Merengue is a dance that has you moving your hips so fast you might dislocate them. No, but seriously where did Merengue music originate? There are many theories, some say it originated with slaves who were chained together and out of necessity were forced to drag one leg as  they cut sugar to Read More

    I love poetry- a lot.  In fact, because I love poetry so much, I have founded and hosted my own open-mic poetry events since 2003 under the heading “The Fresh Ink Poets”.  I love Neruda, Baca, Cisneros, and Serros but the poetry scene for many Latinos is brand new. Poetry can be written Read More

  A very recent death in the family has brought this topic back home to me in a fresh way. Because I have loved this loved one so long, I know that she would not feel slighted by the writing of this tale. Rather, she would not only laugh her own ass off, but, portions Read More

  The United States is turning 234 and that means it is time to celebrate the triumph over the British that has allowed for the nation to develop into the country it is today. Most of us will be honoring this achievement with BBQs, music, trips to the beach (if possible), if you’re in Philly Read More

    Refranes (sayings or proverbs) have taken their root in many an oral tradition.  When used by tu madre, abuela, hermana, or other notable person or elder in your family (or extended family), refranes will save your life, help you with planning and major decision making, lift anxiety, increase wisdom and insight, provide a Read More

  In the late nineteenth century, a group of men gathered in New York and conspired to free Puerto Rico and Cuba from Spanish colonial rule, as well as shake the dictatorship from the Dominican Republic and reunite Hispañola. At every step, they fought vehemently against annexation from the United States. One close-call happened when Read More

    Recently, a friend of mine, Juan Alanis, mentioned about his grandmother curing Ojo Mal, a.k.a. Evil Eye, the curse that mostly children get from adults looking at children longingly with out touching them  or any person that stares too long at another with envy or wicked intent.  Parents’s put Ojo de Venado (Deer’s Read More

  It seems there is a constant fear in the U.S. that Spanish will take over English and that life as those proud to only speak English will forever be changed for the worse as a result. They complain that immigrants do not learn English quickly enough or at all. Interesting how they so readily Read More

    I’ve been a confident, single, mother for ten years. As every single parent knows, raising children on ones own isn’t as easy as it looks and usually means that you and the children become a kind of team. The only hurdles I face as a Mom come in the form of how to Read More

    I’m a fan of cool and fun things to do, especially over the summer. Every year we look to do something different but then we most certainly have to go to our annual events. I live in Philadelphia where diversity is spread throughout the entire city. Weekends come and go so quickly that Read More