Asian American and Pacific Islander community leaders honored at gala

Comment by: Asian Legacy Posted: August 6, 2009, 5:08 pm

SDNN editor’s note: Comment received and posted by Asian Heritage Society.
Dearest Len & Roz,
Thank you thank you thank you ….
Michael and I had a marvelous time…
You did it again!!!
Next year, I want you both on stage, as award recipients …
Again, Thanks and have a peaceful Sunday,
Gwen Coronado
http://www.fengshuisandiego.com

Comment by: Asian Legacy Posted: August 6, 2009, 5:10 pm

SDNN editor’s note: comment received and posted by Asian Heritage Society:
Dear Len and Roselyn,

CONGRATULATIONS on your fantastic Asian Heritage banquet. Mary and I really
enjoyed the event and we are so proud of you for what you have accomplished,
and hope that you are having a well deserved time off. What follows are
things I wanted to talk to you in person. But since I am meeting with people
from National University on item #1 this Thursday, I thought I could do more
good if I could feel your ideas beforehand. On one hand, I don’t want to do
anything you would rather not. On the other hand, if you are interested, the
earlier we get you involved may be better.

(1) But, BEFORE I begin, I must thank you again for the Asia Heritage Award
you bestowed on me in 2007. As the only Asian consular representative in San
Diego among 25+ consulates and honorary consulates representated here
(though Korea, China and Japan have their honorary consuls in Tijuana), I
hope to continue to promote your Asian Heritage and Asia publication
efforts.

(2) On October 8-10, 2009, National University (www.nu.edu) is hosting the
Global Education Network (GEN) Conference (www.GENConference.org) at
Marriotte LaJolla and they have asked me to be their Keynote speaker. They
had received 120 proposals for paper from all five continents of the world,
including Thailand, Iran, China, India, Korea, Malyasia, Indonesia and many
other Asian countries. Looking at my introduction on line at
http://www.GENConference.org, I realized that your Asian Heritage Award was
considered my high honor, higher than the Hall of Fames at OSU and others.
Awards.

What you ae doing with the Asian Heritage is tremendous. I believe that in
trying to educate future Global Citizens, it is important to give paradigms,
heroes and heroines they can look up to and emulate. I would therefore like
to use your Asian Heritage in my Keynote Address as an example of how such
paradigms can be created. GEN is not just for Asia but come from all five
continents, but your awards to transcend national boundaries in Asia and
honor all worthy people regardless of their nationalities creates a
marvelous bonding. If you would allow me to use quotes and photos from your
Asian Heritage Awards, past and present, especially in my PowerPoints
(actually Apple’s Keynotes) presentation, it will be most helpful.

(3). I believe that NU plans to make this GEN a regular event, every 18
months, if not every year. And, I would expect Asians to continue to be
major participants. At lest for this year, I have an opportunity to talk
about the importance of your work, that is if you think that doing so would
help your causes. I would like to do so, as this will give me an opportunity
to thank you and allow others to know what you are doing here. If you so
wish, I shall talk to NU to get you and Rosely invited to the Keynote
address and to anciliary activities. This, I hope, will open the door for
Asia to cotinue to be a part of this event in future. If you are interested,
I can bring this up at my meeting with NU this Thursday.

(4) On a separate issue, San Diego Museum of Art is planning a major
Ukiyo-e exhibition from October 2010 to April 2011. The earlier Curators of
Asian Arts did not realize the value of the 1,000 collection they had in
their vault. Dr. Sonya Quintanilla, the new Asian Curator discovered it and
worked with Dr. Hiroko Johnson of SDSU to plan this major coming out party.
I had Ambassador Fujisaki and Ambassador Yachi both take a look at them,
along with Consul General Ihara and his staff. They all seem to be surprised
that such a rare collection existed in San Diego. The exhibit will use both
SDMA and USD gallery, and will have two complete rotations, since Ukiyo-e
should not be exposed to light for more than a couple of months per every 5
years. If you are so interested, I can ask to arrange for a preview, ahead
of the public showing. In fact, a pre-event publicity will be very helpful,
as they are trying to get more fundings for this.

(5) I understand that the City of San Diego is planning a major renovation
of the Gaslamp District to emphasize its Asian Heritage. This may also
present a golden opportuity for your Asia to feature stories of various
national groups that used to inhabit downtown. For example, Hotel Pacific at
5th and Island (now the Callan Hotel) used to house Japanee Association of
San Diego, counded in 1906, earlier even than Japan-America societies of
Southern California or of New York. Japanese American Historical Society
(Gwen Momita, President) is also trying to raise funding for a new display
and office space and I would love to have them occupy a small corner of that
district that used to have many Japanese establishments, ranging from Tofu
manufacturer to Public Bathhouse and Billiard Hall, not even to speak of
restaurants, hotels, to the original Buddhist Temple on a high rise (?).
They were all lost to the Japanese community as the WWII started and they
were ordered to abandon ther abodes and evacuate to relocation camps.

(6). In 2010, we shall not only honor the 25th anniversary Kyoto Prize
laureates, but also the 50th anniverary of the signing of US-Japan Security
Pact, and the 159th anniversary of the arrival of Kanrin-Maru that escorted
the first Japanese diplomat to open the embassy in D.C. I believe that JMSDF
is sending their Training Squadron with their Music Bands, So, Consul
General Ihara is eager to have major Japanese celebration in San Diego.

That is about it for now. The only pressing matter is (2). Let me know if
you are interested and if i have your permission to use your work as an
example.

Regards,

Mike Inoue

Comment by: Asian Legacy Posted: August 6, 2009, 5:28 pm

SDNN editor’s note: comment received and posted by Asian Heritage Society:
Len: You and Rosalynn must be very proud! What a wonderful event you put
on Saturday night. Lisa and I really enjoyed being there. I’m sorry you
didn’t have a chance to meet my wife of nearly 50 years!

I mentioned that I will be needing some pictures. Please have someone send
me a disk which would include crowd shots (reception on the flight deck and
dinner) plus award presentations (I just really need the ones I presented
and one of General Taguba).

Bob

Comment by: Romy Marquez Posted: August 6, 2009, 6:02 pm

SDNN editor’s note: comment received and posted by Asian Heritage Society:
Here’s the latest news development in our community. Thanks and best
regards,

Romy Marquez

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PHILIPPINE VILLAGE VOICE - Redefining Community News
BREAKING NEWS - Exclusive
Volume 3, Issue No. 12 / News Without Fear or Favor /

. . . . . A community service of San Diego’s Philippine Village Voice
(_PhilVoiceNews@aol.com_ (mailto:PhilVoiceNews@aol.com) or at 619.265.0611)
for the information and better understanding of the public. . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The News UpFront: (TOP STORY) as of Monday, July 27, 2009

~ Major General Antonio M. Taguba would not be drawn into the politics of
the prison scandal in Iraq that he helped to unravel. Forced into
retirement in 2007 for sticking to the truth of what he found, the
58-year-old
Manila born US Army officer advocates for a war crimes trial of top
officials of
the Bush administration for atrocities in Iraq. On a visit to San Diego
during the weekend, he felt humbled when told that he has become the iconic
role model of Filipinos across the United States for his honesty and strict
adherence to the truth. Taguba was honored by the Asian Heritage Awards for
his exemplary conduct that fits the “Profiles of Courage”
institutionalized by President John F. Kennedy.