By Angela Pang

Thousands Celebrate Asian Heritage

   
 

Even the storm clouds backed away as tens of thousands came out to Irving Street in San Francisco's Sunset District for the 2nd Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration. Two hundred booths ranging from arts and crafts, community and nonprofits, lined the middle of Irving St. from 20th to 25th avenues.

The fair was packed with nonstop attractions. Many fairgoers stopped to take pictures with the BART-mobile - a miniature replica of the train. Others huddled around the stage to watch over 20 performers. The hungry munched on Hawaii BBQ and pad thai, while drinking tapioca milk tea and checking out the booths.

"I spoke to all of the merchants who participated and all they could say was 'fantastic,'" said Bill Barnickel, board director of the Outer Sunset Merchants Association. “This event was so electrifying, you could feel the excitement with all the merchants as well as the people who came to the event."

The event stressed the diversity of the Asian Pacific American community with representation from all ethnicities performing live on stage, and offering a huge selection of arts and crafts, plus food stuffs. In two years, the celebration is quickly becoming the country's largest assemblage of Asian Americans.

A youth rally and awards ceremony recognizing the contributions of 45 Asian Pacific American coaches from San Francisco public schools kicked off the event. CBS 5 Sportscaster Rick Quan emceed along with Warriors voice Franco Finn and Fire Commissioner Steve Nakajo. Fourteen students from the San Francisco public schools in the high school, middle school and elementary school levels received glass awards as "Inspirational Players." Also honored were Hall of Fame inductees Jamie Wong and Edward Chow.

Hundreds crowded the street in front of the main stage to watch former American Idol contestants Jasmine Trias and Jose "Sway" Penala perform. Trias, third place finalist from season three, sang two songs including her favorite from the show, "Inseparable." "I'm honored to be here and I'm proud to represent the Asian American community wherever my music takes me," said Trias.

"A lot of Asian Americans have talent and this community event is a great platform to showcase that talent," said Bay Area local Sway.

AHSC Program Director Christine Padilla said it was a pleasure and honor to work with such an extraordinary group of APA artists.

"The street celebration stage gives us the opportunity to highlight the overwhelming talent that is emerging from the Bay Area," Padilla said. "We are so lucky to be part of such a vibrant and diverse community."

The crowd estimated at 80,000 throughout the day, had a chance to sing their own songs and compete in the Comcast Karaoke Competition. Ed Villa Carlos and Kevin Chau of EVC Entertainment ran the competition.

"We had a wonderful time and the singers were good," said Carlos. "The fair brought together the various Asian American communities. While walking down the street, I heard Vietnamese, Tagalog, Mandarin, Cantonese."

Mayor Gavin Newsom also stopped by the karaoke stage to sing "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."

Gina Medina of Daly City won first place and a pair of roundtrip airline tickets anywhere in the U.S., courtesy of Southwest Airlines with her rendition of Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love For You." Other top winners included Robert Lira, Paul Priolo, Elaine Durides and George Jones.

Over 550 people participated in the free Hepatitis B screenings provided by the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, including Congressman Mike Honda.

Ray Nagar, owner of Project 760 Productions, hosted the Anime Costume Contest, which drew colorful contestants. Dressed as Jin-Roh Soldier from the anime series Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Dave Wong won the grand prize. Other winners included Heather Buholzer dressed as Hinamori from the anime series Bleach and Dominic Young as Resident Evil 4's, The Merchant.

"As an Irving St. merchant, I think the fair was very successful," said Harry Ha, of Ha's Restaurant. "The fair was a great opportunity for people not familiar with Irving Street to come here."

AsianWeek Foundation organized the event. The celebration was co-presented by the California Pacific Medical Center and Comcast.

"We're pleased that this event was bigger and better than last year," said the foundation's Ted Fang. "We were surprised by the difference of the Asian crowd this year compared to last year - really reflective of the different neighborhoods of San Francisco and how different Asian groups affect the personality of each neighborhood."

"This celebration is really a showcase of Asian Pacific American diversity," Fang added. "I'm glad that there's an event like this that recognizes and celebrates the Asian American communities as a whole," said fairgoer Anna Yee. "I had a great time at the fair and I can't wait for next year's event."

For a complete list of the raffle, karaoke, and anime costume contest winners visit our website www.AsianFairSF.com.



VIP

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom

Assemblymember Leland Yee

San Francisco Supervisor Fiona Ma

District Attorney Kamala Harriss

Public Defender Jeff Adachi

Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting

City Administrator Ed Lee

BART Director James Fang

City College Trustee Rodel Rodis

City College Trustee Lawrence Wong

Board of Education President Norman Yee

Board of Education Member Eric Mar

Board of Education Member Eddie Chin

Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee

SFPD Police Chief Heather Fong

SFPD Captain Keith Sanford

SFUSD Superintendent Gwen Chan

Senator Jackie Speier

Honorable Don Mitchell

City Attorney Dennis Herrera

Supervisor Sophie Maxwell

Congressman Tom Lantos

Cindy Shamban, DPT

Bill Lee, SFO

 

THE COMMUNITY

AATC

American College of Traditional Medicine

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation

APA For Progress

API Queer Woman & Transgender Coalition

API Wellness Center

APIA Health Forum

APICC

Asian American Arts & Heritage Festival

Asian American Dance Performances

Asian American Donor Program

Asian American Firefighters Association

Asian American Journalists Association

Asian American Music Conference

Asian American Peace Officers Association

Asian American Recovery Services

Asian American Theater Company

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

Asian Chefs Association

Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice

Asian Community Mental Health Services

Asian Health Services

Asian Improv Arts

Asian Pacific American Community Center

Asian Pacific Islander Wellness Center

Asian Women's Resource Center

Asian, Inc.

California Correctional Peace Officers Association

California Dragon Boat Association

California Transplant Network

Cambodian Community Development

Castro Street Fair

Center for Asian American Media

Chicken Skratch

Chinatown Community Children's Center

Chinatown Community Development Center

Chinatown Economic Development Group

Chinatown YMCA

Chinese American Citizens Alliance

Chinese American International School

Chinese for Affirmative Action

Chinese for Peaceful Unification

Chinese Historical Society of America

Community Youth Center

CORA

CYC (Formerly Chinatown Youth Center)

East West Academy of Healing Arts

Eastwind Books of Berkeley

Filipino American Arts Exposition

First Thursdays

Fusion Program for Mixed Heritage Youth

Gay Asian Multicultural Exchange

Gay Asian Pacific Association

Ginoong Pilipinas-USA

GLTMusic.com

Haight Street Fair

hapihour.org

Japanese Community Youth Council

Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California

Japantown Merchants Association

Japantown Task Force

Junk Yard Gang

Kearny Street Workshop

Kimochi Home

Korean American Community Center

Korean Center

Lincoln High School

Manja.org

Motivate Movement

Motivating Youth to Succeed

MYX, ABS-CBN

NAAAP

Narika

National Archives Pacific Region-San Francisco

National Federation of Filipino American Associations

Nguyen Dance Company

Nihonmachi Little Friends

Oasis For Girls

Organization of Chinese Americans

Outer Sunset Merchants Association

Pan Asian Entertainment

Persuasian

Philippine Children's Fund of America

Prime-Image Media

Purple Moon

Que Huong Charity Center

San Francisco Chinatown Lions Club

San Francisco Department of Child Support Services

San Francisco Police Department

San Francisco Taiko Dojo

San Francisco Public Library

San Francisco Vegetarian Society

SanFranciscoChinatown.com

SBC DJs

Self Help for the Elderly

South Bay First Thursdays

Southeast Asian Community Center

Supreme Master Ching Hai

Ted Jocson Photography

The Cannery

Theatre of Yugen

Third Thursdays

Tzu Chi Foundation

UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies

United Commercial Bank

Vietnamese Community Center of San Francisco

Vietnamese Youth Development

West Bay Filipino

 

OUR FRIENDS

Commissioner Steve Nakajo

Commissioner Benny Yee

Aaron Weinstein

Al Gordon

Alex Mamak

Andrew Yeoh

Angela Tam, Washington High School

Ania Wieckowska

Austin Mosqueda

Bill Barnes, Office of Supervisor Fiona Ma

Bill Barnickel, Outer Sunset Merchants Association

Bill Picture

Bok Pon

Boku Kodama

Brian Pang

Brian Schott

Candy and Robert Pellegrine

Carla Williams-Namboodiri

Carlos S. Padilla

Catherine Chen

Caleb Homeres

Chris Francisco, Motivate Movement

Christina Luna, Prime Image Media Group

Claudine Cheng

Clear Channel

Crystal Steuart, San Francisco Entertainment Commission

Dan Yee, Washington High School

Dar Singh

David Dacus

David S. Kim, Korean American Association of San Francisco and Greater Bay Area

Dennis Marshall

Dianne Suen

Doug Bartlett

Ed Carlos, EVC Entertainment

Elena Shore

Elsie Wong, San Francisco Public Library

Eric Cheung

Florence Fang

Frank Shum

Frank Tom

George Koyuly

Ginny Poon

Gloria Pang

Goeorge Broder

Goretti Lui

Grace-Sonia Lee

Harry Ha, Tzu Chi

Henry Nguyen

Iain MacDonald

Jack Choi

Janet A. McLaughlin, Great Big Color, Inc.

Jason Chan

Jason Wong

Jean Park

Jeff Mori, Asian American Recovery Services

Jeffery Stearman

Jenkin Chan

Jesus Coronel

Jodi Jackson

John Legnido

Joy Li

Joyce Guan

Judy Rosen, Jefferson Elementary School

Julie Yim

Kam Yee

Kelly Grant

Kier Kristensen

Kofi Bonner

Kurtis Kato, Kamikaze Records

Lan Phan, THE CANNERY at Del Monte Square

Laura Hefferon

Lauren Marie Padilla, St. Ignatius College Prep

Lewis Fong, San Francisco Police Department

Lewis Martin

Linda Creighton

Lisa Sharpe

Lorna Ho

Ly Nguyen, Kearny Street Workshop

Marcella Rose Padilla

Margaret Lee, Newcomer High School

Mark Grafilo

Marsha Nunotani

Mary Liu

Maylene Tang

Melissa Belgara

Michelangelo Apodaca, San Francisco Police Department

Mike Tao, CNET Download.com

Nancy Aquino

Nancy Calibjo

Nathan Zanon

Nguyen Stanton

Paul Pang

Paul Pratt

Paula Lykins

Pearl Pang

Pearl Song

Pete Howes, San Francisco Fire Department

Randy Young, San Francisco Police Department

Ray Nagar, Project 760 Productions

ReceiverGallery.com

Rhiza Pascua

Rich Hashimoto, Japantown Merchants Association

Rich Keller

Richard Ow

Rick Seramin, Abbey Party Rents

Rochelle Padilla

Rose Chung

Ryan Young

Sally Wei, Tzu Chi

Samson Wong

Sandy Mori

Sheila Vu

Sheldon Lew

Sherry McClure

Sonia McDaniel

South Bay Reprographics

Spencer Chow

Stephen H. Adams

Steve Shinn

Susan Okada, Asian American Recovery Services

Tita Aida

Todd Inoue

Tom Trent

Tony Santa Ana

Vince Wong

Wilma Pang, Pan Asian Entertainment

Wilson Ng

Yolanda Padilla

 

ARTISTS

Boy Wonder

Cherng Loong Lion Dance Troupe

Distortion 2 Static

DowneFX Dance Company

Jasmine Trias

JayPlus

Jeff Bagis, GLT Music

Jeremy Tagle Bautista

Jern Eye of Lunar Heights

Jimmy Biala

Jose "Sway" Penala

Julia Lau Band

Kero One

Khemarin Dance Group

Legaci

Mango Kingz

Mike Nice

Native Elements

Philtered Soul

SambAsia

San Francisco Wu Shu Team

The Magic of Chin Chin

Tone Def

 

SPONSORS

Comcast Cable and Telecommunications

California Pacific Medical Center

Creative I Studios

Lennar Urban

VERB -Centers for Disease Control

HSBC Bank

Sterling Bank

Wells Fargo Bank

Kaiser Permanente

Southwest Airlines

Sheraton Gateway - SFO

Silver Clouds Restaurant

Yank Sing Restaurant

BART

Muni

Sunset Scavenger

 

THE MEDIA

A Partnership

Allen Mok

Ang Panahon, Greg Macabenta

CBS Outdoor

Comcast Cable and Telecommunications

Dae Advertising, Vicky Wong

Hokubei Mainichi, Tom Dahte, Yayoi Wagers

Hyphen Magazine, Shari de Costa

ImaginAsian TV, Diana Librada, Adriana da Rosa

Jan Yanehiro

KISS 98.1, Ramona Gutierrez

KKSF 103.7, Wanda Wells

KMEL 106.1 FM, Tone Def

KNEW 910 AM, Susan Wells

Korea Times, Andrew Lee

KPIX-TV 5, Steve Poitras

Ming Pao Daily News, Linda Sze

Mo Magazine, Thien Huynh

New American Media

960AM Quake Radio, Michael Capozzola

Niwa Public Relations

Pacific Fusion TV, Dan Mori, Jeannie Lee

Philippine News, Margarita Argente, Lito Gutierrez

Queer Channel, The Quake, Michelle Sinhbandith

Rick Quan

Sing Tao Daily, Julia Tung

STAR 101.3, Tony Ng

The Quake 1310 AM,

UPN Bay Area, Jackie Wright

VietNews USA, Jim Nguyen

WILD 94.9, Jay Plus

Will and Willie Show, The Quake

World Channel, Inc., Candy Chan

World Journal, Hattie Xu, Brian Ho

 

CELEBRATION TEAM

Al Perez, Artist/Designer

Stephanie Pellegrine, Operations Director

Angela Pang, Celebration Director

Christine V. Padilla, Program Director

Shin H. Lin, Designer/Webmaster

Dan Mandell, Celebration Coordinator

Sequoia Nagamatsu, Booth Coordinator

Joyce Aldana, Sponsorships

Pablo Heising, Senior Advisor

The Clean City Coalition

Ted Fang, Organizer

 

 
 

 
design by Shin Hui Lin & Sheila Vu