Dominicans

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'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.

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.

"Platanos and Collard Greens: A Take on Interracial Relationships"

“Platanos y Collard Greens”, an off-Broadway production that continues to enthrall audiences with its modern take on “Romeo and Juliet”, more specifically is a commentary on interracial relationships and the troubles that people of all colors face when they fall in love. 

Amanda Decker, a student at one of the universities where the performers have traveled to claims, “the play is a romantic comedy about the dissent of two parents — one Latino and the other African-American — when their children, Angelita (Karina Ortiz) and Freeman (Leon Joseph), start dating… This play boils down to a discussion of racism, culture and stereotypes. It asks very difficult questions: Can love survive a mother faking a heart attack after finding out her daughter is dating someone of a different race? Could you live with yourself knowing that you caused your mother to take such extreme measures?”

In fact, the play does expose the true question at hand: is racism the cause of tension among interracial couples? Unfortunately, stereotypes and cultural biases are prevalent in today’s societies. Oftentimes, love prevails; however, it can certainly be at the core of many debates and arguments that may cause couples to break up. To the good fortune of the couple in the play, an exposure of the parents’ own battles with racism and their experiences being the subject targeted through racist remarks leads to the success of their relationship.

At the end of the day, it is not about black or white, English or Spanish, Hispanic or African-American. It is about being human and sharing love, a basic human characteristic.

Diseases Hispanics are Most Prone to Getting

It is certainly not to be denied that some diseases are more prevalent in various ethnic groups, particularly those who have been historically or geographically separated from other ethnic groups. Of course, there is no single disease that is prevalent among all Hispanic groups, as “Spanish-speaking populations” certainly come from many different geographic and ethnic groups within this broad umbrella, but there are certainly some diseases that are more prevalent than others within the group. 

As it relates to Hispanics, a study conducted by the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (OMHD), concluded that the ten leading causes of death in the Hispanic population in the United States are: heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, stroke, diabetes, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, chronic lower respiratory disease, homicide, conditions originating in the prenatal period, and influenza/pneumonia (in order of occurrence).

The repetition of heart disease even within these ten causes of death is of particular emphasis, as they are often the cause of an unhealthy lifestyle paired with genetic mutations, increasing the prevalence of the disease. Interestingly, the study acknowledged the distinctive groups within the Hispanic population, claiming, “Their health profiles are also unique: Puerto Ricans suffer disproportionately from asthma, HIV/AIDS, and infant mortality, while Mexican Americans suffer disproportionately from diabetes. Factors that contribute to poor health outcomes among Hispanics include language and cultural barriers, lack of access to preventive care, and lack of health insurance. 30.7% of U.S. Hispanics lacked health insurance in 2008.”

Now, more than ever, knowledge and prevention is key. As the United States struggles with addressing insurance benefits to its citizens and non-citizens alike, it is important to avoid the need for post-diagnostic care in the first place through preventive measures and an all-around attempt to live as purely and healthily as possible.

Careers for Latinas in 2012

Despite possible challenges that may be faced while performing the usual job hunt, specifically during a sluggish economy, 2012 is a prime time for Latinas to focus on their careers. 

The “Latina Style 50 Report”, a comprehensive report, measuring the benefits and programs dedicated to Latinas in the United States, has, for 14 years been an acknowledger of great companies for Latinas to work in: “Though the majority of the programs offered are available to all employees, the companies selected have shown an exceptional effort in their recruitment and advancement of Latina professionals” (Zapanta). In this day an age of saving instead of spending and downsizing instead of splurging, it is particularly great to see companies catering to and providing special initiatives for Latinas.

After their very rigorous selection process, Latina Style 50 announced Deloitte as the 2011 Company of the Year, after having ten out of their fifteen criteria used for deliberation. The report claims, “To help the advancement of Latinas, Deloitte has presented the Latina of the Year award with scholarships to deserving students. Three out of the four total recipients have accepted positions within the company. Deloitte has also been the exclusive sponsor of the Women of ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting) program and partners with local chapters to host networking events”.

Closely behind Deloitte is the hotel chain, Marriott International, and two financial service firms, Prudential Financial and Aflac Incorporated, respectively. Kraft, Macy’s and AT&T fell shortly behind those. Needless to say, all of these corporations are very large and have the means to cater to a diverse workforce; however, it is truly commendable for them to truly fulfill the needs of such a specific demographic group in the nation.