Event: Hispanic Fiesta returns to Penn's Landing

Since the weather is changing and we get 90+ degrees you know what that means right? No it's not the end of the world but it is the beginning of festival season! This is the time when you call your friends the day before or morning of and ask if they are going to the awesome free concert at Penn's Landing. Sometimes they don't answer and you awkwardly see them there. Anyways, Concilio has always put on a great line-up during the Hispanic Fiesta and this year is no different. The festival features musical performances, arts & crafts, LOTS of food and just a great time to spend with the family. Rain you ask? I think rain on a 90 degree day would actually help.

This year's Hispanic Fiesta will feature two exciting days packed with music, dance, entertainment and authentic Latin American cuisine. Salsa favorite Michael Stuart will be perform on Saturday July 14th. On Sunday, July 15th two headliners are featured, bachata sensation Andy Andy and merengue Grupo Oro Solido. Can you say, "El Baile del Beeper?" Other local and regional artists performing at this year’s Hispanic Fiesta include: Alex Alex; Batucada de Puerto Rico; Amla’s Jazz Band; Tony Tony; the Jimmy George Band; D’lyone; Salsa Klabe; various Latin dance groups and many more.

The Hispanic Fiesta is sponsored by Title Sponsor State Farm, Goya, Health Partners, McDonalds, El Zol, Philadelphia Phillies, Telemundo Philadelphia, Wired 96.5, Univision, and MEGA.Yes I had to get these in there.

Mariachi High Opens PBS arts summer festival

Imagine that. A mariachi band is going to premiere the seven-part series anchored by films that highlight art, artists and performances from around the world. MARIACHI HIGH documents a year in the life of “Mariachi Halcon,” a top-ranked competitive high-school mariachi band in the rural ranching town of Zapata, Texas. The program premieres June 29, 2012, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings) as part of the PBS ARTS SUMMER FESTIVAL.

The festival celebrates the arts but education as well. “At a time when Latinos have the highest dropout rate in the country and when arts education continues to be under attack, we found a story of teens who pursue excellence through their cultural heritage despite some very real challenges,” says MARIACHI HIGH producer and director Ilana Trachtman. It's so important to teach our youth the importance of not only staying in school, but getting involved in their community.

This is just an addition to PBS's awesome commitment to showcasing positive Latino programming. A few years ago PBS aired the Latin Music USA series. The arts series will include the following programs:

• MARIACHI HIGH, June 29, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET
• ISLAMIC ART: MIRROR OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD, July 6, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET
• JOHN LEGUIZAMO'S TALES FROM A GHETTO KLOWN, July 13, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET
• HOMECOMING: THE KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY PRESENTS JOYCE DiDONATO, July 20, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET
• HAVANA, HAVANA!, July 27, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET
• THE BARNES COLLECTION, August 3, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET
• GREAT PERFORMANCES “Tanglewood 75th Anniversary Celebration,” August 10, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET

The battle for more Latinos on TV continues

You're watching prime-time television and what do you see? Chances are you're more likely to see a group of aliens than Latinos. In a recent Huffington Post article, Janet Murguia commented on the disappointing television season for our community. Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), writes, "How bad is it? When NCLR put out its landmark series of reports on Latinos on television two decades ago, we quoted writer-director Jesus Treviño's quip that you were more likely to find someone from outer space than a Latino on television. Well, 20 years later, there will be no Latino family starring on a prime-time network television this September, but there will be a family of space aliens." Imagine that?

I ask myself sometimes whether this is important or not. Today it most definitely is. The Census reported there are now 52 million of us residing in the U.S.--nearly one in five Americans. If none of this is reflected on TV then we are watching fiction. Yes most TV shows are fiction but our society can change for the better when we watch ourselves...our own culture on TV. Some can argue there are no Latino actors/actresses appropriate for certain roles. However, this is only the case because (as Murguia stated) we are considered the "other." It's not the norm in cinema. Then again some people would not want to become the norm, we need to stay true to our culture.

The arguments will go on forever. Do you think this change will happen soon? How should networks approach getting Latino audiences?

Memorial Day weekend with Raices

This Memorial Day weekend do something different! While BBQs seem like a good idea, you might also want to check out Raices Culturales' Latin Arts Explosion @ Race Street Pier. Performances include Zumba, hip-hop, salsa, African and other dance lessons. Bring the family this weekend May 26 & 27, 2012 from 1:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Event: Hispanic Choice Awards returns

Photo Courtesy El Zol Philly 1340AM

For eight consecutive years, the Hispanic Choice Awards (HCA) has honored and celebrated Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware’s Latino professionals, organizations and businesses across all sectors. Nominations are made via an online campaign and is open to the public. For 2012, the HCA has taken a new approach to the awards show as well as bringing back some oldies but goodies. 


One of the most notable changes is the HCA's official media partner. This year CBS3/CWPhilly57 will pre-record the red carpet special then air post-event. This, however, is leading up to the 10th anniversary in 2013 where the entire show will be broadcasted live! Another new feature will include an online marketing campaign: The "I Am" Campaign. The HCA emphasized that the region's Latinos come in many shapes and forms and speak multiple languages. In the weeks to come they will be asking you just that, "I am _____." Whether a one-word answer or a description of why you love being Latino, the HCA is seeking your input.


This year's award nominations include:

• Corporate Partner of the Year
• Education Champion of the Year
• Business person of the Year
• Community Advocate of the Year
• Creative Artist of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement

Visit hcaphilly.com to nominate your community leader.

Poetry: En Mi Pais

So I love my parents. They are what give me inspiration throughout the day, at work, life situations and now at graduate school. I'm currently taking a Travel Writing course at St. Joseph's University. One of our assignments in class was to free-write a piece describing our relationship with a parent along with a landscape. I found it difficult at first but then found my inspiration through something my dad does all the time. And what better way to portray it than through poetry. Enjoy.
___________________________

En Mi Pais

En mi pais you would never have your windows
open. Neither day nor night is safe for anyone.

En mi pais I-95 doesn't exist. Traveling to any
part of the country means holding on to dear life.

En mi pais the buses pack too
many people clenching their bags. Even the cars.

En mi pais climbing up the mountains of el cocuy means the total
opposite of the Appalachians. Be prepared for the extreme.

En mi pais I wouldn't let my niece walk down
any street, alley, highway or across the street.

En mi pais the policia are around every corner
carefully watching all suspects. It could be you.

But dad, when was the last time you were
in your pais?

En mi pais you don't talk back.

Opinion: "Don't talk about it, be about it."

The above quote caught my attention for many reasons. BeingLatino has interviewed some of the most popular figures in Latino entertainment and has asked them, "What does it mean to be Latino?" Pitbull's quote regarding where he comes from can mean many things to many people. Even if you didn't know where he's from, it's still inspirational. I was born and raised in Plainfield, NJ a predominately African-American neighborhood where I always knew I wasn't the norm. It didn't bother me at all until I attended college in Widener University (shortly transferring to Temple University). I realized the world is supposed to be diverse and the place where you come from is just a small portion of the world.

I've appreciated where I come from because if I was born anywhere else things would have ended up differently. I have no regrets and no issues with where my parents decided to move from Colombia. However, I do always find it interesting that there are still those people who have not left Plainfield. Some people (thanks to Facebook) live and breathe Plainfield...not really sure why. However you want to take Pitbull's quote, be sure to appreciate your upbringings but also explore the world we live in.

It's the end of the world as we know it

A few days ago I visited the Penn Museum to view the Maya 2012: Lords of Time exhibition. At first I thought, here's another artifact exhibit that probably won't teach me anything. I was proven wrong. The museum is one of those attractions most people aren't aware of; you get to learn a lot about history and question certain theories. In this exhibition, the museum confronts the current fascination with the year 2012, comparing predictions of a world-transforming apocalypse with their supposed origins in ancient Maya civilization. It's also interactive (as it should be). I was able to choose my own Mayan name as well as how to write out my birth date in the ancient language.

The exhibit reminded me about certain classes at Temple University and how I learned how to read the Mayan calendar. However, I definitely forgot how to unlock the dates. Luckily the Penn Museum explores the calendar and asks why December 2012 was chosen as the end of the world. The artifacts around the exhibit are fascinating as well as the history lessons you learn. Although I can't prove it, it was interesting to see my heritage in the history of Mayan civilization. The exhibit will be on view now through January 2013; which I find ironic since we're not supposed to be here post December 2012.


Read more about my visit at Examiner.com.