Virginia Lt. Gov Bill Bolling is shown with Mr. Dang from Vietnam, a student at Stratford University at the Lincoln Reagan dinner in Reston, VA.

Photo shows Southeast Asian military attaches during the observance of Myanmar Armed Forces Day in Washington. D.C.

Sonny, Manager of Chics and Wings in Herndon, Virginia celebrates his birthday with friends.

Wayne Fujito of McLean Bible Church is shown with chaplains of the U.S. Coast guard and U.S. Army at the annual ministry dinner for our troops and their families. The ministry is a support vehicle for active-duty troops.

The Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) held its annual gala at the Wardman Marriott Hotel. Photo shows (front row, from left): Fong Bradley, Clara Cherry, Women’s Committee Chair Hilda McCintosh, Rochelle Carroll, author and advocate Jackie Bong-Wright and Auction Chair Loretta Huggins, second row left. The auctions raised over a million dollars for thousands of needy students in Washington D.C. to study arts and music.

After the Day of Valor wreath-laying at the WWII Memorial at the National Mall, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Cuisia Jr., seventh from left, poses with community leaders and Filipino veterans. Shown are retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Jesse Baltazar, Angelesio Tugado, fifth and sixth from left, and Rudy Panaglima and Celestino Almeda (to the envoy’s left), and retired Maj. Gen. Delfin Lorenzana (far right, in sunglasses).

Shown are Filipino TV and screen actor Piolo Pascual, seated in front, with the Consular section staff of the Philippine Embassy, doing outreach service in Virginia Beach, where Piolo held a concert. From left: Consul General Domingo Nolasco, Lyrie Fulgencio, Lyra Ocampo, Larry Sumando, Abe Agustin, Rachelle Vega, Emma Colobong, Nikko Nolasco, Cecilia Nolasco and Loy Cortel. Photo by Bing Cardenas Branigin

Photo shows Delegates Susan C. Lee, Bonnie Cullison and Mary Washington with student and immigrant rights advocates after the passage of the Maryland Dream Act in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay is shown with Bing Cardenas Branigin in Manila before his trip to the Middle East to attend to Filipino overseas workers. Branigin briefed Binay on the plight of hundreds of Filipino teachers in Maryland who are on the verge of losing their jobs due to budget constraints.

Mila Tecala, Founder and Director of the Center for Loss and Grief in D.C. (seated, fourth from left), spoke at the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Capital Region’s Community Dialogue, “It’s Okay to Ask for Help.” Photo by Bing Cardenas Branigin

The Meditation Museum Meetup Group of Brahma Kumaris recently held its 3rd annual Kites for Peace at the Washington Monument grounds. Participants were asked to decorate kites with a message as a gift for children in distress in Japan.

Community leader Vida Benavides is shown with retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D, HI). Akaka received a Lifetime of Public Service Award from the Asian American Action Fund (AAA-Fund) at its annual reception in D.C.

The Indonesian Embassy, with Indonesian consulate generals from New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, and Asia Society of Washington recently held an event featuring Batik design competition, Indonesian cuisine and cultural show. a) From left: Denny Wirawan, famous Indonesian Batik designer; Rosa Rai Djalal, wife of the Indonesian Ambassador to the U.S. Dino Patti Djalal; b) Models in Indonesian Batik dresses designed by Denny Wirawan; c) Indonesian group performers. Photos by Bing Cardenas Branigin

Fred Embuscado recently celebrated his birthday. Seated, from left: Viqui Embuscado (Grandma), Alexi Cruz, Madison Embuscado, Rylan Cruz, Lolo Fred Embuscado (birthday celebrant), holding Javen Cruz. Standing: Michelle Embuscado Cruz and Ava Hope Embuscado. Photo by Bing Cardenas Branigin

The Royal Thai Embassy celebrated Song Karn (Thai New Year) on April 11. Guests enjoyed watching New York Chef Michael Ginor’s cooking demonstrations of Thai popular dishes. Shown lending Chef Ginor a hand were Thai Ambassador Kittipong Na Ranong, Mrs. Carole Geithner, wife of the U.S. treasury secretary, and Alan Green, director of Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Hundreds attended the Cambodian New Year celebration on April 17. The event also featured the 1st Miss Cambodian-American Pageant in Metropolitan Washington DC, which took place at the Cambodian Buddhist Temple. Ten contestants competed for the title. Miss Dika Nine is Miss Cambodian-American 2011.

Shown at the WWII Memorial at the National Mall during the 69th Bataan Day anniversary, are, from left: Col. R. Docu, Philippine Embassy Air Force Attache; Nick Zahn, Heritage Foundation; Corina Apostol, Consular Officer; Angela Corpus, PR of Barnes and Noble Co.; Capt. Pete Habulan, Naval Attache; and Chief Superintendent Armand Remolete, Police Attache. Photo: Bing Cardenas Branigin

Dr. Derionne Pollard, President of Montgomery College, was honored at a recent dinner hosted by Larry La and George Dang at Meiwah Restaurant in Chery Chase, MD. About 40 guests and supporters attended. Photo shows: Dr.Mark Li, Larry La, Dr. Pollard, Dr, Michael Lin, George Dang and two MC students at each end.