age. The AHSC provides prizes and administrative support for students and school groups to sell raffle tickets, and all proceeds are returned to participating schools.
###
About the Asian Heritage Street Celebration
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. It is the largest outdoor gathering of Asians in America and features arts and crafts vendors, two stages for live performances, carnival rides, import car show, kickboxing ring, Asian food vendors and more. This year’s sponsors include California Pacific Medical Center, Subaru, Brown and Toland Medical Group, Comcast, Kaiser Permanente, Visa, AT&T, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Golden Gate Disposal, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS 5/CW Bay Area, AsianWeek, Northern California Carpenters Union, BART, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities.
May 14, 2009 0
AHSC Honors 50 SFUSD Students for Excellence in Nutrition and Fitness
-Ceremony to take Place at 1pm on Ellis St. Stage at May 16 event-
students
SAN FRANCISCO, May 8, 2009 – Fifty students will be awarded for excellence in nutrition and fitness at the 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration on Saturday, May 16, 2009. An awards ceremony will take place at 1 PM on the Ellis Street Stage on Larkin and Ellis Streets with an opening performance by the fourth- and fifth grade students of Argonne Elementary School, and former interim superintendent Gwen Chan and Kimochi, Inc. executive director Steve Nakajo will co-present the awards to students representing over 12 San Francisco Unified School Districts.
Argonne Elementary School’s young performers have spent the past five months in intense choreography training for this presentation, and will regale the audience with hip hop dance and drumming presentations.
The AHSC has hosted the annual SFUSD Student Awards Program since 2005, and recognizes excellence in students of Asian Pacific Islander heritage in categories including community service, athletics, visual and performing arts, and green science. Each year, the AHSC invites all San Francisco K-12 schools to nominate at least two students for the award program. This year’s participating schools include: Alice Fong Yu Alternative School, Balboa High School, E.R. Taylor Elementary School, Independence High School, Jefferson Elementary School, Jose Ortega Elementary School, Lawton Alternative School, Log Cabin High School, Sheridan Elementary School, Spring Valley Elementary School, Sunset Elementary, and Washington High School.
###
About the Asian Heritage Street Celebration
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. It is the largest outdoor
gathering of Asians in America and features arts and crafts vendors, two stages for live performances, carnival rides, import car shows, a kickboxing ring, Asian food vendors and more. This year’s sponsors include California Pacific Medical Center, Subaru, Brown and Toland Medical Group, Comcast, Kaiser Permanente, Visa, AT&T, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Golden Gate Disposal, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS 5/CW Bay Area, AsianWeek, Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, BART, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities.
www.asianfairsf.com
May 14, 2009 0
AHSC Collaborates with the Asian Art Museum for 2009 Event
SAN FRANCISCO (April 30, 2009)- The Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC) and the San Francisco Asian Art Museum have joined together to recognize the diversity of the Asian community in San Francisco and to promote Asian cultural arts and crafts.
This year’s event takes place on May 16, 2009 from 11 am until 6 pm, and marks the fifth annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration held in San Francisco. This year’s focus on the Vietnamese community in San Francisco brings the AHSC right at the doorstep of the Asian Art Museum in Civic Center, running up Larkin Street to the Gates of Little Saigon on Eddy Street, and spans 14 city blocks.
AHSC will feature special cultural booths on the courtyard steps of the Asian Art Museum, and the museum will be offing free admission tickets to fairgoers who patronize the many Arts and Crafts vendors at the Street Celebration. The museum will also remain open throughout the day.
“Our Arts and Crafts Vendors are at the center of the Asian Heritage Street Celebration. They carry on the beauty and artistry of the Asian/Pacific Islander culture in their quality and exquisitely crafted items,” said Ted Fang, organizer for the Asian Heritage Street Celebration. “We are happy that the Asian Art Museum is joining with us to promote their craftswork, and to help bring their beautiful, quality arts and crafts items to fairgoers.”
In partnership with the Asian Heritage Street Celebration and in recognition of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, the Asian Art Museum is offering:
Free admission: Participants spending at least $30.00 at any Arts and Crafts booth will receive a voucher for one free admission to the Asian Art Museum. 2-for-1 admission: Spend $10 to $30 at any Arts and Crafts booth and receive a voucher that entitles the individual to one complimentary general admission ticket when purchasing an adult admission ticket (normally $12) at the Asian Art Museum. All offers valid May 16 through June 10, 2009 and are limited to one per person.
“The Asian Art Museum welcomes the Asian Heritage Street Celebration to our Civic Center neighborhood on May 16 and we are pleased that together we can honor the vibrant and thriving Asian community in San Francisco,” says JayXu, museum director. “We are especially delighted to support the arts vendors participating in the Celebration by providing museum vouchers to their patrons and we look forward to their visits in the coming month.”
This partnership with the Asian Heritage Street Celebration is supported by Visa.
About the AsianWeek Foundation
The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501©3 committed to developing the voices of Asian America. Founded in 2004, The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Asian Pacific American Committee and over 150 organizations serving the approximate 525,000 members of the Bay Area Asian Pacific American community. All proceeds benefit local and national Asian Pacific American charities.
About the Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian Art, with a collection of over 17,000 artworks spanning 6,000 years of history. The museum is a public institution whose mission is to lead a diverse global audience in discovering the unique material, aesthetic, and intellectual achievements of Asian art and culture.
-###-
May 13, 2009 0
Performance Schedule
LITTLE SAIGON STAGE at Ellis Street
11:00:00 AM Miss National Asia Pageant
11:05:00 AM Citizen School Tinikling Performance
11:15:00 AM Pushin’ The Bay - Emcee T, Mac Mall and Ray Luv
11:25:00 AM Mark Munoz UFC Fighter Filipino Wrecking Machine
11:30:00 AM Planet Infinity’s More Than Medals Taekwando Team
11:50:00 AM UBI
12:00:00 PM Indonesian Consulate Dance Performance
12:10:00 PM Charlie Chin
12:45:00 PM Argonne Elementary School Dance Performance
1:00:00 PM School Award Presentation
1:30:00 PM Faces of Asia Procession Presentation
1:40:00 PM Nguyen Dance Company
2:00:00 PM Downe-FX
2:10:00 PM LIKHA - Pilipino Folk Ensemble
2:20:00 PM Go Bigg
2:30:00 PM AHSC’s Best Dance Crew - Contest hosted by WILD949
3:30:00 PM Animemyu plus CosPlay
4:00:00 PM US Wing Chun
4:30:00 PM Karaoke Contest
5:30:00 PM Kickboxing Demomonstration
ASIAN HERITAGE STREET CELEBRATION
Asian Art Museun Stage at Fulton Street
11:00:00 AM San Francisco Supervisors
11:05:00 AM Chung Ngai Dance Troupe
11:20:00 AM Amber Field
11:30:00 AM Rendezvous
12:00:00 PM Kaz-well
12:15:00 PM KAPAKAHI
12:45:00 PM Mango Kingz
1:15:00 PM Miles Outside
1:45:00 PM Curt Yago
2:00:00 PM REN THE VINYL ARCHAEOLOGIST
2:15:00 PM Native Elements
2:45:00 PM Lyrics Born with Joyo Velarde
3:30:00 PM Thomas’ Aparttment
4:00:00 PM The Campaign
4:20:00 PM Enoch
4:30:00 PM Drunken Hu?
5:00:00 PM Random Ninjas
+ Resident DJs Tone Def & Jay Plus, Greetings from Elected Officials, Raffle Prizes and More!
May 7, 2009 1
Entertainment for the 5th Annual AHSC
AMBER FIELD
Amber Field began playing piano at age five. She received a BA in Indian History from Pomona College and studied abroad in India. Amber chants and plays esraj, didgeridoo and drums in Bay Area yoga classes. amberfieldmusic.com
ANIMEMYU
animemyu Animemyu, a non-profit that serves to inspire people to learn about Japanese culture and language through Japanese animation musicals, is best known for its Sailor Moon Musical that has been performed for the past three years at the city’s Cherry Blossom Festival. animemyu@gmail.com
ARGONNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Argonne Elementary School is proud to present a class of fourth and fifth grade students in their debut performance of hip-hop and drumming. These dedicated students spent five months training and learning choreography during recess, lunch times and after school from their teacher, Julianne Eng.
BARNONE
CHARLIE CHIN
The Chinese Historical Society of America proudly presents an original History Alive! performance of Uncle Toisan by artist-in-residence Charlie Chin. This Chautauqua-style storytelling presentation features a Chinese American immigrant’s life in the U.S., highlighting the Chinese Exclusion Act, Angel Island, WWII and the civil rights movement.
CHUNG NGAI DANCE TROUPE
Chung Ngai Dance Troupe, established in 1966, serves to promote Chinese performing arts in the U.S. Students participate in a variety of cultural activities, including Chinese folk dancing, Chinese yo-yo, lion dancing, drumming and martial arts.
CITIZEN SCHOOLS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN INTERMEDIATE
Citizen Schools, a non-profit after school program for low-income middle school students, serves to educate students and strengthen communities by introducing kids to resources and activities available in their own backyards.
CURT YAGI
Voted the 2008 “Best of the Bay Singer Songwriter” by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, Curt Yagi’s music, filled with percussive guitar licks, breathy vocals, rhythmic beats and driving bass lines, will keep you going the entire day. curtyagi.com
DRUNKEN HU?
A group of four formed in 2006, Drunken Hu is a blend of alternative, hard rock, punk, metal and pop. myspace.com/drunkenhu
ENOCH
Hip Hop artist Enoch hopes to create music fueled by substance instead of greed. Enoch is working towards redefining the state of Hip Hop instead of just reinventing it. www.myspace.com/problemcausingsolution
GO BIGG
MANGO KINGZ
The Mango Kingz are six young entertainers joined by their common vision and love of music, to perform the kind of “head-bobbin’, toe-tappin’, get up out of your seat and dance” music known as “feel-good island music”. Take some oldies, pop, and r&b, add a little reggae spice and sprinkle some aloha over it, and you get an island style that won’t let you stop smilin’ and vibin’. A soothing mix of congas, drums, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and ukulele collectively form the background for this type of music, which we like to call “Island Flava”. As we expand our horizons when it comes to our musical talents, we hope to be able to continue to share our talents with everyone. Our goal, as musicians, is to spread the “Aloha”, or Love, we feel when we are on stage, with everyone in our audience. IT’S CONTAGIOUS! Are you ready for some Island Flava?
MARK MUNOZ
Mark was born February 9, 1978 on a US Military Base in Yokouska, Japan to Filipino parents Imelda Kenery of Santa Ana, Manila, Philippines and Rodolfo Munoz from Pasay City, Philippines. Munoz began to wrestle at the age of thirteen. In 1994, Munoz won the bronze medal in the 1994 Regional Sub-Section Wrestling Tournament and in that same year he went to Cadet World Wrestling Championships and took the 5th place in Moscow, Russia. In the following years in 19995 and 1996, Munoz won the California State wrestling Championship at 189 pounds for Vallejo High School two years in a row.
MILES OUTSIDE
An alternative hip-hop band based in the Bay Area, the members of Miles Outside are from various musical backgrounds including funk, rock, jam, hip hop, soul and drum and bass.
KAPAKAHI
Like the multi-cultural mix of musicians that make up the band, Kapakahi is about celebrating diversity in all its fun, funky glory with music that is a fresh and progressive mash-up of pop, reggae, hip hop and funk. kapakahimusic.com
KAZ-WELL
Kaz-well is a San Francisco-born hip-hop artist with tastes ranging from folk, rock and electornica. His album Fish Outta Water comes out later this year. myspace.com/kazwellmusic
AMERICAN CENTER OF PHILIPPINE ARTS
The newly founded American Center of Philippine Arts (ACPA) was founded by Jay Loyola, Herna Cruz-Louie and Jennifer Reyes in Oakland, CA in February of 2009. Our mission is to provide a unique educational and developmental platform for multidisciplinary Philippine arts through innovative hands-on classes, collaborations, networking opportunities, and showcasing events. We strive to nurture both traditional and progressive Philippine arts to strengthen our community and ethnic identity.
ACPA’s current programs include year-round Philippine folk dance youth classes for ages 5-18, dance classes for adults and supporting local Bay Area Pilipino college organizations and their showcase presentations. ACPA is continually seeking artists and volunteers in the community that have a passion for using Philippine arts to educate our communities to expand its programs.
LYRICS BORN
lyrics_born
One of the best-selling independent hip-hop artists of this era, Lyrics Born released his first solo album Later That Day in 2003, one of the top 5 most critically acclaimed American hip-hop records that year. His following albums include Same !@#$ Different Day and Everywhere at Once.
NATIVE ELEMENTS
Native Elements, a collective of musicians and singers, has been performing for over a decade. With its repertoire firmly in the roots-reggae tradition, the group combines their colorful influences into an amalgamation of positive, vibrant music that speaks from the heart. chris@native-elements.com
PLANET INFINITY
planetinfinityWinning heaps of awards at the 2009 American Tae Kwon Do Open Championship, Planet Infinity consists of youth who have a strong desire to share to the community how tae kwon do has impacted their lives. They will showcase martial arts skills and stunts to encourage other youth to strive to be not just champions in the game, but champions in life.
PUSHIN’ THE BAY — EMCEE T, MAC MALL AND RAY LUV
The “Chinese King of the Bay,” Emcee T is a hip-hop musician, producer and television host for East Bay independent channel, Pushin’ the Bay TV. Through his music, he strives to enable Asian youth to achieve their career goals while having fun through positive hobbies. His first album, Underestimated, will debut soon.
RANDOM NINJAS
Random Ninjas is a heavy rock band spawned from the critical mass of global culture in the heart of L.A. Strong edgy vocals completes the aural masterpieces to bring audiences a new cultural freedom of expression in RANDOMNESS.
RENDEZVOUS
THE MAHEA UCHIYAMA CENTER FOR INTL DANCE AND KA UA TUAHINE POLYNESIAN DANCE COMPANY
dance_co
Established in 1993, the MUCID Center serves to provide an environment where students of all ages and abilities can take part in a holistic multicultural dance experience through traditional training, lecture, demonstrations, performance opportunities and workshops with master teachers.
THE CAMPAIGN
THE VIETNAMESE PERFORMING ARTS GROUP / NGUYEN DANCE COMPANY
Devoted to teaching dance, Danny Quynh Nguyen established the Nguyen Dance Company in 1999. He is the first Vietnamese modern dancer, teacher and choreographer in the United States to receive his B.F.A. in Dance, Performance and Choreography from the California Institute of The Arts and his M.F.A. in Dance, Performance and Choreography from Mills College.
THOMAS’ APARTMENT
thomasapartmentA musical creation fusing hard-driving riffs, euphoric melodies, serious lyrical depth with an alternative-rock-pop sensibility, the five-member Thomas’ Apartment is back with their brand-new second record Synchrony after the success of their debut, self-titled 12-track album in 2004. thomasapartment.com
UBI
WING CHUN DEMONSTRATION ‘THE STORY AND STYLE OF GRANDMASTER CHRIS CHAN’
Grandmaster Chan Kam Shig (Christopher Chan) was the first Chinese instructor to teach Chinese martial arts to the American public. During the 1960s, Chan and his friend Bruce Lee introduced and spread the popularity of the Wing Chun system throughout the Bay Area. Chan was the chief director in charge of promoting the first U.S. Chinese Kung Fu Exhibition in 1967. Chan founded the U.S. Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy and is currently the president and chief Instructor. Uswingchun.com
Apr 23, 2009 0
Anime Street Pavilion Takes Over San Francisco May 16th
sailormoon07–Highlights include a Fashion show, Cosplay contest and anime vendors-
SAN FRANCISCO (April 8, 2009) – Time to bust out that Sailor Moon or Pokemon outfit and celebrate otaku (anime fan) culture! Anime fans are in for a treat as the Anime Pavilion returns, once again, to the Asian Heritage Street Celebration on May 16, with a fun daylong program including an anime theme runway fashion show, an anime Cosplay contest and masquerade, and Japanese rock performances.
The Pavilion, which has been a feature of the nation’s largest pan Asian street fair since 2007, celebrates the otaku culture in the San Francisco Bay Area and comes complete with local anime vendors, giving attendees a chance to pick up the latest manga. Past performers have included crowd pleasers – the Random Ninjas, The Slants, and Lemon Drop Kick. This year the Pavilion will also showcase original anime clothing lines from Japanese and Bay Area fashion designers. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win prizes by showcasing their own homemade anime costumes on stage.
The Fifth Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009 located at the Civic Center leading to Little Saigon and will feature j-cars, a Muay Thai kickboxing ring, scrumptious food, tons of arts and crafts, carnival rides and games, free hepatits B screenings, and more! The Asian Heritage Street Celebration gathers the diversity of the Asian American populations of the San Francisco Bay Area and promotes cross-cultural interaction through sharing of cultures, creation of innovative programs and entertaining activities for visitors and participants.
To participate in the Anime Pavilion as a vendor or to enter the Cosplay Contest visit
visit eigomanga.com/ahsc/ for details and visit asianfairsf.com to learn more about the 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration.
###
About eigoMANGA
eigoMANGA is a comic book publishing studio company that produces original Japanese-influenced comics as well as develop business and marketing projects geared towards the anime industry.
http://www.eigoMANGA.com/
http://www.eigoMANGA.com/ahsc/
About the AsianWeek Foundation
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities. In the fifth years since it’s inception, the outdoor event has quickly become the country’s largest assemblage of Asian Americans. www.asianfairsf.com
Apr 23, 2009 0
Martial Arts Exhibition at the AHSC
kickboxerskickboxingSAN FRANCISCO (April 22, 2009) For the third year in a row, this year’s Asian Heritage Street Celebration promises an action-packed, in-your-face, Bay Area martial arts round-up featuring students of all backgrounds. The free exhibition, put together in part by San Francisco’s World Team USA, is expecting a turnout of more than 100 participants and hundreds of spectators. The event will take place Saturday May 16 in Civic Center from noon to 5pm.
“The event will feature students who wish to exhibit their striking skills in the ring,” said Kru Sam (Chilaphanh) Phimsoutham, the chief instructor and owner of World Team USA, who organized the exhibition in last year’s 3rd annual AHSC in the South of Market Area. Participants will be matched up with other students of the same skill level, age, weight and experience. Various styles of martial arts also will be featured, including muay thai, san shou, kung fu, MMA (for mixed martial arts), karate, and jiu-jitsu.
The event organizers are planning at least 50 bouts, using muay thai (Thai Boxing) rules, and pankration rules. Participants will dress in full gear — shin guards, gloves, body gear, head guards, and mouthpieces. “We’ve invited people from all around the Bay Area — some as far as Fresno, Los Angeles, and even Las Vegas,” said Kenneth Giang, a staff member at World Team USA. “This is going to allow the crowd to just see a little bit of what martial arts is all about.”
What: Mixed Martial Arts Exhibition at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration
Where: Civic Center to Little Saigon
When: Noon to 5 p.m.
http://www.worldteamusa.com/
Apr 22, 2009 0
AHSC Announces Poster Winner For 5th Annual Celebration
-Filipino American Dave San Pedro Takes the Prize-
SAN FRANCISCO (April 20, 2009) - Dave San Pedro’s beautiful cherry blossom tree has been chosen as the official artwork of the 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC). His design was just one of 55 entries - the most submissions ever, for the annual AHSC poster contest held in conjunction with Kearny Street Workshop.
San Pedro wins the $500 grand prize and the opportunity to have his artwork prominently displayed all over San Francisco. His artwork will appear on CBS Outdoor Muni bus side and BART advertisements and Clear Channel bus shelters, plus newspaper advertisements, television commercials, the AHSC’s San Francisco Unified School District Asian Pacific American Student Awards, postcards, posters, and t-shirts promoting the free Saturday May 16 event, which will take place in front of the Asian Art Museum in Civic Center, leading up to Little Saigon from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A graphic artist, painter, photographer, and musician, San Pedro was born and raised in Bacoor, Cavite Philippines. He graduated from the University of Santo Thomas, Philippines with a degree in Fine Arts, majoring in Advertising. While attending, he garnered top prizes for his artwork. He later immigrated to Norfolk, Virginia and joined the U.S. Army as a musician. After serving, he joined the U.S. Postal Service in 1979 and retired in 2006. He also formed Five D’s Arts, LLC, a Kamiseta screenprinting, design, and photography studio. San Pedro is affiliated with several Filipino American community organizations including the Filipino American Veterans Association and the Maharlika Lions Club. His poster design inspiration came from previous AHSC posters, which incorporated a 2, 3, and 4 to signify the respective year of each event. Following the tradition, his cherry blossom branch forms a 5.
Al Perez, a member of the poster committee, chose the design because “it was simple and clever, especially with its incorporation of the five in the illustration.” San Pedro says he is “excited to win” and remarks that his artwork for the event “symbolizes life’s beauty and to waste no time enjoying every moment of it.”
To contact San Pedro, email philippinefiesta@fivedsarts.com.
About the AsianWeek Foundation
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community. The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to developing Asian American community. All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities. www.asianfairsf.com
Apr 18, 2009 0
Food Booths
California Corn Roast & More
Roasted corn, baked potatoes and baked yams will all be roasted on site with our corn roaster. Fresh lemonade also available.
Delicious Kettle Corn
Kettle corn and bottled water
Hawaii BBQ
Chicken and pork kabobs, BBQ over rice, and chicken and pork grilled on charcoal BBQ
Hawaiian Regional Coffees
Coffees and teas and roasting demonstration
http://www.hawaiianregionalcoffees.com/
Irma’s Pampanga Restaurant
BBQ, lumpia, adobo and pancit
Korean American Association of San Francisco & Bay Area
Bulgogi (marinated beef), bibimbab (rice with vegetables) and galbi (marinated beef short ribs)
Mai Thai
Teriyaki chicken, Louisiana hot/mild links, all-beef hot dogs, vegetable fried rice and vegetable chow mein
New Filipinas Restaurant
BBQ chicken, pork, pancit, lumpia, rice, adobo, pork, chicken, water and soda
Saigon BBQ
On-site prepare: BBQ chicken and pork, and grilled pork/chicken with vermicelli noodles
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)