Entertainment

Spotlight on Teen Singer Charice Pempengco and Her Upcoming Free L.A. Show

Charice Pempengco is only 17 years old, but she has already been compared by critics to the likes of Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.

The Filipina native, who in late February released her second single, “Pyramid,” featuring Iyaz, was raised in Laguna by a single mother after incidents of domestic violence occurred in her household. Instead of letting her circumstances hold her down, Charice stepped up to the plate, and in an effort to support the family, began competing at the age of seven in any singing contest she could enter, including “Little Big Star,” where she finished in third place.

Charice got her big break in 2007 via YouTube, when videos of her live performances garnered millions of hits. Since then, she’s made appearances on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and even performed at two pre-inaugural events for President Obama.

Continue reading this post

Books

Book Review: Chang-rae Lee’s Korean War Novel, “The Surrendered”

Released nationwide yesterday, Chang-rae Lee’s fourth book, “The Surrendered,” deals with the horrors of armed battle, though it is far from being just another war novel. Lee, whose first book, “Native Speaker,” received critical acclaim and earned him prestigious awards, revisits the themes that launched his past works to fame.

Entertainment

San Fran Film Festival This Weekend, Along with Complimentary Makeup Sessions

Beginning this Saturday, March 13 through March 21, thousands of film aficionados will flock to the 28th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Since 1982, the festival has been an annual event showcasing about 120 new Asian American and Asian films in unique venues throughout San Francisco, San Jose and Berkeley. There will be a range of short programs, full-length features, special guests, musical performances, forums, and even happy hours and parties. For a directory of all the films that will be shown, click here and for ticket prices, click here.

As a sponsor of the film festival, the iconic Japanese beauty company Shu Uemura will also be at the festival’s opening day this Saturday to lend their support.

Continue reading this post

Entertainment

Kollaboration LA 2010: The Best of Asian American Talent

I was extremely impressed and blown away when I attended my first Kollaboration Los Angeles event last year, and this year did not disappoint either. The show, which is held in 10 cities across the nation with the goal of empowering Asian Americans through entertainment, filled the Shrine Auditorium with 5,000+ guests despite the rain this past Saturday. The three-hour extravaganza showcased the varied skills of 10 incredibly talented competitors, interwoven with electrifying guest performances from an array of Asian dance crews, singers and comedians.

In addition, Kollaboration had an incredibly star-studded judges lineup consisting of some of the most recognizable faces in Asian America. They included music-video guru Joseph Kahn, YouTube phenomena Kevin Wu (aka KevJumba) make-up artist Michelle Phan, actor Rex Lee from “Entourage,” journalist Lisa Ling, marketing professional Nita Song, and LA business and community leader Patricia Yoon.

Continue reading this post

Entertainment

Film Review: “The Cove,” Oscar Winner for Best Documentary

Last night’s 82nd Annual Academy Awards was a pinnacle moment for many, including Kathryn Bigelow, who made history as the first woman to the Best Director Oscar. But besides the many big name winners, it was also a huge night for an eye-opening film, “The Cove,” which won the statue for Best Documentary Feature.

The heart of “The Cove” is an urgent mission to bring awareness of and advocacy for dolphins—a message that can reach an even greater audience now that they have the huge recognition of an Oscar win.

Prior to the Oscars, I had the chance to check out the documentary (which is now out on DVD), since it has received many rave reviews and an audience award at Sundance last year. Directed by former National Geographic photographer Louis Psihoyos, the film closely follows a group of dolphin advocates, including the Oceanic Preservation Society and most notably, Ric O’Barry, who has an ironic back-story as a former dolphin trainer turned activist against dolphin captivity—the very industry he helped to create.

Continue reading this post

Careers

A Surge of New Med Schools to Bring Us More McDreamies

Getting into an American medical school has always been notoriously difficult, overwhelming and discouraging for many, to say the very least. With only 131 medical schools across the country, only about half of applicants get accepted every year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, a nonprofit organization for prospective medical school applicants.

Entertainment

American Idol: John Park Voted Off, Andrew Garcia Survives a Scare

To put it plainly, this week’s American Idol results show was pretty rough. Unfortunately, the idol journey of one of our favorite contestants, John Park, abruptly came to an end. In addition, one of our other favorites, Andrew Garcia, found himself in the bottom four contestants for the week. What happened?

John Park’s take on John Mayer’s “Gravity” this past Tuesday garnered a mixed bag of comments from the judges. Ellen and Kara had positive things to say. “I thought it was a much better song choice,” said Ellen. “Way better than last week,” agreed Kara. Randy and Simon’s comments, however, were far more critical. “You didn’t bring anything new or spicy to it,” commented Randy Jackson. Simon Cowell chimed in, “I struggle with the believability here. I think in 20 minutes time, we’re going to forget that performance.”

Continue reading this post

College

How Colleges Limit Asian Americans Despite Their Qualifications

For various reasons, Asian Americans are often known for exceptional academic achievements that allow for entrance into the nation’s top colleges—or so we thought. As it turns out, being good on paper doesn’t mean as much if you’re just another Asian.

In a recent Boston Globe op-ed piece, “Do Colleges Redline Asian Americans?”, Kara Miller, a teacher at Babson College, explores why Asian Americans may still face discrimination in the college admission process. Miller suggests that despite the trend of high academic scores, exemplary extracurricular involvement and challenging life circumstances, Asian American student admissions are still limited at elite colleges.

“Princeton sociologist Thomas Espenshade, who reviewed data from 10 elite colleges, writes in ‘No Longer Separate, Not Yet Equal’ that Asian applicants typically need an extra 140 points to compete with white students. In fact, according to Princeton lecturer Russell Nieli, there may be an “Asian ceiling’’ at Princeton, a number above which the admissions office refuses to venture.”

Continue reading this post

Fashion

F/W 2010: Toni Francesc’s Innovative Take On Man Vs. Machine

After sitting through countless shows during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, there’s a point at which they begin to blend. However, it’s usually right around that point when something refreshing comes down the catwalk and you’re reawakened. Toni Francesc was the designer to wake me up this season and get my fashion adrenaline pumping again.

Francesc’s fall/winter collection, titled “Artificial Life,” was a “metaphor relating to man and machine, offering a critical perspective of the future without overlooking the roots of the past and the world of handcrafted creation.” Embodying this notion, the models had an androgynous and startlingly identical look. Also unique to this show was the music, a clambering blend of industrial noises, which created an eerie atmosphere.

Continue reading this post

Entertainment

Film Review: “Formosa Betrayed” Tackles a Dangerously Fine Line

February 28 is a date forever ingrained in the minds of most Taiwanese. If you don’t already know why, you will after watching “Formosa Betrayed,” a political thriller released in limited theaters this past weekend. 2/28 marks the anti-government Taiwanese uprising that led to the massacre of tens of thousands of citizens, and the movie reminds us to remember this date’s significance for democracy.

The film stars James Van Der Beek (of Dawson’s Creek fame!) which at first glance seemed like an unusual casting. A Taiwanese political thriller starring blue-eyed Dawson? I was confused but intrigued, and found myself in a packed New York City theater on opening night.

Continue reading this post