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Granted, the Feast of Lanterns only leans lightly on its Oriental theme. The Feast of Salads, Feast of Chalk, pet parade and street dance are Pagrovian traditions that make no claim of Asian authenticity. Still, the history of the local Chinese community’s unkind reception contrasts queasily with the festival’s glib Oriental decor.

That contrast is made starker by the fact that neither Cort nor Layne acknowledge the expulsion of PG’s earliest Chinese community. Both say they think the Chinese left town because jobs were limited – not because they were forced out. “I don’t think they left because they didn’t feel welcome,” Cort says.

That kind of ignorance would seem a good reason for a fourth-generation Chinese-Peninsulan to feel bitter. But Low-Sabado is forgiving, saying she’d prefer to reach out to festival organizers than to sling mud. “I can appreciate an event that brings people together,” she says. “It’s important for people who might view the Chinese in that old-fashioned way to see a more modern picture.”

Still, Low-Sabado pointedly notes that she’s presented her family’s history at Monterey schools and retirement homes, but she’s still waiting for an invitation to speak at the Feast of Lanterns. “I don’t want to barge in,” she says coyly.

Layne acknowledges that event planners haven’t made a special effort to reach out to local Chinese-Americans. Yet. “I think next year will be the year,” she says.

LOW-SABADO WILL PRESENT A FAMILY HISTORY FOCUSING ON HER GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, QUOCK MUI, AT 10AM ON AUG. 12 AT THE QUOCK MUI TEA ROOM, WAVE STREET STUDIOS, 774 WAVE ST., MONTEREY. CALL 655-2010 FOR RESERVATIONS.