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Chronicles of...

Parents can definitely be hard to please. Take it from my experience- my dad always say that he has to be entertained with whatever he watches or else he’ll fall asleep right then and there.

You might be thinking, “why is she talking about her dad?..” Well, during the viewing of Farruko: En Letra De Otro, my dad opened up with a story about his rambunctious days of growing up and getting into trouble in Puerto Rico.

Set back in Puerto Rico, Farruko’s newly-aired HBO Latino special, to me, has been one of the most humble and down-to-earth productions I’ve ever seen. From an auto shop to a grand stage en El Barrio, Farruko takes his viewers and fans on a journey through his upbringing as a boy playing with toys to the megahit he has become today.

Before watching this, I honestly didn’t know much about Farruko in the first place. But with specials like this, seeing his inner workings of influences like Don Omar and Maná has drawn me closer to discovering what he comes up with next- island nostalgia and all.

In a summer of new premieres, everybody’s favorite fluffy comedian Gabriel Iglesias has moved from the live stage to screens everywhere with his new sitcom, Mr. Iglesias.

Supported by stars like Sherri Shepherd and Oscar Nuñez (most famously known for his role in “The Office”), the new Netflix original Mr. Iglesias tells the story of a high school history teacher looking to instill heart and humor to the students in his classroom.

In the premiere episode, Gabe AKA Mr. Iglesias, is shocked to find that many of his students have been expelled due to absences, low grades and other reasons with no hope of returning back to school.

Instead of them like the school system has in hopes of looking better in their district, Gabe buckles down and advocates for his students, offering to teach them over the summer instead of giving up on them.

It’s themes like this and more that come up in just the first episode, with a bunch of laughs to keep the story going. At times, it can seem like Gabe’s accent impressions are too much and the audience laughter can feel intrusive, but it’s shows like these that may help to change the way we view our growing youth and society as a whole.

I started this tumblr in the first place to develop my own writing and highlight Latinx works that surface in TV and beyond.

In what I would say is a project looking to basically accomplish the same goal, Guatemalan comedian Arturo Castro (most known for his roles on Broad City and Narcos) has branched off into his own creative endeavor, writing, directing, and producing his own sketch comedy series, Alternatino.

Coming from his own online series of videos of the same title, Arturo unapologetically and brilliantly illustrates the Latinx experience on-screen, from the hilarious musical romp about Trump’s utterly stupid and infamous paper towel toss into a crowd of Puerto Rican’s to the awkwardness of dating a white girl only interested in the machismo, over-produced attitude of Latinx men.

With laughs from ear-to-ear and a nod back to his Broad City roots with psychedelic animations in his transitions, I would say this new show is an entertainingly hilarious and approachable showcase into a minority well-deserving of some accurate spotlighting.

Check out the first full-length episode here.

One of the newest documentaries to hit Netflix, After Maria, has delivered a one-sided story to what has happened to Puerto Rico since the hurricane hit back in November 2017.

The story itself covers some families that end up being displaced from their homes and forced to stay in hotels in the Bronx, New York. I appreciate the families on screen for being brave enough to be vulnerable on camera, but why weren’t the families left on the island given a chance to tell their story here? 

For me, the aftermath of Maria hits really close to home because most of my family stayed on the island during and are still recovering after everything that has happened. I’ve frequented the island enough to notice a distinct difference of the before and after effects. Some buildings and gas stations are still in shambles and things are somewhat stabilized, but how long will that last? 

Hurricane seasons don’t go away and global warming’s definitely not letting up globally. There were days on the island when I had to carry around a flashlight on the more-than-off-chance that the noisy generators gave out or the lights just gave up entirely.

To this day, not enough has been done to fix the destruction. And with the way our government’s being run and the indecisiveness on whether to keep Puerto Rico a commonwealth or not, there are a lot more unwanted storms in the air besides our whole climate crisis.

So I didn’t really hate the documentary persay, I just wish it would’ve been longer with more content and stories from the island itself- a story from all sides is better than one.

Pero hay que decir- Puerto Rico se levanta.

When I think of playlists, I have a premium Spotify account so I don’t have to listen to people talking over my music.

When I think of radio stations, I usually look forward to hearing the personalities of the radio DJ’s and everyone behind the scenes.

On yesterday’s Pero Like takeover of ¡Dale Play! Live with content creators Gadiel Del Orbe and Iván Emilio, I found myself caught between those two emotions.

Through a 19-song playlist of current hits from Latino America including artists from Manuel Turizo, Daddy Yankee, and Natti Natasha to more unknown names like Guaynabo, Puerto Rico’s own Guaynaa, each song flowed one through the other without much of a transition in between.

There were also interviews featured with Karol G, Nicky Jam, El Alfa, and Los Tucanes de Tijuana that unfortunately only lasted about two minutes or so.

I’m not saying I completely hated this takeover, I just wish they would’ve actually taken over more and had more discussion apart from the music played.

So I’m left after listening thinking, should the distinction between playlists and radio stations stay as is? Maybe I’m getting too deep. For now, I think I’ll just delete my Apple Music trial subscription. That kind of playlist wasn’t worth the $10/month price tag, sorry 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you’d like to hear their takeover and make your own opinions of it for yourself, look for this cover pic and check them out on Apple Music here.

If you came into this movie thinking like I did- that Blanca Suárez’s character in this movie would be anything like her starring role in Netflix’s Las Chicas De Cable, you’d be kinda right.

As an ever-bustling fashion exec in New York City, lady boss Sara finds out her mom has suddenly passed away, leaving her to reunite in Madrid with her three other super-individualistic sisters.

Claudia (played by Belén Cuesta), a privileged housewife, finds herself alone, surrounded by her separated husband’s riches, a bunch of pills and lots and lots of alcohol.

Sofía (played by Amaia Salamanca), a rebellious lover and fighter, juggles between her lone-wolf tendencies and the first real relationship she’s had in her life.

And last but certainly not least, Lucía (played by Macarena García), the sexy, misunderstood baby of the family is just trying to find her way in the world with shorty shorts and looks to kill.

Four different lives, four very different paths merge to grieve a mother who was lived, it seems, by many more people than they had previously thought.

After all the chaos that comes with a funeral and burial, it comes to light during a meeting with the deceased mother Carmen’s lawyer that the father they had grown up with all their lives isn’t actually their biological father. So their mother, through a posthumous video, sends them all on a mission to find out who their individual biological fathers truly are.

From an artist’s studio to a bakery to a monastery, some twists and turns that I won’t mention for fear of giving away too much, keeps the story going even though there are a few predictable plot points along the way like a forgotten romance and the like.

But what ends up being unexpected in this movie is the heart, humor, and reality of life depicted through the eyes of director Gabriela Tagliavini’s vision. Plus, who doesn’t love picturesque views of modern Madrid?

In the end, I found A Pesar De Todo to be an empowering, unexpected and lovely dramedy to be enjoyed solo or with all your ladies.

A TBD start time to coincide with the damas’ makeup and styling

A bunch of coquí ringtones and WhatsApp notifications sounding off at the most inopportune times

A chorus of bebés and children competing with the aforementioned phone notifications

Adult braces, super-high heels, and fake nails for DAYS

A dance floor only as big as the aisles you walk through

Members of the bride/groom’s family volunteering to be masters of ceremony, bartenders, garbage boys, and the like

Too many people with not enough food to keep them full

Drunken karaoke- no microphones needed

A cake so good you’re willing to wait ‘til 9 or 10 when they decide to serve it

Plastic silverware as far as the eye can see

but in my heart of hearts, I’m just not sure. As an on-and-off viewer of the show since I was a kid, I’ve watched winner after many winner (especially in recent seasons) become an almost one-and-the-same image of the Americana down-home country kind of American Idol. And Alejandro Aranda isn’t any of those things. To me, Alejandro represents a new wave of alt-Latinx style, infused with his brilliantly virtuo-SICK piano and guitar playing. Complimented with a falsetto that reaches to the heavenlies, he’s already winner in my eyes. From his first humble audition, the panel of judges and viewers witnessed a star in the making, beanie and all.  But how far can his talent take him? I know he can be successful outside of the American Idol stage, but I’d also like to think- isn’t it time for a Latino to become the next American Idol? A super-talented, humble Latino with a voice like silk and fingers that move with the quickness of an adrenaline-fueled spider?   In any manifestation, Alejandro Aranda is someone to keep our ears and eyes fixed on. I sure as hell will.  Check out his latest single “Satisfied” here.

🐰 Happy Easter! 🐰

You know when you have a favorite actor or actress in your mind, and anything they happen to be cast in is just wonderful by default? For me, one of my absolute favorites is the incomparable Gina Rodriguez. As a trailblazer for feminism and a big-time titan in the eyes of current Latinx media, Gina’s unapologetic sense of self, along with her strong Chicago Boricua roots has always inspired me. In one of her latest projects, “Someone Great” tells the story of Jenny, a successful music journalist who’s been given the great opportunity to write for Rolling Stone- but with great opportunity comes great sacrifice. With the new title, she has to leave the comforts of her home and everything she knows in NYC and move to San Francisco. For the past few years since graduating college, Jenny has spent most, if not all, of her time with her boyfriend Nate and her best friends Blair and Erin. Life is great living it up and smoking a joint with her friends, but as the smoke clears, Jenny’s entire reality comes to a halt when Nate breaks up with her. I guess in the age of FaceTime and high-speed Internet, long-distance isn’t an option for them.  Rather than wallow in the despair of being suddenly single, Jenny takes it upon herself to advantage of one last big night in the Big Apple. From hookups to Molly to bodegas evry which way, Jenny and crew venture through them streets doing anything (or anyone *wink wink*) they can get into an uber-exclusive after-dark concert showcase. But along the way, different spots harken back to fond memories as Jenny trips in and out of her hype and drug-induced state. In all three women’s lives, their fun is never-ending together, but when the dust clears, some adult decisions need to be made- commitments, relationships, their budding careers.  But partner or no partner, each of them stand as a strong and independent being with the support and love of each other to keep them grounded. In the end, they can do good (or bad-ass) all by themselves.