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It’s Week 8 on America’s Best Dance Crew Season 5! BakitWhy.com heads out to Burbank, CA to check in with the five remaining dance crews. Our crew's working it backstage - Melly’s taking photos and Kaywan’s handling video while Joe interviews Blueprint Cru, Hype 5-0, and Saltare. Joe talks me into interviewing Jungle Boogie who, BTW, likes to initiate people they meet by assigning them jungle animals. How cool! As we head back to the media room to watch the show, Joe turns to me and says, “Something’s different about this week. I feel a lot of nerves.”

Hmmm… will the crews rise to the occasion or will their nerves have them ushered off the stage?

Get it? Because it’s Usher Week!

The show starts off with Mario calling out Jungle Boogie and Blueprint Cru – one is definitely in the top 3, the other in the bottom 2. Tension builds as the top crew is announced… Jungle Boogie is through! They’re first up to dance and are assigned “Love in this Club”. Wearing mustard yellow jackets, plaid, and jeans, they come out and smash it! Their smooth moves had them on the floor with Codie struggling to keep his pants on as Raqi tore them down, adding a climax to the end of their performance. JC admired their knee glide but ended stating that they “started off cold and ended hot.” Omarion highlighted in slow-mo replay their shadow mirror during their glide complimenting them on being “so clean from beginning to end.” Lil’ Mama had nothing but praise, saying they “painted picture after picture.” Looks like this crew had at least 2 of the judges in their corner.

Now it’s Poreotix versus Hype 5-0. Who’s in the top 3? It’s… Poreotix!! Then it’s down to Saltare versus Hype 5-0. Joe looks so nervous watching the media room screen! Mario recaps their past performance and… Joe can barely watch as he momentarily hides behind my jacket. I think I can hear a pin drop… Hype 5-0 is THROUGH!

Now, that that’s settled, Poreotix is the next crew to take the stage. They’re given Usher’s “Yeah!.” Sporting grey blazers, gold ties, and dark jeans they bust onto the dance floor and gyrate like only they can. Lil’ Mama’s the first judge to go, gushing, “That’s wassup! Y’all on point!” Poreotix appears to be back on JC’s good side as he compliments how they “busted through the door and shut it down.” He’s happy that they’re finally getting to see some dimension. Omarion has a double-edged compliment saying they “have tremendous tremendous (yes, he said that word twice) potential” BUT he’d “like to see [their] level of difficulty come up.” What do you think? Do you agree? Will they have you saying “Yeah!”?

Next up is Hype 5-0 with “You Don’t Have To Call.” Part of the challenge? Dance with Heelys. Yes, the shoes with the skates! In their practice recap, KC struggles to get her skating down. She’s so frustrated that she leaves the room! Will she and Hype 5-0 be able to pull this off? They start on stage in a line and glide right through the routine! Wow… how hard is that!!?? Will the judges appreciate their effort? Omarion starts off with a “Y’all did a good job!” Lil’ Mama chimes in saying they brought their “swagger out tonight” even though parts were a little stiff. JC closes by saying the “opening was fun” and their “floor work was hot at the end” BUT he’s afraid they got too caught up in the prop.

This week, more than 120 million U.S. Census 2010 forms will begin arriving in mailboxes around the country. These forms are for the once-a-decade population count that’s mandated by the U.S. Constitution of all the residents of the United States – including both citizens and non-citizens. In addition to determining the number of Seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives and setting boundaries for legislative and congressional districts, Census data are used to allocate over $400 Billion in Federal Funds as well as to determine locations for retail stores, schools, hospitals, new housing developments, and other community facilities.

Given the importance of the U.S. Census, it is important to note that Pilipinos and Pilipino-Americans in particular, and minorities in general, are deemed to be HTC (hard to count) populations by the government.

This has to do, in part, with the mistrust that some people have on the government having a “big brother” effect on the community at large. Furthermore, just like with other segments of society that has a sizeable immigrant population, there is the misconception that only citizens are to be counted. This is exacerbated by the fear of those that might not be in the country as Legal Residents (which in pilipino is called TNT for “tago ng tago” or “to be in hiding”) that their immigration status might be used against and be deported from the U.S. These unfortunate and unfounded misgivings have a very adverse result on our right as a Pilipino/Pilipino-American community to be represented accurately.

The 2010 Census’ 10-question form is one of the shortest in the history of the census. All it asks for are the following information; name, address, phone number, age, race and ethnicity, gender, living arrangements and home ownership.

The collected information is kept strictly confidential under Federal law, and the Census Bureau does not share data with other agencies, including law enforcement and the immigration services.

Key 2010 Census Dates:

February 2010 – April 2010
Questionnaire Assistance Centers and Be Counted Sites open to answer questions.

March 2010
United States Postal Service (USPS) delivers census questionnaires.

April 1, 2010
CENSUS DAY – Send your questionnaires back!

May 2010 – July 2010
Census takers follow-up with households that did not return questionnaires.

December 31, 2010
U.S. Census Bureau delivers apportionment counts to the President.

The next few weeks will be critical. Even as it aims high to at least match the 2000 Census’ result of 72% response rate, the Census Bureau predicts that only about two-thirds of U.S. households will mail in the 2010 form. That's because it faces special challenges of growing U.S. apathy toward surveys, residents displaced by a high number of foreclosures, as well as immigrants who have become more distrustful of government workers amid a crackdown on illegal immigration.

As part of its outreach, Census assistance guides are available in 59 languages, including Cebuano, Ilocano, and Tagalog.

Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) have actively been working to educate our community about the importance of the 2010 Census, and has been conducting outreach activities throughout the Los Angeles area to get people involved.

Help get the word out about the 2010 Census, be involved!
 

Related Links:

U.S. Census 2010

SIPA: Serving the Youth, the Family, and the Community