Pinakbet — Filipino American News Across the Country

(Sorry for the technical difficulties, now we’re back!)

Fritz Friedman, widely known in the entertainment industry but virtually unknown among Filipino Americans, is retiring after 34 years with Sony Pictures as the head of worldwide publicity for several divisions of the multi-media giant – SP Home Entertainment and SP Worldwide Acquisitions. Under his leadership, Sony Pictures has enjoyed unprecedented financial success.  Filipino Americans may remember one of his more memorable productions – the Cebu Prison Dancing Inmates documentary that was based on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”; but are probably unaware of the producer.  For the production, Friedman brought the choreographer and several dancers from “Thriller” to the Philippine prison.  Their professional participation undoubtedly resulted in the artistic brilliance of the many inmate dancers.  Friedman, of ¾ Filipino and ¼ Austrian ancestry (thus his last name), immigrated to the U.S. at age 5 and has the distinction of being the very first Asian graduate of Vassar College.  For readers who would like to view the dancers, please go to You Tube and click on Michael Jackson’s “This Is It, They Don’t Care About Us”.  (Thanks to Positively Pinoy who carried the story in its August 27 issue)………Jessica Sanchez, 17, last year’s American Idol runner-up, who has a recurring role in the popular TV show Glee, sang the national anthem at the annual While House Lawn Easter Egg Roll…….Lloyd LaCusta, formerly KTVU-TV’s South Bay Bureau Chief for 25 years, is now a Professor at San Jose State University.  In his spare time, he helps promote the critical importance of organ donations……..Sports fans may remember the dramatic photograph of power forward Blake Griffin of the LA Clippers of the National Basketball Association, airborne and preparing to dunk the basketball.  The photographer – Filipino American John Salangsan……..Historical Tidbit: The late Thelma Bucholdt of Alaska was the first Filipina American to be elected to a state legislature in the United States, serving four consecutive terms in the Alaska House of Representative from 1974 through 1982.

Bridge Generation News

It is with a heavy heart to report the passing of Alfred (Uncle Al) Mendoza who fought the good fight on behalf of Filipino Americans during the civil rights era of the 1960-70s.  Al, 78, of Brea (Los Angeles County) died of lung cancer on August 21, 2014 with his family at his bedside.  Together with the late Bridge Generation icon Royal Morales, he was a visible and vocal presence at civil rights protests and presentations mounted by Los Angeles Asian/Filipino community activists.  Growing up in LA’s historic Filipinotown, it was fitting that in the early 1970s Al helped found SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans), the respected youth-serving agency that continues to make its home there today. His activism led to the development of a number of social programs in the LA area including the Pacific Asian Alcohol and Drug Program and the Asian American Community Mental Health Training Center.  He later served for many years as the Director of the Los Angeles County Refugee Center.  Following his retirement he served on the Asian Pacific Planning Council.  Al was also known for his musical talent on the ukulele, for his wry sense of humor, and for his sharp wit.  Most appropriately, his obituary read: “…..one of Mendoza’s enduring legacies will be his sage counsel as mentor to a generation of new leaders who now have taken up the torch on behalf of and with the communities he so proudly served.”

………..Fred Basconcillo of Daly City is working with Major General Antonio Taguba on the “Filipino American World War II Soldiers Recognition Project”.  The project’s mission is to raise national awareness for the wartime service and sacrifices of Filipino Americans in defending the Philippines and the United States.  As a youth Fred was a member of the San Francisco Mango Youth Club.  More recently, he was known for his leadership in the naming of the Vicky Manalo Memorial Park in the SOMA district of San Francisco…….Letty Perez, President of the FANHS Stockton Chapter, proudly announced the finalization of a lease for the Filipino American National Historical Museum in Stockton with the grand opening tentatively scheduled for the beginning of October. The Museum will be located on the ground floor of the old Newberry store on Weber Street.  With its opening, it will finally be possible to display historical artifacts and mementos of the Filipino American experience in America.  Well-deserved kudos should also go to Mel LaGasca who tirelessly led the long effort to establish the Museum……George Ramirez of San Bruno reminds me that not only Chinese but also Filipina women were in the chorus line at the long closed Forbidden City Nightclub in San Francisco during the midst of the last century.  Among the Pinay dancers was Arlene Lagrimas Dark, formerly of Stockton.  Rumor also has it that two other young Filipina Americans – one from the Central Valley and the other from the Central Coast — were chorus line dancers at the famous nightclub; but only for one night…….Gloria Coronas who honed her singing and jazz piano talents at the Kalihi District in her hometown of Honolulu, now performs regularly at 510 Bistro and Strings — both Merced restaurants………Check out the artistic cover of the current issue of Salamin Magazine (online only) for a Dalai Lama-like image of Fred Cordova……..Happy Wedding Anniversary to Bob and Janet San Jose of Seal Beach who celebrated their 60^th and to Bob and Christine Luna of Merced who celebrated the event at the Black Oak Casino in Sonora…….Happy Birthdays to Pastor Engkabo, 83, of Sacramento and Jerry Salac, 80, of San Jose.