THE ASIAN HERALD
코리안헤럴드
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June 2017 Established : July 1993 V24- 06 Monthly
www.asianherald.org Email: asianherald@asianherald.org
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Asian Herald
offers an opportunity to reach 338,000 Asian-American readers from the Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Indonesians, Thai, Laos and Indian communities in the Carolinas. Publisher:Ki-Hyun Chun, Ph.D, LL.D, CCIM, CPA Editor : Sunny Chun,MA,LL.D, Writer : Lisa Chun, Esq. Writer at Large: Daniel Chun, M.AC. CPA, Esq. Writer at Large: Lena Chun, Esq. Advertising Director: Wendy Smerz Reporters and Columnists: English : Wendy Smerz 704-332-5656 Chinese: Jack Wang 704-364-8887 Filipino: Nini Bautista, Ph.D 704-408-9513 Indian: Nimish Bhatt 704-491-1186 Korean: Sunny Chun 704-332-5656 Thai: Sana Louis 704-877-9404 Vietnamese: Phan Canh 704-737-9667 1339 Baxter St. Suite 200 Charlotte, NC. 28204 Tel : (704)334-3450 Fax : (704)332-9373
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Charlotte Asian Festival on Asian Heritage Month
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亚洲文化遗产节 The gods were smiling on the Asian Community on May 13, 2017, on its 18th Asian Festival, 12th Dragon Boat Festival, 2nd Asian Music & Dance Fest/AMDF. It was in celebration of the National Asian American Cultural Heritage Month of May. Many exciting innovations debuted. The interactive 'Passport to Asia' activity game was a big hit with kids & adults alike, at the Cultural Country Showcase Tent. It provided learning opportunities about the Asian countries & their cultures, as per Ann Gonzalez, Showcase co Chair. There was a raffle with interesting prizes from each country. More countries were represented like Bhutan, Burma, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, in addition to the Philippines, Korea, China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, pinch hitting Taiwan. The Philippine booth featured ongoing demo by Tonette Asay of the many ways of using/wearing the "malong"(from a pareo, to a bag, to a baby carrier, skirt, to a headdress, wrap around dress, blanket, shawl, rain gear, ad infinitum). The AMDF boasted of performances from ethnic minorities not represented before, to inspire them to preserve their rich & unique cultural heritage, like the Nepalese, Chin Burmese, Montagnard... The sun was brightly shining, spring weather, a cool breeze, & the lake conditions as perfect as can be for a dragon boat race. Calm waters, a wind dropping to a non-threatening 5 mph. As is typical in North Carolina, where sometimes you have all the four seasons in a day, the day before was not so promising rains, high winds, not the least conducive to a day at Ramsey Creek Park, let alone dragon boat racing on Lake Norman. But the loyal, avid volunteers were undaunted for they have been doing this for many years, in all kinds of weather: Lina Kweman, Sana Louis, Jerry Tucker, Jeff, Dr.Jian Zhang, Binh Phu, Kiran Patel, (Doris Tan, Phin Xaypangna, etc.). Most were already with us (Nimish Bhatt, Dr.John, Dr.Nini, Pauline Chan, Linda Yu, Becky Wu, etc) on the very first Asian Festival founded by Dr. Ki Hyun Chun, Dr.Sunny Chun, daughter Lena, Andrea Lee at Marshall Park. The
샬롯 아시안 축제 volunteers worked incessantly the day before: Mylene Clemente, Brian Tarle & the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association, readying the dragon boat staging area, Mae & James Armstead setting up the stage decors, Jessica Esguerra, Ram Cabanero delivering equipment for the Filipino food booth, Ralph Chung for the Korean bulgogi booth, Ann Gonzales & Cella Tanzil fixing up the country cultural showcase tent, Jennifer Khounbolay, singlehandedly doing the non-food vendors, just like Sana for food vendors. Valuable help was also provided by Richard Clancy & his 16 Knights of Columbus volunteers, James Chao & Michael Wang & the Charlotte Chinese Academy volunteers, Farid Javidpour & his Iranian Club, UNCC. Dr. John Chen, the perennial Festival Chair, had some uneasy moments when the truck delivering the dragon boats from Florida bogged down, and they had to send a replacement lickety split. Some contestants for the AMDF had not even confirmed at the last minute, delaying the documentations by Aurea Barbee, Secretariat Chair, who was among those who did not sleep that night, preparing for the events. It does take more than a village to plan, program, and stage such a ginormous event like the Asian Festival with its multi-events. They highlight the rich diverse Asian cultures via the performing arts, sports, authentic cuisine, arts & crafts, with a splash of pageantry, a dizzying kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, visions, laced with tantalizing aroma & flavors! The Opening Ceremony's headliner was the Lead Team of the Peaceful Dragon, the Dragon Dance, and the painting of the eye of the dragon by Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield, pinch-hitting for Mayor Jennifer Roberts, with the help of officials of the Parks & Rec. The Asian Music & Dance Fest, which I founded last year, in lieu of the Miss Asia Carolinas, to showcase the talents of Asian Americans of all ages. It attracted more participants this year, from the Asian minorities. It also featured some professional musicians in noncompeting performances, for a total of 20 performances. The Board of all nonAsian judges( to avoid bias) consisted of
Dr. Ann Dils, Chair of the Dance Dept, choreographer-dancer, UNCC, Robert W., Hudack, composer, playwright, pianist, Kelly Hutchinson, Founder & Creative Director of Mosaic-Arts, soprano of the Opera Carolina, & Dr.Brian Arreola, UNCC Music Dept.,Opera Carolina tenor. Jeff Cheen, Founder of the Charlotte Music Awards was unable to join us this year. Ms Tracy Borja coordinated the work of judges, with the auditors, Jaypee Ave, Padej Yakamna of Prudential & Dr.Mike Borja. Ms.Florami Lee, Lota Mascarenas registered the contestants, while Edelweiss de Guzman & Yulie Armstrong, and saw to the timely sequencing of performances. Sherman Tse & Somphit Somphang added sparkle as they emceed for both the AMDF and the country cultural program, run by Sharada Gullapali & Mae Armstead. Winners of the 2nd Asian Music & Dance Fest are 1) Best Dance Solo, Cammy Jiang (Little Lotus Co.) for a Dai orTai Dance, one of the 56 ethnic minorities located in Southwest China, similar to Lao & Thai. 2) Best Group Dance, Nepali Dance by Sharmeela & Josheda Tamang, Susmita Gurug & Champa Rai.It is a dance about happiness. A girl rejoices in her Creator, while admiring the beauty of the country around her, (Nepal which has the highest mountain in the world the lofty Mt. Everest). It inspires her to dance and she wants to fly over the blue sky and white clouds. 3). Best Voice Solo, is 7-year-old Christian Antonio, who did a mash-up of "Here Comes the Sun" and" Pinoy Ako", singing and playing the ukelele ( selftaught). 4) Best Music Solo is Chelsea Wang, who played a Chinese melody on the Gu Zheng (Chinese zither). 5) Best Music Group Prize went to the GVA of the Charlotte International Church. Nicole Bonilla and Jazzmin Zamora sang and danced a modern rap number, which proved popular with the crowd. 6) The Judges Choice Award went to the Sahaj School of Dance, led by
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