Latinos

MIBODEGA AGENCY PUERTO RICANS SPOTLIGHT : Julia de Burgos

Julia Constancia Burgos García, more commonly known as Julia de Burgos, was born on February 17, 1914 in Carolina, Puerto Rico to Francisco Burgos Hans and Paula Garcia de Burgos. Her humble country life certainly contributed to her increased interest in the natural beauty of life, encouraging her to write about her experience, eventually leading to her being one of the greatest poets of Latin America. 

Awarded a full scholarship to attend the University of Puerto Rico, Burgos graduated at the young age of 19 to become a teacher, truly sparking her love of literature and journalism, heavily influenced by Luis Llorens Torres, Clair Lair, Rafael Alberti and Pablo Nerud.

Borges is most renowned for her poem, “El Rio Grande de Loiza”, which speaks about her life in Carolina: “My childhood was all a poem in the river, and a river in the poem of my first dreams.” Also among her famous works are her books “Poemas exactos de mi misma,” “Poemas en Veinte Zurcos,” and “Cancién de la verdad sencilla” and her poems, “Canción Desnuda,” “Te Quiero,” “A Julia de Burgos,” “Yo Misma fui mi Ruta,” and “Tres Caminos.”
Burgos died on July 6, 1953 in New York City, at the young age of 39: although she lived a short life, she greatly made an impact on the world in her

MIBODEGA AGENCYS DOMINICANS SPOTLIGHT : The Mirabal Sisters

It’s not always about politics, but in the case of the Mirabal Sisters, their lives, particularly the last few years of their lives were certainly all about politics. 

Patria Mercedes Mirabal, Bélgica Adela “Dedé” Mirabal- Reyes, María Argentina Minerva Mirabal, and Antonia María Teresa Mirabal were all born and raised in Salcedo, Dominican Republic, where their father was a farmer, enabling them all to pursue a higher education. Influenced by her uncle, Minerva Mirabal pursued a career in Law, but she was denied her practitioner’s license because of her open opposition of the Trujillo regime, particularly Minerva’s refusal to enter into a romantic relationship with Trujillo.

In response, the sisters collaborately organized a group against Trujillo’s movement, called the movement of the Fourteenth of June. This movement by ‘Las Mariposas’, (the butterflies), as they were called in the Dominican Republic, was one of the most effective movements against this totalitarian regime. Unfortunately, their efforts consistently resulted in the incarceration of Maria and Antonia, as well as the incarceration of three of the sisters’ husbands at La Victoria Penitentiary in the nation’s capital, rumored to be one of the most torturous prisons in the nation. In addition to incarceration, Minerva, Patria, and Maria Teresa seized some of their most valued properties and possessions, eventually leading to the loss of their most valuable possession: their lives.

Dedé Mirabal outlived her sisters and lives to tell the story of her sisters’ lives and their unfortunate deaths, transforming the old house of the family into a museum, Museo Hermanas Mirabal which is also located in Salcedo.
In response to their courageous triumph, on December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated, the anniversary of the murder of the Mirabal sisters, November 25, as the annual date for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

MIBODEGA AGENCY PUERTO RICANS SPOTLIGHT: Chayanne

Chayanne, less commonly known by his birth name, Elmer Figueroa de Arce, is a Puerto Rican native, born on June 29, 1968, the third of five children to parents also of Puerto Rican descent. As most artists, Chayanne commenced his career at a very young age, expressing his interest for the arts through an initial participation in the church choir, where he practiced numerous instruments, including the tambourine, eventually pairing his instrument with his vocal talents. Shortly after his accompaniment of his sister to a music audition, which was catered to the youth, Chayanne was selected for Los Chicos, a musical group that eventually toured and performed constantly throughout the country; however, their schooling continued, as they traveled with tutors who helped them to further their knowledge of topics that extended beyond the music industry. Read more

MIBODEGA AGENCY'S DOMINICANS SPOTLIGHT : Alex Rodriguez

Who likes to be known for one thing and one thing only? – I’m pretty sure Alex
Rodriguez does not either, so let us break that barrier and tap into both known and unknown facts on this famous (not only a) baseball player’s life. 

Born and raised in New York City on July 27, 1975, Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez was the third born to Victor and Lourdes Rodriguez, the owners of a shoe store. Rodriguez was certainly raised in a ‘baseball’ environment; after all, baseball was discovered just across the river in Hoboken, NJ. This influence was only furthered after his move to the Dominican Republic at the age of four until he was eight, where he was exposed to more ‘baseball culture’, particularly due to the heavy involvement of his father and his uncle in the sport.

After his exposure to baseball in the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez returned to the United States where he finished high school at Westminster Christian, shortly after being picked up by the Seattle Mariners in 1993, deferring his letter of intent to play baseball for the University of Miami: “That year Rodriguez hit .358 with 215 hits, 36 home runs, 123 RBIs, and 141 runs scored. After having only an average season in 1997, Rodriguez has had nothing but incredible seasons since. Following 1997 he has hit at least 30 home runs every year, at least 40 home runs eight times, at least 50 home runs three times, has driven in at least 100 RBIs every year, and has scored at least 100 runs every year. He became the youngest player in baseball history to reach 400 career home runs in 2005 and the youngest player to 500 career home runs in 2007. He has been named AL MVP twice, has been voted to play in eleven All-Star games, and is considered by some to be the best all around player in baseball today” (SportHaven.com).

His professional career is certainly to be commended: Rodriguez has earned three MVPs, (in 2003, 3005, 2007, respectively), two Gold Glove awards (in 2002 and 2003, respectively) and numerous Silver Slugger awards as well as four Hank Aaron Awards.

Some commonly unknown A-Rod facts include: “His first splurge after being signed with Seattle was a Jeep Cherokee. Alex’s 52 home runs in 2001 were the most in history by a non-first baseman or outfielder. Alex’s contract with the Rangers was the highest in sports history, totaling $252 million. In his free time, Rodriguez buys and collects art. In 2003, Rodriguez gave $3.9 million to the University of Miami to renovate its baseball stadium.” (Alex Rodriguez’s personal biography).

Currently, Alex lives in Miami with his two dogs, a Labrador and a German Shepherd named Shorty and Gypsy. His salary is estimated to be $30 million, a significant drop from its peak at $252 million, but certainly nothing to complain about.

US Latin American Interventions Infographic

A historical analysis of US interventions in Latin America to date (2008). *Costa Rica, Belize and Paraguay have no record of being intervened by the US during this project. Sources: Adbusters.org/Wikipedia Read more

MIBODEGA AGENCYS DOMINICANS SPOTLIGHT: Paul Giudicelli

Óleo por Paul Guidicelli, 1962. Colección UASD.

Not to be confused for Italian, as his last name may lead one to think, Paul Giudicelli is a Dominican painter most notably recognized for his abstract paintings. Born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic in 1921, Giudicelli was born at the prime time for an artistic revolution.

His artistic career began early in his life as an enthusiast for the arts, often practicing his work at a very young age. His educational career as a philosophy major at the University of Santo Domingo in 1948 eventually led him to enroll in the ‘National School for the Beautiful Arts’ that same year. As it relates to his professional career, Giudicelli’s work led him to Europe where he practiced and exhibited his artwork in famous British and Spanish art galleries.

Before his cancer-induced death in 1965, Giudicelli left a mark on mondern art, conceptualizing a form of art that had never been seen before him. The Pontificia Universidad Madre y Maestra in Santo Domingo describes his work, “Su obra es una síntesis de abstracción, expresionismo y geometrización, realizadas con medios que eran inusuales en la pintura dominicana de la década del 1950 al 1960. De esta manera, marcó una ruptura entre la tradición existente y el radicalismo interpretativo contemporáneo.” Essentially, Giudicelli is said to have expressed human truths through an abstract expressionism of geometry with measures that were quintessential during the 1950s and 1960s in the Dominican Republic. With these diverging characteristics, Giudicelli is said to have marked rapture between the existing tradition and the radical contemporary interpretation of abstract art.

MIBODEGA AGENCY PUERTO RICANS SPOTLIGHT : Eva LaRue

Most notably recognized for her work as an actress on All My Children, Eva LaRue has proven that she is much more than that, including a multi-faceted businesswoman and entrepreneur. The first of three children to be born in Long Beach, California to parents of Puerto Rican, Dutch, and Scottish descent, this 46 year old has starred in numerous television commercials, sang at many prominent sporting events, and continues to work diligently on her work as an actress. 

Her career began as a young child, performing in numerous beauty pageants before becoming a model for Fredrick’s of Hollywood through the Judith Fontaine Agency. Currently, LaRue stars on the cast of CSI:Miami, becoming a fulltime actress in season 5.

TVGUIDE.com claims some of Eva LaRue’s ‘Fast Facts’ to be that Larue: “1. Began her career at 6 years old by singing commercial jingles and entering beauty pageants, winning Little Miss California (1973) and Miss American Teenager (1983). 2. After appearing on Star Search in 1985, she switched her focus from singing and dancing to acting. 3. Was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actress (1997) and Outstanding Original Song (2004) 4. Is the godmother to Michael Joseph Consuelos, oldest child of former All My Children costars Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos 4. And her hobbies include Tae Kwon Do, horseback riding and gardening.”
Perhaps LaRue’s most notable attribute is in fact her ability to be so well-rounded, landing her a permanent role on the screen, which is certainly not expected to dwindle any time soon.

NSFW VIDEO : Sister's Big Brother Finds Out Her BF Hits Her

Did the Big Brother handle the situation correctly ? What would you do if your little sister or daughter was being abused by their BF ?

Latinos Will Decide Who the Next U.S. President Is?

 Hispanics are increasingly being mentioned in the news, with strong emphasis on the importance of the Hispanic vote in the coming election. The fact is that Latinos are the fastest growing minority in the country, which certainly has the power in numbers to make a difference.

TIME Magazine went as far as to say,  “the Latino vote will decide the 2012 elections”, which certainly holds true for the states which are heavily populated with Latinos, which are primarily the important, deciding states including but not limited to: Florida, Texas, New York, and New Jersey. With that said, the Latino population, which has been known for its primarily Democratic vote is said to stay that way, particularly due to the harsh GOP laws being presented as it relates to undocumented immigrants.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, a former Latina Republican,  DeeDee Garcia Blase, said that the Republican party has ‘lost its way’, claiming, “They’ve dehumanized the undocumented immigrant, and people that look like them,” Garcia Blase said. “I’m angry that I have to be defending my rights against laws like those in Arizona. I was willing to die for this country”. Whether the win is on the Democratic or Republican side is yet to be discovered; however, one thing that is certain is the fact that Latinos will certainly play an extensive role in that decision.

VIDEO : Father of White Daughter Rejects Her Boyfriend of Color

To follow up on our Platanos and Collard Greens post (found below this article) regarding interracial relationships, here is a video that reflects light on the issue. What are your thoughts ? Have you ever encountered something like this ? Tell us about it below. We’d love to hear them.