September 2006 Issue Preview
Lao, Hmong, U.S. Veterans Memorial: A tribute to heroes
     ... The 44-foot monument designed by Ray Hernandez, former
dean of the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan, explained what
happened during the Secret War in Laos. It is meant to
memorialize the sacrifices of those who fought in the war, to
preserve history, and to educate young people about Lao and
Hmong people. Within the panels, the story of the Secret War is
told along with Hmong and Laotian cultural history and the names
of the veterans of the Secret War.
-- Ka Bao Lee
Asian Slant/ Sharyl Kato
Restaurant Muramoto: Asian Fusion cuisine
     ... I dine out frequently and am familiar with most restaurants in the area, so
I appreciate the consistency of exceptional quality, uniqueness, and true
gourmet dining at Muramoto's. One goes away feeling extremely satisfied and
having received "more" than what he/she paid for. Your senses say "tahnk you"
for giving them such delicate taste treats that contrast and balance superbly
with one another in a texture that you can taste, see, and feel.
Philippine Independence Day:
It's about freedom, culture, and unity
     Just like in the Philippines when celebrations and religious feasts are
held, Filipino music takes the center stage. The Philippine American
Association for Madison and Neighboring Areas (PAMANA) presented
its very own local talent, Anna Maria Manalo, when the group celebrated
the 108th Philippine Independence Day on July 8 at the Marriott Hotel in
Middleton. Aptly titled "Mga Himig Pilipino: Pamana Mula sa Puso"
(Filipino Music: A Legacy from the Heart), Manalo awed her audience
with her own compositions and/or special arrangements on the violin and
the piano. -- Heidi M. Pascual
Sita Bhaskar
A writer of truth in fiction
     ... Bhaskar offers a perspective that is both fresh and exciting, while it
could be held controversial by some as well. "It's just that sometimes, what
you see on the outside might not be happening on the inside," she says. "
Here, there's no preconceived mold into which you have to fit, so you can
really open your mind and think which way you want. And that's what we
should do. But we don't. Sudddenly we come here and we grab onto all
our traditions and we wear it like a cloak around us like 'This is who I am.'
No, that's not who you are. That's what your country is about. And in
India, things are changing so fast that each time I go there, things have
moved ahead." -- Heidi M. Pascual
U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC)-
Wisconsin Chapter
To promote and develop Wisconsin's Asian American businesses
     ... "What we're trying to do here is to have a unified, all-inclusive
network of Asian professionals and business owners," Ritu Sharma,
president of Polymorph and leader of USPAACC-Wisconsin, said. "We
want to be a go-to organization for giving information on how to start a
business, to saty in business, how to connect with each other, how to go
about getting state and corporate contracts, and help each other learn
more and grow more."
-- Heidi M. Pascual
OTHER GREAT STORIES AND COLUMNS:
*  Editor's Corner/ Heidi M. Pascual  (Over a cup of tea) -- The real "Macacas"

*  Immigration and Citizenship (2), by Paul Kusuda

*  The blogged world, by Shang Zuo

*  Hong Jiang: Local educator practices Falun Gong, by Laura Salinger

*  WWOCN tackles leadership (part 2), by Heidi M. Pascual

*  Asian Recipes, by Neeta Saluja, Ved Prakesh, Jo Oyama Miller, & PAMANA

*  AsiaPop: One-Up Asian innovation gave video games an extra life, by Ben Freund

*  YWCA to bestow 2006 Racial Justice Awards

*  The Capital City Hues insert: featuring "Road to Wolong," by Nick Berrigan

*  Japanese animation: Power Pop Art of the 21st Century, by Brady Weise and
 Ralph Inforzato of JETRO Chicago

*  Hollywood's newest Asian star is from Wisconsin