Tonight, we have a live band in studio on APEX Express!  Bandung 55 is a newly formed Bay Area-based funk/soul/hip hop band, made up of six Filipino activists, organizers, and musicians. They’ll bless APEX with a few live performances throughout the night, and we’ll sit down with them for intimate interviews to hear their history as a band and as organizers and ask them why art is a form of their political work.  We’ll also talk more about how API’s have used culture in historical political movements, here in the US and in our homelands – and we’ll bring back the voices of critical API political artists such as Chris Iijima and Mike Dream.  Don’t miss this show!!

MC Kiwi and Guitarist Paul Bolick of Bandung 55 (photo by Vay Hoang)

Bandung 55:
MC Kiwi (vocals)
Paul Bolick (bass guitar)
Armael Malinis (keyboard)
Jay Conui (drummer)
Tony Daquipa (percussions)
Ervin Lopez (lead guitar)

Hosted by Ellen Choy.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

• Decolonize Jeju: Jam Docu Kangjung Bay Area Premiere this Friday, Jan 27th @ Eastside Arts Alliance. Join Hella Organized Bay Area Koreans (HOBAK) for the Bay Area premiere of a series of short films by independent filmmakers about people’s struggles against the construction of a military base on Jeju Island. Including interviews with allied groups on anti-militarism work in other countries and in the US, valentine resistance grams, live performance, food, drinks and more!

Spider woman, one of the three spirits that help Vero heal.

APEX Contributor R.J. Lozada interviews Cherríe Moraga about her latest, New Fire: To Put Things Right Again.

Moraga talks about coming of age at 52, the urgency in reconnecting with your roots, producing untranslated works in today’s globalized climate, and much more.

This week we talk about urban biking with Asian Pacific American leaders in the bike community. We also hear from Alleluia Panis and Cherríe Moraga about Moraga’s new play, New Fire: To Put Things Right Again. See below for more information.

• We kick off the show with an interview RJ Lozada conducted with Alleluia Panis, long-time dancer and arts administrator; and award–winning writer and director, Cherríe Moraga, to talk about healing and coming of age at 52 for Moraga’s own return to the stage with New Fire: To Put Things Right Again.

• Listen to the complete interview with Cherríe Moraga:

• Our expert panel of bikers include Neal Patel, a community planner with the San Francisco Bike Coalition; Susan Yee, board member of Cycles of Change; Phil Segura, owner of RideSFO, a bike shop in San Francisco and organizer of the huge Bike Expo; and Liza Gesuden, co-founder of P.O.K.E.R. Familia, a people of color group ride.
• We’ll also hear segments about SFBC’s Safe Routes to Schools with Jason Serafino-Agar; The Bikery’s night for women, trans, and gender queer folks to work on their bikes called Sugar Belly; and a vox pop from folks who attended last year’s SF Bike Expo.

Roll with us!

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

• For the Lunar New Year, please join the Chinese Progressive Association and the other members of the Progressive Workers Alliance on Friday, January 20th for a full day of action, continuing the End Wage Theft campaign and Transportation for the 99%.
• Also taking part in the Lunar New Year are the Colorful Momma’s of the 99%! The action, SHARE THE FORTUNE happening on Saturday January 21, the new meet-up location is at the Pacific Renaissance Plaza on 388 9th Street in Oakland. There will be Lion Dancing, educational happenings for the children, and an open mic for parents!
• NJAHS hosts the exhibition, Deep Roots, New Shoots, with artwork by Richard Tokeshi, Leon Sun, Leland Wong, Sabrena Taylor, Holly Calica, Peter Yamamoto, Betty Kano, Christine Balza, Stuart Sugawara, Nancy Hom, and Fredrick Cloyd. The opening reception is Saturday, January 21, from 12-2 p.m. with an artist salon from 2-4 p.m.

Guest Singer for The Little Bits at Sunday Streets

Following up on last week’s epic recap of 2011, this week we feature the MUSIC of 2011 including songs by Makana, Ras Ceylon, Hopie Spitshard, Rocky Rivera, Kiwi, Blue Scholars, Goh Nakamura, The Invisible Cities, The Little Bits, Senbei, and a rousing music video by Magnetic North and Taiyo Na featuring Jin (see below).

We also honor the passing of activist and fellow radio producer, Yvette Hochberg, with a poem by Genny Lim.

Community Calendar

• On Friday, January 13th join poets from around the Bay Area as they bid fairwell to the Year of the Rabbit. ‘Goodbye Rabbit’ is happening at 826 Valencia in San Francisco from 7 to 8:30pm. Bring a rabbit and handkerchief as we make way for the Year of the Dragon.
• On Saturday, January 14th the Manilatown Heritage Foundation hosts the opening of ‘Legacy: The Art of Mike “Dream” Francisco’ at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center, 868 Kerney St in San Francisco. Dream was a graffiti writer who gained fame for his influential style blending hip-hop culture and social justice. He was murdered in February of 2000, but his legacy lives on. Visit legacyopening.eventbrite.com for tickets and additional information. This show runs through April 14th.
• On Monday, January 16th from noon to 4pm the National Japanese American Historical Society presents ‘Deep Roots, New Shoots II’ at the Peace Gallery 684 Post Street in San Francisco. This will celebrate 40 years of Asian American art by veteran and emerging artists. From noon to 2pm there will be an artists salon and from 2 to 4pm is the opening reception. Visit njahs.org for all of the details.

BAYAN USA marching to the Oakland Port during the General Strike

• Eddy Zheng and youth from Community Youth Center
• Reflection on the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami with updates on the floods in Thailand and the typhoon in the Philippines
• Ellen Choy talking about the Occupy Movement, with a focus on the Bay Area
• Alex Tom of the Chinese Progressive Association, taking about Occupy, what Ed Lee’s mayoral win means to the Chinese community, and the unrest seen in Wukan, China
• Continued discrimination against the Muslim American community in New York and on the media
• An update with Anh Pham, her grand jury trial, and her response to the NDAA of 2012
• Lisa Chen of Asian Law Caucus talking about the California Dream Act and what campaigns they’ll work on in 2012
• Bernadette Ellorin of BAYAN USA looks at the issuance of the arrest warrant for former General Jovito Palparan and the calling of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to trial for human rights abuses
• Matthew Ledesma‘s commentary which challenges Manny Pacquiao‘s masculinity
• National Film Society, a new media studio co-founded by filmmakers Patrick Epino and Stephen Dypiangco in Los Angeles
• And Irene Kao, executive director of Hyphen, talks about  independent media and its important role in challenging what the mainstream has put forth including Tiger Mom and Wesley Yang’s interpretation of Asian male-ness

Whew! Tune in!

Ellen Choy (DJ LN), RJ Lozada, and Selekta Lapu-Lapu bring us interviews and music from Beatrock Music’s 2nd Anniversary Celebration.  Featuring Bambu, Bandung 55, Counterparts, Fatgums, Geo Logic (aka Prometheus Brown), Native Guns, Otayo Dubb, Power Struggle, and Rocky Rivera.

Workers are seen taking down an anti-abortion billboard at the corner of Watts Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan, Thursday, February 24, 2011. (Photo by Robert Mecea)

This week, APEX contributor Preeti Shekar brings you a talk from Dr. Sujatha Jesudason from Generations Ahead, who discusses the changing terrain of reproductive rights by addressing the evolved anti-choice movement that targets minorities in the United States, and more states adopting anti-abortion legislation.

!!TICKET GIVEAWAY!! CALL IN WHILE WE’RE ON AIR to win a PAIR of tickets to the BEATROCK 2nd Anniversary Party happening SATURDAY, December 17th at the Workspace Limited Art Studio at 2150 Folsom Street in San Francisco. 

Here’s a track from Prometheus Brown and Bambu to entice you:

APEX contributor Nonogirl brings us an interview with author R. Zamora Linmark where they discuss Linmark’s latest work Leche.

In Leche, Linmark revisits Vince from Rolling the R’s, yet the book carries it’s own identity from Rolling the R’s. In this work, Leche is as much postcard, as it is theatre, as it is satire, as it is historical fiction.

To help host R.J. Lozada, is APEX regular, Ukulenny!!! So tune in, we’ll have a good time.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

• Spirituality and Mental Health: Spirituality and Its Role in the Asian American Communities

  Friday, December 16, 2011

  Societies and cultures throughout the world have traditional practices and beliefs  surrounding health and wellness. Come join Cambodian Community Development Inc. explore the role of spirituality and complementary and alternative medicine.  Hear from local Cambodian community members, traditional healers, and experts on the health benefits of acupuncture, mindful yoga, qigong, and meditation, and its role in Cambodian American and wider Asian American communities. For more information on the event please contact members of the Conference Planning Steering Committee: Talaya Sin, 510.725.8545, tsin@ccdinc.org, Rona Yee, ryee@ccdinc.org

• The ReWrite presents: ‘Nam-Jai’ Spoken Word Showcase Friday, December 16, 2011 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM  The ReWrite presents: “Nam-Jai”, a showcase featuring API spoken word artists and poets. There will also be an open mic and an informal writing circle for us to write together and perform pieces at the open mic (if willing). Bring your notebook!
  This will take place at 518 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110.
  $5-20 dollars donation, no one turned away for the lack of funds.
  The ReWrite will be donating a portion of the proceeds to Nam-jai for Thailand, whose efforts and gifts are directed to the people of Thailand who have suffered from the devastating flood waters for the past two months.
• A Very Special Holiday Go!Ohana
  Friday, December 16
  7:30pm
  La Pena Cultural Center
  3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
  $15 at the door
  $10 students
  (Online Presale discount coming soon!) Celebrate the holidays with some of the most talented Pan-Asian Hip Hop artists in the community as we take a look back on another great year of music, art, culture, and family. Every year at the Holiday Go!Ohana show there are special giveaways, holiday songs, big surprises, and always lots and lots of Santa hats So come gather around the fire with your OHANA…FEATURING:::::|||| TAIYO NA & DEREK KAN of MAGNETIC NORTH ||||::::::::|||| THE HOME:WORD HOUSE BAND ||||::::::::|||| KIWI & BANDÛNG ’55 ||||::::::::|||| CYNTHIA LIN & THE BLUE MOON ALL STARS ||||::::::::|||| SAM KANG ||||::::

Ellen Choy brings us her exclusive interview with Elmer Labog, prominent labor leader from the Philippines. Then, we have highlights from the discussion about a proposal to change the name of Occupy Oakland to Decolonize Oakland produced by Karl Jagbandhansingh. And finally, we are joined live in the studio by Nomi, who is part of the hip hop group Power Struggle and an organizer with the Filipino Community Center. He’ll be talking with Marie Choi about his music and his organizing, and the upcoming Beatrock Anniversary Party.

Songs and video featured in tonight’s show include:

Highlights from the Decolonize Oakland discussion at the General Assembly

Decolonize Oakland – Antithesis Crew

Blood of My Heart – Power Struggle

Lookin Up – Prometheus Brown and Bambu

Mr. Sagittarius – Power Struggle

03 Mr. Sagittarius…A Proletarian Path To Enlightenment.mp3

We also have some concert tickets which we’ll be giving away later in tonight’s show, thanks to the San Francisco Arts Commission. We’ll be giving away two pairs of tickets to next week’s Colors of Christmas Concert featuring Filipina Broadway musical legend Lea Salonga.

Hosted by Marie Choi and Karl Jagbandhansingh.

This week we feature a people of color perspective on Occupy Oakland, we talk with Samina Sundas about the upcoming Peace Convention put on by American Muslim Voice, and we explore how the use of torture impacts the way democratic societies frame laws.

Plus a ticket giveaway to the Jake Shimabukuro show at the Warfield on Saturday!

Community Calendar

• Friday is the Asians Moving Power event that we featured a couple of weeks ago. This is a performing art event at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center organized by students in Valerie Soe’s Asian American Studies workshop at SF State.
• On Friday December 2nd, the National Radio Project, producer of the show Making Contact that also airs on KPFA on Friday afternoons, will host a fundraiser reception in honor of David Barsamian, noted radio journalist and producer of the popular show Alternative Radio. David was recently deported from India for his coverage of the human rights situation in Kashmir. Tickets are a sliding scale of $30-$50. This event takes place at the Commons Room of the Temescal Creek Co-Housing at 322 45th Street (off Broadway), in north Oakland. Email Lisa Rudman at Lrudman@radioproject.org for discounted tickets and more information.
• On Sunday December 4th from 2 to 4 pm, Lewis Suzuki will hold a talk in Berkeley. Last month, Lewis Suzuki went to Washington D.C. and received the Congressional Gold Medal for his service in the M.I.S., Military Intelligence Service during WWII along with  soldiers of the 442nd and the 100th battalion. During WWII, Lewis fought against Japanese Imperialism. After the war ended, he continued to fight against imperialism as an anti-war activist. The talk will be held at 2240 Grant Street in Berkeley.
• NJAHS is holding a Peace Crane Ornament Workshop on Saturday at their Japantown headquarters. Participants can create a pair or ornaments, one to take home and the other to sell in the NJAHS Peace Gallery
• And we’re excited for Kat Evasco’s one-woman show at Bindlestiff called Mommy Queerest! If Margaret Cho and Ellen Degeneres conceived a lesbian love baby, she would have nothing on this hilarious Bay Area actor and stand-up comic. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8, now through December 17th.
• On Tuesday December 6th  from 630 to 9 pm at the David Brower Center in Downtown Berkeley, the Women’s Earth Alliance will host an event discussion on their India program working with women farmers addressing climate change in their communities. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. For tickets and more information visit womensearthalliance.org