🎉On This Day

Happy Filipino American History Month!

Kicking off today, it’s time to celebrate the incredible history, culture and contributions of the Fil-Am community! Did you know the first officially recorded Filipinos in the U.S. landed in what is now known as Morro Bay, California, way back in Oct. 18, 1587, aboard a Spanish galleon? These Filipino crew members, known as "Luzones Indios," were part of Spain’s Manila-Acapulco galleon trade route, which connected the Philippines and Mexico. Their arrival marks the earliest recorded presence of Filipinos in what would become the United States, making them the first Asians to set foot in North America.

Happy China National Day (国庆(节)快乐)!

Today also marks the anniversary of the People's Republic of China's founding in 1949. This day kicks off the Golden Week Holiday, a seven-day period from Oct. 1-7 when Chinese people take time to travel, reunite with family and enjoy festivities across the country. Beijing hosts the grandest celebrations, featuring flag-raising ceremonies and fireworks displays. With increased travel and retail activity, travelers are advised to book early or seek out less crowded locations. Wherever you are, we wish you a joyous and memorable Golden Week!

News

Meet the 80-year-old competing at Miss Universe Korea

South Korean model Choi Soon-hwa, 80, is making headlines for being the oldest person ever to compete in a Miss Universe pageant. After the Miss Universe Organization lifted the upper limit of its age restriction this year — originally only allowing contestants aged 18 to 28 — Miss Universe Korea followed suit, allowing Choi to compete as one of 32 finalists for the crown on Monday and ultimately represent South Korea at Miss Universe in Mexico on Nov. 16.

Why she competed: Choi aimed to challenge stereotypes about aging through her Miss Universe appearance. “I want to stun the world, like, ‘How is an 80-year-old lady so healthy? How did she maintain that body? What’s your diet?’ So, I want to show that we can live healthily even when we get old,” she told CNN ahead of Monday’s pageant. On Instagram, Miss Universe Korea recognized Choi as the “Oldest Miss Universe National Contestant.”

Before the pageant: Born in Masan, a city in South Gyeongsang province under Japanese rule in 1943, Choi worked as a nurse and a Christian pastor before retiring at 68. However, she returned to the workforce years later to settle some debts. Speaking to the Washington Times, she recalled her modeling journey beginning in 2014 when another pastor she was caring for asked, “Why don’t you become a model?” The opportunity came by chance after she saw a TV ad looking for senior models. Describing herself as a “trendsetter for senior models,” Choi appeared in magazines for high-end products targeting South Korean retirees. Still clueless about her patient’s question, Choi pondered, “I wonder to this day how she saw a model in me. I feel there must have been something invisible, something divine.”

News

San Francisco’s iconic Sam Wo restaurant faces closure after 115 years

Sam Wo, a 115-year-old staple in San Francisco’s Chinatown, is at risk of closing its doors by the end of the year. Co-owner David Ho, 69, is ready to retire after nearly 45 years of running the historic restaurant, leaving its future uncertain without a new chef or buyer in the coming months.

Ready for retirement: Sam Wo holds a special place in the hearts of many San Franciscans and has been a cultural landmark for generations. The restaurant's walls are covered in memories, capturing visits from loyal customers and notable figures like Ken Jeong, Chef Martin Yan and Conan O'Brien. It was also once famous for employing "the world's rudest waiter," the legendary Edsel Fong. 

Saving a legacy: Co-owner Steven Lee noted the urgency of finding the right person to take over before the restaurant’s lease expires at the end of the year. "We don’t feel comfortable signing the lease without a good operator," Lee said. The team has enlisted a national broker to help solicit interest from potential buyers across the country, with the hope of keeping Sam Wo in its original Chinatown location. If no suitable buyer or chef is found in three months, Lee said they might resort to auctioning off the restaurant’s iconic elements, such as its original stools and signage.

News

L.A. Chinatown residents still reeling from arson that displaced dozens

Residents in Los Angeles’ Chinatown are still reeling from the fire that tore through their neighborhood on Sept. 13, leaving many displaced and frustrated at the conditions that led to it. With six people injured and around 70 displaced, frustrations are mounting as officials continue investigating the blaze, which authorities confirmed was deliberately set.

What happened: The fire broke out at around 3:45 a.m. at an abandoned construction site on Bunker Hill Avenue, quickly spreading to adjacent buildings. Residents were forced to evacuate as flames engulfed their homes, displacing dozens including elderly individuals. Days later, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that the fire was arson. The fire caused significant damage to several apartment complexes, red-tagging one building and leading to burglaries targeting displaced residents. Assistant Chief Blake Chow expressed optimism about an arrest but asked the public for help. Anyone with information is urged to call the police at (213) 486-7260 or (877) 527-3247.

What the residents are saying: Many of the displaced are struggling to rebuild their lives, with the Chinatown Service Center stepping in to provide translation services, food and temporary shelter. Longtime residents like Wilson, who lost his car, passport and tools in the incident, expressed frustration, sharing to the Los Angeles Times how the abandoned site had been a magnet for squatters and frequent fires. Community members previously voiced concerns to city officials, but nothing was done, they said. The trauma of losing homes was compounded by the timing, just days before the Mid-Autumn Festival. Despite their hardships, victims gathered at a makeshift celebration hosted by the Red Cross and the Chinatown Service Center.

News

“Dead end?” Beijing slams US pledge of $567 million for Taiwan’s defense:

The Biden administration approved a $567 million defense package for Taiwan, continuing U.S. support for the island in the face of increased pressure from China. This marks a significant step in bolstering Taiwan’s military readiness as Beijing escalates its military activities in the region.

What’s it for: Biden authorized the Secretary of State “to direct the drawdown of up to $567 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan,” the White House said on Sunday. This is nearly double the $345 million budget authorized last year. While the White House did not provide specifics, Defense News, citing an unnamed official, reported on Sept. 21 that the package includes “fund training, stockpiles, anti-armor weapons, air defense and multi-domain awareness.” Drones are expected to be crucial in Taiwan’s “asymmetric” warfare capacity, which focuses on countering China’s larger military with cost-effective and innovative technologies. The Pentagon is preparing a third aid package for Taiwan, with plans to complete it before January 2025.

How China is responding: China condemned the U.S. decision on Monday, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stating that arming Taiwan “seriously violates the one-China principle” and threatens regional stability. Lin also stressed that Taiwan’s independence efforts are “a dead end,” while U.S. assistance “will only backfire.” Beijing, which sees Taiwan as a breakaway province, has increased military activities near the island in the past week. Despite China’s protests, the U.S. remains committed to supporting Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which mandates providing sufficient arms to defend against potential threats.

Sports

Teen who claims to have caught Ohtani's historic 50-50 ball sues sellers

An 18-year-old man who purportedly caught Los Angeles Dodgers hitter Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50-50 season baseball is suing the auction house and individuals trying to sell it. Setting the starting bid at $500,000, auction company Goldin is running the auction from Sept. 27 until Oct. 16. Collectors can also buy the ball outright for $4.5 million until Oct. 9.

Driving the news: Max Matus filed the lawsuit in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court on Wednesday, naming Goldin, Chris Belanski and Kelvin Ramirez  as defendants. The suit includes purported video evidence filmed by other fans during the historic moment on Sept. 19. The document claims he was the first to catch the ball and that Belanski trapped his “arm in between [Belanski’s] legs and wrangled the 50-50 Ball out of Max’s left hand.” Furthermore, it claimed that Belanski “wrongfully and forcefully obtained control of the ball” and left the arena with it when he was escorted out by security. Ramirez, who reportedly attended the game with Belanski, allegedly claimed ownership of the ball as well. Matus, who was celebrating his 18th birthday at the time, claims he cannot recover the irreplaceable “one-of-a-kind” ball if it is sold at Goldin and that “no monetary damages will be adequate to replace it,” the suit noted.

Catch up: With the regular season over, Ohtani, 30, fell short of the Triple Crown, which is awarded when a player leads the league in batting average, home runs and runs batted in (RBIs). While he led the National League in home runs at 54 and 130 RBIs, he missed the batting title by .004 points against San Diego Padres’ Luis Arraez, who finished with a .314 average. The Dodgers will play against either the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves or New York Mets in the National League Division Series Game 1 on Saturday for the postseason.

News

“Strong and beautiful”: Chinese astronauts’ spacesuit for 2030 moon visit unveiled 

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has unveiled a new spacesuit designed for its ambitious plan to land astronauts on the moon by 2030 and establish an international lunar research station at the moon's south pole by 2040. A video released by state broadcaster CCTV over the weekend highlights the suit's built-in cameras, operations console and glare-proof visor, features demonstrated by renowned Chinese astronauts Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping. 

Built for the moon: Wu Zhiqiang, deputy chief designer of astronaut systems at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, explained that the new spacesuit is specifically designed for lunar conditions. “Unlike low-Earth orbit missions, astronauts will be in a harsh natural lunar environment during lunar extravehicular activities," he told CCTV, emphasizing the challenges posed by the moon's high vacuum, low gravity, lunar dust and extreme temperature fluctuations.

Majestic design: The suit's red stripes draw inspiration from traditional Chinese art and symbolize both "flying apsaras" and "rocket launch flames."  Designers emphasized the aesthetic considerations, aiming for a suit that would "make the astronauts look more spirited and majestic" and "make us Chinese look strong and beautiful when we step on the moon." China's growing space program has recently seen a series of complex robotic lunar missions, including the first-ever return of lunar samples from the far side of the moon.

Final Bites

🎞️Documentary on wrongfully convicted Korean immigrant wins Emmy: The 2022 documentary “Free Chol Soo Lee,” which tells the story of a Korean immigrant wrongfully convicted of killing Yip Yee Tak in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1973, won the award for outstanding historical documentary at the 45th News & Documentary Emmy Awards on Thursday. Directed by Julie Ha and Eugene Yi, the film follows Lee's fight for freedom after being sentenced to life in prison and later death row. His release in 1983 came after unprecedented advocacy from the Asian American community that led to a retrial and to his conviction being overturned. “The very act of us making the film, it allowed these activists to go on this journey of catharsis and maybe even coming to peace with what happened to Chol Soo Lee, and that actually is quite important,” Ha previously told NextShark. The film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and is now available on Amazon Prime Video.

🗳️Dave Bautista endorses Harris for president: Actor and retired professional wrestler Dave Bautista has publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president of the United States. Over the weekend, the 55-year-old Filipino American shared a video on X of himself voting early at the Supervisor of Elections office in Tampa, Florida, encouraging his fans to participate in the election as well. Bautisa, who previously endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 election, also shared a photo of him wearing a Kamala Harris-Tim Walz shirt. “Made my freedom heard. Voting early took me 20 mins — no excuses. Freedom isn’t something we just talk about; it’s something we act on. Do your part, get out there, and vote. Your voice matters, and this election’s too important to sit out,” he tweeted. 

📰“The Glory” actress Park Ji Ah dies at 52: Park Ji Ah, best known for her portrayal of an abusive mother in the hit Netflix series “The Glory,” died Monday at the age of 52 due to complications from a cerebral infarction. With a career spanning over two decades, Park was also widely recognized for her powerful performances in films such as “Epitaph” and “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum.” Song Hye Kyo, who played her on-screen daughter in “The Glory,” sent a condolence wreath to the funeral. Other cast members, including Park Sung Hoon, Jung Sung Il, Kim Hieora and Kim Gun Woo, are expected to attend the funeral held at the Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall in Seoul.

👑Filipino Kiwi crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2024: Filipino Kiwi Victoria Velasquez Vincent has been crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2024, winning the title during the pageant's coronation night on Sunday. The 29-year-old triumphed over 15 other finalists, stepping in after Filipino Kiwi model-actress Franki Russell was dethroned due to issues related to her past films. Vincent previously competed in Miss Universe Philippines 2021, where she earned the title of Miss Universe Philippines Charity. She made another attempt for the Miss Universe Philippines crown in 2024 but finished in the top 10. Vincent is now set to represent New Zealand at the Miss Universe pageant on Nov. 14 in Mexico, alongside Filipino British Christina dela Cruz Chalk, who will represent Great Britain, and Chelsea Manalo from the Philippines.