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Sacramento - The California State Assembly observed May as Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Heritage Month today with the adoption of Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 50 and a special Floor ceremony featuring the presentation of the Third Annual Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Awards. Awards were presented to prominent APIs who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of arts and entertainment, business, community service, education, law, law enforcement, and medicine.
“The commemoration of Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage month each May acknowledges the contributions of APIs to our country’s social, political and economic landscape,” said Assembly Member Alberto Torrico (D-Newark), Co-Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Joint Legislative Caucus. “Today, we are proud to recognize a group of individuals who have excelled in their respective fields while demonstrating commitment to the progress of the API community.”
“Each of these men and women has realized the American Dream,” Assembly Member Nakanishi (R-Lodi), Co-Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Joint Legislative Caucus, said. “They worked hard, achieved greatness, and are an example of leadership to Californians of every ethnic background.”
Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Award Recipients:
- Sergeant Lai Lai Bui: API Heritage Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement
- Alice Bulos: API Heritage Award for Excellence in Community Service
- Dr. Anmol Mahal: API Heritage Award for Excellence in Medicine
- Kal Penn: API Heritage Award for Excellence in Arts and Entertainment
- Phillip Shinn: API Heritage Award for Legal Excellence
- Hideo Johnny Yamada: API Heritage Award for Excellence in Community Service
- Alexis Wong: API Heritage Award for Excellence in Business
A special presentation was also made to the family of Mr. Tom Fat, President of Fat City, Inc., for his lifetime of achievements and service to the community. ACR 50 commends California’s Asian Pacific Islanders for their notable accomplishments and outstanding service to the state. It is authored by the nine Asian American Members of the Legislature: Assembly Members Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward), Shirley Horton (R-Chula Vista), Ted Lieu (D- Torrance), Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), Alan Nakanishi (R-Lodi), Alberto Torrico (D- Newark), Van Tran (R-Costa Mesa), and Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco). The Floor ceremony was also attended by State Controller John Chiang, Board of Equalization Chairwoman Betty Yee (District 1), and Board of Equalization Vice-Chair Judy Chu (District 4).
Award for Excellence in Arts & Entertainment
Kal Penn is one of the first Indian-American actors to have launched a successful career in mainstream Hollywood. Penn is receiving rave reviews for his portrayal of Gogol Ganguli in the critically acclaimed film The Namesake based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri and directed by Mira Nair (Vanity Fair, Monsoon Wedding). Most recently, Kal wrapped filming of the sequel to the hit 2004 film Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Harold and Kumar Go to Amsterdam. He has also appeared in Express: Aisle to Glory, American Desi, National Lampoon's Van Wilder, Malibu's Most Wanted, A Lot Like Love, Harold, Dude, Where's the Party?, Love Don't Cost a Thing, Superman Returns, National Lampoon's Van Wilder, The Rise of Taj, and Epic Movie. Kal was recently nominated for an MTV Movie Award for his role as “Kumar” in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle alongside John Cho. This year, Kal took on a recurring role on the hit Fox drama series 24 and recently wrapped his guest starring role in the hit television series Law & Order. In the near future, he will serve as visiting professor of Asian American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles where he double majored in Film and Sociology.
Award for Excellence in Business
Alexis Wong founded AGI Capital in 1998. Under Alexis’ leadership, the company has completed over $500 million of development and investment opportunities. She has led the company to grow into a multi-million dollar, vertically integrated real estate investment and development firm. Recently, Alexis was recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Most Influential Women in Business. She serves as an appointee on the California Organized Investment Network Advisory Board under the Department of Insurance and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. She previously served as an appointee on the California Real Estate Advisory Commission and the California World Trade Commission. Alexis has been instrumental in the founding and operation of several Pacific Rim organizations. She received a B.A. in marketing and an M.B.A. in international management from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
Award for Excellence in Community Service
Hideo Johnny Yamada has dedicated his life to serving his community. He grew up working on a 40 acre farm until his family was sent to the interment camps in 1942. After the internment, Hideo Johnny worked as a Technician/Engineer at the University of California, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. During his career there, John worked for two Nobel Prize winners in Physics. John has founded and been actively involved with many organizations, including the Japanese American Citizens League, Asian Americans Together of Castro Valley, Castro Valley United Methodist Church, Northern California Japanese American Senior Centers, Eden Japanese Community Center, Eden Athletic Club, and East Bay Athletic League. In recognition of his years of service to the community, he received the Liberty Bell Award from the Alameda County Bar Association. John is also a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer in the United States Naval Reserve.
Award for Excellence in Community Service
Alice Bulos is also known as the “Grandmother of Filipino–American Politics”. She has been a leading voice for increasing Filipino-America political participation for more than 20 years. Alice has founded and served on many political and community organizations in the greater Bay area. She served as the Chairwoman of the Department of Sociology, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines, before moving to the United States. From 1993 to 2000, Alice was a Clinton Presidential Appointee to the Federal Council on Aging. In 2006, Alice was honored as the Woman of the Year for the 19th Assembly District. Her leadership has guided recently-immigrated residents towards building a better life in America. She has worked to address issues ranging from domestic violence, health care, and the U.S. residency application process.
Award for Legal Excellence
Phillip Shinn is President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. He was named one of Northern California’s “Super Lawyers” by San Francisco Magazine. Phillip also served as former president of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area. Currently, Phillip is the principal of Thornton, Taylor, Becker & Shinn in San Francisco where he practice law in insurance coverage, litigation, as well as general commercial and employment litigation. He has worked as a staff attorney at the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. Phillip graduated from UC Berkeley and Boalt Hall. He has served on the board of directors of the San Francisco Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation, the Asian Law Caucus, and the Korean American Bar Association of Northern California.
Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement
Lai Lai Bui emigrated from Vietnam with her family in 1975. She and her family established roots here in Sacramento. She began her career with the Sacramento Police Department at the age of 19, as a student trainee. She was sworn in as a police officer in 1992, making her the first Southeast Asian woman to serve on the Sacramento Police Department. She has since worked in Patrol, Problem Oriented Policing, Narcotics, and Vice. In 2005, she was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training, making her the first API woman to serve on the Commission. As a Commissioner, she is charged with overseeing training standards for all law enforcement officers in the State. In 2006, Officer Bui was promoted to Police Sergeant. She proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the Sacramento Police Officers’ Association and the Asian Peace Officers’ Association.
Award for Excellence in Medicine
Dr. Anmol S. Mahal is currently the President of the California Medical Association, making him the first physician of Indian origin to head the organization. Since immigrating to the United States 33 years ago, he has held numerous local, state, and national positions in organized medicine. He is a Commissioner for the California Emergency Medical Services Commission and was also recently appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the Board of Trustees of the Health Professions Educational Foundation. He is a founding member and past president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin of Northern California and now serves on its board. He also serves on AMA’s Commission on Eliminating Health Disparities. Dr. Mahal, who is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, is currently on staff at Washington Hospital in Fremont and previously served as chief of staff of the Washington Hospital Healthcare System.
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