asian avenue亚裔英文杂志11月版

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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

issues, a two-year subscription is 40 for 24 issues.

Please make checks or money orders payable to

Asian Avenue magazine. For details about special

corporate or group rates, please call during business

hours: Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm. Shipping and

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advertisingAsian Avenue magazine oers businesses the

most cost-eective way to reach consumers in

the Denver/Boulder metro areas and beyond. For

more information, call during business hours or

e-mail us at marketing@asianavenuemagazine.

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

12


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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


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.


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


14/32

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


15/32

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


16/32November 2013 | Cover Story14

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


17/32

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


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


18/32

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


19/32

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



20/32

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


21/32

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.


22/32

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


23/32

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

DU ROLL $8Cucumber, avocado, crab mix, jalapeno, ci-

lantro, and asparagus roll with seared spicy

tuna. Topped with masago and scallion.

UNIVERSITY ROLL $8Cucumber, cream cheese, asparagus, mush-

room, shrimp tempura roll covered with fresh

avocado. Topped with wasabi guacamole.

TAKO RICE BOWL $8Smoked squid and tako salad with chopped

avocado, cucumber, cilantro, mushroom, and

bell pepper. With spicy chili sauce, sesame

oil, masago scallion & crunch.

FIRE BOWL $9Spicy tuna, spicy salmon and spicy shrimp

with mushroom, jalapeno, cucumber, avocado,

asparagus, chili pepper, sesame oil and crunch.

2076 S. University Blvd. Denver, CO 80210Tel: 303.282.6400

www.wasabirollandgo.com

HOURS: 11AM - 10PM

Annie Guo


menu.

WASABI SUSHI COLORADO LOCATIONS - www.wasabisushibars.com433 South Teller St. Lakewood, CO 80226 | Tel: 303.935.8888

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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


Japanese School of Denver hosts fall bazaar

Brenda Velasquez


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


25/32On Scene | asian avenue magazine

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.

Humble table, wise fareBy Venerable Master Hsing Yun

Miracle TouchMassage & Reflexology30 min Foot Massage

30 min Back Massage

60 min Foot & Back Massage

60 min Back Massage

$15$20

$25$35

Our massages soothe aches and relax your

body. Restore balance and rejuvenate your

energy at an affordable price!

The Empress SeafoodDim Sum Restaurant

Tel: 303.922.2822

Mo n - Fr i 11am - 9p m

Sat - Sun 10:30am - 9pm

Open Hours

Best Roast Duck In Town

Specializing styles in Dim Sum, Cantonese, & SzechuanN

ederalBlvd

W. Alameda Ave.I-2

5

Winner of many awards for best dim sum and Chinese Restaurant

since 1993


28/32

November 2013 | Event Recap26

Hali Xiong (right) wins

the costume contest

as Leeloo from The

Fifth Element.


29/32

Halloween Party |asian avenue magazine


30/32

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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