Poet, writer and community advocate Al Robles passed away May 2, 2009 at the age of 79

He leaves behind a lifetime of work helping the poor, the elderly, his community, and a legacy that will be honored by generations to come.

Robles was involved in the International Hotel struggle in San Francisco in the 70's.

In 1977, the decade long fight would result in the eviction of many elderly, low-income Filipino Americans, dismantling the last enclave of San Francisco's historic Manilatown - a day of reckoning for Filipino-American civil rights history.

Robles, affectionately called Manong Al, never gave up helping his community. The I-Hotel was rebuilt in 2005 by the Manilatown Heritage Foundation.

Memorial Services to celebrate Al Robles Life and Journey are planned in San Francisco May 15 and May 17 - see article for details.

Poet, writer and community advocate Al Robles passed away May 2, 2009 at the age of 79.

He leaves behind a lifetime of work helping the poor, the elderly, and his community.

Robles was involved in the International Hotel struggle in San Francisco in the 70's, which would become a day of reckoning for Filipino-American civil rights history.

In 1977, the I-Hotel tenants, primarily elderly low-income Filipinos, lost their decade long struggle and were evicted.

With their eviction, the last enclave of San Francisco's historic Manilatown community and all of its rich cultural living-history was dismantled.

After twenty years of protest by the community at...

With the passing of Filipino-American poet and activist Al Robles who was active in the San Francisco I-Hotel struggle, AC Team searched the web to bring you more about this historic fight.

Jennifer Low of SFGTV hosts Part 1 CELEBRATE HERITAGE. CELEBRATE UNITY about the struggle for Filipino residents to save the San Francisco I-Hotel in the 1970s.

This APA Heritage Month segment posted on YouTube.com was produced in 2007 by Rich Bartlebaugh and Marisa Louie with historical footage contributed by filmmaker Curtis Choy.

With the passing of Filipino-American poet and activist Al Robles who was active in the San Francisco I-Hotel struggle, AC Team searched the web to bring you more about this historic fight.

Jennifer Low of SFGTV hosts Part 1 CELEBRATE HERITAGE. CELEBRATE UNITY about the struggle for Filipino residents to save the San Francisco I-Hotel in the 1970s.

This SFGTV segment posted on YouTube.com was produced in 2007 by Rich Bartlebaugh and Marisa Louie.

Interviews include Emil De Guzman, Board President of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation which rebuilt the I-Hotel in 2005, featuring historical footage provided by filmmaker Curtis Choy.

For Al Robles memorial services information click here.

For more information on filmmaker Curtis Choy's films click here.

To view the SFGTV feature, click on the YouTube.com screen below:

September 21, 2012

Los Angeles

In life, its sometimes having the luck of perfect timing that counts!

Mike Kai was on a flight today to LAX when the captain of his aircraft announces he is diverting his plane to make way for Endeavour's historic arrival.

Mike could see Endeavour on the back of a Boeing 747 right outside his plane window. 

As soon as Mike lands, he runs and jumps into a cab and asks the driver to take him to the South runway to watch Endeavour arrive.

Mike shoots this 32 second video just in time as Endeavour lands! 

8 year old USA Team member Awonder Liang of Madison, Wisconsin is the best chess player in the world for his age group. He won the gold medal at the World Youth Championship in Brazil in the Under 8 Open, November 26, 2011. 

This year's coach and World Chess Federation Senior Trainer (FIDE - Fédération Internationale des Échecs) was Michael Khodarkovsky. 

Photo (Left): USA Team member 8 year old Awonder Liang wins Gold Medal at World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil.

Photo by permission Andrea Rosen

 Here's a sample of the rankings from the American team competing at the World Youth Championship in Caldas, Novas Brazil this year:

Awonder Liang of Wisconsin earned a gold medal in the Under 8 Open with 7.5/9

Ruifeng Li of Texas earned a silver medal in the Under 10 Open with 7/9.

Sarah Chiang of Texas earned 4th place in the Girls Under 14Jeffrey Xiong of Texas earned 5th in the Open Under 12.

David Peng of Northbrook, Illinois earned 7th in the Under 8 Open.

Albert Lu of Southern California placed 12th in the Under 10 Open.

Kevin Wang of Maryland placed 15th in the Under 14 Open. 

Varun Krishnan of La Jolla, California placed 14th in the Under 14 Open. 

Click here for the story from NPR here for the story in the New York Times and
here to the U.S. Chess organization. 

You Are Good Enough

By Marilyn Tam

They cannot take away our self-respect if we do not give it to them. 

 ~Mahatma Gandhi

            Are you good enough? Most people harbor feelings that somehow if people really knew who they are, they will not like them. This nagging feeling buzzes in the brain like small yet powerfully irritating mosquitoes, ready to sting at any moment, undermining our confidence to claim our rightful place at the table. This sense of insecurity can be negatively self-fulfilling and very destructive because it robs us of the confidence and courage to forge ahead on achieving our dreams. The choice to change is in our own hands.

            Being an unwanted child I was told from as early as I can recall that I was worthless, not a good start to building self-esteem. Yet eventually I learned to trust my inner knowing that each person is worthwhile just as they are. Self-respect gave me the strength and resilience to leave home in my mid teens and come to America, and to succeed in business, humanitarian work and in life.  How did that happen? I was blessed along the way with angels who told me that I was OK. We all have those angels in our lives when we look for them.

            My first angel was my grandfather who gave me my Chinese name, Hay Lit, the...