Los Angeles
May 6, 2013

by Suzanne Joe Kai

In Memoriam: Mario Machado 1935-2013
Pioneer Radio and TV Newsman, Anchor and Actor

Mario Machado, the nation's first Asian American on-air television news reporter and anchor passed away May 4, 2013 at age 78.

Mario was a pioneer who blazed a trail for all of us. A pioneer with heart, he went out of his way to encourage us to follow our dreams. 

In 2010, the Asian American Journalists Association honored Mario Machado inducting him onto its new Honor Roll of Asian American Pioneers in U.S. Journalism (1925-1975) at AAJA's 29th annual National Convention in Los Angeles.

In 1999, Machado was honored by the Chinese Historical Society of America in San Francisco. The CHSA produced this video which has excerpts of some of his early broadcasts.

As fellow pioneer television broadcaster Christopher Chow says about Mario:

"Everybody in our field and in the Asian American community owes him for opening doors for us and for helping us to gain credibility and opportunities.  Not only did he perform well on air but he actively advocated for us, for our inclusion, for the hiring and promoting of Asian Pacific Islander journalists by news media organizations all across America. Mario, we salute you."

Chow wrote about Mario in his "Casting Our Voices" for the Chinese Historical Society's tribute to Chinese American Pioneer Broadcasters:

Irvine, California

It's a double celebration for restaurateurs Philip Chiang and his mother Cecilia Chiang. 

Photo: Chef Philip Chiang, co-founder P.F. Chang's China Bistro
  P.F. Chang's China Bistro, the Asian-themed restaurant chain was co-founded by Philip Chiang twenty years ago. To celebrate, Chiang has unveiled a new Chef's Summer Cuisine menu.

Chef Philip Chiang has continued to develop innovative Asian-inspired cuisine offerings as a culinary consultant to the chain he co-founded to ensure its original vision since its sale to Centerbridge Partners LP last year reportedly in a transaction valued at $1.1 Billion.

If you can't wait to taste Chef Chiang's new cuisine offerings, head over to P.F. Chang's China Bistro at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, California. The Irvine location is the first in the nation to premiere the new menu items and new look.

Chef Philip Chiang's culinary talents in classic and innovative fine Chinese cuisine goes back to his mother, Cecilia Chiang, a pioneer in her own right. Both Philip and his mother Cecilia are natives of Shanghai, lived in Tokyo, and relocated to San Francisco. 

Photo: Tribute video to Cecilia Chiang 2013 Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival   Mrs. Chiang, now 94, was t

Note: July 29, 2017

Journalist Ann Curry's comments back in 2013 are as current and urgent as ever.

If anything, journalists are being challenged now more than ever. 

====================

New York City

Veteran broadcast journalist Ann Curry inspired and encouraged journalists to 'hang on.' She says while there is strain in the journalism industry there will also be opportuniity.

Photo by Lia Chang for AsianConnections.com

The  NBC network television reporter, anchor and international correspondent was the keynote presenter at the closing night gala of the Asian American Journalist Association's 23rd annual convention in New York City August 24, 2013.

The seven-time Emmy award-winner, wife and mother of two opened the gala with her passionate commentary about the state of journalism.

WPIX-TV's Arthur Chi'en introduced her to the audience. Here are excerpts of Curry's remarks (with more coverage of the convention to be posted soon):

Arthur: Let's get right into it. What is the state of journalism?

Ann: I think journalism is in a very interesting state of change. I say interesting because there is strain, and there is also opportunity.    People are very concerned about the future of journalism and yet did you know that enrollment in journalism schools is up? So there is this kind of awareness that there's an opportunity ahead.   

December 20, 2017

 

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GOOD LUCK! - AC TEAM

 

April 26, 2018

Newport Beach

The 2018 Newport Beach Film Festival (April 26 - May 3) features great movies and some of the best galas on the planet - with more than 350 films to showcase this year - there is alot to party about!

Here are just a few highlights of this huge festival with a wide range of galas, seminars, and screenings from documentaries to narrative features. Check out the 240 page 2018 NBFF Flipbook. View the schedule for films from Action Sports, Dramas, Culinary, to Irish, European, Latino Showcases. The Pacific Rim Showcase features films from Australia, China, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.

For the full schedule click here.

Ramen Heads

April 30, 2018 5:15pm

Triangle Cinemas- 1870 Harbor Boulevard 
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 United States 

Osamu Tomita, Japan's reigning king of ramen takes us deep into his world, revealing every single step of his obsessived approach to creating the perfect soup and noodles, and his relentless search for the highest quality ingredients. Five other noodle shops are highlighted in this film directed by Koki Shigeno.

 

 

Filipino Spotlight – ULAM: Main Dish 
Lido Theater, 3459 Via Lido 
Newport Beach, CA 92663