1st Annual San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival

Filipinos have been a part of the Jazz industry for many years. As far as I know, Bay Area resident Flip Nunez (1931-1995) may have been the biggest Filipino in Jazz music- releasing a solo album on Catalyst Records and playing for Beverly Kelly, Jon Hendricks, John Handy, and funk band Azteca (Pete Escovedo, Coke Escovedo, Neal Schon, Lenny White, etc.).

Check out some of today’s Filipinos in Jazz and support their music!!!

Saturday August 9th
Nerio DeGracia Mambo Jazz Quintet
Yerba Buena Gardens – 1PM
Part of SF Pistahan Parade and Festival
Open to the Public – Free Admission
4th and Mission Streets – San Francisco

Art Khu Quintet
Lily Alunan and After Hours
Charmaine Clamor

The Metreon Action Theatre 5PM – 9PM
101 4th Street @ Mission – San Francisco

Sunday August 10th
Little Brown Brother
Yerba Buena Gardens – 1PM
Part of SF Pistahan Parade and Festival
Open to the Public – Free Admission
4th and Mission Streets – San Francisco

Ben Luis Quintet
Melecio Magdaluyo Quartet
Josie Canion and Prelude

The Metreon Action Theatre 5PM – 9PM
101 4th Street @ Mission – San Francisco

Metreon Tickets at the Door: $35 for General Admission – $45 for VIP Seating Advance Tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/38703

Now pitching for the Giants… Geno Espineli!

With the San Francisco Giants’ upcoming Filipino Heritage Night 2 (Tuesday, Sept. 23rd) at AT&T Park, Filipinos will have something more to be cheer about- newly acquired Giants’ relief pitcher and Filipino American, Geno Espineli. On Sunday July 20th, he became the 12th Giant to make his major league debut in 2008. Espineli also becomes one of four rookies in the seven-man bullpen. He also becomes the 15th home-grown player on the 25-man roster. Tonight, Espineli recorded his first major league win, as the Giants beat the Washington Nationals 6-4 at AT&T Park!

Born in Texas, Eugene Macalalag “Geno” Espineli was drafted to the San Francisco Giants in 2004. This year, Espineli has been playing for the Triple-A league Fresno Grizzlies. Prior to his major league debut, Espineli was an All-Star for the Pacific Coast League and has been named to the U.S. Olympic Team! Now that he is on the Giants’ active roster, it is still unclear whether Espineli will be going to Beijing in August. Word is that Giants’ media personality and veteran, Mike Krukow, has complimented Espineli for his “funky” style of pitching and uniform appearance (he sports stirrups ala throwback style).

Though a small handful of Filipinos have played for Major League Baseball, Espineli could possibly be the first American-born Filipino major league pitcher? Either way, welcome to the Bay Area, Geno the “Funky Filipino”! We are totally proud to have you here!

[Sources: Henry Schulman, Chronicle Staff Writer]

ADDENDUM: Speaking of Major League Filipinos, here’s another one thanks to my boy Khalil. From San Jose’s Mercury News [http://www.mercurynews.com/giantsheadlines/ci_10052899]:

“A television station from the Philippines arranged interviews with reliever Geno Espineli, who is believed to be the first full-blooded Filipino in the major leagues, and Tim Lincecum, whose mother is Filipina.”

Word is that our SF Giants’ ace Tim Lincecum is a quarter Filipino?! Anyone out there, please confirm…

UPDATE 8/18/08: Thank you Nana (see Comments) for confirming that Tim Lincecum is HALF Filipino. As for Geno, word is that he has been demoted back to the minors. Unfortunate news and we know that’s the business of pro baseball. Regardless, keep it up Geno and we hope to see you back soon!

6 minutes of fresh to deafness

After checking out Benson Lee’s acclaimed documentary Planet B Boy at this year’s San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, I can’t get enough of the Battle of the Year competitions. Breakdancing has truly evolved and this video from Battle of the Year 2007 is a fine example of that. Featuring Korea’s Morning of Owl- no need to pump up the volume on this one…

Hyphen Magazine and American Komikeros

Komikero fans!!! Be sure to pick up the latest issue of Hyphen Magazine in stores now! Writer I.G. Ramirez has a cool article on comic book artist Tony DeZuniga and the Filipino comic book artists invasion! In addition, the article also mentions my short documentary work-in-progress, American Komikeros. I met I.G. last year at San Diego Comic-Con while he was researching information for the article. Thanks to local artist and komikero fan, Mike Dimayuga for referring me.

Very little has been written about Filipinos in the comic book industry. For the past 30 years, hundreds of Filipino artists have worked for the comic book industry in the United States- contributing amazing artwork that has influenced many of today’s popular comic book artists like Frank Cho, Adam Hughes, etc.

American Komikeros, an totally independent project produced by myself and Matthew Abaya, has no set release date at this time. I’m currently working with independent filmmaker Patricio Ginelsa on cutting a short clip/ trailer. Hopefully I can present some footage by the end of the summer.

Michael Turner 1971-2008

On Friday, June 27th, comic book artist and Witchblade co-creator Michael Turner passed away after a long battle with bone cancer. Turner is one of the most amazing artists of our generation and I have been a fan since his Top Cow Production days. Two years ago, I met Turner for the first time at Wonder Con in San Francisco. I waited over a hour with my daughter and wife, but it was sure worth it. Turner was totally friendly and playful with my daughter and I have a cool picture to prove it. Unlike some other fans, I only brought a couple issues for him to sign- Fathom and Superman. Sorry, I’m not the type to bring a super stack of issues to get signed. I think just meeting the artist alone is better than anything.

Thank you Michael Turner for sharing your art with us. You’ve produced so much great work over the years, as if nothing was stopping you at all (Damn, I even forgot you were ever ill). But I know you will never stop… as your art- from Witchblade to Fathom to DC and Marvel covers- will continue to live on through page after page.

The Champ is here!!!

(From AP Photo/Eric Jamison) Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, celebrates his ninth round victory over David Diaz after their WBC lightweight championship boxing match Saturday, June 28th, 2008 in Las Vegas. The first Asian boxer to ever capture a title in four weights classes. Pacquiao is no doubt, the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Mabuhay!!!