h i s PANIC

Tacos for dinner became a reality

2012-01-27T11:38:00.002-05:00

The Latino community in Connecticut has spoken and tacos will be served for dinner! Days ago Connecticut Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. said he was eating tacos for dinner. This was what he was doing to serve his Latino community. So what do angry activists do? They send tacos! Fox News Latino reported, "The office of East Haven's mayor was blasted with prank phone calls and a delivery of hundreds of

Glee in Spanish is...Glee?

2012-01-26T23:41:00.002-05:00

Is it me or is Glee playing more tributes this season? Anyways, according to the Huffington Post, the first crossover music celeb. hits the Glee stage as a Spanish teacher. Ricky Martin plays a night school teacher and helps the kids perform to Spanish songs. I wonder what music they'll sing to? Will it be typical music, or the obvious Ricky Martin? I'm glad to see another Latino cast member

Change in the Latino community = Tacos for dinner

2012-01-25T14:11:00.000-05:00

I usually don't say anything when I'm offended but this takes the cake. Wow. In East haven, CT., Mayor Joe Maturo made himself look completely ignorant in a WPIX interview. The original story was about police allegedly targeting Latinos but the story turned for the worst. Reporter 1: What are you doing for the Latino community? Mayor: I might have tacos for dinner. -_-. <--- That's the face I

A win for Colombia in Sustainable Transportation

2012-01-24T23:30:00.002-05:00

Medellin, Colombia (in addition to San Francisco, CA) recently received the 2012 Sustainable Transportation Award. Talk about awesome news right? I'm glad to see Colombia being recognized in sustainable transportation and beating out competition like Buenos Aires, Argentina and Cape Town, South Africa. It's time for a visit right? Read a little about Medellin's sustainable efforts: Medellin,

Your benefits of blogging

2012-01-24T22:29:00.000-05:00

Earlier today I went to an event hosted by the Philadelphia Public Relations Association titled Benefits of Blogging for Business. Panelists included Stefan Frank, National Constitution Center; Jessica Sharp, Maven Communications; Allison Stadd, uwishunu; and Amanda Walsh, Furia Rubel Communications. A very mid-level type of event, all the speakers had great insight for non-profits, businesses,

Photos of the Day: Alegria Ball

2012-01-23T23:38:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my new fancy (work) camera I'm able to capture awesome video and photos. I attended the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Alegria Ball last Friday evening and took some nice photos. Enjoy! You can find more at holaciudad.com. Yes I'm not a photographer but this camera is going to turn me into one. :)

Community organization wins big...again

2012-01-23T22:54:00.002-05:00

Talk about a boost in fundraising. Today Congreso de Latinos Unidos announced the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has awarded Philadelphia non-profit Congreso $1.5 million over three years as a 21st Century Community Learning Challenge Grant awardee. Congreso was one of 119 applicants, and one of only 57 award recipients in Pennsylvania selected to receive this federal funding,

Reaction: Losing Our Spanish Heritage

2012-01-20T14:19:00.002-05:00

Today I read two articles about losing our Spanish-language heritage. Wow. But to be quite honest, it really is happening. Although I am a bit biased because I live in Philadelphia where the predominant population is Puerto Rican. However, if you go to these area schools, there isn't a lot of Spanish-speaking going around. The author of the Huffington Post - Latino Voices article said, "I was

Colombia or bust!

2012-01-19T23:06:00.000-05:00

Fundraiser alert! My good pal Tony Rocco has taken upon himself to teach kids something other than what they learn in school. Rocco's program Photography Without Borders is a collaboration between his students in La Florida, Colombia and those he teaches at Stetson Charter School here in Philadelphia. The students use photography and the internet to create a cross-cultural dialogue. This

mun2 asks, "Being black and Latino?"

2012-01-18T21:57:00.000-05:00

Can you be Black and Latino(a)? Of course you can! A recent NY Times article stated for many Latinos, race is more about culture than color. These never ending debates about race probably won't ever get answered because the U.S. judges you by what you look like. It's probably one of the only countries that has a huge disparity of people. In China, people look the same. In Russia, people look the

Video: Telemundo's Relaciones Peligrosas

2012-01-17T23:06:00.001-05:00

What happens when you mix LGBT issues, teachers dating students and interracial dating? Well you get your typical high school drama... Telemundo's latest novela Relaciones Peligrosas. Telemundo has really made an effort in changing their novela programming to match the American Latino. With changing demographics, age differentiation and other Census changing numbers, novelas are gearing more

Event: Looking like a Language, Sounding like a Race

2012-01-17T22:06:00.002-05:00

A lot of Latinos sometimes have identity issues. Only because they are of mixed Latino races and sometimes even have cultural differences in the U.S. The people we surround ourselves also influence what we do, how we talk, what we eat and more. Well tomorrow at the University of Pennsylvania, Jonathan Rosa PhD will discuss ways that forms of language and race become linked to the creation of

Congrats Modern Family & Latinos

2012-01-16T22:49:00.001-05:00

Thank you Sofia Vergara and Modern Family for representing Latino culture during the Golden Globes last night. Sure it seemed like a sketch comedy but it was a sign of respect. Considering ABC is already on the fence with their "Puerto Rican drug dealer" scandal, I'd say this helped...maybe not. Either way, enjoy!

Today's MLK day of service

2012-01-16T21:21:00.002-05:00

Today we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by devoting a whole day to service. I was happy to help out this morning at the Lighthouse by painting their kitchen and lobby. The Lighthouse is a community organization that provides educational, recreational and economic improvement programs. It serves the Kensington and North Philadelphia communities of Philadelphia. Dr. King thrived on

Acts of violence must end NOW

2012-01-12T23:40:00.001-05:00

So I must say it's unfortunate for an incident to take place for people to start getting together. However, the unfortunate murder of three Latino children in our community has erupted into a movement of astounding proportions. NBCphiladelphia reported, "Three teens are dead and another was injured after a 30-year-old stepfather opened fire on a car full of kids who allegedly came over to

Mexican-American studies banned (in America)

2012-01-11T23:24:00.000-05:00

Photo courtesy AP So the Tucson Unified Schools Board voted to end the Mexican-American studies program. Well then. An NBC Latino article states, "Students in the courses will now be dispersed among other classes." So now what? Students can still learn about their own (or new) culture by studying on their own...that's what I would think. But for now, schools will only be teaching American

How do you say donuts in Spanish?

2012-01-11T19:59:00.000-05:00

So how do you say donuts in Spanish? Doesn't really matter because if you can say Dunkin' Donuts then you're one step closer to film their new commercial. According to a Miami New Times article, "Dunkin' Donuts is conducting a search for the ultimate 'hispanic Dunkin' Donuts coffee fan to appear in one of the brand's Hispanic television advertisements.'" Sounds like my dad would be perfect. The

Event: GPHCC's Alegria Ball - Fiesta Mexicana.

2012-01-10T21:51:00.005-05:00

Gala season is starting, well sort of. The Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce presents their 2012 Alegria Ball: Fiesta Mexicana. For the 5th year, this GPHCC signature fundraising event recognizes the rich and vibrant cultures of Latin America. Did you during last year's gala I was awarded the Hispanic Professional of the Year!? I know crazy right. In fact it was last year this

2012 Knight Arts Challenge finalists announced

2012-01-10T10:06:00.001-05:00

They are in! The Knight Foundation has announced the finalists for the second year of the Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia. The 55 finalists - which include individual artists, artist collectives, community groups, music organizations and theater companies - offered a wide array of innovative ideas, rising above a field of 1,200+ applicants. These ideas are just a continuing message that art

The Americas and America

2012-01-09T22:59:00.000-05:00

So a picture is worth a thousand words and the one above is worth too many. I find it funny because most people call those living in the United States Americans; but what do you call South Americans? Most of the time they are never, ever called American...just from their prospective country. Even my dad once said, "We're not American...we're Colombian." The Americas are lands in our

There's an app for the parranda

2012-01-06T15:35:00.000-05:00

I must give it to AT&T, this 4G LTE commercial is on point. Although I'm not Puerto Rican, this just screams "yo soy boricua" lol. From the (annoying) sounds of the coqui to the parranda atmosphere, it made me want to purchase the phone. However, given the age of the actors, are they really going to use those special features? If I were to give my parents this phone they would NOT know what to do

This Latino is continuing his education

2012-01-05T23:57:00.000-05:00

The Pew Research Center says, "From 2009 to 2010, the number of Hispanic young adults enrolled in college grew by 349,000, compared with an increase of 88,000 young blacks and 43,000 young Asian-Americans and a decrease of 320,000 young whites." Should this number be higher? I believe as the years go by they most certainly will. The number of Hispanics enrolled in graduate school is most

The end of the world (in a book)

2012-01-04T23:08:00.002-05:00

Today I finished reading Steve Alten's Domain. Although written in 2002, it was crazy reading the story in the era it was written for. The story looks at the lives of the Gabriel family and how they were truly obsesses with the Mayan calendar and the 2500-year-old enigma that predicts the end of humanity in 2012. Dad Julius believe the sites of the ancients, placed all around the glob,

Event: Latinas United for the Cure 2012

2012-01-04T17:42:00.001-05:00

Last year I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer at the Latinas United for the Cure event. The annual Susan G. Komen event brings together Latina women in the Philadelphia area to discuss ways to beat breast cancer. This year's theme "The Power, the Passion and the Promise to Beat Breast Cancer" sounds like a good one and will feature keynote speaker the Honorable Maria Quiñones-Sanchez

Photography at its best

2012-01-03T23:31:00.000-05:00

I have a strong appreciation for art...all types. Whether it's a painting, song or even a photograph, I can see how it can change communities. And the best type of art is "off the wall," meaning not your average painting on a wall. Sometimes I wish I could be an artist and fulfill a hobby but it takes a lot of time and practice. Zoe Strauss, a Philadelphia photographer with a growing

Men are capable of preventing rape too

2012-01-03T17:53:00.000-05:00

Rape. It's always a touchy issue within any community. Some people lie about it and some don't take it too seriously. I was happy to come across this new campaign geared towards men because just like anyone else, men are capable of stopping rape as well. According to a ColorLines article, "MyStrength is a project of the California Department of Health Services and the California Coalition

Movie: From Prada to Nada

2012-01-02T23:10:00.002-05:00

I tell you not having cable will make you watch anything on Netflix. That's why I took the opportunity to watch From Prada to Nada which is usually not on my list to watch. However, something told me to watch it since it had the word "nada" and I assumed it was about Latino culture. Sure enough I got angry throughout some of the scenes and felt a little disgusted as well. Here you have two

Movie: Maid in Manhattan

2012-01-02T10:54:00.001-05:00

So now that Telemundo has launched Una maid en Manhattan, I decided to watch the original movie with Jennifer Lopez. If you haven't watch the novela, Maid in Manhattan is a good start and summary to grasp your interest. I'm glad Jennifer Lopez didn't play your typical "extra" Latina. Although there were some scenes throughout the move that reference her Latina-ness, it wasn't important. And

Restaurants outside the normal neighborhoods

2011-12-29T23:14:00.000-05:00

Is it me or did Philadelphia Magazine list every single neighborhood in Philadelphia except El Centro de Oro? I'm usually not one to complain about not listing something "Latino" but come on. Do they have no contact in the Latino community? Most likely not. The article lists LOVE Park, Midtown Village, Media and other neighborhoods. Even South Philly which is predominately Mexican is only about

Tattoos in a nutshell

2011-12-29T12:57:00.003-05:00

Tattoos. They are just awesome right? I've received some negative feedback about my tattoos but most positive. Some people see no point in "doing that to your body." Key words: my body. It's a form of expression that I'm very very fond of and believe they tell stories. Sure you see movies about criminals and gangs, but I'm in neither. And even if criminals, gangs, etc. have tattoos, it's their

Philadelphia sees a change

2011-12-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

So the population grew in Philadelphia from 2000 to 2011. Julie Shaw said it best in her Philadelphia Inquirer article, "The city grew from the 2000 to 2010 census. We can thank Puerto Ricans, Hispanic and Asian immigrants and young professionals for that." Although Puerto Ricans and Hispanics are probably the same thing but who's counting these days :). The article goes very in-depth about

Some 3 Kings Day Celebrations

2011-12-27T23:30:00.000-05:00

I never grew up celebrating Three Kings Day but ever since coming to Philadelphia that's all I see and hear about in December/January. Various countries around the world apparently celebrate Three Kings Day. Each have their own customs and traditions associated with the holiday. On the twelve days leading up to Three Kings Day, many children in Latin America dress up in king costumes and go

Shakira's awesome...yep

2011-12-26T23:27:00.001-05:00

Oh Shakira...you are and forever will be Colombia's symbol of hope. Sure there are lots of great things originating from Colombia, but Shakira sheds a positive light to el pais even more. Shakira's En Vivo Desde Paris is a phenomenal CD/DVD set. Although I haven't seen the DVD yet, the entire CD is full of awesome oldies and newbies. Starting out with Pienso En Ti brought me back to the good ol

The holidays con familia y amigos

2011-12-23T11:23:00.001-05:00

The holidays are pretty much the same every year, but you always want to do something different. So what I just said made no sense right? The idea is to spend time with your family and real close friends and celebrate the year. Although 2011 wasn't what I expected, I'm putting it all behind and hoping for a better 2012. Christmas is always a weird time because you think people are expecting

2011: A year of chaos and revolution

2011-12-22T14:14:00.001-05:00

2011 has been an interesting year, both personally and newsy. A lot of chaotic and not-very-interesting news was reporting throughout the year including natural disasters, weddings, assassinations, uprisings and more. Earlier today I had the pleasure of serving on Art Fennell's TV panel discussion with two very prominent journalists, Buzz Bissinger and Annette John-Hall, discussing the year. So

Video: What do you say?

2011-12-21T22:45:00.002-05:00

I'm sorry but after watching these "sh** girls say videos" I start to wonder what Latino girls say. I mean seriously there was even a "Sh** Black Girls Say" video. As wrong and somewhat racist they might be, it's real life here in the U.S. We grow accustomed to our lifestyles that we don't notice we all do the same thing over and over again. I wonder if one of the Latina sayings would be "Wepa?"

Foto del dia: Posada

2011-12-20T23:20:00.001-05:00

Tonight my jobs' posadas came to a close at Xilantro Restaurant in Wayne, PA. A learning experience, the four day posadas were extremely fun. Seeing people keep their traditions alive felt so good and also seeing children participate. For videos, photos and more visit www.holaciudad.com. Hasta el proximo año.

Video: Shakira in Puerto Rico

2011-12-19T23:33:00.003-05:00

Sure Shakira's Sale el Sol tour ended a while ago, but that doesn't mean her crew can't distribute awesome behind the scenes videos. The video below says one thing to me: It takes a lot of people to make Shakira who she is. That's why I love the video. And I also noticed a woman with her iPad at the concert. Doesn't she have a camera or a phone? Enjoy!

Much Ado About Frijoles and Huevos

2011-12-19T15:10:00.001-05:00

When organizations attempt to cater to a younger audience, sometimes it works. However, when you don't consult with someone first whether your product will be offense, 100% of the time it will end up being offensive. An NBCLatino recently stated, "A Washington, D.C. production of Shakespeare’s 'Much Ado About Nothing' has recently changed the names of two lead characters - Juan Frijoles and

NBC gets a mini makeover con sabor

2011-12-15T10:15:00.000-05:00

I mean everyone else is doing it, why not join the movement! A recent Broadcast & Cable article stated, "In a move that reflects the growing importance of Hispanic audiences for news divisions, NBC News is planning to launch an NBCLatino.com site targeting Hispanics sometime in early 2012, reports NBC News president Steve Capus."HuffingtonPost, FoxNewsLatino and now NBCLatino. I wonder how

A split second of racial profiling

2011-12-14T15:01:00.000-05:00

I'm not one to judge a book by its cover, but there are a lot of people that do. Whether it's the way we dress or our hairstyle, people can be friendly or unfriendly just by looking at few things and not getting to know the person. It's even worse when you are in a certain neighborhood or location; race relations are the worst. Well earlier today, this happened to me. I think it was the first

The busy bee game

2011-12-13T23:12:00.002-05:00

So wow. I remember playing this game as a child (above) nonstop and it was amazing. My dad had these old a** cards tucked away in a drawer and I would always say, "Papi quiero jugar el juevo de la abeja." And sure enough we played for a few hours. I would really really really hate it when I would get those damn minus points with the bees, but when you got the queen bee it was fun. My dad would

Event: Phila. Hispanic Chamber Toy Drive

2011-12-13T22:26:00.001-05:00

This Thursday the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Professional Mentoring Network program is hosting the 3rd Annual Toy Drive Mixer in partnership with Asociacion de Puertorriquenos en Marcha (APM). Obviously a great cause, they help our less fortunate people who unfortunately can't afford toys. All of the toys will be donated to APM's Gift of Love toy drive that will

Beware the walking dead

2011-12-12T23:21:00.004-05:00

The Walking Dead is probably one of the best shows I've seen yet. Sure a zombiepocolypse seems pretty intense right now but you never know. This show isn't just about zombies terrorizing the world and destroying families, it's about survival, trust, and basically asks, "What type of person are you?" The show brings up many issues along the way including your typical racist moments between

A role model in the world

2011-12-12T21:25:00.003-05:00

A role model in the world...that's all we need. Growing up surrounding yourself with positive role models is a little hard to come by these days; especially male figures. Today I had the opportunity to speak at Mariana Bracetti Academy's College & Career Week. I spoke about my journey throughout college and how I got to where I am today at Telemundo Philadelphia. After speaking to them it hit

Event: Posadas in Norristown, PA!

2011-12-08T23:25:00.001-05:00

Sure it's a work event but who doesn't appreciate holiday cheer! A first time for the station, Telemundo Philadelphia is hosting Las Posadas Navidenas, a traditional Latin American Christmas festival, in Norristown, PA and the surrounding areas. This year's holiday celebration will take place on December 16, 18, 19 and 20 starting at 6 p.m. each day. All four posadas will be at restaurants;

Meeting like-minded individuals

2011-12-07T23:21:00.001-05:00

I've been writing a lot more personal posts in the past few weeks. Not sure what the reason but sometimes it does spark convo, sometimes it just means I'm venting. This morning I had the pleasure of having coffee with (insert name) whom I met at the Most Influential Latinos event. I actually rarely have coffee/lunch with anyone; and if I do it's usually about work-related things. However, this

Video: Mauricia judges Miss (Latina) Universe

2011-12-07T11:12:00.001-05:00

And I know my last post was a bit serious but let's move on to something less serious...well sort of. Remember Mauricia Rodriguez from the Lower East Side? Well she's back and she's discussing a very important topic: Miss Universe (The Latinas). We all have our own opinion about how people should answer and the questions being asked. Well Ms. Mauricia pretty much just sums ups everything we

Is life meant to be stable?

2011-12-06T22:52:00.001-05:00

Ever want to just get up and leave? I don't mean literally but sometimes I wonder how life would be like somewhere else. I've seen a lot of people get up and leave to other countries and the other side of the nation to start another life. Yet I see other people or become comfortable with how they are leaving. Then there are those who are forced to stay (i.e. you got somewhat pregnant). Anyways,

Pitbull meets BeingLatino

2011-12-05T23:11:00.001-05:00

Being Latino (BL), one of the leading Latino community and social media platforms in the U.S. and publisher of Being Latino Online Magazine, has finalized a content partnership with the entertainment site, Planet Pit. The partnership combines two of the most influential and innovative entertainment platforms on the web. BL already has a partnership with several content sites including

Movie review: Aftershock

2011-12-04T22:22:00.001-05:00

Yes I am aware the movie Aftershock is not related to Latinos but I had to write about it. Imagine 23 seconds turn in 32 years...32 years of waiting to confront your mother about why she decided to save your brother and not you. It was 1976 when a small town in China was hit with the most devastating earthquake in possibly the 20th century. Roughly 240,000 lives were lost and torn apart. I

Delaware Valley's Most Influential Latinos in 2011

2011-12-01T22:17:00.001-05:00

Earlier today Impacto Latin Newspaper and the Multicultural Affairs Congress presented their annual Delaware Valley's Most Influential Latinos event at the Hyatt @ Penn's Landing. The event honored 50 emerging and current leaders in the region. Categories included 10 under 40, Latino Leaders, Movers & Shakers and the Most Influential. This year's (new) honorees included: Edwin Desamour, MIMIC

Video: HeroStreet's Todo En Ti

2011-11-30T23:03:00.001-05:00

Remember Herostreet's last music video? Well just a few days ago they came out with another! I'm a sucker for love songs and this is obviously a nice relaxing "i want you" type of song. Want to meet the band? Well this Saturday you can see them live (if you're in NYC) at D' Antigua Bar and Restaurant in Jackson Heights. Enjoy!

One radio station down, two left

2011-11-30T20:30:00.001-05:00

So remember that Spanish radio station Rumba 1480 owned and operated by ClearChannel. Well see what happens when you go to www.rumba1480.com...and go. Well back in October El Zol 1340AM came to town and pretty much took over the competition. These guys have a very aggressive approach and are changing the way things are done. I was listening today and to my amazement there weren't that many

Manhattan's newest maid

2011-11-29T23:28:00.001-05:00

Today Telemundo's newest novela, Una Main en Manhattan, premiered. And yes of course the novela is based on the hit J-lo pelicula. Una Maid en Manhattan follows the journey of Marisa Lujan and her son Lalo emigrating from Mexico to the U.S.A. in search of a better life...figures right? However, after suffering disappointment while briefly living in L.A., they move to NYC where she ends up

Our museum needs your help

2011-11-29T15:40:00.001-05:00

As some of you may know the National Museum of the American Latino will most likely happen soon; maybe within the next 4 years. However, the museum needs your help to make it happen as soon as possible. Senator Bob Menendez has introduced the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act, S. 1868, which designates a location for the future American Latino Museum. If this bill passes, the Arts and

Video documentary: No Solo Hay Dos Colores

2011-11-28T23:39:00.001-05:00

About a week ago I wrote about a new documentary introducing a mural in Spain. The art project NO SOLO HAY dos COLORES introduces the role of men and women. It also goes deep into what an artist really is and how all the artists came to work together. Enjoy!

An intern reunion

2011-11-28T11:50:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I attended the Department of Labor - Office of Public Affair's (DOL/OPA) intern reunion in Philadelphia. It was great seeing some familiar faces and people working in the industry and even knowing they took part in the same internship I had. According to the DOL, "Since the start of the program in 2003, the office has provide learning opportunities to nearly 40 college interns

Día de Acción de Gracias @ Taller PR

2011-11-23T15:12:00.001-05:00

Earlier today I volunteered at Taller Puertorriqueno's annual Thanksgiving for the homeless event. I wasn't going to but I left work early and was able to make time. Sometimes we take for granted what we can easily obtain like food, water and shelter. There are hundreds of people who go without any of these every day. Taller Puertorriqueño’s staff organizes this annual warm dinner and provides

Corporations do care (Goya Foods)

2011-11-22T23:21:00.001-05:00

Maybe this just bypassed me but all over South/Central America, cities are being flooded with torrential downpours. And most recently, El Salvador has been a victim of this horrible natural disaster. According to the BBC News article, "The United Nations has launched an emergency appeal to help an estimated 300,000 people in El Salvador after heavy rains caused widespread flooding across

Holidays with Comcast

2011-11-21T22:42:00.001-05:00

The holiday season is here...sort of and everyone is looking to decorate their casa. But no casa isn't complete without a 2,000 square-foot LED screen right? Well “The Comcast Holiday Spectacular” has turned into a must-see attraction in Philadelphia during the holidays and with newly shot scenes of The Nutcracker featuring the renown Pennsylvania Ballet, a Winter Wonderland, and the

Philadelphia wants your ideas

2011-11-21T16:30:00.001-05:00

So how do you engage an entire community without causing havoc in a meeting room? Easily...you launch a social media website where users can basically either give you an idea or vent on why they hate the city. Change by US Philly is an online marketplace for community projects that allows you to share ideas for making your city better, and to turn those ideas into projects that have real impact

Video: NO SOLO HAY dos COLORES

2011-11-18T09:19:00.001-05:00

I love art...hence why I am not an artist lol. But I do appreciate good things with positive messages. Michelle Ortiz is one of many artists who worked on the No Solo Hay Dos Colores art project in Spain. The teaser below is just a small taste of what the final documentary, to be release November 21, will be focused on.

Puerto Rico is not foreign

2011-11-16T22:52:00.001-05:00

As much as people assume Puerto Rico is foreign, it still is a U.S. territory. Although I can't get into politics discussing whether or not PR should be a state or independent, let's discuss something else. Apparently Puerto Rico is ineligible to be nominated for Best Foreign Film in the Academy Awards. According to an article in the NY Daily News, "The controversy arose when the movie, based

Video: Dramatic battle of a lifetime

2011-11-16T12:49:00.001-05:00

I absolutely love this video for Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Call me a nerd but this is probably one of the most dramatic cinematic opening sequences I have seen. The combination battles and still frames really make this into something completely different. I wonder if they made this into an actual movie what would be the plot and even ending? Galactus is not really a villain nor a hero, he

What does it mean to "look" like something

2011-11-15T23:55:00.001-05:00

For the last few weeks the new cleaning lady in my building would always talk to me in English and my coworker in Spanish. I would say hello to her in Spanish but her replies were always in English. Then one day as I was watching the Spanish news, she asked, "Can you understand that?" Really? I work at Telemundo; one would assume I speak Spanish. Then again you should never assume because there

People still send money?

2011-11-15T22:20:00.001-05:00

In a study conducted by Xoom.com, the company revealed that Hispanics use their mobile phones to send money more frequently than any other immigrant group. Mexicans and Central Americans are leading this trend with 13% of remittance transactions being sent from a mobile phone. Other immigrant groups send 7% of remittances from a mobile phone. This probably explains why people work so

Video: Shooting a Venezuelan Candidate

2011-11-14T23:54:00.001-05:00

So what happens when you run for president outside of the United States? Well apparently you get shot lol. FoxNewsLatino has the whole story but the video is below.

Me Encanta

2011-11-14T17:30:00.001-05:00

McDonald's USA is expanding its social media strategy with the launch of @MeEncanta, McDonald's official Twitter handle focused on its growing number of Spanish-tweeting fans living in the U.S. The new social media channel offers followers the latest news about McDonald's menu, exclusive promotions, as well as information on the company's different initiatives to support the community

The working class man

2011-11-12T13:30:00.001-05:00

During my current visit to Virginia I started to notice something very interesting. There seems to be a large number of Latinos standing on the streets asking for work. Strategically located near shopping centers, they seem to jump at every opportunity that looks like work. While I cannot judge nor assume, they might be undocmuented. It's very unfortunate this is most likely how they make

An open letter to Santana from Glee

2011-11-10T21:51:00.001-05:00

Dear Santana from Glee, I'm not even sure what to think of you. Sure you think "keeping it" real is an okay thing, but you have to remember you're Latina...at least that's what the show says you are. If you are, stop being a "bitch," and if you aren't, stop being a "bitch." It took a while for me to get accustomed to you and I liked you a lot. You know how to sing and pretty much get things

Video: Philadelphia's Puerto Rican History

2011-11-09T22:39:00.001-05:00

Let's just get this out the way and avoid further awkwardness, I'm not Puerto Rican. I've lived in Philadelphia 8 years and there have been some instances where the community has confused me. Anyways, I do however appreciate Philadelphia's Latino culture; Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican and everything else that surrounds this city. I appreciate even more the hidden stories that no one really

Pennsylvania's First Puerto Rican Mayor

2011-11-09T16:27:00.000-05:00

Okay we all know there were elections all over the state of Pennsylvania, but did you know the FIRST Latino Mayor was elected in Pennsylvania history! Jose Rosado was just elected Mayor of Fountain Hill, PA...it's in the Lehigh Valley near Bethlehem. I may not know a lot about him, but it's happy to hear (and sad) about a Latino becoming mayor in our own state. Mayor Rosado was actually

Oh how we grow old

2011-11-08T23:48:00.000-05:00

I recently wrote an article in Enterate Hispanic Magazine about ageism and giving thanks to those who have helped us (me) in this crazy thing called life. Sometimes we take things for granted and expect things handed to us, other times we don't reach out too often to other. However, there's a point in time where we decide what we want. Young people should reach out to older people for advice,

A hero in us all

2011-11-08T22:20:00.000-05:00

Today I had the liberty of meeting two members of Herostreet, a (sort of) new alternative Latino rock band formed here in Philadelphia. A different sound to what most people are used to, I appreciated listening to Jose and Marian's story about coming to the U.S. to pursue their dreams of music. Music and any other form of art is a difficult business to get in but with persistence, it can happen.

Enjoy the LATISM conference this week

2011-11-07T23:52:00.003-05:00

The LATISM conference is this week and I am unfortunately not going ::sad face::. The national event –to be held at the beautiful Navy Pier, one of the city’s world class landmarks –will consolidate LATISM’s mission and audience of health providers, government officials, educators, community and thought leaders with three tracks focusing on empowering Latinos: Public Service, Business &

Shut down ex-gay clinics in Ecuador

2011-11-07T14:07:00.003-05:00

Original story Change.org. It's a simple site where you start a cause and get people to sign your petition. If it worked for those silly ATM fees then why can't it work for everyone else? Today I received an e-mail from change.org about patients in an Ecuadorian clinic basically being tortured for being gay. Anyone want to tell me why this is okay and it's still happening? According to the

The importance of the letter ñ

2011-11-04T14:41:00.000-04:00

Oh the letter ñ. Most people don't even know how to even say it. I've heard people say, "You know the letter n with the symbol above it." -_-. Did you know that little symbol is actually called a tilde? True story. Anyways, Mexican American actor Michael Peña walks us through why "ñ" is important. With a little bit of humor, we can only imagine what our other letters will bring. Enjoy!

Video: Dia de los Muertos

2011-11-03T22:31:00.002-04:00

Unlike most cultures, death can have a positive outlook. The Mexican tradition, Dia de los Muertos, celebrates the dead by remembering their life and designing an altar. Below you'll find a video from Telemundo Philadelphia on the Mexican Cultural Center's Day of the Dead celebration. Enjoy!

Confess your love for Mexico

2011-11-03T20:30:00.000-04:00

What happens if you mix Taxi Cab Confessions plus Mexico? Well, you get Mexico's new tourism campaign "Mexico Taxi Project." Not the best name but it sure is sneaky and real. According to a recent NY Times article, "In the commercials, tourists returning from Mexico chat about their trips with drivers from car services who are taking them home. The drivers were, of course, part of the

Why Shakira is a global phenomenon

2011-11-02T23:55:00.000-04:00

For various reasons, Shakira will be one of the biggest entertainers in the world. She's conquered philanthropic charities, education, the World Cup, music and more. A few days ago it was also reported that, on November 8 at 11.30 a.m., she would be honored with the 2,354th star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Category of Recording.Um awesome? And just as an honorable mention, Shakira was

Video: Sentimientos

2011-11-02T22:09:00.002-04:00

A little Charlie Zaa never hurt anyone right? He was awesome back in the day...and now he's back. Enjoy!

Event: Delaware Valley's Influential Latinos

2011-11-01T23:19:00.004-04:00

It's that time of the year again where Impacto Latin Newspaper and the Multicultural Affairs Congress awards the Delaware Valley's Most Influential Latinos. What started in 2006 as a magazine supplement and dinner has turned into one of the most talked about events of the year. Sure I was awarded last year but it really is a nice event; they also change the format of the event every year which

Educating the Latinos to exceed

2011-11-01T14:45:00.001-04:00

DECIDE.PLAN.ACT. That should sum up everyone's goals in life. Decide where you want to be and what you want to be. Plan ahead...there's nothing worse than jumping into things and acting like you know everything. After planning then you act. Your educational goals should be short and long term. And what better way to get national attention than a tweetchat right!? That's why in maybe (NOW) less

We are not costumes

2011-10-31T23:44:00.000-04:00

As Halloween ends, think about how many racially ethnic costumes you saw. A few right? Well a recent student organization at Ohio University wanted these costumes to end. According to a FoxNewsLatino article, "Students Teaching Against Racism (STARS) posted an ad campaign called 'We're a Culture, Not a Costume,' aimed at curbing the use of racially charged costumes. Initially the posters

Why do we get involved?

2011-10-31T16:50:00.003-04:00

So I may have written about this before but this past week just hit me like a 12 pack of...Miller Lite? Anyways, I sometimes have to re-ensure myself about getting involved with this community. Note: This community = Philadelphia's Latino community. And let me tell you, it's pretty nasty. Latinos who have been in the game look at you with disgust, African-Americans let you be and don't really

Bring it Home NALAC

2011-10-27T22:24:00.000-04:00

Earlier today the Multicultural Affairs Congress (MAC) awarded some of the leading multicultural industry leaders. Although I wish I would have seen a little more Latino presence, it was good to see those who did show face. Anytime I enter a room I seem to place myself in a box because no one around me is the same: age, ethnicity, sex, etc. It just doesn't seem to ever make sense. Anyhoot, I

After three years, the hisPANIC still lives

2011-10-26T21:23:00.002-04:00

Wow imagine that...it's been three years since I started this tiny blog. I never would have imagined being pitched by PR agencies or other corporations considering I do that sometimes as well. However, you can't miss out on cool swag and excellent (tasty) samples. I'm glad I am still able to sustain this blog and at least inform one or two people of cool happenings not just in Philadelphia but

Latism takes Times Square

2011-10-25T23:30:00.001-04:00

We are all well aware about Latinos in Social Media (Latism). From November 9 - 11, Latism will host its annual conference in Chicago, Il. And to lead up to this amazing conference, the organization will celebrate its upcoming LATISM ’11 conference with a 7,400 square foot digital billboard atop the world-renowned Reuters sign at 3 Times Square, New York City on October 28, 2011 at 6:30 pm.

Faster than a flying chancla

2011-10-25T22:25:00.001-04:00

YES! As BeingLatino said when they posted this photos, "They're finally figuring out how to get our attention!" And it's true. This isn't racially motivated, it's just hilarious. And like any other great idea geared towards Latinos, this comes from Texas. And it's not just the adds, when you click on Pronto Auto Insurance's website you get, "More flexible than a flour tortilla." How more Texas

Highlighting Philadelphia's multicultural professionals

2011-10-24T21:08:00.001-04:00

Ah yes the never ending struggle of our multicultural people. I'm always happy to see organizations like the Multicultural Affairs Congress (MAC) honor/award our leaders doing big things. This Thursday, MAC, which is a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), is celebrating its 17th Annual Recognition Awards Luncheon entitled “Power, Pride & Progress” by honoring

Mom's decorating paid off

2011-10-19T17:41:00.001-04:00

So as I sit here at the airport ob my phone I started looking at some photos I took at work. My job had a corporate contest to decorate our reception area and yep...it was my job to decorate. Luckily I had 18 years of experience because growing up mom loved doing this stuff for almost every holiday. I went to two differnt stores and bought a whole bunch of junk. With a small gameplan I decorated

The USA is one of those countries

2011-10-18T22:55:00.003-04:00

Our home country, USA, is one of those countries we love and hate. It's one of those countries where we assume the best and expect the worst. It's one of those countries where we take advantage of everything and complain about everything else. So why not document what is not really known like the hundreds of thousands of children working "our" harvests for less than minimum wage. THEHARVEST/ LA

Grupo Niche en concierto

2011-10-18T00:23:00.000-04:00

There's nothing like watching a band you grew up with live. Last Friday Grupo Niche performed live at Infinity Lounge in Trenton, NJ. A small venue but nonetheless, they killed it and they are clearly had one of the best performances live. Not a lot of artists can perform live but their music was on point and they sounded like the original thing. Here's to you Colombia!

A Jarritos Nation of luchadores

2011-10-17T20:26:00.001-04:00

So today I received a very nice package from Jarritos Nation and what I thought was going to be a pack of Jarritos was more than just that. It included two wrestler figurines and a super cool luchador mask. While I haven't check their website an enclosed note mentioned they changed a whole bunch of stuff and made it more engaging; I'll have to check it out when I get home. On a somewhat similar

Supporting our youth for change

2011-10-13T23:04:00.000-04:00

Early today I attended Youth United for Change's (YUC) annual awards reception. And for the first time in a long time I was blown away. Never have I heard and seen our youth so engaged in an event that it made me want to go out and advocate for them. Education is extremely important for YUC and I commend them on having the youth MC the event.The night was filled with awards, networking and

Congrats to the HCA winners

2011-10-12T23:59:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday night the Hispanic Choice Awards returned to Philadelphia and what a show. A revamp of previous years, the show kicked off with a special VIP reception (with red carpet) followed by the awards ceremony. What's the difference this year? The long overdrawn out awards ceremony turned into two hours of entertainment and only six awards which included: Community Advocate of the Year -

Add a little WEPA!

2011-10-11T23:58:00.002-04:00

Because I can't stop listening to this song. Yes...I am so happy Gloria Estefan is back!

TROPICALISMO - A Hispanic Heritage Month closing

2011-10-11T22:23:00.001-04:00

Philadelphia is clearly predominately Puerto Rican and Mexican; however, many other residents reside here from every single Latin American country. That's why I'm always happy to hear about Colombian musicians coming to Philadelphia. Almost a year ago, Bomba Estereo performed at the Kimmel Center and it was amazing. Anyways, based in Calí, Colombia since 2007, the UK-born Will Holland has been

A movement against domestic violence

2011-10-06T21:58:00.002-04:00

Congreso’s Latina Domestic Violence Program, along with Verizon will be hosting a family-focused event on Friday, October 7th, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Norris Square Park, to raise awareness about domestic violence in the family and community, and to promote healthy, healing relationships. Although I have never seen or experienced domestic violence, I know it's a big issue not just in Philadelphia.