The Lunar New Year Proclamation ceremony, led by County Executive Ike Leggett and Council President Phil Andrews, drew many community leaders, representing over 30 organizations and the ethnic groups that celebrate this holiday–Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Despite the snow, over 50 people showed up at event, hosted by the county executive’s Office of Community Partnership and the Liaison for Asian Americans.

The Philippine Embassy held a reception on Feb. 18 to celebrate the passage of the equity compensation provision. In photo are (from left): Filipino World War II veteran Celestino Almeda, 92, Ambassador Willy C. Gaa, Charmaine Manansala of the Obama 2008 campaign, Emilie Dearing, Jian Zapata of the House Veterans Affairs committee and veteran Rudy Panaglima.

Ambassador Willy C. Gaa is flanked by Filipino WWII veterans (from left): Almeda, Panaglima, 78, and Amadeo Urbano, 85 during the ceremony to mark the end of the 1946 Rescission Act that stripped the US veterans status of Filipino soldiers who were drafted during the war. (ACFV photos: Eric Lachica)

Photo shows the presentation of the enlarged version of the check donated by the insurance company that Joann Wang works for. The presentation took place at the CCBA New Year's gala dinner held on Feb. 1.

Asian Fortune associates and guests at the annual dinner held by the Asian American Lead at the China Garden restaurant in Rosslyn, Virginia.

Former President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker at the Democratic Party of Virginia's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on Feb. 7 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, which also featured the three gubernatorial candidates. KAI President and CEO Bel Leong-Hong and her husband and other Asian Americans were among the 1,500 Democrats from across Virginia who attended the event. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) hosted its 2009 Holiday Party on Feb. 21 at the Harvest Moon Restaurant in Falls Church, VA. FAPAC President Farook Sait welcomed guests with his humorous speech. Lisa Chen served as emcee. Guests included Naomi C. Earp, former Chair of US Equal employment Opportunity Commission, and Gazal G. Modhera, Esq., of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The program featured a dance contest, games and raffles. FAPAC Special Event Committee Chair Versha Kumar gave the closing remarks. Photos by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

Former Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Albert del Rosario and Mrs. Gretchen Del Rosario hosted a reception for Feed the Hungry volunteers in Metro Manila Feb. 15. The Del Rosarios are honorary chairs of the FtH Board. Seated, from left: Erica Isleta, Marichu, Fely Fontanilla, Tessie Alarcon, Cynthia Tayam, Gloria T. Caoile, Bambi Lorica, Fely Dumo, Nanette Carreon. Standing: Meg Isleta, Joshua Isleta, Ambassador Del Rosario, Roger Saplan, Lupe Romulo, Ceasar Frontanilla, Butch Samson, Verna Samson, Willie Buhain, Lottie Buhain, Ben Caoile, Bing Branigin, DFA Assistant Secretary Lorrie Ypariguirre, Pablito Alarcon, Manny Dumo and Ador Carreon.

Metro D.C. area couple Ador and Nanette Carreon renewed their vows at a church wedding in Batangas, Philippines last February 8. Principal sponsors included Ambassador Willy and Mrs. Linda Gaa, Doctors Joe and Cathy Arzadon and Mayor Prudencio Gutierrez. Photo by Bing Cardenas Branigin

The 501 C-3 non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., continues to build schools, provide scholarships and its feeding and livelihood programs and emergency disaster assistance in the Philippines, despite the recession. Volunteers stand in front of the almost finished, two-room school building in Quilo-Quilo, Padre Garcia, Batangas.

Six JAVA veterans and their next of kin, representing the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) and the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), received the Bronze Star Medals and Legion of Merit in a formal military ceremony at the JAVA Annual Meeting luncheon at the Harvest Moon Restaurant at Falls Church, Virginia on Jan. 17 before some 100 members and friends. The awardees were: Hanako “Hankie” Hirose for Staff Sergeant Goro Hirose, 442nd RCT; Technical Sergeant Ranger Grant J. Hirabayashi, MIS; Bina Kiyonaga for 1st Lieutenant Joseph Y. Kiyonaga, 442nd RCT; Technical Specialist 4 Yeiichi Kelly Kuwayama, 442nd RCT; Etsu Mineta Masaoka for Technical Specialist 4 Mike M. Masaoka, 442nd RCT; Dr Ray Murakami for Staff Sergeant Hideyuki Noguchi, 442nd RCT. Photo courtesy of Terry Shima

The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center discussed the new law on “U Visas” in a recent training session. Its Staff Attorney Nadia Firozvi said an immigrant victim who suffered substantial physical or mental abuse from a qualifying criminal activity, has information concerning the criminal act, is helpful in the investigation and prosecution of the crime, and the criminal activity violated laws of the U.S. inside the U.S., may be eligible for “U nonimmigrant status.” Besides a resident status for the victim and family, the U visa could lead to a Green Card and citizenship. Stan Tsai and Stan Lou, Co-Presidents of OCA-DC, said there would be an OCA- APALRC information campaign for the Asian American community. For more info, visit www.ocadc.org or www.apalrc.org

The President of the University of Maryland, Dr. Mote, recently hosted a Lunar New Year celebration at his residence. The party featured a Lion Dance and delicious cuisine. Maryland Delegate Susan Lee and OCA board members Rachel Chen and Annette Cheng were among VIP guests. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

Officially, the Chin National Day is on Feb. 20. In Maryland, members of the tribal state of Burma celebrated in Seneca Valley High School on Feb. 21. Chin National Day started in 1948 in Falam city, with over 5,000 members meeting under the leadership of the late U Vom Tu Maung, the first Chin Affairs minister of Burma, to have democracy in all the Chin societies. Aung Min, one of the event organizers, said the celebration honors “our founding father's legacy of bravery, faithfulness and high moral standards.” Over 1,000 people enjoyed a cultural show. Elizabeth Chung, member of the Governor’s Office of Asian Pacific American Community Affairs, presented a message from Gov. Martin O’ Malley to Pu Defence Lalawng, president of the local Chapter of Chin Community of USA, Inc. Photo courtesy of Aung Aung Min

The Learning Institute For Enrichment (LIFE) & Discovery, Inc., a Frederick-based Asian community based organization, recently held “Youth Empowerment: The Key to Prevention” workshop in the area. Cheryl Owens, MPH, former Asian American Youth Against Tobacco (AAYAT) project director in Akron, Ohio, was the presenter. This project was partially supported by Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: CRFP–MOTA, Center for Health Promotion-Asian Coalition Against Tobacco Initiative; Teens Rejecting Abusive Smoking Habits (TRASH); and NIH-Maryland Regional Community Partnership, Asian Advisory Group. Cheryl urged participants to have a community tobacco prevention action plan. For more info, contact LIFE & Discovery, Inc. at Tel. No. (301) 694-6838 or email lee0070@lifeanddiscovery.com

Students at the Chinese cultural enrichment program at Wakefield School in Virginia. From left: Fiona Evan-Wells, Kayla Dowell, Eleanor Dunnigan, and Canon Presgrave. Haymarket resident Lucia Chen has been teaching students at the enrichment program since summer 2008.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty delivered his second annual State of the Chinatown Address at the community meeting and dialogue hosted by the Chinatown Revitalization Council (CRC) on Feb. 23 at Wah-Luk House. He described the District government’s progress and action plans for stimulating cultural and economic development and overall improvement in and around Chinatown. Also in photo are D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray (seated, far left) and CRC Chair Alex Chi.

The Asian American Coalition of Chicago honored Indian Americans Pardeep Singh Deol, Samita Shah, and Mr. Niranjan Shah at their 26th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration, the Year of the Ox 4707, on Saturday, January 24, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont Illinois. This year's gala event themed "Cultural Threads Woven into the Fabric of a United Future" was hosted by the Korean American community of Chicago, with Ms. Kay Kihwa Rho serving as event chairperson. Courtesy of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago

Hundreds of Asian Americans responded to the email Asian Fortune sent out regarding the Casting Call held on Feb. 28 at Rosslyn Spectrum in Arlington, VA. The film crews are casting extras and day players for a major motion picture, "The Last Airbender," directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan, and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall. Based on the hugely successful Nickelodeon animated TV series, the PARAMOUNT PICTURES & NICKELODEON MOVIES live action feature film, THE LAST AIRBENDER is set in a world where human civilization is divided into four nations: Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. The film's hero, the reluctant young Aang, is the "Last Airbender." Aided by a protective teenage Waterbender named Katara, and her bull-headed brother, Sokka, Aang proceeds on a perilous journey to restore balance to their war-torn world. Currently, they are looking for individuals of Cambodian, Mongolian, and Laotian descent (Boys & Girls, and Men & Women 5-85 years old.) "The Last Airbender" will be filmed in Philadelphia. If cast, all positions will be paid, and transportation, housing, and per diem will be provided. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune