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asian avenuemagazine
Connecting CulturesLinking Lives
November 2013Volume 8 Issue 1
NOT FORSALEProject
Single INTHE CITY
Asian-American
Bachelors and
Bacheloretes
DR. JAIME
YRASTORZA
RESTAURANTPEEKS
A Tase of the Philippine
Wasabi Roll & G
Because we are worth more
than any price in the world
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Golden ShanghaiAsian Restaurant
The Best Chinese Restaurant by
710 AM Restaurant Show
The Best Chinese Restaurant by
the 1430 KEZW Restaurant Show
Voted 2007 Top 100 Chinese
Restaurant in the US
1412 S. Parker Rd. A-134 Denver, CO 80231(303) 743-7666 (303)743-9079 (303)743-8210
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staff & supportPublisher & Founder: Christina Yutai Guo
President: Annie Guo
Production Manager: Peter Bui
Senior Designer: C.G. Yao
Designer: Jonathan Nguyen
Sta Writer: Patricia Kaowthumrong
Sta Writer: Brenda Velasquez
Photographer: Trang LuongIntern: Akemi Tsutsui
advisors groupPatty Coutts, Donna LaVigne, Nestor J. Mercado,
Sum C. Nguyen, Alok Sarwal, Peter Warren,
John Yee, Nai-Li Yee, George N. Yoshida
contributing writersRon Abo, Fran Campbell,
Mary Jeneverre Schultz, Thuy Trang
contributing photographersPaolo Dizon, David Guo
on the coverIntroducing Asian-American bachelors and
bachelorettes in the mile-high city.
Photo by David Guo Photography
www.davidguophoto.com
www.facebook.com/davidguophotography
subscriptionsTo subscribe, e-mail marketing@asianavenuemag
azine.com. A one-year subscription is $25 for 12
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com for our media kit and ad rates.
editorialTo submit story ideas, letters to the editor, or
listings for the Events Calendar, e-mail to editor@
asianavenuemagazine.com.
Asian Avenue magazi ne (ISSN 1932-1449)
reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of
this edition can be reproduced in any mannerwithout written permission. The views expressed
in articles are the authors and not necessarily
those of Asian Avenue magazi ne. Authors may
have consulting or other business relationships
with the companies they discuss.
Published by Asian Avenue Magazine, Inc.P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748
Tel: 303.937.6888 Fax: 303.750.8488www.asianavenuemagazine.com
Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the
Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.
DearAsian Avenuereaders,
All the single ladies and all the single gentlemen have put their hands up! In our thirdannual Singles Issue, we feature 14 Asian-American bachelors and bachelorettes.Read more about these young people and come meet them at the Singles Mingle Mix-er on Saturday, November 23rd at Go Fish Sushi and Lounge.
Last month, our annual halloween party at 1515 Bar & Lounge was a hit with more than300 people in attendance dressed in an array of costumes. Thank you for coming outto support the magazine. We always love meeting our readerseven if dressed as min-ions or zombies! We also want to thank 1515 Bar & Lounge (1515barlounge.com) andits sta for hosting us and DJ Guest (djguest.org) for spinning until the lights came on.
This month, our Spotlight section recognizes a brilliant individual. My good friend Harry Budisidharta is ayoung attorney who has received numerous awards for his community service. Not only did he skip highschool and enter college at the age of 14, he has spent the last decade giving back to the Asian and refugeecommunities. Congratulations to Harry on his many achievements and we thank him for continuing toelevate our Asian-American community.
Another outstanding leader is Dr. Jaime Yrastorza, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award on Octo -ber 12 at the 25th annual Uplift Internationale Gala. Dr. Yrastorza is the founder of Uplift Internationale,an organization that helps provide care and surgeries to children born with facial deformities. In 2011, hewas also recognized as an Asian American Hero of Colorado. Learn more about him and the biography hehas recently written about his life as an immigrant from the Philippines.
The Not For Sale project, established by Miss Asian American Colorado Thuy Trang, has kicked o! Theproject focuses on human and sex traficking awareness. Thuy is selling t-shirts and tanktops to make astatement that human beings cannot be sold and that our lives are worth more than any price. Proceeds
from the sales will go to The Little Rose Shelter, a refuge for young girls who are survivors of, or at risk for,abuse and traficking in Vietnam. Please support the project by purchasing a shirt at www.missaaco.com.
Next month is our Best of 2013 issue and we need your help! Please visit www.asianavenuemagazine.comto vote for the best restaurants, supermarkets and entertainment of the year.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Annie Guo, Sailor Girl
Asian Avenue magazine
asian avenuemagazine
20 November 2013 | Presidents Note2
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12 On the CoverSingle in the City: Asian American
Bachelors and Bachelorettes in Denver
Contents November 20136 Upcoming Events
Spotlight8 Attorney Harry Budsidhartais awarded for years of community service
Rising Star
9University of Denver student C.J. de Diostakes pride in his Filipino roots
Inside Story10 Learn the history of the design for the Denver
Buddhist TempleExpansion Project
Giving Back11 Not For Sale project, organized by Miss Asian
American Colorado Thuy Trang, kicks off with anti-sex trafficking t-shirt and tanktop sales
Feature18 Dr. Jaime Yrastorza receivesLifetime Achieveme
Awardat 25th annual Uplift Internationale Gala
Restaurant Peeks20 A Taste of the Philippines food truck brings th
delicious taste of the islands to Denver
21 Salmon and jalapenos? How do you like your sush Customize your own sushi roll at Wasabi Roll & G
On Scene Mile-high area events22 TEAs99 Historiesillustrates the multiple faces
of jeong
Japanese School of Denver hosts bazaar
23 Cindy Yan becomes the first Chinese AmericanMiss Colorado TeenUSA 2014
CAHEPprovides health screenings and flu shots thundreds of refugees across Colorado
Friendship Basketball Leaguefinishes fall seaso
24 National News
26 Halloween Party Recap
Chinese Idiom28 Covering Ones Eyes with a Leaf
21
8
2320 November 2013 | Table of Contents4
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I Sing Beijing Film ShowingWednesday, Nov. 13, 8:45PM
at Sie FilmCenterThursday, Nov. 14, 9:30PM
at UA PavilionsCost: $11 Denver Film Society Members;
$13 General Public | $12 Student/Senior
Purchase tickets at www.denverlm.org.
During I SING BEIJINGs rst year, double Academy
Award-winning director, Allan Miller traveled to
China and spend ve weeks lming the programto create an impressive and historic documentary
lm. In 1983, Hao Jiang Tian, born in Maoist China,
traveled to Denver to pursue his dream of a career
singing Western-style opera. Nearly 30 years later,
Tian returned to Beijing with a group of 20 young
opera singers from around the world, to train them
to sing in the difcult tonal language of Mandarin.This heartwarming documentary chronicles the
efforts of Tian and his team of coaches and master
teachers from New Yorks Metropolitan Opera andtop music conservatories in China.
Asian Chamber of Commerce
Dinner and GalaFriday, Nov. 15, 5PM to 9PM
Kings Land Chinese Seafood
2200 W. Alameda Avenue | Denver, CO 80223
Cost: $50 Individual Ticket | $500 Corporate Table
Register at www.acccolorado.org.
Come celebrate the end of the year with the Asian
Chamber of Commerce, community partners
and organizations. Recap highlights of the years
successes along with appetizers, an eight course
menu, and dessert. Enjoy Coors products - donatedby MillerCoors!
Taiko with Toni Workshop
Saturday, Nov. 16, 1PM to 4PMSimpson United Methodist Church6001 Wolff Street | Arvada, CO 80003
Cost: $25 church members; $40 non-members
Sign up at the church or call 303-428-7963.
Yes, taiko is just as much fun to play as it looks -
come try it for yourself with U.S. taiko pioneer Toni
Yagami! This basic taiko workshop will include:
warm-up exercises, an overview of taiko historyin Japan and the U.S., stance/kata, playing tech-
niques, kuchi showa (for remembering patterns),
basic rhythms and much more! Everyone (ages 9+)
is welcome and we will work with you at your pace -
your level of involvement is up to you. The goal is to
help you experience taiko and the joy that playing
it can bring!
ai kuwabara trio project ConcertMonday, Nov. 18, Begins at 7:30PM
Kenneth King Academic & Performing Arts Center,
Metropolitan State University of Denver
855 Lawrence Way | Denver, CO 80204
Cost: Free admission
Contact Shunsuke Ono at 303-534-1151 x5332
or e-mail [email protected].
The Consulate-General of Japan in Denver is
pleased to announce ai kuwabara trio project US
Tour 2013, a Japanese jazz group appearing in Den-
ver under a performing arts abroad program of theJapan Foundation. Fresh and modern Japanese jazz
group ai kuwabara trio project will perform a series
of concerts in November, sponsored by the Japan
Foundation, Los Angeles. The bands music is urban
contemporary jazz with a strong, experimental feel
and a avor of funk. The band shows a regard for
a wide-range of musical styles, featuring elements
of progressive rock and even pop. They are led by
young jazz pianist Ai Kuwabara with Yusuke Morita
on bass guitar and Shintaro Imamura on drums..
NAAAP Fire and Ice GalaWednesday, Nov. 20, 6PM to 9PM
McNichols Civic Center Building
144 W. Colfax Avenue | Denver, CO 80202Cost: $50 NAAAP members |$70 non-members
Register at www.naaapcolorado.org.
National Association of Asian American Profession-
als Colorado welcomes you to its third annual char-
ity gala to raise money beneting the Asian Pacic
Development Center (APDC)s Youth Program! Join
the Fire and Ice theme in your red & white formal
evening attire and diamond accessories! Enjoy a
delicious banquet dinner and fashion show that
will include the women of the Miss Asian American
Colorado Leadership Program and children from
the APDC Youth Program. It will be a fun night, and
all for a good cause!
Colorado Hmong New YearCelebration
Weekend of Nov. 29 to Dec. 1
Begins at 9AM each dayAdams County Fairground
9755 Henderson Road | Brighton, CO 80601
Cost: $10
For more info, visit www.hmongcolorado.org.
Celebrate Hmong culture with ball tossing, food,
arts and crafts, and performances at this years
Hmong New Year celebration. Support the women
participating in the Hmong Colorado Pageant, watch
the sports competitions or join in the singing and
dancing competition. Fun activities for all ages.
events
20 November 2013 | Upcoming Events6
Classifieds
TCBY Frozen Yogurtself serve
store for sale in Greenwood
Village. Great location, turn key,
franchise transfer easy to do.If interested, please contact Keri
Green at 760-809-6908.
Ofc or Ri for RnGood location, Highway 36 & Pecos
1250 sq ft | $850 monthly rent
Ofc for RnGood location, Highway 36 & Pecos
250 sq ft | $350 monthly rent
Affordable Rent
Tel: 720-329-2613
FOOt Spa FOR Sale
in Thornton, CO
Fantastic location, great proft.
Please call 720-237-5200.
FOR leaSe
1150 S. Federal Blvd. Denver, CO 80219
2527 square ft. at $1500/month
Call Mr. Vega at 720.327.4733.
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November 2013 | Spotlight8
I get to make a dierence in peoples
lives, says Harry Budisidharta, 29, attorney
and partner at The Denver Firm. This is what
he says is the best part of being a lawyer.
Nobody is ever happy to see a lawyer, butI get to help people at their lowest point. My
job is very stressful, but it forces me to be
creative and to multi-task.
Born in Indonesia, Budisidharta moved to
the U.S. when he was 12 years old. Shortly
after he left Indonesia, the country was hit
by the Asian inancial crisis in 1997. The
economic meltdown led to increased politi-
cal tension with riots and violence toward
the Chinese-Indonesian community. It was
a very scary time for me and my family, he
says. My parents sent me here to get a bet-
ter education and to avoid the political in-
stability in Indonesia.At the age of 14, he took an intelligence
test and scored high enough to enroll in col-
lege full-time. Thus, he never attended high
school. Budisidharta obtained a Bachelor of
Arts in Political Science from California State
University, Los Angeles. He then moved to
Colorado and attended the University of Col-
orado Law School to obtain his Juris Doctor.
Both of my parents are dentists. My older
brother still lives in Indonesia and he is cur-
rently studying to become a dentist. I miss
them a lot, but I am grateful for the sacriice
that they made to send me here.
Growing up, he had wanted to
follow in his parents footsteps. He
initially pursued pre-med but re-
alized how much he hated biology
and chemistry. He says, I changed
my major to political science be-
cause I had a great political sci-
ence professor that inspired me to become
a lawyer.
Budisidharta has now been a partner at
The Denver Firm for approximately iveyears. The irm handles cases of criminal
defense, personal injury, civil litigation, and
corporate law.
Not only is Budisidharta a young attorney,
he is a young attorney who has received nu-
merous awards. Particularly in 2012, he re-
ceived three signiicant accolades.
2012 Mayors Diversity Award for his
community service and advocacy work
on behalf of the refugee community
2012 Young Lawyer of the Year Award
from Arapahoe County Bar Association
2012 Governor Ralph Carr Service
Award from the Asian Paciic AmericanBar Association as recognition for his
commitment to community service
I am particularly proud of the 2012
Mayors Diversity Award because I am pas-
sionate about helping out the refugee popu-
lation, he says. While this was a great ac-
complishment for him, he is also proud to
have inished the Rock and Roll Marathon in
2011, which he trained hard for.
If he wasnt a lawyer, Budisidharta says he
would be a community organizer for a local
non-proit organization. I love organizing
workshops and forums to educate people
about issues that aect their lives, he says.
I like building coalitions and working to-
gether toward a common purpose.
In this spirit, he is very involved in the
community. Budisidharta is the chair of the
professional development committee for
the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, in which
he is in charge of organizing seminars and
workshops to train members about the lat-
est developments in criminal law.
He is the president of the Mile HighChapter of the Japanese American Citizens
League, and is on the board of Asian Paciic
Development Center, Asian Paciic American
Bar Association, Arapahoe County Bar Asso-
ciation, and Aurora Symphony Orchestra.
I am so busy with my community service
that I often joke that I get to be a lawyer in
my spare time, he says.
Lucky for Budisidharta he is able to com-
bine his passion to help the community with
his real job.
There is a desperate need for legal rep-
resentation within our community, he says
We have a large refugee population that areoften preyed by criminals, employers, and
slumlords. The refugees cant aord to hire
an attorney and that is when I step in to help
them.
While he is not a refugee, Budisidharta
knows what its like to grow up in a foreign
land. You feel alone and helpless.
I want the refugees to know that they are
not alone and that there are people that will
help them navigate through this strange and
wondrous land of opportunity, says Budis-
idharta. This is where he steps in to help.
Attorney HARRY BUDISIDHARTA
makes community service and
helping refugees his priority
Annie GuoAsian Avenue magazine
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock awards Harry
Budisidharta the 2012 Mayors Diversity AwardFran Campbell, Harry Budisidharta and Mayor
Hancock at 2012 Mayors Diversity Awards
Budisidharta fnishes the 2011 Rock & Roll
Marathon in Denver
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Travel opens minds. For 21-year old C.J. de
Dios, one unforgettable visit to his familys
homeland in the summer of 2010 broadened
his cultural identity and inspired him to culti-vate his roots.
A University of Denver senior studying In-
ternational Business with a minor in Japanese
and a knack for marketing and social media,
de Dios has demonstrated his proactive na-
ture by fulilling three internshipsfor mul-
tinational food conglomerate Mondelz , the
International Music Festival Conference and
currently, Northwestern Mutualand taking
on leadership roles such as President of the
DU Asian Student Alliance.
Ever since freshman year, Ive been a part of
the ASA oficer team, recounts de Dios. I was
put to work immediately marketing events onsocial media, reserving spaces, contracting
performers, and even facilitating discussions
on my own. Being a part of ASA has greatly de-
ined my college career; I owe a lot of gratitude
to the organization.
The members and I want to put 110% ef-
fort into our events, our community service,
and our advocacy for social justice and equal-
ity in the Asian-American community.
After studying abroad at Kansai Gaidai Uni-
versity in Osaka, Japan last fall, de Dios board-
ed a direct light to the homeland, an endear-
ing term he uses to describe his parents home
province of Pampanga, Philippines.His parents arrived in the U.S. over 25
years ago, though de Dios earliest relatives
have resided in Denver since the 70s. A native
of Denver himself, de Dios grew up in a pre-
dominantly Caucasian and African-American
community, lacking strong connection to his
Filipino roots.
My heritage as a Filipino American is ev-
erything to me but it was something I didnt
fully acknowledge until I graduated from high
school and took my third trip to the Philip-
pines, shares de Dios, who had only previ-
ously visited Pampanga as a small child. While
this was not his irst visit, it was his irst time
visiting alone.
Ever since this trip, Ive embraced my heri-
tage like no other. Ill take any opportunityto express my love for being Filipino. I want
nothing but to learn more and more about the
place my family comes from.
The trip not only catalyzed de Dios burning
Filipino pride but also opened his eyes to the
struggles his family, and others like them, have
endured.
I deinitely look up to my family members,
says de Dios. Both my mom and my dad, along
with my uncles, aunts, and grandparents lived
through war and dictatorships but they perse-
vered through it all and worked their tails o
to give the next generation a better life.
As the only child in the household, whichincludes his parents and uncle, de Dios looks
toward the future with a deep sense of famil-
ial duty.
My family came to America with the intent
of supporting my family back home; my par-
ents send a good chunk of their yearly income
to my aunts, uncles, cousins, and other people
who need help, just so they can at least get the
resources they need.
I will have to assume the role my parents
have once I become older, but how am I sup-
posed to provide for my family if I dont even
know them? This is why I need to catch up with
my heritage. I need to assimilate myself into theculture; I need to know my familys needs.
While cultivating his emergent cultural
pride, de Dios remains humble in his naivety,
open to lifes possibilities and seeking new ex-
periences to broaden his perception.
Im still learning about the world around
me and what it has to oer. But from now on,
I am no longer just an American. I want to be
able to say I am a true Asian-American: one
that can achieve anything in this society while
still being in touch with his heritage back
home, one that can represent more than just
one lag in his life.
RISING STAR:C.J. de Dios expresses love
for his Filipino roots
de Dios performs with Cassie Chanthavong
and Caleb Wassell at the Asian Student
Alliances 6th annual eXpressions show
de Dios with his family in Pampanga, Philippines
Brenda Velasquez
Asian Avenue magazine
Rising Star | asian avenue magazine
School: University of Denver
Hometown: Denver, CO
Involvements: President of ASA, DU
Latin Dance Club, Marketing Intern for
Northwestern Mutual, Excelling
Leaders Institute Peer Leader
Quote you live by:
Stay far from timid, only make moves
when your hearts in it, and live the phraseskys the limit. -The Notorious B .I.G.
C.J. in three words:
Positive, Dedicated, Human
Hobbies/interests: Hip-Hop Music,
Food, Sports, Latin Dancing, Photography
Dream job: Food critic that travels the
world or owner of a sports team
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November 2013 | Inside Story10
In 1968, the Denver Urban Renewal Au-thority (DURA) initiated the Skyline UrbanRenewal District to redevelop a 26 block areaof lower downtown Denver including theblock the Denver Buddhist Temple occupied.
All existing businesses, residents, and thetemple would have to relocate out of the dis-trict. In order to remain in the district, DURArequired that the temple change the exteriorof the building to meet the design guidelinesestablished for the district.
The leadership of the Denver BuddhistTemple proposed that the block bounded by19th, 20th, Lawrence and Larimer Streets beredeveloped as a Japanese commercial andcultural center with the Denver Buddhist Tem-ple remaining in its original location.
The proposal was accepted in 1969 andthe project was dubbed Sakura Square. In
1970, the architectural irm, Bertram A. Bru-ton and Associates developed a design for a204 unit high-rise apartment building and29,000 square feet of commercial space. Tri-State Buddhists Apartments, Inc., a nonproitcorporation was formed to manage the projectand the inancing was underwritten by FHA.
In addition to renovating the exterior ofthe temple, it was time to address the longterm needs of the Sanga. Two young Sanseiarchitects; Akira Kawanabe, a member of thetemple, and Ron Abo volunteered to developarchitectural space needs.
Abo later became one of the design archi-
tects and is currently the head sensei of Den-ver Buddhist Temple Aikido. Kawanabe andAbo met extensively with the temples boardand all of the temple organizations to deter-mine their needs for space.
The ABR Partnership, Architects, a promi-nent local architectural irm where Kawanabe
and Abo were employed at the time, was en-gaged to design the expansion and renovationof the temple. When Kawanabe moved backto Alamosa where he grew up to start his ownarchitectural practice, Abo became the designarchitect for the project.
The original brick Hondo building was
designed in 1947 by famous Denver architectTemple Buell. It was designed in the art decostyle of the period. There were two promi-nent entry projections on the Lawrence Streetfaade. The projection on the north was the
main entry to the building. The auditoriumwas added in the 1950s.
In order to accommodate a large additionof a multi-purpose room/gymnasium, thetemple secured air-rights over the parking atthe corner of 20th and Lawrence. A two-storyaddition connected the multi-purpose roomto the existing Hondo and auditorium. The
connector created a lobby space, restrooms,stairs to the lower level classrooms, a largecommercial kitchen, locker rooms and upperlevel ofices, library and Issei lounge.
The northern entry projection to theHondo was removed and the seating capac-
ity of the Hondo was increased. The southernentry projection was increased to contain aNokotsudo and a choir alcove. The removalof the northern entry projection allowed fora space for the statue of Saint Shinran and anoset Path to Buddha common to BuddhistTemples in Japan.
The Path to Buddha requires one to be con-templative as they enter the temple through agate or wall, encounter icons or statues, walkalong meandering paths through gardens,onto an exterior porch or veranda, and into alobby or ante-room before encountering thesacred space of the Hondo.
This Path to Buddha was the guiding designprinciple and was the rationale for keeping thelarger building forms simple white stucco withwood trim and the Path to Buddha as more tra-ditionally designed in the Japanese style.
The existing space under the auditoriumwas converted to classroom space and the ar-eas under the Hondo were incorporated into
the design of the Tsunoda Chapel, designed byRon Abo and Virginia DuBrucq.
The Denver Buddhist Temple renovationand addition project was completed in 1974 fora total construction cost of $250,000. In 2002,the Denver Buddhist Temple merged with theTri-State Buddhist Temple with the new title ofTri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple (TSDBT).
Over the years, Abo designed modiica-tions to the temple such as incorporating fold-ing partitions between the Hondo and Audi-
torium for overlow seating and providing awheelchair accessible ramp in the garden.
In 2010, the TSDBT Apartments began astrategic planning process to determine thedisposition of Tamai Tower and Sakura Squareonce the H.U.D. loan was paid o in 2014. The
TSDBT Board considered relocating to a newsite or demolishing the existing buildings andbuild a new structure altogether. It was decid-ed to stay in the same location and renovateand expand the existing temple facilities. Withthe help of Ron Abo, Kevin K. Yoshida, and Kel-ly Yamisaki, at this time, the planning is in thevery early stages.
Architects and leaders design the DenverBuddhist Temple Expansion Project
Ron Abo
The Abo Group
The Path to Buddha was the guiding principle in which the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temples gardenwas designed. This includes meandering paths onto an exterior porch before entering the sacred space.
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13/32Giving Back | asian avenue magazine
As Miss Asian American Colorado, I am or-
ganizing the Not For Sale project that deals
with the topic of human and sex traficking
based in Vietnam. Every year girls are soldinto the illegal sex trade in Vietnam. They are
not seen as human beings; they are objects
of proit and desire.
This is where the t-shirts come in. The t-
shirts make a statement that illustrates that
we as human beings cannot be sold and that
we are worth more than any price in the
world. All proceeds from the sales will be
donated to the Little Rose Shelter based in
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The Little Rose
Shelter is a refuge for young girls who are
survivors of, or at risk for, abuse and traf-
icking in Vietnam. I was shocked to hear
that girls as young as eight years old were
being exploited and violated. I just couldnt
sit there and let that happen; I wanted to
help in any way I could.
I got involved with this shelter in high
school, but to this day it is still something I
feel so passionate about. I hope through my
project, people will understand more aboutthe tragedies that these girls go through.
Your contribution helps feed the girls,
fund their schooling, and so much more
beyond the physical. You may not know it,
but it means the world to these girls that
you care about them even though you may
not know their names or their stories. And
I want to thank you from the bottom of my
heart for your contribution.
The Miss AACO program is a leadership de-
velopment and empowerment program for
Asian American women in Colorado. Learn
more about my project at www,missaaco.
com. Follow me on Twitter @missaaco.
In India, China and many other parts ofthe world today, girls are killed, aborted and
abandoned simply because they are girls.
The United Nations estimates as many as
200 million girls are missing in the world
today because of this gendercide. Shot on
location in India and China, Its a Girl unrav-
els this issue. It asks why is this happening,
and why is so little being done to save girls
and women?
The ilm tells the stories of abandoned
and traficked girls, of women who suer
extreme dowry-related violence, of brave
mothers ighting to save their daughters
lives, and of other mothers who would killfor a son. Global experts and grassroots ac-
tivists put the stories in context and advo-
cate dierent paths towards change, while
collectively lamenting the lack of any truly
eective action against this injustice.
By bringing this incredible, eye-opening
ilm to Denver, we can help raise awareness
for this issue and put an end to gendercide.
For more info, visit www.ItsaGirlMovie.com.
This documentary screening is part of the
NOT FOR SALE project organized by Miss
Asian American Colorado Thuy Trang. Learn
more at www.missaaco.com.
ITS A GIRL
DOCUMENTARY
COMES TO DENVER!
Thursday, December 5th
7:30pm - 9:00pm
AMC Westminster
Promenade 24Cost: $10 Admission
Get Tickets at:
www.tugg.com/events/5969
Presented by Miss Asian
American Colorado
Leadership Program
Not for Sale
T-shirts and Tanks
Fundraiser AgainstHuman and Sex Trafficking
$10www.missaaco.com
Miss Asian American Colorado Thuy Trang
(left) with her siblings Phi, Huyen and Kelly
Not For SaleWe as human beings cannot be sold and
we are worth more than any price in the world.
Thuy Trang
Miss Asian American Colorado
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MIMI LAI, 24Chinese-AmericanClinical Researcher
November 2013 | Cover Story12
Our third annual Asian-American singles issue highlights 14 young men and women in the mile-high city. Whether
they enjoy hiking and jogging or eating out on the town, these bachelors and bachelorettes show that its not too
bad to be single in this city. More than a bustling nightlife and dynamic bar scene, Denver has scenic parks,
gorgeous mountains, and the adventurous outdoors.
Mimi, who describes herself as quirky, spontaneous and a tomboy, says
one of the greatest risks shes ever taken is telling Star Wars fans she
hasnt seen all of the Star Wars movie. Her biggest accomplishment is the
fact that shes traveled to more than 30 countries and islands.
In her free time, Mimi enjoys outdoor activities, pole itness and Parkour
She also enjoys tending to her vegetable garden, cooking while watching
her favorite TV shows and traveling whenever she can. A lover of any
food thats tasty and nutritious, Mimi says not a lot of people know that
shes crafty and makes delicious gluten-free goodies. Her perfect date
would involve doing something that neither of us have done before and
a beer afterwards.
Qualities that attract her: Laid-back, smiles and silliness
Dislikes: Phoniness, high maintenance, negativity and closed-minded
Cant live without: Sunshine, good food and good company
Words she lives by:Smile every chance you get. Not because life has
been easy, perfect, or exactly as you had anticipated, but because you
choose to be happy and grateful for all the good things you do have and
all the problems you know you dont have.
Asian-American BachelSinglein the City:
ors and Bachelorettes
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By Patricia Kaowthumrong
Photos by David Guo Photography
Single in the City | asian avenue magazine
SinglesMingle MIXER
COMEMEETTHESINGLES!Saturday,November23|8pmto10pm
Cost:$10(includestwodrinks)
GoFishBarandLounge1Broadway,B108|Denver,[email protected],303.937.6888oronFacebook.
Callingallsingles!Comeoutfor
anightoffunandmeetothereligiblebachelorsandbachelorettesincludingthosefeaturedinthisissue.TeSinglesMingleMixerincludesnetworkingandactivitiesforattendeestoconnect.Whoknowswhoyoumaymeet?
Mustbe21yearsoldtoparticipate.RSVPpreferred.
Tonys achievements include graduating with degrees in com-puter science and economics from the Colorado School of Mines
and inding a successful career as a systems test engineer, but he
says his biggest accomplishment is performing improv regularly on
stage. It is a great outlet for being ridiculous, and it is very sat-
isfying when the audience is genuinely laughing during a perfor-
mance, Tony says.
Tony, who describes himself as fun-loving, organized and humor-
ous, says his mom had the greatest inluence on him growing up. His
mothers experience coming to the U.S. as an immigrant and raising
three children as a single mother remains an ongoing source of in-
spiration and motivation for him. Tonys free time activities include
exercising, enjoying happy hour, playing Magic the Gathering cards,traveling and performing improv. His perfect date would consist of
a delicious dinner out, drinks somewhere quiet and great conversa-
tion that makes the night ly by.
Qualities that attract him:An easy going sense of humor, conge-
niality, intelligence, health-oriented and honesty
Dislikes: Negativity, lakiness and dishonesty
Cant live without: Laughter, friends and beerthey often all
overlap. Also glasses, I cant see without them.
Words he lives by:Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal
with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who
gets burned. -Buddhist proverb
TONY NGUYEN, 31Vietnamese-American
Systems Test Engineer
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Yukaris recent accomplishments include mastering the art of chessand baking banana bread, but she is also proud of the leadership and net-
working skills she acquired during participation in the Miss Asian Ameri-
can Colorado program.
Yukari has attended the Denver School of Massage Therapy and Univer-
sity of Colorado at Denver. In her spare time, Yukari enjoys going dancing,
kickboxing, reading, watching kung fu movies and painting her nails. She
describes herself as enthusiastic, open-minded and giving, and her favor-
ite foods include sinigang, sushi, green tea ice cream, pistachio ice cream
and soki soba. Yukaris perfect date would consist of ice cream and an
outdoor adventureor both.
Qualities that attract her: Witty, kind, educated and ambitious
Dislikes: Selish, arrogant, dishonest, pessimistic and condescending
Cant live without: Family, iPhone and football season
Words she lives by: The lower that blooms in adversity is the rarest
and most beautiful of all.
Rickydescribes himself as optimistic, down to earth, and adventurousas he has been skydiving and also enjoys riding his motorcycle. In
high school, Ricky worked at his parents Chinese restaurant every day
after school, but he was still able to keep his academics up and graduateas salutatorian. His parents had the greatest inluence on him growing
up. From them, I get my humbleness, strong work ethic and persever
ance. He went on to acquire Computer Science and Economics degree
from the Colorado School of Mines and a Masters in Computer Science
from the University of Denver.
His favorite foods are sushi, pho, Korean barbecue and authentic ramen
noodles. His perfect date would be at the Denver Museum of Nature and
Science. Itll be an out of the world experience at the Space Odyssey
Exhibit and Planetarium Show, he says. Get the heart pumping at Exhi
bition Health and then cap it o with a 3-D ilm at the IMAX theatre.
Qualities that attract him: Humor, compassion, open-mindedness
honesty, genuine, adventurous and laid-backDislikes: Materialistic, arrogant, self-centered and disrespectful
Cant life without: My family, friends and phone
Words he lives by: Im pretty sure theres a lot more to life than being
really, really, ridiculously good looking. And I plan on inding out wha
that is. Zoolander
Because shes always wearing a bright smile, Mai says people dontusually pick up on her shyness. A graduate of Horizon High School, Mai
beneited from a class structure based on the integration of English, his-
tory and science. She says the approach forced her to think outside the
box and challenge her beliefs and view of the world. Mai says her moms
strength and dedication to gender equality and her education had the
greatest inluence on while she was growing up. She carries herself with
grace, always knows the right things to say and always shows up with
her heart, Mai says.
Although Mai says she is still in the process of achieving her greatest ac-
complishment, she strives to live life on her own terms, even if it means
giving up everything she knows. She describes herself as friendly, dedi-
cated and fun, and loves to be in good company with friends and family.
She enjoys Thai food, and doesnt have a preference for the perfect date,
as long as there is chemistry and laughter in the conversation.
Qualities that attract her: Funny, outgoing, laid-back, conident, smart,
friendly, caring and honest
Cant live without: My sister, whos my soul mate
YUKARI USUI, 25Japanese/Filipino-American
Client Service Representative
RICKY CHAN, 31Chinese-American
Software Engineer
MAI KOU VANG, 30Hmong-American
New Product Coordinator
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Triciais quirky, open-minded and adventurous. After majoring in Anthro-pology and GIS at the University of Colorado at Denver, she acquired a re-
search grant and for two summers, studied infectious disease prevalence
among local tribes overseas. I loved every moment! she says. And still do.
In research, every day gives you a new perspective.
In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her German Shepherd mix,
Siouxsie, traveling, and volunteering. I love the opportunity for new experi-
ences - from hosting a sushi-making party to checking out the Science Lounge
at Denver Museum of Nature and Science, she says. And if nothing else, hav-
ing a notoriously bad sense of direction means every day is a chance for new
adventures! Tricias perfect date is anything laid-back and fun with good foodand charming conversation. She says, Bonus points if it includes an activity
neither of us has tried before.
Qualities that attract her: Respectfulness, generosity, cleverness, coni-
dence and humility
Dislikes: Lack of ambition and negativity
Cant live without: My family. Were spread out all over the world but we still
manage to stay close. And friends, the people who choose to be family. And
Siouxsie, of course!
Words she lives by:Never lose your childlike wonder and try everything twice!
A graduate of University of Colorado at Denver, Lyndas greatestachievement is working full-time to put herself through undergraduate
and graduate programs. The experiences I found most valuable is that
I can do a lot of things in life if I just put my head and my heart in the
right place, she says. If Im determined, ambitious and industrious, I
can stretch my time and day to achieve everything I have in mind.
Lynda, who describes herself as decisive, considerate, adaptable, says a
lot of people dont realize that shes very philosophical. Lynda likes to
gain wisdom by going on cultural or social adventures. Although always
up for a culinary or outdoor escapade, she also enjoys relaxing with a
good book or a glass of wine.
Qualities that attract her: Conidence, sincerity, thoughtfulness and
a sense of humor
Dislikes:Indecisiveness, laziness and closed-minded
Cant live without:My family, especially my nieces and nephew
Words she lives by: Get your HEART right by truly knowing who are
and what want. Get your HEAD right by knowing how you want it. That
way you can embrace life fearlessly. Self-quote I live by until this day
TRICIA KING, 27Filipino-American
Research Specialist
LYNDA SAIGNAPHONE, 28laotian-Americanpublic health Program assistant
Single in the City | asian avenue magazine
Cuong, who describes himself as witty, conident and genuine, sayhis greatest accomplishment is founding Tennis Hope, a nonproit o
ganization that promotes youth development and diversity within th
Denver tennis community. Cuong attended the University of Colorad
at Boulder and works as a systems administrator.
Cuongs favorite food is Brazilian steak and says most people dont know
that he cant eat spicy food. His perfect date is taking the lady out shop
ping and letting her buy everything until she takes my bank account dow
to zero. Cuong enjoys playing tennis, basketball and football; hiking; run
ning; snowboarding; going to the gym; and knitting sweaters for his cat
Qualities that attract him: Honest, caring, loving, smart, respectful, sel
suficient, outgoing, ambitious, athletic, witty, thoughtful, conident, funn
gorgeous smile, big eyes and the ability to swim (in case hes drowning)
Dislikes: Deceptive, neglectful, inconsiderate, unintelligent, dependen
introverted, unenthusiastic, inactive, gullible, inconsiderate, weak-mind
ed, unfunny, crooked smile, evil eyes and not knowing how to swim
Cant live without: Putting a smile on someones face
Words he lives by:I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks onc
but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times. Bruce Lee
CUONG HUYNH, 26Vietnamese-American
Systems Administrator
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November 2013 | Cover Story16
Jonathan considers his position as a tennis coach a uniqueachievement. Being a tennis coach is extremely gratifying, he says.
It allows me to share my passion and love with someone who has
similar aspirations.
Jonathan describes himself as athletic, tenacious and a daredevil,
and says not a lot of people realize that hes very shy when it comes
to approaching women hes interested in. Jonathans perfect date
would involve doing something fun, spontaneous and dierent
than the standard coee or dinner date. Outdoor activities are al-
ways a hit, he says.
A graduate of University of Colorado at Boulder, Jonathan was able
to adapt to any circumstances thrown at him in college, a trait he
found very valuable. The greatest risk hes ever taken was moving to
Los Angeles with a three-week notice. His dad, who he describes as
wise, kind and very caring, had the greatest inluence on him grow-
ing up, and when it comes to his favorite food, he says its hard to
beat anything that his mom makes.
Qualities that attract him: Conidence, sellessness, sense of ad-
venture and most importantly a sense of humor
Dislikes: Dishonesty, monotony and narrow-mindedness
Cant live without:My tennis racquets. Playing tennis keeps me sane.
Steve, who describes himself as responsible, fun and hard-working, says his greatest accomplishment is getting his engi-
neering degree from University of Colorado at Denver, which he
achieved by paying his way through college, studying hard and
maintaining determination.
Steves greatest inluencers growing up were his mother and fa-
ther, who worked hard for little pay to raise six children. In hisfree time, Steve jogs, swims and hikes. He also enjoys watching
movies and TV shows, playing games, hanging out with friends,
listening to music, drinking and cooking. An Italian food lover,
Steve says his perfect date would simply be dinner and a movie.
Qualities that attract him:People who are independent and can
take care of themselves
Dislikes: Smoking, bad breath, laziness and procrastinator
Cant live without:I dont know why, but I am very attached to
music. I seem to be listening to music throughout my day and
sometimes even to help me go to bed.
Words he lives by: Friends and family are like stars. You dont
always see them, but you know theyre always there.
JONATHAN YEH, 27Chinese-AmericanInvestment Wholesaler/Tennis Coach
STEVE LE, 26Vietnamese- American
Electrical Engineer
A graduate of University of Colorado at Boulder,Jessicasays that beingwell-rounded during her college career was a valuable experience. She
was always involved in multiple organizations and athletics, and worked
throughout college. Jessicas mom had the greatest inluence on her grow-
ing up. She always taught me that character and doing the best you can in
everything you do was very important, Jessica says.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with
friends and family.
Qualities that attract her: Good sense of humor, drive, ambition and
someone who is genuine
Dislikes: Arrogance and ignorance
Words she lives by:There is no passion to be had in living a life that isless than one you are capable of living. Nelson MandelaJESSICA TAI, 25Chinese/Scottish/Irish-American
Centurylink Recruiter
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Dennissays hes lucky to be alive after making some wrong decisionsriding his bike, but he admits that lying a plane was much more nerve-
racking than riding a bike for the irst time. A graduate of University of Colo-
rado at Boulder with a degree in accounting, Dennis found meeting friends
throughout college valuable because they eventually became his family. He
also learned to chase his dreams. Dont sit around thinking about your
dreams/success/goals you wish you had; go out and chase it now, he says.
Dennis, who describes himself as optimistic, driven and full of integrity,
says he wouldnt be where he is today without his parents (and their con-
stant nagging). His favorite activities include goling, snowboarding, camp-
ing and ishing. He loves Korean barbecue and says his perfect date would
involve enjoying each others company no matter what the activity is.
Qualities that attract him:Down to earth, genuinely nice and open to try
new things
Dislikes: People who are mean and inconsiderate of others. Why cant we
all just get along?
Cant live without: Delicious food
Words he lives by:Everyone here has the sense that right now is one of
those moments when we are inluencing the future. Steve Jobs
Allisonsays she has a sense of boldness that people dont often pick uon. She graduated from Metro State University in Denver, where she ma
jored in journalism and minored in womens studies. Allison greatly vaues her experience at the non-traditional, commuter campus, because
allowed her to truly experience diversity.
Although Allison says being the irst in her family to earn a college de
gree is her greatest achievement, she considers moving out on saving
after college and living without an income the biggest risk shes ever tak
en. Allison describes herself as eccentric, mature and strong-willed, an
lists chocolate as her favorite food. A lover of activities such as CrossFi
running, yoga and working out, Allisons perfect date would involve a
an active endeavor like ice skating or ziplining.
Qualities that attract her: Openness, respectfulness, intelligenc
humor and athleticism
Dislikes: Ignorance, egotism, lack of humility and being fake or shadyCant live without: Exercise. I cant go a day without doing somethin
that makes me sweat.
Words she lives by:Trust in the universe that you are where you nee
to be.
A policy analyst at the U.S. Government Accountability Ofice,Rajsayspeople dont usually realize that hes quite shy. He received an under-
graduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder before at-
tending University of Colorado at Boulder Law School and University
of Colorado at Denver Graduate School of Public Aairs. Rajs fondest
experiences during his education include meeting new classmates and
discussing various academic and policy topics. He also studied in Aus-
tralia for a semester, a risk hes glad he took.
Rajs favorite food is pasta, and he enjoys playing tennis in his spare
time. He also loves to read and dance, and volunteers on the Associate
Board Directors for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.
Qualities that attract him: Humility, sense of humor and charisma
Dislikes: Arrogance
Cant live without: Faith
Words he lives by: Praise and criticism are like bubble gum, you can
chew on it, but dont swallow it. Rick Warren
You can be oh so smart or oh so pleasant, Ive been smart for 35 years,
I recommend pleasant. Jimmy Stewart
DENNIS KYUNG, 30korean-American
Retirement Financial Representative
ALLISON RILEY, 23Filipina/Black-AmericanAmeriCorps Financial Empowerment Services
RAJ VERMA, 34Indian-AmericanPolicy Analyst
Single in the City | asian avenue magazine
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November 2013 | Feature18
Twenty ive years as an international char-itable service organization is an impressiveaccomplishment and not one achieved bymany. Yet, this very remarkable achievementwas celebrated on Saturday, October 12 asvolunteers, advocates, patrons, families andfriends gathered for the Uplift International25th Anniversary Gala Beneit and Auction.
Originally established in 1989, Uplift In-ternational has accomplished the followingto date:
1,417 mending care surgeries primarilyfor cleft lips/palates at no-cost to children inthe Philippines
Over 625 volunteer medical and outreachpersonnel have participated in 24 annualmedical missions (volunteers are respon-sible for their own travel, meals, and lodging
expenses) Provided 192 mending care surgeries(24 per year) at the Taghoy Facial Cleft Clinicat Ormoc
The surgery allows these children to movefrom the shadows of society back into the lightof the community. The care is provided at nocost to the children or their impoverished
families.
The Uplift Internationale Anniversary Galanot only commemorated these accomplish-ments but also the great wealth of medicaland community volunteers who have donat-ed their knowledge, time and money over the
past 25 years. Singular recognition was madeof all the Uplift Internationale Humanitarianawardees from past years.
As beitting this special occasion, Dr. JaimeYrastorza, Uplift Internationale Founder andPresident-Emeritus, was presented the Life-time Achievement Award.
Dr. Yrastorza shared the following thoughtsin gratitude and as encouragement to Upliftsmany volunteers and supporters:
Twenty-ive years ago, Uplift Internation-ale began as a vision fortiied by single-mind-ed willingness to bring to fruition a modestgoal of humane purpose. It was to mend facesof children with cleft lip and palate born of
impoverished families in rural Philippines.They are deformities that defy camoulage.The children are saddled by taunts and, sadly,ferment a consuming sense of self-worthless-ness, driving them to retreat to the shadowsof their community.
I was of the strong belief that in America,indeed, among every country of the world,there resides among people an innate virtueof compassion, of charity for the downtrod-den, of willingness to extend a helping handto fellowmen in need. It is this magniicent,sustaining resource that Uplift Internationalehas tapped and given many the opportunityto volunteer their talent and time.
In the ensuing years, my hope is thatour project will mushroom and be able toconduct its activities to more children, at
increasing number of venues, in the Philip-
pines, coupled by the augmenting contribu-tion of community-based Taghoy Facial CleftClinics managed by Filipinos for FilipinosAnd, I further hope that the Philippines ownwealth of expertise and philanthropy focusedon the care of the malformation will triumphover the prevalence of Filipino children withthe deformity.
It is important to me the tales of childrenwhose lives have beneited from the project:the willingness to return to school, the joyfrom interacting with peers, the return tosociety and employment, the conidence toa courtship and marriage they are the life-
changing treasures of the beneited, as theyare the immeasurable rewards of the bene-factors.
It is indeed a legacy that rightfully shouldand will prevail in the future. For these comingyears I ask that we hold dear our guiding mottoto change lives by mending faces one child at atime. To each and every supporter, philanthro-pist, and participant thank you for makingthis Uplift Silver Anniversary a success.
The Uplift Internationale team is prepar-ing for their 25th mission to the Philippinesin February 2014. If you would like to donateto Operation Taghoy or for more information,visit www.upliftinternationale.org.
Fran Campbell
Denver Asian Pacifc American Commission
Uplift Internationalecelebrates 25th year
The 25th Anniversary Uplift Internationale
Gala Benet raised over $77,000!
The funds raised will help the mission
teams provide 100 surgeries during a
two-week mission to the Philippines in
2014 from February 2-8 in Palo, Tacloban
and February 8-15 in Ormoc.
Dr. Jaime Yrastorza inspired the attendees
with his acceptance speech when
presented with the Uplift Internationale
Lifetime Achievement Award.
Five of Yrastorzas 14 grandchildren at the gala
Yrastorza speaks to a packed banquet room
Yrastorza says Uplift Internationale began as a
modest goal of humane purpose
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Uplift Internationale | asian avenue magazine
Dr. Jaime Yrastorza receivesLifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Jaime Yrastorza, maxillofacial surgeon, is the founder of Uplift Internationale. Yrastorza left the Philippines after graduation from
high school to begin his collegiate studies at the University of Minnesota where he earned a bachelors degree in psychology. Then, he
obtained a doctorate degree in dental medicine from Washington University and specialty training in oral-maxillofacial surgery from
Georgetown University. He received the Uplift Internationale Lifetime Achievement Award on October 12, 2013.
From Fire to FreedomChildhood in Colonial Philippines to a Post-WWII
Adulthood in AmericaBy Jaime Alonso Yrastorza
$20.99Paperback
Now accepting pre-orders!
Purchase at
www.tatepublishing.com
From Fire to Freedomnarrates an insight
into the tapestry of the life of Dr. Jaime
Alonso Yrastorza. His weave of reminis-cences begins in his idyllic upbringing in
rural Philippines.
He reects on the legacies that centu-
ries of turbulent Spanish and American co-lonial overlords had inuenced the mores
and traditions of present-day Filipinos.
Living in a battleeld of WWII, he re-lives his experiences from days fraught
with danger, destruction, and death as
his family was caught in the struggle be-
tween the Japanese and American mili-tary forces.
After adolescence, he left the nation
he refers to as Perla del Mar de Oriente,weaving an adventurous and enlighten-
ing odyssey in America, rigorously pursu-
ing years of education in prestigious uni-
versities to gain a profession and becomea patriotic American citizen.
He shares tales of his life with a grow-
ing family of ve children and fourteen
grandchildren from marriage to an Iowanwith Irish blood running in her veins.
This inspiring personal journey shares
the rewards from the fervor and perse-
verance of his actions and underscoreshis advocacy to engage our innate enrich-
ing quality of reciprocation and charity
for the benet of fellow men in need.
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Mary Jeneverre Schultz
Twitter : @Jeneverre
November 2013 | Restaurant Peek20
Filipino food evolved from origins of Chi-nese, Polynesian and Spanish cuisines. Themixture of these cuisines brings an eclectictaste of delicious food involving seafood,chicken and pork dishes.
For more than a year, A Taste of the Philip-pines brings an array of Filipino cuisines fordowntown workers, corporate executives andbusiness travelers into the downtown area ofDenver.
I believe my food cart stands out from therest because Filipino food is still so new tothe scene, said owner and chef Kathy Gietl.The unique avor of the dishes keeps my
customers coming back.Gietl added that her cart is the rst one of
its kind to offer Filipino food in Colorado.Her cart attracts foodies and adventure
eaters. A lot of them started out just brows-ing at the menu, then turned in to customersand turned regulars which Im really happyabout, Gietl said. I never expected this kindof response and I am extremely grateful for.
Ranging from $1 to $9.50, her cart offersthese entrees:
Chicken Adobo: The most popular en-tree on the menu goes to the chicken adobo.Tender chicken simmered in fresh garlic, soysauce and a hint of vinegar makes chickenadobo the classic favorite.
Manok Sa Gata (Chicken cooked in coco-nut): With the unique blend of coconut milk,fresh ginger, fresh garlic, bamboo shoots allsimmered with chicken, the Manok Sa Gata it
is a must try!
Pancit: The vegetarian pancit is reallypopular as well. Vermicelli mixed with a vari-ety of vegetables and sometimes seitan (veg-etable meat) makes this pancit popular withthe health conscious and vegetarians.
Kare-kare: The hearty pork and peanut
sauce with eggplant, green beans and cab-bage mix makes kare-kare another uniqueoption.
Chicken or Pork Skewers: For those want-ing to taste delicious sauces, try the chickenor pork skewers, which is offered through herspecial menu.
Lumpia (egg roll): Each lumpia is hand
rolled and lled with either ground beef with
vegetables or tofu with vegetables pairedwith Gietls very own sweet and sour sauce.
Ginulayang Shrimp or Tofu: This is the
perfect dish for seafood and vegetarian lov-ers during the winter time.
Gietls lumpia, selling for $1 each, are oneof the most popular appetizers on her menu
Party packs are available by calling her inadvance. In addition, Gietl works closely withtwo bars to offer lumpia. She works at differ-ent music and art venues, including the an-nual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.
After a Bronco win or maybe even on HumpDay, Gietl sells two lumpias for the price of$1, regularly at $1 apiece. Occasionally, sheoffers specials on her Facebook page orTwitter feed. Follow her through these onlinemedia outlets to catch her daily and weeklyspecials.
In addition, she maintains a box of frequentcustomers cards. Every time you purchase a
meal, she stamps it and keeps it in her boxAfter ten meals, a free meal is offered to thefrequent diner.
She also passes out yers to her weekend
events, distributes stickers with the carts logoand even t-shirts mass produced in the Phil-ippines, showing off the name of her cart.
Her downtown location introduces thecuisines to Filipino transplants, foodies andcurious eaters interested in Asian culinarydelights. Its a great place to introduce the
Filipino cuisine, Gietl said.Starting on April 16, 2012, Gietl began the
food cart after leaving the corporate worldWith erce determination to succeed with the
food cart concept, she researched, createdand perfected recipes from the Philippines.
She credits her success to the uniquenessof the Filipino food and the support of herdowntown friends and family.
Pancit Noodles (Vegetarian)
Owner and Chef Kathy Gietl
16th Street and Stout | Downtown Denver
Tel: 720.746.8880 | www.atasteofthephilippines.com
Like on Facebook: A Taste of the Philippines
Follow on Twitter: @FilipinoCart
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To describe Wasabi Roll & Go in
three words, it is healthy, trendy
and affordable. Wasabi Roll & Go
brings a unique concept to Denver.
The restaurant offers fast, on-the-go sushi with
the option of creating customized sushi rolls.
What an amazing experience to be able to decide
what goes into each bite of your shy delight.
Patrons can choose from a variety of rice,
protein (such as salmon, tuna, shrimp or
chicken), vegetables, house-made sauces, and
signature toppings.Wasabi Roll & Go, located near the
University of Denver, is the third Wasabi Sushi
in Coloradowith many more in Missouri.
Its new take on Japanese cuisine is similar to
other on-the-go eateries, in which your order is
made behind a counter before your very eyes,
only its the rst of its kind for sushi.
Ive always been thinking about
this concept, says J.W. Lee,
Principal of Wasabi.
I think that right now the market, needs this.
The customers have been trained out there.
With all the Subways and Chipotles, people
know what to expect.
Wasabi Roll & Go is convenient for students
who need to get in and out quickly. Students
can order by phone or online and pick up their
food; they can also choose from the Grab &Go section, a refrigerated area with pre-made
sushi rolls and bottled drinks. The eatery
also offers various rice bowls that are just as
popular as the sushi.
Recently opened on September 16, the
restaurant already has many regular customers.
We already have repeat customers which
means its been approved and that people like
it, says Lee. They are comfortable and they
are having fun.
Lee has more than 20 years of cooking
experience with training in Japan and Korea. He
created many of the Wasabi recipes.
Other items on the menu are gyoza, edamame
seaweed salad, and miso soup. Japanese
cuisine, in general, is considerably healthy. The
state of Colorado is health-conscious, so we
need something like this, says Lee.For refreshments, Wasabi Roll & Go sells
coffee, hot tea, and boba drinks (smoothies).
The restaurant will soon offer Chinese and
Japanese draft beer, making it a great spot to
study, to hang out or to wind down.
If we created this restaurant ten years
ago, it probably wouldnt have worked. But
now people are ready for this kind of concept,
especially in Denver.
Restaurant Peek | asian avenue magazine
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Asian Avenue magazine
menu.
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November 2013 | On Scene22
TEAs 99 Histories illustrates the
mulple faces of jeong
Despite a bleak chilly afternoon, the Japa-
nese Language School of Denver welcomed
the community to its fall bazaar hosted on
October 20. The JSD is a supplementary
Sunday school for kindergarten through
junior high students, oering a solution forJapanese-American parents who wish to
raise their children in a bilingual fashion.
The school was initiated in 1981 by the
Japanese Firms Association for the original
purpose of assisting Japanese nationals tem-
porarily visiting Denver on business by facili-
tating the smooth transfer of their children
back into Japanese schools, educating them
through a similar Japanese curriculum.
The instructors possess certiication ac-
quired in Japan and adhere to the standard
textbook used overseas. The school is fur-
thermore approved by the Japanese Min-
istry of Education and supervised by the
Consulate-General of Japan in Denver.
Inside Sand Creek Elementary located
in Highlands Ranch, 14 instructors utilize
12 classrooms to teach their 124 students
weekly academic courses of math, science
and social studies, along with monthly cul-
tural subjects of ikebana, calligraphy, and
tea ceremony. In addition to academics, theschool invites special guests to give demon-
strations on various topics like aikido, ten-
do, koto and taiko.
Annual events include a sports day fes-
tival where students engage in traditional
athletics like tamaire, a game resembling
basketball.
During the fall bazaar, children and par-
ents perused hand-in-hand through a yard
sale inside the gym illed with Japanese lan-
guage books, toys and clothing, and enjoyed
onigiri and green tea pastries in the cafete-
ria next door.
Brenda Velasquez
Asian Avenue magazine
Japanese School of Denver hosts fall bazaar
Brenda Velasquez
Asian Avenue magazine
Its something deeper than romance. The-
atre Esprit Asias 99 Historiesopened Thurs-
day night October 24 at the intimate VintageTheatre in Aurora. The evocative play ex-
plored the universal theme of love within
romantic, platonic and parental contexts
framed by a Korean-American lens.
When Eunice Kims traditional mother
plays matchmaker, reuniting her with an old
classmate-turned-handsome-but-engaged-
doctor, he explains his lukewarm companion-
ship with his ianc as a product of jeong: an
ambiguous term akin to love that playwright
Julia Cho describes as what exists between
people who are so closely bonded that, for
better or worse, each is essential to the oth-
ers achieving full self-hood.When Eunice searches through her moth-
ers heirlooms, she discovers photographs
revealing a long-lost romance between an
unidentiied Korean girl and an Americansoldier. The play employs a striking time-
shifting technique to bring these photos
to life before the audience like moving
portraits, as actors perform the courtship
glimpsed within the snapshots.
Though the characters never indulged in
so much as a kiss or embrace, the palpable
intensity of the amorous sentiment between
them permeated the theatre: the audience
observed in complete stillness as the yearn-
ing soldier gazed silently at the girl beside
him, boldly stroking her hair in tender ad-
miration; they listened intently as Eunices
old classmate recounted in a quiet voice theunforgettable touch her childhood violin-
playing had left on his heart; they sympa-
thized with Eunices ex as he described the
acute pain of her rejection.But after examining these romantic con-
texts, the story ultimately champions paren-
tal love over amorous passion.
Neither the romance between the Korean
girl and her soldier nor Eunice and her ex
reach fruition; only the love between Eunice
and her mother fully blooms as they learn to
open their hearts to each other, demonstrat-
ing the incomparable depth of the jeong be-
tween a mother and child.
For show times or more information
about Theatre Espirit Asia, visit www.the-
atre-esprit-asia.org.
Photo: Sheila Ivy Traister (left) and Tria Xiong (right)perform in 99 Histories. Credit: Paolo Dizon
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Cindy Yan becomes rst Chinese-American
Miss Colorado Teen USA 2014Dozens of girls and women, ages 13 to 26,
from across the state competed for the titlesof Miss Colorado USA and Miss ColoradoTeen USA on October 27 at the Union ColonyCivic Center in Greeley.
Cindy Yan, an Englewood resident, was
crowned Miss Colorado Teen USA, compet-ing against 62 other teen contestants.
Yan, 16, is a junior at Cherry Creek HighSchool, who will graduate next June.
I am blessed to be Miss Colorado TeenUSA 2014, she said. I will fulill the title
to the best of my ability and hope to bringColorado to nationals as the winner! I thank
my family, friends, and sta for this amazing
opportunity! I am beyond grateful.Yan is the irst Chinese American to win
the title. Her hobbies include modeling andalso guiding special needs kids in playingbasketball.
Along with Yan, Eleanna Livaditis of Cen-tennial was crowned Miss Colorado USA onthe same evening.
With scholarship awards of $29,000 forcontestants and $45,000 for the winners, thepageants give the women a chance to gainself-esteem and advance their careers.
Visit www.misscoloradousa.com for moreinformation. If interested, apply online forthe 2015 program at www.futureproductions.net/apply.
CAHEP provides health
fairs for Colorados
refugee communies
The below photo shows the strong inter-est and community participation at a healthfair organized at the Queen of VietnameseMartyrs Parish on September 22. Over 280people received free lu shots; and over 75
were screened for blood borne diseases(blood tests), lung function, and cholesterol/lipids. Working closely with Walgreens, CA-HEP also provided education and awarenessfor the Connect for Health Colorado insur-
ance programs and conducted pre-screen-ings for eligible families.
Friendship Basketball League nishes
fall season with new champs
Six teams competed in the 2013 fall sea-son of Friendship Basketball League (FBL).The goal of FBL is to allow players of all skilllevels to enjoy the game of basketball in asportsmanship-focused competition.
The teams played weekend games at St.Johns Lutheran Church in Denver for twomonths. The season culminated in the playos
and inals, in which Team Short Bus took home
the irst place trophy on September 14.
The league was great, said YungminMun, captain of Team Short Bus.
I made lots of friends that all enjoy the gameof basketball. Cant wait for next season.
The new season begins this month. Visitwww.blhoops.com for more information.
Team Short Bus wins the fall 2013 Friendship Basketball League. Back (left to right): Yungmin Mun, Josh Pak,
Jinho Kong and Eugene Joh. Front (left to right): Jung Lee, Peter Bui, Gi Lee, and Amos Park.
Cindy Yan was crowned Miss Colorado Teen
USA 2014 on October 27.
Colorado Alliance for Health Equity andPractice (CAHEP) provides health screeningsto refugee communities across Colorado.
On September 7, CAHEP organized a part-
nership with Grace Apartments to host ahealth fair for the Bhutanese and Burmeserefugees. Walgreens and various nursing
programs provided 175 lu shots. Working
with Connect for Health Colorado, CAHEPalso gave education for healthcare insuranceprograms for uninsured but eligible refugeefamilies (photo below).
On October 12 at Hidden Brooke Apart-
ments, over 175 free lu shots were provided
and 60 screenings with blood tests, bone den-
sity tests, cholesterol tests were conducted.Most of the people were of Burmese ethnicorigin. Education and awareness for diseaserisks were provided in patients language ofchoice (photo below).
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November 2013 | National News4
Comprehensive Immigration
Reform NOW -
Asian Youth Speak Out
Whats actually behind
the low Asian-American
obesity rate?
Asian-American band sues
government to trademark
name The Slants
Not Your Model MinorityOn October 8, Gregory Cendana, theExecutive Director of the Asian Pa-
ciic American Labor Alliance (APALA) was
arrested, along with two hundred other ac-
tivists and eight members of Congress at the
nations capitol. In photos from that day, he
is seen being led away in handcus with a
handwritten t-shirt with the words Notyour Model Minority scrawled on the front.
While immigration reform stalls within
legislative chambers, activists and commu-
nity members have come out in droves to
highlight its impact on their communities.
The October 8th action was part of a co-
ordinated campaign around immigration
reform launched by eight national Asian
American Paciic Islander organizations.
Asians make up 13% of the U.S. undocu-
mented population. The U.S. Ofice of Home-
land Security estimates that as of 2009, the
largest undocumented Asian populations
are 270,000 immigrants from the Philip-pines, 200,000 from India, 200,000 from Ko-
rea and 120,000 from China.
The Youth Leadership Council of theKorean American Resource & CulturalCenter (KRCC) created this video campaign
to elevate Asian American youth voices in
the immigration reform debate. Featuring
stirring and thought provoking spoken word
performances from local youth, the compre-
hensive immigration reform-focused video
will be shared with Congressional leaders.
KRCC met and talked to young people and
gathered over 1,000 signatures in support of
policy changes.
youtu.be/AZXmeecqgoc
According to the National Center for
Health Statistics (NCHS), more than 78 mil-
lion adults, including 50 million white Amer-
icans, can be categorized as obese. Examples
of obesity include an adult who is 5 feet, 4
inches tall and weighs 174 pounds or more,or an adult who is 5 feet, 9 inches and weighs
203 pounds or more.
The new igures are the irst to include
estimates for Asian adults, and they con-
irmed that obesity is relatively uncom-
mon among this demographic: less than
11 percent of Asian adults were in the
heavyweight category. Compare that to the
nations obesity average as a whole, which
stands steady at about 35 percent.
It looks as if we dont have a problem. But
its a huge problem, says Dr. Karen Kim, a
professor of medicine at the University of
Chicago.There are huge dierences where weight
does not adequately relect the realities of
complications from being overweight. For
Asians, you do not have to be overweight to
get the complications for obesity.
For example, Asian-Americans are at in-
creased risk for diabetes at a BMI of 24, ac-
cording to the American Diabetes Association.
And, Kim says, the risk for cardiovascular
disease, another illness normally associated
with being overweight or obese, can start
in normal-weight Asians who have a BMI of
just 19 or 20.
The 2013 Womens World Gymnastics
Championships was a battle of graceversus power between two American gym-
nasts Simone Biles and Kyla Ross.
In the end, Biles triumphed by earning
60.216 points from vault, beam, loor exer-
cise, and uneven bars, winning the gold all-
around over Ross, who earned 59.332.
With her shining silver medal, Ross who is
17 became the irst Asian American to medal
in the all-around at a world championship
Biles, 16, became the irst African American
to win gold.Its so exciting to come to this individual
worlds and win a medal for myself, says Ross.
Ross is of Japanese, Filipino, Puerto Rican
and black descent.
An Oregon band of Asian-American mu-sicians that plays for Asian-Americancrowds has been turned down in its eortsto trademark its name by a U.S. Patent Ofice
thats worried the name oends people.
The patent ofice balked the irst time be-
cause the name is considered a derogatory
term for Asians. The Slants argued the name
referred to musical chords and that even if it
was derogatory, they were reclaiming it, the
way some black rappers have reclaimed
the n-word.
The second time the band tried, in 2011,
they argued that the name had nothing to do
with Asians, reclaiming or otherwise.
They said because of our ethnicity, peo-
ple automatically think of the racial slur asopposed to any other deinition of the term,
band founder Simon Tam, told NPR. In oth-
er words, if I was white, this wouldnt be an
issue at all.
Now the group wants a federal judge to
force the patent ofice to trademark the
name on the grounds that the decision
against them was based on their race.
Their reasoning using race as a consider-
ation for the decision under the trademark
ofice... Tam said. Under almost every other
government, they cant do that because its
considered racist.
Kyla RossFirst Asian American Gymnast to
win All-Around World Medals
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Enthusiasm should follow the Way;bravery should join forces
with reason.
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November 2013 | Event Recap26
Hali Xiong (right) wins
the costume contest
as Leeloo from The
Fifth Element.
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Halloween Party |asian avenue magazine
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20 November 2013 | Chinese Idiom28
Once upon a time, there was a poor man who read a book
about a mantis that would hide behind leaves while trying to
catch a cicada. Tese leaves could conceal a person from mortal
eyes. So the man made up his mind to find such leaves.
He swept up a heap of leaves from under a tree and carried
them home. Ten he tested their worth one by one.Holding one of them in front of his eyes, he repeatedly
asked his wife, Can you see me any more?
Yes, I can was her invariable answer. ired of being
unendingly bothered with the same stupid question, one day
she tried to deceive him by saying, No, I cant see you any
longer.
Overjoyed, the poor man went to the marketplace with
that magic leaf and helped himself to what he could lay his
hands on. He was caught in the act. At the court, he told the
magistrate his story.
But arent you afraid of being discovered by others? asked
the magistrate. No, the poor man confessed, because when
I cover my eyes with such a magic leaf, I wont be able to see
anything before me.
Te magistrate burst into laughter and ordered his release.
- Collected Jokes
Covering Ones Eyes with a Leaf Seeing No Further Tan Ones Nose
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Calligraphy by Harrison X. Tu, Confucius Classroom in Denver
Used to describe a person whose eyes are shaded by something so
trivial so that all things farther or more important are shut out.
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