Tide "Washes Away Labels" with NCLR

I love it when major corporations join forces with social serving agencies. This is why I was happy to see when Tide teamed up with NCLR for the #WashAwayLabels campaign. Sure it's about selling the product but the message is clear...get rid of stereotypes.

Your Miss Universe is Colombian

So it's been a few days since Paulina Vega (Miss Colombia) was crowned Miss Universe in Doral-Miami, Florida. Well deserved you think? Like many pageants and competitions, the crowning moment usually leads to "so and so was robbed" across all social media.

Coca-Cola and #HazAlguienFeliz

Instead of creating something new, it's always important to integrate new campaigns with your traditional campaigns. Of course this isn't for every corporation but Coca-Cola is doing it right. 

FuelersTV: Online video content for Honda

Videos. We love them. We share them. We click on them. And that's pretty much what I've been seeing in my Facebook feed for a good month now. Anything longer than 1 minute and I am not interested.

So how do you keep people engaged with video? Do they have to be 30 seconds like a TV ad? Less? Social video like Vine and Instagram have been paving the way for more video content. I'm sure there are plenty of amazing examples but I recently came across one (old but I like them)  that combined a car retailer and tourism. Makes sense.

Shakira's YouTube Mini-Series with Fisher-Price

Remember when we told you about Shakira's partnership with Fisher-Price? Well it also included a YouTube mini series.

Some of the video subjects include:

• Talking to Baby. 
• How Motherhood has Changed Her. 
• Working with Fisher-Price. 
• Milestones. 

Watch them all after the jump.

Video: Let's check out gringos attempt to roll their "Rs"

So why speak Spanish? Well according to the Pew Research Center, "Spanish is, by far, the most spoken non-English language in the U.S." Yep...that's very important.

I also think it's strange how we take a language up in high school (and sometimes college) for 4 years yet at soon as we graduate it goes down the drain. I'm at fault as well, I took French. Ask me to say my name is Eric in French...that's all I know. But the comedy, entertainment, and music website, Flama, took it upon themselves to create a video with "gringos" attempting to pronounce some of the most difficult words they could find. What you'll watch is pretty much hilarious.

Shakira spotlighting smiles with Crest

So it's not news that Shakira has been endorsing Crest 3D White Strips for a little over a year now, but what I do find interesting is facts/figures on Latinos and oral health.

According to a re-fielded national survey led by the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation (HDAF) and sponsored by Procter & Gamble (P&G) brand Crest, Latino's knowledge about oral health has improved since 2011. Take a look at some key findings below.

Video: Shakira's Dare (La La La)

Can I just tell you all that I absolutely love this song?! It's very similar to her Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) song for the 2010 World Cup. "When we shot this video I was actually a month and a half pregnant with my son Milan so it was a really happy moment in my life," Shakira said. "It sort of matches the mood of the song and it was a very celebratory time."



Check out the official Dare (La La La) remixes, only on Beatport - Link: http://smarturl.it/DareRemixesBP.

Netflix announces Spanish-language programming

Netflix. You're on the right track! The world’s leading Internet television network, announced today its first Spanish-language original series, a comedy from director Gaz Alazraki that reunites the team that made Nosotros los Nobles, one of the most successful Mexican box office hits of all time.

According to the press release, the 13-episode series from Alazraki Entertainment is set to premiere in 2015 and centers on a family feud among heirs of a soccer club after the owner’s death. Shooting entirely in Mexico and featuring a cast from all over Latin America, including Nobles star Luis Gerardo Mendez, the series offers a satirical, highly entertaining look into the world of professional futbol.

Let's see. Soccer and Mexicanos. That is probably going to draw a lot of attention within the U.S. Just think about Telemundo and Univision's programming strategy. Mexicans make up 33 million of the U.S. Hispanic population with Puerto Ricans coming in second at approximately 5 million.

Watch a preview to Nosotros los Nobles after the jump:

Budweiser plugs into "César Chávez" film

I absolutely loved this idea from Budweiser! Sure there are some discussions about what sponsorships should go with which events...it's a fine line. For example, Concilio not too long ago stopped accepting beer sponsorships for their annual Hispanic Fiesta on Penn's Landing. Why? Well for one thing the oldest Latino non-profit provides social, educational, health and cultural services to the Latino population...this of course includes substance abuse. 

Congratulations Gabriela Isler, newly crowned Miss Universe

That's right the newly crowned Miss Universe is (and was) Miss Venezuela! Representing Latinas across the entire world, Gabriela Isler is bound to bring focus on the every growing political landscape from her country. But who cares about that right? According to some fun facts in Latina Magazine, Isler is the third Venezuelan to win the pageant in six years! The country is quickly becoming renowned for its beautiful women!

The top 5 finalists included 4th Runner Up, Brazil; 3rd Runner Up, Philippines; 2nd Runner Up, Ecuador and rounding up 2nd is Spain. Notice a trend there? To be honest, I was more impressed by the Miss Universe National Costume runway show.

Watch below.

VIDEO: Paranormal Activity cinco

Looks like the Paranormal Activity franchise has taken a leap of faith. Just when you expect for it to be over, they come back. The newest film titled Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones debuts January 2014 and is a spin off centered around a Latino family in California. Hispanic Marketing much? The movie attempts to bring it back to the original films as well. Somehow the spirits also reach other families. Another feature the franchise hosts is a social media campaign which includes posting a photo of paranormal activity in your town, include #TheMarkedOnes and tag the name of your city. The top city? Of course it's Los Angeles, CA. Not just because it's a high Latino population, but it's Hollywood for goodness sake.

Are you looking forward to the film or tired of the franchise? I'm excited about it only because (I hope) it dives into the santeria world.

Video: The Latin Flavors of Northern Liberties and Callowhill

So back in April 2013 Philadelphia launched a new campaign —Philadelphia Neighborhoods—that spotlights 14 of the personality-packed areas surrounding Center City. And in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, the latest highlighted neighborhood is "The Latin Flavors of Northern Liberties & Callowhill." In the video, my good ol' pal Tony Rocco discusses his photography project with neighborhood kids as well as his favorite restaurants and things to do.

PBS Invites you to share your Latino story

I probably should have mentioned I took the summer off from writing but we're back! I won't bore you with my summer travels but ever since I started my Fall 2013 semester at Saint Joseph's University Writing Studies Program, I've been meaning to write more. And what better way than to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month...or as others call it Latino Heritage Month.

I recently came across NYC's flagship PBS station "13" and what they're doing to promote Hispanic Heritage Month. While others tend to highlight the usual suspects,  the local PBS stations is asking for our stories.

• More than four million Latino Americans call the New York and New Jersey region home. Alongside the landmark PBS series "Latino Americans" premiering September 17, 2013, we are collecting the stories of Latino Americans of New York and New Jersey for a 30-minute program, "Latino Americans of NY & NJ," to air on WNET stations Thirteen, WLIW21, and NJTV between September 17 and October 11, 2013. 

Some of the stories are heartwarming, inspirational, dedicated but above all, they are our stories.

• Carmen Rodriguez, Puerto Rico, says, "In poor Latino families, the most common way to express generosity, neighborliness, love, gratitude and warmth is the sharing of food."
•  Amy Ramirez Rodriguez, Dominican Republic, says, "My family migrated to NYC on Christmas Eve in 1965. Since then, my family has gone to great lengths to re-enforce the bonds between those of us here in NYC and those of us in Santo Domingo, en 'La Capital.'"
•  Pedro Martinez, Cuba, says, "  I used to play a lot of religious ceremonies in Cuba that are still practiced in Cuba and here too (called “Santería” in Cuba and “Yoruba” in Africa)."

These are just a few of the hundred stories the station has collected. To share your story and possibly be featured, visit thirteen.org. 

T-Mobile offers something better

My friend that used to work at T-Mobile recently told me they were axing plans but I didn't hear anything since. Ironic enough I received an e-mail from someone working with the phone carrier about their new program "Something Better." I actually do carry T-Mobile for my cellular device but also AT&T for my (work) iPad. If it's one thing I always hate, it's the 2-5 year contract they force you to sign.

The video below is the first hint of their new program and, " [is the] perfect metaphor that symbolizes what T-Mobile now has to offer, liberating customers from dreaded two-year contracts, sluggish networks and restrictive plans at high costs." I'm sure we've all read too that Latinos over-index when it comes to social networking on mobile devices. I wonder if this "something better" will work in their advantage.

American Idol's Lazaro Arbos moving on

America (especially the Latinos living here) fell in love with Lazaro Arbos when he auditioned for American Idol a few weeks ago and made everyone cry. Seriously. And now he's in the Top 20 and I'm sure he'll make it to the Top 10. And yes while there are two other Latinos on the show, Arbos' adversity seems to make him favorable.

Reality shows are always adding more Latinos to shows but you have to wonder if producers sit behind a desk and say, "We need to keep him/her because he/she is Latino." Or has our culture become mainstream enough where that doesn't matter anymore? Either way, I'm rooting for Arbos.

DigiBunch video site launches under the radar

A few months ago,  under the radar, a website was created by Lance Rios (BeingLatino founder). digibunch.com, although doesn't have much info, is a website designed to host videos and fotos by Latinos for Latinos. Not sure what the goal is or if there's a relationship to the BeingLatino site, but it may be a good site to learn and laugh.

Here's an example of the content digibunch.com hosts:

Video: The Voice adds Shakira and Usher

NBC's The Voice has just added some big players to their coaches cast. Shakira and Usher replace Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green. Notice that they replaced both minorities with other minorities? Just a fact. Regardless, I think the addition of Usher and Shakira will make a huge impact on the show. Both are huge in the music industry and currently are either in "peak" mode.

Will you keep watching?

Telemundo's new brand launches with a splash

Last Saturday, December 8, Telemundo stations across the entire United States switched over to the new logo/brand. The new "T" conveys the duality of Latinos living in the U.S. This past May Telemundo announced new programming, specials and content. The press release stated, "With that concept in mind, it announced a 40% increase in original programming, adding six new original primetime novelas and the addition of unscripted reality series to its lineup." I must say after seeing the new logo in print (above), it looks amazing. The new concept allows the media company to use it to its capacity. Talk about making a bold move :).

In the video below, Emilio Romano, Telemundo Media president, discusses the unveiling of the company's new logo.

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Dreamers begin to fulfill a dream

Since the U.S. government began to receive requests for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrived) last August, thousands of undocumented youth have begun the application process. DACA permitted to obtain a work permit, a conditional social security and protection to avoid deportation for two years. However, the application fee plus legal fees, if need be, have been a barrier to our community that normally struggle to meet the basic needs of their families.

Together, an organization based in Philadelphia led by Latino immigrant community in Pennsylvania who fight for human rights of immigrants, recently partners with JUNTOS to award scholarships to help begin the DACA process. Pictured above, Olivia Vasquez, 18, ​​Jaqueline Gomez, 19, Montserrat Gallegos, 16, Kenny Mejia, 18, ​​and Sajid Safkat, 18, ​​received their checks in order to begin the process of TAT.

This is a tremendous opportunity not only for these students but for the country as well. In addition to the scholarships, JUNTOS also had one of their students, Karla Rojas, 18, on MSNBC's Jansing & Co. discussing immigration and the Dream Act along with Telemundo's Jose Diaz-Balart.

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