CUNY TV's ASIAN AMERICAN LIFE to Feature Jose Llana and Jaygee Macapugay, Beginning 12/5

In its December edition, CUNY TV's ASIAN AMERICAN LIFE looks at the challenges of aging within the Asian American community, opportunities for actors of Asian American descent on Broadway, an ambitious sculpture exhibition that's a feminist twist on an historic Chinese phenomenon, and the team behind an Origami holiday tree at the American Museum of Natural History. Ernabel Demillo hosts with reports from Kyung Yoon and Paul Lin. The new episode premieres Friday, December 5 (2014) (*see below) and after December 5 is available for viewing 24/7 on www.cuny.tv.

Caring for Aging Parents

With the number of Asian American seniors growing 64 percent from 2000 to 2010, correspondent Kyung Yoon reports on the up- and downside of parental care. Susan Tang, widowed with two children, invited her mother to move in. "Grandma" prepares breakfast, cleans, does the laundry, and is a vital part of the family. Leo Duran, on the other hand, is separated from his mother who is ill and in the Philippines. He stays in touch via Skype, consults with his mother's physicians, and sends money home. Retired Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, who serves as a Community Ambassador for AARP to assist with senior planning in the Asian community, recalls when his mother died and his father had dementia - "We had a reaction, but not a plan."

Asian American Actors on Broadway

Asian American actors on Broadway have come a long way since Miss Saigon debuted in 1991. Today, they have their choices of leading roles as Asian American actors are in demand on stage. Ernabel Demillo meets with Jose Llana and Jaygee Macapugay, the current leads in the New York production of Here Lies Love, the David Byrne-Fatboy Slim musical about Imelda Marcos, about how much Broadway has changed. She also talks with Pan-Asian Rep founder and artistic director Tisa Chang about pioneering work achieved and still to be done.

Terracotta Daughters

As a modern commentary on the historic Chinese Terracotta Warriors from the late third century BCE, artist Prune Nourry created an exhibition modeled on real Chinese girls called Terracotta Daughters. Paul Lin interviews the artist on location with the exhibit when it was at the China Institute early this fall. Like their historic antecedents, these figures will be buried in 2015, to be unearthed in 2030. A full-length documentary about the project is in the works.

Origami USA

Next to the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, the Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History is the second most popular holiday attraction in New York City. It takes up to a year, and thousands of volunteers from all over the world, to create this impressive tree adorned with over 1,000 origami models. Ernabel Demillo goes behind the scenes to see how the Origami USA team designed and created this year's theme of A Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb.

*Broadcast and cablecast at 10am, 3pm and 8:30pm; repeated Sunday 12/7 at noon; Friday 12/19 at 10am, 3pm and 8:30pm; and Sunday 12/21 at noon on CUNY TV. CUNY TV is broadcast over-the-air in the tri-state area on Ch. 25.3, and cablecast in the five boroughs of New York City on Ch. 75 (Time Warner and Cablevision/Optimum), Ch. 77 (RCN) and Ch. 30 (Verizon FiOS). On and after December 5, the program can also be viewed online anytime on www.cuny.tv.

Pictured: Actress Jaygee Macapugay, now appearing as Imelda Marcos in "Here Lies Love," interviewed in the December 2014 edition of CUNY TV's "Asian American Life". Photo courtesy Asian American Life/CUNY TV.

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