BVs' Jenna Alvarado is shooting for a CIF berth Photo: J.P. Wyllie

A year ago Bonita Vista’s Jenna Alvarado emerged as one of the top high jumpers in the Metro Conference, but when the CIF qualifiers came around her performance fell a little bit short of her desired goal. Now a senior, Alvarado hopes to benefit from last year’s experience and use it soar over her competition as she strives to become one of the county’s elite high jumpers.

“When she started she couldn’t high jump over four feet and I almost gave up on her, but she was just so persistent,” recalled assistant coach Joe Sheffield. “Jenna just doesn’t give up. Now she is one of the top jumpers in our conference. Her attitude is always I can do this and nobody is going to prove me wrong. She has cleared 4’10 so far and she has the potential to go a lot higher. This year we are going to do all we can to get her ready (for CIF competition) and I think she will make it.”

“I think I should have made it last year. I got really nervous and didn’t do as well as I should have. Throughout the winter I was lifting a lot in an attempt to get stronger. I have been working really hard. This is my last year so hopefully, I will make it farther this year.”

Alvarado is more than just a high jumper for the Barons. She is also a solid long jumper and triple jumper. There has even been some talk about using her as a pole vaulter. In the fall she excelled on the school’s volleyball team. Being a two-sport athlete worked well for her.

“Last year coach (Sheffield) helped me a lot with my jumping so my height in volleyball was a lot better. I saw myself improving so much in volleyball this season from what I was doing in track.” 

While Alvarado is proud of her Mexican heritage, she feels pretty far removed from it as a completely Americanized teenager living in this country.

“My dad was born here and speaks almost no Spanish. I was born here too and I don’t speak it too well either. My grandmother was born in Mexico and she tried to teach me Spanish, but I was very stubborn when I was little and I never learned it. Now, I wish I could have. I have at least learned a little bit about my grandmother’s background.”

Like most high school athletes Alvarado will hang up her spikes when the season concludes later this spring. Then she will be competing in a different way.

Alvarado is hoping to attend Cal Poly in the fall in order to pursue a degree in graphic design. Her artistic talent and astronomical 4.3 GPA should open a lot of doors even at a tough school like Cal Poly.

“My mom is working now as a graphic designer and she has inspired to follow the same path.”

Por Steve Galindo III

 Esta pasada Navidad, el magnifico libra-por-libra del boxeo, Manny Pacquiao “Pac Man”, lanzó una película en su nativa Filipinas titulado Wapakman. En ella, Pacquiao interpretó el papel de un padre que milagrosamente adquiere poderes de superhéroe. Equipado con una capa roja y la capacidad de volar (a la Superman), Wapakman lucha contra el crimen y elimina la ciudad de malhechores malos. La película se estrenó en el Festival de cine de Metro Manila, donde se encontró con negativas revisiones—muchas de las cuales sugiriendo que Pacquiao no dejara su trabajo de día. Wapakman concluyó sus dos semanas en el festival de cine terminando en último lugar en la taquilla — donde obtuvo sólo $43.000 dólares.

Último sábado por la noche, en el estadio de los Cowboys en Arlington, Texas, Pacquiao (51-3-38-KOs) regresó a su trabajo diario, sustituyendo el cabo rojo-con troncos rojos y guantes rojos y retomó su papel como un superhéroe moderno-correctamente defendiendo su título Welter de WBO en una magnífica actuación contra un enemigo más grande y más fuerte en Clottey de Joshua (35-4-20 KOs). Y a diferencia de su anterior incursión como un superhéroe, esta vez Wapakman iría ser una taquilla de smash.

En un número superando con creces las expectativas, más de 50.000 personas de todas las razas, géneros y credos atiborraron el camino en el estadio de los Cowboys, convirtiéndolo en uno de los mayores eventos en la historia del boxeo. Lo que hace que la hazaña sea lo más extraordinaria, es el hecho de que el oponente de Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey, era práctica-mente desconocido a aquellos fuera del ring del boxeo.

No creo que se trata de un tramo de decir que Clottey seguirá siendo desconocido debido a su rendimiento aburrido. Partido en el combate, muchos describen el pleito de Clottey con Pacquiao como uno, que sería bien make-or-break. En el lapso de su carrera profesional de quince años, Clottey había acumulado victorias sobre nombres notables como Zab Judah y el último, Diego “Chico” Corrales. A pesar de sus éxitos, Clottey también tenía la reputación de un cazador que no podría ganar los matchups de recuadro. Se hizo evidente en dos combates acaloradamente impugnadas contra welterweights Antonio Margarito y Miguel Cotto. En ambos casos, Clottey mostró signos de brillantez desde el principio, pero finalmente perdió en ambas ocasiones debido a la falta de agresión, que casual-mente sería su caída contra Pacquiao. 

Contra Pacquiao, Clottey nunca tuvo una oportunidad —o mejor aún, nunca dio a sí mismo una oportunidad—lanzando solamente en total 399 puñetazos, en comparación con 1,231 para el vencedor. Clottey simplemente no tenía ninguna respuesta para una velocidad excepcional, ráfagas inicuas y golpes de cuerpo brutales por parte de Pacquiao. Sin embargo, tenía una respuesta para su pobre desempeño. Después de la pelea, Clottey llegaría a decir que el sitio Web myjoyon line.com que culpó a su actuación como un caso severo de deshidratación y diarrea que sufrió de comer Banku y okra estofado, que es un plato muy popular de Ghana.  Personal-mente, puedo sinceramente decir  que Clottey tenía diarrea, pero no de cualquier guiso. Clottey estaba asustado, y luchó asustado. Decidió a lo seguro por combates en modo de supervivencia y el bombardeo hasta como una tortuga. Tal vez combates en un campo de fútbol cambian hasta la psique de Clottey, pero alguien olvidó decirle que a diferencia del fútbol —en el boxeo no es con defensa que gana cam-peonatos su ofensiva, es porque Manny Pacquiao ha conseguido ganar siete títulos en siete clases de peso diferentes y que es por eso que derrotó a Clottey tan fácilmente.

Con la victoria, Pacquiao cimentó más su estado como principal atracción del boxeo y su mejor pleito de libra-por-libra. Joshua Clottey descubrió el camino difícil.

By Steve Galindo III

This past Christmas, boxing’s pound-for-pound best fighter, Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao released a film in his native Philippines titled Wapakman. In it, Pacquiao played the title role as a single father who miraculously acquires superhero powers. Equipped with a red cape, and the ability to fly (ala Superman), Wapakman would fight crime and rid the city of evil doers.  The film premiered at the Metro Manila Film Festival, where it was met with dismal reviews- many of which suggesting that Pacquiao not quit his day job. Wapakman concluded its two-week run at the film festival finishing in last place at the box office-where it garnered just $43,000 dollars. Last Saturday night, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Pacquiao (51-3-38-KOs) returned to his day job, substituted the red cape- with red trunks, and red gloves and reprised his role as a modern day superhero- by successfully defending his WBO welterweight title in a superb performance against a bigger, stronger foe in Joshua Clottey (35-4-20 KOs). And unlike his previous foray as a superhero, this time Wapakman would go on to be a box office smash.

In a number that far exceeded expectations, more than 50,000 people of all races, genders, and creeds crammed their way into Cowboys Stadium, making it one of the biggest events in boxing history. What makes the feat all the more extraordinary is the fact that Pacquiao’s opponent Joshua Clottey was virtually unknown to those outside of the boxing loop. I don’t think that it’s a stretch to say that Clottey will remain unknown due to his uninspiring performance.

Heading into the bout, many described Clottey’s fight with Pacquiao as one that would either make-or-break him. In the span of his 15 year professional career, Clottey had amassed victories over notable names such as Zab Judah, and the late Diego “Chico” Corrales. Despite his successes, Clottey also had a reputation of a fighter that could not win the marquee matchups. That became evident in two hotly contested bouts against welterweights Antonio Margarito, and Miguel Cotto. In both instances, Clottey showed signs of brilliance early on, but ultimately lost on both occasions due to a lack of aggression- which coincidentally enough would be his downfall against Pacquiao.

Against Pacquiao, Clottey never had a chance- or better yet he never gave himself a chance- throwing just 399 total punches compared to 1,231 for the victor. Clottey simply had no answer for Pacquiao’s blazing speed, wicked flurries, and brutal body punches. He did however have an answer for his poor performance. After the fight, Clottey would go on to tell the website myjoyonline.com  that he blamed his performance on a severe case of dehydration, and diarrhea that he suffered from eating Banku and Okra stew, which is a widely popular Ghanaian dish.  Personally, I can honestly believe that Clottey had diarrhea, but it wasn’t from any stew. Clottey was scared, and he fought scared. He decided to play it safe by fighting in survival mode, and shelling up like a turtle. Perhaps fighting in a football field changed up Clottey’s psyche, but somebody forgot to tell him that unlike football- in boxing it’s not defense that wins championships it’s offense, which is why Manny Pacquiao has managed to win seven titles in seven different weight classes, and which is why he defeated Clottey so handedly.

With the win, Pacquiao further cemented his status as both boxing’s main attraction, and its best pound-for-pound fighter, he also sent a strong message to those who have been calling him out, and that is- You don’t tug on Wapakman’s cape. Joshua Clottey found that out the hard way.

 Top Filipino prospect Mercito Gesta returns to the ring April 29

 Boxrec.com is reporting that impressive lightweight prospect Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta will be returning to the ring on April 29^th at the Show Palace in Oceanside, CA. Gesta (17-0-7 KOs) who fights out of San Diego, Ca was last seen in action on February 25^th where he defeated Mexico’s Cristian Favela via unanimous decision in a card that took place at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in San Diego.

My two pesos

There is no doubt that the May 1^st pay-per-view extravaganza between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley will outdo Pacquiao vs. Clottey as far as ppv buys. It will probably smash it, but let’s not get it twisted, that doesn’t mean that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a bigger attraction than Pacquiao. That just means that Mayweather had the way more attractive dance partner, it’s like comparing Beyonce to that chick from the movie Precious. As I mentioned above, Manny Pacquiao is the biggest attraction in boxing today, hands down. In the long run Manny doesn’t need Mayweather, its Mayweather that needs Manny, because Money needs Money. If you still don’t buy it, ask yourself this, do you really think that Mayweather could pack a stadium with 50,000 people all by himself?

Erik Morales is back in the gym after a 2 1/2 year layoff.

Three-division world champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales, the last opponent to defeat Manny Pacquiao, returns from a 2 1/2-year layoff March 27 to headline “The Champion Returns” pay-per-view event.

Morales (48-6, 34 KOs) may have his sights set on a fourth fight against Pacquaio in the not too distant future, but the iconic Mexican warrior must first get past former WBA lightweight champion and Nicaraguan KO specialist, Jose “Jicaras” Alfaro (23-5, 20 KOs), Mar. 27 in the 12-round main event for the vacant WBC Intercontinental welterweight crown.

Octavio Morgan Medina, Jaime Cadaval y Víctor Navarro estuvieron presentes en el Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Baja California.

TIJUANA, Baja California —

El Presidente de la Federación Mexicana de Triatlón, Jaime Cadaval, estuvo presente en el Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Baja California, donde realizó un recorrido por las instalaciones del mismo y sostuvo una reunión con medios de comunicación.

El objetivo de esta visita obedece a la necesidad y búsqueda de nuevos talentos en categorías inferiores, aprovechando el marco ofrecido por la reunión del Sistema Nacional del Deporte, programada para este viernes, cuando den inicio los trabajos de la misma.

Cadaval estuvo acompañado por el Presidente de la Asociación Estatal de esta disciplina, Víctor Navarro, y el Director de Alto Nivel de Competencia del Instituto del Deporte y la Cultura Física de Baja California, Octavio Morgan Medina, quien recibió al federativo en representación del Director General del INDE, Saúl Castro Verdugo.

“No es noticia para nadie el apoyo a todas las disciplinas deportivas en Baja California, al estar ubicado dentro de los mejores estados, además de que ya ganó su primera presea dentro de la Olimpiada Nacional”, recordó Cadaval, quien también sostuvo algunas reuniones con representantes del IMDET.

“Este año pretendemos realizar nuevamente un evento de triatlón y que dentro de unos años más sea una fecha oficial por parte de nuestra federación, ya que este tipo de eventos arrojan derramas económicas importantes al ser vecinos del país con mayor cantidad de triatletas como los Estados Unidos”, dijo.

Curiosamente, también California, vecino de Baja California, es la entidad en el vecino país del norte con el mayor número de atletas que practican triatlón, disciplina que en los últimos años ha obtenido una mayor proyección en los medios de comunicación internacionales, desde que fue incluida en el programa permanente de los Juegos Olímpicos por el Comité Olímpico Internacional (COI).

Del mismo modo, la realización de competencias como el “Iron Man”, ha aumentado la expectación de los participantes en el terreno mundial, dado que participantes de Estados Unidos, Canadá, Australia o España, por ejemplo, se suman a justas de este tipo.

No obstante y si bien algunas entidades como Quintana Roo, por ejemplo, han albergado este evento, que principalmente es lucrativo para una empresa en particular como es aquella que maneja los derechos de la misma. “Nuestra prioridad es principalmente, no buscar atraer el Iron Man o promover la participación de manera directa, sino trabajar más la distancia olímpica e ir detectando las condiciones favorables para que atletas mexicanos se desarrollen en este deporte”, sostuvo.

Indicó que el triatlón reúne a tres de las disciplinas más populares como son la natación, el ciclismo y la carrera pedestre, por lo que “no es selectivo de unos cuantos, sino que puede masificarse, es un deporte para todos, ante la percepción que regularmente existe sobre nuestra disciplina”, recalcó.

“Tal vez para el Iron Man, si necesitas una mejor condición, mucha experiencia y tener mucha formación previa, pues los grandes corredores rebasan los 30 años de edad”, resaltó. “Un ejemplo es el de los mexicanos Usiel Valderrábano, quien tiene más de 40 años, quien tiene marcas de recorridos con cerca de nueve horas, por ejemplo, o bien como Alan Villanueva, que en Iron Man terminó en la séptima posición mundial y compitió en Olimpiada Nacional en los 90’, siendo joven”.

Desde su inclusión en Sídney 2000, el triatlón cuenta con una gran popularidad, además de que a nivel continental, ha cobrado gran importancia, en tanto que como federación, este organismo pretende contar con representantes que tengan resultados favorables en competencias como los Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe de Mayagüez 2010, al igual que los Panamericanos de Guadalajara 2011.

“Tenemos también el objetivo de colocar cuatro triatletas en los Juegos Olímpicos de Londres 2012, y que puedan situarse dentro de los 16 mejores de la competencia como parte de nuestra estructura y objetivos”, detalló en la reunión.

By Gustavo Arellano

SPECIAL SAN DIEGO EDITION

Dear Mexican: By now, I’m sure you’re aware of all the hate crimes against Hispanics in the last few years. By now, I’m sure you’re thinking that this is ¡Ask a Mexican!, not ¡Ask a Hispanic! But let me tell you that all the hate crimes against Hispanics have been because they’ve been thought to be Mexican and at least half—if not more—of those hate crime victims have actually been Mexican. So, my question to you is: Can’t you pathetic losers defend yourselves? Not only do these white guys take your women, but they kick the crap out of you guys all over America. Take the Luis Ramirez incident from Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, for example. The racist pigs who fucked his ass up and killed him were found not guilty by an all-white jury. Why the hell didn’t the Mexicans of Shenandoah come together and riot? That little tiny hick of a town would have been burned to the ground in a matter of hours. I mean, I can see why they hate you people so much. You disgusting things come here illegally, you don’t bother to learn English and expect everybody else to learn Spanish. You guys like to use somebody else’s Social Security number to work. I can go on all day long with the shit you people do. Basically, you people like to milk the cow that is America, but you do not feed it. It seems you all are taking over the whole damn country! Yet it doesn’t give these racist cockroach motherfuckers the right to come after you all. Which brings me to my previous question: Why can’t you spineless wetbacks strike back?

Embarrassed to be Latino

Dear Wab: Nice to know Latinos can be as stupidly aggressive as the San Diego Minutemen! To quote ranchera icon Vicente Fernandez, “La migra a mi agarró/Trescientas veces, digamos/Pero jamas me domó/A mi me hizo los mandados/Los golpes que a mi me dío/Se los cobré a sus paisanos.” Translation for the gabachos and you, coño: better to beat bozos with punitive damages instead of putazos—the former hurt more!

I hear so many gringos saying that Mexican men are stinky and greasy! Well, I know from experience this is so not true! So what’s up with the misconception? I never met a greasy, stinky Mexican! And my mexicano novio is always very clean, never greasy and smells great! I am a gringa myself, so what’s wrong with my people? Why do they think this way about mexicanos?

La Gringita Bonita Dulcita

Dear Pretty, Sweet-Tasting Gabacha: The Mexican turns this question over to his Mexican, Dr. William Nericcio of San Diego State University, author of the scurrilous Tex(t)-Mex: Seductive Hallucinations of the ‘Mexican’ in America: “Tales of ethnicities and nationalities being able to sense each other litter the history books and the floors of water coolers the world over; so it is that the Japanese can ‘smell’ Americans (apparently we OD on milk products producing an olfactory side-effect that floors Kyotans, Godzilla and more), Mengele and the Nazis could out a Jew on the spot with their rulers, calipers, and measurements tables; and, of course, Mexicans…well, we just plain stink. Or so the story goes. No doubt the shared wisdom that declares we stink derives from the same source that says we’re ‘dirty.’ Most, if not all of these tales derive from Pershing’s American Expeditionary force that invaded Northern Mexico (with Patton and Eisenhower along for the ride, no less) in 1916. American fools from Maine to Poughkeepsie took their jingoistic xenophobia with them to the lands of Zapata and Villa and came away convinced that Mexicans were dirty—in this regard, they mirrored the motherland’s, (England) view of the Spanish and joined a long tradition of loathing that characterizes the relationship between folks who speak English and those that prefer Spanish.” Translation or us proles: don’t gabachos stink to high heaven?

Ask the Mexican at themexican@askamexican.net, myspace.com/ocwab, facebook.com/garellano, youtube.com/ask amexicano, find him on Twitter, or write via snail mail at: Gustavo Arellano, P.O. Box 1433, Anaheim, CA 92815-1433!

By Gustavo Arellano

 Dear Mexican: When I was in high school, everyone called the Mexican students like myself “cheddars.” I’m not sure where this originated from, or what it really has to do with Mexican culture. When I have asked other Mexicans what this means, they are not sure, either. “Cheddar packing” is a term used to describe a car full of Mexicans. I hope you can answer this for me—muchas gracias!

Denver Doll

Dear Cheddar: “Cheddar” in the context you heard it has nothing to do with the sabrosísimo cheese but is rather the Denver way to call a Mexican a wab—which is to say, it’s a regional ethnophaulism (otherwise known as an ethnic slur) used to deride Mexicans as wetbacks. It’s a mongrelized form of the word ‘chero, itself a contraction of the word ranchero, literally meaning a rancher but in Mexican Spanish also denoting someone from the countryside. “Cheddar” is a prime example of how Mexican-hating is such an art form in the United States that it even has provincial variants—for instance, the “cheddar” of Chicago is “brazer” (short for bracero), nosotros in Orange County call our backwards Mexicans wabs, and cabrones in Oxnard, California deride wabby cheddars as TJs, the English acronym for Tijuana. “The number and nature of nicknames and particularly derogatory nicknames for particular ethnic groups in America is a reflection of the strengths of the ethnic conflicts in which they have been involved and the kinds of ill-feeling that such conflicts generate,” wrote Christie Davies in her 2002 study of ethnic humor, The Mirth of Nations.

 What’s most amazing about this American regional Mexi-bashing phenomenon is that these words find their most enthusiastic usage among the Mexican community. Even our intellectual giants play the juego — “What difference does it make, he was not anything but another brazer that could not speak English,” wrote Chicana author Sandra Cisneros in The House on Mango Street, her classic semi-autobiographical novel of fictional vignettes about growing up Mexican in Chicago. Everywhere the Mexican travels with his trusty burro to lecture, he asks the audience what’s their version of wab—and everywhere the Mexican goes, he learns a new anti-Mexican ethnophaulism. So, gentle readers: what do ustedes call the unassimilated Mexicans—the wabs and brazers and cheddars—in your city or region? Please mention the slur and where it’s used, and please refrain from nationally used slurs like beaner, wetback, cockroach, Mexican’t, mexcrement, and Guatemalan, The more regional, the better, and I’ll print the best results in a coming columna!

In the Jim Morrison biography, No One Here Gets Out Alive, the authors relate how, when the Doors played Mexico, they were amazed how crazed the Mexican men were for the Doors to perform their song “The End.” It was explained to the Doors that Mexican men loved the part of the song where Morrison sings of wanting to kill his father and fuck his mother. And, sure enough, when Morrison came to that part of the song in concert, the Mexican men in the audience loudly sang those murderous/incestuous lyrics themselves. What’s that all about?!

Curious Doors Fan

Dear Gabacho: It’s not the Oedipus complex in us, contrary to what the Lizard King’s Mexican handlers told him—it’s the melodrama. Hombres love the camp inherent to machismo, from moaning out “Llorar y llorar” (“Cry and cry”) in the José Alfredo Jiménez classic “El Rey” (The King) or singing all the stanzas of the Sartrean ditty “Un Puño de Tierra” (A Fistful of Dirt) while clutching their compa’s shoulders to openly crying while hearing “Canción Mixteca.” Mexicans love the Doors the same reason they adore ranchera singers—the combination of virility and vulnerability, the copious use of leather, the great music masking hysterics. By the way, gracias for accepting the Mexican love for the Doors and not dwelling on its seeming incongruity like so many gabachos do when they realize cheddars can like music that don’t involve Spanish lyrics, tubas, or songs about cockfights.

Ask the Mexican at themexican@askamexican.net, myspace.com/ocwab, facebook.com/garellano, youtube.com/ask amexicano, find him on Twitter, or write via snail mail at: Gustavo Arellano, P.O. Box 1433, Anaheim, CA 92815-1433!

La fe mueve montañas, dice el conocido refrán.

Eso fue exactamente lo que su fe hizo que un grupo de inmigrantes irlandeses hicieran en el siglo 19, cuando decidieron morir en manos de los yankees protestantes antes que matar a sus hermanos mexicanos católicos en la guerra entre Estados Unidos y México.

Ese grupo de irlandeses, conocidos como el Batallón de San Patricio, eran inmigrantes recientes que al llegar a E.U., el ejercito les daba un arma para obligarlos a ir a pelear en contra de los mexicanos. En aquel entonces los irlandeses eran discriminados y tratados como ciudadanos de segunda clase por los estadounidenses de origen inglés.

En cambio, los irlandeses, siguiendo lo que les dictaba su conciencia y su fe, desertaron y se unieron al ejército mexicano.

Al terminar la guerra, Estados Unidos ahorcó a los San Patricios por traidores, para después enterrar su historia, que rara vez se encuentra en la historia oficial del país.

Ahora una de las bandas irlandesas más exitosas rinde tributo a este grupo de hombres en un disco donde la música tradicional de Irlanda se entrelaza con la diversidad de la música mexicana.

El disco, “San Patricio”, de The Chieftains, una de las bandas irlandesas más galardonadas en las últimas décadas, es un viaje a las almas de dos naciones que comparten una historia de discriminación, invasión y despojo, como lo son México e Irlanda.

Pero más que nada, es recordar a ese batallón de irlandeses que dieron sus vidas a favor de una causa que ellos creían con fervor era lo más justo: defender a México de las fuerzas invasoras yankees.

“Los hombres del batallón de San Patricio son recordados hasta este día por muchas generaciones mexicanas, como héroes que pelearon valientemente en contra de una guerra injusta y agresiva”, dijo el fundador y representante de The Chieftains, Paddy Moloney.

El disco, que salió el martes 9 de marzo, justo a tiempo para la celebración del Día de San Patricio el 17 de marzo, incluye un desfile de algunas de las personalidades más emblemáticas de la música mexicana y chicana.

Los legendarios Tigres del Norte, por ejemplo, hacen un dueto junto a The Chieftains en “Canción mixteca”, una canción tradicional que captura el sentimiento de nostalgia que sienten los inmigrantes al estar lejos del terruño. La canción de cierto modo representa como se deben haber sentido los inmigrantes irlandeses que se encontraban en suelo extranjero en América.

También, el reconocido guitarrista estadounidense Ry Cooder tiene un papel importante en el disco, contribuyendo la canción original “The Sands of Mexico” y tocando en varios de los temas.

La mexicoamericana Lila Downs participa en canciones como “La iguana” y “El relámpago”. La cantante ranchera Chavela Vargas interpreta “Luz de luna”, mientras que Los Cenzontles, cuyos integrantes incluyen a miembros de Los Lobos, se encargan de “El chivo” y “Ojitos negros”.

Pero más allá de las voces, “San Patricio” sobresale por unir a dos culturas y las músicas de dos naciones. Así, el disco mezcla la música norteña, el bolero, el son jarocho y la ranchera con la música tradicional de Irlanda. Los dos instrumentos que se escuchan por todo el álbum son el violín, o fiddle, y el arpa, instrumentos importantes en la música de ambas culturas.

“San Patricio” de The Chieftains es un disco que dejará saber a todos los irlandeses-americanos que tienen mucho en común con los mexicanos en ambos lados de la frontera.

Faith moves mountains, goes the old saying.

That’s exactly what faith made a group of Irish immigrants do in the 19th century, when they decided they’d rather die at the hands of the Protestant Yankees rather than kill their Mexican Catholic brothers in the Mexican-American War.

That group of Irishmen, known as the Batallón de San Patricio, were recent immigrants that on arriving to the U.S., the army would give them a gun to make them go fight against the Mexicans. At that time, the Irish were discriminated against and treated like second-class citizens by Americans of English origin.

But the Irish, following their consciousness and faith, deserted the U.S. army and joined the Mexicans.

When the war ended, the United States hanged the San Patricios for betrayal, later burying their stories, stories that are rarely told in official history textbooks.

Now one of the most successful Irish bands is paying tribute to these men in an album where traditional Irish music blends with the diversity found in Mexican music.

The album, “San Patricio,” by The Chieftains, one of the most renown Irish bands in the last four decades, is a trip through the soul of two nations that share a history of discrimination, invasion and theft: Mexico and Ireland.

But more than anything, the album remembers those Irishmen who gave their lives in favor of a cause they truly believed was the right thing to do: To defend Mexico from the invading Yankee forces.

“The men of the San Patricio Batallion are remembered by generations of Mexicans to this day as heroes who fought bravely against an unjust and thinly veiled war of aggression,” said The Chieftains’ founder and frontman, Paddy Moloney.

The album, which was released on March 9, right on time for Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17, includes a parade of some of the most popular acts in Mexican and Chicano music.

The legendary Tigres del Norte, for example, appear in a duet with The Chieftains in “Canción mixteca,” a traditional song that captures the nostalgia that immigrants feel for being far from their homeland. The song perhaps represents the way the Irish immigrants felt when they were in foreign soil in America.

Also, renown American guitarist Ry Cooder plays an important role in the album, singing the original song “The Sands of Mexico” and performing in several of the songs.

Mexican-American singer Lila Downs performs in songs such as “La iguana” and “El relámpago.” Ranchera singer Chavela Vargas sings “Luz de luna,” while Los Cenzontles, whose members include some of the Los Lobos musicians, take care of “El chivo” and “Ojitos negros.”

But beyond the voices, “San Patricio” stands out for uniting two cultures and the music of two nations. Thus, the album combines norteña, bolero, son jarocho, and ranchera, with traditional Irish music. The two instruments that can be heard throughout the album are the fiddle and the harp, two important instruments in both cultures.

The Chieftains’ “San Patricio” is an album that will remind all Irish-Americans that they have much in common with Mexicans on both sides of the border.

Admission to Viva Jazz is $10 at the door. Members of KSDS and the Museum are $8. For more information on Early Evening @ Mingei, call 619-239-0003, extension 106 or visit www.mingei.org.

¡Viva México! — Heroes and Artisans celebrates the 200th anniversary of Mexican independence (1810), the 100th of the Mexican revolution (1910) and the folk art that colorfully and vitally expresses the nation’s spirit. Just as the heroes of independence and the revolution were great artisans in crafting the nation’s constitution, laws and institutions, so are its many artisans also cultural heroes, vibrantly perpetuating Mexico’s historical memory and its distinctive, exuberant and vital artistic tradition. A complementary exhibition, Tempering Memory is an intimate exhibition of photographs of historical locations in Mexico by Tijuana-based photographer Julio Rodriguez.

   Presented in collaboration with Centro Cultural Tijuana and the Mexican Consulate in San Diego, the exhibition continues through January 2, 2011. Curators are Khery Camara Thiam and Cynthia Saucedo Villalobos. 

Mingei International Museum is located at 1439 El Prado in Balboa Park. Current exhibitions are SONABAI — Another Way of Seeing and Fisch Out Of Water — Sea Creatures of Arline Fisch, Transformed By Fire – June Schwarcz Enamel Vessels – From the Forrest L. Merrill Collection and Fifty-Six Chinese Hatboxes – and one hat!.

Mingei International Museum exhibits folk art, craft and design from all eras and cultures of the world. Its two museums – in Balboa Park and downtown Escondido – feature Southern California’s largest and richest collection of mingei – art of the people. For more information visit www.mingei.org

Rana Santacruz escribe y canta en todos los temas. Foto de Adam Cohen.

(KPRENSA) – A medida que el maquillaje étnico de Estados Unidos de América cambia, su música también lo hace. Y con una variedad de influencias en su bolsillo Rana Santacruz hace música para esta nueva nación.

El debut como solista de Santacruz, Chicavasco —lanzado marzo 9, 2010— es el producto de una vibrante visión musical definida por su crecimiento en la Ciudad de México y por su contacto tanto con canciones clásicas Mexicanas como con MTV.

Santacruz escribe y canta en todos los temas. Toca el acordeón así como una variedad de instrumentos de cuerdas y para enriquecer sus canciones recluta a una docena de músicos que agregan un colorido Folk Neo-clásico con violín, chelo, banjo así como con instrumentos tradicionales Mexicanos como el guitarrón, vihuela, tuba y trompeta.

Nacido en México D.F., Santacruz gozó de considerable éxito con La Catrina, banda de rock en español  ahora considerada de culto, que después de ser cortejada por diferentes disqueras firmó con una transnacional a finales de los ‘90s. Su primera experiencia con la industria musical no fue un cuento de hadas; después de grabar en México, Madrid y Miami el CD no encontró la aceptación esperada en la radio y desmoralizada, La Catrina se desintegró en el  2001.

En 2002, con ánimos de saltar las restricciones del pop-rock Mexicano, Santacruz se mudó a Nueva York. Tomando influencias que van desde el Cine De Oro Mexicano, Realismo Mágico de novelas de Garcia Marquez, músicos como Tom Waits, The Smiths, The Pogues y el Bluegrass Norteamericano, Santacruz comenzó a componer una colección de canciones que asimilan estas eclécticas influencias.

El resultado, Chicavasco — nombrado así por un poblado del estado de Hidalgo donde La Catrina dio un show un tanto cuanto surrealista – es hermosamente concebido y producido artesanalmente. Esto no es sorprendente; Alex Venguer, quien co-produjo el album junto con Santacruz, recientemente ganó el GRAMMY  por “Mejor Album de Folk Tradicional” por su trabajo en High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project de Loudon Wainright.

Las letras de Rana Santacruz, interpretadas con pasión y convicción, nos recuerdan a las clásicas canciones de Chavela Vargas, Agustín Lara y Jose Alfredo Jiménez en las que los romances son un tanto amor, otro tanto tragedia y a veces incluso otro tanto comedia. “La cultura Mexicana es sumamente compleja pero muchas de sus manifestaciones tradicionales como la música y películas antiguas están llenas de sentimientos muy inocentes, dulces  y hasta ingenuos”, dice el cantautor. “En este disco traté de rescatar esta simplicidad y aterrizarla lo más posible en cada una de las canciones”.

Al día de hoy, Santacruz se ha ganado un público muy heterogéneo en showcases como South by Southwest (Austin, TX) y Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival (NY). Su música es en efecto música para una nueva América o quizás para un nuevo mundo.

Rana Santacruz puede ser encontrado en el Internet en: www.ranasantacruz.com; www.myspace.com/ranasantacruz

Santacruz estará presentándose en el Winstons de San Diego en Marzo 26, 1921 Bacon St., San Diego, CA 92107. (619) 222-6822.

(KPRENSA) – As the ethnic make-up of America changes, so does its music. And with a passel of influences under his belt, Rana Santacruz makes music for that new America.

Santacruz’s solo debut Chicavasco —released on March 9, 2010— is the product of a vibrant musical vision that was shaped by growing up in Mexico City and coming of age in a musical world informed by MTV, where all styles of music are accessible like never before.

Santacruz writes and sings the songs, as well as playing accordion and a variety of stringed instruments. To flesh out his tunes, he enlisted a cast of a dozen versatile musicians who add a folk and neo-classical flare with violin, cello, sax and jaw harp as well as traditional Mexican mariachi instruments like guitarrón, vihuela, trumpet and tuba.

Born and raised in Mexico City, Santacruz had considerable success with his rock en español band La Catrina. Courted by a number of labels, the group signed with a major label in Mexico in the late ‘90s. His first experience with the music industry was a classic crash-and-burn; after recording in Mexico, Madrid and Miami, the CD failed to deliver a quick radio hit and his demoralized group soon disbanded.

In 2002, setting his sights well beyond the insular Mexican pop scene, Santacruz made the move from Mexico City to New York City. Drawing on influences including the golden age of Mexican cinema, the magical realism novels of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, musicians like Tom Waits, the Smiths and the Pogues, and American bluegrass, Santacruz set about recording a collection of songs assimilating those disparate influences.

The resulting CD, Chicavasco — named for a small town in the state of Hidalgo where La Catrina played a particularly surreal concert — is beautifully conceived and artfully produced. Not surprising since Alex Venguer, who joined Santacruz in producing the disk, just took home a GRAMMY for “Best Traditional Folk Album” for his part in Loudon Wainright’s High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project.

Like the classic Mexican songs of Chavela Vargas, Agustin Lara and Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Santacruz’s lyrical descriptions of romance are equal parts love and tragedy, and delivered with passion and conviction.  “Mexican culture is very complex, but in a lot of traditional art forms like old songs and films, you find very pure, sweet feelings,” he said. “I tried to rescue this simplicity and bring my songs down to earth as much I can.”

To date, Santacruz has won over American audiences of all stripes at showcases like Austin’s South by Southwest and New York’s Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival. Santacruz’s music is indeed music for a new America, if not a new world.

Rana Santacruz can be found on the Internet at: www.ranasantacruz.com or www.myspace.com/ranasantacruz

Santacruz will be playing in San Diego at Winstons on March 26th, 1921 Bacon St., San Diego, CA 92107. (619) 222-6822.

If you like Carlos Mencia’s type of comedy, you’re going to love “Our Family Wedding,” a film based on stereotypical aspects of Mexican culture to try to be funny.

The film, which opens Friday, March 12, tells the story of Lucia Ramirez, played by “Ugly Betty” actress America Ferrera, and Marcus Boyd, portrayed by Lance Gross, a recently engaged young couple who keep their wedding plans a secret, then suddenly spring the news on their families.

Mencia plays Miguel Ramirez, the hard-working, macho Mexican immigrant father who opposes his daughter Lucia marrying without the traditional courtship –but a major factor in him opposing the wedding is the fact that Marcus is African-American.

Miguel, who owns a car restoration and towing business, has expected his whole life that his daughter would marry another Mexican man, one who shares the same family values and traditions.

Nothing could be farther from the truth: Marcus’s father is Brad Boyd (played by Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker), a radio personality who likes to fool around with young women and who raised Marcus as a single father.

“Miguel’s like ‘wait a minute, I don’t know who he is!”, said Mencia in the production notes.  “What do you mean you’re getting married?’ Whatever happened to ‘hey, I’m going to take your daughter to dinner.’ We skipped all that! And you’re not having sex, right?!!”

The two fathers’ personalities crash since the first moment they meet, often turning their scenes into a battle of the ethnicities –which culture is better, Mexican or African-American?

Although we’re used to seeing Mencia making ethnic jokes about his Latino background, it is not common for Whitaker to be funny on screen. In fact, he won his Oscar in 2006 for his portrayal of an Ugandan dictator in “The Last King of Scotland.”

“Our Family Wedding’s” topical spin on clashing family ideals and the challenges of doing a comedic role would generate the right amount of synergy for him to say “yes” to the film. 

Whitaker accepted the role, excited to try his hand at comedy. 

“I’ve played a lot of roles that are emotionally and psychologically challenging,” he explains in the production notes.  “So I decided it was the right time to explore a new side.” 

One of the film’s producers, Steven J. Wolfe, said that audiences will be surprised by Whitaker’s comical skills.

“We don’t think of Forest Whitaker as funny because we’ve seen him deliver so many indelible, dramatic, and serious performances that resonate in our heads like ‘The Last King of Scotland.’ But in fact, he’s really amazing with comedy and I think people are going to have fun seeing a side of him they don’t often get to see.”

Mencia and Whitaker are the protagonists of the film. Together, they create such opposite characters that just looking at them side by side makes you laugh.

But Mencia admits to initially having trepidations about starring opposite Whitaker.

“I was like ‘Oh my God! He has an Academy Award. I gotta come on strong, I can’t suck,’” Mencia jokes.

On set, the two found common ground from which to work organically. 

“Forest would look at me and say ‘did you feel that?’  And I’d be like ‘yeah, I felt that’ or ‘no, that was kind of weird.’  And we’d talk about the scenes.  It was so amazing to be able to speak to somebody like that,” Mencia said.

“Our Family Wedding” also stars veteran-actress Lupe Ontiveros as the typical Mexican grandmother who tells her funniest jokes in Spanish.

This is a film for people who just want to laugh while eating pop-corn. It is definitely not for those who get easily offended when you see all of your stereotypical family roles on screen, from the cholo cousin to the metiche tía from the rancho in Mexico.

Si te gusta el tipo de comedia de Carlos Mencia, entonces te va a encantar “Our Family Wedding”, un filme basado en aspectos estereotípicos de la cultura mexicana para tratar de ser chistosa.

El filme, que estrena el viernes 12 de marzo, cuenta la historia de Lucía Ramírez, interpretada por la actriz de “Ugly Betty”, America Ferrera, y Marcus Boyd, con el actor Lance Gross, una joven pareja recientemente comprometida que ha mantenido sus planes de boda en secreto, y de repente le cuentan la noticia a sus familias.

Mencia interpreta a Miguel Ramírez, el padre mexicano, que es el típico macho trabajador que se opone a que su hija Lucia se case sin el tradicional cortejo; pero un factor principal a su oposición a la boda es que Marcus es afro-americano.

Miguel, quien es dueño de un negocio de renovación de autos y de grúas, toda su vida ha esperado que su hija se case con un hombre mexicano, uno que comparta los mismos valores y tradiciones familiares.

Nada podría estar más lejos de la verdad: el padre de Marcus es Brad Boyd, interpretado por el ganador del Oscar, Forest Whitaker, una personalidad de la radio que le gusta andar con jovencitas y quien crió a Marcus como padre soltero.

“Miguel dice, ‘espera un minute, ¡yo no sé quien es él!’”, dijo Mencia en las notas de producción. “¿Cómo que te vas a casar? ¿Qué pasó con ‘hey, voy a llevar a su hija a cenar’. ¡Nos brincamos todo eso!”

Las personalidades de los dos padres chocan desde el primer momento en que se conocen, seguido convirtiendo sus escenas a una batalla entre razas —¿cuál cultura es mejor, la mexicana o la afro-americana?

Aunque estamos acostumbrados a ver a Mencia contando chistes raciales acerca de su origen latino, no es común para Whitaker ser chistoso en la pantalla. De hecho, ganó el Oscar en 2006 por su papel como dictador de Uganda en “The Last King of Scotland”.

Los retos que representaba interpretar un papel de comedia en “Our Family Wedding” hizo que Whitaker aceptara.

“He hecho muchos papeles que son retos emocionalmente y psicológicamente”, dijo. “Así que decidí que era el momento apropiado para explorar un nuevo lado”.

Mencia y Whitaker son los protagonistas del filme. Juntos, crean papeles tan opuestos, que sólo mirarlos lado a lado te hace reír.

Pero Mencia acepta que al principio dudaba en actuar junto a Whitaker.

“Yo decía, ‘Él ya tiene un Oscar. Tengo que ser fuerte. No debo actuar mal’”, dijo bromeando Mencia.

“Our Family Wedding” también incluye a la veterana actriz Lupe Ontiveros como la típica abuela mexicana que cuenta sus mejores chistes en español.

Esta es una película para personas que sólo quieren reírse mientras comen palomitas de maíz. Definitivamente no es para aquellas que se ofenden fácilmente cuando miran los papeles estereotípicos que existen en sus propias familias, desde el primo cholo hasta la tía metiche del rancho en México.

Vernon Mortensen and Neil Trusso both served as Co-Executive Producers and Kelly Parks has been assigned to handle Chamaco’s local San Diego promotions. In addition to Chamaco, Unconventional Films is the production company behind the highly successful comedy, The Crusader (99% Funny on Funny or Die) and the sci-fi/horror movie, Universal Dead, starring DB Sweeney and Dough Jones.

Neil Trusso, who first came to San Diego while serving as an elite US Navy SEAL says, “It is an honor to be invited to the San Diego Latino Film Festival. It’s a great venue and San Diego is the perfect place to showcase a movie with deep Latino roots.”

Vernon Mortensen, a retired US Navy SWCC, first moved to San Diego in 1988 when he attended the Navy’s boot camp here, and later met Neil in 1993 when the two were deployed to Somalia as part of the same Naval Special Warfare Task Unit. “We’ve been best friends and business partners ever since.”  He says and quickly adds, “Chamaco is a perfect candidate for the SDLFF because it is one of only three American independent movies who qualified for money from the Mexican Film Fund.

Kelly Parks, a long time San Diego resident and the world’s only Ex-CIA/Rocket Scientist/Stand-up Comic/ Screenwriter, first joined Unconventional Films in 2007.

Screenings of Chamaco will take place at the Ultra Star Mission Valley Cinemas in the Hazard Center on March 13th at 6:30 pm, March 17 at 9:45 pm, and March 20th at 4:00 pm.

Trabajo pictórico del artista tapatío Enrique Chiu, “una muestra de colores”, un nuevo mural frente al Parque de la Amistad.

Estamos a punto de poder admirar el trabajo pictórico del artista tapatío Enrique Chiu, “una muestra de colores”, un nuevo mural frente al Parque de la Amistad. Es un trabajo de grandes proporciones que se está realizando en Blvd, Otay Constituyentes, Plaza de la Amistad No. 7505, frente al Parque de la Amistad, por la Zona de Otay en Tijuana, promovido por la Fundación Nacional de Artistas Independientes.

Esta nueva muestra de la capacidad de Enrique Chiu, inició el pasado 19 de febrero y terminará el próximo 10 de marzo, fecha de la inauguración.

El artista y Licenciado Enrique Chiu, nació en la Perla Tapatía, estudió Diseño, Artes Audiovisuales y una Licenciatura en Derecho en su tierra natal, posteriormente se traslada a Los Angeles, CA. y ahí estudia: Diseño Gráfico, Arte, Pintura, Fotografía, Electricidad, Soldadura, Mercadeo y Negocios, en distintas escuelas de Long Beach y Santa Ana, CA., sitios en donde radicó por más de 15 años.

En el medio Latino, Enrique Chiu, representa una fuerte figura, además es un activo promotor al sur de California, Argentina, México, El Salvador, Perú, España y Medio Oriente.

Cuenta en su haber con importantes representaciones, tales como: Director de Arte del CID Gallery en el Distrito de Arte de Long Beach, Ca. Desde 2003; Fundador de la Fundación Nacional de Artistas Independientes (NFIA) desde 2006, organización donde colaboran más de 30 artistas locales; Coordinador de Galerías del Instituto Municipal de Arte y Cultura de Tijuana, encargado de Coordinar las exposiciones y artistas en las Casas de Cultura dependientes de esta institución. Además coordina eventos en varias ciudades del estado de Baja California.

Su trabajo ha sido exhibido en varias ciudades de la Unión Americana, ha participado en varias exposiciones colectivas, compartidas e individuales en varios países del mundo.

Algunas de sus pinturas se exhiben permanentemente en diversos museos del mundo, su trabajo ha sido exhibido en más de 280 exposiciones.

Sin duda alguna Enrique Chiu  es un exitoso artista mexicano, premiado y galardonado por muchas instituciones y medios de comunicación.

Se nos está comunicando que los trabajos de Enrique Chiu, participarán en: La Casa del Té, en la colonia Cacho de Tijuana, el 12 de marzo, en una exposición colectiva con las universidades, desde las 3:00 pm., el 13 de marzo en la Casa de Cultura de Zamora, Michoacán, en Exposición Tríptico de Enrique Chiu y el lunes 15 de Marzo en el Centro de la Cultura de Morelia, Mich.

Aprovechando la nota Enrique nos comentó, que para celebrar el mes de la mujer en la Ciudad de Tecate, habrá un colectivo promovido por la National Foundation of Independent Artists (NFIA) y Centro de Cultura de Tecate (Cecutec), que se llamará “Mujer con corazón” con la participación de: Daniela de la Puente, Bibiana Vega, Marina Alaníz, Celia Ríos, Selene Vázquez, Araceli Soliano, Guillermina Casas, Cuata Grosso, Margarita Guadana, María E. Rodríguez, Norma Michel, Rocío González, Ale Barahona, Karla Barrera, Vivian Mireles y Elba Rhoads.

Enrique Chiu, es un artista, Licencaido en Derecho y un activo y dinámico promotor cultural.

By Gustavo Arellano

Dear Mexican: I’m a pan blanco and my wife is puertorriqueña. Our son looks basically white, while a casual observer might admit that there is some Latin going on there. I’m not sure how this pertains to my question—it may or may not be worth mentioning. Our son is a high-functioning autistic 12-year old. The way he looks and behaves makes him a target for bullies. He is sweet and innocent. He doesn’t understand sarcasm or how to be cool. He studies hard and gets good grades. He is a classic four-eyed Harry Potter dork. He doesn’t bother anyone, but he gets teased and bullied by cruel classmates. It breaks my heart and makes me furious.

Today a bigger kid came up and twisted his arm behind him, causing him pain. After he told me about it and as I fought back tears of rage (and yes, I tell the authorities and they do what they can, but they can’t be everywhere at once), he asked me “Daddy, why is it that every time I’m bullied, it’s by a Mexican?”

I’m wondering the same thing. Every time, and I mean every single time, that he’s been bullied and tormented since we moved to California three years ago, it’s been a Mexican kid. Oh, and the Mexican students are in the minority in his school. A large minority, but a minority nonetheless. It’s not like he’s the only white kid in the yard. I’m truly at a loss as to why this seems to be so. Are all of these kids beaten by their fathers so they have to take it out on what they might perceive to be a pampered gringo? I’m guessing. Other than teach my kid how to defend himself, I don’t see what can be done about it.

Is it cultural? I wonder if you could suggest what I might say to my son to prevent him from hating Mexicans by the time he reaches adulthood, if not before. Or what I might say to myself, for that matter. Why is it always a Mexican kid tormenting my son? Every fuckin’ time. Why? I don’t like the dark place my mind is going to. Can you help me?

A Good Papi

Dear Readers: The more I think about this question, the more it saddens me—about the bullied kid, of course, but also about the father’s thought process. The dad’s not a racist pig—just an understandably upset papi. But pendejos exist in every ethnicity, and there’s no reason to use those fuck-ups to smear a group as a whole. It’s a natural inclination to do so, but a wrong one. To the dad: My best advice is to get on the school administration’s ass to protect your beautiful son. And trust me: at some point in his life, there’ll be a good Mexican kid who’ll kick the asses of those bullies like any good person would.

Whenever I read something of Mexican history, I’m always amazed at the variety of first names that apparently have no English equivalent. I’m only 40 pages into a book about Pancho Villa, and already I’ve seen such beauties as Indalecio, Fidencio, Maclovio, Nemesio and Belisario. I’ve tried Google but can’t seem to find a place where the origins of these names and their meanings can be found. Any suggestions?

Flummoxed in Flagstaff

Dear Gabacho: Try Google again. All the names you mentioned are the Hispanicized nombres of Catholic saints (respectively, Indalecio, Fidelis, Maclou, and Nemesius) with the exception of Belisario, which refers to the great Roman general Belisarius. Mexicans traditionally pulled their names from the Bible and the Papist calendar. This resulted in two separate celebrations for someone’s birth—the cumpleaños (the actual birthday) and the día de santo, the feast day of the saint corresponding to the person’s name; sometimes the twain did meet and knocked back Herradura. Those traditions and esoteric names are unfortunately disappearing, because American culture devours all. But you know what’s the weirdest male name I’ve heard? Susano. Etymology? From Susanna, obviously, but pinche clue how it became accepted for hombres…

Note: Gustavo will be at San Diego City College, as a part of the International Book Fair, Thursday, March 11 9:35-11:35 a.m., room D121A/B. It is open to the public and free.

Ask the Mexican at themexican@askamexican.net, myspace.com/ocwab, facebook.com/garellano, youtube.com/ask amexicano, find him on Twitter, or write via snail mail at: Gustavo Arellano, P.O. Box 1433, Anaheim, CA 92815-1433!

By Steve Galindo III

John Molina Sr. (L) Consoles his son John Jr, after his first professional defeat last November. Pic: Ray Flores

Three months ago, 27-year-old lightweight John Molina Jr. entered the ring inside of the Grand Ballroom at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Ca, as the headliner of a card that was nationally televised by premium cable giant Showtime. Tonight, Molina (18-1-14 KOs) will enter that same exact ring, in the same exact venue, but he will not be reprising his role as the evening’s main attraction. In fact, Molina will not even be showcased on the televised portion of tonight’s edition of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights- that will originate from Pechanga. The downgrade is attributed to the loss that Molina suffered last November- his first as a professional to Mexico’s crafty veteran- Martin Honorio.

For Molina, the loss was disappointing on many levels. Heading into the bout with Honorio, he was heavily touted as one of the hottest prospects in all of boxing, and with good reason. His exciting style coupled with his one- punch- knockout power, and undefeated record made him an attraction worth seeing. After two impressive performances on Showtime, Last November officials at the network decided to give Molina the opportunity to headline a card on their Shobox: The New Generation series- a program that is designed to showcase boxing’s rising stars. Going into the bout, many saw Molina as a heavy favorite. Along with a two-inch advantage in height, Molina possessed a  a five- inch reach advantage, and was coming off of the most impressive victory of his career, a 34-second knockout victory of veteran Efren Hinojosa. Needless to say, many felt that Molina’s opponent Martin Honorio would meet that same fate, and become Molina’ 15th knockout victim.

The night of the fight, a sold out crowd gathered in anticipation to witness the coronation of boxing’s next star. Instead, the stunned crowd witnessed a boxing clinic put on not by Molina, but by the underdog Honorio. The man known as “El Brochas” would go on to put forth the performance of his life en route to winning a lopsided victory via unanimous decision.

So what went wrong? Did Molina succumb to the pressure of the intense spotlight? Was he rushed into a situation in which he clearly was not ready for? According to Molina it was neither. Molina says that he was just the victim of a bad case of the flu. I recently had the opportunity to catch up with John Molina Jr., to get his thoughts on that night.

La Prensa: What are your thoughts when you go back, and you view the footage of your fight with Martin Honorio?

JM:  When I look back at the fight, all I could see is a shell of me, that’s all I was- I wasn’t able to pull the trigger, and I really believe whole heartedly, that Honorio would last maybe five rounds with me, if I’m at 100%.

LP: When did you get the flu?

JM: It actually hit me at the weigh-in, I started feeling kind of funny, and that whole night before the fight, I did not sleep. My body was so achy that it woke me up out of my sleep. Before I got called down to walk out of the dressing room, I drank half a bottle of Dayquil-so not only was I sick with a fever going into the fight, but I was a medicine head as well. No disrespect to Honorio, but he fought the fight of his life, while I was at 30 percent.

LP: Did you ever think about postponing the fight?

JM: No, other fighters have done it before, like Gabriel Ruelas when he fought Azumah Nelson; he fought him with flu. Look it Alfredo Angulo when he lost to Kermit Cintron, he was sick that night as well, but two fights later he’s back on top of the heap-everyone has an off night.

LP: How did you feel after the first round?

JM:  After the first round to be honest with you, I was gassed, I was done. After the first round I was already gasping for air. I got off some decent shots, but nothing ever to finish him, because I didn’t have that extra gear to kick it into.

LP:  After the fourth round, your trainer Joe Goossen said to you, that he felt like you could knock Honorio out. Despite the state in which you were in; did you ever feel that you were in a position to deliver the knock out?

JM: I did have a feeling that if I caught him, I’d be able to take him out, but I didn’t have that fire in me- that tenacity in me- I was always a step behind.

LP: What was the biggest lesson you learned from that experience?

JM: That no matter what I go through, I’m going to be there to fight all the way through the end. I learned a lot about myself, and what I’m about, and I do know whole heartedly that no matter what, I’m going to go down on my shield- I’m going to go down swinging till the last bell. I guarantee that to all my fans.

LP: Do you still want a rematch against Honorio?

JM: We already went forward, and wanted to go with Honorio, unfortunately it’s not going to work out. To be honest with you, he’s not coming back up to 135 (pounds) and I’m not going back down to 130. At this point, I got to step away from my pride, and know that it is, what it is. It’s said and done, and now we go forward-my sights are set on the bigger picture.

LP: After the fight, there were a lot of negative things that were said, and that were written about you, does that stuff just give you the motivation to want to come out, and prove people wrong?

JM:  It really is ammo; I learned that there are a lot of haters out there. A lot of people that don’t know the full story about me-in a sense that when I pulled away from Ben Lira (Molina’s former trainer) to go with Joe Goossen, that was a smart move on my part —financially, and career wise— full circle. A lot of these guys feel like I snaked him, but what people don’t know is that Ben Lira collects a check every time I fight. I could have gone to arbitration, and pulled out of that contract, but I thought he was entitled to that for taking me in. A lot of the hate stems off of that

LP: On March 5th you return to Pechanga, can you tell the fans what they can expect to see, as well as what they can expect from you in 2010?

JM:  I’m coming in there with a mission, to make a statement-to show to people that I didn’t go anywhere-that it was a fluke victory for Honorio. By the end of 2010, you should see me in the top 5, and who knows maybe DeMarco’s maybe Valero’s we shall see. I’m not here to maybe be a good fighter, I’m here to be “the” best fighter, and in order for you to be the best, you have to go after the best.

In addition to John Molina Jr: Martin Honorio defends his NABO lightweight title against undefeated Wilton Hilario. Rising Jr. Welterweight Michael Dallas Jr. is also slated to see action on the card. Tickets priced at $70, $60, $45 and $30 General Admission are available at the Pechanga Box Office. Doors open at 5:00 PM.  First Bout is at 6:00 PM.

Banda De Turistas - foto por Julia Gutierrez.

(KPRENSA) – La escena musical emergente se renueva cada día, con nuevas bandas que van apareciendo en el horizonte. Los argentinos Banda de Turistas son uno de los grupos revelación del rock de Latinoamérica del último año. Y ahora, la banda argentina ha llegado a los Estados Unidos.

Con letras que oscilan entre lo real, lo onírico y lo inesperado, el joven quinteto logra captar la atención del público y la prensa para dar un primer gran paso: “Magical Radiophonic Heart”, su primer larga duración, el cual graban y coproducen junto a Tuta Torres y mezclan con el prestigioso productor Mario Caldato Jr. (quien trabajó con artistas como: Beastie Boys, Blur, Beck, Super Furry Animals, entre otros).

Este mes, el CD de la banda fue lanzado en los Estados Unidos por Nacional Records. En marzo, la banda estará haciendo una gira corta de EEUU con conciertos en Austin, Texas (17 y 18 de marzo), Houston, Texas (19 de marzo) y en Chicago (18 de abril).

Surge en el 2006 de la fusión de dos grupos: uno instrumental, con inspiración en la música de fines de los ’60, y otra enfocada en el pop. El resultado de la nueva banda se nutre tanto de sonidos futuristas y surreales. Ahora, el quinteto saben bien a lo que quieren llegar: fusionar sus influencias musicales.

“Nuestro marco de influencias es totalmente variado. Siempre decimos que rescatamos y nutrimos los últimos 50 años del rock, pasando por todos los géneros, convencionales y desconocidos. También son muy importantes nuestras influencias extramusicales como la literatura y la poesía. Todos estos generadores son los sistemas de nuestro Universo” dice Bruno Albano (bajista de la banda). “Nuestra musica responde a los esquemas de la canción pop por lo tanto es música para el mundo, accesible a cualquier sentido e instantánea”.

Consiguen la apertura de críticas de “Rolling Stone” siendo el primer grupo en 10 años, y en la historia de la revista, que lo logra con un primer álbum y gran aceptación por parte del público. El novel quinteto pop psicodélico argentino supo sostener con empirismo esa loable naturaleza redentora en su maravilloso primer larga duración, Magical Radiophonic Heart. Lanzado recientemente, es, sin dudas, uno de los mejores discos nacionales en Argentina de este año. Banda de Turistas se concentró en las canciones: las dejó salir de manera natural. Y el resultado es notable: un disco que llama la atención por su frescura, buena química y desestructura musical.

A partir de esto, surge la iniciativa de rotación radial tanto en las grandes estaciones de radio en Latinoamérica como Rock and Pop, Mega, La Cien, y Kabul en Argentina, Reactor de México, Megaestación de Caracas y Miami y radios independientes de toda Latinoamérica. Pero, según Bruno “La musica es la expresion matemática del alma , por lo tanto trasciende escenas, barreras, distancias y mundos”.