In 2021, we gained a couple of new board members. Meet them below!

Bio: Erica got her first taste of the Taiwanese American community with a semester in TASA during her freshman year at the University of Texas at Austin, but it wasn’t until grad school that she really embraced and prioritized understanding what being Taiwanese American meant to her. Being of mixed descent comes with a whole host of identity questions, but time spent with TACLfam made it easy to get in touch with Taiwaneseness. Erica recently completed her PhD at UT Austin where her research centered on sociolinguistic and identity practices of Taiwanese Texans, and she is currently a postdoc in the English department, teaching courses on sociolinguistics and Asian American literature. Erica is also the host of Verbatim, a new linguistics PBS Digital Series, which premiered on YouTube’s Storied channel in March.

What do you hope to accomplish in this new role? As a lifelong learner, my priorities are to A) learn more about our shared Taiwanese and Taiwanese American cultures and B) pass on content to y’all in an interesting and meaningful way. I want to create a repository of information from previous conventions and set us up for success in future conventions.

What’s your previous involvement with TACL? Treasurer of TAP-ATX, 2014-2019

How did you initially get involved in TACL? My college friend, Erica Liu, asked me to be a founding board member of TAP-ATX, and I couldn’t say no.

Favorite TAP/TACL memory?  It’s hard to choose, but being elected Ambassador to Taiwanese America during the most recent DC Convention (and getting endorsed by Andrew Yang) is up there!

What’s your go-to boba order? Grapefruit or passion fruit green tea, 30% sugar, less ice, add aloe vera

Bio: Hello, everyone, my name is Eric Chang, I originally grew up in Taiwan, but I also spent significant time in California, and now I’m in Seattle. I do software engineering at my job and am an amateur snowboarder.

What do you hope to accomplish in this new role? I hope to streamline the digital services that fall under TACL to see if there are places where we can reduce costs, provide technical assistance for if chapters don’t have their own tech chair, reduce the load of digital service maintenance for the rest of the board, and plan for future technology paths.

What’s your previous involvement with TACL?

1. President, TAP-SEA, 2013-2018
2. VP External, TAP-SEA, 2019-2020

How did you initially get involved in TACL? I got involved already when TAP-SEA was an independent organization that had no affiliation with TACL, and I was contacted by TACL National in their plans to expand throughout the country and that’s how our conversation started.

Favorite TAP/TACL memory?  TW OCAC trip and getting to know all the various TAP people

We’d like to introduce our two newest TAP Presidents! Get to know Adam Peir from TAP-DC and Oliver Wang from TAP-SF below.

Last month, the TACL National Convention was held in Atlanta, GA. Hosted by TAP-Atlanta, the convention attracted over 80 board members from across the nation to converge in a weekend of bonding and learning. The theme of the convention was “Make It Count” with a focus on the 2020 US Census and the Write-In Taiwanese campaign.

We made so many great memories over MLK weekend, and we will highlight just a few of them. (You can also check out the Instastory highlight recap of convention here.)

Without further ado, here are 13 things that made us smile during convention:

2. The delicious breakfasts and lunches brought in by TAP-ATL. Shout out to that awesome lunch bento.

3. When none of the teams got the right answer to telephone charades but we still had a blast.

4. All the fun and creative presentations during the “Our Generation” session, where we split up into groups and came up with a part of our cultural identity that we want to pass down to the next generation. Special shout out to Alex Wu for lecturing 2nd gens on not paying attention in Chinese school and also to James Lee for performing an interesting interpretation of Chinese ribbon dancing with his scarf.

• 

• 

• 

5. When everyone donned on their convention edition Write-In Taiwanese t-shirts and took a group photo fun in front of the Margaret Mitchell House.

6. TAP-SD for getting into star pose formation in 5 seconds!

7. The premiere of the census videos. If you haven’t checked them out yet, watch them here and here, and make sure to share with your friends and family!

8. Impromptu role-playing of how to approach people while tabling for census efforts. (Erica, you have taught us well.)

9. Eric Tsai’s informative session on the diverse history of Taiwan and Taiwanese identify.

• 

• 

10. Collective gasp when next convention location was announced. Watch the reveal video below.

11. Secret Santa exchanges. TAP-SF gets the “most creative” award for putting together a gift comprised of their member’s tech company’s swag. ?

• 

• 

• 

12. Photobooth and ice skating fun during convention banquet

• 

• 

13. Last but certainly not least, bonding with #taclfam! See you all next convention in Chicago!

In 2020, we gained a new board member. Meet him below!

Bio: Throughout his formative years, Yu Jiang bounced up and down the coast of California. After he got his degree in Electrical Engineering at UCLA, he spent some time back at his hometown in San Diego testing next generation cellular technology at Qualcomm before being moving to Northern California to work at Apple on the iPhones 4s through 6. During this time, he taught himself how to write software and took an 8 month sabbatical from work to travel around the world. Hanging out on countless beaches and in countless cities, he realized that he wanted to focus more on making an impact. When he arrived back in the States, he was recruited to join the Spectacles team at Snapchat in Los Angeles as a software engineer. During this time, he joined the TAP-LA board as the Social Chair and then Social Director. He has since moved to the Snap Research team in Seattle and has filed over 23 patents while at the company.

Fun Fact: I visited North Korea for 5 days

What do you want to accomplish this year? To make the entrepreneurship challenge a success!

What’s your previous involvement with TACL? TAP-LA West Side Social Chair for 1 year, Social Director for 1 year

Proudest accomplishment in TAP-LA? Getting regular TAPpy hours happening again in LA.

By: David Chang, TAP-DC Community & Citizenship Chair

Last week, members of TAP-DC braved the cold rain and gathered at Arlington National Cemetery to take part in Wreaths Across America. We joined thousands of other volunteers to place Christmas wreaths in honor of service members buried at the cemetery and to remember Taiwanese American Sgt. Eddie Chen, who made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country.

We were honored to be joined by members of the late Sgt. Chen’s family who drove up from North Carolina: Cassy, Verlyn, Connie, and Caiden. We would also like to recognize U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Philip Yu and his son for taking the time to join us and TAP-ATL President Oliver Jan, who flew up from Georgia to participate in the event with us.   

After the main wreath laying event, TAP-DC paid tribute to U.S. Army Sergeant Yihyjh Lang “Eddie” Chen, who was killed in Baghdad in 2004. During the past few months, we collaborated with actor Kenny Leu and Eddie’s brother, Sergeant First Class Virgil Chen, to introduce Eddie’s story to the Taiwanese American community. Kenny, also born in Taiwan, portrayed Sgt. Chen in the acclaimed mini-series “The Long Road Home”, chronicling Eddie’s unit during the darkest days of the Iraq War. Unfortunately, Kenny and Virgil could not join us due to scheduling conflicts.

As a token of our appreciation, TAP-DC attached two dog tags to his wreath inscribed with a special message. Additional tags were mailed to Kenny Leu, the Chen family, and ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz, who covered the actual events and brought Sgt. Chen’s story to the television screen. 

• 

• 

In our December newsletter, we included a special profile on Sgt. Eddie Chen and shared his legacy to the community. We attached the same article to share with our national community, located at the bottom of the page. As you read it, please keep our deployed service men and women in your thoughts and pray for their safe return to their loved ones. 

Thank you to everyone who showed up for this memorable event. On behalf of TAP-DC, we wish our national community a Happy Holidays! We can’t wait to see our friends again next month in Atlanta for the winter convention.   

---

Sgt. Yihyjh Lang “Eddie” Chen

(1972-2004)

In this event newsletter, we are featuring a special Taiwanese American, Sergeant Yihyjh Lang “Eddie” Chen, whose military service and death in a combat zone inspired youths to enter the military. Sgt. Chen was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. His other awards include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, where TAP-DC will be visiting as part of Wreaths Across America.

Eddie was born in Taiwan but raised on the island of Saipan. After graduating from Marianas High School, he joined the Northern Marianas Island police force prior to his military service. According to the Chicago Tribune, his friend stated Eddie always wanted to join the military, even during his service as a police officer.  

In 2000, Eddie enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division located at Ft. Hood, TX. Sgt. Chen served as an infantryman and deployed to Iraq in March 2004. Five days after he arrived, Sgt. Chen was killed during a routine patrol in Sadr City on April 4, 2004. Ambushed by over 10,000 insurgents, his unit took shelter inside an Iraqi home and called reinforcements to request a rescue mission. By the end of the day, the siege left eight U.S. troops dead and dozens more wounded. 

These events and Sgt. Chen’s story are chronicled in the book, “The Long Road Home,” written by ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz. It was later adapted into an eight-episode miniseries by National Geographic in 2017. Below is how rising Taiwanese American actor Kenny Leu described about his experience portraying Sgt. Chen. Known for taking on roles about lesser-known Asian-American stories, Leu recalled an unexpected meeting moments before the cameras rolled:

“I was getting ready for my first scene and suddenly half a dozen Texan men, wearing the outfits, cowboy hats, and belt buckles approach me. At that point, I fear for my safety, and being Asian, I have always been a little conscious of traveling to places that are predominantly white,” Leu said. “One of them places a finger on my chest and said you’re Sgt. Eddie Chen.” 

“Yeah…well, we’re shooting a TV show right now,” he replied, “and I’m playing him, yes.” The men turn back, shielding their eyes and said, “He was the best guy we ever knew.” They showed their tattoos and bracelets, all with the same message, “RIP Sgt. Yihyjh Chen.” 

Kenny Leu

At that moment, Leu understood the enormity of portraying Sgt. Chen. “I knew all the facts about Eddie…the beloved Taiwanese-American leader…the Asian man who, despite having accented English and faced the stereotypes, was the big brother to these American country boys. He was always smiling, and the man who these young boys went for guidance or a laugh. After all these years, as I witness these grown men weep with joy…my heart now understands too.”

As the sole Asian standing among these men he had just met, there was a profound moment as Kenny realized these men accepted him as a surrogate of their lost brother.

Those that knew Sgt. Chen highly respected him for his natural leadership, his hard-work ethic, and his dedication to friends and family. Growing up in Saipan, Sgt. Chen worked to help support his parents, who were struggling to make ends meet. When his parents had to move to Guam, he was able to get them green cards so that they could work. He brought that loyalty to the Army, providing guidance and mentorship to junior soldiers as a non-commissioned officer. During his last moments, Sgt. Chen demonstrated unwavering courage to protect the men fighting alongside him. 

Sgt. Chen’s legacy impacted not only his fellow comrades, but his hometown as well. A renewed sense of patriotism spread among his community, inspiring many of the high school students to join the military and understand the true meaning of service.  

We would like to thank Kenny Leu for sharing his experiences portraying Sgt. Chen and Sergeant First Class Virgil Chen for his blessing to introduce his brother’s story to the Taiwanese American community. 

Sgt. Eddie Chen is buried in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery. 

In the months that followed, the 1st Cavalry Division remained in sustained combat for eighty days. An additional 160 soldiers would lose their lives before the year-long deployment ended.

TAP-DC dedicates this newsletter to the eight U.S. Army service members killed in Sadr City, Baghdad on April 4, 2004.

Sgt. Michael W. Mitchell, 25, of Porterville, CA

Sgt. Yihjyh L. Chen, 31, of Saipan, Marianas Protectorate

Spc. Robert R. Arsiaga, 25, of San Antonio, TX

Spc. Stephen D. Hiller, 25, of Opelika, AL

Spc. Ahmed A. Cason, 24, of McCalla, AL 

Spc. Israel Garza, 25, of Lubbock, TX

Cpl. Forest J. Jostes, 22, of Albion, IL

Spc. Casey Sheehan, 24, of Vacaville, CA  

The 2nd Annual Seattle Taiwanese American Film Festival (SeaTAFF), presented by TAP-Seattle, concluded on Wednesday, June 26 at SIFF Uptown Cinema. The Festival featured four Taiwanese American short films, seven Taiwanese feature-length films, and two Q and A sessions with Director Johnathan Yang and Director Yue Fu from Taiwan. The Festival also included a panel discussion by speakers from the Pacific Northwest.

The Film Festival opened on Saturday, June 22 with a series of short films titled “Her Stories from West to East.” Each of the four selected short films presents a female protagonist and her struggles with immigration, family, and culture norms. These films are produced by Taiwanese and Taiwanese American directors as the Festival aims to be a platform for Taiwanese American moviemakers to showcase their work. Our panelists, Professor Yomi Braester from the University of Washington and local community leaders Margie Chen and Cathy Hughes discussed the impact of women in films has on society and the Taiwanese American experience. “Guo Mie” short film directed by Joseph Hsu won the People’s Choice Award.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the festival’s theme is “Act in Action”. The TRA remains a cornerstone for maintaining and enhancing relations between the U.S. and Taiwan that have enabled their partnership to prosper in the absence of diplomatic relations. The theme is a play on words. From theatrical acts to the Act, the relationships featured in films are as intricate as the tightly-knit U.S.-Taiwan relations. The Festival hoped the greater Seattle community encountered our common values of human compassion and morality through the films selected.

On Sunday, June 23rd, “Lost Black Cats 35th Squadron” highlighted the special relationship between the two countries. This movie documented the human sacrifices behind the secret joint air missions between the U.S. and Taiwan Air Force in the 1960s. Now in their 90s, the interviewed pilots share how these potential deadly flights to spy on Communist China impacted their lives in the movie. Audiences had the opportunity to interact directly with the movie director and former Black Cat U-2 veteran pilot Colonel Johnny Shen during the Q and A session.

On Wednesday, June 26th, the audience had an engaging conversation with Golden Horse Documentary winner Director Yue Fu.  “Our Youth in Taiwan” documents the Sunflower Movement in which students occupied the Taiwanese legislature in protest of the cross-strait trade legislation. As a documentary specialist, Director Fu’s films explore the younger generations’ ideas and attitudes toward Taiwan’s political and economic landscape. She shared her thoughts on what the protest meant for her and fellow protesters and a hint of what she plans to do for her next project.

Other movies showed during the festival included Xiao Mei, More than Blue, Gatao 2: Rise of the King, Long Time No Sea, and Sen Sen.

The Festival’s Best of Show this year goes to “Long Time No Sea”. It is a true story based on the experiences of Director Tsui (Heather) Yung-hui’s involvement with the Little Flying Fish Culture Exhibition dance troupe and the Tao children of Orchid Island. It is a family drama of a rookie teacher from the city who prepares his students for the annual Aboriginal Dance Competition. However, the process turns into a journey about preserving traditional cultures and languages and highlights the harsh reality of families forced to live apart due to financial constraints. Thanks to the commitment of Director Tsui of hiring a cast of mostly Tao actors, she ensures that an authentic story is brought to the audience.

TAP-Seattle hope the audience enjoyed the Festival. We appreciate the exuberance from both the Taiwanese and mainstream community in Seattle that came together once again this year to support our festival. Regardless of different background, audiences got to experience Taiwanese and Taiwanese American’s unique film styles and topics. 

SOME SPECIAL GUESTS WHO ATTENDED THE FESTIVAL

• Director Jonathan Yang of Lost Black Cats 35th Squadron
• Director Yue Fu of Our Youth in Taiwan
• Colonel Johnny Shen
• Director-General Alex K.S. Fan of TECO in Seattle, WA
• Professor Yomi Braester of University of Washington
• Margie Chen of Chen Heritage Foundation
• Cathy Hughes of Catherine and David Hughes Asian Programming Endowment
• Key Donn of Museum of Flights
• Former ROCAF, US Navy, CIA, pilots, and their friends and family
• Our friends at Museum of Flights

OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

• Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival
• Victoria Taiwanese Film Festival
• Taiwanese American Film Festival by TAP-LA
• SPOTLIGHT – Ministry of Culture, Taiwan

FOR MORE INFORMATION & UPDATES ON FUTURE FESTIVAL INFO:

Please like our Facebook page: fb.me/SeaTAFF

What happens when you bring TAP-SF, TACL-LYF and TASA Berkeley all together in one room on a glorious Sunday afternoon? Meaningful relationships happen. Taiwanese games (Da Feng Tsui) happen. Boba Happens. We had so many generations of TA leaders, it was inspiring to say the least.

The afternoon kicked off with high level introductions of each organization. To get to know each other, we played two Taiwanese themed games.

A big THANK YOU to the mentors who volunteered their time to speak with college students about their experiences in various industries. Industry-specific breakouts allowed students to ask their mentors career-oriented questions as well as general life questions. Industries ranged from tech, healthcare, finance, and marketing to education and the arts.

To test the effectiveness of these breakout sessions, there was a trivia contest at the end of the day which tested our memories on names and kept us guessing on who was Instagram famous and figure skated. It was clear that TASA Berkeley was the youngest team as they had the best memory recall during this game.

A special shout-out to the Google community space. Also, the fact that the students initiated the event and many of the activities was very impressive.

Quote from students:

“Many thanks to TAP-SF & LYF for this amazing mentorship event on Sunday. It was an invaluable experience hearing from so many accomplished Taiwanese Americans about the things you all have learned during your unique journeys. We cannot wait to use all of your tips and tricks, be it interview skills, utilizing college resources and opportunities, or even advice on how to stay in touch with old friends. You all have shown us an incredible diversity of career options and paths for us to look forward to. We could not imagine a better group of role models!”