Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (1863-1923)
Spanish empressionist, The Wounded Foot
Click, Special Exhibit

JUNE 2014
Table of Contents

Editor: Mimi Lozano ©2000-2014

"A Tyranny may exist without an individual tyrant.
A whole government, even a democratically elected one,
may be tyrannical." ~ Joseph Sobran

United States
Historic Tidbits
Hispanic Leaders
Latino Patriots
Early Latino Patriots

Surnames
DNA
Family History
Education
Culture
Books and Print Media

Orange County, CA
Los Angeles County, CA
California
Northwestern US
Southwestern US
Texas

Middle America
East Coast
African-American
Indigenous
Sephardic
Archaeology

Mexico
Caribbean/Cuba
Central & South America
Philippines
Spain
International

Somos Primos Staff
Mimi Lozano, Editor
Mercy Bautista Olvera
Roberto Calderon, Ph,D.
Bill Carmena
Lila Guzman, Ph.D
John Inclan
Galal Kernahan
Juan Marinez
J.V. Martinez, Ph.D
Dorinda Moreno
Rafael Ojeda
Ángel Custodio Rebollo
Tony Santiago
John P. Schmal

Submitters to January 2014
Jose M. Alamillo
Rodney D. Anderson
Gabriel Arana
Michael Barone
Francisco J. Barragán
Leslie Berestein-Rojas
Juana Bordas

Eddie AAA Calderón, Ph.D.
Roberto Calderon, Ph.D.
Rosie Carbo
Bill Carmena
Dena Chapa Ruppert
Virginia Correa Creager, Ph.D.
Arturo Cuellar
Gloria Del Mundo-Ong
Joseph W. Dooley
Gary Feliz
Refugio and Sally Fernandez
Flor Flores
Gerald Frost
Francisco Miraval Fuente
Armando García
Daisy Wanda Garcia
Raul Garza
Galo Gonzales (Poppo Olag)
Yvonne Gonzalez Duncan
Andrew Graybill
Dr. Rita D. Hernandez
Aury L. Holtzman, M.D.
John Inclan
Galal Kernahan

Robert J. Laplander
Adriana V. Lopez
Angel Lopez
José Antonio López
Jerry Lujan
_{Mickie Luna}
Jan Mallet
Daisy Marino
Leroy Martinez
Don Milligan
Alejandro Molina
Frank Medina
Ramon Moncivais
Teodora "Teddi" Montes
Dorinda Moreno
Paul Nauta
Rafael Ojeda
Felipe Ortego, Ph.D.
Ricardo R. Palmerín Cordero.
Kevin Parrish
José M. Peña
Joe Perez
Kathleen Rabago

Oscar Ramirez
Juan Ramos
Ángel Custodio Rebollo
Erasmo R. Riojas
Dr. Lily Rivera
Refugio Rochin, Ph.D.
Letty Rodella
Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez
Joe Sanchez
Tom Saenz
Tony Santiago
John Schmal
Linda Serna
Louis F. Serna
Mary Sevilla, CSJ
Richard Simon
Dr. Richard Shortlidge
Vincent Tavera
Robert H. Thonhoff
Paul Trejo
Ernesto Uribe
Marge Vallazza
Abe Villarreal
Roberto Vazquez
Kirk Whisler

Letters to the Editor

Dear Mimi,

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed this month's issue of Somos Primos. It gets better and better each time I read it. I've always found it interesting, so after all these years, how can it get better? But it does! I particularly enjoyed the articles on the Sephardic ancestry of Doreen Carvajal. I can identify because I also have Sephardic ancestry through my descent from Juan de Oñate. Someday soon I hope to go to Spain and personally view where my Ha-Levi and Maluenda ancestors lived.

God Bless you, Marge Vallazza
grgrands@gmail.com

Beautiful issue, estimada Mimi; 
¡felicidades! congratulations!
Abrazo, Rafael Jesús González 
rjgonzalez@mindspring.com

Thanks for another wonderful issue of "Somos Primos"....

Louis F. Serna
sernabook@comcast.net

Wow! You have such a lot of good stuff!

Sinceramente,

Refugio and Sally Fernandez
cnsfernandez1943@sbcglobal.net

mimilozano@aol.com
www.SomosPrimos.com
714-894-8161

P.O. 490
Midway City, CA
92655-0490

UNITED STATES

We went to Congress to urge passage of the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act!
Pew Report: Millions of Americans changed their racial or ethnic identity from one census to the next Pew: Religious Affiliation of Hispanics
The Unbearable Whiteness of Liberal Media, If left-leaning publications value diversity,
why don't they have any? By Gabriel Arana
Opinion: Liberal writer on 'The Unbearable Whiteness of Liberal Media' Michael Barone
Be an Activist: Join the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Why by Mimi Lozano
"A Chicano is a Mexican-American with a non-Anglo image of himself." by Zita Arocha
Ruben Salazar was a journalist living in two cultures, like me by Flor Flores
Mexican-Americans show growing interest in genealogy
Why Non-holiday in Mexico. Deserves our Attention by Dr. Lily Rivera
Cuento: Part 3, Other AID/W Assignments and a Retaliatory Transfer to Pakistan by José M. Peña
Andy Garcia 2014 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement NALIP award
Jackeline Cacho Awarded Outstanding Women of the Year by La Opinion Newspaper
New York City native Rosario Dawson, is an "Actrovist"
Cuento: Cesar Chavez's link to Hector Garcia by Daisy Wanda Garcia
Harvesting Hope, the Story of Cesar Chavez
Filipino Americans and the Farm Labor Movement by Angelo Lopez
El impacto histórico del filme sobre César Chávez Por Armando García

ATTEND THE NCLR 2014 CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES
and meet descendents of the founding families of the city of Los Angeles

We went to Congress to urge passage of the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act!

=============================================

In May we gathered our board members and the former Commissioners from the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino for a day of advocacy and action on Capitol Hill. The national leaders of the campaign which include representatives from Silicon Valley, national political strategists and academic and museum experts met with members of Congress including Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV); Senator Dean Heller (R-NV); Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Xavier Becerra (D-CA-34); Chair of the Asian Pacific American Caucus, Judy Chu (D-CA-27); bill cosponsor, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL-27); Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, Mario Diaz Balart (R-FL-25); and Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-03). Our message was clear, we must pass the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act this year!

Now Congress needs to hear from you! Go to our website to find the tools you need to reach your representative and encourage them to support our campaign.

Sent by Yvonne Gonzalez Duncan
yvduncan@yahoo.com

Extract: PEW REPORT: Millions of Americans changed their racial or ethnic identity
from one census to the next Hispanic Trends: Racial Identity, Catholicism, Population Shifts

By D’Vera Cohn
May 9, 2014

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Millions of Americans counted in the 2000 census changed their race or Hispanic-origin categories when they filled out their 2010 census forms, according to new research presented at the annual Population Association of America meeting last week. Hispanics, Americans of mixed race, American Indians and Pacific Islanders were among those most likely to check different boxes from one census to the next.

The researchers, who included university and government population scientists, analyzed census forms for 168 million Americans, and found that more than 10 million of them checked different race or Hispanic-origin boxes in the 2010 census than they had in the 2000 count. Smaller-scale studies have shown that people sometimes change the way they describe their race or Hispanic identity, but the new research is the first to use data from the census of all Americans to look at how these selections may vary on a wide scale.

“Do Americans change their race? Yes, millions do,” said study co-author Carolyn A. Liebler, a University of Minnesota sociologist who worked with Census Bureau researchers. “And this varies by group.”

The largest number of those who changed their race/ethnicity category were 2.5 million Americans who said they were Hispanic and “some other race” in 2000, but a decade later, told the census they were Hispanic and white, preliminary data

showed. Another 1.3 million people made the switch in the other direction. Other large groups of category-changers were more than a million Americans who switched from non-Hispanic white to Hispanic white, or the other way around.

Some category-changers were children in 2000 whose race was filled in by their parents, but by 2010 were old enough to choose for themselves, which may account for some of the change. Children in some groups in 2000—for example, white and black—were especially likely to be recorded in a different category in 2010, Liebler said. (Although she did not mention President Barack Obama, he chose to check only “black” on his 2010 census form, even though his mother was white and father black.)

More than 775,000 switched in one direction or the other between white and American Indian or only white, according to preliminary data. Ever since 1960, the number of American Indians has risen more rapidly than could be accounted for by births or immigration.

Topics: Race and Ethnicity, U.S. Census
Sent by Refugio Rochin, Ph.D. rrochin@me.com http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/05/05/millions-
of-americans-changed-their-racial-or-ethnic-identity-from-
one-census-to-the-next/

latino-exec-1

Sent by Roberto Calderon, Ph.D. beto@unt.edu

Most Hispanics in the United States continue to belong to the Roman Catholic Church. But the Catholic share of the Hispanic population is declining, while rising numbers of Hispanics are Protestant or unaffiliated with any religion. Indeed, nearly one-in-four Hispanic adults (24%) are now former Catholics, according to a major, nationwide survey of more than 5,000 Hispanics by the Pew Research Center. Together, these trends suggest that some religious polarization is taking place in the Hispanic community, with the shrinking majority of Hispanic Catholics holding the middle ground between two growing groups (evangelical Protestants and the unaffiliated) that are at opposite ends of the U.S. religious spectrum.

While schools have become more integrated, in part due to broad demographic trends, white students remain significantly less likely than minorities to attend diverse schools. In 2010, some 16% of whites attended a school where minorities made up at least half of all students.

By comparison, more than three-quarters of Hispanics and blacks (and six-in-ten Asians) attended these “majority-minority” schools.

Sent by Bill Carmena
JCarm1724@aol.com

NiLP FYI Masthead On The Unbearable Whiteness of Liberal Media

CONTENTS
* "The Unbearable Whiteness of Liberal Media" By Gabriel Arana, The American Prospect (May 12, 2014)
* "Liberal writer on 'The Unbearable Whiteness of Liberal Media'" By Michael Barone, Washington Examiner (May 12, 2014)

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The Unbearable Whiteness of Liberal Media
If left-leaning publications value diversity, why don't they have any?
By Gabriel Arana

The American Prospect (May 12, 2014)

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On the staff of The American Prospect, I'm the only member of an ethnic minority. That's not because I bring all the variety the magazine needs, or because the editors don't think diversity is valuable. Everyone on the masthead of this liberal publication is committed to being inclusive-not just of racial and ethnic minorities but of women; gays, lesbians, and transgender people; and the poor. (Numbers include only editorial staff. Have updated numbers? Send us an e-mail.)		It's not just the Prospect. Journalism upstarts like Vox Media and FiveThirtyEight have come under fire recently for lack of diversity in their hires, but that's largely because they are drawing from the milky-white pool of "existing talent." In the corner of the publishing industry that caters to college-educated wonks-a slightly fuzzy designation, but I've included most of the publications my colleagues and I read on a daily basis-racial and ethnic diversity is abysmal.

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http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs128/1101040629095/img/1877.png

A large part of the problem is simply that no one is keeping track. Unlike the National Association of News Editors, the American Society of Magazine Editors does not track the number of minorities among magazine staff.

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Nearly 40 percent of the country is non-white and/or Hispanic, but the number of minorities at the outlets included in this article's tally-most of them self-identified as liberal or progressive-hovers around 10 percent. The Washington Monthly can boast 20 percent, but that's because it only has nine staffers in total, two of whom belong to minority groups. Dissent, like the Prospect, has one. Given the broad commitment to diversity in our corner of the publishing world, why is the track record so poor?

Corporate America long ago signed on to the idea that diversity-besides being a noble goal in itself-is good for business. Companies with diverse workforces consistently outperform their competitors; diversity drives innovation, and workers tend to be happier at companies that value inclusiveness. But it's even more important in journalism than, say, at an accounting firm. When you're in the business of telling stories, lacking diversity means you're limited in the sorts of stories you can tell-or even think of telling. A newsroom filled with white guys simply lacks the same imagination as one with people from an array of backgrounds. One editor I spoke with stressed that they "choose staff for what they can bring to the magazine, first and foremost," but lacking diversity is actually a prime indicator that you're failing to attract the top talent.

Most of the editors I spoke with conceded up front that their record of hiring and retaining people of color was poor, but few knew the number off-hand. Most, however, knew their VIDA score-and remember answering for it. Since it launched in 2009, the organization VIDA: Women in Literary Arts has tallied the number of women on staff and in the pages of literary publications each year, releasing its counts in January. The organization's name-and-shame strategy has been highly successful.

"When VIDA publishes those numbers, it rattles around your head," says Franklin Foer, editor of The New Republic. "It's a form of shaming I think is actually fairly effective." Foer, who returned to helm the magazine in 2012 after leaving the post in 2010, says after the most recent VIDA count, he and his staff began keeping tabs on the number of male and female bylines in each issue and established a goal they want to reach before next year's numbers come out. Other publications-including the Prospect-have made inroads on the problem after the VIDA counts. "Having analytics and goals and knowing that it'll just be embarrassing if you don't do better next year is a pretty strong guarantee that things will be better," Foer says. In my survey, the center-left New Republic scored higher on the racial and ethnic-diversity scale than the rest of its more progressive counterparts save Mother Jones, with 12.5 percent of staff members hailing from minority groups.

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The recession, too, took a toll on diversity. At newspapers, the percentage of minorities on staff decreased from 13.73 to 12.37 percent between 2008 and 2012. Anecdotally, the downturn has had a similar effect on the magazine world. Magazine editors offered several explanations for the whitewashing: Publications shrank to their core leadership, cutting off positions in the lower echelons, where members of minority groups are more likely to find themselves; people of color and members of other minority groups disproportionately took buyouts.

In the struggle to stay afloat, worrying about diversity came to be seen as quaint. "Up until 2008, newsrooms-especially large ones-were really really conscious about diversity," says Slate editor David Plotz, whose publication's staff composition of 75 is about 6.7 percent minority. "The recession made newsrooms very miserly thinking about issues like that. The thinking was, 'We are in survival mode, we are about saving our jobs. This is not an issue we care about.'"

The stagnation of the industry also means there are few opportunities to increase diversity. "The staff here is unionized, which means there is little job turnover," says Richard Kim, executive editor at The Nation, who is Asian American and gay.

"We only get to make a hire every four or five years." Among the progressive publications I examined, The Nation scored the lowest, with slightly over 4 percent of its staff hailing from racial and ethnic minority groups.

But the primary reason magazine staffs are so white is structural. "We practice fairly specialized form of journalism and the pool of people who do it isn't terribly large to begin with, and then you look at the group of people who are practicing at a higher level and it's just not a diverse pool," Foer says.

The road that ends with a spot on staff at places like The New Republic, The Atlantic, or the Prospect is paved with privilege. It starts with unpaid internships, which serve both as training grounds and feeders to staff positions.

"Most of our staff comes through our intern program," says Harper's editor Ellen Rosenbush. "Do we get as many applicants of color as we'd like? Probably not, but we do get them and we have hired them." There's a straightforward reason for the dearth of intern applications: Those who can afford to rely on mom and dad for a summer or a semester tend to be well-off and white.

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While publications like The Atlantic and The Nation have begun to pay their interns minimum wage-in the case of the latter, after an intern revolt last year-most publications offer a meager stipend or do not pay at all. Slate pays its interns $10 an hour. Internships at The New Republic, Salon, Harper's, and the Washington Monthly all unpaid. The Prospect pays its interns a stipend of $100 per week. On the bright side, a number of publications offer paid entry-level fellowships: The Prospect's pays $33,000 and includes benefits, The New Republic offers its reporter-researchers $25,000, and Mother Jones gives its fellows $1,500 per month. But money's not the only issue when it comes to interns. Most publications put little effort into recruiting for their internship programs, and the fact of the matter is that a black or Latino kid who grew up on the South Side of Chicago is far less likely to have even heard of The New Republic or the Prospect than a white woman growing up on the Upper West Side.

This highlights another key reason the country's leading think publications lack diversity: the industry's reliance on social networks for hiring. The people we know-professionally and personally-tend to have similar backgrounds, and so when editors cast the net to build up the applicant pool for a position, they are largely recruiting people who look and think like themselves.

The payroll at the outlets included in this piece draw heavily from the Ivy League or similarly selective institutions. "The original writing and editing batch at Slate came from elite college folks of the old [former TNR editor] Michael Kinsley New Republic tradition, folks who work there came out of that and tended to be white and Jewish and Northeastern," Plotz says. "That perpetuates itself-it's hard to look for and find people who are not like you." Making matters worse, many outlets don't advertise open positions, instead relying on their circle of professional contacts to fill slots.

If magazines want to make their staffs more inclusive, it requires more than good intentions and a broad commitment to diversity. "To use the 12-step language, first you have to name the problem," says Monika Bauerlein, co-editor of Mother Jones, which has improved diversity in the past several years through concerted recruiting efforts, yielding 12.5 percent of its 40-person staff who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups. "Diversity is something that we emphasize in every posting and that we look to as an important part in the candidates that we talk to."

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So what happens if you stress diversity and still end up with an applicant pool that is almost exclusively white? "If you care about a diverse newsroom, you need to constantly be looking down the pipeline," says Ann Friedman, former deputy editor at the Prospect. "It requires you to be actively looking for new staff members, not just perusing the résumés that roll in." That means looking outside one's existing social network and actively asking minorities to apply. When the pool of applicants for the Prospect's writing fellowship was male and nearly entirely white, Friedman says she turned to the blogosphere, which is where the magazine found talented writers like Adam Serwer and Jamelle Bouie. "There are all sorts of nonwhite, nonmale writers all over the Internet," Friedman says.

Besides scouring the Internet, magazines can also increase the number of people of color who apply for fellowships and positions by reaching out to journalism departments at historically black colleges and Latino-serving institutions as well as professional organizations like the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the Asian American Journalists Association.

But the work doesn't stop there. "Even after you find someone you think will be a good fit in your newsroom, if your newsroom is mostly white and male and straight, you'll probably have to convince them they'll be welcome," Friedman says.

But cultivating diversity also means thinking differently about a candidate's qualifications. Because the barriers for entry into journalism are higher for members of racial and ethnic minorities than for other groups, they often come to the process with less journalism experience than their white counterparts.

"The pitfall many managers fall into is thinking that the most qualified candidate is the one with the most experience," says Buzzfeed deputy editor Shani Hilton, who has written about newsroom diversity, and is African American. "But experience isn't the only metric. We're hiring for a mosaic of reasons-it's not just your clips, but also how you are in newsroom, who recognizes you and also how good you are at Twitter and on the Internet." Recruiting and investing in minorities at the entry level-including intern positions-is crucial if the industry hopes to make progress down the line; today's interns are tomorrow's editors.

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The good news about diversity is that it tends to perpetuate itself. Having people who belong to minority groups on staff signals that the workplace is inclusive, which encourages people of color and those from other minority groups to apply, and once minority writers and editors sign on, they instantly expand the network of personal and professional contacts to draw on the next time a position opens up. This is especially true when a publication hires a person of color in its senior editorial ranks, and that's where diversity is worst: Among liberal publications, only The Nation and Mother Jones have racial and ethnic minorities in upper management.

Like poverty, diversity is not a problem that will just address itself, and a broad commitment is not enough. It takes effort and planning, which is why universities-the leading institutions on

the diversity front-invest so heavily in recruitment. But first you need to name and quantify the problem. Next time someone asks, I'm hoping my colleagues at other publications will at least know how many people of color they've got on staff.

The original version of this article misstated the percentage of Mother Jones's staff comprising members of ethnic minority groups. The correct percentage is 12.5, not 10. In addition, contrary to a statement in the original version, Vox Media pays its interns.

Gabriel Arana is a senior editor at The American Prospect. His articles on gay rights, immigration, and media have appeared in publications including The New Republic, The Nation, Salon, The Advocate, and The Daily Beast.

Opinion: Liberal writer on 'The Unbearable Whiteness of Liberal Media'

A recent article by Gabriel Arana lamented the lack of minority employees in liberal newsrooms in the United States.

By Michael Barone
Washington Examiner (May 12, 2014)

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A recent article by Gabriel Arana lamented the lack of minority employees in liberal newsrooms in."The Unbearable Whiteness of Liberal Media" is the title of an article in the liberal American Prospect by Gabriel Arana. (Hat tip: Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit.)This paragraph gives the gist of it:

Nearly 40 percent of the country is non-white and/or Hispanic, but the number of minorities at the outlets included in this article's tally-most of them self-identified as liberal or progressive-hovers around 10 percent. The Washington Monthly can boast 20 percent, but that's because it only has nine staffers in total, two of whom belong to minority groups. Dissent, like the Prospect, has none. Given the broad commitment to diversity in our corner of the publishing world, why is the track record so poor?

(Editor: Who is keeping track?)

Actually, the national percentage of "non-white and/or Hispanic" is below 30 percent, not "nearly 40 percent," but Arana's basic thesis is correct. But his list of categories is impoverished. "Whites" are assumed to be a single, uniformly "privileged" group, but of course this is not the case. My guess, based on decades of newsroom exposure, is that these liberal media outlets, and media outlets generally, tend to have disproportionately high percentages of Jews and of men and women from elite colleges and universities. I suspect that if you took a census of where their personnel went to high school, you would find disproportionately high numbers from elite private schools and from certain elite public high schools (Stuyvesant in New York, New Trier in the Chicago suburbs, etc.). I would bet considerable amounts of money that you won't find many, if any, people who grew up in West Virginia or eastern Kentucky, in low-income rural counties in the South or farm counties in the Midwest.

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Arana stumbles but gets close to a legitimate point: Journalists should make an effort to understand the nation and the world, to learn to look at life from the perspectives of others with different experiences. Hiring editors (to the extent there are some today) might be wise to look for new personnel in unlikely places, people not only from the South Bronx but also from West Virginia.

But no profession ends up having a racial, ethnic, regional and religious profile identical to that of the entire nation, and liberal publications, however hard they try, are unlikely to have a profile that approximates that of Democratic voters generally.

We all have limited backgrounds and a lot to learn. But give Gabriel Arana credit for this: While other liberals delight in flagellating conservative movements and organizations for not matching the nation's racial percentages, he has looked in the mirror and found reason for self-flagellation.

Michael Barone is senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, co-author of The Almanac of American Politics and a contributor to Fox News. Sign up to get all of Michael Barone's columns emailed to your inbox each week -- free! -- with the Washington Examiner's free Barone newsletter.

Sent by Juan Ramos jramos.swkr@verizon.net

Be an Activist: Join the National Trust for Historic Preservation,
and . . . . . Why . . . . . . by Mimi Lozano

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5/8/2014 I received the new posting from National Trust of Historic Preservation, identifying historic sites, important to preserve physical evidence of United States history. No Latino sites were identified.

Please check out the latest endangered historic sites identified and selected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The projects who will attract funds by supporter to restore the sites, and then the sites will be maintained usually under the Park system. NTHP said, they identify, do not fund, but in the process, their identification, substantiates the validity and value of a historic site.

My frustration is that Wanda Garcia submitted a grant proposal last year to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The concept was to identify Dr. Hector P. Garcia's clinic as an important Civil Rights site. It was there, in the clinic that Dr.
Garcia met with many historical figures and planned strategies to promote justice and civil rights for all minorities. The project was turned down.

We were advised by the of National Trust of Historic Preservation of two things:

ONE: National Park Service said they were more interested in sites after 1950, as a date for civil rights sites.

To quote them: "No major successful attack was launched on the segregation system until the 1950s." http://www.ushistory.org/us/54.asp

Unfortunately this seemingly arbitrary cut-off date eliminates much of the civil rights issues of Mexican Americans who lead many early efforts, such as the the Mendez vs. Westminster to desegregate the Mexican Schools in Orange County, CA. in the 1946-47, Dr. Garcia and other veterans, shortly after WWII, also in the late 1940s.

Earlier than those dates, in the 1920s 1930s, Latinos were the first to organize a union in the Arizona mines. How about the the 1920s, earliest of farm workers efforts (pecans in Texas)?
Plus where are the historic sites of El Movimiento, Latino 60-70s?

[graphic] Photo montage behind map of the United States, showing location of Civil Rights sites [graphic] Photo montage behind map of the United States, showing location of Civil Rights sites

National Park Service: Historic Civil Rights Places in the United States

I clicked on these buttons and did not come across one site identified as a Latino Civil Rights Historic location. You can also do a google search, to confirm our lack of presence. You would think that Cesar Chavez Delano site, would at least be included. . . . You can find Cesar Chavez Delano site, if you know to look for it, but it is not listed among the other Civil Rights sites on this map. Not even one Southwest site is identified as a Latino historic site on the this map by the National Park Service.

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TWO: The staff advised to get selected, the project has to have the support of LOTS of people, meaning LOTS of organizations. It was not a matter of matching funds. It was a matter of numbers. Responding to my frustration, Jose Antonio Lopez, wrote: May I suggest, Wanda, that you ask Alex Moreno, in charge of the 2014 Texas State Genealogy/History Conference in McAllen (Sep 25-27) to publicize this type of project at the conference. For starters, every member of each of our Hispanic genealogy societies spread across Central and South Texas should be encouraged to let the National Trust know they support the historic designation for Dr. Garcia’s clinic. Also, somehow, some way, we need to get the several Catholic archdioceses to support our efforts as well, since many of our Hispanic heritage sites are religious in nature. There are also several Hispanic educator and professional groups (National Association of Hispanic Journalists, for example) that should also get involved.		So much to do, so little time. The mountain we’re climbing is high, but we have to keep pushing. Just think, many critics said that the Tejano Monument was a dream. It is now real bronze and stone. That’s a start. Bottom Line: If we don’t do it ourselves, no one else is going to do it for us. Saludos, Joe López jlopez8182@satx.rr.com The most recent success story of a minority effort is that both House Bill (HR 1726) and Senate Bill (S. 1174) both passed their respective chambers, concerning the efforts of a dedicated group of Puerto Ricans-Americans. Honoring the only Hispanic segregated active-duty military unit in U.S. History, the 65th Infantry Regiment “Borinqueneers,” are seeking the Congressional Gold Medal for their Infantry Regiment. Only needed now, the presidents signature. Hooray for our primos . . Gold Medal

SIMPLE SUGGESTION . . . .

Join the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is a nominal ($20.)membership and you will received a very interesting history magazine with your membership. www.preservationnation.org Plus keep informed to what is happening.
https://secure2.convio.net/nthp/site/Donation2?df_id=6281&6281.donation=form1&s_subsrc=NavJoin

You will be able to keep abreast of what is happening across the nation with historic sites. Many early Spanish/Mexican sites have survived the years, but not the bulldozer.

Remember, the National Trust for Historic Preservation points out sites that are endangered and posts that on their site. NTHP does not allocate funds, but usually by being identified and selected by NTHP, supporters and sponsors are attracted to help. The NHTP identification, substantiates the validity and value of a specific site. Once renovated, The sites are maintained and staffed under the Park system. ~ Like Joe says . . . do something!!

It is what Gabriel Arana suggests: A large part of the problem is simply that no one is keeping track.

Please join the National Trust for Historic Preservation and let them know that you DO care.

"A Chicano is a Mexican-American with a non-Anglo image of himself."
by Zita Arocha on April 24, 2014

Ruben Salazar questioned his own ethnic identity and the role of journalism in Americam Society_{http://borderzine.com/2014/04/ruben-salazar-questioned-his-own-ethnic-identity-and-the-role-of-journalism-in-american-society/}

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_{EL PASO — During a
television interview shortly before newsman Ruben Salazar was killed
by cops during a 1970 Chicano Anti War march in Los Angeles, the now
legendary Mexican-American journalist asks: “Why do I always have to
apologize to Americans for Mexicans and to Mexicans for Americans?”}

_{His question sounds almost
innocent against the turbulent anti-establishment tone of the times.
Yet it still resonates for most U.S. journalists with hyphenated
identities, myself included.}

_{As I watched the PBS
documentary, “Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle,” a few weeks ago
at a packed auditorium on the University of Texas El Paso campus, it
felt like I was looking into a mirror and witnessing my own ambiguity
about my Cuban and U.S. identities. It seems to me that ambiguity
about identity frames the existential experience of most immigrants to
this country. Where do we belong? Back there or over here? There is no
simple answer to this core dilemma. It seems to have been Salazar’s
crucible during his brief life.}

_{Taking notes during an
interview, Salazar was known for his insightful reporting. His
interviewees ranged from President Eisenhower to Cesar Chavez to
Robert F. Kennedy.}

_{The nuanced film portrayal of
Salazar reveals an erudite, contemplative man with a deeply divided
soul, reflected by the}

_{physical bridge that
divides downtown El Paso, where he was raised, from neighboring Ciudad
Juarez, where he was born.

Outwardly he was successful, working first at his hometown paper the
El Paso Herald Post and then achieving recognition as a national and
international reporter in the all-white, predominately male newsroom
of the Los Angeles Times. Not an easy thing for a brown man during a
conservative news era.

He managed to travel the world, covering the Vietnam War, student
protests in Mexico, revolutions in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. He
interviewed rich and powerful men —Robert Kennedy, Dwight D.
Eisenhower, Frank Sinatra. Yet a picture from that time shows him with
a group of white Times reporters who sit chummily on a sofa. Salazar
hangs back, standing stiffly behind this inner circle, his arms folded
across his chest. He wears a tight wry smile, which to me looks like
the expression of a man who knows he is on the precarious edge of an
exclusive club. A speaker in the film calls Salazar “a survivor in a
hostile environment.”}

_{The film also explores
Salazar’s private side. How he tried to shield his wife and children
from the realities of the barrio and the radical topics he tackled in
his incisive columns. Apparently, he rarely spoke about his work at
home and enjoyed a fairly comfortable and routine middle-class life at
home in an Anglo Orange County suburb.}

=============================================

_{According to the film,
something happened that transformed the reserved, fair-minded
journalist into what some would call a crusader. Perhaps it was anger
at being called home by his Los Angeles Times bosses from his
prestigious foreign assignment in Mexico City. Perhaps it was the
violent protests against the Vietnam War and other political turmoil
of the time. Perhaps it was the radicalization of Mexican-Americans
across the country.}

_{Quitting his prestigious job
at the LA Times, he decided to work instead for a Spanish-language
television station, KMEX, where he could speak directly to the people
in their language, which was also his language. While he continued to
write columns for The Times, the ideas they developed were edgier,
more biting. He rocked the boat in many establishment arenas
—calling out the school board for failing to properly educate Latino
children and the LAPD for beating up brown people. He began writing
about identity, describing the tension between those who considered
themselves Mexican-American and those calling themselves Chicano.}

_{“A Chicano is a
Mexican-American with a non-Anglo image of himself,” he wrote in a
column published several months before he died. Chicanos, he wrote,
“resent Anglo pronouncements that Chicanos are ‘culturally
deprived’ or that the fact they speak Spanish is a ‘problem.’”}

_{A Mexican-American, he
continued, “will tell you that Chicano is an insulting term and may
even quote the Spanish Academy to prove that Chicano derives from
chicanery.”}

_{He concludes the column thus:
“Chicanos, then, are merely fighting to become ‘Americans.’ Yes,
but with a Chicano outlook.”}

_{Another time, he said: “The
problem with Mexicans is that they are struggling to become white.”
Of the term Mexican-American, he said, “the hyphen strips both words
of their meaning.”}

_{In the end, “Man in the
Middle” reminds us that Salazar deserves to be remembered not as a
victim of murder or a tragic accident but by his words and deeds. He
inspires as the first Hispanic-American mainstream journalist who
found his authentic voice, told the truth as he saw it, finally
mending his divided heart.}

_{As he once wryly noted:
“Newsroom objectivity may result in an absence of truth.”}

Ruben Salazar was a journalist living in two cultures, like me
by Flor Flores April 24, 2014

_{http://borderzine.com/2014/04/ruben-salazar-was-a-journalist-living-in-two-cultures-like-me}

=============================================

_{EL PASO – While viewing the special screening here of the new
documentary on the life and death of Mexican-American journalist Ruben
Salazar, Man in the Middle, I experienced a mix of emotions.}

_{The documentary by Phillip
Rodriguez address the duality of his life as a journalist, but, it
felt to me that it lacked a wider explanation of Salazar’s private
life.}

_{Salazar came from a Mexican
background and grew up in El Paso, but the documentary portrayed him
as identifying more with American culture.}

_{Salazar was an outstanding
journalist who took risks and was not afraid to take assignments other
journalists avoided.}

_{I felt that that my image of
Salazar had changed after watching this documentary, as it explained
that his death might not have been an accident, but rather an
intentional attack.}

_{Rubén Salazar became news
director of KMEX, a Spanish-language TV station in Los Angeles, in
1970. At the same time, he wrote a column for the L.A. Times.}

_{Salazar died in 1970 after he
was hit by a tear-gas canister fired by police during a Chicano
demonstration in Los Angeles. Before the incident he had said that he
was followed and threaten by police who wanted him to back away from
stories dealing with Chicano issues.}

_{Thanks to the documentary I
felt that Salazar did not embrace his Mexican heritage until he
started writing about the Chicano movement and raised awareness of the
Mexican-American plight.}

_{That is a struggle for
identity that I can relate to. Living in a border city is almost
synonymous with not knowing which side you belong to, which side of
you do you show to the world. I understood Salazar’s decision to
embrace one over the other, but as local artist and public figure,
Rosa Guerrero said in a panel that followed the film, one must “take
the best of both worlds.”}

_{I was born in El Paso but
lived in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, until 2001. When I was younger, I
would cross the border every morning to come here to school, but after
9/11, we moved here because of the long crossing times.}

=============================================

_{“The bridge and the river
are a significant part of my life, perhaps more of one piece,” this
was one of Salazar’s quotes that resonated with me.}

_{I understand his struggle
because I am going through a similar situation. On one hand, I have my
Mexican customs and family and on the other, my goals and future in
the U.S. Just like him, I struggle to accept each culture without
completely shifting to one or the other.}

_{My family in México calls me
a ‘gringa’ and they poke fun at me for not knowing anything about
México and my colleagues in the U.S. classify me as a ‘big-time’
Mexican and they make fun of my pronunciation of words, especially the
–sh and –ch sounds. However, I do not feel ashamed of being part
of both}

_{cultures and love both sides.
Having said that, I do have my preferences. For instance I love going
to church in Spanish and school in English.

Given that Salazar was from the region that I grew up in, his story is
that much more appealing to me. Salazar has inspired me to write
passionately about subjects that are important to me and to follow
them with the same determination Salazar showed. He would not settle
for less and neither will I.}

_{As a binational writer I fell
that i need to stay faithful to my ideals. Salazar was a renowned
journalist who took advantage of being Mexican-American, living and
working in two cultures. I strongly believe that having both cultures
is a huge benefit that will take me further in life.}

Mexican-Americans show growing interest in genealogy

Published May 13, 2014
Source: EFE
FoxNews Latino

=============================================

A new interest in genealogy is prompting Mexican-Americans in the Mountain West to find out about their distant ancestors.

"Learning about the family's genealogy, we get more interested in the period when our ancestors lived and begin to understand the contributions they made," Virginia Sanchez, a researcher with the Colorado Society of Hispanic Genealogy, told Efe.

The result, she said, is "a new sense of cultural pride" that makes us want "to share our discoveries with everybody in the family and find new members of our extended family."

For Sanchez, author of a book about Hispanic families of the southern Colorado town of Cuchara, it all begins "with the parents and the grandparents," especially during family reunions on festive occasions like Mother's Day and Cinco de Mayo, "when everybody is sharing stories and photos."

Denver resident Fidel Montoya said that he like Sanchez got his interest in genealogy from his father, "who always wanted to find out more" about the family."He always told me that our forebears came from Spain and always told the story of Questa, an isolated village in northern New Mexico where his grandfather, Francisco Antonio Montoya, lived in the 18th century," Montoya told Efe.

After years of research, Montoya put together a family tree that included 16 generations, going all the way back to Simon Perez, who lived in Spain in the first half of the 16th century.

"When my father died, I was sorry I hadn't written down all the stories he told me. That's why I decided to keep my family's history alive and I began writing all I remembered and to research our ancestors. I think it's very important to know and preserve where we came from," Montoya said.

Mexican-American genealogy expert Arturo Cuellar-Gonzalez said that it was his grandmother who filled his heart with a "deep desire to find out about" his forefathers. Cuellar-Gonzalez, who works at the Family History Library, a research facility in Salt Lake City operated by FamilySearch, the genealogical arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was able to trace the names of 11 generations of his ancestors.

"Young people are more and more interested in the history of their families," Cuellar-Gonzalez said, and thanks to the Internet, many people can now connect with family members they never knew they had. EFE

Sent by Arturo Cuellar
cuellararturo@familysearch.org

Why Non-holiday in Mexico. Deserves our Attention

by Dr. Lily Rivera

lyrivera1@yahoo.com

Forget all the articles you've ever read that purport to explain
why we celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the United States. They've got it all wrong.

=============================================

It's not about celebrating a victory in a battle on the fifth of May in 1862, in the City of Puebla, in the country of Mexico. It's not about honoring poor and untrained peasants who, though far out-numbered, defeated soldiers from what was then the greatest military force in the world, the French Army.

No, it is not about that, and it is not about recent immigrants, either. It is about us, those of us who were born here, whose parents, grandparents, and great grandparents came to this country long, long ago. It is about us as American citizens who have been marginalized socially and economically, a people who have had to wrench their rights and privileges from an unwilling populace through the force of law. It is about those of us who, until only the most recent of times, were not included in this country's history books.

We celebrate the Cinco de Mayo, not in recognition of a battle in another nation, but to battle for recognition in this nation—recognition that we are equal to all others in intellect and goodness, that we represent a positive element in American society. We seek recognition so that our children's potential will be allowed to flourish, that we will be given equal opportunity in the workforce and leadership of this nation, goals that statistics confirm we have not yet achieved. Finally, we connect to a battle in the history of our forefathers because we need appreciation for the contribution we have made to this country.

For example, when we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, our local newspaper observed that day by publishing four full pages of stories about men who served in Vietnam. I read names like Kimball, White, Stenzler, Russell, Kaufman, Lockwood. I didn't find a single Sanchez, Lopez, Gonzales.

We are all familiar with the Vietnam War statistics, that nearly 60,000 men and women lost their lives in the battlefields of that country, that nearly one in every five of those combatants was a Hispanic soldier. Recognition of the Hispanic contribution to the Vietnam War would have taken nothing from the recognition given to other war heroes. Yet, not one, not one Garcia, Rodriguez, or Nuñez was mentioned in our local newspaper's four pages of coverage.

This matters. What is reported in today's press is significant because today's newspaper article is tomorrow's historical document. If today's periodicals mention only the crimes Hispanics commit and the failures they experience, that is all that the world will know about us. If our deeds are not applauded, if our achievements are not celebrated, if our contribution to this nation is not lauded today, our grandchildren will have nothing to honor about us tomorrow.

=============================================

We celebrate Cinco de Mayo because we have a need for heroes, not just because heroes do great and glorious things, but because we see them as people like us. In finding commonalties with them, we draw courage, inspiration, and a belief in ourselves as worthy human beings. So, we reach back a century and a half. We reach south 2,000 miles, south to the heroes of another nation, of another time. We connect to the weak and the brave in a place far away in a moment long ago, for we see in their struggle and in their victory something within us, the potential for victory against great odds, the potential to contribute historically, significantly to this nation.

Our battle for recognition is not easy. There are those who suggest that Hispanics are unpatriotic, that we are not loyal Americans because on this day, we wave a flag from another country. Such people must be reminded that there is no disloyalty to this nation in honoring our roots in the same way Irish Americans do on St. Patrick's Day and that German Americans do during Octoberfest. All Americans must recognize that what makes this nation great is that it is, and we are, red, white, blue---and brown, and that no group's loyalty to this country is minimized by celebrating its heritage.

Part of the battle for recognition involves the fact that to many people in this nation, we are not “real” Americans. It is a sad fact that while many of us are generations removed from being immigrants, too many Hispanics are still generations away from being seen as “real” Americans.

My family, like yours, exemplifies this. My husband, Tom Rivera, was born 73 years ago. In the same house in which his father was born. In Colton. In California. In the United States. Yet, to many of our neighbors, we are, and always will be, their "Mexican"' neighbors. I ask, and we should all ask, how many generations must we produce in order for our people to be considered real, full Americans? As long as we are not viewed as such, we will neither be the neighbor of choice nor the coveted employee.

If Hispanics are to achieve recognition in this nation, I believe that we must achieve three goals:

============================================

=============================================

First, we must learn to like ourselves. People who do not like themselves, who have no respect for their own kind, allow themselves to be trampled. America has a history of giving disenfranchised people equal treatment only as a result of being forced to do so by this nation's courts. Unless we respect ourselves enough to speak up for ourselves, we will not fully enjoy the fruits of American citizenship.

Self-love begins by touching our past. We should learn how our forefathers came to this nation, the struggles they endured, the sacrifices they made. We would be wise to visit the land of our ancestors, plant our feet where they once walked, bathe in the rivers that watered their crops. We should stand before the pyramids built by the Aztecs and the temples created by the Mayans and marvel at their spectacular engineering feats. It is through the touching of our past that we acquire the knowledge that leads to self-esteem.

Secondly, we must pledge to move ourselves beyond the “firsts.” We take great pride in having a first Hispanic doctor, a first Hispanic mayor, a first Hispanic congressman. These are commendable achievements, I agree. But, we should also be ashamed. Our forefathers founded this entire region and many of the major cities in California more than 200 years ago. Yet, it is only in the very recent past that we have been able to celebrate the first mayor, the first… We should be ashamed that we have not worked harder to improve our lot, have not pushed ourselves to greater achievements.

In our push for progress, we must be prepared to make sacrifices, just as our forefathers did. We, too, must risk. We must get involved in the social, educational and political processes of this nation, no matter how much failure and resentment we encounter. We may not succeed, but our failure, our experience, will become a steppingstone for the path that others can follow.

=============================================

Thirdly, if we are to gain recognition and assure our full participation in this land, we must speak out against injustice and inequality. When people are arrested, they are reminded that they have the right to remain silent. But the American Civil Liberties Union reminds us of a far greater right---the right not to remain silent. We must exercise that right and not hesitate to address loudly and frequently the issues that prohibit us from developing our full potential and sharing our talents with this great nation.

One hundred fifty years ago, at the end of what we now call the Cinco do Mayo Battle, its leader, General Ignacio Zaragoza, wrote to the Minister of Defense in Mexico City to report his soldiers’ victory. He wrote:

“Las armas nacionales se han cubierto de gloria…puedo afirmar con orgullo que ni un momento volvio la espalda al enemigo el ejcrcito mexicano.”

“I delight,” he wrote, “in informing you that the armies of this country have covered themselves in glory. I can confirm with pride that not for one second did any soldier retreat; not for a moment did our military turn its back to the enemy to run away in defeat.”

And neither must we ... whether the enemy is ourselves or an unjust system. True victory in this battle for recognition lies not just in our personal academic and financial success. A minority of successful Hispanics is not proof that we have achieved parity as a people. The battle will only be won when Hispanics no longer remain at the top of the dropout list, the prison population, and the unemployment lines. We must continue to celebrate Cinco de Mayo without apologies until the day when Hispanic Americans stand truly equal to all other Americans.
                                       End.

CUENTO

Part 3

Other AID/W Assignments and a Retaliatory Transfer to Pakistan

By José M. Peña[i]

=============================================

Introduction. As I explained in my two previous articles (Parts 1 and 2), many good and rough things happened to me and my family during my 35-years of work, as Foreign Services Officer (FSO), with the U.S. Agency for International Development, as a Director of a Health Project in Guatemala, an International Consultant with private contractors, and as a contractor with the Organization of American States (OAS). Although at times there were extremely harsh experiences, this was a most productive period of our lives. It was a time when my family and I were assigned – and lived – in eight different countries. I lived in three countries by myself. And, I went on Temporary Duty Assignments (TDY) to 26 other countries.

For this reason, I would like to tell some of my many professional and personal stories in a series of installments over a period of months. For professional reasons, I will try to stay away from the highly technical side of my work – although citing some examples and parts of my experiences.

Part 3. This is the third part in my series of stories. These few stories took place during my first tour of duty in the Regional Inspector’s Office in Washington and ends at the time of my reassignment to Pakistan.

Some minor reviews. After the OCII and TFA assignments, there were a few routine studies assigned to me on which I only have minor recollections. I was sent by myself to Texas A&M where USAID had a research program related to agriculture. After this one, I went to the Los Angeles area, together with Don – who was a nice looking man, shaved his hair completely, had blue eyes, looked almost like a twin to the famous actor (Yul Brynner), and ladies liked him. We stayed there about three weeks. I also went on Temporary Duty (TDY) to El Salvador with Jim W. This was a time during the political upheaval in El Salvador; so, Jim, a brand new employee to USAID, was very afraid while in El Salvador. I remember that when we got to the airport, we were searched and “wanded.” Jim was so frightened that he spread his legs and raised his arms so high that I turned the other way so as not laugh. While I went everywhere, and had friends over to the hotel for drinks, conversations, and other, Jim always stayed in the hotel. Jim did not stay with USAID too long; he resigned in a short time. There were other minor types of assignments.

After these assignments, came two big ones:

=============================================

Formulating A Plan To Review The Office of Contracts and Grants. This review was a biggy. No one had ever attempted to do a “survey” and formulate a plan to review the functions, operations, and financial transactions of a whole USAID office like the Office of Contracts and Grants. In early 1977, our Unit, headed by Russell U. (a real top notch person) was assigned to do the job. I became the Audit Manager for that assignment and got help as I needed it. I formulated a broad outline to do a quick survey of the AID/W Office of Contracts and Grants and in the field. Between the RIG field offices and I, we made visits to 8 countries in Latin America, Near East, and Africa, i.e., I went to Guatemala and El Salvador and the RIGs went to 6 others.

This quick survey identified several problematic functional areas, including the area of the Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IQC’s) discussed later. In this manner, I was able to direct my plan in a more focused manner so as to evaluate the effectiveness of the office and the adequacy of its contracting standards, policies, procedures, and practices. At the time of my study, there were three different offices which had authority to sign contracts. We focused on the principal one (called SER/CM).

As can be imagined, this type of study was a jewel for its complexity. There were six Divisions which were organized into geographical and functional branches. They had very lengthy and complex “cyclical” movements. For instance, they received/made /initiated /did /reviewed/acted on: (a) requests for an activity (in form of PIO/T); (b) solicitations and advertisements; (c) selected the contractor; (d) pre-award surveys; (e) negotiations; (f) drafted needed agreements; (g) determined type of contract; (h) drafted and finalized agreement; (i) signed agreement; (j) monitored work in progress; (k) audit reports; (l) determined and settled final costs; and, (l) concluded the cycle.

During my survey and with the help of computer print-outs, my analyses showed that USAID/SER/CM was servicing 627 Contractors/Grantees, who had 1,908 active contracts. These contracts amounted to $635.4 million. These statistics were extremely important. From them, I was able to formulate 12 different profiles of all contracts and grants.

=============================================

Statistical profiling of information represents an excellent tool in many studies. The same set of statistics – in my case, 1,908 contracts amounting to $635.4 million -- is reconfigured or manipulated to show different angles of the same data. The results are then used to focus the study on the significant values, data that looks odd, and/or discard areas that may be insignificant or will not yield “interesting” or analytical information. The following two examples will give you a “feel” for how profiling of information works (Please note that the same 1,908 contracts and $635.4million have been “twisted” to show a different perspective of the same statistical data). This first profile shows the type of Contractor or Grantee related to the activity:

Number of Dollars Percent

Agreements US$000

1. Firm or Corporation 627 $87,923 13.8%

2. Individuals 392 7,948 1.3

3. Universities 418 203,455 32.0

4. Non- Profit Organizations 400 311,519 49.0

5. Voluntary Relief Fund 12 5,007 .8

6. Management Consultants 20 2,072 .3

7. Other 39 17,483 2.8

8. Totals 1,908 $635,407 100.0

The high concentration of numbers and values of the above table are easily observed. Note the percentages: 49% for Non-Profit Organizations; 32% for Universities; 13.8% for Firms or Corporations. Once again, with the limited available manpower in our office, chances are that we would select samples from high valued contracts and a very selective sample of the minor value type of contracts.

Here is another picture of the same statistics. The following profile shows the purpose and objectives of the activity:

Number of Dollars Percent

Agreements US$000

1. Training 120 $27,179 4.3%

2. Technical Assistance 791 311,873 49.1

3. Architectural and Engineering 49 7,881 1.2

4. Construction 15 5,893 .9

5. Voluntary Funds 15 6,212 1.0

6. Research 145 98,132 15.4

7. Technical Services to AID 506 60,502 9.5

8. Training and Tech Assistance 66 19,428 3.1

9. Commodities 45 4,394 .7

10. Other 156 93,913 14.8

11. Totals 1,908 $635,407 100.0

=============================================

The above table shows high numbers (791) and values ($311.8 million) for Technical Assistance; high numbers (145) and high value ($98.1 million) for research; and, High numbers (506) and high values ($60.5 million) for Technical Services to AID. With the limited available manpower in our office, chances are that we would select samples from these high valued contracts.

As shown by the above two tables, the statistical profiles show different perspectives of the same data. On this basis, the twelve profiles showed me the different “faces” of (a) form of procurement, (b) type of document, (c) types of contractors or grantees, (d) objectives, (e) geographical areas, (f) number of amendments to the agreements, (g) ranges of contracts, (h) expiration of contracts and grants, (i) issuing office symbols, and, (j) others.

During the survey, we did a great deal of studying of past audit reports, Federal Procurement Regulations, AID Procurement Regulations, Legislative pronouncements, AID’s consolidated policies, reviews of files, visits to missions, conversations, etc.

To make the story short, the survey took 350 hours of my time, 600 hours of field assistance time, and 98 hours of higher supervisor’s time. I was able to identify certain very serious defective areas (like the Indefinite Quantity Contracts, discussed later) which needed to be reviewed immediately. At the same time, I produced a 60 page plan designed to answer the numerous “issues” raised by the survey. I divided the study into 39 different areas and calculated the time to do it at 3,150 hours.

I completed the Plan on April 20, 1977. This was a time when I was about to be transferred to Pakistan. I got to see one review (on IQC’s) completed. However, with my transfer, I never knew if the office ever made the planned review of the Office of Contracts and Grants – as a package or divided the study into more manageable smaller studies.

Study of the Indefinite Quantity Contracts. One of the first assignments that I had when I arrived in Washington, from my so called “assignment to the Miami Office,” was to assist in analyzing about 70 different contractor’s proposals who had submitted quotes for “Indefinite Quantity Contracts.”

============================================

=============================================

Here is a little background. In the early 1970’s, USAID (and other government organizations) began to use the Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IQC’s) – which are essentially “time and material-type of contracts” – because they are easy to use. These types of contracts work in the following manner. Fixed labor rates are negotiated with various contractors who specialize in the various disciplines – agriculture, education, governance, etc. The negotiated fixed labor rates are composed by several factors: (a) daily rate of the technician; (b) indirect costs which includes fringe benefits and General and Administrative; and, (c) profit.

· The normal formula used was this: (Annual salary) divided by (260 days in the year) multiplied by the negotiated multiplier for (burden and administrative costs) and (profit) equal the applicable Fixed Daily Rate.

· Here is a simplified example:

Say a Consultant salary history is $70,200 a year. Then his daily rate is $70,200 divided by 260 days in a year or $270 a day. This is the beginning factor. This $270 per day is then multiplied by a pre-negotiated “overhead or burden” and General and Administrative factors say 100%. The results are $270. The negotiated salary and burdened rates are added together ($540) and then multiplied by the Profit Factor – say 10%. The negotiated Fixed Daily Rate would be about $594. The Fixed Daily Rate multiplied by the needed number of days (say 60 days) to do the job would equal the contract ceiling ($35,640).

From the moment I started working on this assignment (and later during my survey of the Contracts Office), my feelings were that the concept of the IQC’s were very worrisome. First, they gave the contractors too much of a chance to abuse the system in many different ways. And, second, the concept represented an extremely close relative to the “Cost Plus A Percentage of Cost Contracts;” these types of contracts were declared illegal many years ago because they gave contractors a terrific incentive to procrastinate and continue to add costs to the project and/or activity – in other words, the more the cost, the more the profit.

When I made my concerns known, the office supervisors also seemed to have come to the same conclusion. They scheduled a comprehensive “Survey of AID Policies and Procedures for Indefinite Quantity Contracts.”

Although I only worked on this survey on a part-time basis, I did help formulate some of the plans, the observations, and reviewed the final report. The team that worked in this study was top notch and came up with exceptional findings.

Because USAID needed this type of flexible mechanism to obtain quick services, the team emphases were to find the defects and get as many corrected for the future. And, just as I had said during my participation in the survey, there were plenty of defects with the IQC concept – there were problems with the rate composition and the applications on the part of Contractors (and also on USAID’s part). In sum, there were different types of abuses to the system.

Here are just a few examples:

============================================

=============================================

· The IQC had been meant to be granted for small jobs. They were being used for large contracts. Other contracting mechanisms should be have been used in such cases.

· There was no consistency in the way USAID applied the burden and profit factor to the different contractors. This inconsistency hindered subsequent problem resolution.

· Contractors were granting and charging extremely high salaries rates for prospective Consultants who did not have that past salary history or an adequate earnings support. The effect was to increase their burdened and profit amounts – and USAID was accepting them without challenge. This is a nice example of how IQC’s are relatives of the “Cost Plus a Percentage of Costs (CPPC)” type of contracts.

· Contractors were blatantly abusing the IQC system. For instance, although the agreements specified that Consultants would work a five day weeks, Contractors were charging for six and seven day work weeks. Not only that, but they were charging various multipliers, reducing the 260-day fringe benefit factor, and charging a profit on other direct costs of activities. Why? Here is another nice example of CPPC.

· There were many complicated findings during the review. Both Contractors and USAID were at fault. One Consultant had been working in a country on a Personal Services Contract at rate of $125 per day; he was now working under an IQC at a rate of $313 per day. One Contractor was given an IQC for a limited time and a $180,000 ceiling; through amendments, the IQC had been increased to over $1.0 million.

In sum, this study showed many defects with the use of IQC’s. Since I was transferred from Washington to Pakistan (then to Egypt, back to Washington, and finally to Kenya), I knew the Team had done a great job, but I did not know, until 12 years later, if the problems had been corrected.

Report on IQC’s Was Issued May 1977; Now I quickly take you 12 years later to 1989. As I was nearing the end of my career with USAID, in 1989, I returned to Washington from a four year tour in Kenya. My last AID/W assignment was to do a financial study of all contracts between USAID and a Contractor who did/does a great deal of work with the Agency. Together with Charlie, a nice person, we began our study. This Contractor was providing a number of high priced Consultants to USAID through Indefinite Quantity Contracts. Wow! What a surprise I got to find what this Contractor was charging and billing the USAID:

=============================================

· His billings were calculated using the following formula. The Fixed Daily Rates of the individual numbers of Consultants were multiplied by the respective number of days; then all the individual sub-totals were added; then, the totals were multiplied by a 15% factor for the “Profit.” In other words, since the Fixed Daily Rate already included a number of factors (salary, indirect costs, general and administrative, and profit) he was knowingly adding an “Extra Profit.”

When I saw this and as I continued to expand my sample to other contracts, every billing showed the same results. This was a fraud of big proportion. As required, I showed and discussed my sample results, and preliminary conclusions, to the then Regional Inspector General. Instead of letting me pursue the case, I was withdrawn from the assignment within a week. I was never told why.

· However, I suspect that the reason was this: Unknown to me at the time that I returned to Washington from Kenya, the IG Special Office of Investigations had been carrying out, for many months, a “covert criminal investigation” on me for a supposed “misappropriation of an Education Grant given to me for the Special Education of my daughter…” When I eventually found this out in Washington, it was obviously another retaliatory and false chase by the IG. However, this one –coming at the end of my 30 year career -- was a most humiliating and frustrating one me. It was also a tremendous amount of wasted time, funds, human efforts, and the wasted involvement of several Agencies. In the end, it amounted to nothing. I will provide details in later Parts.

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In any event, the reason I bring up the above is that it might have been the reason I was not permitted to pursue the case. Nevertheless, I retired, within a few months, and no one ever told me whether the study was ever concluded or not. Do I think such abuses by Contractors continue today? Absolutely!

We now return to 1977; A Discussion with Auditor General Anyway, after a year of doing complex jobs, being on the road constantly, and not being able to attend a University to get my Masters (as planned), I wrote a memo to the AG (Harry Cr.). In it, I told him that I had attended two night courses at my own expense, and had applied for 8 short-duration courses but all had been rejected, by his office, every time. I told him that the real problem was that the Office did not have a systematic education program, which would be implemented during rotation assignment in Washington by Foreign Services Officers. I gave him an outline of how such a training program could be designed and implemented. Nearly a year went by and the guy did not even have the courtesy to give me a response. So, I got fed up, made the necessary appointment and met AG Harry Cr in person.

This was a guy who had worked as a Senator’s Aide, obviously very intelligent, enjoyed his drinks, and had come to replace the previous biddy-eye nincompoop who had closed the Panama Office and transferred us to Miami. That day, I found him equally non-responsive. At least, he invited me to sit down. With his blood-shot eyes, he listened to my litany of complaints, explanations, and reasons why I should be allowed to be in a sedentary job and be allowed to get my Master’s. Obviously hoping for a quick conclusion to the meeting, he nodded a few times, told me that he would think about it and that he would let me know later. We shook hands, and I left.

Not a month went by and I was called by the Executive Officer (a guy named Gene C.). This guy was a tall, blondish, and perhaps in his late 40’s. He was clear and to the point – “you are being reassigned to Pakistan.”

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· Being assigned to Pakistan was the equivalent of being sent to Siberia. The Office was in Karachi, whereas the U.S. Embassy and all the diplomatic activities were in Islamabad. Karachi was very backwards at the time. Two managers who did not have the best of reputations ran the office. The travel factor was between 85 to 95%. The countries covered were some of the less developed in the world – Bangladesh, Yemen, Afghanistan, etc. People that were assigned there, usually came back dissolution, either quit, retired, or requested transfer to other offices. In sum, it was most evident that, in my case, the only reason for my transfer to Pakistan was a retaliatory action for speaking out against the lack of an education policy.

· Also, this was not the first (and it would not be the last) time someone would try to retaliate against me for speaking out dissenting on something. While in Ecuador, I was forced transferred to Vietnam – but this one was Agency requirement. While in Colombia, one Audit Manager who came on TDY wanted to make radical changes to an important report; I would not let him. As a result, I was proposed for transfer to Kinshasa, The Congo on the basis that “…you know Spanish, you can learn French…” The ill planned transfer was eventually cancelled. In the future, there would be extremely harsh retaliatory measures. I will discuss them in later parts of my series.

Anyway, my objections were strong and strenuous: “For medical reasons, my wife (who only has one kidney) and family cannot be cleared for that Post and I already have been separated from the family while being forced assigned to Vietnam.” Gene flatly told me (and I will remember his words all my life): “We hire the employee, not the family – Both Mr. Cr and I say you are going … if you don’t like it, you can resign your commission…” Not being in Foreign Service himself, Gene was espousing an ill-founded principle, i.e. unlike General Schedule Personnel who only work in the U.S., families are essential in Foreign Service and the U.S. State Department makes every effort not to separate them. So, he and I had a most unfriendly conversation exchange. Our discussion went nowhere; the retaliation was obvious.

In my case, I had no option. With 24 years of U.S. Government service, by then, -- and a family of wife and four children, the oldest (Joe – a real brainy type) who was in The College of William and Mary and eventually graduated from there -- I was not about to make a stupid decision that would forfeit retiring in 5 to 7 years. So, the only option was to go to Pakistan. After finishing the survey of the Office of Contracts, I was on my way within the next 60 days. This also accounts for the reason why I was never able to get a higher Degree than my BBA. However, in my line of work, this only meant that I would not have a piece of paper saying that I had a Master’s Degree. In reality, the exposure and “on-hands” involvement in such a diverse and complicated world of development – and the many disciplines that I routinely studied (Agriculture, Education, Integrated Development Programs, etc. etc.) gave me the education and experience that surely must be the equivalent to an extremely high education degree.

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(Here is one final interesting point. It is ironic that while I was serving in Pakistan, Gene C. was caught in a scheme related to the way his office was awarding contracts -- in other words, he was engaged in some shady transactions – he was booted out of the agency, and prosecuted for his criminal acts. Also, AG Harry Cr. moved on or was forced to move to another agency. There are two Spanish sayings that go like this: “El que rie al ultimo, rie major.” (He, who laughs last, laughs the nicest). The second one: “No hay mal, que por bien no venga…” (There is no bad happening, that is not followed by a good one). However, like I say, this was too early to claim that I would have an extremely smooth ride to the end of my career. In effect, my career had its ups and downs. As mentioned in the IQC section, later problems would be more serious and disturbing.

However, for now and as I will describe in the next part, being assigned to Pakistan was extremely rough. The two persons assigned as managers were real rough and the travel factor (85 to 95%) to such backward countries (Bangladesh, Yemen, Afghanistan, etc) could drive you batty or to drinking. My next series will get into that.

[i] Jose M. Pena is author of a book entitled “Inherit The Dust From The Four Winds of Revilla” and a number of articles. He worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development for nearly 30 years and served as its first Hispanic Regional Deputy Inspector General in two regions. He was also a Director for a Health Project in Guatemala and a Financial Consultant for the Organization of American States

The National Association of Latino Independent Producers is proud to announce Andy Garcia as the 2014 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award; honored for his work as an actor, director and both film and music producer. The award will be presented in person at the Gala Awards ceremony on June 7th 2014 during the NALIP Media Summit at the Sheraton Universal in Universal City, CA.

www.nalipmediasummit.com

Jackeline Cacho Awarded Outstanding Women of the Year
by La Opinion Newspaper

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Los Angeles, CA. - Latina Leader Finding Productions Founder Jackeline Cacho was chosen by La Opinion Newspaper as the Outstanding Business Women of the Year 2014. The publication is America’s largest Hispanic newspaper. She shares the recognition with six other women.

Jackeline Cacho who is also considered the ‘Queen of Edutainment in Hispanic Media’ is an international award winning journalist. Throughout her career she has led a successful life that inspires Latinos in America.

“I am very honor to have been selected by La Opinion Newspaper this year,” Cacho says. “It has been eight years since we have been working really hard with my team to make a difference in Spanish TV.”

Jackeline Cacho has the mission with her company to produce and promote education in Spanish television , her now national TV show Jackeline Cacho Presenta Triunfo Latino , enters its third season and is now better than ever. The show airs every Sunday on Vme TV network and it has shown significant growth in ratings in the cities of New Jersey, Washington, San Diego, Las Vegas, San Antonio and Los Angeles.

April was a very excited month for Jackeline and her team. She was selected by the National Latino Leaders Magazine as the 2014 Most Influential Women in Education for his work in the Spanish language media.

Jackeline Cacho is an entrepreneur woman who has successfully overcome great trials and challenges. She always has worked so hard looking to give her best. Her motto is “It's not the position you can

achieve in life. It's what you can do with it to influence others."

Jackeline Cacho’s vision is complimented and enhanced by Thene Mucino, president of Finding Productions and Mexican director. Combined, the two provide an unmatched vision for educational and thought Inspirational television. With Vme TV as a strong partner, the duo will continue pushing the boundaries for what Latino households across the United States can and should expect from media outlets everywhere.

Jackeline Cacho presents her show on Vme TV on Sunday at 1:30 PM PST. Join Jackeline Cacho’s edutainment revolution on Facebook and Twitter, and learn more about her efforts at http://www.jackelinecacho.com and about Vme TV at http://www.vmetv.com.

Links for Cacho’s recognitions are found at http://latinoleaders.com/the-unsinkable-jackeline-cacho/ http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/8/prweb10985676.htm http://www.laopinion.com/vida-estilocomunidad/article/20140320/Suenos-cumplidos-educar-e-informar http://issuu.com/revistagentedeexito/docs/revista_gente_29

For more information, press only: 626.532.2091 Finding Productions

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001a3j0iM7gYEGqQBW7HALkL7Po5DOY0C4I5-VESQXRD-_X2uABH-2WyflozBpWLVWqJHtqTW-XjYpbmHCmLhaLvrJSu61Wu9j749Y8Fi9TVt5DCB9GMC0WDc7CZbv99s_tPCLgGOR7i3juuBlBOy6oUM8iBjcUieQjrRxg_RkjCkQgwjDxE2D9sgI53llizp54FsHLCGCcXIHZ8LmZ1W4kWOOYCKKkWOWWPV9lTvZUpMcEooEgh4TXFWNpaDUvA5LF_QXR0QO0n94Tlo9P2whoZDU4DpKwtrwm1GIC1M417i25telaTl97y1z1L10GuscZGE_eVKb-1wLUCDhL9_FHuxoW2q5HpMbqbiZsSuJCPolJGJWq-SyWAJYXa6JiL9idZtBIf4LqnfUp6W3SbQZkUHitZJKESLdBUKDovaHD2gQ=&c=jj038ZGqcGPq8NY2C4t10zQfLQ7CjwY7Xr-Jvqjimrd5JY8Ew9W5ow==&ch=CiBTEa8Sy43YqKA3qMVE13X5UHhfuppH1WEwc_pywEF9hjWgDKoXvQ==

Vol. 20, No. 2

New York City native Rosario Dawson has become not only a social activist and philanthropist but an 'actrovist'. She graces our cover for this edition because she is one of a new generation of talented performers that are lending their name, talent, and money to help our community. We honor her commitment, her talent and her social responsibility in Rosario Dawson, A Leader On and Off the Screen.

In addition, we present examples of successful Latina foreign service officers and civil service officers at the Department of State in Trailblazers of American Foreign Policy. Read the personal accounts of five Latinas at State whom are diversifying and making an impact at the agency.

On a final note, celebrating 16 years of Latina leadership in corporate America, the LATINA Style Awards and Diversity Conference held in Washington D.C on February 6th, honored the top 50 corporations for Latinas to work for in the U.S. Check out who were the award winners and special guests of the program in the special coverage of the LS 50. info@latinastyle.com

Cesar Chavez's link to Hector Garcia

By Daisy Wanda Garcia
Corpus Christi Caller Times 05/03/2014, Page A011

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The release of the new Cesar Chavez movie prompted me to wonder about the relationship, if any, that may have existed between my father, Dr. Hector P. Garcia, and Chavez. So I contacted Grace Charles at the Mary and Jeff Bell Library at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where my fathers papers are stored, to request copies of any correspondence or materials between the two men.

The search retrieved three documents. The first was a letter written to my father concerning protests in Starr County. The second was a letter sent by my father to Carl Albert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the third was from Chavez to my father in December 1972 asking for his support of a boycott against Safeway Markets in Corpus Christi.

Chavez's activities provided an impetus for union organizers in South Texas to hold similar strikes. In September of 1966, the farm-workers marched to Austin. Gov. John Connally and U.S. Sen. Ralph Yarborough met with the marchers .

Despite the meeting with the elected officials, the strikes held by the AFL-CIO had dire consequences for the strikers in Starr County. The Texas Rangers were used as strike breakers.

In a 1967 letter by Harold Dickey to Papa, there was an incident involving violence against one of the strikers. Dickey, writing on behalf of David Lopez of the Rio Grande City AFLCIO, asked Papa to contact Connally to request intervention against the Texas Rangers in Starr County who were intimidating the Mexican-American strikers. If Connally would not intervene, then Lopez wanted Papa to contact the Civil Rights Commission and the Justice Department.

In January 1972, Papa wrote a letter to Speaker Albert requesting a congressional investigation of the alleged assassination plot against Cesar Chavez. Papa wrote, In previous cases and in the assassination of (journalist) Ruben Salazar in Los Angeles, we feel that the Mexican American People have only one place wherein they can place their trust and that is with you and the U.S. Congress. Papa read an article from the New York Times News Service from San Francisco dated January 1972. Papa wrote, The article indicated that there is a contract for Chavez's assassination, We believe that there is one. Papa ended his letter with a plea to Speaker Albert to Please act now and save Chavez.

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The article which Papa referred to, ATF Agent Says He Was Part of Coast Plot to Kill Cesar Chavez, appeared in the New York Times, Jan. 2, 1972, Page 31, disclosing that Larry Shears, intelligence agent for the Treasury Department, said he was part of a plot to kill Chavez and black activist and writer Eldridge Cleaver through the Narcotics Department. The FBI referred to Shears as an informant. So it was never clear what his status was.

The release of the FBIs dossier on Chavez obtained under the Freedom of Information Act was part of a 1,434-page file on Chavez and the farm-worker movement between 1965 and 1973. The FBIs surveillance of Chavez and other protest groups of the civil rights era was instigated by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to prove they had been infiltrated by subversive influences. After nearly a decade of scrutiny, the FBI was unable to uncover any evidence of communism or corruption in the activities of Chavez and his followers.

In December 1972, Chavez wrote to Papa thanking him for his past support he gave during their struggles. Chavez also requested Papas help to boycott the Safeway supermarkets. After that the library had no other correspondence between the two men. Papa tracked Chavezs activities through newspaper articles which are now part of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia collection at the Bell library.

In April 1979, Papa addressed Texas Farm Workers Union strikers at a rally at the Texas Capitol. While listening to his words I realized that history was being made. Both Cesar Chavez and my father were great leaders and shared common goals of obtaining social justice by overturning the status quo through peaceful means.

Daisy Wanda Garcia of Austin is the daughter of civil rights pioneer Dr. Hector P. Garcia. Email her at Wanda. garcia@sbcglobal.net .

Harvesting Hope, the Story of Cesar Chavez

Author, Kathleen Krull
Illustrated by Yuyi Morales
Academia Cultural
http://academiacultural.com

Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Grade Level: 1 – 3
Lexile Measure: 800L (What’s this?)
Series: Pura Belpre Honor Book. Illustrator (Awards)
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers; 1st Ed. edition (March 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0152014373
ISBN-13: 978-0152014377
Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 11.5 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

Filipino Americans and the Farm Labor Movement by Angelo Lopez

April 30, 2014
angelolopez.wordpress.com

The movie, Cesar Chavez, documents his life and his role in the 1965 Delano Grape Strike. An aspect of the film is the largely forgotten contributions of Filipino Americans to the farm labor movement. Since the 1920s, when Filipinos first learned to organize into unions in Hawaii, Filipinos were important leaders in organizing farmworkers to fight against unfair working conditions. ~ Angelo Lopez 2014

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Recently a movie about Cesar Chavez came out that documents the life of Cesar Chavez and his role in the Delano Grape Strike of 1965. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I've read that it's a good movie. One of the things that the movie does is bring out the important but largely forgotten contributions of Filipino Americans to the farm labor movement. Since the 1920s, when Filipinos first learned to organize into unions in Hawaii, Filipinos were important leaders in organizing farmworkers to fight against unfair working conditions. Here is a cartoon I did for the April 16 edition of the Philippines Today to commemorate those forgotten Filipino leaders.

Alex S. Fabros, Jr. and Daniel P. Gonzales wrote a good article about some of the history of Filipino Americans in farm labor organizing. They wrote: Like tens of thousands of their fellow countrymen of the 1920s and 30s, they crossed the Pacific filled with dreams of adventure, better-paying jobs, access to higher education and personal and social advancement. What most found on their arrival in America were economic oppression, brutal working conditions and racial exclusion.

Hardened and humbled but not humiliated by their experiences, they became a generation of labor organizers-men and women very conscious of their status as "unskilled" workers and immigrants at the bottom of American society. In response, they published newspapers, wrote books and led strikes. They were radicalized by the repressive actions taken against them by both business and government.

During the 1920s, the Filipinos in Hawaii led by Pablo Manlapit learned how to organize labor unions, stage work slowdowns and hold strikes. After the bloody labor strikes of 1924, many of them fled from blacklisting and government and goon violence and headed on to the mainland, bringing leadership experience and skills with them. When they were confronted by the oppressive labor conditions they were quick to form unions to defend themselves.

Bulosan wrote, "In many ways it was a crime to be a Filipino in California," because both the growers and the racially prejudiced American Federation of Labor (AFL) were alarmed by their militant stance when they threatened farmers with strikes in order to earn a "living wage."

In the 1920s, Pablo Manlapit led Filipinos in strikes to better their working conditions. In the 1930s, Filipino leaders Rufo Canete, D. L. Marcuelo, Tomas Lascetonia, Johnny Estigoy, Nick Losada, and Alfonso Castillo created the Filipino Labor Union (FLU) and successfully fought for a minimum wage of 35 cents an hour, an eight-hour workday, the elimination of labor contractors and the end to racial hierarchy in the assignment of farm jobs. In 1938 the Filipino Agricultural Laborers Association (FALA) was founded and it opened its membership to Mexicans and other ethnic groups. It was later renamed the Federated Agricultural Laborers Association (FALA) and it fought for higher wages and better working conditions.

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In 1959, labor leaders Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and Pete Velasco joined with the AFL-CIO to create the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC). Larry Itliong was the vice president of AWOC. Itliong, Vera Cruz, and velasco led a strike in September 1965, the month when grapes were ready to be harvested, to raise their pay to $1.40 an hour and 25 cents for each box of grapes picked. They also hoped to force the growers to recognize their union. On September 16, 1965, at the Filipino Hall on the West Side of Delano, Cesar Chavez held a meeting where the Mexican laborers decided to join the Filipino workers in the strike. Filipino Americans have a proud history of fighting for the rights for farm laborers. Here is a list of a few of those Filipino leaders.

Pablo Manlapit was a labor organizer and lawyer who helped fight for better pay and better working conditions for Filipino plantation workers in Hawaii. In 1920, Manlapit led a strike of Japanese and Filipino plantation in Oahu workers to raise their wages and get breaks in their work day. In 1924, Pablo Manlapit was convicted of perjury in relation to the Hanepepe Massacre in Kauai in September 9, 1924, though Manlapit was not at the scene. He continued labor organizing in California and in Hawaii, until his permanent expulsion from Hawaii and deportation to the Philippines in 1935.

Rufo Canete was a labor organizer in the 1930s. In 1933, Rufo Canete and other Filipino labor leaders met in Salinas and formed the Filipino Labor Union (FLU). The FLU organized farm workers of all nationalities to fight for an increased minimum wage (to 35 cents per hour), an eight-hour day, employment without racial discrimination, recognition of the union as a bargaining agent and the abolition of labor contractors. On March 19, 1934 they led the Salinas Lettuce Strike, which completely shut down the lucrative industry and the union's demands were soon granted.

D. L. Marcuelo was a businessman and attorney who helped found the Filipino Labor Union in 1933 and the Filipino American newspaper Three Stars in 1928. As co-editor, Marcuelo pointed out the problems of imperialist exploitation of natural resouces and cheap labor. Marcuelo criticized discrimination and violence against Filipinos in California, especially a riot in Watsonville, California in 1930 where 500 white youths attacked Filipinos for dancing with white women at a dance house.

Larry Itliong was a farm worker and labor organizer who organized cannery and agricultural unions in Alaska, Washington, and California from the late 1930s to the 1960s.

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In Alaska, he helped found the Alaska Cannery Workers Union. In 1948, Itliong (along with Rudy Delvo, Chris Mensalvas, Philip Vera Cruz, and Ernesto Mangaoang) became involved in the 1948 asparagus strike in Stockton, California, which was the first major agriculture strike after World War II. Itlioing served as a steward and a vice president of the Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 37 in Seattle in the early 1950s. In 1956, Itliong founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union in Stockton. In 1965 Larry Itliong was the leader of the AFL-CIO union Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, which voted to strike against the Coachella Valley Grape Growers and the Delano growers. It was during the strike in Delano that Larry Itliong's group joined Cesar Chavez's National Farm Workers Association in the strike and eventually formed the United Farm Workers. Philip Vera Cruz was a labor activist who helped Larry Itliong found the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee. As a young man, Vera Cruz was briefly in the International		Workers of the World. In the 1950s he was a member of the National Farm Labor Union, an AFL-CIO group that worked to improve conditions for farm workers. Philip Vera Cruz was one of the leaders of the 1965 Delano Grape Strike and he served as the second vice president of the United Farm Workers union. Andy Imutan was in charge of the Stockton and Delano, California chapters of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). In 1965 Imutan was part of the Coachella and Delano strikes that eventually led to the formation of the United Farm Workers. During the grape strike, Imutan, Cesar Chavez, Larry Itliong and the leaders of the strike insisted that strikers from different races walk the same picketlines and share the same union hall and strike kitchen. Andy Imutan was the first vice president of the United Farm Workers, leading the grape boycott in Baltimore and other east coast cities. In 1974, Imutan helped to found the Paulo Agbayani Village, a 58-unit adobe-brick retirement home for elderly and displaced Filipino American farm workers.

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Here are some articles about Filipino American farm labor history: Filipino Farm Labor Organization: A Lesson in Filipino Leadership by Julie Sindel What Happened When Mexicans and Filipinos Joined Together? Essay of the Delano Grape Strike of 1965 by Andy Imutan Filipinos- Forgotten Heroes of the UFW by Alex Fabros Jr. and Daniel P. Gonzales Delano Manongs: Forgotten Heroes of the United Farm Workers: webpage of a documentary of the Filipino leaders who played pivotal roles in the 1965 Delano Grape Strike Last of the Manongs: Aging Voices of a Farm-Labor Fight Find an Audience by Jason DeParle for the New York Times

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About Angelo Lopez - I've wanted to be an artist all my life. Since I was a child I've drawn on any scrap of paper I could get a hold of. When I went to San Jose State University, I became more exposed to the works of the great fine artists and illustrators. My college paintings were heavily influenced by the humorous illustrations of Peter De Seve, an illustrator for the New Yorker magazine. I also fell under the spell of the great muralists of the 1930s, especially Thomas Hart Benton and Diego Rivera. I graduated with a degree in Illustration.

Since my time in college, I've illustrated 3 books: Two Moms the Zark and Me by Johnny Valentine in 1993; Night Travelers by Sue Hill in 1994; and Cherubic Children's New Classic Story Book Volume 2 for Cherubic Press in 1998. I've painted murals for Lester Shields Elementary School in San Jose, the Berryessa branch of the San Jose Public Library, and Grace

Community Church in Los Altos. I've had illustrations published in South Bay Accent Magazine. Tikkun Magazine, the Palo Alto Daily News and in April 2008 my artwork was on the cover of Z Magazine.

As of the April 9 issue, I have a continous cartoon that runs in the Tri-City Voice, a newspaper that covers news in the Milpitas, Fremont, Hayward, Newark, Sunol, and Union City area in California.

These cartoons gave me the opportunity to join the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. To look at my political cartoons, you may go here.] http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoonist/profile.cfm/LopezA/

Source: Portside

El impacto histórico del filme sobre César Chávez

Por Armando García

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Este año por fin la industria cinematográfica en Estados Unidos de América, con una aportación importante de recursos provenientes de México, presenta en el celuloide la vida del extinto líder méxico-estadounidense César Chávez. Una película dirigida por el mexicano Diego Luna.

Sin lugar a dudas, la importancia del filme es que en el Siglo XXI, se le hace justicia al líder campesino que con su ejemplo, dedicación, sacrificio, sembró la semilla de los logros de todos los hispanos en Estados Unidos de América.

Esta película reconoce al campesinado proveniente principalmente de México, país donde su labor, su miseria, desamparo, traicionado, ha sido objeto de discursos demagógicos en campañas electorales y dejados al olvido. El campesinado ha sido un sector de la población mexicana y de otros países de Latinoamérica, tradicionalmente e históricamente discriminado, relegado, condenado a ser un instrumento de carga que se deshecha una vez que ya ha sido explotado, utilizado y humillado.

El filme trata de los primeros años de lucha sindical que Cesar Chávez realizó en organizar a los campesinos de los 50s y 60s

que abandonaron su patria, por no encontrar trabajo en su país y tuvieron que emigrar para sufrir las peores vejaciones, aunque conocidas por la historia racista de Estados Unidos de América, pero jamás sufridas de la misma forma en México, y aun a sabiendas del sufrimiento los parias del campo mexicano fueron abandonados por la patria que los vio parir y partir.

La película narra la lucha que César tuvo que pasar para formar el sindicato campesino fue la semilla del inicio de todos los logros que los mexicanos y los de descendencia mexicana en Estados Unidos han obtenido a los largo de los últimos 50 años.

La película utiliza en un periodo de cinco años de historia los símbolos del movimiento campesino, chicano que fueron creados a lo largo de medio siglo. El filme de Diego Luna rompe el orden cronológico de los hechos reales, agrupando muchos elementos para dar a entender a un público desconocedor de la historia de las personas descendientes de mexicanos que viven en Estados Unidos de América, que sepan la angustia, la represión, que sufrieron los campesinos en la década de los 60s del siglo pasado.

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El filme no mostró la época histórica que Chávez vivió contra la poderosa organización sindical de los Teamsters que fueron utilizados como rompehuelgas y golpeadores para intimidar a los campesinos agremiados al movimiento chavista.

Luna, ha dicho en entrevistas, que esta película es la conexión de Estados Unidos hacia Latinoamérica y que levante conciencia del aquellos que levantan las cosechas del alimento que llega a las mesas de los estadounidenses. Dando a entender que el filme habla de uno de los nuestros, con nombre y apellido que hizo algo por nosotros, por aquellos que viven en Estados Unidos, por aquellos que desesperadamente han dejado de mirar hacia el cielo por conseguir que comer, por carecer de trabajo, han optado de viajar hacia el coloso del norte, buscando el sueño americano, un sueño que en la película se muestra que se convierte en una pesadilla debido a la discriminación racial, la explotación y la humillación.

Este filme después de 50 años de haberse fundado la ‘United Farm Workers of America” y a dos décadas del fallecimiento de su líder, ha tenido un impacto en la población hispana de los Estados Unidos de America. Un impacto que llega en un momento importante donde se debate el tema de una reforma migratoria integral en el llamado paladín de la democracia. Un impacto donde no hay un líder central ante la negativa del Congreso estadounidense de regularizar a millones de personas que cosechan los productos agrícolas que llegan a los hogares de los estadounidenses, de legalizar a los obreros que

laboran en las industrias, de darles la oportunidad a estudiantes que son los cerebros del futuro de America.

El impacto más importante de la película es que las nuevas generaciones de hispanos en Estados Unidos, conozcan la historia de Chávez y sean partícipes en su entorno de la lucha por el cambio social de una forma sin violencia como César lo hizo al igual que Martin Luther King o Mahatma Gandhi.

Indudablemente, los campesinos en Estados Unidos, al igual que los otros inmigrantes, son sujetos a una explotación laboral y étnica y se les podría considerar los nuevos ‘condenados de la tierra’ aludiendo al libro del argelino Frantz Fanon.

César sembró la semilla para el cambio, enseñó el camino a seguir. Cosechas de justicia se han levantado, pero siguen habiendo condenados por las injusticias cometidas contra ellos. Los campesinos que César organizó ya muchos no están entre nosotros. Indudablemente esta película ha despertado el hambre y la sed de justicia por la población inmigrante indocumentada que actualmente está condenada a ser expulsada de un país que ha sido ciego a sus contribuciones por el bienestar de su población.

Esta película, ya sea momentáneamente por el momento que se vive, sembrará otras semillas cuyos frutos serán levantados por las nuevas generaciones de hispanos cuyos resultados trascenderán por los años venideros.

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El presidente Barack Obama, al inicio de la presentación de la película en la Casa Blanca, dijo que el filme es la historia de “un hombre guiado por una enorme fe en una causa justa y un amor por Dios y la dignidad por cada ser humano”.

Todos los pueblos han tenido un caudillo que ha luchado por que la justicia llegue a los más necesitados, a los parias, a los desamparados, a los que con su sudor y su trabajo edifican la riqueza de las sociedades en las que le tocó vivir.

Algunos de esos caudillos, pocos lograron su objetivo, otros fueron cegados al principio o a la mitad del camino y muchos con ahínco levantaron la bandera de su lucha y han seguido adelante.

El dramaturgo alemán Bertolt Brecht dijo que hay hombres que luchan un día y, son buenos. Hay otros que luchan muchos días y, son mejores. Pero hay otros que luchan toda su vida, esos son los imprescindibles.

Cesar Chávez fue una de esas personas que lucharon toda su vida. Su legado continúa después de dos décadas de su partida de este mundo. Su semilla logró dar fruto en aquellos que organizó, educó y mostró el camino a seguir para la justicia social en las minorías que radican en Estados Unidos de América.

César, es nuestro caudillo en Estados Unidos, principalmente del campesinado. Consiguió lo que muchos fallaron por mucho tiempo, formar un sindicato, una unión, un movimiento que sentó el ejemplo del estilo de lucha necesario en este país para conseguir conquistas laborales, dignas de un ser humano.

Para los que tuvimos la fortuna de trabajar cercanamente con él, César nos mostró el camino sin violencia de la lucha por la justicia social. Algo difícil de concebir por muchos llamados revolucionarios que su meta es derrocar por la vía armada a los gobiernos, la oligarquía, la burguesía en el poder.

César logró que las grandes empresas agrícolas se doblegaran ante la presión del boicoteo a los productos agrícolas, un arma económica, infalible, que afectó directamente a la riqueza de los poderosos, los intocables, de los influyentes en todos los aspectos de nuestra sociedad.

César logró abrir los ojos a una sociedad que el alimento que uno se lleva todos los días a la boca, fue cosechado por alguien que no tiene suficiente para comer y menos para sostener a su familia. La sociedad estadounidense supo de la miseria, la desesperación, la angustia del campesinado a través del boicoteo, al ver como miles de campesinos llegaron a las grandes ciudades a pedirles a los consumidores que no compraran uvas o lechuga, porque estaban manchadas de explotación, marginación y humillación.

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César dijo que el sufrimiento del campesino no tiene precio, pero logró que los agricultores cedieran en compensar ese sufrimiento al mejorar las condiciones de trabajo.

El Presidente Obama recordó las palabras de Chávez: “cuando se tiene a gente unida que cree fuertemente en algo, ya sea religión, política, sindicatos, las cosas ocurren”.

César ya no está físicamente con nosotros. La consigna de ¡Sí se Puede! que se escuchó desde los surcos del campo hasta las ciudades, ahora se escucha en todo el mundo y hasta el Presidente Obama la utilizó ampliamente en su campana electoral.

Su lucha no debe olvidarse, debe ser conocida en todos los rincones del país y además la lucha debe seguir, ya que campesino que César organizo, ya tampoco está con nosotros. Nuevas generaciones de mano de obra joven llega a los campos, a las fábricas, a las ciudades, provenientes de América Latina y de otras partes del mundo. Algunos recogerán las conquistas de César, otros son y serán explotados y humillados por sus patrones y discriminados por la sociedad que siempre lo ha mirado con malos ojos. Pero las enseñanzas de qué se debe hacer, y cómo se puede ganar, ya están escritas, simplemente hay que ponerlas a la práctica.

Las luchas por la reforma migratoria, por reformas laborales, se pueden ganar sin violencia. Sigamos el ejemplo de César Chávez y de todos aquellos que siguen su legado.

Armando García es un periodista independiente y es colaborador de varios medios impresos y en internet. Es el director de medios de Finding Produtions en Los Ángeles, California. Es el fundador y editor de la Revista ‘Nuestra América” publicada en Internet. Fungió como editor-reportero del semanario ¿Qué Pasa? En Carolina del Norte, Fue el corresponsal y columnista de Conexión Hispana en San Ángelo, Texas y trabajó como corresponsal de la agencia española “EFE” y de la “Hispanic Press News Agency” en Washington, DC. Además ha sido colaborador de la revista “Latino Leaders” y fue reportero bilingüe en los periódicos La Prensa y Rumbo de San Antonio, Texas. Trabajó como reportero de ‘La Raza Magazine’ en Los Ángeles, California. Fue editor general de los semanarios ‘El Nuevo Tiempo’, ‘Imágenes’ y ‘La Farándula’ en California. Además fue editor administrativo y director de Relaciones Públicas del sindicato fundado por César Chávez.

Finding Productions News Release
Media Contact: Armando Garcia 925-289-9765
Finding Productions: 626.532.2091
lagamexusa@gmail.com findingproductions@yahoo.com

ATTEND THE NCLR 2014 CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES
and meet descendents of the founding families of the city of Los Angeles

Ten years ago Kathleen Rabago started as a docent at the recently refurbished Pio Pico Mansion in Whittier, California where she was a docent for 8 years. At the Pio Pico mansion, she met local civil war re-enactors, who invited her to their events---that’s how her re-enacting started. She was invited by Lou Lopez, director of WEST’s (Western Educators and Shooters and Troopers) to portray Harriet Russell Strong, “Walnut queen” of Whittier as part of the “California time line of history” in Whittier’s Annual Founder’s day event. Later, she portrayed Harriet Russell Strong at the 100 Anniversary of the day that Harriet deeded the adobe, now Pio Pico State Historic Park, to the state.

Photo of Kathleen taken by Norma McMasters, Sept 8^th, 2013
at the Centinela Adobe, Westchester CA.

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From that reenactment: Kathleen has portrayed (and made the costumes for) several Hispanic women such as Katrina Pico (Andre’s adopted daughter); Josepha Jaramillo Carson (Kit Carson’s wife from Taos) for 4^th grade history days at the Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe in Montebello; Juaqina Pico, Pio Pico’s daughter; Dolores Dominguez de Watson when she is at Dominguez Rancho events; Pio Pico’s paternal grandmother Maria Jacenta Vastida at the San Gabriel Mission events; Dona Maria Casilda Soto de Villalobo, owner of the original Rancho La Merced; Dona Estephana Venezuela de Machado at the Centinela adobe events; Victoria Reed.

She recently portrayed Dona Bernanda Ruiz de Rodriquez, who negotiated the Treaty of Cahuenga between Captain John C. Fremont and Andres Pico, this last September for the Campo de Cahuenga Historical Society’s first Annual State Admission Day Dinner at the Campo.

Four years ago Kathleen and her re-enactment friends formed their own group: Soldados y Californios of Southern California. Kathleen is the group’s event location coordinator. Her group performs both Mission history at their annual Anza Day at the San Gabriel Mission in March, and portrays the Californios at the annual Old Fort MacArthur Days in San Pedro and other locations. Last year and this year, her group were invited to set up their displays at the Mission Inn in Riverside as part of California school “History Day” competition.

The Soldados y Californios are not just re-enactors, The group has hosted several workshops to teach costuming, dance and acting for re-enactors interested in the early California time period. When able, they set up set up educational displays, activities and a "dress up" table for children.

Norma McMasters, Autry docent, was invited by the group last year to give a talk on “Mantilla etiquette.” The group is always recruiting, as early California history is a very small segment of the larger re-enactor groups that do “civil war.” Check us out at www.soldadosycalifornios.webs.com

What does it mean to “re-enact”? Re-enacting is a wide range of activities---from dressing up and resembling a historical character from the past; sitting at a tea table pretending to drink tea; “ living” in the past (e.g., Williamsburg, VA.); to interacting with other re-enactors or with the public. Each location and historical site offers different challenges. At the San Gabriel Mission, her group has educational displays, crafts, a “dress up” table for the children, and live music and dance.

When Kathleen is alone, which is often the case, she sets up a tea table with china and sits and greets the public, offering “gold” coins to children willing to sell her cattle for her rancho. Other times, she presents the character’s story. Kathleen has been invited to portray the Californios last years’ Veterans day at the Reagan Library.

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Recently, Kathleen was asked to portray Harriet Russell Strong, Walnut Queen of the city of Whittier for the Whittier Interfaith Committee; it was so successful, she was asked to reprise her role as Harriet to the Quaker or Friends meeting this January. She is working on a one woman dialogue of various Hispanic women of early California.

Source: Montebello Historical Society Newsletter
rabagokathleen@hotmail.com

Register for NCLR Conference
http://nclr.emsreg.com/NCLR14/public/splash.aspx

Soldados y Californios of Southern California will be guests of Somos Primos, July 19-21 at the National Family Expo during the annual National Council of La Raza conference in Los Angeles, July 19-22.
Look for our booth. Meet descendents of some of the first colonizing families in California

Soldados y Californios de Southern California at San Gabriel Mission last Labor day (it was 101 degrees!) Founders Fiesta 2013:
Members are descendents of the early Spanish/Mexican founding families of Los Angeles.
From left to right: Joe Lopez, Dennis Carlos, Kathleen Rabago (seated); Arlene Sandoval; and Bob Smith (as Lt. Ortega).

	HISTORIC TIDBITS
	Thomas Jefferson's goal to discredit any rights of discovery by the Spanish. May 3, 1693: Gregorio de Salinas Varona, Governor of Coahuila, May 1, 1718: San Antonio de Valero Mission founded Mexico's "Cinco de Mayo: (5th of May) About Ignacio Seguín Zaragoza The State Board of Education – A Texas Stonewall by José Antonio López Surprising American Heroes

Editor Mimi: Except for the last item, all the other tidbits have to do with Texas history. The reason I've done this is to give more emphasis on the very important role Texas played in U.S. history. If Texas had stayed independent or remained as part of Mexico, the United States would have been a totally different country.

May 20 on a H2 history channel, a statement was made by an archeologist regarding the earliest archeological research in the United States. He said it was done under Thomas Jefferson, who was looking for any evidence that another country had come to the current United States prior to Christopher Columbus. Basically he said, Jefferson goal was to discredit any rights of discovery by the Spanish. Essentially, while the US attempted to erase the early Spanish presence in the United States Texas has served as historic buffer between the US and Mexico, .

Unfortunately, Jefferson's attitude towards the Spanish historic presence (to erase it) has shaped policy and is embedded in the general public understanding of US history. Everything thing west of the Mississippi was considered, by the US government to be wild, uncivilized, unsettled, wide-opened, ready for the fulfillment of Anglo-Saxon Manifest Destiny.

[The H2 program is called America Unearthed and is part of a series. A forensic archeologist, Scott Wolter seeks to solve the mysteries of artifacts, rumors, and places. The program concerned the Bat Creek Stone found in Tennessee, dated to the first centurA.D.]

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May 3, 1693

On this day in 1693, Gregorio de Salinas Varona, recently appointed governor of Coahuila, left Monclova, Coahuila, on a relief expedition to take supplies to the troubled missions of East Texas. The expedition consisted of some twenty soldiers, including early Texas pioneer Nicolás Flores de Valdés, and ninety-six mules loaded with provisions. Salinas, an experienced soldier and explorer, took the occasion of the trip to define a portion of the Old San Antonio Road. His diary of the expedition is an important source of information on the small Indian bands he encountered, including the Sacuache and the Piedras Blancas. As a relief mission, though, the expedition was a failure. Salinas reached San Francisco de los Tejas Mission, in what is now Houston County, on June 8 and found illness and death rampant among the mission Indians. The supplies Salinas brought were far short of the need. When he departed six days later, two of the mission's friars went with him, and conditions worsened after his departure. Salinas's term as governor ended on December 26, 1697.

Source: Texas Day by Day

May 1, 1718

On this day in 1718, San Antonio de Valero Mission was founded by Franciscan father Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares at the site of present-day San Antonio. Four days later the nearby San Antonio de Béxar Presidio and the civil settlement, Villa de Béxar, were established. The mission, originally located west of San Pedro Springs, survived three moves and numerous setbacks during its early years. After a hurricane destroyed most of the existing buildings in 1724, the mission reached its latest site on the east bank of the San Antonio River. After the mission was secularized in 1793 it became the Alamo. Due to its rudimentary fortifications, the abandoned mission became an objective of military importance in the conflicts of the nineteenth century, and it changed hands at least sixteen times. Portions of the mission's structures have survived as part of the Alamo Battlefield Shrine.

Source: Texas Day by Day

Mexico's "Cinco de Mayo: (5th of May)

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"El Cinco de Mayo," or fifth of May, commemorates the triumphant victory of the Mexican forces over the French interventionists in 1862. The highly out numered Mexican |forces acquitted themselves in a valiant manner against the highly trained and equipped French Army led by Veteran General Charles Ferdinand Latrille de Lorencz.

The over confident French Forces figured they would have an easy march from the port city of Veracruz to Mexico City. However, the Mexican forces commanded by General Ignacio Zaragosa and Brigadier General Diaz, outclassed and outmaneuvered the stunned stunned French Army which was humiliatingly defeated in the fortified city of Puebla.

General Zaragosa, managed his troops with rare aplomp. The decisive manuever of the day was carried out by Brigadier General Diaz, who repelled a determined assault on Gen. Zaragosa's right flank. The dejected French invaders, many
veterans of more glorious days, retreated to the city of Orizaba. Hence, May 5 ---"El Cinco de Mayo,"--- was added to the National Calendar of Holidays in honor of this heroic Mexican Victory.

About a year later, after receiving 30,000 reinforcements from France, the French forces led by General Elie Forey surrounded the city of Puebla and bombarded it into submission. However, the glorious "Cinco de Mayo," Mexicanvictory, marked the beginning of the end for the French Intervention in Mexico.

"El Cinco de Mayo," is an official holiday in Mexico and is celebrated with a host of festivals, military parades, and formal and official gatherings of elite social and political leaders.

In America, the 5th of May, is celebrated by Mexican Americans in a similar fashion, but without all the conventional formality. Hispanics commemorate this day with outdoor folk concerts, picnics, dances, youth parades, and other related festivals and activities. "El Cinco de Mayo,"

http://www.vivacincodemayo.org/history.htm
offers Hispanics in the USA, the opportunity to touch base
with their cultural heritage, and to take pride in one of Mexico's great military victories.

Roberto Vazquez
rvazquez@lared-latina.com

================= About Ignacio Seguín Zaragoza ===================		=============================================
On this day May 5, 1862, Texas native Ignacio Seguín Zaragoza led a Mexican army in its resounding defeat of a French invasion. Zaragoza was born on March 24, 1829, at Bahía del Espíritu Santo in the state of Coahuila and Texas, near present Goliad, Texas. With Mexico's defeat in the Texas Revolution, his father moved the family from Goliad to Matamoros. Zaragoza eventually entered the Mexican army and served in many campaigns. When the French invaded Mexico in 1862 he was entrusted with the defense of Puebla. French forces attacked the town in a battle that lasted the entire day of May 5, 1862, the now-famed Cinco de Mayo. Zaragoza's		well-armed, well-trained men forced the withdrawal of the French troops. The number of French reported killed ranged from 476 to 1,000. Mexican losses were reported to be approximately eighty-six. Although the French captured Mexico City the next summer, the costly delay at Puebla is believed to have shortened the French intervention in Mexico and changed its outcome. Zaragoza became a national hero, but died from typhoid fever the following September. Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican national holiday, is celebrated in Texas and the Southwest as well. Source: Texas Day by Day

The State Board of Education – A Texas Stonewall

By José Antonio López

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SAN ANTONIO, April 27, 2014 - “The Anglo Americans who came to Texas with Stephen F. Austin were not in the true sense pioneers; they found not a wilderness but a society already in existence…”

These words were written by Historian John Francis Bannon in his book, “The Spanish Frontier in America, 1513-1821”.

Author Bannon is referring to the unique Tejano mystique. Truly, Tejano society lured Anglos both legally and illegally to immigrate to Mexico; abandoning the U.S. to start life anew in México. Nevertheless, those same U.S. immigrants betrayed their host country of México shortly after arriving. They didn’t like Mexican laws abolishing slavery, (in 1829, México was the first country in America to do so).

Thus, after 1836 Texas independence, the Anglos made a conscious decision to start writing Texas history on a clean slate. That is, they would pretend there was no existing society and that Texas was a wilderness. Albeit, their choosing to retain the name “Texas” (its Spanish name since 1691) exposes their obvious duplicity. Regardless, the Anglos built their Manifest Destiny-inspired myth on a literary stone wall hiding pre-1836 Texas (Tejano) history.

Now, over 150 years later, The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) members act as modern-day sentries atop the stonewall of silence prohibiting Texas students from learning the true facts of their state’s founding. Just recently, grass-roots Texas citizens, parents, and educators appealed to the board to teach Texas students the seamless history of Texas through a Mexican American Studies (MAS) Program. The SBOE responded negatively. They disagreed to establish a MAS Program because even after 150 years, they ignore the real founding of Texas. In part, they claim among other things that “We mustn’t teach Mexico’s history in America.” There are at least three problems with their Anglophile position.

First, MAS is about teaching Texas history, not about today’s Republic of Mexico. Southwest Mexican-descent citizens with pre-1848 ancestry number about 20 million. Thus, we descendants of the first citizens of Texas are not immigrants. That reality is what separates us from our sister Hispanic groups in the U.S. That’s the point that conservative SBOE members fail to comprehend.

Second, Mexico is in America. The U.S. is not America. The U.S. is in America.

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There are 36 countries in America. Everyone born or living in the Continent of America (from Northern Canada to the tip of South America’s Tierra del Fuego) is an American.

Third, our Spanish Mexican Tejano story doesn’t fit the Sam Houston model. Thus, the SBOE won’t accept Tejanos and Tejanas as the true founders of this great place we call Texas.

On its own merits, the MAS program is all about education and only seeks to restore pre-1836 people, places, and events in the chronology of Texas history. The question is why is the SBOE so adamant in insisting Texas history begins in 1836? In my opinion, their intolerance toward Texas’ Mexican roots is caused by a persistent toxic political tone. That atmosphere is created by conservatives’ perception of anything Mexican only in terms of the current immigration reform and border fence contentious debates.

A broader question is why should Mexican-descent Texans care about Mexico? Here’s why. (l) The overwhelming majority of our Tejano families originate in Mexican population centers of Monterrey, Saltillo, Zacatecas, Queretaro, Monclova, and the surrounding ranchos of Central and Northern Mexico.

Some of us still have active links with our family south of the Rio Grande; separated since 1848. In addition, being Mexican
allows us to claim blood connections to our Native American

roots. In this regard, the SBOE must be reminded that Texas is in New Spain (Old México), not New England.

As remedial training for SBOE members, I offer three quick lessons: (a) Texas was part of Mexico during the 1836 Battles of the Álamo, La Bahia, and San Jacinto. (2) The three battles are part of the chronological chapter in Mexico’s history, not the U.S. This was Mexican sovereign land until 1848. And (3) the tri-color flag of Mexico flew over Texas four times longer (21 years) than Sam Houston’s Republic of Texas flag (five years). The reason that Houston’s flag flew only five years is that so unprepared were the Anglos for total independence that they didn’t even have a flag other than the Mexican Constitution Flag identical to the one many Anglos in Texas today repudiate. Curiously, they don’t realize that their Anglo ancestors once pledged allegiance to the tri-color (verde, blanca, y colorada) Mexican Flag of Texas. The Republic of Texas flag was not approved until around 1840 when talk of Texas joining the U.S. as a slave state had already started.

Here’s a Texas history pilón (bonus) for the Texas SBOE. Be advised that Texas was part of Mexico during the first Mexican Revolution of 1810. Accordingly, September 16, 1810 (El Dieciséis) is a legitimate holiday in Texas because it represents its first independence day. Pre-1836 people, places, and events are the essentials that make Texas history bi-cultural and bi-lingual.

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In conclusion, I address a most important point to the current Texas SBOE. The MAS is not about ethnic studies or multi-culturalism in Texas. That’s the responsibility of the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio. MAS is about rendering Texas history in a seamless manner from the arrival of the first European Spanish in 1519 to the present. Mexican-descent children in Texas must learn about their Spanish Mexican ancestors in the classroom; an honor that we were deprived of when we attended school.		We’re making progress. As an example I refer to the Tejano Monument. It’s the first memorial in Austin honoring Texas’ Spanish Mexican founders. It’s becoming a popular site, but it represents only the start of the Tejano Renaissance. We knew it wouldn’t be easy to dismantle the 150-year old stone wall of silence. Echoing the words of President Ronald Reagan, “Governor Perry, tear down this wall.” Even so, our efforts are paying off. It’s starting to crumble. So let’s keep our Tejano trumpets blowing loud and clear until the stone wall falls. Yes, we can! (¡Sí se puede!)

José “Joe” Antonio López was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, and is a USAF Veteran. He now lives in Universal City, Texas. He is the author of three books: “The Last Knight (Don Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara Uribe, A Texas Hero),” “Nights of Wailing, Days of Pain (Life in 1920s South Texas), and “The First Texas Independence, 1813.” Lopez is also the founder of the Tejano Learning Center, LLC, and www.tejanosunidos.org, a Web site dedicated to Spanish Mexican people and events in U.S. history that are mostly overlooked in mainstream history books

Surprising American Heroes

_{Captain Kangaroo passed away on January 23, 2004 at age 76, which is odd, because he always looked to be 76.
(DOB: 6/27/27)

His death reminded me of the following story.

Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4-star generals at Arlington National Cemetery.

His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer:}

In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces often in rear echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions,
Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher Naval award... the Medal Of Honor!

If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery.
Dialog from "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson":

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His guest was Lee Marvin. Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded." "Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the bottom and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi. Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting shot hauling you down. But, Johnny, at Iwo, I served under the bravest man I ever knew. We both got the Cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb guy actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, "Where'd they get you Lee?" "Well Bob .... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!" Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew. The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo." Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew. The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."		On another note, there was this wimpy little man on PBS, (who has also passed away) , gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat. After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life. He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm. America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did; they quietly go about their day-to-day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst. Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened. Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers. Send this on, will you please? Nothing will happen to you if you don't, but you will be awakening others to what a true HERO is made of... Sent by Gerald Frost Telger6@aol.com

	HONORING HISPANIC LEADERSHIP
	Jess Perez, Orange, CA's first Latino councilman and mayor, dies by Rebecca Kheel, Orange City News, April 26, 2014

Jess Perez, Orange's first Latino councilman and mayor who was instrumental
in creating the Orange International Street Fair, has died. He was 78.

Jess Perez was elected to the Orange Council in 1968. Here, sitting in the center, Jess is shown serving as mayor of Orange in 1986. He is surrounded by then-fellow council members Gene Beyer, Don Smith, Joanne Coontz and Fred Barrera.

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"He opened doors for the Hispanic community," said his ex-wife, Vera Perez. "They thought, 'He can do it. Maybe we can do it, too.'"

Perez succumbed to an illness he had for some time, his family said. His family did not want to disclose the illness.

Perez was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1935 to a family of migrant farmworkers. Their life in Texas was akin to "Little House on the Prairie," said one of his daughters, Irene Perez Dorion. There were no mattresses and no electricity; they dug holes 6 to 7 feet deep for outhouses, and they swam in a canal.

The family moved around the, country for work, going to Kansas and eventually coming to California's Central Valley.
When Perez was 5, he joined the rest of the family in picking crops. To earn extra money, he shined the shoes of soldiers at a nearby military base, charging between 10 and 25 cents, Dorion said.

When Perez was 10 and living in Fresno, one of his brothers died because the; family was too poor to seek medical care.

Also in Fresno, Perez started becoming involved with a gang. As part of his involvement, he gave himself two tattoos on his hands. One of his sons, Juan Perez, would later ask if he ever thought of getting the tattoos removed. Perez answered, “No.” “It was a reminder of where he came from,” Juan Perez said.

To get Perez away from a gang he was involved in, the family moved to San Fernando. When he was starting ninth grade, they settled in Orange's Cypress Street barrio. He lived across the street from and went to Orange High School with his future wife, Vera.

After graduating from Santa Ana College with a degree in architectural engineering, Perez worked for various architectural firms. Eventually, he set up his own firm with a partner on Chapman Avenue and Cambridge Street in Orange.

Vera Perez became involved in helping out the El Modena neighborhood by teaching English as a second language, serving food, donating clothing and finding housing. She encouraged Perez to help out, too, and he saw how under-served the area was. That propelled him to run for City Council.

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"It was so refreshing for a community that felt so overlooked," Vera Perez said.

After his election to the council in 1968, he championed El Modena and was successful in bringing sidewalks and lighting to the area. In 1972, his fellow council members appointed him mayor.

His dedication to his work, both in architecture and the City Council, was shown in his physical appearance, his family

said. He always carried a yellow legal pad, had a pen tucked behind his ear and wore rubber bands around his wrist.

Perez is survived by his wife Laurie, his ex-wife, seven children, 12 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and his dog, Rusty. A funeral Mass was held in the Holy Family Cathedral, 566 S. Glassell St.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3771 or rkheel@ocregister.com
Sent by Tom Saenz saenzthomas@sbcglobal.net

Jess Perez 1935-2014
Eulogy by Tom Saenz

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Good afternoon! It is good to see so many of us gathered here to pay our respects to Jess and be with his family in their moment of grief. We are also here to celebrate Jess' life and his accomplishments.

In some way, most if not all of us were touched in a special way by Jess during his life and particularly, during his public life.

He was born in El Paso, Texas and came from a migrant family where he experienced poverty and hard times. His family eventually settled in the City of Orange, California. Jess attended Orange High School and after graduation he attended Santa Ana College where he earned a degree in architecture. He was successful in his work and eventually started his own business.

Jess was successful in his chosen career but that was not enough for him! He wanted to do more for his community. He was civic minded and had a high interest in community work, so he got involved at the grassroots level which proved to be very effective. In 1968 he decided to run for the Orange City Council and was victorious. The rest is history! The public kept him in office for a period of twenty years!

As a leader, Jess Perez came to us at a very crucial time when we were experiencing a demand for change from the newer generation-there was restlessness and protest throughout the country.

Those of us who lived during the late sixties and seventies may recall the protests against the Vietnam War, the call for civil rights by Afro-Americans and Hispanics, and women wanted equal treatment. While these issues were more prevalent at the national level, they did impact the local cities and communities.

The City of Orange was fortunate to have Jess Perez , who along with the rest of the City Council, worked hard to guide and lead the community through this difficult period.

Jess earned the respect and admiration from the residents of Orange and in particular, from the Hispanic Community.

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The public heroes in the late sixties and seventies were those that did something for the people and Jess was such a person. He had all the qualities the public wanted. He was personable, he was trustworthy, he was dynamic, he was inspiring and motivating! He got us all involved!

The family asked me to help write the Obituary that appeared in the Foothills Sentry and if you had a chance to read it, you may have noticed that like most obituary write ups, it was short and concise.

I used some terms in there that need some elaboration. First of all, I stated that Jess was a messenger of hope. For the entire community of Orange, he represented what the public wanted. The public wanted change. They were demanding more from their city government and public officials. They wanted to play a greater role in the decision making process. Jess Perez responded to their call.

Jess was also a messenger of hope to the Hispanic Community. He was one of them. He came from humble beginnings and yet was able to rise above a difficult past. As the first Latino member of the City council he served as a role model and an advocate for change.

Another statement I made in the Obituary was that Jess brought us dignity. To me the term "dignity" is that basic right that we have as human beings have: to be, to exist and to enjoy life.

Through his work in the City Council and his outreach to people from all walks of life he made people feel good about themselves and their involvement in the community.

Jess Perez especially, brought dignity and a feeling of self-worth to the Hispanic Community. He brought dignity to the individual and to the community as a whole. He elevated their self-esteem! He brought the Hispanic Community and the community at large together.

One other term I used in the Obituary was the term "empowerment” This is a big term and it is packed with meaning! Many of you know that I am a retired educator. I came to this community from Michigan back in 1969 and landed at El Modena High School as a teacher. I recall that we frequently had general assemblies for the entire student body and staff. I soon noticed that students would individually stand up and raise an arm up making a hand fist. I later found out that it meant "power to the people"! This is part of what I was saying earlier when I was speaking of "hope".

People were generally dissatisfied and wanted a greater role in government. This was about the time when Jess Perez came along and he responded by promoting programs such as the International Street Fair, the Orange Sister City Program, working with Service Clubs like Kiwanis, Optimist Club, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, etc. The list goes on!

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Jess Perez never forgot his early roots and the Hispanic community. He made sure we were included and represented in City Hall. Whenever a new city official like the City Manger, Planning Director, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, etc. was hired, he would arrange for a meeting between these leaders and representatives of the Hispanic Community. This was his way of making sure his community was included at all levels of government. There were many other ways in which Jess opened doors and opportunities for Hispanics: jobs, job promotions, business, advancement, involvement-this was how he empowered us!

If I am not mistaken, since Jess Perez first served in the Orange City Council there has always been a Hispanic in the Orange City Council. The Orange Unified School Board has had a number of Hispanics serving through the years since Jess first came onto the scene. In the story that appeared in the Orange County Register about Jess, Vera Perez, his first wife, was quoted as saying that Jess "had opened the doors to City Hall". This is all part of that. He promoted good will and acceptance in the entire city. To me this was a major contribution that Jess made! We often read and hear about other communities and cities where Hispanics are struggling to get representation in their government. This has not been the case here in Orange! Thank you Jess!

In the field of education Jess was instrumental in bringing about major changes in the Orange Unified School District. The Hispanic students and community wanted changes in the
system, a more diversified staff, a relevant curriculum that

included educational programs geared to their needs and greater involvement of Hispanic students in the school setting. As councilman and mayor Jess Perez used the influence of his office to advocate change that eventually resulted in major changes in the school district. As a school district administrator, I always felt fortunate and privileged to have Jess Perez as my friend, my compadre, my mentor, my role model and political ally.

The land mark Supreme Court decision: Mendez et all Vs. the Westminster School District et all ended segregated schools in Orange County. While this was a major victory, it was only part of the battle. Little or no change occurred at the school level. It was not until 1971 when Jess Perez came along and with other community leaders, "picked up the torch" and got the ball rolling that eventually led to major changes in the Orange Unified School District. Hispanics serving in the School Board are now a common occurrence. Diversity in the staffing patterns across the board have been achieved. Through the years the district has established programs to address the needs of Hispanics and other minority students.

Let me close by once again going back to the Obituary in the Foothills Sentry. I closed it by saying: "the legacy lives on"! That simply means that while Jess is no longer physically present, he is still with us! I am sure his immediate family, his relatives, his friends and community will continue to cherish his many contributions to the City of Orange. Compadre Jess Perez, Rest In Peace and may God Bless your soul forever!

~Tom Saenz

Eulogy by Bob Torres Jr.

Much has been said about Jess' humble beginnings. For many, humble beginnings beget higher aspirations. And so it was with Jess' early years, as the son of migrant farm workers, moving from one farming community to another, not always enjoying three square meals a day. His early life is what planted the seeds of higher aspirations.

We hear talk of “entitlement” much these days. Jess did not take the word in the popular sense that many do: the government owes me this, that and the other. Rather, he accepted “entitlement” as the opportunity to rise above his early station in life. He saw and realized that an education was the way to attain his dreams of a secure future.

Are there any OHS alumni present today? Show of hands..... Jess was an Orange High Panther, Class of 1955. Once a Panther, always a Panther! I stopped by the Orange Public Library a couple of days ago and I looked up the Orange High 1955 yearbook. Here's what I found in Jess' bio:

•                  Entered as a sophomore

•                  He played Cee football as a sophomore. (Back then, the level of football you played was determined by exponents which were determined by your age, size and weight. Cee football was typically the lowest level, followed by Bee, then Jr. Varsity and Varsity.)

•                  He played Bee football as a junior and senior and, in what may have been his first instance of a real leadership role, he was chosen co-captain of the team as a senior.

•                  He also played basketball as a sophomore and baseball as a junior.

•                  He was the Interclass Wrestling featherweight champion as a sophomore, the only year he participated in that sport.

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Fast forward to 1965; Jess had college behind him and had become an architect, working for Mr. Harold Gimeno. At the urging of family members, Jess began his public service activities, helping to improve conditions for many of the less fortunate folks in our community. Public service got in his blood, so much so, that, again, at the urging of family and friends he ran for City Councilman and was voted in handily.

In cities the size of Orange, you can't make a living by being a councilperson, so, during his time of public service he, along with a business partner, started Perez & Hurtado Architects and prospered. And, as I mentioned, public service had gotten into his blood and his activities went beyond the city of Orange. Here is a brief synopsis of his public involvement:

• President/Director of the JRC Corporation, Inc.
• Director/President,

Executive Board of the League of California Cities, Orange County Division.
•                  Chairman, Task Force on Environmental Protection Agency.|
•                  Member, Committee for Handicapped.
•                  Advisory Committee, Bank of America Community College Awards.
•                  Member, Affirmative Action Visiting Committee, Orange County Department of Education.
•                  Member, Screening and Review Task Force for the California State Textbook Adoption.

Affiliations:
•                  American Institute of Architects.
•                  Association of California Elected Representative Officials.
•                  Orange County Chapter of the Association of Mexican-American Educators.
•                  Founding President of Minority Friends, University of California Irvine.
•                  Founding President of Orange County Mexican-American Unity Council.

Awards:
•                  Orange Citizen of the Year, 1972
•                  Civic Leadership Award, 1973
•                  Outstanding Achievement, Orange County Veterans Employment Committee, 1973
•                  Positive Image, Orange County Department of Education, 1974
•                  Appreciation, Bay Area Congress for Mexican-American Affairs, 1974
•                  Appreciation, Santa Ana Unified School District, 1972, 1973 and 1974
•                  Distinguished Alumnus, Orange High School, 1998

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Memories: • 1973, Jess addressing the crowd on the last day of the International Street Fair, which he was instrumental in starting. He asked, “Who would like to see this event continue in future years?” The whole Orange Plaza rocked with positive cheers. Everybody wanted to have the street fair – again and again and again..... • 1973, Jess selected my grandfather, Rosario Torres, to cut the ribbon at Mexican Street at that first International Street Fair, signaling the beginning of this great annual event. • 1974, Jess' support of the conversion of the Orange movie theater into a playhouse and riding to the opening event in a classic car with none other than Lucille Ball. (I can almost hear Jess saying, “Lucy, I'm home!”)		• 2004, at Orange High's centennial celebration, held in conjunction with the All-Class reunion. I remember seeing Jess squatting by the side entrance to the Orange High Little Theater, listening to Orange High faculty members welcoming attendees. When one of the speakers stopped to take a breath, Jess sprung to his feet and seized the microphone and proceeded to praise the whole Orange High faculty for all they do, particularly for all they did for him during his time at OHS. I'm sure that his old mechanical drawing instructor, Mr. Lawrence Archibald, was beaming with pride as he looked down from Heaven. Jess was one of many students that Mr. Archibald taught that became architects and engineers in later years. • 2008, my dad, Bob Torres Sr. telling me of a former Orange mayor stating to him that Jess was the best mayor that Orange ever had. His legacy continues and inspires all current and future council members.

In closing, I must mention Jess' ability to ad-lib the most eloquent speeches, speaking from the heart without the aid of notes, cue cards or (as some current-day politicians require) teleprompters. He spoke in lucid layman's terms that everybody understood.

	EDUCATION
	Renato Rosaldo, a World's Leading Cultural Anthropologist Handbook of Latinos and Education, Theory, Research, and Practice, Edited by Enrique G.Murillo Jr., Sofia Villenas, Ruth Trinidad Galván, Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Corinne Martínez and Margarita Machado Casas Challenging Minds for 50-Plus Years: Felipe Ortego Immigration Options For Undocumented Youth "Dreamers"

	Renato Rosaldo, A World's Leading Cultural Anthropologist
	Renato Rosaldo (born 1941) is one of the world's leading cultural anthropologists. He has done field research among the Ilongots of northern Luzon, Philippines, and he is the author of Ilongot Headhunting: 1883-1974: A Study in Society and History (1980) and Culture and Truth: The Remaking of Social Analysis (1989).

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He is also the editor of Creativity/Anthropology (with Smadar Lavie and Kirin Narayan) (1993), Anthropology of Globlization (with Jon Inda) (2001), and Cultural Citizenship in Island Southeast Asia: National and Belonging in the Hinterlands (2003), among other books.

Rosaldo has been conducting research on cultural citizenship in San Jose, California since 1989, and contributed the introduction and an article to Latino Cultural Citizens: Claiming Identity, Space, and Rights (1997). He is also a poet and has published three volumes of poetry, most recently "The Day of Shelly's Death" (2014). Rosaldo has served as President of the American Ethnological Society, Director of the Stanford Center for Chicano Research, and Chair of the Stanford Department of Anthropology. He has left Stanford and now teaches at NYU, where he served as the inaugural Director of Latino Studies.

He graduated from Harvard University with a Ph.D. in 1971. He is emeritus professor at Stanford University.[1] He teaches at New York University,[2] and is a New York Institute for the Humanities Fellow.[3] He has published three volumes of poetry. His poetry has also appeared in Bilingual Review, Many Mountains Moving, Prairie Schooner, Puerto del Sol, Texas Observer.[4]

After many years at Stanford, Renato Rosaldo now teaches Anthropology at New York University. He is of Mexican descent and attended Tucson High School and received his B.A. and Ph.D. at Harvard. He was President of the American Ethnological Society, inaugural Director of Latino Studies
at NYU, and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Well published in his field of anthropology, but also as a poet:

Prayer to spider woman. Gobierno del Estado de Coahuila, Instituto Coahuilense de Cultura (ICOCULT). 2003.
Diego Luna's Insider Tips. Many Mountains Moving. 2012.
The Day of Shelly's Death: The Poetry and Ethnography of Grief. Duke University Press. 2014. ISBN 978-0-8223-5661-5.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renato_Rosaldo
Sent: Virginia Correa Creager, Ph.D. DrVCreager@aol.com

Handbook of Latinos and Education
Theory, Research, and Practice

Edited by Enrique G. Murillo Jr., Sofia Villenas, Ruth Trinidad Galván, Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Corinne Martínez and Margarita Machado Casas

"This edited volume is a very extensive and detailed compilation of historical and current scholarship about the education of Latinos in the United States. The list of nearly one hundred contributors reads like a 'Who’s Who' in the field of Latino studies in general, and Latino education in particular." — Centro, Journal of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies

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Providing a comprehensive review of rigorous, innovative, and critical scholarship relevant to educational issues which impact Latinos, thisHandbook captures the field at this point in time. Its unique purpose andfunction is to profile the scope and terrain of academic inquiry on Latinos and education. Presenting the most significant and potentially influential work in the field in terms of its contributions to research, to professional practice, and to the emergence of related interdisciplinary studies and theory, the volume is organized around five themes:
 history, theory, and methodology
 policies and politics
 language and culture
 teaching and learning
 resources and information.

The Handbook of Latinos and Education is a must have resource for educational researchers, graduate students, teacher educators, and the broad spectrum of individuals, groups, agencies, organizations and institutions sharing a common interest in and commitment to the educational issues that impact Latinos.

Published December 2009
For more information visit: www.routledge.com/9780805858402

ABOUT THE EDITORS:

Enrique G. Murillo, Jr. is Associate Professor in the Department of Language, Literacy, and Culture at California State University, San Bernardino. He is the editor of the Journal of Latinos and Education.

Sofia A. Villenas is Associate Professor of Education and Director of the Latino/a Studies Program at Cornell University.

Ruth Trinidad Galván is Assistant Professor in the Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies Department at the University of New Mexico.

Juan Sánchez Muñoz is Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Director of the Center for Research in Leadership and Education, in the College of Education, Texas Tech University.

Corinne Martínez is Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at California State University, Long Beach.

Margarita Machado Casas is Assistant Professor in the Department of Bicultural Bilingual Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

CHALLENGING MINDS FOR 50-PLUS YEARS: Felipe Ortego

Eighty-seven-year-old professor still teaching, pushing Latino issues in education

By Abe Villareal, wnmu news.com

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"By and large, American Latinos are a mixed group of people," is how Felipe Ortego opens his 22-paragraph entry into what is expected to become the most comprehensive encyclopedia on Latino issues. A seemingly simple sentence, it is the lead into a detailed and informative piece on the literature of Latino Americans and its impact on American life.

"There is a theme in my writings," Ortego explains. "And that is that I’m a literary inquirer." For 50 years—since 1964 when he began his career as a university professor—Ortego has been questioning the status quo: in academia, in politics, and in what most consider the accepted history of the Latino in America. His work on The Stamp of One Defect: A Study of Hamlet is considered the most provocative in a century of Hamlet studies. Now, Ortego, often referred to as the founder of Chicano literary history, is set to rock the boat with an exhaustive encyclopedic effort that will provide opinion and thought from leading experts across the country on Latino issues.

After a couple of unsuccessful efforts at launching the Encyclopedia of Latino Issues Today, ABC-CLIO/Greenwood and Ortego negotiated an agreement to produce the

Encyclopedia. He has asked several colleagues (Dr. Magdaleno Manzanarez, Dr. Alexandra Neves, Dr. Gilda Baeza Ortego) at WNMU, where he teaches and serves as the institution's Scholar-In-Residence, to be co-editors, creating a team of local experts who will help bring together the more than 100 pieces that will eventually be included in the publication. There is also a prestigious Advisory Board of Editors from across the country.

Ortego expects the published work to be controversial and thought provoking." Every single entry has the author's point of view," Ortego explained. "We do not want it to be just a thesaurus of information."

The Renaissance man is known for not shying away from an intellectual challenge. When Ortego was asked to organize a course on Mexican American Literature for the University of New Mexico in 1969, he faced a blank slate.

"There was nothing extant in print at the time available for a class in Mexican American Literature," Ortego recalls. The world was his canvas and he was ready to open its eyes to the presence of Mexican American literature.

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In the last half-century Ortego, the consummate writer, has authored numerous books, monographs and studies, in addition to hundreds of scholarly and creative pieces that have appeared in national and international publications. He has even acted in a movie or two; and is narrator and script consultant for the documentary North From Mexico based on Carey McWilliams’ history of Mexicans in the United States. The upcoming publication of the encyclopedia brings Ortego full circle. His career in higher education is seeing its 50th year in 2014 and somehow the "Encyclopedia of Latino Issues Today" brings him back to the beginning. "If the reader has a misconceived notion of who Latinos are, we want to dispel those misconceptions," Ortego said. "We want our readers to know that everything they’ve read about Latinos by non-Latino authors is not necessarily accurate. Our encyclopedia stresses accuracy.” The encyclopedia will be published by ABC-CLIO Greenwood Press, a national publisher, and it will cover Latino issues on themes such as arts, media, civil rights, culture, demography, health, gender		and religion. "I have learned a lot," Ortego adds about his editing of the writers' submissions. "Every article will provide readers with information about Latinos." The encyclopedia is in its final stages and is expected to be published next year. Even then, Ortego is already moving on to his next efforts. No surprise to those who are awed by the stamina of the 87-year-old professor. "I have three manuscripts that I am ready to place," Ortego said. "One is titled La Leyenda Negra about Hispanic discrimination in the United States." Published originally in the Silver City Sun News 02/27/2014; picked up from AP and reprinted in The Las Cruces Sun News 02/28/2014; The San Francisco Chronicle 02/28/2014; The Santa Fe New Mexican 03/01/2014; The National Institute for Latino Policy 03/07.2014; The Washington Times 03/01/2014; The Durango Herald 03/10/2014; La Voz de Arizona (Spanish language version) 03/17/2014; The Chronicle of Higher Education (Interview engendered by this article), April 8, 2014. Courtesy photo WNMU profess or Felipe Ortego

Immigration Options For Undocumented Youth "Dreamers"

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DREAMers are young undocumented immigrants who came to the United States at a young age and who consider the U.S. to be their home country.

Good citizens and ambitious, the DREAMers are in search of a way to pursue the American Dream they deeply admire and desire for themselves.

They intend to change the public perception of young immigrants, who are often seen as criminals and pariahs of American society. DREAMers want people to understand that they just want to contribute to the U.S. without living in fear of being sent back to a country they're unfamiliar with.

As of August 2012, it is estimated that there are 1.76 million DREAMers.

DREAMer: Origins of the Term

There is a long history of the fight for the rights of non-U.S-born youth. In the 1600s and 1700s, various settlements established their own private and public schools and some states passed bilingual education laws. In 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment gave citizenship rights to naturalized people. In 1964, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act said the following: "No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any or activity receiving federal financial assistance." In 1982, the Plyler v. Doe decision made it illegal for states to deny education to undocumented immigrant children. Everyone in history who was involved in the push for such legislation could be considered a DREAMer. But this term did not actually achieve public consciousness until 2001.

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In 2001, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act was introduced to Congress by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Richard Durbin (D-IL). The DREAM Act was drafted as a bipartisan bill that, according to Hatch, would be used to avoid chain migration. The Act would not apply to all undocumented immigrants, and it would not affect future immigrants. It would also hardly affect immigration law because it would not create a continuing option. It would only apply to individuals and not families.

The DREAM Act would provide a path toward legalization for undocumented youth who came to the U.S. before the age of sixteen and who entered the U.S. five years or more prior to the bill's enactment. The conditions are that the person attend college or serve in the U.S. Military for at least two years while keeping a good moral character. To be eligible, the person would also have to have been in the U.S. continuously for five years, have earned a high school diploma, and have not committed any crimes. These eligible people became known as the DREAMers.

DREAM Act Not Approved

Since its introduction in 2001, the DREAM Act has been under scrutiny. Opponents say extending public education benefits to undocumented immigrants is a reward for breaking the laws. Supporters say the U.S. would benefit from giving talented, ambitious individuals a shot at full participation in American education and society. The DREAM Act can't seem to gain full support of Congress. The legislation has failed to pass in 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Options for DREAMers

College: Undocumented youth are often under the misconception that there are state laws that disallow them to go to college. This is not true. There is no federal or state law that bans undocumented immigrants from admission into a U.S. public or private college. Colleges have their own specific policies though, so a significant amount of time should be spent researching the policies of the college of interest and the state in which that college is located.

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In-State Tuition and Financial Assistance
There are 12 states that have laws that expand who can qualify for in-state tuition to undocumented students. Since 2001, 13 states enacted this type of legislation but Wisconsin has since revoked this law. These are the states that allow in-state tuition for undocumented youth.

California
Connecticut
Illinois
Kansas
Texas
Maryland
Nebraska
New Mexico
New York
Oklahoma
Utah
Washington

Most of these states offer limited scholarships to undocumented students. However, federally funded student financial aid is out of the reach of the DREAMers. It is important to know that it is illegal for undocumented students to get government aid, government loans, government grants, government scholarships and/or work-study.

After Graduation: Options are limited for undocumented students. The lack of lawful status leaves them in an uncertain place after graduation: They can't work and are unlikely to be able to pursue an advanced education. There's no telling when the DREAM Act will pass in congress.

The primary option DREAMers have for protection from deportation and for the opportunity to work is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA.

Deferred Action: On June 15, 2012 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it would defer action on the deportation of certain young people who were brought into the U.S. as children illegally through the decision of adults.

It does not provide a path for citizenship. It is instead a reprieve that lasts two years, which are then up for renewal. DACA also gives a recipient an employment authorization during those two years and access to a driver's license.

Much like the DREAM Act, DACA was not created to benefit all undocumented people. DACA went into effect on August 15, 2012 through executive order.

=============================================

The requirements for Deferred Action were determined to be the following:

An eligible undocumented youth must have entered the country before 16th birthday;

Must have continuously resided in the United States for at least five years prior to June 15, 2012 and was physically present in the U.S. on that date;

Must be currently in school, must have graduated from high school, must have received a general education development (GED) certificate, or was honorably discharged from having served in the U.S. Coast Guard or Armed Forces;

Must have not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, multiple misdemeanors, or must not otherwise be a threat to national security or the public's safety; and

Must not be above the age 30.

It was determined that the above requirements would have to be proven with proper documentation such as the following:

A Document of Identification, like an expired or unexpired passport

Documents showing the date of arrival to the U.S., like travel tickets

Documents showing proof of physical presence in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, like school records

Documents showing continuous residence in U.S. for at least five years before June 15, 2012, like hospital bills

Documents showing current enrollment in school, graduation, receipt of GED, or of honorable discharge, like letters from school registrar, original copies of diplomas and/or military pay records.

Sent by Daisy Marino who writes:

I came across your website (http://www.somosprimos.com/sp2012/spjul12/spjul12.htm) while doing some research and was impressed at how much information and resources your site had as it relates to immigration.

Since your site was helpful, I wanted to pass along another great resource (http://www.immigrationdirect.com/immigration-options-undocumented-youth-dreamers.jsp). This site provides us immigration news, informative blog and much more. It would be a great resource to include with others already listed. You can never have too many resources! Thanks and let me know what you think.

Regards, Daisy Marino

Immigration Direct

Email: daisy@formsdirect.net

	CULTURE
	Sixto Diaz Rodriguez, Sugar Man Finds Radio City Popularity of mariachi music on its way to becoming ingrained in the U.S. social fabric Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts How to Type Spanish Letters and Accents (á, é, í, ó, ú, ü, ñ, ¿, ¡)

Sixto Diaz Rodriguez
Sugar Man Finds Radio City

Salvatore Bono on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/yuppieblog
Posted: 10/11/2013

=============================================

If someone a year ago were to have told Rodriguez that in a years time he would sell out Radio City Music Hall, he probably would have said they were crazy. Last summer, thanks to the release of the 2012 documentary, Searching For Sugar Man, he sold-out the 600 person Highline Ballroom, and in years prior was struggling to sell out places even smaller like Bowery Ballroom and Joe's Pub. After Sugar Man became an Oscar-winning film and critical and fan favorite, Rodriguez, now at 71 is achieving the success he should have had his whole life.

Just after 9 p.m., Rodriguez was escorted onto the world-famous Radio City stage by his daughter, who happens to be his manager, and personnel from his crew and was handed a pair of sunglasses, a top hat, and his guitar and he began to play. Backed by a band a generation younger than him, Rodriguez seemed comfortable, alive, and perfectly in tune to what was happening and what was around him. It sounded as if his singing has not aged one bit and sounded as pristine as he does on recordings from over 40 years ago.

The modest Detroit folk musician was poised to be the next Bob Dylan in the early '70s but thanks to poor album sales and
terrible management, his musical career fell by the wayside.

However, in another part of the world, Apartheid-era South Africa, he was a God, he was bigger than Dylan, bigger than Johnny Cash, and bigger than Elvis, yet, no one there had any information on him. It wouldn't be until the late '90s, thanks to the internet boom when two South African fans discovered who he was and that he still played, but were surprised to learn he was unknown in America. Rodriguez's story is as touching as it is heartbreaking, and it is unbelievable and thanks to technology and eager South African's who documented their tracking of searching for Rodriguez in Searching For Sugar Man, his career, in the twilight of his life is bigger than ever. "So, I want to share with you all that I received the French Legion of
Honor Award," Rodriguez told the packed Radio City, to thunderous applause, he then joked, "I want you all to know that I want to be a normal Legion."

With that statement, it summed up Rodriguez as a man perfectly. He is a humble, modest, talented person who doesn't take anything for granted. In a world filled with celebrity driven ego, it is refreshing to hear sentiments like that. It is a tip many of today's "stars" should take note on.

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Playing mainly the songs heard in the documentary, "Sugar Man," "I Wonder," "Street Boy," "The Establishment Blues," he also added in deeper cuts from his two albums, 1970's Cold Fact and 1972's Coming From Reality like "Climb Up In My Music," "You'd Like To Admit It." While rumors that a new album will arrive in the future, we are still all discovering his music as if it was brand new. During his 75-minute set, he even took time to give a shout out to South Africa, "Anyone from South Africa here?" With many in attendance, it is South Africa who Rodriguez belonged to first and how he is a global sensation. We must all thank South Africa for finding a piece of buried American treasure that was hidden in the blue-collar parts of Detroit. Now, it raises the question, how many more like Rodriguez are out there that we need to search for?		Follow Salvatore Bono on Twitter: www.twitter.com/yuppieblog Sent by Erasmo R. Riojas docrio45@gmail.com who writes: I would like you to include this Mexican AMerican in your records. He recently was recognized by South Africa as a STAR music performer. His records sold in USA less than the fingers in my hands, but in South Africa he is more famous than Elvis Presley ! Recently his story won the documentary for the year 2013 and he was on David Letterman and the man did not change his lifestyle ! Sigue vida como un hombre pobre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI3H7KQE9Gk

The popularity of mariachi music is on its way to becoming as ingrained in the U.S. social fabric as salsa and Cinco de Mayo.

Source: LatinaLista

=============================================

In fact, the popularity of this iconic musical Mexican export extends beyond the traditional appearance at — Mexican American weddings, Quinceañeras, Las Mañanitas serenades, Cinco de Mayo celebrations and ballet folklorico performances.

Over the last several years, mariachi have performed before a variety of national sporting events — remember San Antonio native Sebastien de la Cruz? — more high schools throughout the United States are including mariachi student bands, along with, college students creating mariachi student groups at their universities.

The truest barometer of this ongoing assimilation is the rise in mariachi competitions, the embrace of the musical genre by non-Latinos and how the entertainment industry is capitalizing on this style of folk music.

This month, Yamahah introduced a new keyboard that includes mariachi and Norteño musical elements that lets musicians play the genre more authentically. To lend even more authenticity, the keyboards also have voice:

The expansion pack adds yet another layer of authenticity and fun to these Mexican musical forms with a varied selection of Gritos, the fun, vocal exclamations, and Chifidos (or whistles) that add energy and flavor to the music.

Yet, the biggest proof of just how popular is mariachi music is one more competition — Mariachi Voice.

In its second year, contestants were asked to upload a 45-second video of themselves singing a Mariachi song. Facebook followers of the contest’s page will vote for the winner. The top 10 voted singers will perform live in a local Chicago venue.

The contest ended May 12 but not before dozens of people from all walks of life, and mariachi singers-at-heart, took to the microphone and released their inner “grito” and exemplified why mariachi lives on across borders.

Featured Photo: A year ago in June 2013, 11-year-old San Antonio native Sebastien de la Cruz sang the national anthem before game three of the NBA Finals and caused an uproar among bigoted critics.

Dorinda Moreno pueblosenmovimientonorte@gmail.com

2014 MULTICULTURAL ARTS SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM "MAS"

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Dear Parents:

For the 23rd consecutive year MCCLA will introduce children and youth (ages 6-16), to the various artistic disciplines and local artist in a dynamic and entertaining summer program. Participants will develop hands-on experience with the use of tools and materials related to the chosen artistic discipline, and will collaborate in a final exhibition/performance, entertaining participants' families and the local community. Participants will be pre-assigned to classes according to their area of interest and availability. Some classes to be offered this year include: Yoga, Hip Hop, Ballroom Dancing for Kids (extra cost for this class), Arts & Crafts, Capoeira, Theater, Drumming, Fashion Design, Mexican Folk Dance, Latin Rhythms & Movement, Digital Photography, Print-making, and more. Lunch provided by DCYF.

You can download the Registration Form and list of Classes on our MAS website: http://www.missionculturalcenter.org/mas.html

1st Session: June 16 - July 11 2nd Session - July 14 -Aug 8 Monday – Friday, TIME: 8:30am - 3:30pm

NOTE: After Care available. Independently run by MAS instructors at extra cost. Information contact Leticia Paez at: (415) 643-2787 or outreach@missionculturalcenter.org

Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
2868 Mission Street,
San Francisco, California 94110
415-821-1155

How to Type Spanish Letters and Accents (á, é, í, ó, ú, ü, ñ, ¿, ¡)

============================

=============================

As I was writing "Prosperous New Year" in Spanish, I had to refresh my memory on how to write the letter's accents.

As we try to encourage our young people to learn to read and write in Spanish, they can learn to program their computers and I-phone to write those accented letters. especially if they are writing their school work all in Spanish.

Than they can teach Granpa and Grandma how to type the words Spanish when they write those special birthdays, get well or congratulation emails.

There are several ways to configure your keyboard to type in the Spanish accented letters and upside-down punctuation.

For all PCs: There are several key combinations you can use to insert single characters into your text on a PC.

The first is for newer computers using the Control key and may only work in Microsoft Office.

In Office for Windows: For accented vowles: Press Ctrl + ‘, then the vowel (ctrl + ' + a = á)
For Ñ: Press Ctrl + ~, then the letter n (ctrl + ~ + n = ñ)

The second way is using the ASCII code. Each character in your computer has a code made up of pressing the ALT key then a three-digit number, all of which are listed below:

á = Alt + 0225
é = Alt + 0233
í = Alt + 0237
ó = Alt + 0243
ú = Alt + 0250
ñ = Alt + 0241
ü = Alt + 0252
¡ = Alt + 0161
¿ = Alt + 0191

To type the numbers, you must use the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard, not the number keys on the top row.

Go to these websites for Mac application and more directions:
http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/100808/how-to-type-spanish-letters-and-accents-#.Urnah6OA05s

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/100808/how-to-type-spanish-letters-and-accents-#.Urnah6OA05s

http://www.studyspanish.com/accents/typing.htm
God Blessings, Rafael Ojeda

Tacoma, WA
rsnojeda@aol.com
(253) 576-9547

BOOKS & PRINT MEDIA

A Free Gift From Victor Villaseñor: Dolphin Miracle plus your own key to Living Miracles
Great Latino Book & Family Festival by Kirk Whisler
The Power of Latino Leadership: Culture, Inclusion, & Contribution by Juana Bordas awarded
           Nautilus Book Awards' Gold Medal for best Multicultural/Indigenous Books
The World War I Diary of José de la Luz Sáenz, Edited and translated by Emilio Zamora
Through the Archival Looking Glass: A Reader on Diversity and Inclusion,
          Edited by Mary Caldera and Kathryn M. Neal
Making Aztlán: Ideology and Culture of the Chicana and Chicano Movement, 1966-1977
           By Juan Gómez-Quiñones and Irene Vásquez
Latino Mennonites: Civil Rights, Faith & Evangelical Culture By Felipe Hinojosa
The Changing Face of Latino/a Evangélicos By Arlene Sánchez-Walsh

A Free Gift From Victor Villaseñor: DOLPHIN MIRACLE plus your own key to LIVING MIRACLES

============================================

=============================================

A Free Gift From Victor Villaseñor: DOLPHIN MIRACLE plus your own key to LIVING MIRACLES
I just wanted to take the time to officially thank all of you for your support throughout my career. In fact, I'm going to keep this newsletter short and to the point as I'm excited about some upcoming projects that are coming. For now, as promised on my social media sites, here is a wonderful gift I have for all my fans.

I like to always think outside the box and give in abundance. With that being said, I've decided to update my last book The Key To Miracles. The book is now called DOLPHIN MIRACLE plus your own key to LIVING MIRACLES. I have updated quite a few things in there.

The book is FREE for download on the following stores, Amazon Kindle, IBookstore, and Barnes and Noble. Be sure to spread the word and have your friends and familia download the book for free. I have also recorded an official audio book as well to accompany the eBook. The eBook can be download
via my official website at VictorVillasenor.com.

Free download link:
http://www.amazon.com/DOLPHIN-MIRACLE-plus-LIVING-MIRACLES
-ebook/dp/B00IXPBO9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394737826&sr=8-
1&keywords=9781939116819

Free audio book: http://rapidshare.com/share/A123E1515034A46E193139C70190808C

Social Media
Please join my social media networks as it allows me to stay in touch
with all of you. I read ALL your responses and now I can keep in touch with all of you.

Listed below are my links.
https://www.facebook.com/victorvillasenorauthor
https://twitter.com/authorvictor#
http://www.youtube.com/user/vevillasenor /
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+victorvillasenor/

Sent by Kirk Whisler

=============================================

This past Saturday (May 3^rd) at Cal State University San Bernardino we held a GREAT Latino Book & Family Festival. With our 54th event something happened that had never happened before: So many people came to the event, three times the 2013 attendance, that campus security closed access to more people entering the building for around 15minutes. Hundreds of people waited patiently outside and the event went on.

It's a wonderful sign for the future of the Inland Empire when a literacy and education event has capacity crowds.

I want to sincerely thank all the authors for attending and the hard working San Bernardino hosts committee for their AMAZING work. It was a success for all concerned.

The California Newspaper Publishers Associations Conference in San Jose was an amazing set of very useful workshops relevant to both print and online media. All California media should consider going to the event next May in San Diego.

Kirk Whisler
Hispanic Marketing
kirk@whisler

============================================================	=	=======================================
		Juana Bordas' book, THE POWER OF LATINO LEADERSHIP: CULTURE, INCLUSION, & CONTRIBUTION has just been awarded the Nautilus Book Awards' Gold Medal for best Multicultural/ Indigenous Book of 2014. The Nautilus Awards represents "Better Books for a Better World." Now in its 15th year, this unique book award program continues to gain prestige with authors and publishers around the world as it seeks, honors, awards and promotes print books that inspire and connect our lives as individuals, communities and global citizens.

The Power of Latino Leadership is also a finalist for best business/leadership book by the International Latino Book Awards which will be presented in Las Vegas on June 28th.

Juana's book Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age won the International Latino Book Award in 2008:

The Power of Latino Leadership will enlighten, inspire, and provide:

* An awareness of Latino Destino - the unique gifts Latinos are bringing to America
* Knowledge of how leading with a Latino flavor can make you more successful!
* An understanding of how to serve and benefit from the growing Latino community and market
* An invitation to become a Latino by affinity or Latino by Corazon

=============================================		=============================================
"America grows more diverse by the day. Leaders want to understand and motivate those they lead, but may feel intimidated by the complex history and culture of Latinos in America. The Power of Latino Leadership helps the reader decode the coming America and the changing workforce." *Ray Suarez, Senior correspondent for PBS News Hour and former host of NPR's Talk of the Nation*		" The Power of Latino Leadership presents a compelling case for how the strengths Hispanics bring to the table - deep roots, strong values, and our multi-faceted culture - can infuse new life into leadership development for all our country's current and future leaders." Janet Murguía, President, The National Council of La Raza

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001OLtSk_Vfs91VtUjM9y6-jhSkIrkMqTJuUlsU88CpRNlCEEFx64zAg17NHe-g-SIjtNOG_jijhO0t26r6YiKYnfkjVMUpCspYi1opuDRuhkZ9A-CCf-u1d4peGj16OeA3CE7kxjkW7ICwMR5lejfA5t1W8JGh__7AXHP8PwL7gu-gGdLku3p1Qpj25-h73PWDxxZYSWQmXWbjzaOWR7ovLA==&c=Pff4IqoSO3pZoKqMPHUBqLarrq4UggDcvGeZXz-NY4zuePvSSqtQIA==&ch=kT-9DrAgxMI_9pCuReQD8Leklpfv8yyXnT24zQlBwRmCsc_6jEXjXg==

Juana is one of 30 speakers in this free online summit, whose mission is to inspire participants to make life-changing adjustments in attitude and perspective. Juana states that the benefits of this summit can be applied to anyone and everyone. The summit started May 17 and will continue until June 19. For more information, please contact Juana at mestizalead@gmail.com

President, Mestiza Leadership International
2678 Clermont St, Denver CO 80207
office: 303.320.5644 . cell: 303.548.0680
PoweroOfLatinoLeadership.com

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The World War I Diary of José de la Luz Sáenz
Edited and translated by Emilio Zamora,

The Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS) hosts a book plática series focusing on the recent work of our faculty affiliates. The CMAS Faculty Book Plática Series provides a forum for the discussion of new books published during the academic year.

The second CMAS Faculty Book Plática featured Emilio Zamora, Professor in the Department of History and faculty affiliate of CMAS on May 7th.

Professor Zamora edited and translated (translation with Ben Maya) The World War I Diary of José de la Luz Sáenz (Texas A&M University Press, 2014). A skilled and dedicated teacher in South Texas before and after the war, José de la Luz Sáenz’s served with the 90th Division and saw action in two of the War’s major offensives.

Aside from addressing the problem of discrimination at home and in the U.S. military, Sáenz recounts the horrific war experience that he and his fellow soldiers faced, as well as the bravery and gallantry of Mexican soldiers under fire. Sáenz also speaks extensively of Mexican “battlefield sacrifices” as a moral basis for claiming equal rights at the homefront. In 1929, four years before the publication of the diary, Sáenz participates in the establishment of the League of United Latin American Citizens and influences the civil rights organization to adopt the record of battlefield sacrifice in its fight against discrimination and segregation.

A panel of commentators, Professor Andrés Tijerina (Austin Community College) and Martha P. Cotera (activist and independent scholar), joined Professor Zamora to discuss the book.

=============================================

Through the Archival Looking Glass: A Reader on Diversity and Inclusion,
Edited by Mary Caldera and Kathryn M. Neal

The impulse to create archives is rooted in the very human need to leave one's mark on the world. Whether through letters, diaries, reports, photographs, films, or a teenager's simple need to scrawl "I was here" on a subway wall, there's a deep desire in individuals to tell their stories, to be seen--literally and figuratively--in archives. With this desire also comes the need to ensure that archives are as diverse as the world we live in and to preserve the individuals and cultures that have been consciously or unconsciously underserved in the archives.

Book features ten essays that explore prominent themes related to diversity, including creating a diverse record, recruiting diversity to the profession and retaining a diverse workforce, and questioning the archive itself, on representation, authority, neutrality, objectivity, and power.

This book illustrates a multitude of perspectives and issues so that fresh voices can emerge alongside more familiar ones, and new concepts can be examined with new treatments of established ideas. Diversity is an ever-evolving concept; the term itself is increasingly rephrased as inclusion. By stimulating further ideas and conversation, we can come closer to a common understanding of what diversity and inclusion are or can be and, perhaps most importantly, how they may be realized in archives and the archival profession.

http://saa.archivists.org/store/through-the-archival
-looking-glass-a-reader-on-diversity-and-inclusion/3922/

Book Cover l Making Aztlan l Juan Gomez-Quinones & Irene Vasquez l April 2014

Making Aztlán: Ideology and Culture of the Chicana and Chicano Movement, 1966-1977

By Juan Gómez-Quiñones and Irene Vásquez

Nota: The latest book by Juan Gómez-Quiñones and Irene Vásquez, Making Aztlán, launches and introduces the new book series hosted by the Southwest Hispanic Research Institute (SHRI) at the University of New Mexico. The new book series is called Contextos and its titles will be published by UNM Press. A book series launch and reception was held recently on April 4, 2014, to commemorate the occasion. The keynote speaker was José E. Limón, Julián Samora professor of Latino Studies and American Literature, University of Notre Dame. Adelante!—Roberto R. Calderón, Historia Chicana [Historia]

=============================================

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

Juan Gόmez-Quiñones is a professor of history at UCLA. His earlier books include Mexican American Labor, 1790–1990, Roots of Chicano Politics, 1600–1940, and Chicano Politics: Reality and Promise, 1940–1990, all published by the University of New Mexico Press.

Irene Vásquez is the director of Chicana and Chicano Studies at the University of New Mexico. She is coauthor of Latino-Latino Americanos, 2000: Things Social Do Not Melt into the Air and coeditor of The Borders in All of Us: New Approaches to Global Diasporic Studies.

Publisher: University of New Mexico Press (April 30, 2014) ISBN-10: 0826354661 ISBN-13: 978-0826354662

Description: This book provides a long-needed overview of the Chicana and Chicano movement's social history as it grew, flourished, and then slowly fragmented. The authors examine the movement's origins in the 1960s and 1970s, showing how it evolved from a variety of organizations and activities united in their quest for basic equities for Mexican Americans in U.S. society. Within this matrix of agendas, objectives, strategies, approaches, ideologies, and identities, numerous electrifying moments stitched together the struggle for civil and human rights. Gómez-Quiñones and Vásquez show how these convergences underscored tensions among diverse individuals and organizations at every level. Their narrative offers an assessment of U.S. society and the Mexican American community at a critical time, offering a unique understanding of its civic progress toward a more equitable social order.

La Iglesia Menonita del Calvario, Mathis, Texas, early 1950s
Latino Mennonites: Civil Rights, Faith & Evangelical Culture
By Felipe Hinojosa
(Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014)

Facebook Page: http://bit.ly/1dJfVXP
https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/content/latino-mennonites
Hardback - 328 pages
20 halftones
ISBN: 9781421412832

=============================================

Felipe Hinojosa's parents first encountered Mennonite families as migrant workers in the tomato fields of northwestern Ohio. What started as mutual admiration quickly evolved into a relationship that strengthened over the years and eventually led to his parents founding a Mennonite Church in South Texas. Throughout his upbringing as a Mexican American evangélico, Hinojosa was faced with questions not only about his own religion but also about broader issues of Latino evangelicalism, identity, and civil rights politics.

Latino Mennonites offers the first historical analysis of the changing relationship between religion and ethnicity among Latino Mennonites. Drawing heavily on primary sources in Spanish, such as newspapers and oral history interviews, Hinojosa traces the rise of the Latino presence within the Mennonite Church from the origins of Mennonite missions in Latino communities in Chicago, South Texas, Puerto Rico,

and New York City, to the conflicted relationship between the Mennonite Church and the California farmworker movements, and finally to the rise of Latino evangelical politics.

He also analyzes how the politics of the Chicano, Puerto Rican, and black freedom struggles of the 1960s and 1970s civil rights movements captured the imagination of Mennonite leaders who belonged to a church known more for rural and peaceful agrarian life than for social protest.

Whether in terms of religious faith and identity, race, immigrant rights, or sexuality, the politics of belonging has historically presented both challenges and possibilities for Latino evangelicals in the religious landscapes of twentieth-century America. In Latino Mennonites, Hinojosa has interwoven church history with social history to explore dimensions of identity in Latino Mennonite communities and to create a new way of thinking about the history of American evangelicalism.

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Reviews

Hinojosa adeptly examines how African American civil rights struggles, relations with Latin Americans, and trends in evangelical religion shaped the faith and activism of U.S. Latino Mennonites. Latino Mennonites is both a superb narrative history and a model for the scholarly analysis of religion within its wider social context.—(Timothy Matovina, University of Notre Dame)

Deftly weaving together stories of everyday life with analysis of economic and political structures, Hinojosa reconstructs the spaces where the identity 'Latino Mennonite' took shape. Moving from South Texas to Chicago to Puerto Rico, from Bible studies in homes to social justice protests in the streets, Hinojosa illustrates the complex manner in which Latinos and blacks were able to claim belonging—and in the process transform—the historically white Mennonite Church.—(Jane Juffer, Cornell University, author of Intimacy Across Borders: Race, Religion, and Migration in the U.S. Midwest)

Latino Mennonites is a pathbreaking study of the hidden history of Latinos in the United States—the role of religion and politics. With masterful historical skills and a nuanced historical perspective, Felipe Hinojosa unearths the history of Latino Mennonites and contributes to the developing historiography of Latino religious studies and to a more inclusive history of American religions.—(Mario T. García, University of California, Santa Barbara, author of Católicos: Resistance and Affirmation in Chicano Catholic History)

Listen to an interview with the Author: https://soundcloud.com/marginalia/mrb-radio-10-felipe-hinojosa

Felipe Hinojosa is an assistant professor of history at Texas A&M University. He is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including the Hispanic Theological Initiative Dissertation Fellowship and a First Book Grant for Minority Scholars from the Louisville Institute.

Felipe Hinojosa, Assistant Professor
History Department, 102B Glasscock Building
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX. 77843-4236
Email: fhinojosa@tamu.edu

CUENTO

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The Changing Face of Latino/a Evangélicos

By Arlene Sánchez-Walsh

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/amsanchezwalsh/
2013/04/the-changing-face-of-latinoa-evangelicos/

Welcoming a new voice in the study of Latino/a Religion–South Texas’ own Felipe Hinojosa is a Tejano and a Mennonite, and a fabulous conversation partner on all things from academia, politics & Latino/a history…He is an Assistant Professor of History at Texas A&M University. He has a forthcoming article titled “¡Medicina Si, Muerte No!: Race, Public Health, and the ‘Long War on Poverty’ in Mathis, Texas, 1948-1971” to be published in the Winter 2013 issue of the Western Historical Quarterly. His book, Latino Mennonites: Civil Rights, Faith, and Evangelical Culture is under contract with Johns Hopkins University Press and set for release in 2014.—ASW

=============================================

From as far back as I can remember, I was aware that my family’s faith traditions were different than those of my friends. I was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas—located on the southernmost tip of Texas—where my family’s history dates back to the early twentieth century. But I grew up attending the Mennonite Church, Iglesia Menonita del Cordero, that my parents started in the late 1960s. I know what you are thinking, Latino and Mennonite? First let me be clear, I am not talking about the so-called “Mexican Mennonites” who for the most part live in the Mexican state of Chihuahua where they have been farming since the 1920s and are famous for their “queso Menonita” (Mennonite cheese). That’s not us.

My parents first met white Mennonites in Archbold, Ohio, as they worked as migrant farm workers

picking tomatoes on Mennonite-owned farms in the late 1950s and 1960s.

My grandmother, Manuela Tijerina, liked that Mennonite farmers honored the Lord’s day by not working on Sundays and that Mennonite missionaries offered church services in Spanish for migrant farm workers. Since those days, both the Tijerina and Hinojosa sides of my family have been integrally tied to the Mennonite experience. That link strengthened when my parents started a Mennonite Church in Brownsville. The small group of Mexican Americans that gathered those first few Sundays saw the Mennonite Church as more than an ethno-religious group with strong ties to the rural Midwest. Instead, they saw the Mennonite Church as many Latinos do today, as an iglesiaevangélica (evangelical church) with a faith tradition firmly rooted in community, peace, and justice.

=============================================		=============================================
That is all fine and dandy, but it certainly did not make my life any easier growing up in a predominately Mexican American community. Most of my friends in school were Catholic, with a number of closet Pentecostals and mainline Protestants sprinkled throughout. Most of my friends called my dad a “priest” instead of a “pastor,” which of course always required that I explain the difference between “Christians” and “Catholics.” What’s the difference you ask? “Christians” were the Protestants and “Catholics” were the Catholics. That’s how we broke it down in South Texas. But as soon as I began explaining to my friends that my dad was a “pastor” because we were “Christians,” I often stumbled into a discussion about what being a Mennonite was all about. Want to know my baseline argument? “Well, we are just like the Baptists, except we believe in peace.” My friends typically lost interest by the time I made my “we are just like the Baptists” argument and we usually moved on to more important things like playing football or basketball.		However muddled my notions of religious identity were (and continue to be), I do not think that mine was an entirely unique experience. Latino Mennonites from Florida to Iowa to Oregon have slowly redefined the narrow ethnic and theological confines of the Mennonite Church. In the 1970s, Latinos called themselves “Meno-Latinos” and “Meno-Latinas” to assert their ethnic and religious loyalties to an overwhelmingly white Mennonite Church. In 1979 they established a “Hispanic Ministries” program on the campus of Goshen College (a Mennonite college in northern Indiana) in order to train Latino pastors in Mennonite theology and history. Today, Latino Mennonite churches constitute one of the fastest growing segments of Mennonite Church USA. But that’s only part of the story. According to a recent study by sociologist Conrad Kanagy, today Mennonite Church USA is more evangelical, more politically involved, more urban, and its Latino and African American membership are more charismatic in their worship styles.

=============================================

In his study Kanagy found that a little over 80 percent of Latinos and African Americans in the Mennonite Church believe in the “charismatic gifts of healing, prophesying and speaking in tongues.” It is these evangelical Mennonite churches, as Mennonite scholar J. Nelson Kraybill suggested, “that have been most successful at reaching across ethnic, racial and economic boundaries.” In other words, the future of the Mennonite Church is likely to be more diverse and evangelical. Walk into any Latino Mennonite church today, any Iglesia Menonita, and you will quickly see a religious medley of influences, from Pentecostal to mainline Protestant, that do their best to include Mennonite peace theology.

Of course, none of this makes it any easier for anyone trying to explain what exactly it means to be Latino and Mennonite. But I hope it at least moves us to broaden how we think about the complex forms and expressions of Latino religious identities in the United States.

Historia Chicana
Mexican American Studies
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas

Latino soldiers Cebu, Phillipines, WW II	USA LATINO PATRIOTS
	June 6, 2014, marks the 70th anniversary of "D-Day," Medal of Honor Roll Call: Joseph C. Rodriguez by Robert J. Laplander De Los Santos Brothers Another fallen Navajo Code Talker Warrior has departed Soldados, Chicanos in Viet Nam Cuento: Sea Story by Paul Trejo

June 6, 2014, marks the 70th anniversary of "D-Day," the largest invasion ever attempted, where 200,000 Americans stormed the beaches at Normandy to begin the final push to defeat Nazi Germany in WWII. D-Day marked the turning point in WWII in Europe, where the Nazis were engaged in mass murder of Jews and minorities by the thousands. 6,000 American soldiers were killed on D-Day.

With the premiere of the ten part HBO miniseries, The Pacific, produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Gary Goetzman, World War II has again come into the living rooms of American families. The Pacific, the follow-up to Band of Brothers, will focus on the US Marines in the Pacific Theater of the war.

The below collection focuses on The Pacific War, a term referring to parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, the islands of the Pacific and the Far East. The start of The Pacific War is generally considered to be the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The Pacific War pitted the Allies against the Empire of Japan and culminated with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945, Victory over Japan Day on August 15, 1945 and the official surrender of Japan aboard the battleship U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.
http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/03/18/captured-blog-the-pacific-and-adjacent-theaters/#more-1547

Sent by Jose Pena JMPENA@aol.com

Medal of Honor Roll Call: Joseph C. Rodriguez

By: Robert J. Laplander

On April 24, 1952, Rodriguez and his fiancée Miss Rose Aranda were the invited guests on “You Bet Your Life,”
a 1950s television game show hosted by Groucho Marx.

As we look each week at the Medal of Honor heroes, so many were killed in action and most leave military service with their hitch was over. This week’s hero, Joseph C. Rodriguez earned his MOH one horrid day in Korea as a private and when he went home he was a staff sergeant, who made the Army his career and he retired a colonel. What also made his homecoming unique was his appearance on the “You Bet Your Life” program hosted by Groucho Marx.

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Organization: U.S. Army, Company F, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division Place and date: Near Munye-ri, Korea, 21 May 1951 Entered service at: California Place of Birth: San Bernardino, CA

Watch this video of Joseph C. Rodriguez:
http://www.humanevents.com/2014/04/27/medal-of-honor
-roll-call-joseph-c-rodriguez/

Citation: Sgt. Rodriguez, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. Sgt. Rodriguez, an assistant squad leader of the 2d Platoon, was participating in an attack against a fanatical hostile force occupying well-fortified positions on rugged commanding terrain, when his squad’s advance was halted within approximately 60 yards by a withering barrage of automatic weapons and small-arms fire from 5 emplacements directly to the front and right and left flanks, together with grenades which the enemy rolled down the hill toward the advancing troops.

Fully aware of the odds against him, Sgt. Rodriguez leaped to his feet, dashed 60 yards up the fire-swept slope, and, after lobbing grenades into the first foxhole with deadly accuracy, ran around the left flank, silenced an automatic weapon with 2 grenades and continued his whirlwind assault to the top of the peak, wiping out 2 more foxholes and then, reaching the right flank, he tossed grenades into the remaining emplacement, destroying the gun and annihilating its crew.

Sgt. Rodriguez’ intrepid actions exacted a toll of 15 enemy dead and, as a result of his incredible display of valor, the defense of the opposition was broken, and the enemy routed, and the strategic strongpoint secured. His unflinching courage under fire and inspirational devotion to duty reflect highest credit on himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.

DE LOS SANTOS BROTHER

Estimada Mimi, My good friend Omar Rivera from TX has been accumulating families that had more than 4 or 5 family members who served in WW II. Looks like the web site also has genealogy information.

We have to remind our folks to register their family members, men and women who served in the Military service, in ALL of the Military Memorials, IE WW I, WW II Korea, and Vietnam. It is a way to honor them publicly.

Rafael Ojeda
Tacoma WA.

http://www.thehubway.net/DeLosSantos/index_DeLosSantos_military.asp
http://www.thehubway.net/DeLosSantos/index.asp
http://www.thehubway.net/DeLosSantos/index_DeLosSantosfam_1.asp
http://www.thehubway.net/DeLosSantos/index_DeLosSantos_military.asp

Another fallen Navajo Code Talker Warrior has departed

============================================

=============================================

As we get ready to commemorate all of our Fallen military men and women on Memorial Day.

There were 32 other Native Tribes/ Nations that have been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their services in WW I and II. Most American and TV station report only our Navajo Code Talkers.

Congress has awarded the CGM to 33 Native Nations/Tribes, Let us help them to "Set the Record Straight" on Code Talkers.

http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/indian-country-mourns-
loss-navajo-code-talker-corporal-tom-jones-jr/

http://www.speaker.gov/video/us-congress-presents-gold
-medal-native-american-code-talkers

http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/medals/?action=codeTalkers

Rafael Ojeda
Tacoma, Washington
(253) 576-9547

CUENTO

I talked to Charley Truillo 20 years ago via phone when he was trying to get his book published by mainstream publishers. They kept telling him they had heard and published enough stories of soldiers who served in Vietnam and were not interested in "Soldados: Chicanos in Vietnam" Charley told them that they had not heard nor published stories from Chicanos who served in Vietnam.

He had no other choice but to self-publish his book. I'm glad to say he has done well promoting his book. In his book, some of the soldiers interviewed speak highly of the Puerto Rican American soldiers for their fighting courage. Check out this video to the end. These American soldiers who fought in Vietnam, told it the way it was.

Joe Sanchez
bluewall@mpinet.net

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsdizlRrf1U http://www.amazon.com/Soldados-Chicanos-Viet-Charley-Trujillo/dp/0962453609

CUENTO

Sea Story by Paul Trejo
pgbluecoat@aol.com

=============================================		=============================================
The original Blue Angels, flying Grumman Bearcats, what a treat!! Seeing that aircraft jarred a few memories, which always generates a Sea Story. This was a marvelous video of some wonderful flying in one of the last prop planes the Navy flew before going into the Jet age. The Bearcat and Corsair (F4-U) with their large 4 bladed props were evidently sweet to fly, but could have problems on taking off or landing if the pilot was not on his toes. It seems that large four bladed prop, tended to become a torque machine ie: tending to roll the aircraft. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bwM-yAFBjU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG7ueVE5MkE My experience as a deck officer with the Bearcat was somewhat humorous. In 1948 while on the USS McCook (DD-496) we were plane guarding for the Fleet Carrier Tarawa off Long Beach. A squadron of the Navy's winged eagles flying out of NAS North Island was evidently transitioning from Grumman Hellcats to Bearcats. I'm not sure if this group of aviators were nugget pilots or not, but this was not a good day for that squadron. Remember, these were the days before helicopter rescues. Instead, when a carrier was conducting flight operations, there		were always two destroyer Plane Guard, one at 700-1000 yards astern on the starboard quarter of the carrier, and one the same distance on the starboard beam. When a plane went in the drink, on either landing or taking off, the plane guard would drop a whale boat in the water and rush to the crash site to rescue the pilot. Navy planes have a nasty habit of sinking like a rock, so haste was vital. The boat crew always had and experienced boat officer, Coxswain, motor mech, and a strong swimmer --- and most important an axe and crowbar to force open a jammed canopy. It was customary when returning a rescued pilot to his carrier via High Line to receive a case of ice cream or two in return. And this is the humor in this yarn. After two planes went in the drink, and both pilots returned for ice cream, evidently the squadron commander (a full Navy Commander any way) decided to show the youngsters how to land and airplane on a carrier. Unfortunately, he too made a water landing. When we went along side the carrier to send him back by High Line, Tarawa sent over two cases of ice cream. On deck, he laid his hand on his sleeve with three fingers, indicating his rank, and very indignantly said over the Bull Horn, that if and Ensign or JG was worth one case, a Lt. two cases, then by God a Commander was worth three. They sent over four cases of ice cream !!

=======================================

=============================================

The inspiration for this poem came as a result of a reality of life. The last time I saw Rudy, he looked like a homeless rat, soiled, bearded, long hair, and slurry speech. He greeted me as always, "Hey Primo (cousin)," a salutation of the "Barrio (neighborhood). Rudy and a number of guys had grown up very close. We were "Palomilla," that fraternal brotherhood of the "Mexican"side of our Community.

Rudy's parents were divorced. Rudy like myself had a very beautiful lady for a mother. Unfortunately both died when we were very young. Rudy was raised by aunts. I was raised by my grandmother and my aunt.

Rudy, a drop out, went on to work for the Railroad. He also joined a reserve component of the Armed Services. I joined the Naval Reserve. Korea, the little Crisis came along. We all went somewhere. Rudy wound up in Korea at age 18. He got wounded and brought home a Purple Heart which was his demise.

He did not consider himself a hero, but others did. They introduced him to Alky. Rudy lost himself in the booze and died alone, with only God to see about him. That is why the last day I saw him, I came and told my wife Rudy was on his last Alky run. I was hoping he would not be found dead.

....And the poem? Many of his real Veteran friends who looked out for him asked me to say a few words at his funeral. He deserved a Eulogy. I wrote the poem, but I could not read it. A fellow Vietnam Marine Veteran read it.

Who was Rudy? His first cousin was General Richard Cavazos, the first Hispanic General. His other cousin Larry, had been in the Presidential Cabinet, Secretary of Education. His cousin Robert (Bobby) Cavazos was All-American in football at Texas Tech. He also served as an officer during Korea. His brother was also a Marine. Rudy was not a bum; Rudy was a Former Marine!

The Forgotten Marine

He was born in the Barrio,
From a proud family del Rancho Kineno.
He was born into a vast richness
Of Spirit, Respect, Love & Religion.

He was of that age group who was
Born to live between two great wars.
He went to school en la "Austin"
And Memorial Jr. High.

Like many of his age group, he was a Drop out.
He joined the ranks of the Ferro carrileros La MoPac Railroad.
Like many of the Palomilla of the Barrio He also joined a Reserve Component Of the Armed Forces, The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve

Almost immediately the Marine Unit Was called to service
He found himself living the geography
He never had a chance to study in school,
Korea was the name, The In-between war.

He came back with a Purple Heart,
Too young to really know, too young
To really care about being called
A hero.

Alas, he met a thing he thought
Was his friend, and not an enemy,
The good old accepted drug, Alcohol.
And we lost Rudy To the world of devastation.

But for those who really knew him,
That trace of love, respect, and Compassion was always there.
For those of us who really knew him,
There was always "El PrimoYu-Ye," the Former U.S. Marine!

May God Bless you Rudy!

Raul Garza and
La Palomilla Del Barrio de la Calle Lee

	EARLY LATINO AMERICAN PATRIOTS
	Congress is urged to honor little-known Revolutionary War hero by Richard Simon Keeping a Promise to Honor a Hero by Joseph W. Dooley Granaderos de Galvez San Antonio Chapter participate in King William Fair & Parade Cuento: Robert Thonhoff by Mimi Lozano

Congress is urged to honor little-known Revolutionary War hero

by Richard Simon

Carlos Monserrate y Carlos Olmedo, durante la presentación del retrato de Bernardo de Gálvez

A portrait of Bernardo de Galvez by artist Carlos Monserrate, left. On the right,
Manuel Olmedo Checa, a member of a group working to highlight Galvez's legacy
The Los Angeles Times, May 4, 2014
Reporting from Washington

=============================================

Teresa Valcarce wants to see Congress keep a promise it made in 1783. Back then, the year the Revolutionary War ended, Congress agreed to display a portrait of Bernardo de Galvez in the Capitol to honor the Spanish statesman's efforts to aid the colonies in their struggle against Britain. A group out of Pensacola, Fla., meanwhile, wants to see Galvez granted honorary citizenship, an honor bestowed on such notables as Lafayette and Churchill.

Never heard of Bernardo de Galvez? Exactly. He is perhaps the Rodney Dangerfield of the American Revolution. But Valcarce, a Spanish immigrant who obtained her citizenship six years ago, and the Pensacola group hope to remedy that.

Galvez was governor of Louisiana during the reign of King Carlos III. He sent arms and supplies to the colonists and, after Spain's entry into the war in 1779, led attacks on British outposts in the Gulf Coast area.

His actions, according to the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad, "relieved British pressure on Washington's armies." In Pensacola, when Spanish ships were slow to attack the British capital of West Florida, Galvez sailed into the harbor alone, according to the Defense Department's "Hispanics in America's Defense."

"Shamed and inspired by his example of personal leadership and bravery, the remaining ships followed," the report says. Galvez's coat of arms later included a ship with a flying pennant that says, "Yo Solo," or "I alone."

"As Lafayette was the symbolic representative of France, Bernardo de Galvez should be the symbolic representative of Spain," says a report sent to Congress by Pensacola residents backing honorary citizenship. "Both countries provided vital support to the continental government, yet Spain's influence often has been overlooked."

It's not as if Galvez has been entirely forgotten. Galveston, Texas, is named after him. A 15-cent postage stamp was issued in his honor in 1980.

He is lesser known than other Revolutionary War heroes, such as the Marquis de Lafayette, whose portrait hangs in the House chamber, and Thaddeus Kosciuszko, who has a bust in the Capitol and a street named after him in downtown Los Angeles, albeit a very short one.

Washington has a statue of the Spaniard astride a horse, a 1976 bicentennial gift from Spain, but it often draws the same response from passersby: Who?

=============================================

"I gave a talk to 200 people in Galveston, Texas, and three people raised their hands when I asked if they knew where the town's name came from," said Thomas E. Chavez, author of "Spain and the Independence of the United States: An Intrinsic Gift."

Recognition of Galvez, he said, "will open up a whole new world of information about the birth of our nation and will take an already beautiful story and make it better."

Valcarce was unaware of Galvez's role in the revolution until she visited Mobile, Ala., site of one of his battles.

"We were just walking around the city," she said. "Suddenly, I saw the symbol of Malaga." It was a statue of a fisherman carrying baskets on his shoulders — identical to one in the Spanish province where Galvez was born. At the time, Valcarce was living in Malaga (then a sister city of Mobile). Then she spotted a plaque describing Galvez's exploits.

That was 16 years ago. Recently, Valcarce read an article in a Spanish newspaper saying the Continental Congress had accepted a portrait of Galvez.

That launched the 45-year-old mother of three from the Washington area on a mission to get a newly commissioned portrait of Galvez hung in the Capitol. "I am only asking my country to keep its word," she said.

The Continental Congress in 1783 voted to accept New Orleans merchant Oliver Pollock's offer of a portrait of Galvez "to be placed in the room in which Congress meet[s]," according to the Journals of the Continental Congress.

But whether a portrait was ever put on display is unclear.

Valcarce, who works as an administrative assistant, has pored through historic records, visited congressional offices and raised the matter with the Spanish prime minister during a recent gathering at the Washington home of Spain's ambassador to the U.S.

"The guy who picks up the phone at the Historical Office of the Senate calls me 'the Lady of the Portrait,'" she said.

Valcarce has lined up support for her cause, and a group is ready to donate a new portrait.

=============================================

"If we make a promise to hang a portrait of the Spanish hero of the American Revolution in the U.S. Capitol building, and we can honor that promise without spending a nickel, why don't we?" said Joseph Donnelly, president general of the 33,000-member National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The case of honorary citizenship was floated in the past, but gained new impetus after Galvez was named a Great Floridian by the state in 2012. "Almost everyone in Pensacola knows about this magnificent Spaniard," said Nancy Fetterman, a volunteer historian.

Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), who represents the area, introduced the citizenship legislation, lining up the support of the Florida House delegation. But it won't be easy.

The last time Congress awarded honorary citizenship was in 2009 to another Revolutionary War general, the Polish-born Casimir Pulaski.

Others conferred the honor were Lafayette; Winston Churchill; Mother Teresa; Pennsylvania founder William Penn and his wife, Hannah; and Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who rescued thousands of Jews from Nazi death camps.

Honorary citizenship has been proposed for others, including Anne Frank, Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Anwar Sadat. None got it.

http:latimes.com/nation/la-na-forgotten-
hero-20140505,0,3774588.story

Sent by Mary Sevilla, CSJ marysevilla@mac.com
Dorinda Moreno pueblosenmovimientonorte@gmail.com

Keeping a Promise to Honor a Hero

Joseph W. Dooley, May 21, 2014

Joseph W. Dooley is the President General of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution.

=============================================

In 1783, the United States government passed a resolution accepting a portrait of Bernardo de Galvez as a gift from Oliver Pollock to the American people. As commanded by Carlos III, King of Spain, General Galvez had harassed the British in the Gulf of Mexico in support of the American Revolution. The same resolution that accepted the portrait of Galvez asserted that it should “be placed in the room in which Congress meets.”

The government of the United States at the time was under the Articles of Confederation, and the current U.S. Capitol Building was years away from being built. Still, Congress had resolved to hang a portrait of Galvez in “the room in which Congress meets.” If Congress is to honor this resolution, Galvez’s portrait should be hanging somewhere in the U.S. Capitol Building. But even though the government made this promise, to date, it has not kept its word.

George Washington and many others of the Revolutionary generation were well aware of Spain’s help in the struggle of the United States to gain its independence from Great Britain. The hanging of a portrait of Galvez was to be a public display of American appreciation for Spain’s assistance.

The failure of the United States to keep its word on this matter has come to the attention of Dr. Teresa Valcarce-Graciani, who has singlehandedly championed this issue, along with informing several members of Congress. Among the members of the House who have expressed interest in righting this wrong are Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Xavier Becerra (D-CA). In the Senate, only Rob Menendez (D-NJ) has expressed interest in having a portrait of Galvez hung in the U.S. Capitol Building.

Dr. Valcarce-Graciani has also rallied several organizations to this cause. Among these are the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (the DAR) and the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (the SAR). The DAR, the SAR and other organizations represent over four million people who support this effort.

In addition to all the support Dr. Valcarce-Graciani has garnered for this cause, she has also arranged for a replica of a portrait of Galvez to be donated to the United States so that it may be hung in the U.S. Capitol Building. The original portrait from which this replica is copied was a gift from King Carlos III to General Galvez himself, and is part of a private collection in Málaga, Spain.

=============================================

Dr. Valcarce-Graciani received an e-mail from Congressman Van Hollen’s office that the Curator with the Architect of the Capitol “noted that the resolution from 1783 would not be applicable to this Congress.” While this may be technically correct, it is morally wrong.

When Alexander Hamilton proposed Funding and Assumption in the First Federal Congress, there were members who argued the government of the United States under the Constitution should not be held responsible for debt incurred by any of the several states or by the United States when it was governed by either the Continental Congress or the Confederation Congress. That argument was morally wrong then, and it is morally wrong now to assert that a promise made by the Confederation Congress to honor a Revolutionary War hero should not be kept by the Federal Congress.

Absent any commitment from Congress, we are left with an unkept promise to honor a Spanish hero of the American Revolution. Millions of Americans want to see this promise kept, to see this hero honored, and it won’t cost the United States anything. But if Congress fails to honor its promise, it will cost the United States a blow to her integrity. Spain was our friend when we struggled for our independence. Let us show Spain that we remember her support, and thank her for it, by placing a portrait of General Galvez in the U.S. Capitol Building.

Joseph W. Dooley is the President General of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution.

=============================================

Sent by Leroy Martinez leroymartinez@charter.net

Granaderos de Galvez San Antonio Chapter, Fife & Drum Corps; L-R: Ricardo Rodriguez, Gerard Cortese, Kate Bolcar, Urban Urbano, Julie Soto, Jesse Benavides, Crystal Benavides & Joe Perez. After March of 1760, all Spanish musicians were to wear
blue coats, red vests and blue pants with livery lace on the coats and vests.

=============================================

Joe Perez, as a Granadero in the Navarra Regiment firing
a Spanish musket at the fair.

Who: Granaderos de Galvez San Antonio Chapter
What: King William Fair & Parade
When: Saturday, April 26, 2014
Where: San Antonio TX
Why: One event in the 3-week Fiesta celebration

Thank you for continuing to put out information on Hispanic issues and history and serving as a focal point for so many groups.

Warm wishes, Joe Perez
jperez329@satx.rr.com

CUENTO

Robert H. Thonhoff,
"Tejano Families and Ranches"

May 7th, Robert H. Thonhoff gave a very informative and well-researched presentation on "Tejano Families and Ranches" at the meeting of the Order of Granaderos y Damas de Galvez in San Antonio, Texas. The presentation covered the history of the many ranches in Spanish Colonial Texas and the families who maintained them while laying down their roots.

=============================================			=============================================
Governor Joe Perez presents Mr. Robert Thonhoff with a framed medal as a token of the group's appreciation.			Editor Mimi: I remember the first time that I came across Judge Thonhoff's research. During my first attendance at the annual Texas State Hispanic Genealogical conference. I purchased his book, The Texas Connection With the America Revolution It was in the latemid 1987s. Although only a brief 106 pages, it is well documented, and gave me a base of understanding that has propelled me for the last thirty years to help others with their family research. I had been under a misconception, my whole life. The history that I believed was my inheritance was incorrect. The minute I finished his book, I got on the phone to locate him. I just wanted to chat. I needed to share how much his book and the information meant to me, totally new insight. I had never done that before, chase down an author. With the help of a long-distance telephone operator, I was able to get his phone number. Judge Thonhoff was not home. However, his kind wife, sensing my disappointment said sweetly said, "Robert will want to talk to you. He will call you." She took my number, and Robert did call, the moment he got home. We had a wonderful chat, and have remained in touch, since then, a real blessing to me. A retired teacher, Robert Thonhoff's motivation was to help his student of Spanish/Mexican heritage to know the truth of their roots. "They have every reason to be proud of their ancestors, but they don't know their history."

Spanish SURNAMES

The Serna Family and Your Family in New Mexico

Linda Serna lindajmj@verizon.net 714-504-7060

Names Connected with the Serna Family: Abarca, Abendano, Alvarez, Apodaca, Archuleta, Armijo, Baca, Betancur, Carvajal, Casados, Chaves(z), Cordova, De la Cruz, De Vera, Duran, Gallego, Garcia, Holguin, Hurtado, Jaramillo, Lopez, Lucero de Godoy, Lucero, Lujan, Madrid, Mares, Martin, Martinez, Montoya, Nunez, Olivas, Ortega, Ortiz, Pacheco, Perea, Perez, Roybal, Ruis(z), Salas, Salas(z)ar, Sanchez, Silva, Tapia, Trujillo, Ulibarri, Valdes(z), Valero, Varela, Vasquez, Vig(j)il, Villanueva, Ydalgo, Zamora

Spanish Origins
 The “Sernas” are from northern Spain, from the regions around Burgos, Santander, and Leon
 1360: Alvaro Gomez de la Serna is born about this year
 Spain was not yet united as a country
 Because the de la Sernas were so well-established in the 1300s, it is surmised that they had been in the north of Spain for a
very long time, possibly since the 1st century and before

Origin of the Name

 Serna is of Celtic origin
 It comes from the Celtic word “sen ara” for cultivated land
 It can also mean “land suitable for sowing”
 In the Ukraine, Serna is a common name which means “wild goats”

Interesting coincidence: Cimarron in New Mexico is Spanish for “wild goats.” Its high school mascot is also a wild goat

Founding of Villa de Santa Fe

 Santa Fe was established as a military garrison during the tenure of Oñate prior to 1608
 Viceroy Fray Luis de Velasco recommended to Governor Pedro de Peralta in 1609 that the military camp of Santa Fe be given
the legal status of villa
 The founding of Santa Fe was accomplished by several people over a period of time
 No record has been uncovered listing the names of the original settlers but records from the 1620s confirm the names of 13
individuals representing eight households as the founders

Founders of Villa de Santa Fe

 Pedro Durán de Chávez (age 60 in 1626) and wife Isabel de Bohórquez (age 40 in 1626)
 Francisco Gómez (age 40 in 1626) and wife Ana Robledo
 Juan Griego (the elder) and wife Pascula Bernal (parents of Juan Griego b. ca. 1604-1605)
 Juan López Olguin (age 64 in 1626) and wife Catalina de Villanueva (close to age 50 in 1626)
 Francisco Madrid (b. ca. 1593) and wife María de la Vega Márquez (age 35 in 1631)—this couple may have been unmarried
when Santa Fe was founded
 Hernán Martín Serrano (the elder) (over age 70 in 1626)
 Juan Rodríguez Bellido (age 70 in 1626)
 Alonso Varela (age 60 in 1626) and wife Catalina Pérez de Bustillo
 Fray Cristóbal de Quirós, who came in the company of Pedro de Peralta
 Pedro de Peralta, governor of New Mexico from 1609-1614

Information per José Antonio Esquibel

The Rosas Affair

 In 1637, the Viceroy in Mexico City sent Luis de Rosas to New Mexico to serve as royal governor
 In Santa Fe, the City Council members were not favorably impressed by the new governor
 The Council included four elected regidores (councilmen) of which Diego de la Serna was one
 Rosas governed with a heavy hand, enslaving the Indians, imprisoning the clergy when they wouldn’t help him exploit the
     Indians, enriching himself at the expense of others
 He also carried on a 4 year affair with a married woman (María Perez de Bustillo), wife of one of his supply wagon escort
     soldiers (Nicolás Ortiz), while her husband was away
 Maria was pregnant with Rosas’ child when her husband returned from duty
 The clergy mounted a protest against Rosas
 Some members of the Council sided with the clergy against Rosas
 He then replaced the council with members who would do his bidding and were loyal to him
 Eight of those affected, including Nicolás Ortíz, the husband of the woman used by Rosas, plotted together and killed him
 Much investigation went into the circumstances and many concluded that Rosas was killed to restore the honor to the Ortíz
     name that had been tarnished by the affair
 The families of Maria Perez de Bustillo may have felt that Rosas, an older male and governor, had taken advantage of Maria
 However, ultimately, she was dishonored in the Santa Fe community
 2 years after the murder, Alonso de Pacheco y Heredia was appointed new governor

 On 21 July 1643, he had eight of the co-conspirators beheaded. They included: Antonio Baca (Captain and main ringleader), Francisco de Salazar, Cristóbal Enríquez, Juan de Archuleta (son of Ascencio, an Oñate soldier), Diego Márquez, Diego Martín Barba, Nicolás Pérez, and Juan Ruiz de Hinojos (whose father was also an Oñate soldier)

 Other co-conspirators not executed:
 Manuel de Peralta, Luis Martin, Pedro Chavez, Diego de la Serna
 Diego de la Serna was appointed alcalde mayor, partly as a means of testing his loyalty
 Since he responded promptly, it was regarded as proof of his allegiance to Pacheco and he received full pardon for his role in
the Rosas Affair
 Diego and his wife, Lucia de Archuleta, daughter of Juan de Archuleta, one of early Oñate settlers, were stationed in Santa Fe

The Pueblo Revolt

 In 1675, 47 Pueblo Indians were arrested and accused of practicing witchcraft
 Governor Juan Francisco Trevino later released them after they were ransomed because he didn’t have enough soldiers at Santa
     Fe to guard them
 One of those released was an Indian named Popé, a Tewa Indian living in San Juan Pueblo
 Following his release, Popé planned and orchestrated the revolt, involving more than two dozen surrounding pueblos
 Some say the Indians revolted against the barbarism of the Spaniards and the fact that the Indians were not allow to practice
     their native religions
 Others say that famine and disease contributed to the disillusion of the Indians for the Spanish
 Felipe de la Serna who had achieved the rank of Alferez (second lieutenant) was assigned to the Presidio at Santa Fe
 When the revolt took place on 10 August, 1680, 21 Franciscans and 380 Spaniards, including men, women, and children were
     killed
 On 21 August, the remaining 3000 Spanish settlers, including Felipe de la Serna, his wife Isabel Lujan, and his family, left for
     Guadalupe del Paso
 According to the Governor’s muster roll call after the revolt, Felipe reported as such:
 “Alferez Felipe De La Serna passed muster on foot with only a harquebus. He is married, 39, with eight children, and is
     extremely poor. He was robbed by the enemy and barely escaped with his family.” Felipe then signed the statement.

The Reconquest
 In July 1692, Diego de Vargas returned to Santa Fe and promised clemency and protection to the Indians if they would swear
     allegiance to Spain—most agreed
 It was somewhat of a bloodless re-conquest as the pueblos were not happy with the rule of Popé and had lost the protection of
     Spanish soldiers against marauding tribes during the years the Spaniards were gone
 When the settlers returned, Felipe and his family were among them
 His son Cristóbal, age 19, and already an Alferez in the military, also returned with his wife to be, Josefa de Madrid, daughter
    of Captain Roque de Madrid

Santa Cruz de la Cañada
 Villa Nueva de Santa Cruz de la Cañada was founded in April of 1695 by don Diego de Vargas
 It is approximately 22 miles west of Santa Fe
 It was founded for some of the colonists who joined the Reconquest in 1692/93 from the interior of Mexico
 Over the next 130 years, some of these families went back to Mexico or moved to other communities

Names of First Settlers
Thomas de Herrera Sandoval Miguel Geronimo del Aguila
Jose Velasquez Juan de Medina
Andres de Cardenas Juan Cortes
Gabriel Anzures Diego Marquez Avala
Jose Cortes Tomas Palomino
Miguel Ladron de Guevara Antonio Rincon
Juan Ruiz Cordero Manuel de Cervantes
Juan Manuel Chirinos Jose Rodriguez
Jose Sanchez Antonio de Moya
Miguel de Quintana Tomas Giron de Tejeda
Nicolas Giron de Tejada Francisco de Betanzos
Miguel de la Vega Ignacio de Aragon
Juan Antonio Esquibel Juan Fernandez
Jose del Valle Antonio de Silva
Cristobal de Gongora Sebastian de Salas

Source: Blood on the Boulders, Book 2, The Journals of Don Diego de Vargas, New Mexico, 1694-97; p. 644 edited by John L. Kessell, Rick Hendricks & Meredith Dodge

The De La Serna Land Grant
 This was given by the Spanish government and was originally intended to be a community land grant
 Cristóbal asked for the grant and it was given to him by Governor Jose Chacon Villasenor on 8 April 1710
 It was converted from a community grant to an individual grant when it was revalidated to Cristóbal in 1715
 The actual area was the lands along the Picuris Mountains to the east, to the Taos Mountain to the north, and along the Arroyo
Hondo to the west and Ojo Caliente to the south
 There were 22, 232 acres in all

The Villasur Expedition
 Cristóbal de la Serna’s duties included the defense of the entire northern border of the then Spanish empire
 On 14 June 1720, Governor Valverde dispatched an expedition under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Pedro de Villasur
     to go out to present day Nebraska near the Platte River.
 There were 42 soldiers, three civilians, a priest and about 60 Pueblo Indians who marched for 63 days to the confluence of the
      Platte and Loup Rivers
 They were to assess whether the French, who were aligned with the Pawnee and Oto Indians, were encroaching on Spanish
      territory
 At age 47, Cristóbal was an experienced Captain with the military expedition
 Villasur apparently wasn’t aware that some of the Pueblo Indians who had come on the expedition were Apaches who were
      enemies of the Pawnees
 Cristóbal’s Indian servant, Francois Sistaca, a Pawnee, was sent to tell the Indians that the Spanish had come in peace
 He possibly made a secret agreement to deliver the Spanish into Indian hands
 In the pre-dawn hours of 13 August 1720, the expedition was attacked by the French and various Indian tribes, including
     Pawnee and Oto
 35 Spanish and 11 Indian allies were killed, among them Cristóbal and his nephew, Bernardo Madrid. His brother-in-law
      Matias Madrid escaped.
 The survivors made the 650 miles back to Santa Fe by September 6, in just 24 days

The Survivors
Commander Alonso Rael de Aguilar Juan Antonio Barrios
Corporal Felipe Tamariz Antonio de Armenta
Antonio Valverde Cosio José de Santiesteban
Manuel Tenorio de Alba Melchoir Rodriguez
Matias Madrid Diego Tafoya
Joseph Mares Lieutenant Francisco Montes Vigil
Joachín Sánchez Diego Arias de Quiros
Jacinto Perea Antonio Gonzales
Ambrosio de Aragon Pedro Guillen
Santiago Giraville Juan de Ledesma
Nicolas Jiron 49 of 60 Pueblo Indians

The only extant written record made during the expedition is a portion of a diary kept by Corporal Felipe de Tamariz, which was found after the massacre and first printed in 1921 in French

List of Those Killed
The chaplain, Fray Juan Manguez Simon de Cordova
The commander, Don Pedro de Villasur Francisco Gonzales
Master of the camp, Tomas Olguin Francisco de Tapia
Captain Cristobal de la Serna Francisco Perea
Captain Miguel Tenorio Bernardo Madrid
Captain Pedro Lujan Pedro de Aguero
Lieutenant of the presidio Bernardo Casillas Domingo Romero
Corporal Jose Griego Luis Ortiz
Corporal Lorenzo Rodriguez Juan Gallegas
Manuel de Silva Ramon de Medina
Pedro Seguar Antonio de Herrera
Lorenzo Segura Domingo Trujillo
Juan de Archeveque, French interpreter Juan Rio de Rojas
Diego Velasquez Pedro Lugo
Ignacio de Aviles Jose Naranjo
Jose Fernandez Juan de Lira
Pedro de Mendizabal Eleven Indian allies
Joseph Domínguez de Mendoza
What Happened Next With the Sernas?

 After Cristóbal was killed, his sons Juan Esteban and Sebastian and Cristóbal’s wife Josefa moved south to the Albuquerque
area
 The sons sold(?) the de la Serna land grant on 5 August 1724 to Diego Romero according to Diego’s petition asking that the
grant be revalidated to him
 Juan Esteban married Maria Antonia Montoya in 1722 in Albuquerque and they had 13 children
 Sebastian Serna married Rosa (last name unknown) in 1732 and they had 8 children
 It is at this time that the line of Sernas in New Mexico splits
 Both sons and their families are found living in Albuquerque in 1750 according to an Albuquerque census
 However, both families appear to be going back and forth from Albuquerque to the north
 Sebastian’s line ends up in the Cimarron area and Juan Esteban’s line in the Chama Abajo in Rio Arriba County

Baca Family
 Baca is the most common surname in New Mexico
 Most New Mexico families have a Baca connection
 The progenitors of the Baca family in New Mexico were Cristóbal Baca (Vaca) and his wife Ana Ortiz
 They arrived in 1600 with three grown daughters and a small son, Antonio
 While in New Mexico, they had another son, Alonzo (Alonso)
 Antonio was beheaded during the Rosas Affair
 So, it appears that all of the Baca families in New Mexico descend from the line of Alonzo
 In 1693, a Manuel Baca and his wife Maria de Salazar returned to New Mexico with the Re-conquest
 They had at least 8 children and lived in Bernalillo on land previously owned by Manuel’s father

Cabeza de Baca Family
 The Cabeza de Baca family is an offshoot of the Baca family
 The progenitor of this family is Luis Maria Cabeza de Baca, born 26 Oct 1754, the oldest son of Juan Antonio Baca and Maria
Romero
 He had over 20 children by three different wives
 He and his family were the recipients of the first Las Vegas Land Grant, an individual grant of about 500,000 acres
 The family left the grant after a few years, went to Pena Blanca, and the same land was re-granted as a community grant in 1835 The Cabeza de Baca family was compensated with 5 other grants (2 in New Mexico, 2 in Arizona, and 1 in the San Luis Valley
in Colorado) totaling 500,000 acres

Las Vegas Land Grants
• 1st grant was about 500,000 acres given in a private grant to Luís María Cabeza de Baca and his sons and heirs in 1823
• Luís María Cabeza de Baca at first settled there but evidently left the area after several years due to continued Indian raids
• 2nd grant was approximately the same 500,000 acres and was awarded as a community grant to 29 families in 1835
Names of 29 Grantees of 2nd Las Vegas Grant (+ 7 others)
Juan Pedro Archuleta (Manuel) Juan José Martín
Arcenio Baca Juan Nepomuceno Martín
Juan José Baca Miguel Martín
José Guadalupe Baca Miguel Martín II
Tomás Baca Santiago Ortega
Símon Blea Teodocío Quintana
José Antonio Casaus Cruz Rendón
Foribio Crespin Miguel Rendón
Juan Crespin Rafael Rendón
José de Jesús Durán Antonio Romo
José Maria Durán Simón Romo
Manuel Durán Rafael Sarracino
Francisco López Eulogio Segura
José Lucero Felipe Tafoya
Juan de Dios Maese Antonio Ulibarrí
Antonio Martín Faustín Ulibarrí
José Martín José de Jesús Ulibarrí
José Maria Martín Pablo Ulibarrí

Source: Nuestra Historia - The 36 Original Grantees by Jesus Lopez Originally Printed in the Las Vegas Optic http://www.elvalle.com/history/El_Valle_History/Part_6.html

Following Frank’s Line of Sernas
 Juan Esteban’s 6th child, Juan Roque, was baptized at Santa Cruz de la Canada on 24 Jun 1734
 Juan Roque married Rosa Salazar on 12 Nov 1756 in Santa Clara and the family was living in what was
called Chama Abajo by this time
 Juan Roque and Rosa had 7 children, their 2nd child was Atanacio who was born in 1760 in Rio Arriba County
 Atanacio married Maria Manuela Archuleta on 30 Sep 1787 and they had six children, one of whom was Jose Ramon
 Jose Ramon and his wife, Dolores Martin, married about 1842, had six sons, one of whom was Jose Seferino
 Jose Seferino married Maria Barbara Salazar on 24 Feb 1872

The Sernas in Rio Arriba County: Back to the Land
 The Sernas became sheep and cattle ranchers
 Seferino and his brothers, Francisco Antonio, Juan de Dios, Tomás, and Donaciano farmed and ranched plots near each other
 By 1905, Seferino had over 500 head of sheep as well as several head of cattle
 Each summer, they would take the sheep up into El Valle Grande to let them graze and grow
 One of the sheepherders who worked for Seferino’s sons was Doñ Julían Torres who used to tell many stories
 Seferino and Barbara had 7 sons and 3 daughters

The Story Continues
 Seferino and his wife, Barbara Salazar, twice sold land to the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad for right of way
 In 1881, they got $196 and in 1882, they got $105
 His brothers and the neighbors were also required to sell land for right of way
 For years, settlers in the Abiquiú Chama area had been using the quasi-common lands in the Piedra Lumbre Grant for grazing
of animals
 In 1899, Seferino conveyed his shares in the Piedra Lumbre Land Grant to the Chama Improvement Company via warranty
deed. Compensation was $1.00
 Seferino shared his land with and, in 1906, sold parts of it to his son, Amarante, for 200 pesos (dollars)

What of Seferino’s Sons?
 Seferino had 3 sons who lived to adulthood
 Amarante and Fidel worked the land alongside their father
 Vencenslao, who was born in 1892, graduated from St. Michael’s in 1912
 Graduating with Vencenslao in 1912 were Benjamin Sisneros, Fernando Armijo, and Felix Gomez

Lucero
 Capt. Pedro Lucero de Godoy (Godoi) is believed to be the progenitor of the Lucero’s in New Mexico
 He was baptized on 26 Jul 1599 in Mexico City
 His parents were Juan López de Godoy and Inés Lucero
 By 1625, he was residing in Santa Fe married to Petronila de Zamora (b.ca. 1598), daughter of Bartolomé de Montoya, a
     Spaniard, and María de Zamora, an india mexicana
 In the early 1640s, Pedro negotiated a strategic matrimonial alliance between his family and that of the Gómez
     Robledo-Romero clan
 3 couples got married on 8 Apr 1641 in what is today the Palace of the Governor
 Pedro Lucero de Godoy married 2nd with Doña Francisca Gómez Robledo
 His son, Juan married Luisa Romero, daughter of Matías Romero and Isabel de Pedraza and 1st cousin of Francisca Gómez
     Robledo
 Diego Pérez Romero, another 1st cousin of Doña Francisca, married Pedro’s daughter, Doña Catalina de Zamora
 In this way, Lucero de Godoy family became one of the most prosperous and prominent families in 17th century New Mexico

Information per José Antonio Esquibel

Los Luceros
 Originally part of Martin Serrano land grant in 1703
 Began as a four-room building erected by Martin in 1712
 Census of 1750 lists Sebastian Martin, Maria Lujan, 10 children, and 21 servants
 By 1763, had expanded to a 24-room compound
 In the 1840s, the Mexican government formally established the village of Los Luceros halfway between Santa Fe and Taos,
near the village of Alcalde
 Maria Marta Lucero and Elias Clark later expanded the adobe home
 Mary Cabot Wheelright bought the property in 1923, restored it and lived in it until her death in 1958
 Her relatives purchased the property in 1999
 In 2007, the New Mexico Legislature purchased the property

Los Luceros Today
Los Luceros is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open by appointment only today.
To schedule an appointment, contact Rudy Acosta at rudy.acosta@state.nm.us or 505-476-1130

The Story Continues
 Amarante’s land was divided at his death in 1952 between his six children, Leopoldo, Jacobo, Pilar, Pedro, Jose, and
Benjamin
 Amarante registered for the draft in 1918 during WWI but didn’t serve because of family obligations, having 5 children by then
 From 1919 to 1922, Amarante’s two oldest sons, Leopoldo and Jacobo attended St. Michael’s but were forced to withdraw in
order to help their father save the farm/ranch

Jake and Juliet Serna and Family
 On 23 Apr 1932 at St. John the Baptist Church in San Juan, Amarante’s son Jacobo marries Julieta Baca, daughter of Manuel
Baca and Amalia Lopez
 Julieta had been raised by Amalia’s sister Rose and her husband, Frank Baca (relation to Manuel undetermined at this time)
 Jacobo, called Jake, and Julieta, called Juliet, have nine children, one of whom dies at the age of one month
 The family: Frank, Juliet holding Richard, Jake, Theresa, Manuel, Don, Clara holding Jackie, Rudy

Windows at St. John the Baptist Church in San Juan, contributed by families:
Amarante Serna y Esposa Fidel Serna y Esposa
Gregorio Casados y Esposa Jose Maria Lopez y Esposa
Juan Lopez y Esposa Elias Lucero y Esposa
Jose S. Lucero y Esposa David Martinez y Esposa
Luis S. Ortiz y Esposa finada Nemesio Sisneros y Esposa

Hijas de Maria
A New Generation Gets Further from the Land
 Jake opens and runs a gas station in Hernandez
 His mother-in-law Rose owns the store next door
 Jake was a hard worker willing to do anything to support his family, including:
 Farming/ranching
 Working with the CCC during Depression
 Working with State Highway Department, driving trucks
 Working for Ford Motor Company as a mechanic
 Driving the school bus to Abiquiu and back every day
 Owning and operating a gas station
 Delivering gasoline for Chevron in the 1950s

Jake’s Oldest Son Frank
 Within 5 days after graduating St. Mike’s, Frank was off to join the Air Force with 5 of his friends: Wilfred Salazar, Jake
Martinez, Patrick Ortiz, Frank Vigil, and Robert Trujillo
 Frank spent three of his four years while in the Air Force in Germany
 After receiving an honorable discharge in 1959, he took a job in oil exploration
 In this position, he was assigned to a crew in California
 After working one year, he took an educational leave to attend college
 In 1965, Frank graduated from Northrop Institute of Technology in California with a Bachelor’s Degree in

Electrical Engineering
 While in college, he had started employment with Rockwell and continued there after graduation
 One of his assignments was to work on the Apollo program
 After leaving Rockwell, he had other jobs before hiring on at Northrop and retiring from there

21 years later
 During this time, Frank married Shirley Carlos and they had two sons, Francisco (called Kiko) and Andreas. He later married
Linda Grelck
 Frank has three grandchildren from his son Kiko and Kiko’s wife Marie, two girls, Maizy and Avery, and one boy, Tanin
 However, Frank never forgets his New Mexico roots—he still has family there and we return about 2-3 times a year for a visit

Serna Recap
 The Sernas, just like your family, have a long and interesting history
 For many of you, this history began in Spain, continued to Mexico and then to New Mexico and, in some cases, is now diffused
throughout the world
 All our families interacted with and impacted their times
 Frank’s generation has had mostly girls but we still expect the family to be around for years to come

Testament to All Our Ancestors
Now I will praise those godly men and women, our ancestors, each in their own time,
Of others there is no memory, for when they ceased, they ceased.
But these were godly men and women whose virtues have not been forgotten;
Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants;
Through God’s covenant with them their family endures, their posterity, for their sake,
And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out.
Their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on.
At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise.

Sirach 44:1, 9-15

Let’s Celebrate Our Roots!

	DNA
	Mexican cave skeleton reveals secrets of New World's first people By Will Dunham About DNA, your Guide to Genealogy, from Kimberly Powell

Mexican cave skeleton reveals secrets of New World's first people

By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters), May 15, 2014

Divers Alberto Nava and Susan Bird transport a skull to an underwater turntable so that it can be photographed in order to create a 3-D model at the bottom of the underwater cave on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula June 15, 2013 in this handout photo provided by National Geographic May 15, 2014.

Credit: Reuters/Paul Nicklen/National Geographic/Handout via Reuters

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Washington (Reuters) - A horrible day for a teenage girl perhaps 13,000 years ago - death in a Mexican cave - has turned into a wonderful day for scientists who have managed to coax important secrets out of the oldest genetically intact human skeleton in the New World.

Scientists said on Thursday genetic tests on her superbly preserved remains found by cave divers have answered questions about the origins of the Western Hemisphere's first people and their relationship to today's Native American populations.

These findings determined that the Ice Age humans who first crossed into the Americas over a land bridge that formerly linked Siberia to Alaska did in fact give rise to modern Native American populations rather than hypothesized later entrants into the hemisphere.

Scientists exploring deep beneath the jungles of Mexico's eastern Yucatán peninsula discovered the girl's remains underwater alongside bones of more than two dozen beasts including saber-toothed tigers, cave bears, giant ground sloths and an elephant relative called a gomphothere.

The girl - with her intact cranium and preserved DNA - was entombed for eons in a deeply submerged cave chamber before being discovered in 2007. The petite, slightly built girl - about 4 feet, 10 inches tall (1.47 meters) - is thought to have been 15 or 16 years old when she died.

She may have ventured into dark passages of a cave to find freshwater and fallen to her death into what archeologist James Chatters of the firm of Applied Paleoscience, one of the leaders of the study, called an "inescapable trap" 100 feet (30 meters) deep - a bell-shaped pit dubbed Hoyo Negro, "black hole" in Spanish.

Chatters said the chamber - more than 135 feet (40 meters) below sea level - was "a time capsule of the environment and human life" at the end of the Ice Age.

The divers named her "Naia," a water nymph from Greek mythology. One of the divers, Alberto Nava, recalled the moment Naia was spotted - her skull resting atop a small ledge. "It was a small cranium laying upside down with a perfect set of teeth and dark eye sockets looking back at us," Nava said.

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The pit was dry when she fell but Ice Age glaciers melted about 10,000 years ago, inundating the caves with water. Tests determined she lived between 13,000 and 12,000 years ago.

Scientists long have debated the origins of the first people of the Americas. Many scientists think these hunter-gatherers crossed the former land bridge between 26,000 and 18,000 years ago and subsequently pushed into North and South America starting perhaps 17,000 years ago.

But the most ancient New World human remains have confused scientists because, like Naia, they have narrower skulls and other features different from today's Native Americans.

This led to speculation that these earliest New World people might represent an earlier migration from a different part of the world than the true ancestors of modern Native Americans.

But mitochondrial DNA - passed down from mother to child - extracted from the girl's wisdom tooth showed she belonged to an Asian-derived genetic lineage shared only by today's Native Americans.

This indicates cranial and other differences between the earliest New World human remains and today's Native Americans are due to evolutionary changes that unfolded after the first migrants crossed onto land bridge researchers said.

The study, led by the Mexican government's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and supported by the National Geographic Society, appears in the journal Science. (Editing by Matthew Lewis)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/15/us-science-skeleton
-idUSKBN0DV1UW20140515

Sent by Aury L. Holtzman, M.D.

About DNA, your Guide to Genealogy, from Kimberly Powell

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Y-DNA: Direct Paternal Line Testing for Males Only This test, available only to males (females don't have a Y-chromosome!), can be used to test your direct paternal lineage - your father, your father's father, your father's father's father, etc. Along this direct paternal line, Y-DNA can be used to verify whether two individuals are descended from the same distant paternal ancestor, as well as potentially find connections to others who are linked to your paternal lineage.		mtDNA: Direct Maternal Line Testing for Both Males and Females Maternal DNA, referred to as mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA, is passed down from mothers to their sons and daughters. It is only carried through the female line, however, so while a son inherits his mother’s mtDNA, he does not pass it down to his own children. It does mean, however, that both men and women can have their mtDNA tested.

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Autosomal DNA: Find Ancestral Connections on All Lines
This test can be taken by anyone, both male and female, and can be used to search for relative connections along any branch of your family tree. Unless the connection is so far back that the shared DNA has essentially been eliminated through too many generations of recombination, any autosomal match between two individuals indicates a possible genetic connection.

Search Related Topics:
autosomal dna
genetic genealogy
dna tests

http://genealogy.about.com/od/dna_genetics/p/y_dna.htm?nl=1

FAMILY RESEARCH

Six Tips to Find Your Mexican Family History by Glen Greene
New Online Collection of Civil War Records Released in Observance of Memorial Day
FamilySearch Adds More Images to from Philippines, Portugal, Spain, & United States

Six Tips to Find Your Mexican Family History by Glen Greene

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Many people may not know that FamilySearch , an international nonprofit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and online at FamilySearch.org, has amassed over 100 million historical records from Mexico. And FamilySearch continues to add more records each year.
Arturo Cuéllar-Gonzalez, a research specialist for Latin America at FamilySearch’s Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, has made it his full-time passion and vocation to help patrons discover their Latin roots. His interest in family history began in 1986, when his grandmother “planted in my heart the deep desire to find my ancestors.”

Cuellar spends his days helping patrons in the Family History Library. He is an accredited genealogist and has researched his personal family history records back 11 generations.

In the last couple of years, Cuellar has observed more young people getting interested in family history. He said, “They often tell me it gives them a nice feeling inside.” Many of them are becoming more aware of their family’s history because of Facebook posts from family and relatives.

For the millions of people with Mexican ancestry who want to celebrate by learning more about their Mexican heritage, he recommends six quick research tips using free resources at FamilySearch.org.

1. The 1930 Mexico Census
Prior to the Mexican Revolution, 95 percent of the land in Mexico was owned by 5 percent of the people. In preparation to form a policy of land distribution, the Mexican government created a census so land ownership could be recorded and conveyed. This was one of the first mandatory accountings of everyone and included name, age, gender, birthplace, address, marital status, nationality, religion, occupation, real estate holdings, literacy, any physical or mental defects, and any Indian language spoken. The 1930 Mexico census can be searched freely online at FamilySearch.org.

2. Mexican Civil Registration Records
Mexico’s civil registration records (births, marriages, and deaths) were the first records kept by local governments. They were started in 1857 under the direction of Benito Juarez, a reformer who separated the church from the government. Before then, the only records kept were in the various churches. The churches resisted releasing their records, but changing the schools from parochial to public schools required family records. You can find many of Mexico’s civil registration records online at FamilySearch.org.

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3. Parish Records
Catholic parish records began in 16th century when Spain took over the country. They installed the government and the Catholic Church in every city. Parish records show christening, baptism, and marriage records, including marriage information files. Those marriage information files came from interviews by priests who needed to prove that the bride and groom were not related or from another place and that the groom was not trying to become a priest. Some of those records include several pages of information, a gold mine for family history researchers, showing generations of ancestry to prove that the bride and groom were faithful Catholics.

4. Family Clues
Finding where your ancestors were from using family clues is the fourth research tool. That process is as much an art as science. The types of food your ancestors ate, family recipes, songs, and stories handed down for generations are hints that may give you some guidance. The type of climate or terrain or major storms and destruction you’ve heard shared through family stories can provide other clues. Old pictures in unique settings or with writing on them or the types of dress shown in the photos might help. Once the place is found, parish records may supply the needed information.

5. Notarial Records
Notarial records include records from the sale of property or making a will. These records date back to the 1650s, and not many are filmed, but they can be found in local archives. FamilySearch staff might also be able to assist in writing correspondence to custodians of notarial records in Mexico.

6. The FamilySearch.org Wiki
The FamilySearch.org wiki is a rich resource for family history researchers. It has nearly 3,000 articles written by Mexico research specialists to help you navigate the available resources and give you additional insightful information. For example, Mexican surnames are not always helpful because during a revolution some people changed their names. Or you can enter a location in the search field and see what resources exist for that locality.

While you are gathering with family and friends to celebrate Cinco de Mayo or your Mexican family heritage, do some sleuthing. Pay more attention to those old family recipes, stories, documents, and photos, and look for the telltale clues that give you key insights and appreciation for those who have gone before you. Preserve and explore these resources together at FamilySearch.org so that next year in your celebrations you will have an even deeper appreciation.

About FamilySearch
FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

New Online Collection of Civil War Records Released in Observance of Memorial Day

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT—In observation of Memorial Day, FamilySearch.org announced today significant updates to its free Civil War historic record collections online. The new FamilySearch.org/civil-war landing page provides a quick overview of the vast array of historic records and aids for those researching casualties and veterans of the Civil War. Collections include: Union and Confederate pension, prisoner of war, cemetery, National Soldier Home, and census records. Families can also freely preserve historic photos, stories and correspondence of family members who served in other periods of the armed forces for future generations at FamilySearch.org.

“Each soldier family has a story and these stories are handed down from generation to generation,” said Ken Nelson, collection manager for FamilySearch. “When you want to get the particulars of what that service was, you start going to these government records that document the service.”

The searchable records are available by state from sources such as widow’s pension records and headstones of deceased Union soldiers. United States census records from 1850 and 1860 help locate anyone alive at the time of the Civil War. And early state census records post 1865 help you locate them after they have retired from service.

Nelson said the census data gives people a “glimpse of what the towns looked like prior to the war.” He explained the state information is useful because “a majority of the men were in volunteer regiments raised out of counties and states. These regiments represented their homes.”

Locating African American Civil War ancestors is possible through Freedmen’s Bank and Bureau records, including correspondence and marriage documents.

Women also contributed to the war effort by serving as nurses and working in soldier aid societies that sent supplies to the front. Nelson said many of their stories are preserved in letters and diaries.

A quick look in FamilySearch’s Civil War collections online can reveal fascinating records and information about the 3 million soldiers who fought in the Civil War and the 620,000 who died.

“I’ve enjoyed working with these records because they tell a story, and these lives are relived through these records,” added Nelson, who said the FamilySearch collections will continue to grow as additional military records for the Civil War and other wars are digitized and indexed.

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Decoration Day versus Memorial Day

Memorial Day finds its roots connecting all the way back to our nation’s Civil War and an annual event respectfully called Decoration Day. Following the Civil War, families of the fallen created a day of observance to honor their deceased servicemen by placing flowers on their graves. Dozens of towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, but the first official observance of Decoration Day was May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery.

Northern states all established Decoration Day as an official state holiday by 1890. Southern states didn’t honor Decoration Day until the end of the first World War in 1918, when the holiday began honoring the American dead from all wars.

Decoration Day was officially established as Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the law in 1971.

In the Gettysburg Address, given to honor those who died at Gettysburg 17 months before the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln said: “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”

This Memorial Day, if you have photos, stories, and correspondence of family members who served in the armed forces, you might want to honor them by permanently preserving their memories for future generations to remember at FamilySearch.org.

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Paul Nauta
FamilySearch Public Affairs
1-801-240-6498
nautapg@familysearch.org

FamilySearch Adds More Images to Collections from Philippines, Portugal, Spain, and the United States
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FamilySearch has added more than 5.4 million images to collections from England, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 132,560 images from the Spain, Province of Barcelona, Municipal Records, 1387–1950, collection ; See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free at FamilySearch.org. Searchable historic records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. These volunteers transcribe (index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of		digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about volunteering to help provide free access to the world ís historic genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org . FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources for free at FamilySearch.org or through more than 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Collection	Indexed Records	Digital Images	Comments
Peru, La Libertad, Civil Registration, 1903–1998	0	2,434	Added images to an existing collection.
Philippines, La Union, Diocese of San Fernando de La Union, 1801–1983	0	7,873	Added images to an existing collection.
Portugal, Portalegre, Catholic Church Records, 1859–1911	2,571	0	Added images to an existing collection.
Spain, Province of Barcelona, Municipal Records, 1387–1950	0	132,560	Added images to an existing collection.

	ORANGE COUNTY, CA
	June 14th: SHHAR Meeting, "Los Fundadores de Mexico" by Author/Genealogist John Schmal Restored centuries-old painting back on display at mission Jose Vargas, First Hispanic Affairs Officer with Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana swears in its first Latino police chief, Carlos Rojas 2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury Selected

June 14th - SHHAR Monthly Meeting, Open to the Public, no cost.

"Los Fundadores de Mexico"
Presented by John Schmal
Orange FamilySearch History Library Center
674 S. Yorba, Orange, CA

John lientes and Zawill discuss the descendants of Moctezuma who married Basques, plus Los Fundadores of Jalisco, Aguascalientes and Zacatecas. In addition, Schmal will also talk about all those families that settled along the Rio Grande (Nueva Santander) John is a long time Board member of SHHAR.

9:00-10:00 Hands-on Computer Assistance For Genealogical Research
10:00-10:15 Welcome and Introduction
10:15-11:30 Speaker, John Schmal

For more information, please contact President Letty Rodella Lettyr@sbcglobal.net

Restored centuries-old painting back on display at mission
1800s Painting Back at Forefront
by Meghann M. Cuniff, Orange County Register staff writer, May 8, 2014

Warren and Jan Siegel, left, pull the drape off a restored 214-year-old painting called “The Crucifixion” as Mechelle Lawrence Adams, executive director of Mission San Juan Capistrano, watches at the mission's Serra Chapel. They were major donors
to the restoration. Sam Gangwer, Staff Photographer

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A painting that was hidden for 40 years is back on display in Mission San Juan Capistrano’s Serra Chapel after a months-|
long restoration.

Local residents Warren and Jan Siegel, who donated much of
the $57,000 that paid for the restoration, pulled down a huge
red curtain to unveil “The Crucifixion” before about 40 onlookers Wednesday. The unveiling came five months after
art conservationists moved the painting to Santa Barbara for
an intricate process aimed at returning it to its original quality.

Jose Francisco Zervin painted “The Crucifixion” in 1800. It
is part of the Station of the Cross collection of paintings that
came from Mexico to Mission San Juan Capistrano in the early 1800s, the mission said.

Experts suspect the painting had been hanging in Serra Chapel since 1922. When conservationists lifted the painting from the wall, they found a Los Angeles newspaper from April 13 of
that year, said Scott Haskins, the art conservator who handled the restoration with his team from Fine Art Conservation Laboratories in Santa Barbara.

Haskins said a “dump truck of rat poop” fell from the wall
when he removed the painting, which was attached with a
single screw.

The painting, 10 canvases sewn together, was larger than expected. Parts of the canvas were wrapped around the bottom and top, including the Hebrew version of the phrase atop the cross: “Jesus Christ, King of the Jews.”

The Latin version of the phrase has flaked off. The Greek version has always been visible.

Uncovering the bottom of the painting also revealed a key
detail: the artist responsible for it. Zervin’s name had been covered by the painting's frame until Haskins and his team removed it from the wall.

Haskins used aluminum rods to stabilize the back of the
painting and fix deep sags in the canvas. He covered the
painting in varnish. He said the back of the canvas is now
bright yellow.

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He expected to be able to place the painting back in its frame to hang in the chapel, but the frame turned out to be dangerously unstable. A heavy bolt barely attached to the wall fell when Haskins tried to rehang the painting. He caught it before it struck anybody but said it could have killed someone had an earthquake dislodged it while tourists were visiting.

Haskins and his team spent 10 days dismantling the frame and rebuilding it. “We’re expecting this to stay put and be safe for everybody,” Haskins said.

A 40-year-old replica that hung over the original painting for decades is now in storage at the mission. Its painter, William Maldonado, attended Wednesday’s unveiling and said the restored work is “beautiful.” “It’s as I feel it could have or should have looked,” Maldonado said.

The Mission Preservation Foundation plans to focus on preserving the Sala Building next and may consider displaying the replica painting there, said Mechelle Lawrence Adams, executive director of the mission.

Pamela Hagen of Laguna Beach took her grandchildren, 8-year-old Hana and 7-year-old Lyric, to see the unveiling. She said the original painting was hanging in the chapel when she was baptized there as a baby.

“It’s beautiful, and now we'll have it for a very long time,” Hagen said.

Lawrence Adams scheduled the unveiling of the restored painting to coincide with National Historic Preservation Month.

She said the painting is “sort of a symbolic representation of what we all go through as people.”

“Sometimes we get a little fatigued. We get worn out and we just need something to come in and bring us back to life,” she said. “For a lot of people that come here at the mission, that’s the idea of faith.”

Contact the writer: mcuniff@ocregister.com or 949-492-5122. Twitter: @meghanncuniff.

giant-room-including-coll
Jose Vargas and cut-out
First Hispanic Affairs Officer with the Santa Ana Police Department

Former Santa Ana police Officer Jose Vargas Sr. stands in his room full of mementos with a cutout of himself in uniform on the last day before he retired from the Santa Ana, (CA) Police Department. Vargas died in 2013 at age 77.

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A tribute in his honor was held on Sunday April 27th. Organized by the Amigos of Santa Ana. Community and government leaders paid homage to Jose Vargas Sr., Santa Ana officer whom many credit with creating trust between residents and the Police Department, and paving the way for Latinos in law enforcement.

He's been thought of as the best police officer ever hired in Orange County.

He came to the United States as a teenager and collected garbage to make ends meet. He learned English and became a U.S. citizen. His drive to succeed in this country defined him as an officer, earning him the title as one of Santa Ana's most recognizable leaders.

After years of struggling with Parkinson's disease, Jose Vargas died Friday at the home of his caregiver in Corona. He was 77.

Vargas was born Jan. 25, 1936, in San Martin Hidalgo, Mexico. He emigrated to the United States at 15, drove a Jaycox Disposal trash truck for a living, and 10 years later began night school to improve his English. At 30, Vargas earned his high school diploma and began studying police science at Fullerton College.

In 1969, Vargas, who as a youngster in Mexico dropped out of school to shine shoes and sell newspapers to help his family,

became an American citizen and a member of the Stanton Police Department in two swearing-in ceremonies on the same day.

In a Register story, Vargas remembered the years he had spent running from the police and how they had occasionally kicked him or ridiculed him. He thought of the respect commanded by the police uniform.

"I decided to go for the biggest challenge," Vargas said. "The biggest challenge for someone of my background was to be a police officer."

Within a few years, he distinguished himself with unique ties to the Spanish-speaking community, said his son Joe Vargas, who followed in his father's footsteps by going into police work, and in 2010 retired as a captain after 30 years with the Anaheim Police Department.

"So much of what I do, and who I am, is a direct result of his example," said Joe Vargas in a 2010 Register story on his own retirement.

Jose Vargas became the human relations officer for the Stanton Police Department and worked there until 1975, when then-Chief Ray Davis convinced him that Santa Ana, with its growing Spanish-speaking community, was the place to be, his son recalled.

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Vargas joined the Santa Ana Police Department and soon was assigned as the department's first Hispanic affairs officer. "In his role as the Hispanic affairs officer, Vargas was the cornerstone of the department's community-policing program," said Cmdr. Bill Nimmo in a statement regarding Vargas' passing. With the Santa Ana force, he was named one of the outstanding officers in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. As a veteran officer in Santa Ana, Vargas would often be recognized by residents who would question him in Spanish about how to resolve problems such as a teen drug use or neighborhood gangs. His reach into Orange County's Latino population was deep. "He had a tremendous amount of respect from the community," Joe Vargas said Monday. Paul Walters, Santa Ana's former city manager, said Vargas began with the department when community policing was in its infancy.		"He was an instrumental part of that strategy," said Walters, who joined the Santa Ana police force in 1971 and had been police chief since 1988 before his city manager appointment. "He had just an incredible network of people who trusted him and believed him," Walters said. "He was a voice they could always call if they had a problem. "He was really a great ambassador for the department and the city." Vargas retired from the Santa Ana Police Department in December 1997 and shortly after he began a Spanish-language cable show designed to help immigrants seize opportunities in their new country. The show, "Que Pasa Con Jose Vargas," gave referrals for abused women, information on high-paying bilingual jobs and a rundown of civil rights. One show depicted the life story of an immigrant who overcame gangs and drugs.

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Soon after he retired from the Santa Ana Police Department, Vargas was offered a contract to consult with Anaheim police to build bridges with the immigrant community.

In that post, Vargas said he wanted to educate immigrants on how to avoid negative contacts with police through a tip sheet that included reasons why police can stop motorists, even if they're driving perfectly, he said, such as driving on bald tires.

In a tense Anaheim City Council meeting in 2001, then-Mayor Tom Daly scolded the audience to keep comments brief as Vargas stood before the council. Around that time, a debate had raged in Anaheim over the policy of having an immigration agent stationed at the city jail.

Vargas spoke of how his sons were police officers and talked about being deported 15 times to Mexico.

"People do not understand that we came to this country to make this country great," he told the council. "We searched the American dream. We contributed something."

Joe said his father never forgot his roots.

As a Stanton patrol officer, Joe recalled, his father found a young man locked in a boxcar, dehydrated from recently crossing the border. After being hospitalized, the man was going to be left in the streets.

"He ended up living with us for about three to four months," Joe Vargas said.

Joe Vargas said the man lived a successful life in the U.S. and said he was one of many his father took in.

"He really felt a strong desire to reach out to people in similar circumstances," Joe said. "He was a very, very giving man."

Vargas is survived by seven sons an adopted son and an adopted daughter.

Contact the writer: Alejando Molina
amolina@ocregister.com or
714-704-3795

Santa Ana Chief of Police
Carlos Rojas

Santa Ana swears in its first Latino police chief
by Alejandra Molina, Orange County Register,
May 9, 2014

Carlos Rojas, who has served as the city's interim chief for the past two years, was sworn in as Santa Ana's new police chief Tuesday, making him the first Latino to hold the post. "This city, it's truly a rebirth.

It's a new day in the city of Santa Ana to have our first Latino police chief," said Councilwoman Michele Martinez.

"We are 78 percent Latino in the city of Santa Ana, and it is certainly really good when we have staff in city government that represents its community," she said. "Diversity is key and truly today you see that here."

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Rojas received numerous rounds of applause from the crowd, which included officials from the Santa Ana Police Department, Orange County Sheriffs Department, Anaheim Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority as well as Los Angeles law enforcement officials. Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Anaheim Police Chief Raul Quezada and Ir-vine Police Chief David Haggard Jr. were among those present.

Rojas thanked his family, who stood by his side as he was sworn in and acknowledged the community in the crowd, including immigrant-rights activists holding signs that urged the city to put a halt to its contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house detainees at the city jail.

"I think the beauty of the city of Santa Ana is that we can come together and oftentimes we may not agree, but I think we do a pretty good job at working through issues," Rojas said.

"As public servants, we always have to strive to do better. I think I would not be here in this condition to take this role of leadership without the support of all of you in here," Rojas added.

In his post, Rojas - the city's 20th chief of police -will continue to oversee an agency, with 580 personnel, that in fiscal year 2014-15 will have an annual budget of $106.8 million. His annual salary is $224,376, according to Tanya Lyon, the city's spokeswoman.

A 24-year-veteran, Rojas rose through the ranks of the Santa Ana Police Department, beginning as a patrol officer in 1990 during a time that Mayor Miguel Pulido described as "a different city."

"If you want to talk about a high crime rate and what we had, that's the city that he encountered. I believe under the leadership of Chief (Paul) Walters and the tremendous turnaround that began in the '90s, today we are one of the safest cities in the country, and I have all the confidence in the world that under the leadership of Chief Rojas that trend is going to continue," Pulido said.

Rojas has served as interim chief of police since March 2012.

To contact writer: amolina® ocreqister.com

_{2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury Selected

Visit Our Web Site: www.occourts.org}

_{Superior Court of California,
County of Orange ● 700 Civic Center Drive West ● Santa
Ana, CA 92701}

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_{Santa Ana - The 19 members
and 9 alternates of the 2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury were
selected yesterday afternoon from a drawing held at the Superior Court
of Orange County, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana. Hon. Charles
Margines, Assistant Presiding Judge and chair of the Grand Jury
Recruitment/Selection Committee, presided with Alan Carlson, Chief
Executive Officer and Jury Commissioner, randomly selecting names of
the nominees, as required by statute.}

_{Canvassing efforts for the
Grand Jury included mailing over 2,000 recruitment packets to
prospective applicants, distributing flyers to more than 600 companies
and community organizations, placing a notice on jury summonses, and
placing paid advertising in print and online newspapers. Also, current
members of the Grand Jury and the judges of the Grand Jury
Recruitment/Selection Committee spoke to organizations and appeared on
local television to inform the community of the opportunity to serve
on the Grand Jury. Over 160 Orange County residents applied to serve.}

_{The 19 members of the new
Grand Jury include three Hispanic/Latino members and three Asian
members. The ages of the grand jurors selected range from 56 to 83
years old.}

_{Following a four-day training
program, the 19 members will take the oath of office and begin their
one-year term on July 1, 2014, at a proceeding to be held at 10:00
a.m. in Department C1 of the Central Justice Center. The names of the
2014-2015 Grand Jury members are listed on the following page, in
order of their selection.}

_{1. Terrance Belanger}

_{2. Michael Ernandes}

_{3. Richard Newman}

_{4. David Derby}

_{5. Edgar Oglesby}

_{6. Burnie Dunlap}

_{7. Robert Breton}

_{8. Raymond McCaffery}

_{9. Paul Borzcik}

_{10. William Lycett}

_{11. Narinder Mahal}

_{12. Dennis Chen}

_{13. Thomas McCabe Jr.}

_{14. Johnnie Hitt}

_{15. Richard Gayer}

_{16. Mary Laub}

_{17. Sam Torres}

_{18. Maxine Marcus}

_{19. Saboohi Currim}

_ALTERNATES

_{A1. Barbara Hunt}

_{A2. Michael Pinchot}

_{A3. Michael Harrison}

_{A4. John Rodriguez}

_{A5. Michael Verrengia}

_{A6. James Louis}

_{A7. Susan Ross}

_{A8. Virginia Baetiong}

_{A9. Sidney Spinak}

_{Gwen Vieau

Superior Court of California

County of Orange

News Release

Public Information Office

Contact: Gwen Vieau (657) 622-7097

PIO@occourts.org

Visit Our Web Site: www.occourts.org

Fax: (714) 647-4849}

	LOS ANGELES, CA
	Walking Tours of Los Angeles Photos: Olvera Street, Los Angeles, California ‘Magulandia and Aztlán’ to be part of Getty’s PST L.A./L.A. in 2017 My Whittier Blvd. Connection by Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez Cal State L.A. breaks ground on the Rosie Casals/Pancho Gonzalez Tennis Center

Walking Tours of Los Angeles

Explore the history and heart of downtown Los Angeles. The Conservancy's walking tours, special events, and other programming help people experience the historic places that help define our lives and communities.

Our special upcoming events are typically one-time-only tours, panel discussions, fundraisers, or other events to highlight a specific theme.

Our weekly docent-led Walking Tours explore the history and heart of downtown Los Angeles. We also have family-friendly tours and activities designed to bring history alive for kids and adults alike. Regularly scheduled walking tours are led by skilled volunteer docents. https://www.laconservancy.org/events-tours

For information: info@laconservancy.org | Office: (213) 623-2489 | Office: (213) 623-2489 | Fax: (213) 623-3909
523 W. Sixth St., Suite 826, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Photos: Olvera Street, Los Angeles, California

"Olvera Street was the old trail in which Governor Felipe de Neve
led his colonists when he founded Los Angeles in 1781."

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Many months ago, I heard on the news that a trove of 1000's old photos had been found in the basement of a Methodist Church. The 1910-1930 photos are of Olvera Street. I just found my note about it, so googled Olvera Street photos and found the web below: ed. In addition to photos, this website also has old postcards, so I pulled a couple of them off for you. http://www.image-archeology.com/olvera_street_los_angeles.htm These old postcards of Olvera Street, also known as, El Paseo de Los Angeles, in Los Angeles, California, provide a great visual look back at Olvera Street's history. I was hoping I could see the murals that my Grandpa Manuel Sevilla painted on the walls in the early 30's but no luck.		Mary Sevilla, CSJ 12001 Chalon Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90049-1599 310- 954- 4432 msevilla1256@gmail.com If you have old family photos that include murals on Olvera St., please feel invited to contact Mary Sevilla.

‘Magulandia and Aztlán’ to be part of Getty’s PST L.A./L.A. in 2017

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LOS ANGELES, CA – May 6, 2014, The city of Los Angeles has nearly always been considered a place for dreams. From the Franciscan missionaries to pioneer travelers, from surfers to poets and beyond – this place has a hold on our imagination with its siren song of new beginnings. Its history is woven inextricably with the bands of discovery, conquest and re-birth. Yet time and again, this region has revealed its own truth: it is not to be defined by man-made borders as much as it is by ideas.

The art world of Gilbert “Magu” Luján has always spoken to this truth. His exuberant creations pulsate with life and humor, belying the political passions of a leader of the Chicanismo movement. This native son of Southern California continually embraced the idea of Los Angeles as Aztlán and Aztlán as Los Angeles. The Getty Foundation – in conjunction with UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts and the Luján Family – is proud to announce the inclusion of Gilbert Luján’s work in the 2017 edition of Pacific

Standard Time: L.A./L.A., an exploration of the exchange of ideas between the city of Los Angeles, Latin America and the Latin American diaspora.

Hal Glicksman, lead curator of the research and exhibition project, describes Lujan’s work as “Cool School meets Chicano identity…Luján was a pioneer in redefining art as post-modern. Not ‘art about art’ in an empty white space but art about life, made of the world around us and meant for everyone to enjoy.” Now with support from The Getty Foundation, a team of researchers will be tasked with uncovering and exploring the spatial reconceptualization of Los Angeles and Mexico as represented in Magulandia (how the artist referred to the space in which he lived and produced his work and, conceptually, to his work as a whole.) The future exhibition will focus on understanding the iconography and nuanced symbolism found in Luján’s art and revealing it for a new and wider audience to partake in the richness of Latino culture and heritage.

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Gilbert Luján’s coming of age coincided with the birth of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement – El Movimiento – which gave shape and purpose to his artistic expression. Forsaking the typical parameters of history and art in favor of a more accurate telling of the tribal stories of Los Angeles, Luján relentlessly pursued the ideals of El Movimiento and its goals became the fuel which sparked the creativity of Los Four and many other Chicano artists of his time. “Magu became the most vocal proponent of Chicanismo, tirelessly promoting an alternative view to the still dominant Western tradition and re-invigorating it with both a renewed social conscience and Latin passion,” observed author and arts educator Peter Clothier.

Indeed, Luján made Chicanismo the banner under which young, brash Latin artists rode past the guarded gates of the art world and changed the story arc forevermore. This generous grant for Pacific Standard Time: L.A./L.A. by The Getty Foundation recognizes the far-reaching impact of Luján’s body of work – a canon that represents the lost and the legendary, the physical and the mythical. Born beyond the confines of a staid world, it is to be continually experienced as a place where struggle and imagination come together to form their own peaceable kingdom.

For more information, please contact: Naiche Lujan
contact@magulandia.com
website: losartes.com

Sent by Dorinda Moreno

NetworkAztlan_Arte <networkaztlan_arte@yahoogroups.com

CUENTO

My Whittier Blvd. Connection

By Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez
http://rubensalazarpbs.org/blog/

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In my first entry, I mentioned that I have always felt a connection with Ruben Salazar because I was nearly killed by Sheriff’s deputies on Whittier Blvd., a few streets down from where he was killed.

To me, I always considered the Silver Dollar Café a place of pilgrimage. It was located across the street from Sounds of Music record store, which itself had its own fame among the lowrider scene. For years, the Silver Dollar changed ownership and transformed from café to bar to restaurant, etc. For years, a theatrical play on the death of Salazar was reenacted there. Last time I went by in 2013, I believe it is now a jewelry store… and they nowadays advertise that they sell “silver” there. Perhaps it is a reminder or a tenuous connection at best to the past. Or maybe the owner is completely oblivious. It should be a museum. It is a crime that it isn’t. It should at least be on the national register of historic places.

A few blocks down the boulevard, heading toward downtown L.A., is McDonnell street. There on that corner is where I was almost killed in 1979. Today, a few yards from McDonnell, in between this street and Arizona, there is an arch there, signaling the entrance to the Whittier Blvd shopping district. I always joke and tell people that they placed the arch there in my honor.

Joking aside, I have written and rewritten many times about what happened to me. And I don’t write about the dramatic details anymore. Through the years, many people have conflated what happened to me with the riots of Aug. 29, 1970. As mentioned, what happened to me took place nine years later. I always felt guilty because when I was almost killed, it was not part of a political action, but part of cruising and the lowrider scene, etc. Not that it was minor; 538 people were arrested that weekend and after that, Whittier Blvd has been closed to cruising ever since.

Only until about 30 years later did I recognize what happened to me in political terms. When I photographed that guy being beaten… it was a political act because I had already left because I did not want to be next. I did not want to be another casualty. It became political when after leaving, I intentionally returned to photograph him being beaten. While that was hapening, he was screaming about God… but by the time I left, there was an eerie silence everywhere as he was no longer screaming. Only thuds from the riot sticks to his body could be heard, echoing against the night air and the store walls.

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That is why I returned. My conscience would not permit me to leave. There were about 100 members of the Selective Enforcement Bureau of the L.A. Sheriff’s Department all along the 1-mile section of Whittier Blvd that where the cruising would take place every weekend. The red and blue lights were everywhere. I was conscious of that as he was being beaten by some 10-12 deputies. I returned to photograph, knowing full well I would probably be arrested or beaten or both… or even possibly be killed. But I was compelled to return. Return I did and I did photograph the Sheriffs deputies beating on him. The last photograph I took was of a deputy pointing at me.

Suffice to say that I got my skull cracked, I was hospitalized and I was charged with several criminal counts, including: Assault and Battery on 4 deputies. And yes, the “weapon” was the camera.

It took nine months before my charges were dropped (I was detained or arrested about 60 times in those nine months) and then I filed a lawsuit against the deputies who claimed I tried to kill them. It was a long wait, but in 1986, after a 36-day trial, which included 10 days of deliberation, I won the lawsuit. It was near miraculous for two reasons; no one wins in court against law enforcement, but on the rarest occasions that it does happen, the victory goes to the spouse or parents. In my case, I won… and I’m alive.

Today, I teach at the University of Arizona… and there, I teach Salazar. I teach more than Salazar, but when I teach either

“The History of Red-Brown Journalism” (a class I created , which has a special collections at the UA Library) or “the History of the Chicano Movement,” I teach primarily the journalism of Salazar, but also, his death.

Akin to this essay, I don’t really teach about my trials, in part because it is awkward to do so. I can’t actually compare my work or situation to Salazar, though as I have noted, for me at least, I do see a connection. I know I pursued the path of a journalist/columnist because of his death and I do know that my case was historic because it resulted in victory (thanks to my witnesses and my attorney, Antonio Rodriguez). I won both my trials, but I always know there should have been a 3rd trial. The 4 deputies should have had to face criminal charges themselves. They didn’t and of course, not one of them ever had to serve time behind this. In fact, what surfaced in court is that they all had subsequently been promoted.

I could write more… or speak in details about this in public more, but I no longer do this because I did live with post-traumatic stress disorder for the longest time (due to the traumatic brain injury). But over the years, I have learned that I can speak about what happened to me, without having to relive that nightmare and without getting into a trance, by giving specific details. Justice for me over the years has been the opportunity to fight on behalf of others – too numerous to mention – of peoples and communities that continue to live these traumas.

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We should not forget that Salazar did write about police abuse throughout his career.

Here, suffice to say that the Salazar documentary is long overdue. I would say at least he is finally getting some justice. But a documentary is not the same as justice. But minimally, it will give millions of people around the country an opportunity to learn about this great journalist.

In speaking to his daughters through the years, I know they have always felt – and continue to feel – that it is not enough to honor their father. Justice for them is to answer once and for all whether their father was in fact assassinated or not. Perhaps this documentary is taking us one step closer to answering that question.

Rodriguez, a life-long journalist/columnist, won the 1986 Journalist of the Year Award from the California Chicano News Media Association in 1986 for his defense of the First Amendment, stemming from an incident in which he photographed the brutal beating of a young Mexican man in 1979.

Today, he is an assistant professor at the University of Arizona and was the recent winner of the American Educational Research Association’s Ella Baker-Septima Clark Human Rights Award for his defense of Ethnic Studies. He can be reached at: XColumn@gmail.com

Thanks & Sincerely, Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez

Truthout: Public Intellectual Project:
http://truth-out.org/news/item/6613-the-public-intellectual
-roberto-cintli-rodriguez

1303 E. University Blvd # 20756
Tucson, AZ 85719--0521
520-271-6796

COLUMN: http://drcintli.blogspot.com/

ARCHIVED COLUMN OF THE AMERICAS
http://web.me.com/columnoftheamericas
Sent by Roberto Calderon, Ph.D.

Cal State L.A. breaks ground on the Rosie Casals/Pancho Gonzalez Tennis Center

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Los Angeles, CA - California State University, Los Angeles will break ground on the future site of the Rosie Casals/Pancho Gonzalez Tennis Center at the Billie Jean King Sports Complex on May 6, from 10 a.m. to noon. This is one of several events to mark the investiture of William A. Covino as Cal State L.A.'s seventh president. The 7,000-foot-center is named in honor of tennis legends Rosie Casals and Richard "Pancho" Gonzalez.

"Not only are we privileged to recognize tennis legends Rosie Casals and Pancho Gonzalez, we are thrilled to be working once again with one of the university's greatest friends and allies, Billie Jean King," said Cal State L.A. President William A. Covino. "Over the past 10 years, the university has experienced a beautiful architectural revitalization, and while Rosie Casals/Pancho Gonzalez Tennis Center will provide much needed athletic facilities for our athletes and staff, it will also greatly enhance the look of the Billie Jean King Sports Complex and become the latest striking contemporary structure on campus."

Joining Casals and Billie Jean King at the groundbreaking ceremony will be President Covino, Cal State L.A.'s Director of Athletics Dan Bridges, and Tennis Hall of Famer Pam Shriver, who has been greatly involved in the Billie Jean King and Friends Event fundraiser that benefits the university's Athletics Department. Pancho Gonzalez's family members and representatives of the Pancho Gonzalez Youth Foundation will also be on hand for the festivities.

"I am very excited about the new tennis center," said Bridges. "It will serve as a fitting home for our nationally-ranked tennis program and provide us a facility that is ideally suited for hosting a variety community engagement and youth sports activities."

In addition to hosting numerous collegiate and public-access activities each year, the center will be home to various community organizations dedicated to youth sports and education.

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Casals, a pioneer of women's tennis, worked alongside King and others in the late '60s and '70s to fight discrimination in the sport. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1996 and has been involved with Cal State L.A. and its athletics program for the past 15 years.

Gonzalez, considered one of the greatest players of all-time, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1968 at the age of 40-the first and only player to be inducted while still active in the sport.

The proposed tennis building consists of two floors. The first floor will include the locker rooms, the training facilities, coaches' offices and a concessions kiosk. The second will include indoor and outdoor viewing areas not only for tennis
matches, but also for soccer and track and field competitions. There will also be meeting rooms, an activities and learning center and a full kitchen to accommodate hospitality and special events.

The tennis center is the first project in a plan to upgrade all the facilities in the 11-acre Billie Jean King Sports Complex at Cal State L.A., which was named in honor of King in fall 2010. King-who attended Cal State L.A. from 1961 to 1964-was inducted into Cal State L.A.'s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the CSU system at the university's Commencement ceremony in 1997.

Kirk Whisler
Executive Editor
Hispanic Marketing 101
760-434-1223
kirk@whisler.com

CALIFORNIA

May 30- August 26: Spain’s Gilded Age On Display at SMU’s Meadows Museum
Decade of feeding needy religiously by Kevin Parrish
May 28: Veteran Job Training and Employment Opportunities Fair
August 2: Teodora "Teddi" Montes presenter at
Nueva Galicia Genealogical Society of Northern California Conference
Visita de Su Excelencia Ramon Gil-Casares, Embajador de Espana en Washington a
at San Diego
June 19 - June 21: 60th Anniversary of the Conference of California Historical Societies
California's Latino Plurality Brings a Sense of Déjà Vu by Leslie Berestein-Rojas
Two Californians Joined by a Grizzly Home Invasion by Galal Kernahan
California LULAC Newly Elected State Board

Spain’s Gilded Age On Display at SMU’s Meadows Museum
by Rosie Carbo
4 / 2 1 / 2 0 1 4 H I S P A N I C O U T L O O K

Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (Spanish, 1863-1923), The Young Amphibians, 1903, oil on canvas.
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Purchased with the W. P. Wilstach Fund, 1904, W1904-1-55.

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At a recent Sotheby’s auction of 19th century Europeanart, “Buscando Mariscos; Playa de Valencia,” by Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, sold for more than $4 million. The sale set a record for a Sorolla at auction in America. This was the third highest price ever paid for a Sorolla, which soared above its estimated price of $1.5 million. Sotheby’s, one of the largest and oldest international auction houses in the world, noted that interest in one of Spain’s greatest Gilded Age artists had peaked since the Dallas-based Meadows Museum announced it had organized and would host a “Sorolla and America” exhibition.Since December, 160-plus Sorolla’s artworks have adorned the walls of the Meadows Museum, home to one of the largest collections of Spanish art outside of the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. The landmark exhibition includes Sorolla’s iconic oil oncanvas paintings, portraits of noteworthy Americans, drawings and even sketches on the backs of restaurant menus from Sorolla’s first visits to America.“The exhibition is bringing a lot of attendance; it’s much higher than other exhibitions, including last year’s Velázquez exhibition,” said Mark A. Roglán, director of the Linda P. andWilliam A. Custard Meadows Museum and Centennial Chair in the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University.		Now, the blockbuster exhibition is headed to The San Diego Museum of Art, where it opens May 30 and runs through Aug. 26, 2014. The exhibition returns to Madrid on Sept. 23 to open at Instituto de Cultura de Fundación MAPFRE. The exhibition closes at this its final venue on Jan. 11, 2015. For more information: www.sdmart.or The exhibition is a collaborative effort between the Meadows Museum and the two arts and cultural entities. The Hispanic Society of America in New York, where Sorolla launched his artistic America debut in 1909, has also been an important contributor. This is the largest monographic Sorolla exhibition in more than 100 years. Visitors will see works that have not been on public display since Sorolla held his first, one-man show in America. Forty works of art have never been seen publicly because they’ve been in private art collections.“Sorolla never stopped painting; he had a passion for painting. In fact, he used to tell Clotilde, his wife, that before he was a husband and father he was a painter,” said BlancaPons-Sorolla, the painter’s great-granddaughter, exhibition curator and foremost authority on Sorolla.

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Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (Spanish, 1863-1923)
Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1911, oil on canvas.
The Hispanic Society of America, New York, A3182

“That is why he was so prolific, and that’s why he painted more than 4,000 artworks during his lifetime. I have worked on locating his artworks for many years. But some have not
yet been found,” added Pons-Sorolla, author of Sorolla’s biography and co-editor with Roglán of a 320-page English and Spanish exhibition catalog containing essays by 19th century art experts.

While Madrid’s Prado Museum hosted its own landmark Sorolla exhibition in 2009, this retrospective exhibition focuses on his impact on America, while highlighting America’s impact on one of Spain’s most industrious artists. The exhibition might also revive interest in some of
Sorolla’s American contemporaries, such as John Singer Sargent, William Merritt Chase, Cecilia Beaux and Gari
Melchers. Sorolla called them friends and children of 17th
century Spanish painter Diego Velázquez, like himself.

“He was a child of Velázquez, as were some of his contemporaries. Sorolla called himself a child of Velázquez. In fact, in one of his pictures, you can see similarities to Velázquez’s LasMeninas. So in the end, maybe Sorolla is right. Maybe they’re all children of Velázquez,” said Roglán, a native of Madridwho holds a doctorate in 19th and 20th century art from La Universidad Autonoma in Madrid.

Sorolla’s uncanny ability to capture natural light, paint realistic portraits, like that of U.S. President William Howard Taft, and preference for painting “al aire libre” have all contributed to helping him defy categorization.

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Sewing the Sail (1896)

“Some scholars today would argue that he was an Impressionist, while others would say that he was not. Sorolla
himself felt very strongly that he was an Impressionist painter.
But I don’t think Sorolla called himself a painter of the loaded brush,” said Roglán, referring to some modern-day art critics. Sorolla’s luminous Valencia beach scenes and stunning landscapes are imbued with love of his native Spain, his family and nature. Some of his voluminous paintings were too large to transport, but those on display elicit profound emotions such as nostalgia.

Long before Pablo Picasso became a household word in
America, Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida had taken the country by storm. Born in Valencia in 1863, Sorolla first attracted the attention of art collectors in 1893 at the World’s Columbia Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair. Sorolla submitted a thought provoking oil on canvas titled
“!Otra Margarita!” in which he depicted a young mother arrested for suffocating her child. A work of social realism, the painting won a Medal of Honor. A private collector
bought it and donated later. It became Sorolla’s first to grace the walls of an American museum. Currently, it is at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum in St. Louis.

He had never visited America when he entered the Chicago competition. But in 1899, Sorolla painted another masterpiece of social realism that helped to establish him as an international artist. Sorolla called the painting “!Triste Herencia!” and submitted it to the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900.

The painting, which translates to “Sad Inheritance” in English, depicts physically disabled young boys enjoying a Valencia beach while supervised by a monk. The poignant oil on canvas not only earned the highest awards in Paris, but also at Spain’s National Exhibition in 1901.“He actually saw a woman handcuffed for killing her child while on a trip from Valencia to Madrid. So he painted it.

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In Triste Herencia he saw the disabled children at a Valencia beach and painted them. He actually did four paintings on social realism because he painted what he saw. But these topics really saddened him,” said Pons-Sorolla, in a telephone interview from her home in Madrid.

Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (Spanish, 1863-1923) Sad Inheritance! 1899 Oil on Canvas 210x285cm

As a result, Sorolla stopped painting heart-wrenching social realism scenes and turned his attention to colorful joyous scenes of children playing on the beach, his wife and daughters, breathtaking landscapes and realistic portraits.

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“He didn’t want to continue to paint a sad and dark Spain. He wanted to paint the other Spain, filled beauty and joy. He wanted to be ambassador of Spain’s undiscovered natural treasures; its beaches, landscapes, history and people. So he decided to stop painting sad, gloomy scenes,” she said.Whether it was the tint of a cloud or sunlight on the Mediterranean, Sorolla brushwork captured them as easily as the nuances of the people in his portraits. By 1900, Sorolla works had been exhibited in Madrid, Paris, Venice, Munich, Berlin and Chicago. The exposure brought Sorolla international fame. Archer Milton Huntington, founder of The Hispanic Society of America, discovered Sorolla in London in 1908. Instantly smitten by his work, Huntington invited the artist to exhibit his work at his New York headquarters and art institution in 1909.

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The response to Sorolla’s first U.S. exhibition was unprecedented, attracting more than 150,000 visitors in one single month. Of the 356 works he brought to display, Sorolla sold nearly 200. The New York exhibition went on to Buffalo and Boston, where it was received with equal enthusiasm. Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (Spanish, 1863-1923) Maria at La Granja (1907) Sorolla's daughter, Maria. Moreover, Sorolla obtained commissions to paint portraits of not only President Taft, which he painted at the White House, but other affluent Americans. Additionally, Huntington asked Sorolla to return for another exhibition in 1911. This time it was at the Art Institute of Chicago and followed by St. Louis.		Tobacco and transportation magnate, Thomas Fortune Ryan, met Sorolla during the 1909 exhibition. But the artist did not paint him until the two coincided in Paris in the fall of that year. That’s where Ryan commissioned Sorolla to create awork of art depicting the explorer, Christopher Columbus. The 1910 portrait titled “Christopher Columbus LeavingPalos, Spain,” is on loan from the Mariners’ Museum inNewport News, Va. The mammoth canvas was first exhibited in 1911 during Sorolla’s second American exhibition in Chicago. The Ryan commission inspired Sorolla to research the life of Columbus as well as search for new subjects for the 1911 exhibition. The journey resulted in the painting of a gray-haired Columbus standing on his ship and gazing out from the Spanish port. Sorolla also met Huntington in 1911 in Paris, where he signed a contract to paint a series painting depicting life in the various provinces of Spain. Sorolla’s output of more than a dozen scenes on canvas was impressive. Some of the noteworthy oil on canvas artworks in this exhibition and on loan for the duration of the exhibition include:

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“Dancing in the Café Novedades in Seville,” “The SultanaCypress” in Granada’s Alhambra gardens and Generalife,“Palacio de Carlos V en el Alcázar de Sevilla,” Malagaseascapes and a portrait of King Alfonso XIII in Seville.

Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (Spanish, 1863-1923), Two Sisters, Valencia, 1909. Oil on canvas. The Art Institute of Chicago.
Gift of Mrs. William Stanley North in memory of William Stanley North, 1911.28

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Sorolla painted the provinces of Spain, which he called his “Vision of Spain” en plein air. He preferred to paint on location.Consequently, he traveled to some 14 regions in Spain to complete the works commissioned by Huntington. By the time Sorolla finished the regions of Spain in 1920, he was exhausted. The marathon effort, in fact, might have taken a toll on his health. While painting in his home in Madrid, which is now Museo Sorolla, the artist suffered a stroke. He remained paralyzed for three years until his death in 1923. “One reason I think he never stopped painting was also that he may have sensed he would not have time in his lifetime to paint all the things he wanted to paint.		You may know that he had a stroke at age 57 and died three years later. So he may have had this in his mind,” said Pons-Sorolla, who like her father Francisco, has decades researching Sorolla. And getting to know him intimately has made her as big a fan as many people she meets. “Many people tell me that they fell in love with Sorolla’swork as soon as they saw it. Well, I have to confess. Even though he is my great-grandfather, I am one of those who fell in love with his work, too,” she said.

Below are a few websites.
http://www.allartnews.com/first-exhibition-to-explore-the-impact-in-america-of-sorolla-opens-at-meadows-museum/
http://pattyoconnorlauritzen.blogspot.com/2012/04/joaquin-sorolla-painter-of-light.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaqu%C3%ADn_Sorolla
http://www.fineartcommunity.org/forums/index.php?topic=262.0

Editor Mimi: Last December I wrote an article in Somos Primos about the Stockton Breakfast Club. I had been visiting family, and Dena (Chapa) Rupert, my cousin, told me about their activities. I was and am awed by what her group has been able to accomplish. Now, to see the city newspaper, The Stockton Record recognized the interfaith success and tireless dedication of the Stockton Breakfast Club volunteers, fills me with joy. I am so proud of my family. The Breakfast Club churches and volunteers set a multitude of examples.

John Cotton, left, serves pie Saturday morning to Dave Preszler near the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless. Cotton and the Breakfast Club serve the homeless a hot breakfast every Saturday in the same location. Photo: Clifford Oto/The Record

Decade of feeding needy
. . . . . religiously

Grass-roots group of church members serves breakfast in Stockton every Saturday morning

By Kevin Parrish

Record Staff Writer

March 30, 2014

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STOCKTON - The Breakfast Club, an under-the-radar outreach to the homeless, has been serving hot meals on Harrison Street every Saturday morning for more than a decade.

The grass-roots endeavor has no major donors and no formalized leadership structure. The closest it comes to a mission statement is found in the biblical call to "to feed the hungry."

But there's the Breakfast Club - rain or shine - in front of the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless every Saturday. Out of the back of a van and from folding tables, hot eggs and some kind of protein are faithfully served to all comers. So is coffee and plenty of extras.

How you can help

• What: The Breakfast Club

• Where: Stockton Shelter for Homeless, 411 S. Harrison St.

• When: Every Saturday morning

(6 a.m. for cooking, 8-9:30 a.m. for serving)

• Who: A coalition of Stockton churches

• Information: (209) 931-2528

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"Miracles are happening and people don't even know it," said 71-year-old Dena Rupert, a long-time volunteer. "Once you start living this, there's nothing you want more."

Almost two years after founder Lynda Botiller's unexpected death in 2012, the Breakfast Club's unconditional gesture of kindness continues to grow.

From makeshift tents under the freeway overpasses, from inside the shelter, by car and by bicycle, the "regulars" arrive. Hundreds of the city's destitute and displaced residents show up.

"We love them," said 51-year-old Dave Preszler, balancing his hot coffee and creamer in a paper cup. "They do this out of love for God. They've been here forever. Look at them. They're all smiling. They're happy to be here.

"I come because I'm hungry. I have a lot of respect for them. The Breakfast Club is an institution." Those serving are easily identifiable with their yellow T-shirts.

Those being served enjoy curbside dining - sitting at the side of the street with a paper plate full of steaming food.

"It is so satisfying to see someone getting something positive in their lives," said Rupert, a retired program specialist with the Stockton Unified School District. "People are so appreciative."

The loose-knit organization - two or three dozen volunteers depending on the weekend - is made up of church members from various denominations. Rupert attends St. Michael's Catholic Church east of Highway 99.

Other club members attend Bear Creek Community Church, Primera Iglesia Bautista, First Presbyterian, First Baptist, Central Church of Christ and St. Andrew's Lutheran Church.

"We are just friends from different churches," Rupert said. "We get donations on our own."

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Botiller, who was a phlebotomist at Doctors Hospital in Manteca for 20 years, died of cancer in August 2012. She was 69. For the Breakfast Club, she still lives.

Botiller started by feeding the homeless under bridges in south and east Stockton. A few friends joined her. Then she realized the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless was unable to provide hot breakfasts for its clients on the weekend. A Saturday morning idea was born.

"We do this as a legacy to her and as a God thing," Rupert said. "It's what's in our heart. Mostly it's a God thing.

"After Lynda died, this grew on its own. It is such a wonderful feeling ... helping someone."

Retired banker John Cotton, 71, is the head cook. Cotton starts each Saturday morning at 6 inside the kitchen at First Baptist.

"It's a way of serving God and serving people," he said. "And I love cooking. For me, it's a creative thing."

By 8:30 a.m., he and Rupert and another core volunteer, Diane Cline, are on their way downtown, where first they feed the families staying inside the shelter. By 9 or 9:30, they've moved onto Harrison. Typically, a line has already formed. For the next 90 minutes or so, they serve hot food to any and all who ask.

Cline, 68, is retired from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. "I do this because I love the Lord, and I can be somebody to love on these people," she said. "I want to spread a good word and not bad. I love doing it."

The three were hustling to serve those standing in line Saturday.

"Oh gosh, it's amazing," Rupert said. "We have not missed a single Saturday. One Christmas, we got poured on."

The crowds average 350 needy individuals between the shelter and the street.

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The Breakfast Club is not a one-dimensional undertaking. Parishioners at St. Michael's knit and crochet for the poor and help collect soap and personal items. First Presbyterian takes care of fresh fruit. The Ladies Guild at St. Andrew's provides ever-popular oatmeal with all the trimmings.

"It's totally nondenominational. There are volunteers from churches all over town," Rupert said, "and we have volunteers of all ages. We've had pharmacy students from UOP and high school students with volunteer hours. One woman -for her birthday - brought her seven children out there to help."

The Breakfast Club now has a rotating group of 30 volunteers and, at any one time, almost a dozen people jam the kitchen in the predawn hours. Cotton, in charge of all that, makes sure the menu rotates: one week, it might be eggs and bacon, the next week, eggs and beans or pancakes. For Easter, there will be small chunks of ham. It all depends on what has been donated.

The Delta Lions Club is helping provide an Easter celebration for children this year.

Before they leave Harrison Street, club members give each homeless person a sack lunch.

Rose Kaufman, 48, disabled and on oxygen, hands them out. She has a sidekick, 79-year-old Sadie Taylor, who sweetly sings to each person walking by. "God loves you," Taylor croons, drawing out the "youuuuu."

Around 11 o'clock each Saturday, the volunteers pack everything up into the van and head back to the First Baptist for cleanup. Another Saturday has come and gone.

"Some people come for miles, arriving in the cars they slept in," Rupert said. "Others simply roll out of their tents and boxes set up on the sidewalks. The setting is not very pretty. Trash blows from the recycling plant. Makeshift shelters line the sidewalks and traffic speeds by overhead on the freeways.

"But with the love and care of the volunteers and donors, beauty and grace abound."

Contact reporter Kevin Parrish at (209) 546-8264 or kparrish@recordnet.com. Follow him on Twitter @KLPRecord.

May 28: Veteran Job Training and Employment Opportunities Fair
Held at Santa Ana College
1530 W. 17^th St , Santa Ana, CA.
Presented by United Mexican-American Veterans Association

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As of August 2013, the California Research Bureau indicates that California has about 1.9 million veterans, about 8% of the total nationwide.

Nearly 75% of the State’s veterans are over 50 years of age. The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) anticipates receiving an additional 35,000-40,000 discharged members of the armed services annually for the next several years – more than any other state.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2013: Among the 722,000 unemployed veterans in 2013:
60% were age 45 and over.
35% were age 25 to 44,
and 5% were age 18 to 24.

Among all veterans, the unemployment rate for women declined to 6.9% in 2013. The rate for male veterans edged down to 6.5%.  Veterans with a service-connected disability had an unemployment rate of 6.2% in August 2013, little different than the rate for veterans with no disability (6.6%).  One in 3 employed veterans with a service-connected disability worked in the public sector in August 2013, compared with 1 in 5 veterans with no disability.

This is an important “Veterans Recruitment / Career Fair” since many veterans, especially post-9/11 veterans, are experience higher unemployment rates than the general public, and because it is known that California’s veteran employment programs are under performing compared to other states. Additionally, federal tax credits and other federal initiatives exist for veterans and for employers interested in hiring veterans that need to be better promoted to encourage their use by an increasing number of employers that are interested in hiring veterans.

Assembly Bill 1268 (J Perez) first drafted in February 2013, currently is in INACTIVE status in the CA Senate, and which would establish a “Veterans Workforce Development and Employment Office” highlighted the following: CA voters approved Proposition 39 at the November 6, 2012, statewide general election; This can potentially generate significant funding for veteran job training and employment opportunities, which would add support to the establishment of an office within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency “The Veterans Workforce Development and Employment Office”; It would coordinate veteran job training and employment programs, and would furthermore coordinate efforts with the Workforce Investment Board, the Employment Training Panel, and the Employment Development Department.

Francisco J. Barragán, Commander@umava.org
More Information: http://www.UMAVA.org

Teodora "Teddi" Montes

Picture taken while riding la Mula Mil towards the Sea of Cortez north of La Paz in November 2013.
Below on left deep in the canyon are the ruins of Mission los Dolores, founded 1721.

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Hi- I have been invited by the Nueva Galicia Genealogical Society of northern California to do two presentations at their conference in San Jose on August. One will be about my research-The Californio DNA Project and the other will be an overview of two Californio surnames from 1700-2012 including the fascinating information DNA is showing. I just thought you might know of some folks who are interested in Baja and Alta California genealogy which I have been		working on for over 40 years including my own family. I started doing DNA work 2 years ago and recently returned from Mexico after collecting DNA from descendants (males) of some of the founding soldiers and mission workers (Baja California 1697-1800). The Californio DNA Pr oject/El Proyecto de ADN de Los Californios La Mula Mil-1000 miles on mules from the tip of Baja California to the US Border Completed---4 months 2013-2014.

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Teodora "Teddi" Montes was born and raised in San Diego, California, and attended the University of California-San Diego and Eastern Oregon University. She was raised from birth by her grandfather from Chihuahua and her Californio grandmother, over 9 generations of connections with both Californias.

Teddi has spent over 45 years exploring the Baja California peninsula. Long before she knew of any familial connections, she began collecting family histories of vaqueros and their families in the remote locations she traveled. The interest in Baja and Alta California families grew from exposure to the research of Harry Crosby and his Baja California historical projects, specifically el camino real. The entire blame for over 40 years of deep attachment to the peninsula and its old families is placed in his lap (that is, of course, unless it is in the genes!).

Much of Teddi’s Baja California travels have been by mule and she has ridden approximately 85% of the KIng’s Highway (mission trails) there, where, for the most part, it lies hidden,
never made for wheels, abandoned, with much of it not used for over 200 years.

This was the land route from the first mission in the Californias (Loreto 1697) to what would become Monterey, with missions and presidios established all along the way, including San Diego and points northward.
In 1975 she began her own genealogical research and was amazed to find that her roots were in the Californias before 1750 and that many of the friends she had made on her adventures were distant cousins. Traveling by mule on el camino real was actually re-tracing her family’s footsteps through the years.

Teddi’s area of interest is the genealogy of the Hispanic Southwest including Sonora, Sinaloa and both Californias with special concentration on Baja California. In 2012 she entered the world of genetic genealogy. She has begun The Californio DNA Project (El Proyecto de ADN de los Californios) and has been called “the Harry Crosby of Baja California genealogy”.

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In March 2014 she, along with 3 other women, completed la Mula Mil (the Mule 1000), riding and packing mules 1000 miles from the tip of the Baja California peninsula to the US border which took 4 months. Equipped with over 40 years of genealogical research and DNA test swabs, Teddi searched out carefully-selected Early California families/surnames along the remote riding route and collected DNA samples for The Californio DNA Project. Eventually the results of these studies and histories will be made available for these families and others in Spanish, because, all of this work, is really for the children, the future. She will be returning to Baja California in the fall of 2014 for more DNA collection and genealogical research and again, several weeks of travel by mule, back in to time. 30 years ago the vaqueros around the campfires just thought Teddi was the nosey woman from el otro lado (the other side) who asked too many questions about their grandparents. These days they brag that she can sit around a fire and recite their family trees back 4 generations and more.
She has also traveled in the states of Sonora and Chihuahua.

When not researching or doing something Baja California-related, Teddi plays the guitar and fiddle, with an interest in learning songs of the Californias pre-1850, music the ancestors danced to whether in La Paz in the south or Monterey in the north.

Visita de Su Excelencia Ramón Gil-Casares, Embajador de España en Washington a San Diego

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May 28^th, 2014: The Ambassador spoke at a dinner at the University of San Diego put on by the World Affairs Council of San Diego and Honorary Consul of Spain in San Diego. Theme is "Spain's Comeback: Opportunities and Challenges”.

USD Vice President of Student Affairs Carmen Vasquez and the President of the SDWAC David Edick welcomed the Ambassador and other guests to La Gran Terraza at the University Center on the University of San Diego campus.

May 29^th, 2014 : The Ambassador will visited the Mission San Diego de Alcala. Monsignor Richard Duncanson and Historian Iris Engstrand took the Ambassador and Consul General on a tour of the Mission. In the evening, the Ambassador assisted with the Inauguration of the “Sorolla and América” exhibit organized by the San Diego Museum of Art. For more information please check the website www.sdmart.or

May 30^th, 2014 : At Spanish Landing in Harbor Drive where the San Diego Maritime Museum is constructing the Galeón San Salvador, Nave Capitana del explorador Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. On the 30th a ceremony honoring the Naval Architect Douglas Sharp took place. The Ambassador is here to award the Decoration of Cruz de Oficial de la Orden de Isabel la Católica for his research and design of the San Salvador. For more information please go to the San Diego Maritime Museum www.sdmaritime.org

In the evening the Casa de España in San Diego held a reception honoring the Ambassador

The website of the World Affairs Council is www.sdwac.org For more information: http://sdwac-spain.eventbrite.com

Celebrate the 60th Anniversary
of the
Conference of California Historical Societies

June 19 - June 21

Los Angeles

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Join us for a fun filled weekend, exploring all that the Los Angeles basin has to offer! Get an insider's look into the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), view the famous space shuttle Endeavor at the California Science Center and explore a special Los Angeles history exhibit at the Natural History Museum. Also take time to learn and exchange ideas with colleagues as well as celebrate the accomplishments of CCHS and individuals who have made an impact on the field at the CCHS Awards Luncheon. We will also be holding a special celebration to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Conference on Saturday evening!

New for 2014: Leadership Reception - June 19 at 6:30pm

Designed for board members and leaders in historical societies, the Leadership Reception is an unmatched opportunity to connect with colleagues throughout the state, network and share best practices. Discussion will focus on what, as a historical community, we are doing really well, what we need help with and what, as a collection of historical societies, we can do to amplify our successes and make progress on the challenges we all face. Take away great new ideas for how to grow your organization and solve long-time challenges by sharing resources with fellow practitioners in the field. Registration for the Leadership Reception includes great conversations, great people and hors d'oeuvres.

Workshops - Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 9:15am (Included)
A host of speakers discussing a range of interesting and informative topics:

The History of Aerospace in Los Angeles
The Effect of Prohibition on Food & Wine in California
Hollywood Scandals and the Rise of Censorship
The Heart of Memory: Native American Culture Preservation
Developing Strong Relationships with Your Municipality
DNA and Genealogy - A Who Done (or Did) It!

History Fair - Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 2:00pm (Included)
Interested in what other historical societies are up to these days? Come out and meet fellow historical societies at our inaugural History Fair! You will get to meet publishing companies, authors and even pick up some of the great publications from around the state and purchase books that have been featured in the California Historian.

Conference of California Historical Societies

http://www.californiahistorian.com/

California's Latino Plurality
Brings a Sense of Déjà Vu
by Leslie Berestein-Rojas
North Country Public Radio ( May 4, 2014)

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In March, provided California state demographers guessed it right, the state reached a historic milestone: For the first time, Latinos are the largest population group in California.

California Department of Finance demographers predicted that by March, Latinos would outnumber non-Latino whites to become 39 percent of the state's population, while the latter would drop to about 38.8 percent. There won't be hard evidence for months to come, at least, but demographers are standing by their projection.

But while this Latino plurality is a first in California, it comes with a sense of déjà vu. Even though Hollywood nostalgia paints a picture of a mostly-white California of old, this is not the first time that Californians of Spanish descent - Hispanics, in other words - have outnumbered non-Hispanic whites in this onetime Spanish and Mexican outpost.

When Whites Displaced Latinos

In recent decades, the narrative of Latino population growth in California has been roughly this linear one: There's a shrinking white majority and a growing Latino population, with Latinos arriving in large numbers, outnumbering and displacing whites. But there was a time, way back, when the tables were turned.

In a letter written in 1846 to a member of the U.S. Senate, early California land-owner John Marsh provided an estimate of who resided in the soon-to-be state. From a Stanford University history website:

The letter included the following estimate of California's population: 7,000 persons of Spanish descent; 10,000 civilized or domesticated Indians; 700 Americans; 100 English, Irish and Scotch; about 100 French, Germans and Italians. (These data seem to refer to male population only.)

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It was just an approximation. But people "of Spanish descent" made up a significantly large share of it, more than seven times the estimated number of non-Spanish-descended whites and outnumbered only by native Californians (very much undercounted, most likely, as the only ones included were those deemed "civilized or domesticated").

Then, a couple of years later, James Marshall discovered gold in the Sacramento Valley.

"With the Gold Rush, things changed quickly," said Mark Hugo Lopez of the Pew Research Center, who crunched some numbers for this piece using historical U.S. census data.

The Gold Rush that began in 1848 radically altered the state's demographic makeup overnight, drawing hordes of hopeful prospectors from around the country and elsewhere.

By the time of the U.S. census in 1850, the year that California became a state, its non-native, non-Spanish-descended white population had swelled to around 77,000. Meanwhile, Californians of Spanish descent, mostly Mexican, numbered around 15,000, or 17 percent of the population.

Which is only a hair less than the 19 percent that Latinos represented in 1980, during a time when some believed that California's Latino population was suddenly exploding.

What happened over the course of 130 years that, by 1980, had led to this perception? "The share of Hispanics fell," Lopez explains, "then rose." It plummeted to the single digits in the years that followed California statehood, as more non-Latinos continued to arrive. Between 1850 and 1900, the state's share of Latinos fell from 17 percent to only 4 percent. Meanwhile, the non-Latino white population jumped to almost 91 percent.

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The Latino population remained in the single digits through the 1950s. There were heavier Latino pockets here and there, parts of Los Angeles included. And in the fields, at least, there was a steady presence of guest workers from Mexico. But Latino residents remained a small minority.

"You could say that Latinos had practically disappeared from California," says University of Southern California demographer Dowell Myers, "overlaid by massive migration from all over the U.S."

For many, it was this majority-white era that came to symbolize California in American popular lore - blondes, Beach Boys and the like. But the nostalgic idyll that some hold from that era was in fact an anomaly, Myers says.

"They remember back to a time around 1960 and 1970 when there were hardly any Latinos and they think that was normal," Myers says. "But that was actually abnormal. That was a low point. Now, we are moving back to normal."

Back To The Future

The state began inching back toward its old population breakdown after immigration rules changed in 1965, making for more migration from Latin America. By 1970, the state's Latino population had reached 13.5 percent.

A decade later, California's Latino population hit 19.3 percent, the first time it had been this high in more than a century: "By 1980, Latinos are back to their 1850 share," Lopez says.

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Since then, a new normal has kicked in. By 2010, Latinos accounted for almost 38 percent of the state's population. But as migration has slowed, much of that growth is now coming from the second and third generation, driven by native U.S. births.

Despite the Latino-plurality tipping point, parity is likely a long way off: Latino voter participation still lags behind that of other groups. According to a UC-Davis study last year, Latinos made up 26.3 percent of Californians who were qualified to vote in 2012, but only 19.7 percent of California voters.

But this is expected to change with time, especially as more U.S.-born Latinos hit voting age; the study anticipates Latinos making up nearly 30 percent of the state's voters by 2040. By then, another population milestone will be on the horizon:

According to state projections, Latinos are expected to account for nearly half - 48 percent - of Californians in 2060.

Sent by Refugio Rochin
rrochin@me.com

TWO CALIFORNIANS JOINED BY A GRIZZLY HOME INVASION

by Galal Kernahan

1896 duplicate of the 1846 first California flag
at Sonoma State Historic Park

http://jimsfortheloveofhistory.blogspot.com/2011/01/recreating-california-bear-flag-of-1846.html

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Twenty-one years after Mariano Vallejo's death, the California Legislature adopted as State Flag the Grizzly Bear banner flaunted before his captive family. It stood for an unprovoked occupation of his Sonoma home by a gaggle of wanna-be conquerors egged on by surveyor/explorer John Charles Fremont. Fremont got around to apologizing after Vallejo became a State Forefather who helped write California's Original Constitution. Fremont was angling to be named one of California's first U.S. Senators. Mariano's brother was floored when Vallejo agreed to lend Fremont his support. The Bear Flag became a relic taken back to the Boston Navy Yard. It ended up all but forgotten for sixty-five years. When rediscovered and returned, the grizzly raiders and their victims had all passed away. It was then the California Legislature got around to making it what it is today, the State Flag. Returning to the State's mid-19th Century Beginnings, you will find the Founders' lives took fascinating turns. No two contrast more sharply than Vallejo's and Fremont's. Vallejo was a forward-looking Californio. Born in Spain, almost his whole life was lived in and for California.		In 1846, leading Californios met in Santa Barbara and discussed the feasibility of forming their own government after their rejection of the latest one to be imposed. Vallejo got deliberations adjourned to Monterey, where he consulted American Consul Thomas Larkin before arguing for annexation leading to statehood in the U.S. The convention closed with its leaders, such as his nephews Castro and Alvarado, ready to adopt the views of Vallejo, and the way seemed prepared for a hearty welcome to the Americans but the Bear Flag episode followed, Vallejo was carried a prisoner to Sutter's Fort, and the opportunity for peaceful conquest was lost, Page 50, TALES OF OLD CALIFORNIA, Edited by Frank Oppel, published in 2005 by Castle Books Fremont, on the other hand, was always playing to an audience that stretched from the Pacific to Paris and back. This surveyor of railroad routes married well. His wife was a world class press agent. His father-in-law was a powerful national politician.

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Vallejo was a family man whose world was California. After participating as a delegate to the 1849 Monterey Constitutional Convention that laid out how California was to be governed, he served in the first Legislature in San Jose before the State was admitted to the Union. He personally arranged for the next two sessions to be held in a Sonoma building of his at Benecia on the east coast of San Francisco Bay. ("Benecia" was part of his wife's full name.) It turned out to be too quiet in comparison with the explosive Gold Rush growth rocking Sacramento. Lawmakers finally moved upriver to where the action was. The State Capitol has been there ever since. Still Founding Father Vallejo continued to raise his family in Sonoma and send his sons off to New England for higher education. Meanwhile, Fremont continued careering on a transcontinental roller coaster ride. Developments in California's largely peaceable accession to the U.S. led to a few foolish and face-saving confrontations. Most were bloodless.		The one with the most fallen (less than two dozen was a San Pascual ambush of trail-weary American soldiers straggling up from desert southeast of Mt. Palomar. This Southern California collision was unusual. It may have aggravated the American command-control confusion. Fremont chose to defer to the wrong U.S. commander. As things turned out, he was marched Back East as a prisoner to face a Court Martial. He was found guilty of insubordination. Nevertheless he was soon in a political fray as the first Republican Presidential Candidate. He lost. The next Republican choice, Abraham Lincoln, won and briefly tried to feature Fremont as a Civil War general. That didn't turn out well. Fremont went on to plunge into a coast-to-coast railroad venture. His terminals were to be San Diego, California and Norfolk, Virginia. Twelve miles of track were laid in Missouri. When the workmen demanded their pay, he arranged their departure in a locked box car.

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Fremont targeted the French for investment capital. Dashing accounts of exploratory adventures written by his wife built a widening fan base that reached across the Atlantic. Her "pathfinder imagery" translated and traveled well. Monetary encouragement slipped his brother-in-law the French Consul in New York bought help with bond sales in France. Agents unloaded five million dollars in railroad securities with the false implication they were backed by the U.S. Government. Suspicion began to grow. Fremont cut short his visit. By the time he was tried in absentia and sentenced to five years in prison for fraud in France, he was back in the U.S.		Ironically, he was himself squeezed by a lawyer, he was reluctant to cross. By 1873, he was bankrupt. He passed away January 12,1890. His press-agent widow lived on into the Twentieth Century. She was warmly adopted by California Women's Clubs. They brought her to Los Angeles for her final years The quiet West Coast life of Mariano Vallejo ended January 18,1890, just six days after Fremont had passed on.

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_{CALIFORNIA LULAC NEWLY ELECTED STATE
BOARD}

_{DAVE
RODRIGUEZ- STATE DIRECTOR- OXNARD CA}

_{CARLOS RAMOS, DEPUTY STATE DIRECTOR-MONTEREY
CA}

_{GILBERTO ESQUIVEL, TREASURER- RIVERSIDE CA.}

_{ZEKE HERNANDEZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
ELDERLY-SANTA ANA}

_{MIRIAN ESCOBAR- DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
WOMEN-SAN DIEGO}

_{ANDRES RODRIGUEZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR YOUNG
ADULTS-HOLLISTER}

_{ELENA CRUZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
YOUTH-OXNARD}

_{Mickie Luna

National LULAC Vice President, Farwest Region}

	NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
	History of Latino/as in Washington State, by Jose M. Alamillo

HISTORY OF LATINO/AS IN WASHINGTON STATE
http://www.josealamillo.com/latinos%20northwest.htm

Jose M. Alamillo
Washington State University

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Latino/as are not recent arrivals to Washington State but dates back to 1774, when Spaniard sailor Juan Pérez led an expedition aboard the Santiago ship along the coastlines of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Spain abandoned its small settlements at Rada de San Lorenzo de Nutka, on Vancouver Island and Bahía de Núñez de Gaona in Neah Bay when it ceded all Northwest claims to the United States under the 1819 Adams-Onís Treaty. After Mexico gained independence from Spain the northern boundary remained along the Oregon-California border until 1848 when the boundary shifted southward. During the late nineteenth-century Mexican soldiers, mule packers, fur trappers, ranchers and gold-seeking miners continued to travel northward to Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia.

By the turn of the twentieth-century Mexican workers were riding aboard the Great Northern Pacific Railroad in search for work in the agricultural fields of Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

The political turmoil of the Mexican Revolution and relaxed immigration restrictions during World War I drew more migrant families to the Pacific Northwest, some settling permanently in small farming communities.

Not until World War II, however, did an unprecedented number of Mexican male workers arrive in Washington State to pick peaches, green beans, hops, apples and thin sugar beets. A bilateral agreement between Mexico and the United States allowed Mexican nationals to enter the United States as contract laborers (braceros). By 1945 Washington State comprised six percent of the total number of braceros imported to the United States. Unlike those in the Southwest, Northwest braceros endured colder winters and received little protection from U.S. and Mexican government officials. A series of bracero strikes and high transportation costs convinced Washington farmers to stop importing braceros in 1947 and begin recruiting Mexican migrant families from Texas and other Southwest states.

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Migrant women contributed enormously by pitching tents or building shelters in new surroundings, gathering water from nearby riverbank, and cooking meals over makeshift stoves. By the 1960s families abandoned the migrant circuit and planted roots in the Yakima Valley. As the Chicano Movement gained momentum across the Northwest the United Farm Workers Union’s organized hop workers and students boycotted grape sales at college campuses. In Seattle, a group of Chicano residents took over an elementary school and covert it into El Centro de La Raza. Today, El Centro de La Raza provides social services to an increasingly diverse Latino population.		According to 2002 figures Washington Latinos comprise 8% (490,448 out of 6.1 million), a majority of Mexican origin (75%) followed by Puerto Ricans (3.6%) and Central Americans (2.8%), South Americans (2.0%). Despite being the largest minority group in Washington State, Latinos still face major political, social and economic challenges. These include a 50% high school drop out rate, below-the-poverty level wages and poor housing for farm workers, and low voter registration rates and minimal political representation in local, county, and state offices. Despite these challenges Latinos will continue to built institutions and organizations that will allow them to reclaim the Northwest as their own.

	SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
	Sherman Library to mark donation of 50,000 photos by Nicole Shine My Days as a Colonist / Soldier with Don Juan de Onate – Part 5 by Louis F. Serna A Big Showdown in El Paso

My Days as a Colonist / Soldier with Don Juan de Onate
– Part 5 By Louis F. Serna

Oct 2013

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Gracias a Dios.! Another blessed day in May of 1598 and it starts early with more surprising news. I am visited by the Sargento Mayor himself.! Vicente de Zaldivar who says to me, “You know who I am?” and of course, I quickly respond, “Si Senor, and I am at your service!” He responds, “Luis we are in the field and things happen quickly out here so there is no time for small talk. El Capitan Villagra has informed me that he needs to grant you some authority to perform some of his tasks and so I am giving you a field promotion to Sargento Menor... Don Juan is aware of this and we all agree that you will use your new-found authority with great discretion and use it only for the purpose of completing tasks for your Capitan. We have no Soldier’s Field Manuals out here so I will be available to you if you have any questions regarding your duties as a non-commissioned officer. Do you understand what I am telling you?” “Si Senor and I accept responsibility for my actions.” “Good… That is the right response for there are consequences for your decisions and actions, right or wrong, good and bad. Are you aware of the recent mortal decision I had to make because of a soldier’s desertion? That is what I mean by consequences for your actions.”

“Si Senor, I am aware of the deserter, Andres Palomo, and his execution at San Bartolome on April 2nd”.” That is what I mean Luis. He was guilty and his justice was swift. I already reported the details to Don Juan and Capitan Villagra, who may need for you to take my statement for future reference, for as I said, everyone is responsible for their actions and especially me, the Sargento Mayor.

For now, ask your Capitan Villagra if he needs any more documentation on the beheading of Palomo. Do you have any questions? If not, don’t hesitate to talk to me if you need to.” “Gracias Sargento, I will make note of all we have discussed.” And with that he turned and left. I stood there for a few seconds, trying to grasp everything that just happened and realized once more that I am now a changed man., with new authority and responsibility and regardless of how I may feel about anything, I must do my duty, report everything that just took place and ask my Capitan how he wants me to handle this and move on to the next task!

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Today is May 11^th and the caravan has moved to a point near the first known village of Indians where Don Juan hopes to meet them, put them at ease and hopefully gather some intelligence on what lies ahead. He dispatches Capitan Aguilar to scout the village with firm instructions not to enter the village or scare the Indians, under penalty of death! That is how important this first encounter is to Don Juan. The expedition trudges along and is soon forced to stop because of the death of the 7 year old son of Geronimo de Heredia, a sergeant in the company of Capitan Geronimo Marquez. He died of an illness he has been suffering for some time. Don Juan orders that he be buried in a proper funeral albeit out in the wilderness. There are other delays that force us to make camp and already there are whispers, mainly among the women,wondering who will be next to die because as everyone knows, “death always comes in threes…!”

We are still in camp on the 20^th of May when Capitan Aguilar and his squad came riding in from their search for the Indian settlement up north. Don Juan calls to have him come and report his findings right away and the Maese brings him in. Aguilar reports that the terrain ahead is very difficult and that the first pueblo is just eighteen leagues beyond.

He states that the Indians are quite friendly but he did not see anything of value in the village. Don Onate exclaims “What? You entered the pueblo against my orders???” His face turns red with anger! “Yes, I thought it was a good opportunity to gather information” responds Aguilar in a slightly defiant tone! “Arrest this man” shouts Onate, “We shall decide what to do with you later but remove him immediately” The General says to the Zaldivar brothers, “we cannot tolerate this kind of insubordination! Execute him!” The always level-headed Juan steps in and says that it may be wise to think this over and after some discussion, Onate calms down and says, “Very well, I won’t have him executed but he better watch his step!” Narrowly, another “field execution” is averted, but it is clear that Don Juan is at a peak of frustration and he will not tolerate any of his orders taken lightly! All of this was relayed to me by Ensign Juan Pinero who was there and has to walk the narrow path of witness as he knows he should, but anxious to avoid the wrath of the expedition leaders! As for me, I hope to remain an assistant to Villagra, with perhaps a bit of neutrality in a job that threatens no one. I think back to the whispering after the death of the young Heredia boy, and I say to myself, this Capitan Aguilar was almost the second to die, of the three that were predicted! Will there be another? My day is filled with details to take care of during this delay of the train and I finally rest my head on my pillow and quickly fall asleep.

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The next morning at daybreak, I hear Alonso Robledo hurry to the tent of the Maese de Campo and I hear him say in a broken voice that his father, the Ensign Pedro Robledo has just been discovered dead in his bed! He died sometime during the night in his sleep! I immediately think to myself, “There is the third to die of the three!” Capitan Aguilar narrowly missed his place as the second but he is on thin ice! Will la Muerte come to claim him soon?” I shake my head and shudder, saying to myself, get a grip Luis! There is no curse of death in three’s…!

The train is halted once again, for another burial and Robledo is laid to rest. The General almost immediately, orders a detachment of horsemen which he will lead, to explore a place ahead where the carretas can cross the great river. They leave the main body and are gone for several days until finally on the 27^th they return with news that they have seen the black mesa where the second of the Indian Pueblos, Qualacu is located on our maps. He decides to bypass the first village and move on to Qualacu where Don Onate will meet the people of el nuevo Mejico!

Sherman Library to mark donation of 50,000 photos
by Nicole Shine, staff writer Orange County Register
May 17, 2014

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NEWPORT BEACH • More than 50,000 photographs capturing Southern California scenes dating to 1912 will be celebrated after having been donated in Corona del Mar. Purchased in 1988 for an unknown amount, the photographs illustrate the region's diverse history, from the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles to early shipbuilders in San Pedro.

The entire collection is Being donated to Sherman Library and Gardens, a nonprofit research library and horticultural center in Corona del Mar. Worth $80,000, the thousands of stills and negatives will be archived, digitized and ultimately displayed online for the public to enjoy and scholars to study.

"It's a very good resource for scholars looking to document the 20^th century of coastal Southern California said Paul Wormser. Wormser, the Sherman Library director joined the library last year after spending two decades with the National Archives, said the library already has begun cataloging the photographs and negatives.

Sherman Library's holdings includes about 15,000 books, focusing on the history of the Pacific Southwest. Its records also contain an extensive history of the city of Newport Beach and of early developers, such as Moses H. Sherman, for whom the library and the city of Sherman Oaks was named.

A Big Showdown in El Paso
El Paso News, May 22, 2014

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Community activists and elected officials in El Paso have bought more time in their fight to save a historic Chicano and border cultural center from demolition. El Paso Judge Thomas Spieczny issued a temporary restraining order May 21 that prevents the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) from moving forward with demolishing the Lincoln Center in south central El Paso, until a hearing on the matter is held on May 29.

Pro-Lincoln Center activists have organized a 24-hour encampment outside the more than 100-year-old building and are planning a large rally for late Sunday afternoon, May 25, Hector Gonzales, Lincoln Park Conservation Committee member, told FNS. “Everybody is working on trying to save the center,” Gonzales said.

Pitting El Pasoans against the TxDOT, the conflict’s outcome will decide the future of a building that has variously housed a school, the offices of old community programs like Project Amistad and a Chicano cultural arts center.

“This is a significant location that reflects the cultural heritage of El Paso. The Lincoln Center was the first school for African-American and Mexican American children before

desegregation,” said Sito Negron, communications director for Texas state Sen. Jose Rodriguez, who has worked on saving the center’s building for almost three years. “This location and building have been central for the cultural development of the community.”

Currently owned by the TxDOT, the Lincoln Center was closed after it was damaged in the “Little Katrina” floods of 2006. Community members have continued to use adjacent Lincoln Park for events that include Lincoln Park Day, Cesar Chavez Day and the Day of the Dead.

Some call the Lincoln Center “El Corazon de El Paso,” or the “Heart of El Paso.” But the property, which sits underneath a freeway interchange known as the Spaghetti Bowl, is also on the route of a major freeway expansion.

The TxDot contends that the Lincoln Center’s location is unsafe because it potentially exposes the building to a crashing vehicle that might veer off the freeway and onto the building.

Such a calamity has never occurred at the Lincoln Center, but the TxDot cited a nearby freeway accident this week involving a Coca Cola truck and an oil spill as the type of hazard that jeopardizes the public’s safety below the Spaghetti Bowl.

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“This is why TxDOT plans to tear down the Lincoln Center. TxDot will not compensate on safety,” the agency e-mailed El Paso media this week.

The TxDOT also maintains that the flood damage inside the Lincoln Center renders the old building irreparable-a contention that is disputed by community activists.

In October 2013, the TxDOT gave city officials and community members who had long been struggling to preserve Lincoln Center one year to come up with a plan. But in May-only 7 months after theTxDOT agreed to a one-year stay- state Sen. Jose Rodriguez learned that a demolition by the TxDot was in the works.

El Paso City Councilor Lilly Limon called the news and subsequent appearance of a pre-demolition work crew at the Lincoln Center a “shocking” development that was “worse than a betrayal.”

On May 20, Lincoln Center supporters turned out to an emergency meeting of the El Paso City Council, where city representatives voted 5-0 to seek a temporary restraining order against a TxDOT demolition. The action was supported by

Mayor Oscar Leeser, state Sen. Jose Rodriguez and state Rep. Joe Pickett.

The next day, activists showed up in force at the Lincoln Center. Forming a human chain, the center’s supporters prevented a TxDOT contractor from completing a fence around the building. The El Paso police department was called out, and state Sen. Rodriguez arrived to mediate a tense situation. No arrests resulted from the confrontation.

Later, after the temporary restraining order requested by the City of El Paso was granted, the TxDOT announced it would withdraw work equipment from the Lincoln Center.

Perhaps summing up the widespread community sentiment of a city that is nearly 80 percent Latino, City Councilor Eddie Holguin said El Paso “desperately needs a Hispanic Chicano cultural center.”

In a 2012 article published in Rio Grande Digital, author Miguel Juarez, Lincoln Park Conservation Committee activist and University of Texas at El Paso doctoral student, detailed the history of the Lincoln Center and its surrounding neighborhoods.

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The border history scholar mentioned the names of prominent Lincoln School graduates such as the late state Rep. Mauro Rosas, who served as El Paso’s first Latino state representative from 1959 to 1963, and the numerous artists from both sides of the border who exhibited at Lincoln Center after it became a cultural arts center. Juarez noted how the murals on the freeway columns of the Spaghetti Bowl were inspired by similar art work at San Diego’s Chicano Park.

Murals likewise decorate the interior of the Lincoln Center. In a May 20 op-ed published in the El Paso Times, state Sen. Rodriguez insisted that both the community will and available resources exist to keep the Lincoln Center a part of El Paso’s past and future history.

“There is wide-ranging interest in saving the building, and numerous potential partners-including public institutions, non-profits, and professionals-have expressed a desire to raise funds, assist in renovations, and occupy the building…,” Rodriguez wrote. “The Lincoln Center can become, once again, a vibrant center where children and young people can learn about the rich Mexican and unique Chicana/o culture which is vital to their wellbeing-and central to what makes El Paso so unique and vibrant.”

The coming days and weeks will be crucial ones in deciding the fate of the Lincoln Center. The issue is expected to be a major topic of discussion at the May 27 El Paso City Council meeting.

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Additional sources: El Diario de El Paso, May 22, 2014. Article by Juliana Henao. El Paso Times, May 16, 18, 20, 21, 2014. Articles by Marty Schladen, Aaron Martinez, Jose Rodriguez and editorial board. KVIA.com, May 14, 20, 21, 2014. Articles by Ashlie Rodriguez, Stephanie Valle, Leonard Martinez, and Maria Garcia. KFOXTV.com, May 20, 2014. Articles by Jesse Martinez, Jamel Valencia and Crystal Price. KTSM.com, May 15, 16, 20, 2014. Riograndedigital.com, January 13, 2012. Article by Miguel Juarez.

Frontera NorteSur: on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
For a free electronic subscription
email: fnsnews@nmsu.edu

TEXAS

Cuento: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas Shares Texas Memories
Cuento: Searching for Nopalitos in the Wooded Area Outside of Corpus Christ, mid 1940s by
Refugio Fernandez
Cuento: Beneath the Shadow of the Capitol by Ramon Moncivais
San Antonio Fights for Pink House by Margaret Foster
2014 Tejano Heritage Month Poster Contest
Sor Maria de Jesus de Agreda, June 28th Pilgrimage
Mujeres in Texas History by José Antonio López

CUENTO:

Erasmo "Doc" Riojas Shares Texas Memories

docrio45@gmail.com
http://www.sealtwo.org

My wife, Lourdes, found, among by papers, a photo of me, snow skiing. We were younger and she decided she wanted to go skiing. We flew to El Paso, rented an auto, and drove up to Ruidoso New Mexico to Sierra Blanca.

She took beginner ski lessons that morning, while I went up to the top of the mountain to ski down. When I came back, she was sicker than hell, nausea, weak, just feeling terrible. I was a Licensed Physician Assistant at that time. I diagnosed her as Altitude Sickness. We drove down to Ruidoso and she was cured.

What I wanted to tell you is a story about Indian food, at least Texas Indians and Mexicans, of course. Lourdes said, while she was taking lessons, she asked an Apache Indian, for a good Indian Restaurant. She also asked him what Apaches ate.

He said, " go to Ruidoso, look for a restaurant that says MEXICAN FOOD, that is what we eat." I laughed like crazy.

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I was the oldest child of three, Dolores, Texas. I was born in 1931, my sister in 1932, and brother, in 1935. I called mi Tia Crecensia, MAMA. My mother, who was a first born, could not take my crying, and took me to my paternal grandparents. My grandparents and mi Tia, me crio. When I was 6 years old, my sister and brother were living with my biological parents, me with my grandparents. I remember going into our garden with my MAMA (Tia Crecensia) and taking some tortillas de maza made on metate. We took little pieces of meat from the CALDO , fat and all. Pulling tomatoes and serrano peppers from the plants and making little tacos. We had no tap water, no sewage (used out- house, no electricty, no nothing. I don't remember much, but those were the happiest days of my child hood.		My people were coal miners. the other side of town (for lack of a proper word) were share croppers. Everyone moved to Laredo when the mine flooded, the farmers stayed a little longer. School was one room, and only to 6th grade. Mom and dad only went as far as the 6th grade, but they were totally bilingual. My grandparents lived a simple life. They grew most of their food, or trapped animals and raised chickens, pigs, goats, burros and a few mules for plowing. Grandpa Juan made me a saddle for a burro, and I used to go visit my Mom's mother and my real mom and dad.

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===

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My Tio Joaquin, was about 7 years older than me. He used to like to ride my burro. He always wanted my burro to gallop, but burros usually don't, son socarrones.

I usually walked or ran next to my uncle, while he rode on burro. Houses were way far apart, no streets, no evidence of a town, like we know today. Tio Joaquin headed to where there were houses. We looked for people who had dogs. We found them, who did happily chase the burro, which made my burro run.

Tio Joaquin was wounded in the Philippines. He served in WW II and died at the Veteran Hospital in Kerrville TX. I was serving in the United States Navy during Korea. I forget the year, but sadly, he died young, when I was away.

The Military Records Warehouse burned down long ago and I requested his records. They salvaged enough to create some history for my Tio's three kids, who are adults now.

CUENTO

Memories . . Searching for Nopalitos in the Wooded Area
Outside of Corpus Christ, mid 1940s
Refugio Fernandez
cnsfernandez1943@sbcglobal.net

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A couple of days ago, I planted a cactus with pretty yellow flowers. On our way home from the nursery, while inside the car, the pot fell on its side and polluted one back seat and floor with millions of stickers.

When we got home, I took it out hurriedly from the van, without gloves, and immediately realized I had made another bad mistake.

I now had stickers in my hands, shirt and pants. Later in the day, I put on gloves, over hands which had stickers, and planted that beautiful, deadly cactus far away in the back yard.

I am still taking out stickers from myself, my clothes the car seats and the grandkids and my wife. It brought to mind memories of hunting for cactus with Mama Lolita and the relatives...

It was another great, annual, family event. Uncles, aunts, and cousins accompanied Mama Lolita on the mission to find "nopalitos tiernitos" (tender cactus)in early Spring, and prepare them for cooking with eggs and other things.

Sometimes snacks or sandwiches were taken, and drinks always. The occasion also demanded several cars to carry the people, many buckets, gloves, and knives, and good shoes. The pickers had to have long sleeve shirts and long dresses - no pants for the women.

There was the usually giggling, laughing, talking excitedly and the anticipation of finding many wonderful nopalitos. There were no plastic buckets at that time, only metal, so the clanging of the buckets added to the excitement. The big rule was "Don't touch any part of the cactus without gloves because you will have stickers on you for the rest of your life."

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The one person who could not go was Madrina Lupe (born around 1885) because she had terrible feet, from wearing two sizes too small shoes when she was young, because "the prettiest girls had the smallest feet."

Somehow, everyone fitted tightly into the cars and away we went. Driving there was also fun, even more so if Tio Jesus or Tio Santiago took their pickup trucks. The kids preferred to sit in the back of the pickup trucks and let the wind play with their hair.

One favorite location for finding nopalitos was along the Old Brownsville Road. At that time, there were many wooded areas without fencing.

We would stop at one of these places and three or four groups of people would form, with one going left, another center left, one center right, and right.

We little Indians would hop and jump and run to scout the area ahead of our group to find nopalitos and would scream that we found some. The adults would then hover over the cactus, which sometimes contained rattle snakes. I never saw one.

The adults would carefully grab the perfect cactii with gloved hands and cut them off with a knife and drop them in the buckets. The older kids carried the buckets.

When the buckets were full, we started hearing yells that it was time to go back to the vehicles where we sat around and ate snacks and drank iced tea, lemonade or water. The drive home was rather quiet and solemn as the kids watched the stickers of the cactii in the buckets with some kind of reverence.

Back home, the adults sat on stools around a large metal pan. Again, the time was taken up with gossip and jokes and whatever would entertain anybody. Each adult had one or two buckets full of cactus. Each took out one cactus at a time and proceeded to remove every sticker with a knife and drop the stickers into the large pan. The cleaned cactus went into clean, empty buckets. We kids watched in amazement how efficiently the adults were at cleaning the cactus.

The cactii were than washed and divided up among the families. Some even went to the family grocery store to sell to the public.

Invariably, everyone, adult or child, ended up with stickers in their bodies and clothes, for days. The hardest stickers to find were those little bitty ones in between your fingers, the stickers you can feel but not see. Those little devils originated in hell. They come out when they want to, a few days or weeks later.

I still am finding stickers inside the car from my pretty yellow cactus.

CUENTO

Beneath the Shadow of the Capitol
by Ramon Moncivais
Chapter 6, Stay Healthy

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My father did not believe in any kind of medical or life insurance, partly for of lack of trust but also because he did not • want to pay for it. He made $15 a week as a cook, average pay at the time, and could have provided us with some kind of insurance. But in doing so, he would have less money for his drinking.

My mother was the heart and soul of the entire family, the smartest of them all, and a born leader. She applied for a clinic card at Brackenridge Hospital, so that we could get medical attention whenever we needed it.

The only problem was the clinic took patients only two days a week, so sometimes we had to wait a few days before we could see a doctor. Since appointments were on a first-come first-serve basis, most of the time the wait felt like.

forever. I used to think that a person could get well or die just waiting for treatment. Being poor was not a reason or excuse that most of the people at the hospital used to mistreat us; for the most part, the nurses were nice.

It was the doctors that seemed not to care if we were sick or needed attention. A dentist once hurt me really badly. He told me, "I'm not going to waste pain medication on a Mexican boy, and it will hurt a little." He began pulling a tooth using very little, very diluted pain medication.

I started crying. He had lied. It hurt a lot!

He made me wash my face and said to me, "If you tell anybody, I'm going to take away your clinic card, and you will never be able to come back for anything."

I always thought that whether white people liked it or not, our skin color might be different, but what was the same for us all was the blood, pain, and tears. It was fortunate that 1 grew up pretty healthy because I never went back. I just didn't say anything when I felt bad. Other people quit going, too, except when they were really sick and had no choice.

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A little while after my trip to the dentist, some of my friends and I went swimming at the city pool near John. B. Winn Elementary School. Many times, the lifeguards did not allow us to use the whole pool; other times, they did not let us get in the water at all. Their reason was that they did not want grease from our bodies all over the pool. ; On my way home, I saw the dentist who had hurt me so badly. He had parked his car on the hospital's parking lot across from the facility. I went to my house, got an ice pick, went back, and poked a hole in each tire. A month later, I did it again. I didn't feel an ounce of guilt.

My uncle Manuel was always a soft-spoken, calm person. When the adults gathered to talk about problems, his remarks were always positive. He would reassure other members of the family that the ones with jobs would keep the family going.

In the entire time the ten family members lived at 1202 Red River Street, I can only remember one birthday cake. My mother found it in a bakery in the day-old bread section and bought it for 25 cents. It was for Uncle Manual's birthday. My mother stuck the only candle she had, one of those 9" glass religious candles, in the center of the cake. We drank punch that my grandmother made, but there were no presents.

Uncle Manuel married Catarina on January 31, 1935, and moved into a house that was on the same block as ours. He was 19, and she was 14. My uncle had worked in a drycleaners his entire life; eventually, my new aunt went to work for one also. Whenever they could, he and my aunt helped my mother with expenses. If any other cleaner offered my uncle as little as 5 cents an hour more, he would quit one place and go to work at the other.

In 1936, a next-door neighbor and Uncle Rodolfo left for Dallas to look for work. A week later, the neighbor returned and told us that they could not find work. My uncle had gone north to find work. We didn't hear from him until many years later.

Usually at the end of each day, when we sat down to eat, the talk centered on stories of not being able to find work. My uncles and aunts managed to find part-time work but never the kind that they wanted on a permanent basis.

I knew it worried my grandparents, hearing each sad story about being able to work only a few days or for only a week and then being out of work for weeks or months at a time.

=============================================

Mother often took Grandmother to the Capitol's grounds, mostly to get her away from the house. They would sit on a bench while I tried vainly to catch the pigeons and ended up watching them fly into the nearby trees.

This was a situation in which I would learn a lesson from the pigeons. I had chased some into a tree and was watching them just at the moment my mother yelled, "Don't look up at the pigeons!" It was too late. The head pigeon, with a smile on his face, dropped his poop with precise aim, right between my eyes. As much poop as I had on my face, I was sure he had not pooped in three days.

When we got home, my grandfather could not stop laughing. He said I should be thankful I did not chase cows up the trees! I continued to chase the pigeons, but I did not look up at them.

By now, both of my aunts had found jobs. Rebecca was working two days a week cleaning houses, and Maria had found a part-time job in a laundry. My grandfather did not like Aunt Maria working for this particular laundry.

one because it was in, this same laundry that a girl had lost an arm when it got caught L between two steel rollers used to press clothes. There was no compensation ever given to this girl, and her family bore most of the medical expenses.

In 1937, Uncle Roberto came home one day and said he was tired of going out every day looking for work and not finding anyone who would hire him. My uncle said he was leaving Austin and moving to Chicago to look for work. He gave my mother his small Kodak camera and told her to take plenty of pictures to send to him. He started crying. My grandmother and grandfather were crying. My mother started crying. And I started crying because everyone else was crying.

Some of the men were so desperate for work that they followed any rumor of work, no matter where it led them. How sad that they would leave their families to chase a rumor and try to turn it into a dream. Most of the travel out of Austin was done by hopping a train and getting off where they thought there were jobs.

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It did not take my uncle long to get a job up north. He started sending a little money home when he had it. While he was away, we saw the big flood of 1937 when I was six. [http://www.cetconnect.org/flood/gallery Gallery of photos]
Grandfather wanted my grandmother, my mother, and me to see the damage water could do. It seemed like everyone in Austin was there. We stood on the north bank of the Colorado River, watching as the water rose so high, it flowed over the Congress Avenue Bridge.

Water pours over and through the damaged second Austin Dam, July 23, 1938 The city of Austin had two major flood events in 1935 and 1936, causing serious damage and reinforcing the need for a new dam. In 1937, Austin entered into an agreement with LCRA to reconstruct the damaged Austin Dam and construction began on July 5, 1938. On July 23, 1938 another flood washed through Austin. Despite delays, the reconstructed dam was completed in February 1940.

Houses floated in the water and fell apart when they hit the bridge. We saw several horses and cows drown in the fast current. Farther downstream, the flood totally destroyed the Montopolis Bridge.

In 1938, a year after he had left, my uncle Roberta came back and asked my grandparents' permission to take Rebecca and Maria to Chicago to work; Rebecca was 16, and Maria was 12. My aunts went back with him, found jobs, and married, Rebecca in 1947 and Maria in 1948. After the three of them went up north, they never returned to Austin except to visit every five years or so, but they did send a little money home. Aunt Maria finished her schooling, the only one of the Navarro family who graduated from high school; she would not have done so is she had stayed in Austin.

Now there were only four of us in our little house, which suddenly seemed bigger. Two new grandchildren were born in the same year, my sister Margaret and Uncle Manuel's and Aunt Catarina's first child, Manuel, Jr. With more mouths to feed, my grandfather worked more, and we spent less time together. But we were still together on weekends and at night, watching the stars from the comfort of our little bonfire. As the oldest, I was the only one of all my brothers, sisters, and cousins who actually knew our grandparents.

Credit: Westside Historic Preservation Group

San Antonio Fights for Pink House
by Margaret Foster

From Online Only | June 24, 2011
Historia Chicana, 28 April 2014

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San Antonio's Westside residents want to save the 1924 Casa Maldonado, also known as the Pink House.

San Antonio native Graciela Sanchez grew up on the city's West Side, a predominantly Mexican American neighborhood she calls "the Ellis Island of San Antonio." Now Sanchez, director of the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center and its West Side Historic Preservation Group, is fighting to save one of few historic buildings left in the area.

Earlier this month the City Council voted unanimously to deny historic landmark status to Casa Maldonado, known locally as the Pink House. Its owner, an economic development corporation called Avenida Guadalupe Association, plans to tear down the 1924 structure to make way for a new office building complex.

"In the '70s 'urban renewal' knocked down my house and my grandparents' house. In the '80s this Avenida Guadalupe started doing the same thing," Sanchez says. "How could they just once again do what they've been doing for years? They don't do it in other parts of the city. It's always the preservation of upper and middle class communities, but what about working class and poor people's buildings? That history doesn't count, doesn't matter."

http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2011/
story-of-the-day/san-antonio-pink-house.html

Casa Maldonado was the birthplace of civic leader and union organizer William Maldonado and served as a tavern, fruit store, thrift store, and offices. The house has been empty since 2004. "There's really nothing to preserve here," Avenida's executive director, Oscar Ramirez, said at the June 16 city council meeting, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

But Stuart Johnson, preservation field representative at the San Antonio Conservation Society, disagrees. "Even if the buildings left aren't the best examples [of historic structures], they take on more prominence simply because they're the only ones left. We're certainly not opposed to [Avenida] building a new building, but we don't think they need to tear down this one. So much has been torn down on the West Side."

Since 1986, when Casa Maldonado was listed as a contributing structure in study of San Antonio's historic assets for a second time, 51 of the West Side's 71 contributing historic structures have been demolished, says Sanchez.

Sanchez's group has gathered more than 2,000 signatures on a petition to save the building, and several longtime West Side residents spoke in support of Casa Maldonado at city meetings last spring.

"We had people who had never been to a city council meeting speak for the first time. It was really wonderful. People had tears in their eyes," Sanchez says. "If you spend any time in our community, you would know that people want to save this building."

2014 Tejano Heritage Month Poster Contest

Contact: Vincent Tavera : (210) 673-3584 or publications@texastejano.com

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(San Antonio, Texas) May 13, 2014 – Texas Tejano.com, a San Antonio-based research and publishing company is pleased to announce today that are conducting a statewide search for the best example of Tejano art to be used in the production of the official poster for this year’s Tejano Heritage Month celebrations!

The month of September has been officially designated Tejano Heritage Month by Gov. Rick Perry and 2014 marks the eleventh anniversary of this designation. Beginning with the month of May, Texas Tejano.com will be holding a statewide Poster Contest that is open to all adult (18-years-of-age and older) artists. Over 500 copies of the winning poster will be circulated to local schools to help educate students aboutthe roles Tejanos played in the development of Texas. In addition, over 500 copies of the winning poster are distributed at special events throughout the area, they are distributed through conferences and symposiums, we also provide them to other organizations to promote awareness of the heritage and legacy of Tejanos.

“TexasTejano.com’s main mission has always been about bringing awareness and education about the true lives and legacies of our Tejano forefathers to all Texans,” says Rudi R. Rodriguez, President and Founder of Texas Tejano.com. “We felt this contest was just another way of getting that message across. Also, it will create what we hope will be a fun and festive memento of this occasion and will help create an additional circumstance that marks what we are creating with Tejano Heritage Month.”

Last year’s winner was artist Dina Cortez of San Antonio. This year, Judges will select one (1) winner who will receive a $500 prize and will be honored at a special ceremony during Tejano Heritage Month. The contest will end on Thursday, July 31, 2014 and all entries must be received in the office at that time. Rules are listed below and will also be made available at www.TexasTejano.com. For more information, contact Texas Tejano.com at (210) 673-3584.

2014 Tejano Heritage Month Poster Contest Rules

Artists are permitted only one entry and they must be original artwork that has not appeared in a previous poster, promotion or event. Also, collaborations are not allowed, one artist per entry.

Work must be submitted in a vertical poster format measuring 18” wide by 24” high (Must include a white 1" border around all sides) mounted on foam core. All entries must include the title "Tejano Heritage Month" along with the month of September and 2013 as design elemnts. Winner will be required to provide fully editable files upon receiving cash prize.

Submit your entries to Texas Tejano.com at 10,000 W. Commerce St., San Antonio, TX 78227. Office hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Artist information (including name, age and contact information) should be affixed to the back of entries. Please do not sign or identify yourself on the front of the entry.

Please include a self-addressed and stamped envelope so we might notify you of pick-up locations and arrangements. All entries must be picked up by November 13, 2014 or they will be discarded or become property of Texas Tejano.com.

Additional Tejano Heritage Month Poster Contest Information: Texas Tejano.com will retain ownership and full copyrights of the winning poster and its reproductions. The poster will serve as promotional material leading up to and throughout the course of Tejano Heritage Month and National Hispanic Heritage Month. Texas Tejano.com reserves the right to adapt elements of the poster for use on other official 2014 Tejano Heritage Month collectibles.
Texas Tejano.com reserves the right to ask the winner to make any changes or adjustments to the poster prior to printing. Texas Tejano.com is not responsible for any lost or damaged entries.

Sor Maria de Jesus de Agreda
June 28th Pilgrimage

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Things are coming together very nicely on our planning for the pilgrimage on June 28th, which also happens to be the day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Is this a coincidence or a sign of blessings for our work honoring both the Blessed Mother and Sor Maria?

Reynaldo "Sonny " Rivera is donating a relief of Sor Maria, in bronze, if time permits, for this occasion. The value of this piece is over $100,000. He wants to present it as a gift to Isleta Pueblo, to be placed somewhere close to the alter section of the Church of St. Augustine, with the condition, that it be rendered to me or anyone else leading Dr. Casso's "Margil, Sor Maria Initiative," the name of our growing network for future pilgrimages honoring Sor Maria, or related occasions.

The sculptured piece will be on a platform with two parallel bars, lending itself for a procession of the piece as part of the opening ceremony. The carriers will consist of a representative of the Isleta, Jumano, and the Piro-Tompiro Nations, and a member of our Central Committee.

Mass will be celebrated after the procession, followed by lunch (bring your own), at which time one of the Park Rangers will give a presentation on the history of the Salinas Valley National Monuments and their significance in the history of the area. Thereafter, the various representatives of the Native Nations will render a brief perspective on how Sor Maria impacted their lives and their people. Followed by a closing ceremony.

It is hoped that everyone present will take home with them a desire to study who Sor Maria was, and especially to study her master literary work, “The Mystical City of God.”

We hope to gather the resources needed to bring Victor Mancillas, the videographer"drafted" by Dr. Casso to come to videograph this event to make it part of his hour long documentary on Sor Maria ,"The Needle and the Thread." This was the name picked by Dr. Casso because he said that what we were doing was weaving a fine tapestry, and that each contributant to this tapestry is what would make this project HUGE! And I can see how his vision is coming into focus and in time become a realtity. And, indeed, when that time comes, IT WILL BE HUGE!

This we promise our beloved Dr. Henry J. Casso, a man of dreams and visions that he thought were possible until the Lord took him. But his legacy now lies in our hands.

More details to come. And your feedback is more than welcome.

Paz y bien, Jerry Lujan,
Temporary Chairman of the Margil, Sor Maria Initiative
jerry_javier_lujan@hotmail.com

Mujeres in Texas History

Sister Maria de Agreda

May 12, 2014
By José Antonio López

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SAN ANTONIO, May 12 - Mother’s Day was first officially celebrated in the U.S. in 1914. Mothers are remembered for their important role as diligent homemakers on this special day of the year.

That said, most of us would agree that every day is Mother’s Day. Even so, we don’t usually think of women as leaders outside the home. For example, here in Texas, the traditional passive, stay-at-home Spanish Mexican women in early Texas shown in the media is incorrect. Tejanas were strong, independent and many were self-sufficient. They were granted rights by Spanish law. They enjoyed a level of equality unheard of in other colonial societies. They were literally “head and shoulders” above the status of Anglo women in the U.S. during colonial times.

On their own initiative early Tejanas effectively combined their role as parents and day-to-day rancho operations. They performed particularly well in settings that are usually attributed only to men. Many early ranchos were owned and managed very effectively by women. The following offers a small sample of the true story of Spanish-surnamed women in the history of Texas and the Southwest.

Sister Maria de Agreda (Early 1600s Inspirational Leader)
In reality, Sister Agreda is responsible for the Spanish exploration in Texas. In 1629, the abbot and the priests of the Convent of Saint Anthony, Isleta, New Mexico were stunned! A group of about 50 Jumano Indians from Texas had just arrived unexpectedly at their doorstep. They asked for a priest to build a mission in their village. When asked why, the Indians replied that the “Lady in Blue” had sent them.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Spain, Sister Maria de Jesús reported to her religious superiors that she often visited and prayed with the indigenous tribes of America in Texas and the Southwest. What makes the story so intriguing is that Maria never left her convent in Spain. While in prayer, she put herself in a deep trance. It was in such a state that she visited America.

It was in following through and checking out the story that the Spanish monarchy endorsed plans to explore and settle Texas. An Indian legend in Texas tells that when she last preached to them, her spirit disappeared into the nearby hills. The next morning, they awoke to a cloak of small blue flowers (Bluebonnets) covering the spot where she last appeared.

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Manuela Sánchez (Early 1700s Explorer)
Manuela was a granddaughter of Diego Ramón, commander of Presidio San Juan Bautista, on the Rio Grande, across modern-day Eagle Pass. She is the first powerful Spanish female in early Texas history. Manuela married Louis St. Denis, a French explorer and trader who swore allegiance to Spain. She was the first European woman to travel across Texas. Manuela and Louis had seven children and lived in Natchitoches, Louisiana. As many other early Spanish European females in Texas, Manuela was not only beautiful, she was strong of body, mind, and very resourceful. She continued her husband’s business activities after his death, supporting her young family. She died in 1758.

Ignacia Gutiérrez de Lara Uribe (Early 1800s Pioneer)
Doña Ignacia was born in Revilla, Nuevo Santander, just across the Rio Grande from present-day Zapata. She was a true pioneer woman of early Texas. Left a widow when her husband died, she decided to cross the Rio Grande on her own. Her late husband, Don José Dionisio, owned property on the northern side of the river (now in the San Ygnacio, Texas area), she went to live there with her two surviving small children, Blas Maria (11), and Juan Martin (9); to make a new start. Doña Ignacia built a raft herself; put her two young children and her meager belongings on it. She then maneuvered the craft to the other side of the treacherous river. Once there, she made her brave stand in the middle of the South Texas brush country, single-handedly fighting off constant Indian raids, enduring droughts, storms, and other hardships. Many of her descendants still live in the area, now modern-day Zapata and Webb Counties.

Patricia de León (Mid-1800s Pioneer, Empresaria)
The de León family settled the Victoria area in the 1820s.

Patricia and her husband Martin set up large ranchos in the area and along the Guadalupe River. Sadly, the credit for East Texas settlement has gone to another impresario, Stephen F. Austin. In reality, Martin and Patricia were Austin’s mentors in Tejas. The de Leóns stoically endured under four different governments (Spanish, Mexican, Texas Republic, and the U.S.) After Martin’s death, Doña Patricia suffered greatly. Under violent political and anti-Mexican hatred after the Texas Revolution, she was forced into exile in New Orleans and Mexico. Returning to Texas, she fought in the courts and won a partial victory winning only a portion of her land.

Jovita Idar
(Early 1900s Teacher, Journalist, Political Activist).
Jovita was a teacher, journalist, and political activist. She was born in Laredo in 1885. Jovita attended school in Laredo; earned a teaching certificate in 1903. She then taught at a small school for Mexican children. Inadequate equipment, horrid conditions, and her inability to improve them, frustrated her. She resigned and joined her father's weekly newspaper, La Crónica. She wrote critically of social injustice toward Mexican-descent citizens and lack of education opportunities. Jovita was a key organizer of the Congreso Mexicanista in Laredo in 1911, the first attempt in Mexican-American history to organize a feminist social movement. She soon offended the U.S. Army and Texas Rangers with an editorial protesting President Woodrow Wilson's sending U. S. troops to the border. She also complained about Ranger brutal atrocities against Mexican-descent citizens. When rangers arrived to close down El Progreso, Jovita stood in the doorway to keep them from entering. Her courage gives new meaning to an old cliché – One Jovita Idar equals an entire Texas Ranger Unit. Jovita got married in 1917 and died in San Antonio in 1946.

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Trini Gamez (1900s – Present. Equal Rights Labor Organizer).
Trini is a true Mexican American activist in labor, education, civil rights, and voter registration in Texas. Taught by her parents and grandmother to stand up for her rights, she saw as unfair working conditions of Mexican Americans in Hereford, Texas. When she noticed that the same Anglo landowners who hired them also possessed ugly anti-Mexican prejudices, she decided to fight the bigotry by organizing laborers and faced death threats for doing so. She was an active voice of the 1960s-70s Mexican American civil rights movement. Trini Gamez is truly an unsung heroine in Texas and U.S. history.

In summary, when it comes to the role of women in early Texas, the “macho” persona is way over-rated in movies and paperback western books. Tejanas left their share of footprints in Texas history because they had the same vision as men in the development of our state. Tejanas fought for freedom at the Álamo! It is time to recognize that women had an active hand in shaping this great place we call Texas. To all women in Texas, ¡Feliz Dia de las Madres! (Happy Mother’s Day!)

José “Joe” Antonio López was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, and is a USAF Veteran. He now lives in Universal City, Texas. He is the author of three books: “The Last Knight (Don Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara Uribe, A Texas Hero),” “Nights of Wailing, Days of Pain (Life in 1920s South Texas)” and “The First Texas Independence, 1813”. Lopez is also the founder of the Tejano Learning Center, LLC, and www.tejanosunidos.org, a Web site dedicated to Spanish Mexican people and events in U.S. history that are mostly overlooked in mainstream history books. He is looking for his primos.

In a message dated 05/24/14 13:24:56 Pacific Daylight Time, jlopez8182@satx.rr.com writes:

1. Mimi, thank you for the sites you recommended. Per your request, the following is the short story you recommend. It’s all I know regarding my paternal family name of Paredes. Just having begun on this family line, I’m having trouble getting details from family members. The main reason is that my tias and tios that may have helped are no longer living and living kin is unable or unwilling to assist. Sadly, I recently reached out to a potential information source in our family, without success.

2. Below is all I know of my Paredes family roots that for me begin in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. Our Paredes family has lived mostly in the Bordlerlands area between Del Rio and Brownsville, on both sides of the Rio Grande. Additionally, Dad also had extended family in Monterrey. They used to visit us very frequently when we were growing up in Laredo in the 1950s-60s.

3. My father, Juventino López, Sr., was born in 1910, in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas and died in 1975 in Laredo, Texas.

a. Dad’s mother: Sofia Paredes de López (married to Salvador López), both of Nuevo, Laredo, Tamaulipas.

b. Dad’s siblings: Sara (m. name Guardiola); Ofilia (m. name Jiménez?); Obdulia (m. name Stansel); Concepción (m. name Valdez), and Zulema (m. name Mora). My dad had only one brother (Juan) who was killed while a young man.)

c. Grandmother Sofia’s Parents: Fortunato and Santos Paredes.

d. Grandmother Sofia’s siblings: Otila, Tomasita, and Ramón Paredes. My Tia Otila married a Cantú or Antú and they lived in Nuevo Laredo. Her husband and sons were in law enforcement, maybe Mexican Federal Officers.

4. At this time, I’m devoting my efforts to my father’s maternal name of Paredes. Any help I get from Somos Primos readers and our good friends at LDS will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Saludos, Joe López
jlopez8182@satx.rr.com

	MIDDLE AMERICA
	250th Anniversary of the Founding of St. Louis Nancy V. "Rusty" Barcelo, Ph.D. First Mexican American at the University of Iowa Sent by Virginia Creager, Ph.D. Illinois Latino Voice: Talking Raza with Rita Hernandez, Ph.D.

250th Anniversary of the Founding of St. Louis
Speaker Series in Honor of the Founders of the Mercantile Library
St. Louis in its Golden Age, 1840—1880

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Sunday, June 1, 2:00 p.m.

"The Red and the White: The Saga of a Mixed-Race Family in the Nineteenth-Century"

After Alfred Jacob Miller, The Trapper’s Bride. Mercantile Library print collection.

The St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri St. Louis proudly presents St. Louis in its Golden Age, 1840—1880 a series of fourteen speakers over eighteen months exploring varied aspects of life in St. Louis and across the nation in this pivotal period of American history.

Andrew Graybill, Director of the William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL, and an award-winning author of Policing the Great Plains: Rangers, Mounties and the North American Frontier 1875-1910 will discuss The Red and the White: The Saga of a Mixed-Race Family in the Nineteenth-Century

Advance tickets are required: $10.00 for members, $12.00 for non-members. For tickets or information phone 314-516-7248. Light refreshments & reception with the speaker follows. Ample free parking in the West Drive Garage.
St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL
1 University Blvd., St. Louis MO 63121
http://www.umsl.edu/mercantile

NANCY V. "RUSTY" BARCELÓ (1946- ) PAPERS, 1946-2005
First Mexican-American to earn a doctoral degree from the University of Iowa

http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa/findingaids/html/BarceloRusty.htm

Barceló is credited as the moving force behind the National Initiative for Women in Higher Education (NIWHE). Since moving to Washington, she has chaired Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (MALCS) and the Washington State Native American Advisory Board (NAAB). Her honors include establishment of the Rusty Barceló Award at the University of Minnesota that honors faculty, staff and students who, through their own work on campus, foster multicultural community building. In 2004, Barceló received the Ohtli award, a special recognition presented by the Mexican government to Mexicans or Latinos whose work has benefited Mexicans living abroad.

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Biography Born in Merced, California on June 5, 1946, activist and administrator Nancy “Rusty” Barceló earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare and Corrections from Chico State University in 1969. Barceló arrived at the University of Iowa as a graduate student in 1970. In 1971 she and fellow students Antonio Zavalla and Ruth Pushetonequa founded the Chicano Indian-American Student Union (CIASU). Barceló earned her Master of Arts in Recreational Education in 1972. She left the University of Iowa to assume the position of Coordinator of Educational Opportunity Services at the University of Oregon from 1973 to 1975. After her time in Oregon, Barceló returned to the University of Iowa where, in 1980, she became the first Mexican-American to earn a doctoral degree from the university. Following her graduation, Barceló was hired by the University of Iowa, where she served as Acting Director of Affirmative Action (1982-1983), Director of Summer Session (1981-1987), Associate Director, Opportunity at Iowa, (1987-1994), Assistant Dean (1981-1995) and Assistant Provost, Opportunity at Iowa (1995-1996). From 1996 to 2001, Barceló was Associate Vice President for Multicultural Affairs and the Chair of the Chicana Studies Department at the University of Minnesota. She left that position in 2001 to become the Vice President for Minority Affairs and Diversity at the University of Washington in Seattle.		Iowa Women's Archives, 5 linear feet 100 Main Library University of Iowa Libraries Iowa City, Iowa 52242 Phone: 319-335-5068 Fax: 319-335-5900 E-mail the Iowa Women's Archives Please cite materials from this collection as follows: Nancy V. "Rusty" Barceló Papers, Iowa Women's Archives, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa. Collection Overview: Acquisition: The papers (donor no. 267) were donated by Rusty Barceló in 1999 and ensuing years. Access: The papers are open for research with the exception of: personal correspondence and personnel files in Box 17. Copyright: Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to the University of Iowa. Audiovisual: Eight audiocassettes are shelved in audiocassette collection (AC860-AC867). Photographs: In Boxes 13 and 14. Processed by: Sandi Solis, 2002 and Lisa Mott, 2005. [BarceloRusty.doc] Sent by Virginia Correa Creager, Ph.D.

Illinois Latino Voice: Talking Raza with Rita Hernandez, Ph.D.
Corpus Christi, Texas- May 2, 2014
Contact: Donreggie@aol.com
773-991-5916

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DR. RITA D. HERNÁNDEZ is no stranger to Chicago's Latina/o communities - where she had researched the history and documented of Mexican-origin pioneer leader's within Chicago's Latina/o history. She talks frankly about topics from college bound Latinas/os, i.e. Mexican-American history in Chicago and the country, to the documentation and preservation of Latina/o accomplishments. Dr. Hernandez converses with Illinois Latino Voice: be empowered, enlightened, and enriched!

Illinois Latino Voice: Tell us about your time documenting Chicago's Latina/o leaders and your projects in the late 1970's and early 1980's and how it caught the attention of local cultural institutions and college administrators, like the late Dr. Mirron Alexdandroff, former President of Columbia College Chicago?

Rita D. Hernandez: I attended Columbia College of Chicago as a part-timer because of its outstanding program in photography, where I took a couple of basic courses. After that semester I did a documentary, entitled "A Portrait of Eight Mexican Leaders." The focus was on eight Mexican Americans, representing different walks of life, all having ties to South Chicago, the oldest Mexican neighborhood in Chicago.

Included is Justino Cordero, a Mexican immigrant, who made South Chicago his new home. He worked at Carnegie/South

Works Steel Mill, who continued his education earning a Bachelor's degree and then taught special education after retirement from the steel mill. The second is Manuel Torres, who became disabled after a swimming accident, and became a tireless advocate for the handicapped. The third person, Commissioner Irene Hernandez, raised her children as a single mother, while working for the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

Judge David Cerda follows. He became the first appointed Judge of Mexican ancestry in Chicago. Next, I highlighted Peter Nuño, having had the first and longest running TV and radio programs in Spanish and English, discussing Latino Affairs in the Chicago land area. Bishop Placido Rodriguez, who had been the parish priest and pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe in South Chicago, the oldest Mexican Roman Catholic Church in the city, was also featured. Another is Dr. Beatrice Hernandez, a Franciscan nun and medical doctor, who happens to be my sister. Finally, the artist and educator in the Chicago Public Schools, I selected, is Vicente Mendoza, who created many murals by himself and with his students. Because the documentary was groundbreaking, being about the oldest Mexican neighborhood and its people, it was featured on several broadcasting programs where I was interviewed. It also became part of the first Hispanic Arts Festival at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

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The documentary was included in the Hispanic Arts Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. It was there that President Alexandroff saw it. He called me at home one morning and totally took me by surprise. I was asked to be on a committee with the Film Department Chairman, Jim Martin, who headed the distinguished group. Representatives from the Steel Workers Union, the Steel Mill, Dr. Kornblum, Professor at the University of Chicago, and some others whose name I do not recall were on the committee to write a proposal to create a new program of studies: Urban Studies. The results were that Columbia received a $250,000 grant. At the time, that was quite a sum of money. The film department made a movie called, "Wrapped in Steel," and featured South Chicago, its inhabitants and the steel mills and the blue collar community.

ILV: As a trained historian, what are your thoughts about how Latina/o historic figures from Roberto Clemente to Dr. Hector P. Garcia are represented by mainstream U.S. history circles? Roberto Clemente, websource: http://a.espncdn.com-photo credit as "Photograph By Louis Requena/MLB Photos/Getty Images") .

RDH: First of all, I do not believe that Roberto Clemente and Dr. Hector P. Garcia can be compared. One was a popular baseball player, who became a humanitarian, and was killed in a plane crash while en route to aid needy people after devastation occurred in their country. He was a noble human being. Dr. Garcia, on the other hand, was not popular and, in fact, hated by many in his hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas and elsewhere. Why? Well, at that time there was a great deal of overt discrimination against Mexican-origin people.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia, websource: http://www.montgomerynews.com "Photo credit: Dr. Héctor P. García Papers, Special Collections & Archives, Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi Bell Library.").

Dr. Garcia was addressing pressing issues veterans returning from WW II were experiencing. Because these veterans were Mexican, they were not given what they were entitled to, e.g. GI benefits, including access to veteran hospitals, their monetary benefits, proper housing, and, for that matter, refusal of service in restaurants.

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One case, that became a national outrage and written about in the New York Times, was the case of Pvt. Felix Longoria of Three Rivers Texas, a fallen soldier. His wife wanted her husband waked at the one local funeral parlor and buried in the local cemetery and was refused both because of his ethnicity.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia, founder of the American GI Forum in 1948, brought this issue to then Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, who arranged for a proper burial for Pvt. Longoria at Arlington National cemetery.

Private Felix Longoria, websource: http://interactive.wxxi.org (site lists photo credit as "Credit: Courtesy of Courtesy of the Hector P. Garcia Archives at Texas A&M University")

Nevertheless, the issue in Three Rivers, TX was never resolved. In the past few years there were several attempts to have the post office in Three Rivers, Texas named for Pvt. Felix Longoria, failing at each step. Later, a Mexican-origin woman bought the funeral home and gladly welcomed having a historical marker for the distinguished soldier placed on the grounds.

In a nutshell, Dr. Garcia was a powerful man who founded a national organization, fighting for the dignity and civil rights of a people, Mexicans, who had (and have to this day) suffered acutely in all the basic human rights and who have yet to receive justice and equality in this country. There are many cases documenting this fact.

ILV: With today's dependency on technology (online education, social media, etc.) how do you foresee new ways Latina/o communities across the nation will preserve our Latina/o legacy? As an educator, your thoughts about our college bound Latina/o student population? Are obstacles the same as it was in the 1990's?

RDH: Historically, the ways of communication have advanced from gatherings in pool halls, etc. to the radio, a very prominent method in the Mexican community even after the invention of the television. Nowadays, we have a highly technological world, communicating globally via social media to loved ones in other countries.

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However, what must be remembered is that mexicanos, a very traditional ethnic group, stay in contact via several generations. Abuelos and bisabuelos generally do not care to know about the latest technology. Thus, talking on the telephone still serves as the best method of communication in the extended family. Among the younger set, communication is likened to every other group of young people popularizing texting and facebook pages with all the other internet applications. Having internet at home in Mexican families is still as universally uncommon as mainstream America, although the trend is reversing slowly.
As for online education, not having a computer at home with internet access makes things more difficult. Generally speaking, Mexican origin students attend a junior college first for practical reasons. It's more inexpensive. Then, they will either attend a four-year institution or go to work, depending on their finances. These students do not like to acquire debt for their education, more of a pay as you go plan. This is in juxtaposition to many of the mainstream students, who graduate with a big debt looming over them for several years and sometimes, without the promise of a job. That is why we have the trend of many college graduates moving back home to save money. Often times, money-conscious mexicanos remain at home throughout their educational process.

As a continuation of the discussion of youthful mexicanos, I see an increase in being college-bound. However, they still tend to

attend two-year community colleges and trade schools. Not too many make it into the four-year universities. Our students do not receive the financial aid as readily as the racial minority, Blacks. Statistics in the census data will bear out that statement. Unfortunately, no matter how much is said about diversity and multiculturalism, this country is still predominantly view through a black and white prism, which is, of course, not at all true to reality. To substantiate that statement all one has to do is view primetime television shows. Simply count heads and you see. It is rare that a Latino, much less Mexican-origin actor is on the screen.

The Latino, when sparingly viewed, is, more often than not, a drug dealer or drug lord and/or gangbanger. The Latina is still a maid or prostitute, both stereotypes are portraying them as defenseless, submissive women. On the other hand, whites and blacks are doctors, lawyers, police chiefs, etc. How do you think our youth are envisioning their futures? I've had students tell me that they did not think they would reach 25 years of age. It's very disheartening. In a sense, the obstacles are only getting worse with INS roundups and the breakup of so many families due to the immigration policy and stance. At this point, I will add that Elvira Arrellano has become the face of the undocumented Mexican immigrant, not only in Chicago, but internationally. In spite of all of these obstacles, more students are completing the educational college ladder.

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Of course, there are more people than ever before living in the US, and that is what terrifies mainstream America. Our people are resilient and we come from indigenous warriors and conquistadores. We shall continue to struggle and eventually, venceremos. "It's in our blood," as Cheech Marin once said.

ILV: Are there any present Latina/o online projects or research initiatives that have caught your eye, or some that you have had an influence on -- or those evolving that have potential?

RDH: Now for the question of further research, what has yet to be linked is the connection between Dr. Hector P. Garcia and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There is more of a natural link than Cesar Chavez to Dr. King (not taking anything away from the great farm leader/organizer). First of all, both men carry the title of doctor, although Dr. Garcia is a medical doctor and Dr. King has a Doctor of Divinity degree. Both men advocated and struggled for justice and equality for their people through national organizations, in the case of Dr. Garcia as the founder of the American GI Forum March 26, 1948 in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Both men have a US savings bond in their name. In fact, Dr. Garcia is only Hispanic/Latino to have one. Both men have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Dr. Garcia was the first Mexican American to receive this honor. (Cesar Chavez also received one.)

Thus, one way for Dr. Hector P. Garcia to become recognized is by linking him to MLK. Other awards and recognition bestowed upon him were the Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca (Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle), Mexico's highest civilian award, bestowed posthumously on August 7, 1998 in Corpus Christi, TX. And the "Equestrian Order of Pope Gregory the Great" from Pope John Paul II in 1990, the highest Roman Catholic Award for a lay person. Dr. Garcia was the first Mexican American appointed as an Alternate U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations by President Johnson in 1967, who the following year appointed him as a Commissioner to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Several elementary schools are named for Dr. Garcia in Texas. However, the first high school to be named for him is in Chicago on UNO's Veterans Memorial Campus. There are other awards honoring this great humanitarian and activist. I simply wanted to point out a few of these honors. Further research will reveal a lot more.

Dr. Rita D. Hernandez with members of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia AMVETS Post #326 at a past Chicago's Veteran's Memorial School Campus Ceremony (June of 2009)

websource: http://www.somosprimos.com

RITA D. HERNÁNDEZ received her Ph.D. in Cultural & Educational Policy Studies from Loyola University of Chicago. She also obtained two M.A. degrees, one from Loyola University of Chicago and the other, from Northeastern Illinois University, with a B.A. from the University of Illinois Chicago. Throughout her life, she continues to advocate, develop, explore, and research on "Curriculum and Instruction"; "Cross-Cultural Communication"; "Educational Administration & Policy"; and "Spanish and Bilingual Education" via cultural programming, research projects, and school-community partnerships. Dr. Hernandez is currently living in the Coastal Bend of Texas and is a faculty member with the College of Education at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

ILV is dedicated in educating and promoting Latino Culture and History. Articles, pictures, video and film is welcome. Donreggie@aol.com.

EAST COAST

Mercedes Esposito Uses Her Store to Teach About The History Of The Incas
"The Battle of Bloody Mose" Commemoration, June 21-22, 2014, St. Augustine, Florida
New Jersey 'Mormon Prom' Draws Hundreds Of Teens For Celebration Of Modesty
LULAC and the Maru Montero Dance Company, 22nd Annual National Cinco de Mayo Festival
More than 60 pounds of gold were recovered from an infamous 157-year-old shipwreck

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Mercedes Esposito Uses Her Store to Teach About The History Of The Incas

A Latina-owned Connecticut business captured the attention of The Boston Globe this week. Mercedes Esposito’s Inka Arts, a retail shop carrying artisan jewelry, decorative arts, and cotton and alpaca apparel and accessories imported from Peru, was featured in The Globe’s “A Tank Away” column promoting Simsbury, Conn. as a tourist-friendly day trip destination. Esposito grew up in Lima, Peru. She eventually settled in Stamford and was inspired to start Inka Arts after a visit to Machu Picchu in 2008.

Sent by Dorinda Moreno pueblosenmovimientonorte@gmail.com

CT_LatinoMasthead2013_McCormick_700x134

SOURCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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"The Battle of Bloody Mose"
Commemoration

June 21-22, 2014

St. Augustine, Florida

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ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – May 16, 2014 – In the early morning hours of June 26, 1740, the village of Gracia Real Santa Teresa de Mose (mo-SAY), the first, legally sanctioned free black settlement in the continental U.S., became the site of the bloodiest battle in Florida’s part in the War of Jenkins’ Ear.

That day saw Florida’s Spanish soldiers, black militia, and native Yamassee auxiliaries locked in a “clash of empires” with invading English and Scottish troops from Georgia, a battle that culminated in desperate, hand-to-hand fighting as Fort Mose, St. Augustine’s northern-most defense, burned around them. The decisive Spanish victory at “Bloody Mose” was one of the factors that ended British Georgia’s invasion of Spanish Florida.

On Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22, 2014, Florida Living History, Inc., along with Fort Mose Historic State Park and the Fort Mose Historical Society, will host the fifth, annual Battle of Bloody Mose Commemoration. Now expanded to a two-day heritage Event, the award-winning Battle of Bloody Mose historical re-enactment will take place from 10AM to 3PM at Fort Mose Historic State Park – 15 Fort Mose Trail; St. Augustine, Florida; 32084. www.fortmose.org/

White, black, and Native American re-enactors and volunteers from across the state and the Southeast will participate in this Event, which will include: period weapons and tactics; period foodways; and more!

The National Park Service has named the annual Battle of Bloody Mose Commemoration as a Member Program of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom http://www.nps.gov/ugrr .

Photograph by John Alison

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Admission to this heritage Event is free. There is a Museum admission fee of $2.00 per adult; children age 5 and younger are free.

The Battle of Bloody Mose heritage Event is sponsored by the 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational Florida Living History, Inc., by Fort Mose Historic State Park, and by The Fort Mose Historical Society, in partnership with Viva Florida 500, the National Park Service, and with the support of volunteers from the Fort Mose Militia and other historical re-enactment groups. Financial support for this Event is provided, in part, by the Florida Humanities Council ( www.flahum.org/ ), the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the generosity of NTE Solutions ( www.ntesolutions.com/ ).

Founded in St. Augustine, Florida, in 2009, Florida Living History, Inc. (FLH), is a community based, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating the public about Florida's colonial and territorial history, using living-history programs, demonstrations, and recreated portrayals of significant historical events. FLH supports educational initiatives that promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Florida's, and America’s, rich and diverse heritage.

Florida Living History is a proud member of:
The City of St. Augustine’s “St. Augustine 450th Commemoration” Alliance http://staugustine-450.com/
The Florida Historical Society http://myfloridahistory.org/ The Florida Humanities Council www.flahum.org/
The St. Augustine Historical Society www.staugustinehistoricalsociety.org/

For more information on Florida Living History, Inc., please contact us Dr. Richard Shortlidge
Florida Living History, Inc.
E-mail: info@floridalivinghistory.org
Telephone: 877-FLA-HIST (877-352-4478)
us, toll-free, at 1-877-FLA-HIST (1-877-352-4478)!

Florida Living History, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the support of living history activities, events, and portrayals related to the history of colonial Florida. www.floridalivinghistory.org/

New Jersey 'Mormon Prom' Draws Hundreds Of Teens For Celebration Of Modesty

The Star-Ledger | by Janelle Griffith
5/14/2014

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(RNS)  Hundreds of teens from North Jersey gathered in Morristown on Saturday (May 10) for a night celebrating modesty — the eighth annual “Mormon Prom.” The event — open to any students ages 16 to 18, regardless of religious affiliation — was unlike most hosted by high schools across the state. For starters, its organizers traded a pricey venue for a transformed basketball court at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Morristown.

The prom was also free to attend, but under one stipulation: Teens were required to sign a pact agreeing to dress and behave modestly, to dance “appropriately” and to abstain from using alcohol or drugs.

“This prom is unique in that it emphasizes wholesome conduct and dress,” said Marcia Stornetta, director of public affairs for the Morristown Church of Latter-day Saints. But, she insists, it’s not at the expense of fun.

“There is no pressure to do anything immodest or reckless, like party or drink afterwards,” said Anna Jensen, a junior at Ramsey High School who attended the dance. “The music was clean and the dancing was also clean. Overall, it was just a group of kids, Mormon or not Mormon, that wanted to enjoy themselves without being influenced by what our modern society believes to be the norm.”

The nearly 300 students abandoned several conventional prom practices — including arriving in limousines and wearing expensive outfits. (Organizers encourage attendees to be modest in their spending as well.) Most were dropped off by their parents, and some of the girls swapped or borrowed dresses to keep down the cost.

Because some of the students came from long distances (students from New York and Connecticut have attended in the past) and were driven to the event, there was a “parents room” where adults could socialize during the prom.

Some students attend the Mormon Prom in lieu of their high school prom, while others, such as Anna, go to both. “They are both equally fun, but the standards for Mormon Prom are different than school prom,” Anna said.

“The standards that are given to the youth such as dancing without intimate contact, and listening to clean music, are all things that I choose to follow because they help keep me safe, as well as help me to enjoy the dance more without being distracted by things that really should not be the focus,” she said. Anna, who is Mormon, brought two friends who are Catholic to the dance.

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Matt Norton, 16, is a junior at Morristown High School and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Morristown. “I’m going to my school prom in May,” he said. “The types of dancing and music will be very different. It will be more inappropriate at the school prom.”

His takeaway from Saturday’s experience? “Girls still look good in modest dresses.”

The Mormon Prom began after Latter-day Saint students complained to their parents about the dances at their high schools. Cindy Manchester, of Pompton Plains, was a local Latter-day Saint youth leader in the Caldwell congregation who listened to several teens in her area, including her daughter, Danielle, raise concerns about the immodest dress, profanity, lewd behavior and excessive spending at their high school proms.

Manchester partnered with Heidi Elton, a youth leader from the Short Hills congregation, whose daughter shared the same concerns. The two mothers joined forces to create an alternative prom with a more wholesome environment. They went to their church leaders, who approved the plan, and the inaugural Mormon Prom was held in Morristown in 2006. The event is sponsored entirely by Mormon churches from across the state.

“The Mormon Prom values just help keep the focus of the dance on having fun and enjoying a good night out with friends,” Anna said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/14/new-jersey
-mormon-prom_n_5317349.html

Sent by Jan Mallet janmallet@verizon.net

LULAC and the Maru Montero Dance Company,
Successful 22nd Annual National Cinco de Mayo Festival
¡Feria de Salud!
May 6, 2014

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Washington, D.C. - On Sunday, on the National Mall, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Maru Montero Dance Company (MMDC) presented the annual National Cinco de Mayo Festival. More than 14,000 attended the Cinco de Mayo celebration. The event is in support of LULAC’s health education initiative, Latinos Living Healthy which is focused on addressing Latino health disparities in this country.

The Cinco de Mayo Festival also included live performances throughout the day which featured salsa, Mexican folk dancing, mariachis, and other dances. The children’s pavilion hosted arts and crafts where young people made piñatas, built dancing puppets, and played lotería (Mexican bingo) to win prizes.

With support from the Walmart Foundation, this particular Cinco de Mayo provided a unique opportunity for the Latino community to celebrate Latino culture with healthy food options, health screenings, physical activity, and free healthy cooking demonstrations --- all meant to raise awareness of the health disparities faced by Latinos.

Throughout the day, free HIV, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings; along with comprehensive weight assessment testing were offered. Celebrity Chef Daniel W. Thomas provided healthy cooking tips during live cooking demonstrations. Other highlights included exhibitors who distributed free information regarding preventable illnesses; and trained chiropractors who provided free services to the public.

“The obesity epidemic in this country is predominately among the underserved and minority communities,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “Our partnership with Walmart provides the opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of healthy living and provide access to critical resources to our community.”

“We are excited to be able to share a taste of Latino culture on the grounds of the National Mall, which is a very special place for all Americans and the world,” said Maru Montero, President of MMDC. “This is a day that all Latinos can show pride in our culture and give something back to the nation that is our home.”

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About MMDC: Founded in 1992, the Maru Montero Dance Company (MMDC) is the leading Latin dance company in the nation’s capital, performing Mexican folk, cha-cha, mambo, salsa, tango, and many other dances from Latin America. The company, founded by former Ballet Folklórico de México lead dancer Maru Montero, is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to promoting the joy and beauty of Latino culture in the United States. MMDC performs at venues around the district and offers a wide selection of Latin American dance programs. The company is supported by donations, fees for performances, the Mayor’s Office of Latino Affairs and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. On the web: marumontero.com.		About LULAC: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.

More than 60 pounds of gold were recovered from an infamous 157-year-old shipwreck off the coast of South Carolina and the deep-sea exploration company that retrieved it announced that there is plenty more down there.

http://news.yahoo.com/gold-ss-central-america-shipwreck-carolina-142546287.html
Yahoo News, May 6, 2014

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On April 15, the Odyssey Marine Exploration used a robot to recover nearly 1,000 ounces of gold during the first reconnaissance dive to the S.S. Central America shipwreck site in more than two decades.

The exploration was appointed by an Ohio court in an effort to retrieve the treasure for former investors who were defrauded in the original hunt.

The 280-foot wooden-hulled steamship, en route to New York from San Francisco, was carrying as much as 21 tons of gold ingots, freshly minted gold coins and raw gold from California mines when it sank in a hurricane in September 1857. The sinking triggered part of what historians say was the first U.S. financial crisis, known as the Panic of 1857. Most of the ship's 477 passengers — many of them gold prospectors — perished.

The ship now sits 160 miles off the coast of Charleston, S.C., 7,200 feet below the surface.

In 1988, a team led by Ohio engineer Tommy Thompson recovered about two tons of gold from the wreck, sparking a two-decade legal battle over the treasure. Facing federal charges, Thompson and his assistant, Alison Antekeier, fled a secluded Vero Beach, Fla., mansion where they had been living, paying their rent in cash. According to the Columbus Dispatch, the couple left behind $10,000 bands from stacks of bills, international phone cards and "a book that explains how

to assume a new identity." And, of course, one large treasure a mile and a half under the sea.

"We know that the wreck was only partially excavated, only about 5 percent of the site," Mark Gordon, Odyssey Marine Exploration president and chief operating officer, told Reuters. In March, the company was awarded an exclusive contract to conduct an archaeological excavation and recover the remaining cargo from the S.S. Central America.

The treasure recovered by the Odyssey last month includes "five gold ingots and two $20 Double Eagle coins (one 1857 minted in San Francisco and one 1850 minted in Philadelphia)." Estimated value: $1.2 million.

The April 15 dive “confirms for me that the site has not been disturbed since 1991, when I was last there," Bob Evans, the chief historian and scientist for the project, said in a press release.

The Odyssey's 41-person crew is expected to remain on site for up to five months. The value of the remaining treasure is about $85 million, Gordon said.

And according to the New York Times, that doesn't include "a cargo long rumored to be aboard the wreck: 15 tons of Army bullion." The secret shipment, detailed in a 1988 book about the wreck, “Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea," was meant to "shore up the faltering Northern industrial economy."

	AFRICAN-AMERICAN
	Black Airmen in World War II, 1941-1945

CUENTO

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Mimi, the Tuskegee Airmen were station at Oscoda Field during WW II. They were not allow to go into the small towns nearby, even in the 1960, no African American Airmen and their families were station there, because of no housing for Black families. I had trouble finding the Indian Grove camp ground photos, because the links I gave you would not open I found them and copied each photo individually.

http://lindquist.cul.columbia.edu/catalog?f%5Bsubject_geographic
__facet%5D%5B%5D=Mikado%20(Mich.)

http://lindquist.cul.columbia.edu/catalog/burke_lindq_042_0398

http://lindquist.cul.columbia.edu/catalog/burke_lindq_OS_1828

http://lindquist.cul.columbia.edu/catalog/burke_lindq_042_0399

http://lindquist.cul.columbia.edu/catalog/burke_lindq_042_0394

Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in northeastern Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The former base includes 4,626 acres (1,872 ha) located approximately two miles west of Lake Huron in the Charter Township of Oscoda, bordered by Van Ettan Lake, the Au Sable State Forest.

Rafael Ojeda

(253) 576-9547

rsnojeda@aol.com

BLACK AIRMEN IN WORLD WAR. 2, 1941-1945
By James A. Sheppard
South Portland, Maine

Prior to 1941, it was the policy of the U. S. War Department (Dept. of Defense) to maintain segregated military units in the Armed Forces. The few black infantry, cavalry, and artillery units that existed at that time in the army were commanded at the top ranks by white officers, with black officers relegated to the lower ranks. This system remained in force throughout World War I and World War II, with few exceptions.

In early 1941, before the USA entered WWII, the Army Air Corps was directed by President Roosevelt to train Black military personnel as airplane pilots and technicians to staff an all-black Pursuit (Fighter) Squadron, commanded by all-black officers and enlisted men, in preparation for combat. An airfield was constructed in Chehaw, Alabama, located six miles north of Tuskegee University, and named Tuskegee Army Air Field. The 99th Pursuit (Fighter) Squadron was activated, and trained there. In late 1942, three more squadrons were activated. They were the 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons, of the newly formed 332nd Fighter Group.

For full text, please go to: http://www.bjmjr.net/ww2/black_airmen.htm

	INDIGENOUS
	Photo: Dec. 1943: Navajo Indians, Southwest US, members of the 158th U.S. Infantry Cuento: Oscoda/Mikado Michigan Indians and Lindquist photos Tejano Indians Cuento: Alcatraz Prison, an Egyptian pyramid and an Arizona Native American sweat lodge, what do they have in common? by Mimi Lozano Dos registros correspondientes a Indios de la nación Comanche y Seminole.

Dec. 1943: American Navajo Indians from Southwest United States, members of the 158th U.S. Infantry, are seen on a beach in the Solomon Islands. They are in their traditional dress for a tribal ceremony at Christmastime. Left to right:
Pfc. Dale Winney, Gallup, N.M; Pvt. Perry Toney, Holbrook, Ariz.; Pfc. Joe Gishi, Holbrook; and Pfc. Joe Taraha, Gallup.

(AP Photo/U.S. Army Signal Corps). Sent by Don Milligan donmilligan@comcast.net

CUENTO
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Mimi, I was stationed at Wurtsmith AFB, (Michigan) on a B52 base, with a Fighter Unit tenant for the Air Defense Command during the cold war. I was there from 1959-1963, then returned and served from 19 64-67. My first ex-wife was from the Oscoda/Mikado Michigan, area, Her father is from the Chippewa-Saginaw Nation. Her mother from the Potawatomi Nation. My oldest three daughters are half Natives. I worked and helped the Native Veteran Warriors in the community. My daughter Kandy who lives in Mt Pleasant MI, sent me these links. Her Uncle John Silas (my ex-wife's brother) is included in the data of Oscoda/Mikado Michigan, where my three daughters were born. The Lindquist Native American Photos show how life was for our Native American throughout our country. http://lindquist.cul.columbia.edu/catalog?f%5Btopic_subject __facet%5D%5B%5D=Tipis http://lindquist.cul.columbia.edu/catalog?f%5Bsubject_ geographic__facet%5D%5B%5D=Mikado%20(Mich.) http://lindquist.cul.columbia.edu/catalog?f%5Btopic_subject__facet %5D%5B%5D=Indians%20of%20North%20America--Clothing		April 30, 1768 On this day in 1768, Gaspar José de Solís wrote in his diary of a striking encounter with a Tejas Indian woman in what is now Houston County. Fray Solís was inspecting missions for the College of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Zacatecas. His diary presents a valuable contemporary account of the missions, country, and Indians of Texas. The woman, Santa Adiva, held high status in her village. There, Solís writes, the inhabitants were nearly naked, "much painted with vermillion and other colors," and wearing beads and feathers. Solís states that the Indians were "great thieves and drunkards because whiskey and wine are furnished to them by the French." Santa Adiva, whose name was said to mean "great lady" or "principal lady" and who was accorded queen-like status, lived in a large, multi-room house, to which other Indians brought gifts. Solís reports that she had five husbands and many servants. Source: Texas Day by Day Recommended book: Texas & Northeastern Mexico, 1630-1690 by Juan Bautista Chapa, edited by William C. Foster. Published by the University of Texas Press, Austin, 1997 Considered the First Official History of Texas Appendex includes a translation of Alonso (the younger) de Leon's previously unpublished revised diary of the 1690 expedition to East Texas and an alphabetical listing of over 80 Indian tribes identified in the book.
	Rafael Ojeda (253) 576-9547 rsnojeda@aol.com

CUENTO

Alcatraz Prison, an Egyptian pyramid and an Arizona Native American sweat lodge,
what do they have in common?

by Mimi Lozano

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Alcatraz Island photo D Ramey Logan.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcatraz_Island

Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) offshore from San Francisco, California, United States.^[2] Often referred to as "The Rock", the small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison (1868), and a federal prison from 1933 until 1963.^[5] Alcatraz was America 's premier maximum- security prison, the final stop for the nation's most incorrigible inmates.

1971 Protesters During the Alcatraz Indian Occupation

Beginning in November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by a group of Aboriginal peoples from San Francisco who were part of a wave of Native activism across the nation with public protests through the 1970s.

The effects of the occupation were far reaching, including millions of acres of land being returned to Indian peoples as well as the establishment of 52 government policies supporting American Indians and Indian tribes.

In 1972, Alcatraz became a national recreation area and received designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Today, the island's facilities are managed by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area; it is open to tours.

http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/rs1.htm http://www.travelthruhistory.tv/behind-bars-historic-alcatraz/

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One evening, I passed by my husband as he watched a TV program on Alcatraz. For those unfamiliar with Alcatraz, it’s an island prison located right in the middle of the San Francisco harbor. It has a reputation for housing the most dangerous criminals in California. There was even a movie with Bert Lancaster, The Bird Man of Alcatraz. Although within view of both the cities of San Francisco and Oakland the choppy turbulent waters of the bay made Alcatraz one of the most difficult prisons from which to escape.

Being raised primarily in California, I had visited San Francisco many times, but had never taken a tour of Alcatraz. During one trip up north, my husband and I decided to do so. It was fascinating. On that day the air was fresh and breezy, the sun bright and cheery. Along the edge of the shoreline, are rugged slippery rocks. There there are patches of grass on the island, and some attempts at landscaping. It was hard to image the life of the prisoners.

The view of the harbor, open seas, buildings and bridges, cars and people, all that life, and there they were, locked-up, most for life. The buildings were constructed of hewed out blocks of rocks. It looks like a fort.

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We joined with other tourists, walking through the buildings, kitchen, laundry, sleeping cells, and lastly peeked in to an isolation cell. The isolation cell was a large room, with no windows. It was intended as a just punishment for the most violent, uncontrollable prisoners. It was dark, the walls themselves looked black. I don’t know if the walls were painted black, to add to the darkness, or the walls were black from time, moss and the dankness of the room. It made me think of the dungeons described in the Old Testament.

The tour guide asked if anyone would like to try it out. I thought, that would be interesting, cheerfully I stepped forward. No one else did. I walked to the center of medium-size room, and calmly waited for the door to shut. With the click of the lock came a darkness, so profound, thick and heavy, it almost felt like the air had a life of its own and was wrapping around me. I had never experienced such emptiness of light.

The blackness overwhelmed me. I was gripped with an overwhelming sense of fear. It was totally logical, but intensely real. The hair on my arms stood up. My husband was on the other side of the door. I knew I was not in danger. The door could open, just as easily, as it had been closed. There was nothing to be feared, but the emotion overpowered me.

Strangely, I felt unprotected standing in the middle of the room. I was irrational, I was afraid. Why? Protected from what? I walked in myself. I was alone. Slowly, I backed up in the darkness, until my hands touch the hard, uneven, rocky wall. I waited, motionless. When the door opened, I found myself pressed against the back wall, both arms outstretch to my sides. Stunned by the light, it took me a moment to snap out of the experience and walk towards the open door. The tour guide looked a little concerned. He stepped in and took me by the hand. My husband’s looked puzzled. I simply did not know what I experienced. I was blank.

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As I reminded my husband about my Alcatraz incident, he muted the sound on the television, and he said, “Don’t you remember Egypt?”

"Egypt, Yes," I responded. "In some ways, it was a similar experience, intense emotion, with no logic in my behavior.

Thirty years ago, In the mid-1980s, we traveled to the Middle East, not on any tour. It was quite an interesting experience, meandering around on our own.

In Cairo, one of the Giza pyramids had been pierced. The inner chambers had been excavated to a large hall in which royal mummies had been found. The passageway to reach the hall was steep steps, low head room and very narrow, barely room for one. My husband was not interested in walking the number of steps indicated, nor crouching down the length of the climb.Just then, a bus load with tourists had arrived to take the tour. I decided to hurry before the crowd. I figured I could get up to the hall, enjoy viewing it by myself, and after the tour group entered, I would leave. I rushed to climb the steep stairs, taking them as quickly as I could. I reached the large door opening, and walked in.

Khufu Inner Passage
This photo is the closest to what it felt like. However, It looks like wood is over the steps. Probably a more recent solution to protect wear and tear on the steps.

What happened next caught me off guard. I am really not prone to hysteria. I welcome new experiences, especially new cultural information.

As in Alcatraz, when I entered the hall in the pyramid, I was also alone here.

The chamber was large, well lit, the walls had some drawings. As I stood there alone, just beginning to search out the art, I suddenly felt as if I were choking, suffocating. It was a horrible sensation.

I felt as if I would die if I didn’t get out ro breathe air. The tour group was just entering, most were still on the steps trying to get into the chamber. They were coming in, and I was going out. I am not prone to hysterics nor rudeness, but, I was so full of dread. I thought that I was going to die for lack of oxygen.

I went running out, pushing past the tour group trying to enter, elbowing my way out, squeezing past anyone blocking my way. "Please, please, I have got to get out." Holding on to the banister, I was skipping steps, trying to get to fresh air. I was still shaking when I reached my husband.

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"So that was twice, my husband said, comfortably sitting in front of the TV." "And," I responded. " there was one more time." He looked surprised. I realized I had not told my husband about another incident, which had taken me years to fully understand. We were vacationing in Arizona. We stopped to get some gas in an isolated spot. My husband stepped into the small store to buy a few things. On the premises there was what appeared to be an Indian sweat hogan. It was round, small, low, made of natural materials, and cut down, recessed in the ground. I peered in and could see the remains of wood chards in a fire pit, still apparently in use. “Oh, I thought, what fun, a real Native American ceremonial structure.” As soon as I stepped down into it, I realized I had made a mistake. I could hear a male voice in my head yelling at me to get out. Get out, he said! The voice was angry, very angry. It was quite clear that I had no right to be inside of that structure, and I had better get out right away. I was made to understand that the site was considered sacred by him and others, and I had better leave immediately. The hair on the back of my neck rose. I jumped out instantly, wide-eyed and humbled. It happened so quickly. We drove quietly for an hour or more, before I said anything to my husband. Feeling fear in the darkness of Alcatarz, and suffocating in a pyramid was one thing, but to hear a voice in my head, was another thing altogether.		I tried to find a photo of a Sweat Lodge that looked like what I remembered. This was the closest, but tall high. Also, the covering must have been brought in when used, because intertwined branches formed the exterior. There was a part of a blanket somewhat covering the door.

		Also, I stepped down. The interior was more shaped like this, but the levels were dug out of the dirt.

Sweat lodge trial fuels Native American frustrations

I have done lots of reading trying to understand the spiritual realm. I know an after-life exists. Our loved ones are just in a different location. However, the energies of some departed souls, it appears, remain attached to the earth realm, especially where intense emotions were concentrated.

I was quite awed by the presence of a guardian of the Native American site. The rituals and ceremonies of all groups, should be respected. There is unseen power, a spiritual power. Passed on through tribe elders, the ancient sweat lodge ceremony is still sacred to Native Americans.

Del libro de bautismos de la Iglesia Parroquial de la Villa de Santa Rosa María de Múzquiz, Coah. les transcribo dos registros Correspondientes a Indios de la nación Comanche y Seminole.

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Márgen izq. Junio 13 de 1850. María de 19 años. Yndia de la Nación Comanche. No.50

En la Yglesia Parroquial de la Villa de Santa Rosa Ma. de Muzquiz á los trece dias del mes de Junio de mil ochocientos cincuenta. Yó el Presvitero Juan Nepomuceno de Ayala Cura propio de esta Villa y su jurisdiccion. Baptizé solemnemente puse los Santos Oleos y Sagrado Chrisma á una Yndia de la Nacion Comanche, Adulta de diez y nueve años de la casa del Sor. Coronel Dn. Francisco de Castañeda Comandante Militar de la Colonia Militar de Sn. Vicente: fueron sus padrinos Dn. Amarante Ximenez y Da. Adelaida Elizondo; aquienes advertí su obligacion y parentesco espiritual y para que conste lo firmé. Juan Nep°. de Ayala.

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Márgen izq. Abril 28 de 1854. José Diego de un mes quince dias de nacido. No. 45.

En la Yglesia Parroquial del Valle de Santa Rosa Ma. del Sacramento á los veinte y ocho dias del mes de Abril de mil ochocientos cincuenta y cuatro. Yó el Presvitero Juan Nepomuceno de Ayala Cura propio de este y su jurisdiccion baptizé solemnemente puse los Santos Oleos y Sagrado Chrisma á José Diego de un mes quince dias de nacido hijo de Juana de la Cruz, Yndia de la tribu Seminole, fueron sus padrinos Manuel Flores y Ma. Nasaria Flores aquienes advertí su obligacion y parentesco espiritual y para que conste lo firmé. Juan N. de Ayala.

Investigó y paleografió. Tte. Corl. Intdte. Ret. Ricardo R. Palmerín Cordero.
Miembro de Genealogía de México y de la Sociedad de Genealogía de Nuevo León.
registros correspondientes a Indios de la nación Comanche y Seminole.

	SEPHARDIC
	Castrillo Matajudíos, Spain After living with the name for more than 500 years, the village of Castrillo Matajudíos (Castrillo Kill the Jews) looks set for a change. In April the 60 residents of the village in northern Spain voted on a proposal put forward by the mayor, Lorenzo Rodríguez, to revert to what is believed to be its original name, Castrillo Mota de Judios (Castrillo Jews Hill).

Castrillo Matajudios

The village of Castrillo Matajudíos, in northern Spain.

It apparently acquired this name in 1035 when Jews fleeing a pogrom in a nearby village took refuge on the hill. "The people of [nearby] Castrojeriz took up arms against the king's emissaries, killed five of them and 66 Jews, while the rest were banished to Castrillo, which became known as the Mota de los Judios," the mayor told the local newspaper Diario de Burgos.

After Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, "someone wrote that now we're more Christian and decided to change the name from Jews' Hill to Kill the Jews," Rodriguez said, adding that it was important for people to understand "our roots" before reaching a decision on the name.

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There is a local tradition in the Castilla León region of drinking matar judios – a mix of wine and lemonade – on Good Friday. Matarjudios still exists as a surname, as does the more common Matamoros (Kill the Moors). The patron saint of Spain, Saint James of Compostela, is also known as Saint James the Moorslayer. Legend has it that his disciples brought his relics in a stone boat from the Holy Land to Galicia, in north-west Spain.

This was about 100 years after Muslims conquered Spain. Saint James became the symbol of the Christian re-conquest, which lasted 800 years and ended in 1492 with the fall of Granada and the expulsion of Jews. Muslims were expelled shortly afterwards.

As the announcement from Castrillo Matajudíos came during the first days of the Passover holiday, there was no immediate response from Spain's Jewish leadership. But a Jewish American who has lived in Spain for many years but preferred not to be named told the Guardian the debate reflected an entrenched historical anti-semitism in Spain.

"Frankly it doesn't surprise me that there's a village called Kill the Jews, though it's pretty disgusting that it's taken them till now to think it might be a good idea to change it. There's a casual racism in Spain that no one here seems to notice but which is quite shocking to an outsider. People say 'he's a bit of a Jew' and stuff like that and no one seems to notice. Plus Spain is in complete denial about its Jewish and Muslim history."

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Jews arrived in Spain 2,000 years ago, and until the rise of the Inquisition in the Middle Ages Spain had one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe. They were tolerated by the Romans but persecuted by the Christian Visigoths who conquered Roman Spain. The Visigoths introduced forced conversion as early as the 7th century.

As a result, when the Muslims invaded in 711 they were embraced by the Jews who helped them to drive out their Visigothic oppressors. A period of religious tolerance, unheard of anywhere else in Europe, ensued, with Muslims, Christian and Jews living in relative harmony.

However, the plague that swept across Europe in the 14th century was widely blamed on the Jews and in 1391 there were pogroms in all of Spain's major cities, leading to an exodus and mass conversion to Christianity.

Today there are only about 12,000 Jews in Spain, compared with 290,000 in the UK and 478,000 in France.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/14/spain-castrillo
-matajudios-kill-the-jews-name-change

	ARCHAEOLOGY
	Christopher Columbus' flagship, the Santa Maria believed found on a Caribbean reef Scientists Find Neanderthals Not Less Intelligent Than Modern Humans, by BIan Sample One of science’s greatest mysteries deepens: Did humans kill off Neanderthals?

Christopher Columbus' flagship, the Santa Maria believed found on a Caribbean reef

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More than 500 years after Christopher Columbus abandoned his Santa Maria on a Caribbean reef, an underwater archaeologist believes he may have discovered the ship's remains off Haiti's north coast.

“All the geographical, underwater topography and archaeological evidence strongly suggests that this wreck is Columbus’s famous flagship, the Santa Maria,” Barry Clifford, who led a recent expedition to the site, told London's Independent.

The possible discovery of the Santa Maria comes more than a decade after an expedition led by Clifford in 2003 located the wreckage and photographed it, but did not know what it was. Since then, the team has investigated more than 400 "seabed anomalies" off the north coast of Haiti, narrowing the search area.

“The Haitian government has been extremely helpful," Clifford said. "And we now need to continue working with them to carry out a detailed archaeological excavation of the wreck."

In 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain, captaining the Santa Maria in search of a new western route to Asia. The expedition reached the Bahamas, but Columbus was forced to abandon the ship after it accidentally ran aground. In January 1493, Columbus returned to Spain with the two remaining ships, the Nina and the Pinta, to inform King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of the wreck and his discovery.

Clifford and his dive team used marine magnetometers, side-scan sonar equipment, and information in Columbus's diary to help locate what they think is the lost vessel, sitting 10 to 15 feet below the surface.

Barry Clifford says the wreck is in the right place and is the right size. A cannon of 15th century design found at the site is the "smoking gun," he says. Evidence is "very compelling," says an archaeological expert.

(CNN) -- Is a sunken shipwreck off Haiti the long-lost remains of the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus' flagship from his first voyage to the Americas?

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Underwater explorer Barry Clifford, who led a team that found and investigated the wreck, says he's confident it is.

"Every single piece fits. Now, of course, we have to go through the whole archeological process, and we plan to do that within the next few months, but I feel very confident that we've discovered the site," he told CNN.

"This is the ship that changed the course of human history," Clifford said. If the claim is confirmed, it would go down as one of the most significant underwater archaeological discoveries ever. "It is the Mount Everest of shipwrecks for me," said Clifford, 68.

But it isn't a new find for him. Clifford's announcement involves a wreck he and his team investigated in 2003. A cannon was found as part of the wreck. But, Clifford told CNN, archaeologists at the time "misdiagnosed" the cannon.

Two years ago, after having researched the type of cannon used in Columbus' time, "I woke up in the middle of the night and said, 'Oh my God,' " Clifford told CNN. He realized the 2003 find might have been the one.

A couple of weeks ago, he returned to the wreck with a group of experts. The team measured and photographed the ship. But some items, including the cannon, had been looted from the ship in the intervening years, Clifford said.

The ship "still has attributes that warrant an excavation to determine the site's identity," archaeologist Charles Beeker of Indiana University said Tuesday. "Barry may have finally discovered the 1492 Santa Maria."

The evidence, Beeker said, is "very compelling." The ship was found in the exact area where Columbus said the Santa Maria ran aground more than 500 years ago, Clifford said. The wreck is stuck on a reef off Haiti's northern coast, 10 to 15 feet beneath the water's surface.

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Clifford plans to go back to Haiti next month to meet with authorities and decide what steps to take next.

Wrecked in 1492 : It was the flagship of Columbus' small fleet that set sail from Spain in August 1492 under the sponsorship of King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I.

The voyage aimed to find a westward route to China, India and the gold and spice islands of the East. But the land the sailors set eyes on in October 1492 was an island in the Caribbean.

Among the islands on which Columbus set foot was Hispaniola, which is divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Columbus established a fort in Haiti.

That December, the Santa Maria accidentally ran aground off the island's coast. Some planks and provisions from the wrecked ship, which was about 117 feet (36 meters) long, were used by the garrison at the fort, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Columbus set off back to Spain with the two remaining ships, the Nina and the Pinta, in January 1493.

Archaeological study needed: Archaeologists will have to excavate and examine the ship found off Haiti in order to determine whether it is, in fact, the Santa Maria.

Most of the ship is in shape and will be possible to excavate with the help of the Haitian government, said Clifford, who made a name for himself salvaging pirate ships off the coasts of Cape Cod and Madagascar.

His team has used sophisticated metal detectors and sonar scans to study the remains. The ship is the right size, he said, and stones found at the site match the kind from the part of Spain where the ship was built.

"I don't think any of us should take for granted what has been written," Clifford said. "This is a tremendous touchstone to that period in time. We don't know what secrets are going to be held on the ship."

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/13/world/americas
/christopher-columbus-santa-maria/

Sent by John Inclan fromgalveston@yahoo.com
and Dorinda Moreno pueblosenmovimientonorte@gmail.com

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Neanderthals Were Not Less Intelligent Than Modern Humans, Scientists Find

April 30, 2014
The Guardian

Neanderthal and modern human skulls, Sabena Jane Blackbird/Alamy,

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Scientists have concluded that Neanderthals were not the primitive dimwits they are commonly portrayed to have been.

The view of Neanderthals as club-wielding brutes is one of the most enduring stereotypes in science, but researchers who trawled the archaeological evidence say the image has no basis whatsoever.

They said scientists had fuelled the impression of Neanderthals being less than gifted in scores of theories that purport to explain why they died out while supposedly superior modern humans survived.

Wil Roebroeks at Leiden University in the Netherlands said: "The connotation is generally negative. For instance, after incidents with the Dutch Ajax football hooligans about a week ago, one Dutch newspaper piece pleaded to make football stadiums off-limits for such 'Neanderthals'."

The Neanderthals are believed to have lived between roughly 350,000 and 40,000 years ago, their populations spreading from Portugal in the west to the Altai mountains in central Asia in the east. They vanished from the fossil record when modern humans arrived in Europe.

The reasons for the demise of the Neanderthals have long been debated in the scientific community, but many explanations assume that modern humans had a cognitive edge that manifested itself in more cooperative hunting, better weaponry and innovation, a broader diet, or other major advantages.

Roebroeks and his colleague, Dr Paola Villa at the University of Colorado Museum in Boulder, trawled through the archaeological records to look for evidence of modern human superiority that underpinned nearly a dozen theories about the Neanderthals' demise and found that none of them stood up.

"The explanations make good stories, but the only problem is that there is no archaeology to back them up," said Roebroeks.

Villa said part of the misunderstanding had arisen because researchers compared Neanderthals with their successors, the modern humans who lived in the Upper Palaeolithic, rather than the humans who lived at the same time. That is like saying people in the 19th century were less intelligent than those in the 21st because they didn't have laptops and space travel.

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"The evidence for cognitive inferiority is simply not there," said Villa. "What we are saying is that the conventional view of Neanderthals is not true." The study is published in the journal Plos One.

So what did kill off our equally intelligent extinct cousins? Roebroecks said that the reasons must have been complex, and that recent genetic studies that have decoded the Neanderthal genome might reveal some clues. Those studies show that Neanderthals lived in small, fragmented groups, and interbred to some extent with modern humans. Some of their inbred male offspring were infertile. The arrival of modern humans may simply have swamped and assimilated them.

"Stereotypes help people to order their world, but the stereotype of the primitive Neanderthal is now gradually eroding, at least in scientific circles," said Roebroecks.

Ian Sample has been a science correspondent for the Guardian since 2003. Before that, he was a journalist at New Scientist and worked at the Institute of Physics as a journal editor. He has a PhD in biomedical materials from Queen Mary's, University of London

Source: Portside

One of science’s greatest mysteries deepens: Did humans kill off Neanderthals?

By Nick Stockton@StocktonSays

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Sometime in the late Pleistocene period, humans and Neanderthals are believed to have lived together. Only one species still exists, and people who study human pre-history have battled for decades over the reasons why.

One of the more popular theories is that modern humans migrating out of Africa killed off the Neanderthal, because the humans were cognitively and technologically superior. Authors of a new study, however, say this theory is built on a false premise, and that there is no archaeological evidence to back it up. They say that Neanderthal extinction was more nuanced, possibly inolving climate change, male sterility, and interbreeding with encroaching cousins from Africa.

Co-authors Paula Villa and Wil Roebroeks, respectively of the University of Colorado and Leiden University in the Netherlands, surveyed over 368 peer-reviewed papers, theses, and books. They believe the result is the most complete survey of archaeological evidence about Neanderthals compiled to date.

“There had been people who examined this particular aspect, but there has not been a systematic review like we have done,” Villa told Quartz. The reason, she says, is because many publications are in different languages: She and her co-author had to translate papers from French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese to compile their research.

“No other ancient people have aroused more controversy and confusion over the last century and a half than have the Neanderthals,” writes Daniel O’Neil, professor emeritus of anthropology at Palomar College in California. With that in mind, here is what we know about one of our closest dead relatives.

The story begins around 350,000 years ago, when the first Neanderthals evolved from a hominid species called Homo heidelbergensis that lived in Africa, Europe, and west Asia. Many scientists believe that heidelbergensis is the shared ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans.

Neanderthals were adapted to cold weather, though they never migrated north of 50 degrees latitude, where the great glaciers rested. Over the course of their 300,000 years of existence, Neanderthals ranged from the tip of the Iberian peninsula to the Altai Mountains in southern Siberia. They made it as far south as Israel, but never into Africa. At its peak, their population was probably around 70,000.

Here are the sites where archaeologists have found evidence of Neanderthals.Wikipedia/120

A

A generalized version of the Out-of-Africa theory of early human migration. National Geographic.What happened next brings us to the current debate: Did humans bring about the extinction of Neanderthals. And if so, how?

In one corner are researchers like Pat Shipman, professor emerita of anthropology at Pennsylvania State University, who believes humans replaced Neanderthals by outcompeting —one top predator taking out another in the battle for resources. “There’s no way you can put another apex predator in that ecosystem and not wreak havoc,” she told Quartz.

http://qzprod.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/ooamap.png?w=640&h=395

Their decline began around 40,000 years ago, which is around the same time Homo sapiens from Africa were settling Eurasia. As with all things pertaining to pre-history, the details of this migration are a minefield of differing opinions, but here one of the more popular prevailing theories:

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As evidence, she points to things like superior weaponry and comparatively modern tools found at human settlements, and the domestication of a dog-like animal that may have helped humans hunt and protect their food from other predators, like wolves. “If you kill one mammoth, you can live on that all winter, if you can keep the other predators off,” she says. Having a barking alarm system that is incredibly territorial, she says, would be incredibly helpful.

However, Villa says this is all conjecture, and that the archaeological evidence does not support it. One of the problems, she says, is that the last Neanderthal settlements that have been found are from periods long before the early human settlements that have been found in Eurasia. “The idea of inferiority is because people were comparing the record of Neanderthals with their successors,” she says.

Of course you’d expect to find a cumulative advancement in technology, she says, but this is not evidence that humans were smarter. “You can compare the performance of an early 20th century Model-T Ford with the performance of present day Ferrari,” says Villa. “But, there is no reason to say that Henry Ford was cognitively inferior to Enzo Ferrari.”

When she’s not rocking the paleoarcheological boat, Villa studies ancient human sites in South Africa. The sites she studies happen to be from the same time period as the

Neanderthals. In the African sites, she says humans were using tools, weaponry, and adornments similar enough in function to their genetic cousins far to the north.

She says she doesn’t completely rule out the theory that humans killed off the Neanderthals, but asserts that there isn’t enough evidence to support this as the prevailing theory. Instead, she says the die-off was probably more nuanced.

For instance, as glaciers advanced and retreated, they would have left behind a geographically fragmented population that would be more susceptible to natural threats than if they were more connected. Neanderthals could have also been assimilated through breeding. They point to genetic discoveries made in 2010 that show that people from Europe and parts of Asia can have DNA that is up to 4% Neanderthal. Similar to mules, male Neanderthals who were the children of mixed couplings could have been sterile, which would lead to low Neanderthal birth rates.

Given the tenacity of their opponents, it’s unlikely that this will end the war of ideas about Neanderthal extinction, but it will probably change the battlefield. “We don’t think we have the definitive answer,” says Villa. “But we can’t be easily ignored.”

Share ths: http://qz.com/204 161

Sent by Dorinda Moreno and John Inclan

			MEXICO
			The Genealogy of Mexico by Gary Feliz The Guadalajara Census Project (1791-1930) by Rodney D. Anderson, Director Redes sociales despiertan el interés por la genealogía entre mexicoamericanos El primer matrimonio del Señor General Defensor de la Patria Don Gerónimo Treviño Leal. Libro de bautismos de la Cd. de México de " San Pedro Regalado"

Editor Mimi: Garcy Felix has mounted one of the most outstanding websites for Mexican genealogy.

WONDERFUL RESOURCES, pedigrees, history, surname information, and many, many links.
Do check it out !!!! You will be fascinated.

http://garyfelix.tripod.com/index16.htm

The Guadalajara Census Project (1791-1930)
by Rodney D. Anderson, Director
rdanderson@fsu.edu

Some of you will be familiar with the Guadalajara Census Project from our presentation at the 21^st annual Conference on Hispanic Genealogy & History at Corpus Christi in September 2000. And no few of you answered the call for letters of support when we requested continued funding from the U. S. National Endowment for the Humanities.[1] We received that renewal and letters of support from your member played a role in that success. We published a CD six years later. Our final publication, a DVD (whose home page you see below), appeared at the end of 2010.

Contents of the DVD. Besides the census databases, the DVD includes essays on the history of Guadalajara and its population censuses, as well as scanned copies of historical maps, photos from the era, and a number of interesting documents including many of the original census manuscripts that are found in the database.[2] We provide tutorials and guides in order to make the data available to users with little or no background in computer-based history or training in statistics. In addition, the DVD includes three essays designed specifically for family historians and genealogists.

Essays for Family Historians and Genealogists. First, there are two essays explaining how to search for individuals in the two software programs necessary to use our data--SPSS and Excel. Admittedly, outside of academia and government agencies, SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) is less common. But Excel is fairly common and should be available to most users. The DVD also provides a 32 page “Guide for Genealogists and Family Historians.” The purpose of this essay is to both explain how we transcribe the census information (our assumptions and reasoning) and to provide the historical context for the lives of individuals found in the database.

Guide for Genealogists. The genealogy guide includes a brief history of the era (longer histories are available elsewhere in the DVD), and a detailed explanation of the major variables (residence types, street names, individual names, ethnicity, social status, etc.). Graphic illustrations are taken from the original documents, such as the following graphic, taken from the 1821 census manuscript for district 18.

Note that the example above contains the following information: Street name and orientation on that street, the specific address (The first household is listed at Letter A, likely a room off a main courtyard. Number 1 is the address for the second household. The other columns are Nombres (names); Calidad (race or ethnicity); Edad (age); Oficio (occupation--the head of the first household is a painter); Origen (place of origins, likely meaning place of previous residence but could also mean birthplace. “De esta” means born in Guadalajara); Recidencia (meaning years in residence in the city for those not born in Guadalajara); and Estado (marital status). (Unfortunately, only one other district gave the years in residence, although a rough index is provide for 1821-22 based on birthplaces of any children in a family.)

In addition, a very important piece of information is the presence or lack of the honorific “don or doña, (the “Da” in front of the first five names in household number two). The head of that household is a widow (viuda). Her children’s surname is Gil, that of her deceased husband. She also has three servants. The last member of the household is labeled “Spanish” and works as a scribe (“escribiente”). He emigrated from the northern state of Coahuila and has lived in the city for a year.

In the Guide for Genealogists, we also include detailed discussions of ethnicity, race, given names and surnames because these topics are of considerable interest to family historians. We also spend a good bit of time talking about occupation, and provide an English translation of occupational titles from that era.

The Database for vols. 1 and 2. Overall, the combined two volumes contain information on 145,449 individuals. Volume 1 (the censuses of 1821 and 1822) has 56,572 individuals living in 12,685 families and 10,255 households. It also includes 717 persons living in monasteries, convents, hospitals, jails and charity houses. Volume 2 has 88,877 individuals living in 16,324 families and 15,899 households, with 630 persons living in monasteries, convents, hospitals, jails and charity houses.

Just how many of that number are the same person who appears in different censuses, we have no way of knowing. In the one case where we did attempt to trace the same individuals to two separate censuses (1821 and 1822), we found only about one quarter in both counts. This confirmed what we had suspected—that there was considerable short-term population movement into, and out of, the city. Therefore, even though you might be looking for relatives whom you know to have lived in one of the many towns and villages of the countryside, it is possible that they might be found living in Guadalajara at any point of time. Children frequently spent time living with relatives apart from their parents, and many adults sought work in the city during seasonal reduction in agricultural work.[3]

The following is a brief discussion of the censuses’ database found in vols. 1 and 2.

The “Military” Census of 1791. The “military” census of 1791 is an accurate count of all Spanish, Mestizo and Castizo males in the city, as those were the only groups “eligible” for military service. But of the 14,367 individuals listed in the census, only a small percent gave personal data for women, indios, mulattoes or blacks, and only for those who lived in the household containing the eligible males.[4] The following graphic is the first page of the census, featuring the inhabitants of the Royal Palace located in the Plaza Mayor.

The Census of 1821. The census of 1821 is the most complete census in either volume; 23 out of 24 districts are accounted for.[5] It is a marvelous census by any comparison and noted, among other things, for one of the few nineteenth century population counts anywhere that accurately list, by name, children under the age of five. It also contains place of birth for approximately two-thirds of the city’s residents, and ethnicity for approximately half of all inhabitants, nearly the last time that one finds calidad (the era’s official term for ethnicity and race) in official Mexican government documents in the nineteenth century. While the database is “searchable,” we have also included scanned copies of many of the original manuscripts. From the location data in the database, you would be able to trace any particular individual to the actual household in which they lived, as recorded by the census taker on the original census manuscript.

Single Districts for 1811, 1843 and 1850. After the 1821 census, the portion of actual population listed in our database varies considerably. First, three single districts for 1811, 1843 and 1850 are not even listed in the title of volume two, as they are the only districts included in our database for those years.

The Census of 1813-14. The census of 1813-14 (8,489 individuals) include only about a fourth of the city’s districts but is interesting because it was taken during the Mexican independence insurgency at the order of the Constitutional Convention in Spain, whose efforts to appease the rebels included doing away with racial divisions in favor of calling all but mulattoes as “Spanish” or “Spanish Citizens.” In the graphic below, the head of household and spouse are labeled “Spanish citizen,” meaning they were born in Spain. Their children are simply labeled “Spanish,” meaning they were born in Mexico.

The graphic is taken from cuartel 10, a historically interesting district. It was settled by Indians from central Mexico, who supported the Spanish during a sixteenth century uprising of the western Indians and were rewarded with land to the south of the newly established city of Guadalajara. The town, called Mexicalcingo, was incorporated into Guadalajara in the latter eighteenth century, and today the deep ravine that once separated the town from the city has been filled in.

The Censuses of 1822 and 1824. Our database for the population counts of 1822 (21,804, in vol. 1) and 1824 (12,402, in vol. 2) contains something close to 85 percent of the official census figure for 1823 (40,272). Taken in conjunction with 1821, they present an excellent opportunity to locate ancestors whom you might believe to have lived in the Guadalajara area during the early years of Mexican independence. Again, because of the high mobility of that era, one would expect to find individuals (and families) living in the city whose permanent residence or birthplace might be in the small towns and villages of the region. Of the twenty-four urban districts, sixteen are included in one or the other of the two counts. The graphic below is cuartel 23, 1824. Notice the “C” in front of some names. That stands for ciudadano, or “citizen,” after the fashion of the day.

A List of Votes Received in the Municipal Election of 1824. In addition to census data, volume two contains scanned copies of several documents that would be of interest to genealogists. One is a list of votes, by name, received by 2,214 individuals in the municipal election of 1824. Evidently, all male citizens were eligible to serve, accounting for the large number of individuals who received votes. The following graphic show the top thirteen vote getters.

Censuses of 1838, 1839, 1842. The next population counts for which we have manuscripts are those of 1838, 1839 and 1842 (29,337 total).[6] Unfortunately, more than half the city districts are missing, although an important data on each individual’s literacy was added to the usual information on name, marital status, age and occupation.

Population Counts for Nearby Towns. In addition, complete population census manuscripts are available for the nearby important artisan town of San Pedro Tlaquepaque (2,378) and the smaller pueblo of Santa Maria (229). Also included in vol. 2 are full counts for other nearby towns: San Francisco de Mesquital (1777), San Miguel Mesquitán (1813), San Francisco (1813), and Atotonilco el Alto (1824). Those counts are either included in the database for that year or years, or are among the scanned copies of original documents.

The Population Census of 1930. The DVD also includes a database sample from the 1930 census. It includes data for individuals (occupation, age, etc.) but it has no individual names. As you may know, the full 1930 Mexican manuscript census is now available from Ancestry.com. It, of course, lists all individuals by name.

Other Population Censuses for Guadalajara. The DVD contains a detailed discussion of all population censuses for Guadalajara from 1791 through 1910. The one most useful for family historians is the census of 1888. Although the population total (55,421) is clearly an undercount, it does include lists of individuals by name. The original documents are available for consultation at the Archivo Histórico de Jalisco. The citation is Padrones. Estadística 1889. Censos Estadística.

A Personal Account of the Guadalajara Census Project. I have been engaged in researching and writing about the history of Guadalajara since the late 1970s. My graduate students and I organized the Guadalajara Census Project in the early 1990s. I have now retired, and am finishing several research projects using our data. I grew up in northern Maine and still do not have a good idea how I became enamored with Mexico, but in 1965 I found myself in Mexico City researching my Ph.D dissertation on the fascinating story of Mexican textile workers at the beginning of the 20^th century. But hardly a decade later, while working in Guadalajara’s municipal archives, I stumbled across a wonderful census manuscript from 1821, and the city’s censuses have consumed my professional life since then. Page after page told stories of real families, and perhaps like you, I wanted their stories to be told. In the decades that followed, I wrote a monograph and various articles of Guadalajara’s rich history. [7] That is all well and good, but I wanted that unique documentation to be available for all interested persons—scholars, teachers and family historians.

Traditionally, interested scholars would have to make the trip to the city’s archives to do their own research. However, if the census manuscripts were available in digital form, that would save considerable time and money, and make a rich historical resource far more widely available. Teachers of both undergraduates and upper level high school students could use the censuses to introduce their students to a wide range of social, cultural and economic issues relevant to courses in both Latin American history and to nineteenth century urban life anywhere. The problem here would be to provide hands-on exercises tailored not only for students but for teachers who might lack the training in digital formats (by the beginning of the 21^st century, students had no problem in this regard!). And finally, we believed strongly that historians had a potential constituency in genealogists and family historians, who would benefit from our data.

Those ambitious goals cost money, and so, beginning in the mid-1990’s, we applied for funding from the U.S. National endowment for the Humanities, because we believed that we had not just a Mexican treasure but potentially a key map to a little understood era in the history of the Americas. The timing was right. The digital revolution of the 1990s encouraged the NEH to meld humanities with quantitative resources. They financed Harvard’s slave trade database, encouraging us to believe that we had a chance for funding. We argued that our data was deeper, and richer, than any American urban center prior to mid-century (in the first application we were promoting the 1821 and 1822 censuses). Moreover, we had detailed plan to make the data easily accessible and widely distributed, something rarely, if ever, done by academic projects.[8]

Four applications won two grants, and from 1999 to 2008, the Guadalajara Census Project put in something like 26,000 staff hours. A great crew of graduate students were instrumental in creating a unique resource for research, teaching and family historians. They have since gone on to their own careers, but remain tied to the project.[9]

It has been a privilege and personally rewarding to work for a project whose purpose was, and is, not just to promote a valuable historical resource for a few scholars (as important as that is, but to put it in the public domain, available to a far broader audience. I specifically want the resource to be available to genealogists and family historians because I believe that when we, as individuals, connect to our own past, we deepen our understanding of the broader history in which we are all apart. Historians and genealogists are on a parallel path, that for far too long has had few bridges. The Guadalajara Census Project is an effort to bridge that gap. I am particularly happy to write this piece for Somos Primos, under the magnificent professional editorship of Mimi Lozano, which for several decades has been an outstanding venue promoting individual discovery of ancestral roots and collective understanding of Hispanic/Latino cultural heritage.

Rod Anderson, Professor Emeritus, Department of History, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.

[1] Among those who wrote letters for us were: Sergio C. Becerra, Jorge Camunas, María E. Garza, Patricia Diane Godiñez, Daniel Huerta, Mimi Lozano, Michael Mathes, Mary Mijares, Erasmo Eduardo Pulido, José Vázquez de Estopier y Rodriguez de Frías. Please forgive me if I have left anyone out.

[2] The Guadalajara Censuses of 1821 and 1822, vol. 1 of The Population Censuses of Guadalajara, Mexico 1791-1930. (Tallahassee, Florida: Florida State University, 2006) CD-ROM, Guadalajara Census Project, 2006. The Guadalajara Censuses of 1791, 1813-14, 1824, 1838-42, 1930, vol. 2 of The Population Censuses of Guadalajara, Mexico 1791-1930. (Tallahassee, Florida: Florida State University, 2010). DVD, Guadalajara Census Project, 2010. Note that the census of 1821 is also included in the DVD. Each volume is available for $20 for individuals and $40 for institutions from: Guadalajara Census Project, Department of History, Florida State University, 113 Collegiate Loop, PO Box 306220, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2200. A Spanish language version is available; send inquires to Dra. Claudia Rivas Jiménez, Claudia_rivas2000@yahoo.com.

[3] In vol. 2 under Research—Unpublished Materials, see “Persisters and Transients in late Colonial Mexico.”

[4] From surviving abstracts, we know that the “Revillagigedo” census of 1793 listed 24,219 individuals living in Guadalajara but the actual original manuscript has never been found. We had the good fortune to work from a transcribed copy of the census, done by Dra. Carmen Castaneda, for whom this DVD is dedicated.

[5] The missing district, cuartel 16, is found in the 1822 census. The official population figure for 1821 is 38,014, making Guadalajara one of the largest cities in the Americas. Were all person who resided in the city counted, it is likely that the figure would be close to 45,000 individuals.

[6] In addition, in the fall of 1836 the city authorities ordered a census to be taken. A municipal list notes that the results had been received for most of the city’s nine districts, but efforts to locate those manuscripts have been unsuccessful.

[7] Among the published works is a monograph Guadalajara a la consumacíon de la Independencia. Estudio de su población según los padrones de 1812-1822 (Guadalajara, México: Unidad Editorial 1983). Among the articles, perhaps the most useful, and accessible, is (with Tamara Spike) “Making History Count: The Guadalajara Census Project (1791-1930),” in Hispanic American Historical Review, 87:2 (May 2007), pp. 327-51.

[8] As an example, my Dean at the time questioned why I planned to made the data available to everyone, and not keep it for my colleagues and graduate students to mine for publications, as was traditional. Of course, that we planned to make the data widely available was precisely its appeal to the NEH.

[9] We will meet in San Jose, Costa Rica this July 2014 for a conference workshop on teaching the Guadalajara census materials to undergraduate students.

Redes sociales despiertan el interés por la genealogía entre mexicoamericanos

Temas Relacionados Internet, Herencia, Sociedad
Por: Francisco Miraval Fuente: EFE 13. may. 2014

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El resultado de esas investigaciones es "un nuevo sentido de orgullo cultural" "Al aprender sobre la genealogía, uno se interesa más por la época en la que vivieron nuestros antepasados", dijo Virginia Sánchez, investigadora independiente Noticias en video

DENVER, Estados Unidos, may. 13, 2014.- Los cambios demográficos y el uso de las redes sociales han despertado el interés entre los méxicoamericanos por su historia familiar y les incita a buscar sus antepasados remotos.

"Al aprender sobre la genealogía de la familia, uno se interesa más por la época en la que vivieron nuestros antepasados y uno comienza a entender las contribuciones que ellos realizaron", dijo Virginia Sánchez, investigadora independiente de la Sociedad de Genealogía Hispana de Colorado.

El resultado de esas investigaciones, comentó Sánchez, es "un nuevo sentido de orgullo cultural" que permite "compartir los descubrimientos con todos los miembros de la familia y encontrarse con nuevos miembros de la familia extendida".

Para Sánchez, autora de un libro sobre familias hispanas de Cuchara, en el sur de Colorado, todo comienza "con los padres y los abuelos", especialmente durante reuniones familiares con motivo de las festividades como el Día de la Madre o el Cinco de Mayo, "cuando se comparten historias o fotografías".

Y esas historias pueden llevar a interesantes descubrimientos. Por ejemplo, en una ocasión Sánchez leyó un artículo sobre una mujer, quien, al morir hace varios siglos, les dejó a sus hijos en su testamento "una docena de zapatillas de baile".

Intrigada por la inusual herencia, Sánchez investigó el caso, sólo para descubrir que esta mujer era su "séptima tatarabuela".

Fidel Montoya, un residente de Denver, coincidió con Sánchez en que para él también los estudios genealógicos comenzaron por el impulso de su padre, "quien siempre quería encontrar más" sobre la familia.

"Siempre me dijo que nuestros antepasados habían llegado de España y siempre contaba la historia de Questa, una aislada aldea en el norte de Nuevo México, donde su abuelo, Francisco Antonio Montoya, vivió en el siglo XVIII", comentó Montoya.

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Tras años de investigaciones y como un regalo para toda su familia, Montoya construyó un árbol genealógico que incluye 16 generaciones, en el que se remonta hasta Simón Pérez, quien vivió en España en la primera mitad del siglo XVI.

"Cuando mi padre falleció, lamenté no haber escrito todas las historias que él me contaba. Por eso, decidí a mantener viva la historia de mi familia y comencé a escribir todo lo que recordé y a investigar a nuestros antepasados. Creo que es muy importante conocer y preservar de dónde provenimos", afirmó Montoya.

El experto en genealogía méxicoamericana Arturo Cuéllar-González indicó que fue su abuela quien "plantó" en su corazón el "profundo deseo de encontrar" a sus antepasados.

Gracias a los archivos a su disposición en la Biblioteca de Historia Familiar de FamilySearch en Salt Lake City (Utah) en la que trabaja, este investigador especializado en América Latina logró encontrar los nombres de once generaciones de antepasados de su familia.

Según Cuéllar-González, en los últimos años "son cada vez más los jóvenes interesados en la historia de sus familias", debido a que, gracias a la popularidad de las redes sociales, las personas ahora pueden conectarse con familiares que antes posiblemente no sabían que tenían.

Otro factor que parece explicar el interés de los jóvenes hispanos por su genealogía en esta región del país es el crecimiento en el número de jóvenes latinos en Colorado y en

Utah desde 2000, por lo que, según la Organización Latina de Colorado de Liderazgo, Promoción Comunitaria e Investigaciones (CLLARO), en la actualidad los hispanos representan el 35 % de los jóvenes del área, a pesar de que los latinos son sólo el 21 % de la población total.

Sánchez coincidió con Cuéllar-González en que las redes sociales facilitan el intercambio de información y documentos genealógicos.

"La genealogía requiere tiempo, pero vale la pena. Se transforma en un hábito porque una pista lleva a otra y luego a otra. Uno se enorgullece cuando finalmente encuentra a un antepasado que parecía eludirnos. ¡Y las historias que uno entonces puede contar!", declaró Sánchez.

Por ejemplo, Sánchez descubrió que sus antepasados, por pedido del Rey de España, donaron dinero a favor de la Revolución Estadounidense. "Eso es algo que nunca me enseñaron en la escuela", puntualizó.

Y Montoya descubrió que hasta hace pocas generaciones todos sus antepasados eran católicos, pero luego su familia se convirtió al pentecostalismo por "una pelea con el sacerdote de la aldea".

"Es muy gratificante poder compartir la historia de mis antepasados con mi familia y con todos los interesados. Y espero que mis hijos y mis nietos continúen con esa tradición", concluyó.

Más información: Derechos Humanos Se movilizan en las redes sociales por las niñas de Nigeria Gabriel García Márquez Redes sociales despiden a García Márquez de manera afectuosa Tecnología EPN, el presidente más mencionado en redes socialesComentarios

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El registro eclesiástico del primer matrimonio del Señor General Defensor de la Patria Don Gerónimo Treviño Leal.

Márgen izq. Gral. D. Gerónimo Treviño. en Gefe del Ejercito Banguardia y Da. Elena Barragan.

En el año del Señor de mil ochocientos sesenta y siete a diez y ocho días del mes Febrero. En la Iglesia Parroquial de la Ciudad de San Luis Potosí habiéndose dispensado las tres amonestaciones dispuestas por el Santo Concilio de Trento así como el debido hacerse al Obispado de Linares y tambien la vaguedad que le resulta al pretendiente por residente en varios puntos de la República, como consta todo de Dto. de 18 del mismo Feb°. del S. Govr. de esta Diócesis, previas las diligencias correspondientes.

de las que no resultó impedimento: hecha la monicion conciliar, dispuestos sacramentalmente, examinados en la doctrina cristiana y hallados aptos: yo el Presbitero D. Romualdo Elizondo, con licencia del Sr. Cura Rector del Sagrario de esta Capital, Presbit°. D. Luis G. Arias, pregunté al Ciudadano Gral. D. Gerónimo Treviño, natural de Cadereyta del Estado de Nuevo Leon, transeunte en esta Ciudad, soltero, de 29 años hijo legitimo de D. Antonio Treviño y de Da. Ma. Francisca Leal difuntos; y a Doña Elena Barragan, natural del Ve. del Maiz, vecina en esta Ciudad, de 20 años de edad, hija legitima de D. Lorenzo Barragan, que vive y de Da. Petra--------- difta.

Si querian contraer matrimonio segun el órden de N. Sta. M. Iglesia, y habido su mutuo consentimiento por palabras de presente que lo hacen legitimo y verdadero, los casé in facie ecclesia, y les conferí las bendiciones nupciales en la Yglesia de la Compañía.

siendo testigos al acto de darse las manos el Coronel C. Agustín Barragan y el Comandante C. Je. Ma. Zertuche, y padrinos el Ciudadano D. Juan Bustamante Gobernador del Estado y su hija Da-----------Bustamante.

Fuentes. Family Search. Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los últimos Días.

Localizó el registro y paleografió.

Tte. Corl. Intdte. Ret. Ricardo R. Palmerín Cordero.

Miembro de Genealogía de México y de la Soc. de Genealogía de Nuevo León.

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Libro de bautismos
de la Cd. de México
de
" San Pedro Regalado"

Les envío esta imagen que localicé en un libro de bautismos de la Cd. de México de " San Pedro Regalado " nacido en Valladolid, España el año de 1390, ingresó en 1403 en el Convento de San Francisco de la Calle de la Platería, se le considera el Santo Patrono de los Toreros.

Fuentes. Family Search. Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los últimos Días.Tte. Corl. Intdte. Ret. Ricardo R. Palmerín Cordero.

Miembro de Genealogía de México y de la Sociedad de Genealogía de Nuevo León.

	CARIBBEAN/CUBA
	Congressional Gold Medal Bill Going to White House After Passing Senate Copy of the Act to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment, Borinqueneers' shirt promoting 65th Infantry Regiment Congressional Gold Medal

Congressional Gold Medal Bill Going to White House After Passing Senate

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ORLANDO, Florida – May 22, 2014 – Honoring the only Hispanic segregated active-duty military unit in U.S. History, the 65th Infantry Regiment “Borinqueneers,” with the Congressional Gold Medal took a major leap forward this week when both House Bill (HR 1726) and Senate Bill (S. 1174) both passed their respective chambers.

As the Memorial Day weekend looms, the 65th Infantry Regiment known as the “Borinqueneers” achieved two major milestones this week in achieving the nation’s highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal (CGM). The U.S. Senate bill S. 1174 which authorizes the “Borinqueneers” with the CGM passed today by unanimous vote. Earlier this Monday, the House companion bill H.R. 1726, originally introduced by Representatives Bill Posey (R-FL) and Pedro Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico), also passed unanimously. These two milestones unfolded about year’s timeframe from when both bills were originally introduced in their respective chambers. The CGM recognition parallels the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is awarded less frequently and is arguably more rigorous due to its stringent legislative requirements. The Borinqueneers CGM legislation will be on its path to the White House for President Obama’s signature.

The movement behind this cause primarily originated with a grassroots volunteer group called the “Borinqueneers CGM Alliance” (BCGMA) founded by former Army Captain and Iraq War veteran, Frank Medina and sponsored by the You Are Strong! (YAS!) Center for Veterans Health and Human Services.

Frank recounts, “It’s amazing how the collective and cumulative efforts from devoted individuals and organizations around the country culminated in this landmark achievement. The 65th CGM cause transcended all races, ethnicities, nationalities in unifying for a noble and righteous cause. Volunteers encompassed Anglos, African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Native-Americans, Colombians and various others…This could not have happened without their aggressive ‘boots on ground’ support…”

Medina also adds, “I want to express my deepest appreciation to our Congressional sponsors, Rep. Pierluisi, Rep. Posey, and Sen. Blumenthal along with their superb staffers. They tackled and shouldered the lion’s share of this endeavor and I it was very fortuitous that our joint efforts were complimentary. Without their tenacity, this could not have been possible…

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Awarding the CGM to the Borinqueneers will sit alongside other segregated military units that have rightfully received the Congressional Gold Medal including the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo Code Talkers and many other Native American tribes, Nisei Soldiers, and Montford Point Marines.

The lineage of the 65th Infantry Regiment traces back to 1899, after Spain ceded the island of Puerto Rico after the Spanish-American War. Altogether, the unit has participated in World War I, World War II, and most notably the Korean War. A remnant battalion from the 65th Infantry still resides in the Puerto Rican National Guard where it still serves in the nation’s on-going military campaigns. At the onset of the Korean War, the 65th Infantry dubbed themselves the anglicized nickname “Borinqueneers” after the island of Puerto Rico’s indigenous name “Borinquen” meaning “Land of the Brave Lord”.

But it was during the Korean War that the Borinqueneers performed their pinnacle military achievements and demonstrated much valor and heroism amidst the additional adversities of segregation, institutional prejudice, language barriers and other unusual obstacles.

Such highlight accomplishments, to name a few, include:
1) The last recorded bayonet assault against the enemy and
2) Defending the evacuation corridor for one of the greatest military withdrawals in US history.

Although primarily composed of Puerto Ricans hailing from Puerto Rico and mainland USA, during the Korean War, the 65th Infantry Regiment had minor elements of segregated African-Americans, Virgin Islanders, Filipinos, and Mexican-Americans as part of a Regimental Combat Team. As such, the only Latino ever to rise to the rank of four-star general in the Army, General (Retired) Richard Cavazos, is Mexican-American. Then First Lieutenant Cavazos fought with the 65th Infantry as a racially integrated unit in 1953, although an executive order desegregating military units was issued by President Harry Truman in 1948. First Lieutenant Richard Cavazos earned the Army’s highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross, for his heroic actions in the battle for Outpost Harry in 1953.

“I strongly advocate on behalf of all veterans and their health and human services needs.

=============================================

The passing of this bill will significantly help shed light on those needs and on the commitment and rich history that so many Hispanic/Latino veterans have in serving our nation.” adds Xiomara Sosa, executive sponsor of the BCGMA and founder/director of YAS!.

Out of 155 CGM recipients since 1776, only one other Latino American has earned the prestigious distinction. Roberto Clemente, Baseball Hall-of-Famer and humanitarian hailing from Puerto Rico, received the honor in 1973 regrettably after passing away in an airplane crash while delivering food and other supplies to then earthquake ravaged Nicaragua victims.

Interesting to note also is that the awarding of the Borinqueneers CGM would be the first recipient to a Korean War veterans group. The majority of the veterans group CGM recipients have their roots in World War II.

Medina states, “Along with honoring the Borinqueneer veterans, the Congressional Gold Medal will be the highest award ever for ALL Latino Veterans. This distinction will

catapult Hispanic veterans into the national spotlight and aim to honor all Hispanic veterans past, present and future. Today is one step closer to weave the contributions of the Borinqueneers, Puerto Rico and all Latinos in the fabric of American culture…”

More information on the Borinqueneers CGM Alliance and how to help the 65th Infantry CGM initiative can be found at: www.65thCGM.org . Executive sponsor of the alliance is You Are Strong! Center on Veterans Health and Human Services.

Frank Medina, National Chair
Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance
239-530-8075
65thCGM@gmail.com
xasosa@xasconsulting.com
WEBSITE: http://www.65thCGM.org
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/BorinqueneersCGMAlliance

Received May 25th from Rafael Ojeda, an attached file copy of H.R. 1726.

He wrote:
Estimada Mimi,The link will only stay available for a few days and than its will be found in the Thomas Library.
The Senate bill is the same text. No mention of being sent to the President is included.
Rafael Ojeda

Rafael Ojeda

(253) 576-9547

H.R.1726

One Hundred Thirteenth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, the third day of January, two thousand and fourteen

An Act To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) In 1898, the United States acquired Puerto Rico in the Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American War and, by the following year, Congress had authorized raising a unit of volunteer soldiers in the newly acquired territory.

(2) In May 1917, two months after legislation granting United States citizenship to individuals born in Puerto Rico was signed into law, and one month after the United States entered World War I, the unit was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone in part because United States Army policy at the time restricted most segregated units to noncombat roles, even though the regiment could have contributed to the fighting effort.

(3) In June 1920, the unit was re-designated as the `65th Infantry Regiment, United States Army', and served as the United States military's last segregated unit composed primarily of Hispanic soldiers.

(4) In January 1943, 13 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor that marked the entry of the United States into World War II, the Regiment again deployed to the Panama Canal Zone before deploying overseas in the spring of 1944.

(5) Despite relatively limited combat service in World War II, the Regiment suffered casualties in the course of defending against enemy attacks, with individual soldiers earning one Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and 90 Purple Hearts. The Regiment received campaign participation credit for Rome-Arno, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.

(6) Although an executive order issued by President Harry S. Truman in July 1948 declared it to be United States policy to ensure equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without respect to race or color, implementation of this policy had yet to be fully realized when armed conflict broke out on the Korean Peninsula in June 1950, and both African-American soldiers and Puerto Rican soldiers served in segregated units.

(7) Brigadier General William W. Harris, who served as the Regiment's commander during the early stages of the Korean War, later recalled that he had initially been reluctant to take the position because of `prejudice' within the military and `the feeling of the officers and even the brass of the Pentagon * * * that the Puerto Rican wouldn't make a good combat soldier * * * I know my contemporaries felt that way and, in all honesty, I must admit that at the time I had the same feeling * * * that the Puerto Rican was a rum and Coca-Cola soldier.'.

(8) One of the first opportunities the Regiment had to prove its combat worthiness arose on the eve of the Korean War during Operation PORTREX, one of the largest military exercises that had been conducted up until that point, where the Regiment distinguished itself by repelling an offensive consisting of over 32,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division and the United States Marine Corps, supported by the Navy and Air Force, thereby demonstrating that the Regiment could hold its own against some of the best-trained forces in the United States military.

(9) In August 1950, with the United States Army's situation in Korea deteriorating, the Department of the Army's headquarters decided to bolster the 3rd Infantry Division and, owing in part to the 65th Infantry Regiment's outstanding performance during Operation PORTREX, it was among the units selected for the combat assignment. The decision to send the Regiment to Korea and attach it to the 3rd Infantry Division was a landmark change in the United States military's racial and ethnic policy.

(10) As the Regiment sailed to Asia in September 1950, members of the unit informally decided to call themselves the `Borinqueneers', a term derived from the Taino word for Puerto Rico meaning `land of the brave lord'.

(11) The story of the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War has been aptly described as `one of pride, courage, heartbreak, and redemption'.

(12) Fighting as a segregated unit from 1950 to 1952, the Regiment participated in some of the fiercest battles of the war, and its toughness, courage and loyalty earned the admiration of many who had previously harbored reservations about Puerto Rican soldiers based on lack of previous fighting experience and negative stereotypes, including Brigadier General Harris, whose experience eventually led him to regard the Regiment as `the best damn soldiers that I had ever seen'.

(13) After disembarking at Pusan, South Korea in September 1950, the Regiment blocked the escape routes of retreating North Korean units and overcame pockets of resistance. The most significant battle took place near Yongam-ni in October when the Regiment routed a force of 400 enemy troops. By the end of the month, the Regiment had taken 921 prisoners while killing or wounding more than 600 enemy soldiers. Its success led General Douglas MacArthur, Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command in Korea, to observe that the Regiment was `showing magnificent ability and courage in field operations'.

(14) The Regiment landed on the eastern coast of North Korea in early November 1950. In December 1950, following China's intervention in the war, the Regiment engaged in a series of fierce battles to cover the rear guard of the 1st Marine Division during the fighting retreat from the Chosin Reservoir to the enclave at Hungnam, North Korea, one of the greatest withdrawals in modern military history.

(15) When General MacArthur ordered the evacuation of Hungnam in mid-December, the Regiment was instrumental in securing the port, and was among the last units--if not the last unit--to depart the beachhead on Christmas Eve, suffering significant casualties in the process. Under the Regiment's protection, 105,000 troops and 100,000 refugees were evacuated, along with 350,000 tons of supplies and 17,500 military vehicles.

(16) The brutal winter conditions during the campaign presented significant hardships for soldiers in the Regiment, who lacked appropriate gear to fight in sub-zero temperatures.

(17) Between January and March 1951, the Regiment participated in numerous operations to recover and retain South Korean territory lost to the enemy, assaulting heavily fortified enemy positions and conducting the last recorded battalion-sized bayonet assault in United States Army history.

(18) On January 31, 1951, the commander of Eighth Army, Lieutenant General Matthew B. Ridgway, wrote to the Regiment's commander: `What I saw and heard of your regiment reflects great credit on you, your regiment, and the people of Puerto Rico, who can be proud of their valiant sons. I am confident that their battle records and training levels will win them high honors * * *. Their conduct in battle has served only to increase the high regard in which I hold these fine troops.'.

(19) On February 3, 1951, General MacArthur wrote: `The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry on the battlefields of Korea by valor, determination, and a resolute will to victory give daily testament to their invincible loyalty to the United States and the fervor of their devotion to those immutable standards of human relations to which the Americans and Puerto Ricans are in common dedicated. They are writing a brilliant record of achievement in battle and I am proud indeed to have them in this command. I wish that we might have many more like them.'.

(20) The Regiment played a central role in the United States military's counteroffensive responding to a major push by the Chinese Communist Forces (CFF) in 1951, winning praise for its superb performance in multiple battles, including Operations KILLER and RIPPER, as well as for its actions on February 14th, when the Regiment inflicted nearly 1,000 enemy casualties at a cost of only one killed and six wounded, almost singlehandedly annihilating a North Korean infantry regiment that had infiltrated the defenses of the 3rd Infantry Division's headquarters.

(21) By 1952, senior United States commanders ordered that replacement soldiers from Puerto Rico would no longer be limited to service in the Regiment, but could be made available to fill personnel shortages in non-segregated units both inside and outside the 3rd Infantry Division. This was a major milestone in United States Army policy that, paradoxically, harmed the Regiment by depriving it of some of Puerto Rico's most able soldiers.

(22) Beyond the many hardships endured by most American soldiers in Korea, the Regiment faced unique challenges arising from discrimination and prejudice.

(23) In 1953, the now fully integrated Regiment earned admiration for its relentless defense of Outpost Harry, during which it confronted multiple company-size probes, full-scale regimental attacks, and heavy artillery and mortar fire from Chinese forces, earning one Distinguished Service Cross, 14 Silver Stars, 23 Bronze Stars, and 67 Purple Hearts, in operations that Major General Eugene W. Ridings described as `highly successful in that the enemy was denied the use of one of his best routes of approach into the friendly position'. The recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross was then-First Lieutenant Richard E. Cavazos, a Mexican-American, who went on to become the first Latino to rise to the rank of four-star general in the United States Army.

(24) For its extraordinary service during the Korean War, the Regiment received two Presidential Unit Citations (Army and Navy), two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations, a Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), a Navy Unit Commendation, the Bravery Gold Medal of Greece, and campaign participation credits for United Nations Offensive, CCF Intervention, First United Nations Counteroffensive, CCF Spring Offensive, United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, Korea Summer-Fall 1952, Third Korean Winter, and Korea Summer 1953.

(25) In Korea, soldiers in the Regiment earned a total of nine Distinguished Service Crosses, approximately 250 Silver Stars, over 600 Bronze Stars, more than 2,700 Purple Hearts. On March 18, 2014, Master Sergeant Juan E. Negron Martinez received the Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest award for military valor, for actions taken on April 28, 1951 near Kalma-Eri, Korea.

(26) In all, some 61,000 Puerto Ricans served in the United States Army during the Korean War, the bulk of them with the 65th Infantry Regiment--and over the course of the war, Puerto Rican soldiers suffered a disproportionately high casualty rate, with over 740 killed and over 2,300 wounded.

(27) In April 1956, as part of the reduction in forces following the Korean War, the 65th Infantry Regiment was deactivated from the regular Army and, in February 1959, became the only regular Army unit to have ever been transferred to the National Guard, when its 1st battalion and its regimental number were assigned to the Puerto Rico National Guard, where it has remained ever since.

(28) In 1982, the United States Army Center of Military History officially authorized granting the 65th Infantry Regiment the special designation of `Borinqueneers'.

(29) In the years since the Korean War, the achievements of the Regiment have been recognized in various ways, including--

(A) the naming of streets in honor of the Regiment in San Juan, Puerto Rico and The Bronx, New York;

(B) the erecting of monuments and plaques to honor the Regiment at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia; the San Juan National Historic Site in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado; and at sites in Boston, Massachusetts; Worcester, Massachusetts; Buffalo, New York; and Ocala, Florida;

(D) the dedication of land for a park and monument to honor the Regiment in New Britain, Connecticut;

(E) the adoption or introduction of resolutions or proclamations honoring the Regiment by many state and municipal governments, including in the states and territories of California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Texas; and

(F) the issuance by the United States Postal Service of a Korean War commemorative stamp depicting soldiers from the Regiment.

(30) In a speech delivered on September 20, 2000, at a ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery in honor of the Regiment, Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera said: `Even as the 65th struggled against all deadly enemies in the field, they were fighting a rearguard action against a more insidious adversary--the cumulative effects of ill-conceived military policies, leadership shortcomings, and especially racial and organizational prejudices, all exacerbated by America's unpreparedness for war and the growing pains of an Army forced by law and circumstance to carry out racial integration. Together these factors would take their inevitable toll on the 65th, leaving scars that have yet to heal for so many of the Regiment's proud and courageous soldiers.'.

(31) Secretary Caldera further stated: `To the veterans of the 65th Infantry Regiment who, in that far off land fifty years ago, fought with rare courage even as you endured misfortune and injustice, thank you for doing your duty. There can be no greater praise than that for any soldier of the United States Army.'.

(32) Secretary Caldera also noted that `[t]he men of the 65th who served in Korea are a significant part of a proud tradition of service' that includes the Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the African American Tuskegee Airmen, and `many other unsung minority units throughout the history of our armed forces whose stories have never been fully told'.

(33) The service of the men of the 65th Infantry Regiment is emblematic of the contributions to the armed forces that have been made by hundreds of thousands of brave and patriotic United States citizens from Puerto Rico over generations, from World War I to the most recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in other overseas contingency operations.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

(a) Award Authorized- The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design in honor of the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers, in recognition of its pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and many acts of valor in the face of adversity.

(b) Design and Striking- For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the `Secretary') shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.

(1) IN GENERAL- Following the award of the gold medal in honor of the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers, the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be available for display as appropriate and made available for research.

(2) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS- It is the sense of the Congress that the Smithsonian Institution shall make the gold medal received under this Act available for display elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the 65th Infantry Regiment, including locations in Puerto Rico.

SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 2, at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.

END

Borinqueneers' shirt, promoting 65th Infantry Regiment
for Congressional Gold Medal

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-Joe Sanchez www.bluewallnypd.com

Joe Sanchez wearing the Borinqueneers' shirt. Post on Facebook and promote the 65th Infantry Regiment for the Congressional Gold Medal { CGM }. The shirt sells for $30.00. One can also order a patch. I wear a large.

For those that want to order a shirt, or the patch, contact Frank Medina via email at: frank.medina@us.army.mil so as he can give you the address and what to write on the check. I'm proud to be part of the people that are supporting the Borinqueneers, and proud as well of being a Puerto Rican American who fought for his country. God bless our troops, law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders.

Here I am in the lobby of the Embassy Suites Hotel in Glendale, California with Susy Garciasalas, Claudio Rocha and Mylene Moreno, the PBS crew who interviewed me for a documentary on the Latino experience in Vietnam. As you can see, I proudly wore my 65th CGM shirt during and after the interview.

Tony "The Marine" Santiago

PBS-Susy Garciasalas, Claudio Rocha, myself and Mylene Moreno.JPG

	CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
	El fotógrafo Jimmy Nelson Inmortalizo a 35 tribus que están en peligro de extinción Cuento: A Heart-to-Heart Connection by Dr. Ana Nogales Cuento: The Power of Latino Leadership by Juana Bordas

El fotógrafo Jimmy Nelson Inmortalizo a 35 tribus que están en peligro de extinción www.cremma.co/fotografo-jimmy-nelson-inmortalizo-35-tribus-en-peligro-de-extincion
16 Nov 2013 ... Estas tribus se encuentran en peligro de extinción, amenazadas por diferentes factores.

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LOS GAUCHOS DE LA ARGENTINA SON JINETES NÓMADAS QUE SE HAN EXTRAVIADO POR LAS PRADERAS YA DESDE LA DÉCADA DE 1700. SUS GAUCHO PASATIEMPOS INCLUYEN JUEGOS DE AZAR, BEBER, TOCAR LA GUITARRA Y CANTAR SOBRE SUS HABILIDADES EN LA CAZA, LA LUCHA Y HACER EL AMOR.

Sent by Ernesto Uribe who writes: I do not consider the Argentine Gaucho a "tribe". Gauchos are basically of European stock with perhaps a dash of Mapuche Indian blood. The customs of the Gaucho have evolved just like those of the South Texas "vaquero" have also changed, but both are still out on the pampa or the range working cattle and neither is in danger of disappearing..

CUENTO:

Extract: A Heart-to-Heart Connection by Dr. Ana Nogales
from Count on Me, Tales of Sisterhoods and Fierce Friendships, edited by Adriana V. Lopez, pgs191-192

=============================================

For many years, I felt like an outsider. Growing up in Argentina, I experienced an unspoken separateness from kids my own age because my parents were immigrants, and Spanish was not their first language; Polish was. My mother and father had escaped from Europe before the Holocaust, but this was not something I could discuss with my friends. I was Jewish in a Catholic country, and my family's traditions were different than those of my playmates, with whom I desperately wanted to fit in.

My mother had a high regard for education and begged for my admission into a prestigious all-girls school in Buenos Aires. The student body was comprised primarily of children from the privileged class, and it was evident from my inability to join in their conversations about lavish vacations and stylish shopping trips that I was not in the same league as my classmates. I remember how ashamed I was about not being able to keep up with their fashions. Even though we were made to wear white smocks so that we would all look alike, my classmates would lift up their school uniforms to show what they were wearing underneath. I did not have a fashionable outfit to show off, so I chose to hide instead. Early on I learned how to be cautious around my classmates, as jealousy and rivalry were widespread. I stuck to my small group of friends, the ones who were also vulnerable to being teased about their outsider status. Together, we found safety from the snobs.

This feeling of not fitting in and not being entitled to full membership in the community would travel with me when I immigrated to the United States in 1979 at the age of twenty-eight.

In fact, my sense of otherness intensified once I settled in California. Now I was a Spanish-speaking immigrant in an English-speaking world, cut off from non-Latinos and Latinos alike. In Los Angeles, the majority of Latinos are Mexican American, and at that point in my life I knew very little about their culture. And few Mexican Americans were familiar with the Argentinean way of life. When I began seeking employment as a psychologist, I did not understand what prospective employers meant when they told me that I was "overqualified" to work as a counselor. Then I realized that they perceived me as being unaware of the local culture. I wondered: Were the immigrant experiences of those from other Latin American countries that different from my own?

Yes they were.

I soon realized that I had to learn more than I had expected about the various Spanish-speaking immigrant cultures in Los Angeles. Even though we all spoke Spanish, we differed in our dialects, how we related to each other, and gender roles. It was not until much later that I discovered a more important truth: Despite our differences, we have so much in common. Slowly I began to understand that the experience of being Latina is very similar, not because we speak the same language, but because we love our families and friends, and we honor our values and customs with a similar passion. Over time, my connections to other Latinas continued to develop. I married a Mexican American man who became the father of my two youngest daughters, both beautiful mestizas. My oldest daughter was born in Argentina before I left for the U.S.

Extracts from The Power of Latino Leadership by Juana Bordas
Chapter 12: Fe Esperanza: Sustained by Faith and Hope

=============================================

"IN MY FAMILY "ESTA en las manos de Dios" (It's in God's hands) was never far from my mother's lips. My brother Chris needed a baseball . outfit; a stray dog wandered in, and David couldn't bear to part with him; my class needed costumes for the school play. And where were the cookies for the church social? "What are kookees?" my mother would ask. No matter what the need or challenge, somehow she always managed to get what was needed for her eight children and to help others in the community as well.

God looked after her. How else could Celia Maria Bordas have ended up in the three-bedroom house at 3713 West Platt Street in Tampa, Florida—not far from the same ocean waters that lapped up onto the Caribbean shores where she was born—if God hadn't put her there?

Generations of Latinos simply believed in God's providence and guidance. In fact, my Tia Anita summed up her/e in six words. When asked about what was going to happen or something that was planned, she always prefaced it with "si Dios quiere" (if God wants this to happen). After the event happened, her response was "gracias a Dios" (thanks be to God). So coming or going, she had it covered. Pg197

GRATITUDE WAS DEEPLY INGRAINED in early Mestizo-Hispanic culture, in which just surviving was a blessing indeed. From before the European conquest of this hemisphere, the seeds of gratitude were nourished by indigenous people. The two meanings of gracias ("grace" as well as "thank you") imply that to be happy and to live in what Christians refer to as "a state of grace," one must be grateful.

Gracias a Dios, a cherished philosophy of life (and my Tia Anita's mantra) was traditionally a common refrain in conversation. Gratitude encompasses an appreciation for parents, familia, the community, the antepasados, and the blessing of children.

"Gracias a la Vida" (Thanks to Life), a treasured song by Chilean artist Violeta Parra, is steeped in this spirit of thankfulness. The song thanks life for our ability to see and to hear, and to have feet to walk with; for cities, puddles, beaches, deserts, mountains, plains, the stars in the heavens; for the alphabet and words so we can communicate; and for our mothers, friends, brothers, and sisters. We are grateful for both smiles and weeping because they allow us to distinguish happiness from sorrow. The ending confirms that this is your song and everyone else's: "Thanks to life that has given me so much."

Expressing gracias is a great gift that Latinos bring to America—an antidote to the raging materialism that is dividing our nation into a land of haves and have-nots. It is the opposite of taking more than one's share. Gratitude allowed people to be generous and give back. Like a spiritual salve, gracias can soothe the cultural angst that comes from always wanting more "stuff" than one has. By focusing on thankfulness, Latinos have been able to maintain a deep-seated optimism among people who sometimes had little economic means or resources. Gracias anchors the Latino "we can do it" (si se puede) spirit. Pg 200

PHILIPPINES

A Measure of Her Unflagging Love by Gloria Del Mundo-Ong
The Languages of the Philippines by Eddie AAA Calderón, Ph.D.
The Month of June, Remembering Magic Is the Moonlight by Eddie AAA Calderon,
Aurora, Philippines: a Place of Enchantment by Galo Gonzales (Poppo Olag)

CUENTO

============================================

A MEASURE OF HER UNFLAGGING LOVE

by Gloria Del Mundo-Ong
gdmo36@gmail.com

Marcela Agoncillo Museum in Taal, Batangas, Philippines

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Even before I went to school I had had an inkling that Felipe and Marcela Agoncillo must be important people in our town of Taal, Batangas, Philippines. In our household we would refer to them as Lolo Pipoy and Lola Celay ( Felipe's father, after all, was my great-grandmother's brother ). It wasn't till much, much later, however, that I learned of his distinction as "the first Filipino diplomat" and hers as "the maker of the first Philippine flag."

Marcela was born in Taal, Batangas on 24 June 1859 to wealthy couple Francisco Marino and Eugenia Coronel. At age 11, she was entrusted as an interna or boarder to Beaterio de Santa Catalina run by Dominican nuns. At that time young girls were primed either for motherhood or the nunnery. The prevailing curriculum could be likened to that of a finishing school's, limited to the three Rs, religion, social graces, Spanish, needlework and music. As it turned out, she excelled in the last three.

After five years Marcela came back to Taal. Her beauty must have been legendary since the townspeople would call her Virgen or Bubog. The first description would compare her to the Virgin of Caysasay for she had "a svelte, stately figure and

angelic face comparable to that of the image of the Virgin" and the second appellation would be for her "sparkling,crystal-like beauty." Historian Encarnacion Alzona wrote, "To catch a glimpse of this adorable beauty, people would wait patientlyat the church door and patio for her appearance in the mornings when invariably accompanied by a maid or elderly relative, she went to church to hear Mass."

To her suitors, however, Marcela proved to be a steadfast virgin or a "matimtimang birhen." It wasn't till she was 30 that she decided to tie the knot with Felipe who was the same age. It appeared that earlier Felipe got cold feet just before his pre-nuptial ceremony with another lady. His family then had to inform this other lady's family about his change of heart. Sometime in 1889 Felipe and Marcela went to Manila and got married in the Nuestra Senora del Rosario Church in Intramuros. They moved from Taal to Manila where they lived in a two-story house on M H del Pilar St, Malate, near the Malate Church. (Note: After their marriage in the 1930s, my parents lived with the Agoncillos for a while and my two oldest brothers, Salvador and Armando, were born in San Juan de Dios Hospital and spent their early years with their lolo and lola.--gdmo)

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The years that followed were happy ones until 1895. Marcela was a faithful, loyal and obedient wife to her husband. She stood by him even when he was branded a filibustero and threatened with deportation. The brave and religious woman that she was, she concealed her husband's whereabouts and vowed to walk from Taytay to Antipolo for his safe arrival in Hongkong in thanksgiving to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. Felipe had to flee to the British colony to avoid being sent to Jolo. His family managed to join him 22 months later in Hongkong where they rented a house at 535 Morrison Hill Road and stayed there for some 10 years. It was in Hongkong where Marcela gave birth to her last two daughters. The family had no visible means of support since Felipe was busy with his work as chief of the Hongkong Junta and later as minister plenipotentiary of the First Philippine Republic.

Historian Esteban A. de Ocampo (with the collaboration of Alfredo B. Saulo) wrote in First Filipino Diplomat Felipe Agoncillo that "fortunately, the Agoncillos had a sizable hoard of monedas de oro (gold coins) and valuable pieces of jewelry, representing the family heirloom from their parents and grandparents, both husband and wife coming from wealthy families of Taal which they could use in times of emergency."

It was also providential that they brought along a trusted houseboy and cook, Andres Valero, who proved to be a big help in stretching their budget.

Their last surviving daughter, Marcela, her mother's namesake, wrote in her Reminiscences of the Agoncillo Family: "Even though my mother had sufficient funds to support her family in Hongkong, she was very thrifty, fully realizing how hard it was to live in want in a foreign country. To augment her funds, she engaged in making delicious candies, bon-bons, jellies and cakes which her Chinese amah peddled in the neighborhood. My mother made pretty pinafores for her daughters which attracted the attention of our English and Portuguese neighbors. When they asked her if she could also make pinafores for their daughters, she gladly complied. She refused to accept payment for her labor, but the satisfied ladies insisted on paying her generously."

At one point the Agoncillos "had to sell a cherished jewel, a comb studded with diamonds, a fashionable item of personal adornment when women still wore their hair knotted on the back of their head. Though its value was 3,000 pesos, they were able to sell it only for 350 pesos."

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Such sacrifices were much later recognized in a historical marker donated by the Philippine Historical Committee and unveiled at Mrs. Agoncillo's birthplace in 1955: "Ipinagbili ang kaniyang mga hiyas upang magugol ng asawa sa misyon nito sa ibang bansa sa kapakanan ng pagsasarili ng Pilipinas." (She sold her jewelry to finance her husband's mission to other countries in furtherance of Philippine independence.)

Even as she ran a tight ship, the practical and resourceful matriarch saw to it that her daughters got excellent education by hiring English tutors.Holding court at their rented house, she was also "providing a home away from home" to expatriates Juan Luna, Josephine Bracken and General Emilio Aguinaldo. General Antonio Luna was also one such exile and was particularly mentioned by historian Alzona and Agoncillo daughter Marcela. Luna was a gourmet who would ask Mrs. Agoncillo's permission to cook in her kitchen. He would buy all his ingredients, whip up a culinary storm without any help and leave the kitchen spic and span.

Before the revolutionaries returned to their mother country, General Emilio Aguinaldo asked Mrs. Agoncillo to make the first Philippine flag. According to daughter Marcela's book, Reminiscences, "immediately my mother started sewing the flag, following the design furnished by the General. She was helped by Jose Rizal's niece, Mrs. Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, and her oldest daughter, Lorenza, who was only seven years old but already knew how to make stitches. In five days, the flag was finished. My mother herself delivered the neatly sewed flag to General Aguinaldo before he boarded the U.S.A. transport McCulloch which brought him to the Philippines." This was on 16 May 1898.

The flag was first unfurled at the battle of Alapan, a barrio between Kawit and Imus on 28 May 1898. The national icon has a white equilateral triangle on the left representing the Katipunan badge. In each angle of the white triangle is a five-pointed star, the three stars representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

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There is the sunburst symbol with eight rays signifying the eight provinces that first revolted against Spain: Manila, Bulakan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Morong, Laguna, Batangas and Kabite. The upper blue stripe is thought to stand for universality, while the red lower stripe is symbolic of courage. On 12 June 1898, while the band played "Marcha Nacional Filipina" composed by Julian Felipe, this flag was officially raised at the Aguinaldo residence in Kawit during the proclamation of Philippine independence. According to Aguinaldo, the Filipino tricolor was later captured by the enemy during the Philippine-American War.

In 1905 Felipe returned alone to the Philippines. He saw how his family fortune had dwindled and tried to recoup much of what he lost by resuming his law practice. Finally, in May 1907 he brought his family home. Two daughters, Marcela and Maria, were born in Hongkong during their protracted stay. Eventually, Lorenza became a teacher of Malate Catholic School; Gregoria(reputedly the first Filipina to graduate from Oxford University) was a principal of Ermita Catholic School; Eugenia and Marcela were piano professors at various local conservatories and Maria was a professor at the University of the Philippines, then in Ermita. There was another daughter, Maria Luisa, who died in infancy.

The family played beautiful music literally and figuratively. The parents raised their daughters well and they turned out very intelligent, excelling in music( even taking postgraduate lessons from the virtuoso Arthur Rubinstein). After dinner they would have a soiree--playing short piano pieces, reciting English and Spanish poems, playing the violin, with the last number, everyone singing and joking, "all's bad that ends badly." All daughters remained unmarried because they so enjoyed their family life.

During the American regime, the high positions that her husband occupied thrust Mrs. Agoncillo once more into the public eye. The simple woman that she was, she was therefore relieved when Felipe retired to private life. Still, many people would come over to their house in Malate to seek his advice.

On 29 September 1941 Felipe died. War soon broke out and their Malate residence was razed to the ground by the Japanese. Mrs. Agoncillo went back to Taal with daughter Gregoria, leaving behind other daughters who were teaching. Her health declining, the matriarch's condition worsened upon the death of her youngest daughter Maria in April 1945, two months after Liberation.

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Mrs. Agoncillo died at the age of 86 on Ascension Day, 30 May 1946.

Ten years later, during the Philippine Veterans Legion(PVL)National Convention in Baguio City she was posthumously awarded the PVL Gold Medal. Her four surviving daughters received it on her behalf. In 1972 upon recommendation of the Philippine Historical Association, the National Historical Commission posthumously awarded her a Plaque of Merit and Recognition "for her contribution to the struggle for Filipino freedom, for supporting the cause of the Philippine Revolution and for making the first Philippine flag."

Nowadays, Philippine Flag Day is celebrated on 28 May.

(Note: In 2000 a stopover in Hong Kong gave me an opportunity to look up 535 Morrison Hill Road where the

Agoncillo family stayed for a decade. It was ironic to learn from the Philippine Consulate General that the exact site couldn't be located despite assistance from Hong Kong's Antiquities Authorities. Earlier, the Philippine Government was trying to locate the site in time for our celebration of the centennial of our declaration of independence. Hong Kong authorities reportedly conducted a research "which showed no such address since the house with the highest number then was 56." They added that in all likelihood the general area where 535 Morrison Hill once stood must be what is now the present site of a park.

I saw the historical marker installed by the Antiquities Authorities in 1998 to indicate where the Agoncillos once lived and where the Philippine flag was made. I also noted how the park was beginning to fill up with mostly old people going thru the motions of tai-chi and some other forms of exercise.--gdmo)

The Languages of the Philippines
by Eddie AAA Calderón, Ph.D.

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The Philippines, an island in the Pacific Ocean, called by its national hero Dr. José P. Rizal as Perla del Mar de Oriente and also the country of yours truly, is a small nation geographically speaking and very far from its closest neighbours. For those not completely acquainted with my country, it is an archipelago that consists of 7,107 islands and covers 300,000 square kilometres (115,831 sq mi) of land. The 11 largest islands contain 94% of the total land area. The largest of these islands is Luzon at about 105,000 square kilometres (40,541 sq mi). The next largest island is Mindanao at about 95,000 square kilometres (36,680 sq mi). The archipelago is around 800 kilometres (500 mi) from the Asian mainland and is located between Taiwan and Borneo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Philippines The country has several languages and not to mention many dialects. The world population review has predicted that the Philippines will have 100,617,630 people by the end of the year 2014. http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/the-philippines-population/		You can compare this with the 1898 population during the Philippine revolution where there were 9 million Filipinos and mentioned in Mr. Galo Mendoza's article: The Philippine Revolution and the Spanish-American War, 1898-1902. http://somosprimos.com/sp2014/spapr14/spapr14.htm#THE PHILIPPINES With its tremendous population size, one source mentions and enumerates all the 154 languages and dialects in the Philippines. http/www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/languages_and_dialects_in_the_ph.htm On the other hand Wikipedia states that there are 125 to 175 languages and dialects in the Philippines depending on the method of classification. Almost all are classified as Malayo-Polynesian languages, while the Chabacano, a creole language, is the only one derived from a foreign and Western source which is Spanish. The Philippine languages are often referred to by common Filipinos as dialects, partly as an imprecise characterisation in the Philippine literature during the American occupation (1898–1946). While there are indeed many hundreds of dialects in the Philippines, they represent variations of at least 120 distinct languages.

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In everyday terms, a language such as the English language can have a number of dialects (e.g. Yorkshire, Brooklyn to mention a few in the northeast of USA alone), where words/pronunciation/grammar may slightly differ. It can also have difference accents (ways of pronouncing words) as that of American English vs Australian English, British English etc.* However, people speaking the same language but with different accents or dialects whether they are from New Zealand all the way to Canada are normally able to understand each other. The same is true with my native language of Tagalog where so many variations are spoken in other Tagalog regions which can be considered dialects. The Spanish language spoken in Spain, Latin America and former Spanish colonies has dialects also.		Going back to the Philippines, its language family identified by Robert Blust as cited by Wikipedia includes languages of north Sulawesi (Celebes in Indonesia) and the Yami language of Taiwan, but excludes the Sama–Bajaw languages of the Sulu Archipelago (Southernmost part of the Philippines) as well as a couple of North Bornean languages spoken in southern Palawan in the Philippines. Eskayan is an artificial auxiliary language created as the embodiment of a Bohol nation in the Philippines in the aftermath of the Philippine–American War. It is used by about 500 people. Major Philippine languages, not including dialects, are also enumerated below by Wikipedia and the native speakers. Again all the languages and dialects are cited in: http://www.seasite.niu.edu/TAGALog/languages_and_dialects_in_the_ph.htm

Major Philippine Languages Number of Speakers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Philippines

Tagalog^[11]	22,000,000
Sugbuanon/Cebuano	21,000,000
Ilocano	7,700,000
Hiligaynon	7,000,000
Waray-Waray	3,100,000
Kapampangan	2,900,000
Northern Bicol^[12]	2,500,000
Pangasinan	2,434,086
Southern Bicol^[13]	1,200,000
Chavacano	1,200,000
Maranaw	1,150,000
Maguindanao	1,100,000
Kinaray-a	1,051,000
Tausug	1,022,000
Surigaonon	1,000,000
Masbateño	530,000
Aklanon	520,000
Ibanag	320,000
Español	2,000

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To give non-Filipino readers a particular insight into our many languages, let me give a specific example. I would like to mention here the word love which is the most universal language possessed by mankind. In Tagalog, love has at least 9 words which are not common in other languages in the world and even to other Philippine languages and dialects. Love means pag-ibig, pagmamahal, pagsinta, pag-irog, pagliyag, paggiliw, pagsuyo, paghirang, and for divine love *pagkasi. To say I love you* in Tagalog, they are Ini-ibig kita, sinisinta kita, minamahal kita, to name a few expressions. To say the same expression in the Visayan languages, to name a few as in: 1) Sugbuanon, it is Gihigugma ko ikaw; in 2) Hiligaynon, it is Ginahigugma ko ikaw; in 3) Surigaonon, it is Taghigugma ta kaw, and in 4) Waray-waray, it is *Hinihigugma* *ko ikaw.* These Visayan languages share the same word for love which is Gugma or Paghigugma. In Kapampangan, we say Palsintan daca or Kaluguran daca. In Ilokano, Ay-ayaten ka, and in Pangasinense *Ina-aro ta ka.* In the northern Bicol provinces such as Albay, it is *Namomotan ta ka/Namootan ta ka* but it is *Namomoot ako sa imo* in the southern Bicol province of Sorsogon.		Since the Bicolano language has many variations, the phrase, I love you has many different expressions other than the above expressions I cited. These are just few examples in our many languages and dialects. In the Malaysian and Indonesian language which is Bahasa and is related to the Philippine languages, to say I love you is Saya chinta padamu and *Saja tjinta padamu,* respectively. The expressions are pronounced the same way. The difference is how they are spelled which show the influence of both the English and Dutch spellings. The above citation of the Philippine languages tells is that the Spanish language has 2,000 speakers. From the above chart it appears that the numerical figure for Spanish speakers are the native speakers. This can mean Spanish residents and their descendants in the Philippines and not those Filipinos who have learnt the language fluently as a second or third language like learning English which is the official language of the Philippines. The research data do not show how many indigenous Filipinos actually speak the Spanish language fluently. A friend in the facebook gives his educated guess that there are at least 400,000 Filipinos who are conversant in Spanish other than the 2,000 native speakers. If this were the case then less than 1% of Filipinos would be fluent in Spanish. Wikipedia also states that there are 50,000 Filipinos living in Spain. This does not include Filipinos living in Spanish- speaking countries in America.

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The Philippines was colonised by Spain for at least 350 years and the Americans for 48 years. But nationalistic and/or patriotic sentiments have given way to our determination to preserve and speak our many indigenous languages despite our very long years of colonial experience. It is true that the Phlippines has retained the use of English as its official language but it has also officially declared the Tagalog language officially as the basis of our national language which is spoken by at least 22 million people. Despite the long colonization of the Philippines by Spain, the legacy of the language of Don Miguel de Cervantes has not fared well in terms of its common and popular usage among Filipinos compared to its Latin American counterparts other than the incorporation and retention of many words in our many natives languages and of course its lasting influence in creating a Spanish related language (though not similar to the retention of Spanish in the former Latin American countries) in the province of Zamboanga, a city or town in the province of Cavite which is north of Zamboanga, and some towns in Mindanao. This idiom is called Chabacano, an article that I wrote in the Somos Primos magazine. http://somosprimos.com/sp2012/spapr12/spapr12.htm#Philippines		Efforts in public/government and private sectors have been established to make Filipinos learn or relearn the language of Don Miguel de Cervantes. I remember when I first attended the University of the Philippines many decades ago, a law was passed requiring 4 years or 24 credits of Spanish for those majoring in Liberal Arts, Foreign Service (my major), Education, Business Administration/ Commerce, and Law to earn these academic degrees. That indeed helped me learn continuously Spanish I started studying during my last two years of high school. My listening to my father speak Spanish to our Spanish speaking neighbours had also helped me during my pre-collegiate years and thereafter. The required teaching of Spanish in college was terminated in the late 20th century. A move to revive it became a reality starting in the 21st century. Also the official policy and efforts to teach and use our native languages especially in the elementary schools for each region in the Philippines is already in place. Lastly and as we are talking of the Spanish language in the Philippines, I can't help it but include two beautiful songs about my country by El Fabuloso Trio Los Panchos. a) Filipinas in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvF43AlSjaY b) Manila, Maganda kang Ciudad** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVEhnSwTUxk

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* See http://somosprimos.com/sp2012/spdec12/spdec12.htm#THE PHILIPPINES
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language_in_the_Philippines

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The 21st century has seen a revival of interest in the language, with the numbers of those studying it formally at college or taking private courses rising markedly in recent years.^[59] Today, the Philippine constitution provides that Spanish shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis.^[60] A great portion of the history of the Philippines is written in Spanish and, up until recently, many land titles, contracts, newspapers and literature were still written in Spanish.^[61] Today, Spanish is being somewhat revived in the Philippines by groups rallying to make it a compulsory subject in school.^[62] Republic Act No. 9187 was approved on February 5, 2003 and signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declaring June 30 of every year as Philippine–Spanish Friendship Day to commemorate the cultural and historical ties, friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Spain.^[63] On July 3, 2006, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines created Resolution No. 2006-028 urging the national government to support and promote the teaching of the Spanish language in		all public and private universities and colleges in the Philippines.^[64] On December 17, 2007, the Department of Education issued Memorandum No. 490, s. 2007 encouraging secondary schools to offer basic and advance Spanish in the 3rd and 4th year levels respectively, as an elective.^[65] As of 2008^[update], there was a growing demand for Spanish- speaking agents in the call center industry as well as in the business process outsourcing in the Philippines for the Spanish and American market. Around 7,000 students were enrolled in the Spanish language classes of the Instituto Cervantes de Manila for the school year 2007–2008.^[66] On December 11, 2008, the Department of Education issued Memorandum No. 560, s. 2008 that shall implement the Special Program in Foreign Language on a pilot basis starting school year 2009–2010. The program shall initially offer Spanish as a foreign language in one school per region, at two classes of 35 students each, per school.^[67] As of 2009, the Spanish government has offered to fund a project and even offered scholarship grants to Spain for public school

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teachers and students who would like to study Spanish or take up a master’s degree in four top universities in Spain. The Spanish government has been funding the on-going pilot teacher training program about the Spanish language, involving two months of face-to-face classes and a 10-month on-line component.^[68] Clásicos Hispanofilipinos is a project of Instituto Cervantes de Manila which aims to promote Filipino heritage and preserve and reintroduce the works of great Fil-Hispanic authors of the early 20th century to the new generation of Filipino Hispanophones. The Spanish novel of Jesús Balmori entitled Los Pájaros de Fuego (Birds of Fire) which was mostly written during the Japanese occupation was published by the Instituto last June 28, 2010.^[69] King Juan Carlos I commented in 2007 that in fact, some of the beautiful pages of Spanish were written in the Philippines. During her visit to the Philippines in July, 2013, Queen Sofia of Spain expressed her support for the Spanish language to be revived in Philippine schools, saying that there were 318 Spanish-trained basic education teachers in the Philippines. The Philippine Secretary of Education Armin Altamirano Luistro announced an agreement also with the Chilean government to train Filipino teachers in Spanish. In exchange, the Philippines would help train Chilean teachers in English. My sister, Dr. Zita and her two nephews, Pfirlani Eddie and Eddnard-Plácido, in 2008. I can't believe that they have grown up so fast.

The Month of June
by Eddie AAA Calderon, Ph.D.
eddieaaa@hotmail.com

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As I now recount that famous American song Magic Is the Moonlight starting in the 40's taken from that very romantic, beautiful and equally famous Mexican song entitled: Muñequita Linda by Agustin Lara in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afR-zq5FTXs
(Trio Los Panchos)

I remember this month very well from its American rendition which particularly mentions the month of June and let me recite the first two stanzas of this very beautiful song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqntbTFGIz8
(Dean Martin)

Of course June is also famous for its being the favourite month of wedding when the popular expression June Bride comes to the focus. It is also the end of the Spring season where the flowers are in their full bloom, a very beautiful sight to behold. It is also the end of the school year in the USA and many countries in the world. Usually children love this as they can enjoy Summer without having to go to school.

And I will for always remember this month as my mother
(May she continue to rest in peace, with my father in heaven)
was born in June.

Let me attach here the lyrics of this beautiful and romantic song in both the language of Edgar Allan Poe and Don Miguel de Cervantes. Have a very nice month of June mis primos as Summer season starts towards the end of this month.

Muñequita linda,
de cabellos de oro,
de dientes de perla,
labios de rubi.

Dime si me quieres,
como yo te adoro,
si de mi te acuerdas,
como yo de ti.

A veces escucho
un eco divino,
que envueltó en la brisa
parece decir.

Si te quiero mucho,
mucho, mucho, mucho,
tanto como entonces...
siempre hasta morir,

Magic is the moonlight,
On its lover's June night.
As I see the moonlight
Shining in your eyes.

Can't resist the power,
In this moonlit hour.
Love begins to flower
This is paradise.

Living in the splendor,
Of your kiss to tender.
Make my heart surrender
To your love divine.

Magic is the moonlight,
More than any dream night.
Magic is the moonlight,
For it made you mine

Aurora, Philippines: a Place of Enchantment

By Galo Gonzales (Poppo Olag)

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(Foreword by Eddie AAA Calderon, Ph.D.)

Poppo Olag comes from Baler, the capital of the province of Aurora in the Philippines where my father was born and raised before he moved to Quezon City when he married my mother before the Second World War.

The Aurora province especially that of its capital Baler is a land of beauty and I did not become privilege of visiting it for the first time until I went back to the Philippines on a world tour in 1970 and spending a month there to do my Ph.D. dissertation research. In visiting my father's hometown and the suburban areas, I finally met my father's relatives other than my aunts, uncles, first cousin, and acquaintances who used to visit us in Quezon City.

My father used to tell my sister and my mother how beautiful was his hometown and the province of Aurora but did no really encourage the family to pay his hometown a visit because he was wary that it would be a very scary travel especially when the bus travelled to many narrow winding roads overlooking many cliffs on the way to his hometown which might cause bus accidents especially during the rainy season. Accidents did happen but my relatives visiting us came to our place safely. But still my father was very wary. The first time he visited Baler after he got married and established his residence in Quezon was in 1957 upon the death of his oldest brother.

When I came home in 1970, I told my father that I would go to Baler even if he still had the wary feeling of the safety in travel. And I did. And I was happy to go there as I could not believe the beauty that was Baler and Aurora and of course meeting my relatives. Now the travel to Baler and Aurora is safe and I went back there for the second time when I returned to the Philippines in 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2000. My being married, having children, and being in the autumn of life have given me non-tempting encouragement to go home again.)

Readers can refer to Poppo Olag's website below to see those beautiful pictures and people if it will be difficult to reproduce them in the Somos Primos Magazine. http://batangbaler..net/olagstories/aurora.htm

Aurora, Philippines: a Place of Enchantment

By Galo Gonzales (Poppo Olag)

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History was written on a grand scale in this small but fiercely breathtaking region. The Spaniard planted its roots here, in the strip of land along the Pacific coast hemmed by the towering Sierra Madre. Today, the pristine seashores, and the forlorn green surroundings reach for the horizon. From the marvelous beauty of the rugged coast to the history of its towns, the charm and handsome beaches and fishing villages, Aurora province is a land of enchantment, a trove of delight waiting to be explored.

When I visited the province seven years ago, I decided, on a whim, to plod around the shore of Baler. I did not make it all the way, partly because there are too many marshes and other breaks in the seashore. But I did retrace the journey that Fray Blas Palomino, OFM, made in 1609 along those stretch of land, and I imagined how things have changed since then. I could understand why so many people are drawn, as he and his company were, to “the shore of the resounding sea, determined to get it into us.” I could also imagine, to a greater or lesser degree, the problems that now beset the province¾over-logging, over-fishing, erosion, pollution, and moreover, the unconsciousness of the people towards the environment. Nonetheless, Baler and Casiguran, in both its history and its geography, are too much a special case to stand for the whole Pacific shores of the province. I decided, therefore, to have a look at the rest of the long coast from north to south.

This digest is a record of my findings and admiration to the province where I first see the light of day taken at different times. It was the visionary description of the coast of Aurora from Umiray to Diapitan Bay. I hope, it will make it easier to see the coast as a whole and to see how it is faring almost four centuries after the missionaries reported finding it.

It was not what some traveling salesman, misled by rumors had imagined Aurora province is a land of plenty. So powerful was that appeal that in course of time the province where to receive greatest migration in history. For some years, Aurora has been interfacing with the new comers, starting place for new lives, new ventures, and new fortunes.

The historic role has not been fulfilled without damage to the province itself. For so many years, before the coming of the new immigrants, native Aurorans had lived lightly on this land. They felled a few trees, cleared fields for their plantings, set weirs for fish. They had not the means to leave much mark on the land, nor did they understand the doctrine, proclaimed in the book of revelation, that the earth and all its creatures had been created for the sole use and benefits of the human race. Thus, at the beginning of the mid-19th century, the untouched land was impacted by the ax, the plow, the gun, and, in time the pile driver, the bulldozer, the concrete and bricks layer, the pesticides, etc.

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In assessing the damage that the people have done to Aurora, mostly in the last fifty years, it is not easy to think of things that we have done to counterbalance the harm. The best to be said is that we have stopped doing some of the worst things. We have generally stopped destroying coastal wetlands and the rainforest.

The bright side of the picture is that, except for the marshes and the wetlands, the damage is not irreversible. The fish will come back if over-fishing, dynamiting and poisoning them are stopped. The shellfish will recover if the pollution is controlled. Where the rainforest has been logged, the trees will grow again if they are planted and protected.

Some like to think that Juan de Salcedo, the Spanish conquistador, was the first voyager from New Spain (Mexico) to see the coast of Aurora province. Very likely, the first were Fray Esteban Ortiz, with companion, Fray Juan de Porras, OFMs, but no one has placed them with certainty. So Fray Blas Palomino, OFM, and seven of his Franciscan brothers goes the credit for its first authentication in 1609.

For more than a century since the shore of Aurora (Baler and Casiguran), were visited by the missionaries, it idled away its days in what it seemed¾ to the outside world, at least¾ content, nearly in unlived-in state. In fact, none of the residents probably even noticed when Fray Esteban Ortiz and Fray Juan de Poras, OFMs, reconnoitered the area in 1578. They continued their quiet existence until 1611, when the first missionary, Fray Juan Francisco de San Antonio arrived in Baler, built the church and introduced the teaching of Christ.

When they discovered the region, they reminisced the “Exploit of Esplandia,” an imaginary place somewhere along the scene resembled Aurora. The Spanish chart was imprecise what they found is a strip of land along the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean that belongs to the Empire of Pampanga during the early years of its discovery. Indeed, the mid-eastern land that stretched the foothill of the Sierra Madre mountain range was a paradise, undeniably blessed.

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Aurora took shape on the maps of Spanish chart makers, it was seen to be a coastline of geologic variety hardly matched anywhere else in the Philippine Archipelago. The northern section, from the present Isabela border to the northern boundary of Quezon province, is a jagged front of promontories, inlets, and set off by hundreds cliffs. The rest of the coast is the complicated work of volcanic upheaval broken by rocky headlands, marshes, and breathtaking beaches. From Dilasag to Dingalan, the prevailing pattern is that of long, thin coastal barriers some of them islets and some of them splits¾ backed by coves, sounds, and great inland reaching bays.
churchcross.jpg (26361 bytes)

Aurora is unmatched in its abundance and diversity. Its Central Valley is the most productive agricultural land in the entire province. The mist-covered jungles are home of the Dipterocarp unparalleled elsewhere in the world. It is extravagantly lush, with ferns dangling overhead and mosses sheathing massive tree trunks like green velvet. An emerald glow suffuses the air as sunlight filters through the canopy. This is the true rainforest¾ the largest one in northern Luzon. In the interior part of the jungle, some trees developed interdependence with moss that envelope them. Although some species of vine, fern, lichen, liverwurst, and other epiphytic plants use tree trunks and branches as an anchor, they derive their food from the air and rains. The trees on the other hand, actually feed on their guest, extending small aerial roots into the moss to draw out nutrients. Some of these aerial plants are extra-ordinarily fragile and primitive.

Equally grand is Aurora’s 328 kilometer coastlines. This dramatic rim of the province has been source of inspiration ever since the Spanish friars began building missions along this Pacific coast 388 years ago. Today the roads that link Baler to the rest of the towns in the province closely follows and captures the splendor, the power of waves crashing against the coast, and twilight glows that transforms the evening sky into a palette of pastels.

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It stretches along vast expanse of the ocean at the edge of Aurora. Here, nature is in balance, as well as abundance. Sky, sea and shore meet in unimaginable beauty that does indeed seem near to gods, or at least divinely inspired. A mere seven hours drive from Manila to the balmy beaches of Baler, the capital, is awesome. The journey through Baler-Bongabong or Canili Pantabangan national roads is not for the fainthearted. It winds through the Sierra Madre and subject to washouts and landslides with every torrential rainstorm. During the dry season, it has a tendency to crumble away into nightmarish gorges. Usually only logging trucks or dilapidated public buses or local jeepneys grind through the mountain, splashing through streams that tumble across the road from the heights and then drop into chasms, passing beneath giant ferns, towering trees, feathery pandanus pines that crowd the margins of the road. The landscape is dominated by peak higher than thousand meters, which today remain unexplored. Traveling by air the view of fog-stranded mountain is dazzling, but only at the ground level does one begin to appreciate their immensity. No mortal can feel anything but insignificant and humble in those imposing surrounding.

What is it about Aurora province that makes it enhancing? In reality, it had a strangely seductive out-of-time pace that proved a match for anyone dreamlike style. And if there is a Philippine version of “La Dolce Vita”, you can find it along the shores of Aurora. Its long and languorous expanse stretching from the grayish-white sandy beach of Dingalan Bay to the sandy cove of Dilasag are beauties to behold. The vast Pacific brushes with its white foamy waves the shores along the rocky cliff blanketed by the blue-green vegetation. Its sandy beach glitters like gold attracting developers to build lavish and fanciful resorts.

Some of the latest resort sprung overnight, and they continue to sprout, the hottest new spots are the beaches along the outer bank of Sabang, Labasin, Buton and the vicinity around the promontory of Ermita (Point Baja) all the way to the area of Puntian by the Rock of Dimadimalangat. It resembles the resort in the islands of Bora Bora in French Polynesia. The resort holds gracious undiscovered fishing areas where life center around the surf, tides, seasons and its mystical beauty.

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You can come to this marvelous shoreline alone, with a lover, friend, or as a family. You can come sport fish, to swim, to surf, or enjoy the nightlife. Or simply relax in the finest beach in the area, to eat grilled fish (inihaw na isda) and drink cold San Miguel beer. While the choices are limited nonetheless, its glamour, gracious and exotic, promising unimaginable satisfaction.

Some years ago, Duval and Sheen descended here to film the “Apocalypse Now.” Since then, Aurora has been a favorite haunt of the beautiful people, who consider it their own quaint playground.

My interest about Aurora had roots from the memories of my youthful days in Baler, plus the myths and legends recounted to me by my grandparents. In addition, to the historical records I discovered from the Franciscan and Augustinian Recollect Archives in Spain. All these fueled me to write about this province with nostalgic and historical yesteryears. I am convinced that this historical facts will captivate future generations, and I would like to believe that this work, in addition to broadening interest in the topic, will contribute to a better understanding how the province of Aurora came into existence.

During the discovery of Baler and Casiguran, plus the two established missions: Mision San Jose de Casecnan/San Joseph (Maria Aurora) and Mision de San Miguel (Dipaculao) by the Franciscan friars, the region was part of the Empire of Pampanga ruled by Prince Malang Balagtas. In 1591 when Tayabas was created into a province under Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, Baler and Casiguran was obtained from the Empire of Pampanga and became a town of Tayabas including Nueva Ecija, which was then a military district of Pampanga established in 1701 by Governor Fausto Cruzat y Gongora.

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Around 1778 the district Commander of Nueva Ecija, Colonel Manuel Monet with approval from the Governor repartitioned the military district under his jurisdiction. The western part became the new military district of Tarlac and assigned to a new district commander. The eastern part remained under him with Baler as its established capital.

In 1785, the capital of Nueva Ecija was moved to Bongabong and later to Cabanatuan. When Governor Rafael Maria de Aguilar took over as Governor of the Philippines, he decreed the separation of the military- district of Nueva Ecija from the province of Pampanga and became a regular province on 25 April 1801 including the town of Baler acquired from Tayabas.

During the ascension of Antonio de Urbiztondo y Equia as the new Governor of the Philippines in 1853, he created the towns of Nueva Ecija along the Pacific coasts to a new district of El Principe that included Baler, the capital; Casiguran, Mision de

San Miguel (Dipaculao), Mision San Jose de Casignan (San Joseph/Maria Aurora).

At the conclusion of the Spanish-American War when Spain lost the Philippines to the United States, Tayabas province was assigned to the care of Colonel Cornelius Gardener as Military Governor on March 12,1901. He abolished the district of El Principe, and again incorporated Baler and Casiguran back to the province of Tayabas. Mision San Jose de Casecnan/San Joseph (Maria Aurora) and Mision de San Miguel (Dipaculao) were absorbed by Baler as a barrio. Thus, consolidated the town along the Pacific seaboard to a single province that extended from the boundary of Camarines Sur to the south, and north to the boundary of Isabela province.

Aurora is young compared to the other provinces that bordered it. Its 21st anniversary was celebrated last August 13, 1997. However, the major towns (Baler and Casiguran) that represent it are as old as most towns in the entire island of Luzon.

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The postwar years found that Baler and Casiguran (northern Quezon Province) were languishing due to its extreme isolation from the neighboring provinces and cities. The late Aurora A. Quezon, wife of the late President Quezon, worked for the appointment of Pedro V. Guerrero as mayor of Baler, and Antonio A. Angara as mayor of Casiguran. Agitated by the difficulty to journey to Lucena, the capital of the province to transact official business, the late Mayor Pedro V. Guerrero and Mayor Antonio A. Angara, innovatively and inceptively sought the creation of a Sub-Province of Aurora to ease the burden of traveling over a narrow and rugged Sierra Madre road, through the fringes of the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Rizal, the City of Manila, Laguna, and Batangas. Moreover, to create a sub-province to materialize, creations of more municipalities are necessary.

Before 1901, the capital of Kalilayan (Tayabas) now, Quezon province was the town of Tayabas. However, after the defeat of the Iberian sovereignty and pacification of the Filipino insurgents, the capital of Quezon was relocated to Lucena in 1901 by the American regime. Lucena during the early period was mere sitio of Buenavista, later renamed Oroquieta.

On 5 November 1879, Oroquieta was adopted the name Lucena in honor of Fray Mariano Granja, who was from Lucena in Andalucia, Spain and responsible for its development. On 1 June 1882, Lucena became a municipality.

On 21 July 1949, San Jose de Casecnan/San Joseph was created as a municipality. During its creation, a new name (Maria Aurora) was given, to honor the death of Maria Aurora (Baby) A. Quezon, daughter of the late commonwealth first lady, Mrs. Aurora A. Quezon who died with her in an ambush on 28 April 1949. It was followed by Mision de San Miguel (Dipaculao) on 27 November 1950. With the addition of the two municipalities, the late Congressman Honorable Gaudencio Vera of the Second District of Quezon submitted a bill creating the subprovince of Aurora. The bill was subsequently passed and approved by the Congress on 14 June 1951, known as Republic Act 648. President Elpidio Quirino appointed Mayor Pedro V. Guerrero as the first Lieutenant Governor. On 16 June 1959, San Luis became a municipality followed by Dingalan on 16 June 1962. Seven years later on 21 June 1969 Dilasag followed, and subsequently Dinalungan as a municipal district.

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Congressman Moises Escueta submitted a bill creating the Province of Aurora. The House of Representative passed it, but slaughtered in the Senate. Attempts to convince the Senate of making Aurora an independent province did not prevail, until the imposition of Martial Law by President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Lieutenant Governor Luis S. Etcubañez, in 1978, sensing the right time has finally arrive for him to act because of his political affiliation with the 21 Assemblymen of Region IV, requested their assistance to co-sponsor a Parliamentary Bill for the establishment of Aurora as an independent province.

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The bill was passed overwhelmingly. Moreover, the approval of the people is required to know if they are really determined to be an independent province separated from Quezon. The plebiscite of May 1979 was held with flying colors. By virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 7, Aurora province was born and officially declared and signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos as the seventy-third province of the Philippines, on 13 August 1979, making the town of Baler as its Capital.

On the occasion of 19 August 1979, the town fiesta, Atty Luis S. Etcubañez was appointed and sworned-in by the President as Governor of Aurora. He was the first governor and the last Lieutenant Governor of the subprovince of Aurora.

Aurora showcases one of the most spectacular arrays of beauties found anywhere in the Philippines. One need only swim a few meters to see some of the 400 species of coral found here. Dropping down in the crystal clear water, you can be greeted by these huge, colorful colonies that rise to just below the ocean’s surface. Although they appear massive and indestructible, coral reefs are extremely delicate, and the

living organisms that create them must be protected from human touch.

Throughout the province coastal swamps, estuaries, and saltwater marshes are dominated by mangrove forest, which create inviting environments for crabs, clams, and turritella snails. Fertile shoals yield shrimps and lobsters. Offshore offer some of the world best deep-sea fishing.

Although geologically similar to other reef systems in the Indo-Pacific Basin, the shoreline of Aurora province differs in one important way¾its biological diversity is extremely pronounced. The invertebrates found in these waters are too divers to catalog, and fish populations are among the world’s most varied.

All those who visit Aurora province come away inspired. Travelers take home stories of Sierra Madre’s greenery. Alone or shared, these visionary moments may be purely sensory or passionately philosophical, but rarely slip away. They tend to have lasting effect and even change lives.

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Meditate along the shore with the morning mist drifted and rose, sunlight spread the waves with silver. Boundless shores, edged by steep sand dunes, stretched north and south to the horizon, with sandpipers glide at the surfs surface without a care what happen on the world next. This is Aurora province a quiet Eden where tranquility resigns. It’s an ultimate fantasy where time sifts slowly through dull-gray sand beaches and where moment can be spend in romantic rapture. It’s a place to behold.

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TOWNS' HISTORY IN A NUTSHELL

Baler

The early Spanish missionaries of two different religious groups were the pioneer builders of the town of Baler. “They were the Franciscan and the Augustinian Recollect, men of God, imbued with the gallant courage of crusaders, the fervent faith of martyrs, and noble virtues of saints. Without arms, but their crucifixes and rosaries, they penetrated unexplored jungles and crossed uncharted mountains to bring the gospel of Christ to the people into the region; so doing, they suffered untold misery, even untimely death.”

Upon their arrival into the Philippines, missionaries of different denominations were organized according to the provinces they were to evangelize. For the Franciscans, OFM (Order of Minor Friar), their organization was known as Province of Saint Gregory the Great (Provincia de San Gregorio Magno) and Augustinian Recollects, AR (Augustinian Recollects), their organization was known as Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine (Provincia de San Nicolas de Tolentino). The first unofficial incursion into the land that is now Baler was the arrival of missionaries Fray Esteban Ortiz, and Fray Juan de Porras, OFMs, on June 1578. Consequently, due to the shortage of church representative their stay was short-lived. They were recalled for a more important mission elsewhere. Thirty-one years hence, on July 1609, Fray Blas Palomino, OFM, and six of his Franciscans brothers undaunted by the uncertainty that awaits them, trekked through the jungles of eastern Caraballo and western Sierra Madre mountain ranges and discovered the hamlet of Baler at Kinagunasan (Wash-away). It was situated to the right of San Jose (Aguang) River that flows to the Bay that bears the same name two years after the English established Jamestown as its first settlement in America.

Baler Bay was formed from the headland of Point Encanto (Pokpok na Bundok) south through northeast to Point Dinadyawan. Accessed only by sea it was extremely difficult during the monsoon season, while certain time of the year almost impossible. After Fray Blas Palomino, OFM discovered Baler he did not remain there. He continued his journey northward.

On 24 October 1611, Fray Juan Francisco de San Antonio arrived in Baler as its first assigned missionary. Upon arrival he constructed the church and began spread the gospel of Christ among the people. He stayed in Baler through May 1, 1613, and relieved by Fray Miguel Soriano, OFM.

On 31 August 1658, because of shortages of the Franciscan missionaries, the Vicar General, Fray Francisco de Ribera, OFM relinquished the management of the Baler parish to the Augustinian Recollect. The transfer took effect on 1 September 1658. Fray Francisco Perez, OFM the last Franciscan, was relieved by the first Augustinian Recollect, Padre Agustin de Santa Monica, AR. The Franciscan regained the ministry of Baler forty-five years later on 7 May 1703. It was handed over by Padre Francisco de la Madre de Dios, AR, to Fray Juan de la Torre, OFM.

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The date of 27 December 1735 was a devastating event in the history of Baler. Around two o’clock in the morning while the people were on their sleep, an uncanny phenomenon occurred. A tidal wave of tremendous velocity engulfed the town with no warning and within an hour it was gone. One of survivors were Fray Jose de San Rafael, OFM, a missionary from Casiguran who was at Baler for a visit, plus a handful of families that included: the Angara, Bihasa, Bitong, Carrasco, Lumasac, the Poblete (tell tale), who managed to swim to the nearby hill of Point Baja. The phenomenon was weird because it happened so suddenly. There was no manifestation of bad weather and the night was starry and bright. The nearby town of Casiguran, Mision de San Miguel (Dipaculao) and the village of Dingalan were not touched by the devastating tidal waves, despite the fact that they were situated on the same coastal area.

Sometime after the deluge, a new town was constructed on a land belonging to sitio Zabali, located 15°45’ latitude on a hilly terrain about 8 kilometers west of Baler Bay. It borders 15 kilometers northeast, with Mision de San Miguel (Dipaculao), 15 kilometers northwest, with Mision of San Jose de Casecnan/San Joseph (Maria Aurora), 62 kilometers southwest, the District of Pantabangan, 52 kilometers to the north, the town of Casiguran, 97 kilometers south, the town of the District of Infanta, and 99 kilometers west, the town of Bongabong. Casiguran and Infanta were accessible only by sea.

Casiguran

No one gets to Casiguran by accident. And even if one were to do so, he would be fortunate to reach the town after traversing either the Sierra Madre mountain or sail through the Pacific Ocean. And what a town it is! Casiguran is desolately located shimmering along the eastern coast of Casiguran Sound. It is a veritable utopia of mountainous scenery, unspoiled beaches, and some of the most exotic plant and animal life can be found. So it is not difficult to imagine why people all over the country chose this town as his own place of recluse.

Casiguran was discovered six months after Baler by the same Franciscan, Fray Blas Palomino, OFM, in 1609. The first missionary assigned was Fray Pascual Serrano, OFM, in 1616. Like Baler, it was taken over by the Augustinian Recollects in 1658 and returned to the Franciscans in 1703. The church is dedicated to the patron saint, San Antonio de Padua.

Antonio de Padua.

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Dilasag

It is comforting to know that in the hustle and bustle of Everyday life, there still exists a serene setting as pristine and unspoiled as nature intended¾and one of the last destinations free from commercialism. Dilasag, the town that became a municipality on 21 June 1969 complement the sub-province, with the possibility of becoming a regular province, and it did ten years later.

The town of Dilasag in and around has a certain “feel” that separates it from other beautiful beaches. Here, the wilderness is divided by a river that is surrounded by both steep mountains and open flood plains. It and other smaller streams flow through shadowy gorges with crafty vertical cliffs rising besides the seashore. Even where there are no rocks in sight the land seems usually rugged; and its history, both real and legendary, is colorful to match.

Amidst its landscape of scattered islets, crushing surf, rainforest and sand beach, the senses awaken. Here you perceive the world in all its elaborate splendors. Now, inspired by the signature flower of the Pacific, the orchids at Dilasag rainforest graces the landscape in a myriad of colors. Canawer Beach where Katagman river flows meet the ocean¾these are but a few of Dilasag sophisticated pleasure. You can go the life of your own pace, where eating is a function of desire, not the ticking of a clock. You can stroll down on shimmering white sandy shores, skin dive and immerse yourself in the tranquility of the ocean and

Breathtaking landscapes, for it is here you can relax both body and soul. When it’s over, just close your eyes and savor the dream of this paradise. It’s a hideaway for those who prefer to leave the maddening crowds behind and get back in touch with nature. It is a sanctuary for man and nature, an area rich in blessing, land abundance and much of it is sacred.

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Dinalungan

Dinalugan's destiny has been molded by water. Located at the rim of the vast Pacific, southwest of Casiguran. A ribbon of dunes, san-bars, and coral reefs dotted with deep lagoons (lamaw) festoons the coast. It’s abounds with coral reefs, and the water so clear that skin-divers can at times see 60 feet away. It’s endless stretches of sandy beach hilly dunes and marshy meadows remain virtually undeveloped. You’ll want to kick off your shoes and walk along to take in the spectacular vista. It’s youngest town in the province. The nation’s lawmakers granted its township on 16 June 1966.

Drifting along is Dinalungan River that slice through limestone clay bluff amid timberland, and farmland, and out to the Pacific—tranquility and remoteness which seem inherent to this verdant town. Ghostly mist hovering an eerie landscape encrusted in white fog. Dinalugan is better known for its natural beauty than its history. It remains one of the most unspoiled sections of the province.

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Dingalan

Tucked in the tip of southern Aurora province are the incredible town of Dingalan¾visitors will find its natural treasure¾the verdant hillsides, golden reefs, rosy sunsets and the friendly residents.

If you want to visit a world where no one even heard of, journey to the town of Dingalan. It’s a quintessential mid-eastern Pacific town that succumbed to the beauty of the bay, the surrounding landscape, and graciousness of its residents. Under a full moon, it is irresistible. It gives you breathtaking luxury and peaceful seclusion while offering the most activities.

From the hill surrounding the town, convocation of unseen hornbill interrupts the midmorning silence, disputing raucously in the dense forest. They pause momentarily then resume their trilling, cackling, nagging, argumentative chorus. Above, the sun glints through the canopy of giant trees. This is Dingalan where beauty glimmers.

Dipaculao

Like San Jose de Casecnan/San Joseph (Maria Aurora), Mision de San Miguel (Dipaculao) was established by Fray Sebastian de la Madre de Dios in 1719, Thirty-two years prior San Jose de Casecnan. Both missions were under the jurisdiction of Baler Parish and established to perpetuate the gospel of Christ.

Dipaculao is hemmed by mountain visible in almost every direction, dark-blue and hump-backed, foggy and darkly polished at dusk. No one but geologist would know by their appearance that they are mostly marble, the roads glitters with it, and you start to notice that almost everything else is, too¾there is quiet luster to the town. Visiting it is like going back in time to a more innocent mission, slower-phased, immune to the daily pressures of survival.

In Amper Beach some few kilometers northeast of the town is enticing and undeniably beautiful. It is endowed with grayish-black granite rocks formation, silts and marbles, miniature cave, and hill of waves that is far excellent for surfing. Combined with the cool airflow from the Sierra Madre and the warm breeze of the Pacific, it’s a utopia for romance.

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Maria Aurora

Mystical, mesmerizing fog a morning blanket so characteristic of this town. Maria Aurora that used to be, Mision de San Jose de Casecnan as better known during the early years of the Spanish domination, and San Joseph as popularly known during the early years of my childhood, was established by Fray Manuel de Olivencia, OFM, on 1753. However, due to the shortage of church clergies, assigned priest did not make it there until eight years later, and the honor went to Fray Francisco Ferreras, OFM. From this small mission, he spread the gospel of Christ among the non-Christian.

During the time of its establishment, San Jose de Casecnan was populated by Ilongots. As years drags on, people all over the Archipelago migrated to San Jose de Casecnan as land prospectors forcing the Ilongot to vacate the mission. They moved further in land avoiding the interference of outsiders to their primitive way of life.

They settled on the foothill of the Sierra Madre known today as Kadayakan. Moreover, twenty-two years prior to the enactment of the Philippine Commonwealth, Governor Cameron William Forbes, on 21 August 1912 declared this land area as reservation for non-Christians. Likewise, Dibut in San Luis, Ditale in Dipaculao, Calabgan in Casiguran, and Umiray in Dingalan.

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San Luis

Every waterfalls flow into the sea. But Cunayan Falls in San Luis flows into your heart. It’s a waterfall of pure, undiluted love. Where laughter and color splash together with joyfulness. Get caught up in the ebb and flow. For this waterfall together with Disalet river will instill in you unforgettable memories.

San Luis, one of the most under-visited town in the province at present, is also one of the most beautiful. You can snorkel through the kaleidoscope river of Disalet or gaze at the green valley surrounding it. It’s a town to behold.

SPAIN

Bocacio Alonso, de Bollullos del Condado

Ángel Custodio Rebollo

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Si revisamos parte de lo que se ha escrito sobre él, podemos llamarle “Bocacio”, “Ocacio” o “Acacio”, porque por los tres nombres es conocido, aunque me inclino por el primero, ya que los demás, salvo error, no los he encontrado en el santoral

Bocacio Alonso, el hijo de Diego Alonso de los Lagares y de Teresa Hernandez, había nacido en Bollullos del Condado, según se cree alrededor de 1488.

Persona muy decidida que se embarcó en la expedición de Hernando de Magallanes, como marinero de la nao “Santiago”. Con Magallanes iba mucha tripulación de Huelva, porque habían reclutado

hombres en Ayamonte, Lepe y Moguer y pueblos cercanos.

Pero el 22 de mayo de 1524 la nave se hundió y Bocacio pasó a formar parte de la tripulación de la nao “Victoria”, también como marinero. Al parecer había emprendido el viaje con dinero, que se dedicó a prestar a otros tripulantes. Entre los que recibieron prestamos, tenemos a Martin de Magallanes, vecino de Lisboa y sobrino de Hernando (hijo de su hermana Catalina), que recibió 10.000 maravedíes. A Martin de Ayamonte, que era grumete de la Nao Victoria, e hijo de los ayamontinos Diego de Lorenzo y de Maria Lora, facilitó 2.250 maravedíes, y a Cristóbal de Acosta, de Jerez de la Frontera, a quien entregó 750 maravedíes.

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Pero no solo se dedicó a prestar dinero, pues era muy activo y estaba muy bien considerado por los jefes de los barcos en los que prestó servicio y fruto de su actividad y predisposición, vivió un gran momento, cuando en unión del lombardero de la nao “Victoria” y del barbero de la “Concepciön”, fue designado por Hernando de Magallanes, para que desembarcasen a tierra con una chalupa, después de haber penetrado en el estrecho y subieran a una colina en forma de campana, que después bautizaron con el nombre de “Campana de Roldán”, para que vieran por donde seguir la ruta y lo que divisaron al llegar a la cima, fue otro mar, como el Atlántico que habían dejado atrás, por el que continuaron su ruta. Después de pasar un pequeño estrecho.

Fue uno de los pocos que regresaron a Sevilla, después de tres años, y como Magallanes les había prometido un premio a quienes descubriesen como salid de aquel estrecho, cuando llegaron a la capital hispalense, recibieron Retrato de Magallanes
4.500 maravedíes cada
uno.

	INTERNATIONAL
	Amesbury in Wiltshire confirmed as UK's oldest, longest continually-occupied settlement Let’s think about this . . . . Application of Foreign Law in US Courts

Amesbury in Wiltshire confirmed UK's oldest & longest continually-occupied settlement

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Amesbury's place in history has also now been recognized by the Guinness Book of Records. Previously, Thatcham in Berkshire, 40 miles from Amesbury, held the record for the longest continuous settlement in the country.

A Wiltshire town has been confirmed as the longest continuous settlement in the United Kingdom. Amesbury, including Stonehenge, has been continually occupied since 8820BC, experts have found.

The news was confirmed following an archaeological dig which also unearthed evidence of frogs' legs being eaten in Britain 8,000 years before France.

David Jacques, from the University of Buckingham, said: "The site blows the lid off the Neolithic Revolution in a number of ways."It provides evidence for people staying put, clearing land, building, and presumably worshipping, monuments.

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"The area was clearly a hub point for people to come to from many miles away, and in many ways was a forerunner for what later went on at Stonehenge itself.

"The first monuments at Stonehenge were built by these people. For years people have been asking why is Stonehenge where it is, now at last, we have found the answers."

Mr Jacques said the River Avon, which runs through the area, would have been like an A road with people travelling along it.

"They may have had the equivalent of local guides and there would have been feasting," he added.

"We have found remains of big game animals, such as aurochs and red deer, and an enormous amount of burnt flint from their feasting fires."

The dig unearthed the largest haul of worked flints from the Mesolithic period

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The dig in Amesbury also uncovered 31,000 worked flints in 40 days as well as animal bones such as frogs' legs.

The find was based on a report by fossil mammal specialist Simon Parfitt, of the Natural History Museum.

Andy Rhind-Tutt, the founder of Amesbury Museum and Heritage Trust, said there was "something unique and rather special about the area" to keep people there from the end of the Ice Age, to when Stonehenge was created and until today.

"The fact that the feasting of large animals and the discovery of a relatively constant temperature spring sitting alongside the River Avon, may well be it," he said.

The dig was filmed and made into a documentary by the BBC, Smithsonian, CBC and others to be screened later in the summer.

The project was led by the University of Buckingham
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-27238503

Let’s think about this . . . .

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We often fail to recognize how much - and how rapidly - science and technology are improving our lives.

In the last few years, we have mapped the human genome, eradicated dozens of infectious diseases, and sent probes to other planets and beyond the solar system. We have created stem cells that can be turned into any kind of tissue in the body, potentially treating ailments ranging from heart disease to Alzheimer's.

Less than 100 years ago, there were no antibiotics, no antisepsis and, except for smallpox, no vaccinations. There were no X-rays, IVs or EKGs. There was no anesthesia.

Virtually every week we see new discoveries. Scientists recently discovered a new gene therapy that promises a remedy for blindness. Last year they discovered a cure for hepatitis C, a silent plague that kills more Americans annually than AIDS and is the leading cause of liver transplants.

Most surgery is far less traumatic than it used to be. Arthroscopic, laparoscopic, endoscopic, drug-eluting stents - these are all commonplace and engineered to get you up and around in no time.

Medicine, of course, is just one facet of applied science. Thirty years ago, most Americans didn't have a personal computer. Twenty years ago, most didn't have a cellphone. Ten years ago, most didn't have a high-speed Internet connection. In our hyper-connected world, it has never been easier to create, share or access ideas.

A desk calculator today has more processing speed and memory capacity than the Apollo 11 capsule that landed on the moon. The smartphone in your pocket has more computer power than did the Pentagon in all its computer banks 30 years ago. And Moore's Law is still in effect: The number of transistors on integrated circuits doubles every two years, leading to exponential improvements.

Most people - even economists and sociologists - fail to recognize the incredible power of dynamic change. Human beings, technology, and capital markets now operate as a collective problem-solving machine. We underestimate the power of human ingenuity and the enormous incentives the free market provides for innovators and entrepreneurs.

But in addition to all the amazing technological advances, science is also increasing our understanding of the universe - and our place in it.

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Using the Hubble Space Telescope last year, scientists discovered the most distant galaxy ever confirmed, whose light took over 13 billion years to reach us, providing a snapshot of the early universe. (It is forming stars at the rate of 330 per year - more than a hundred times faster than the Milky Way.)

In March, using a radio telescope at the South Pole, a team of astrophysicists found patterns of gravity waves in the microwave radiation that lingers in space today. The discovery is the first direct data on the Big Bang, the great kick-off nearly 14 billion years ago.

Last month NASA's Kepler space telescope discovered an unusual planet 500 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. It is roughly the size of earth and orbits its star in the habitable zone, where the temperature is right to support liquid water and perhaps even life.

Astronomers - who have discovered more than 1,800 other planets outside our solar system - now say there are at least 100 billion planets in the Milky Way. There are hundreds of billions of other galaxies too, each with hundreds of billions of stars and uncountable planets orbiting them. It's all a bit mind-boggling to contemplate.

There are still plenty of mysteries left to solve, of course. What caused the Big Bang? Why is the expanding universe speeding up rather than slowing down? And isn't it odd how the physical constants - gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces - are exquisitely fine-tuned to allow the emergence of life? If the nuclear force were slightly stronger, for instance, there would be no hydrogen and thus no water. If the nuclear force were slightly weaker, the complex atoms needed for biology could not hold together.

Despite our many discoveries, astrophysics remains a humbling discipline. In a recent interview, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director of the Hayden Planetarium, said "If you ask me what was around before the Big Bang, I have no idea. What's at the center of a black hole? I have no idea. What is dark matter? Dark energy? I have no idea."

But we are working on it - and should take a moment to appreciate that we live in the greatest age of scientific discovery in the history of the planet.

We now know that human beings are made up of the same elements as everything else. It takes just four ingredients - carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen - to make up most of the molecules in your body. The atoms in these molecules were forged in the fiery hearts of distant stars and blasted into space in supernova explosions.

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Human beings are part of the fabric of the universe. Every atom down here was once out there. And from this atomic architecture rises the structure of our large-scale world.

In short, we are all connected. Not just to each other, biologically. Not just to the earth, chemically. But to the rest of the universe, atomically.

Turns out we're not just in the universe. The universe is also in us.

Sent by Oscar Ramirez
osramirez@sbcglobal.net
http://www.oxfordclub.com/media/Images/alexColor_115x130.jpg

Palestinians say that for Muslims, Palestinian land reaches "from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea" -- that is, over all of what is now Israel. In their view, Tel Aviv is illegally occupied territory just as much as any of the settlements in the West Bank. This view is based on the Muslim doctrine, deeply rooted in Islamic jurisprudence, called "waqf" (religious endowment). Any territory once under the control of Muslims, must forever be controlled by Muslims.[1] According to Islamic law, "If a person makes something waqf, it ceases to be his property and neither he nor anybody else can gift or sell it to any other person.[2]

“Application of Foreign Law in US Courts”

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May 12th, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed SB 386, the “Application of Foreign Law in Courts” bill into law. It’s been a long haul, a four years effort.

The new law will help protect Floridians from foreign law that is inconsistent with American values, such as Islamic sharia law.

Florida joins eight other states that have a law on the books which restricts the application of foreign laws, over the laws of state courts. The others are:

Alabama Arizona Kansas Louisiana
North Carolina Oklahoma Tennessee Washington

Source: www.actforamerica.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNITED STATES
We went to Congress to urge passage of the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act!
Pew Report: Millions of Americans changed their racial or ethnic identity from one census to the next
Pew: Religious Affiliation of Hispanics
The Unbearable Whiteness of Liberal Media, If left-leaning publications value diversity,
why don't they have any? By Gabriel Arana
Opinion: Liberal writer on 'The Unbearable Whiteness of Liberal Media' Michael Barone
Be an Activist: Join the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Why, by Mimi Lozano
"A Chicano is a Mexican-American with a non-Anglo image of himself." by Zita Arocha
Ruben Salazar was a journalist living in two cultures, like me by Flor Flores
Mexican-Americans show growing interest in genealogy
Why Non-holiday in Mexico. Deserves our Attention by Dr. Lily Rivera
Cuento: Part 3, Other AID/W Assignments and a Retaliatory Transfer to Pakistan by José M. Peña
Andy Garcia 2014 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement NALIP award
Jackeline Cacho Awarded Outstanding Women of the Year by La Opinion Newspaper
New York City native Rosario Dawson, is an "Actrovist"
Cesar Chavez's link to Hector Garcia by Daisy Wanda Garcia
Harvesting Hope, the Story of Cesar Chavez
Filipino Americans and the Farm Labor Movement by Angelo Lopez
El impacto histórico del filme sobre César Chávez Por Armando García

ATTEND THE NCLR 2014 CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES
and meet descendents of the founding families of the city of Los Angeles

HISTORIC TIDBITS
Thomas Jefferson's goal to discredit any rights of discovery by the Spanish.
May 3, 1693: Gregorio de Salinas Varona, Governor of Coahuila,
May 1, 1718: San Antonio de Valero Mission founded
Mexico's "Cinco de Mayo: (5th of May)
About Ignacio Seguín Zaragoza
The State Board of Education – A Texas Stonewall by José Antonio López
Surprising American Heroes

HISPANIC LEADERS
Jess Perez, First Mexican Mayor of the City of Orange, CA

LATINO PATRIOTS
Medal of Honor Roll Call: Joseph C. Rodriguez by Robert J. Laplander
De Los Santos Brothers
Another fallen Navajo Code Talker Warrior has departed
Cuento: Soldados, Chicanos in Viet Nam
Cuento: Sea Story by Paul Trejo
June 6, 2014, Marks the 70th anniversary of "D-Day"

EARLY LATINO PATRIOTS
Congress is urged to honor little-known Revolutionary War hero by Richard Simon
Keeping a Promise to Honor a Hero by Joseph W. Dooley
Granaderos de Galvez San Antonio Chapter participate in King William Fair & Parade
Cuento: Robert Thonhoff by Mimi Lozano

SURNAMES
The Serna Family and Your Family in New Mexico

DNA
Mexican cave skeleton reveals secrets of New World's first people By Will Dunham
About DNA, your Guide to Genealogy, from Kimberly Powell

FAMILY HISTORY
Six Tips to Find Your Mexican Family History by Glen Greene
New Online Collection of Civil War Records Released in Observance of Memorial Day
FamilySearch Adds More Images to from Philippines, Portugal, Spain, & United States

EDUCATION
Renato Rosaldo, a World's Leading Cultural Anthropologist
Handbook of Latinos and Education, Theory, Research, and Practice,
Edited by Enrique G.Murillo Jr., Sofia Villenas, Ruth Trinidad Galván, Juan Sánchez
Muñoz, Corinne Martínez and Margarita Machado Casas
Challenging Minds for 50-Plus Years: Felipe Ortego
Immigration Options For Undocumented Youth "Dreamers"

CULTURE
Sixto Diaz Rodriguez, Sugar Man Finds Radio City
Popularity of mariachi music on its way to becoming ingrained in the U.S. social fabric
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
How to Type Spanish Letters and Accents (á, é, í, ó, ú, ü, ñ, ¿, ¡)

BOOKS AND PRINT MEDIA
A Free Gift From Victor Villaseñor: Dolphin Miracle plus your own key to Living Miracles
Great Latino Book & Family Festival by Kirk Whisler
The Power of Latino Leadership: Culture, Inclusion, & Contribution by Juana Bordas awarded
           Nautilus Book Awards' Gold Medal for best Multicultural/Indigenous Books
The World War I Diary of José de la Luz Sáenz, Edited and translated by Emilio Zamora
Through the Archival Looking Glass: A Reader on Diversity and Inclusion,
          Edited by Mary Caldera and Kathryn M. Neal
Making Aztlán: Ideology and Culture of the Chicana and Chicano Movement, 1966-1977
           By Juan Gómez-Quiñones and Irene Vásquez

ORANGE COUNTY, CA
June 14th: SHHAR Meeting, "Los Fundadores de Mexico" presented by Author/Genealogist John Schmal
Restored centuries-old painting back on display at mission
Jose Vargas, First Hispanic Affairs Officer with Santa Ana Police Department
Santa Ana swears in its first Latino police chief, Carlos Rojas
2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury Selected

LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Walking Tours of Los Angeles
Photos: Olvera Street, Los Angeles, California
‘Magulandia and Aztlán’ to be part of Getty’s PST L.A./L.A. in 2017
My Whittier Blvd. Connection by Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez
Cal State L.A. breaks ground on the Rosie Casals/Pancho Gonzalez Tennis Center

CALIFORNIA
May 30- August 26: Spain’s Gilded Age On Display at SMU’s Meadows Museum
Decade of feeding needy religiously by Kevin Parrish
May 28: Veteran Job Training and Employment Opportunities Fair
August 2: Teodora "Teddi" Montes presenter at
            Nueva Galicia Genealogical Society of Northern California Conference
Visita de Su Excelencia Ramon Gil-Casares, Embajador de Espana en Washington a
           at San Diego
June 19 - June 21: 60th Anniversary of the Conference of California Historical Societies
Two Californians Joined by a Grizzly Home Invasion
California's Latino Plurality Brings a Sense of Déjà Vu by Leslie Berestein-Rojas

NORTHWESTERN, US
History of Latino/as in Washington State, by Jose M. Alamillo

SOUTHWESTERN, US
My Days as a Colonist / Soldier with Don Juan de Onate – Part 5 by Louis F. Serna
Sherman Library to mark donation of 50,000 photos by Nicole Shine
A Big Showdown in El Paso

TEXAS
Cuento: Erasmo "Doc" Riojas  Shares Texas Memories
Cuento: Searching for Nopalitos in the Wooded Area Outside of Corpus Christ, mid 1940s
             by Refugio Fernandez
Cuento: Beneath the Shadow of the Capitol by Ramon Moncivais
San Antonio Fights for Pink House by Margaret Foster
2014 Tejano Heritage Month Poster Contest
Margil, Sor Maria Initiative
Mujeres in Texas History by José Antonio López

MIDDLE AMERICA
250th Anniversary of the Founding of St. Louis
Nancy V. "Rusty" Barcelo, Ph.D. First Mexican American at the University of Iowa
Illinois Latino Voice: Talking Raza with Rita Hernandez, Ph.D.

EAST COAST
Mercedes Esposito Uses Her Store to Teach About The History Of The Incas
"The Battle of Bloody Mose" Commemoration, June 21-22, 2014, St. Augustine, Florida
New Jersey 'Mormon Prom' Draws Hundreds Of Teens For Celebration Of Modesty
LULAC and the Maru Montero Dance Company, 22nd Annual National Cinco de Mayo Festival
More than 60 pounds of gold were recovered from an infamous 157-year-old shipwreck

AFRICAN-AMERICAN
Black Airmen in World War II, 1941-1945

INDIGENOUS
Photo: Dec. 1943: Navajo Indians, Southwest US, members of the 158th U.S. Infantry
Oscoda/Mikado Michigan Indians and the Lindquist Photos
Tejano Indians
Alcatraz Prison, an Egyptian pyramid and an Arizona Native American sweat lodge,
         what do they have in common? by Mimi Lozano
Dos registros correspondientes a Indios de la nación Comanche y Seminole.

SEPHARDIC
Castrillo Matajudíos, Spain

ARCHAEOLOGY
Christopher Columbus' flagship, the Santa Maria believed found on a Caribbean reef
Scientists Find Neanderthals Not Less Intelligent Than Modern Humans, by BIan Sample
One of science’s greatest mysteries deepens: Did humans kill off Neanderthals?

MEXICO
El primer matrimonio del Señor General Defensor de la Patria Don Gerónimo Treviño Leal.
Libro de bautismos de la Cd. de México de " San Pedro Regalado

CARIBBEAN/CUBA
Congressional Gold Medal Bill Going to White House After Passing Senate
Copy of the Act to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment,
Borinqueneers' shirt promoting 65th Infantry Regiment Congressional Gold Medal

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
El fotógrafo Jimmy Nelson Inmortalizo a 35 tribus que están en peligro de extinción
Cuento: A Heart-to-Heart Connection by Dr. Ana Nogales
Cuento: The Power of Latino Leadership by Juana Bordas

PHILIPPINES
A Measure of Her Unflagging Love by Gloria Del Mundo-Ong
The Languages of the Philippines by Eddie AAA Calderón, Ph.D.
The Month of June, Remembering Magic Is the Moonlight by Eddie AAA Calderon,
Aurora, Philippines: a Place of Enchantment by Galo Gonzales (Poppo Olag)

SPAIN
Bocacio Alonso, de Bollullos del Condado por Ángel Custodio Rebollo

INTERNATIONAL
Amesbury in Wiltshire confirmed as UK's oldest and longest continually-occupied settlement
Let’s think about this . . . .
Application of Foreign Law in US Courts

05/27/2014 11:06 AM

===========================================		=============================================
Teodora "Teddi" Montes was born and raised in San Diego, California, and attended the University of California-San Diego and Eastern Oregon University. She was raised from birth by her grandfather from Chihuahua and her Californio grandmother, over 9 generations of connections with both Californias. Teddi has spent over 45 years exploring the Baja California peninsula. Long before she knew of any familial connections, she began collecting family histories of vaqueros and their families in the remote locations she traveled. The interest in Baja and Alta California families grew from exposure to the research of Harry Crosby and his Baja California historical projects, specifically el camino real. The entire blame for over 40 years of deep attachment to the peninsula and its old families is placed in his lap (that is, of course, unless it is in the genes!). Much of Teddi’s Baja California travels have been by mule and she has ridden approximately 85% of the KIng’s Highway (mission trails) there, where, for the most part, it lies hidden,		never made for wheels, abandoned, with much of it not used for over 200 years. This was the land route from the first mission in the Californias (Loreto 1697) to what would become Monterey, with missions and presidios established all along the way, including San Diego and points northward. In 1975 she began her own genealogical research and was amazed to find that her roots were in the Californias before 1750 and that many of the friends she had made on her adventures were distant cousins. Traveling by mule on el camino real was actually re-tracing her family’s footsteps through the years. Teddi’s area of interest is the genealogy of the Hispanic Southwest including Sonora, Sinaloa and both Californias with special concentration on Baja California. In 2012 she entered the world of genetic genealogy. She has begun The Californio DNA Project (El Proyecto de ADN de los Californios) and has been called “the Harry Crosby of Baja California genealogy”.

=============================================		=============================================
In March 2014 she, along with 3 other women, completed la Mula Mil (the Mule 1000), riding and packing mules 1000 miles from the tip of the Baja California peninsula to the US border which took 4 months. Equipped with over 40 years of genealogical research and DNA test swabs, Teddi searched out carefully-selected Early California families/surnames along the remote riding route and collected DNA samples for The Californio DNA Project. Eventually the results of these studies and histories will be made available for these families and others in Spanish, because, all of this work, is really for the children, the future. She will be returning to Baja California in the fall of 2014 for more DNA collection and genealogical research and again, several weeks of travel by mule, back in to time.		30 years ago the vaqueros around the campfires just thought Teddi was the nosey woman from el otro lado (the other side) who asked too many questions about their grandparents. These days they brag that she can sit around a fire and recite their family trees back 4 generations and more. She has also traveled in the states of Sonora and Chihuahua. When not researching or doing something Baja California-related, Teddi plays the guitar and fiddle, with an interest in learning songs of the Californias pre-1850, music the ancestors danced to whether in La Paz in the south or Monterey in the north.

Jess Perez, Orange, CA's first Latino councilman and mayor, dies

Keeping a Promise to Honor a Hero

Restored centuries-old painting back on display at mission 1800s Painting Back at Forefront by Meghann M. Cuniff, Orange County Register staff writer, May 8, 2014

Walking Tours of Los Angeles

Decade of feeding needy . . . . . religiously

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Bocacio Alonso, de Bollullos del Condado

Jess Perez,
Orange, CA's first Latino councilman and mayor, dies

Restored centuries-old painting back on display at mission
1800s Painting Back at Forefront
by Meghann M. Cuniff, Orange County Register staff writer, May 8, 2014

Decade of feeding needy
. . . . . religiously