Cool Mexican Stuff: More fun with Nahuatl aka Aztec

 

Mexican Heroines of History: Soldaderas & Insurgentes

Stunning Mexican Bicentenial Commercials

Here are ” Stars of the Bicentennial” commercials number  5 ,6,7 & 8 featuring the states of Veracruz , Yucatán, Quintanaroo ,

VERACRUZ (sights showcased)

Ecological Reserve Nanciyaga – Catemaco, Veracruz

Peyote (Cactus) of the Birds -Veracruz , Veracruz

Split /Divided Rock – San Andres Tuxtla ,Veracruz

Tajin’s Archeoligical Zone – Papantla ,Veracruz

Eyipantla’s Water fall – San Andres Tuxtla

YUCATÁN (Sights showcased)

Uxmal Archeological Zone – Yucatán

The Lizards Estuary  –   Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán

The Red Ones Salt Mines –  Yucatán

Celestun – Biosphere Reserve ,Yucatán

Underwater Sinkhole  Chichí of the Lakes – Homún, Yucatán

QUINTANA ROO –

Holbox Isle , Whale Shark Sanctuary

Baclar Lagoon of the Seven Colors

Arrecifes Park, Cozumel Quintana Roo

Isle of the Swallow, Cozumel Quintana Roo

Chankaanab Park, Cozumel Quintana Roo

Tulum Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an, Cozumel Quintana Roo

Team Mexico’s heavenly cheer

If you’re among those wondering  just what the heck the green wave is singing about, just what is that melody they break out in at World Cup games, and Fan Fests this post is for you.

The song in question is called “Cielito Lindo” This is a  song heard far and & wide wherever fans of team Mexico make their vibrant presence  felt,  sung anywhere Mexican brothers and sisters congregate to root on their hopes and dreams. It’s a  song everyone knows , a song that unites, and warms the heart , fills  it with nostalgia and patriotism a song that speaks of the beauty of our home land and tell a sweet story of love. Just sing the first four  ay ay ay ays and people know exactly what you’re about to sing next . When this song is played people don’t  hesitate to  join in,  before you know it you’ve  got a whole happy crown arm in arm singing along. Cielito Lindo  is a world renowned song  a bonified classic and has been sung by some of the most celebrated singers, including opera stars.

VISIT THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR : Lyrics, translation, and history of famous CIELITO LINDO SONG

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cielito_Lindo

(Cielito Lindo starts at 2:21)

Novela Time =)

New Novela time! That’s right “Soy Tu Dueña” is about to premiere this Tuesday on Univision. The word dueña literally means :proprietress, owner. The Novela’s title references  the character being a boss,  and at the same time also connotes meanings such as “you’re mine” or “you’re  my man”

SOY TU DUEñA INTRO

SOY TU DUEñA TRAILER

 

“In the end it turns out that in life you’re all alone and you can’t even trust those whom you love the most”– Quote from the trailer

PLOT(From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy_tu_dueña)

Valentina Villalba (Lucero) is a woman to whom life seems good in every way, because she owns  great beauty and a fortune that her parents left to her when they died. She has a mansion in Mexico City, where she lives with her aunt Isabel (Silvia Pinal) and her cousin Ivana (Gabriela Spanic), who is very envious of Valentina.

Everything changes for Valentina when her fiance, Alonso (David Zepeda), in league with Ivana, leaves her at the altar. That’s when she becomes a desperate, bitter woman who chooses to isolate herself and go live in the hacienda ‘Los Cascabeles’, where she meets her neighbor Jose Miguel (Fernando Colunga). The people of the region hate her, because her foreman, Rosendo (Sergio Goyri) commits things in her name, and they call her ‘The Viper’.

CAST

Lucero … Valentina Villalba Rangel “La Víbora”= The viper (Main Heroine)

Fernando Colunga … José Miguel Montesinos (Main Hero)

Gabriela Spanic … Ivanna Dorantes Rangel (Main Antagonist)

David Zepeda … Alonso Peñalvert (Villain)

Silvia Pinal …Isabel Rangel(mother of Ivanna Dorantes)

Sergio Goyri … Rosendo Gavilán (Villain)

Jacqueline Andere … Leonor Montesinos(mother of Jose Miguel)

Ana Martín … Benita (nany of Valentina and Ivanna)

Gerardo Albarrán … Nerón

Vicente Herrera … boss of Nerón

The thing which I’m most excited about when it comes to “Soy Tu Dueña” is getting to see super smexy David Zepeda again! I haven’t seen him since “Acorralada”= Cornered a Venezuelan Novela  in which he played Alejandro Salvatierra. “Soy tu Dueña” should be very interesting as it is filled with  Novela vets know for unforgettable roles such as: Gaby Spanic, known for her duel roles in “La Usurpadora” = The Usurper , and Fernando Colugna “Amor Real”.  The protagonist in the story is none other than Mexico’s sweetheart, singer/actress Lucero who’s know for many novelas, and  has done a great job portraying both heroines and a villainesses for example her roles in “Lazos de Amor” = Love ties &  “Mañana es para Siempre” = Tomorrow is Forever.  Sergio Goyri is also featured in this drama, he is always a formidable villain.  This drama promises to entertain viewers with: ardent passion, pulse pounding drama, and stunning betrayal, as well as the chance to admire the gorgeous beauty that is  Mexico’s natural scenery.

Get to know the characters, get  pictures, reviews, previews and much more at “Soy Tu Dueñas” official website: http://www2.esmas.com/entretenimiento/telenovelas/soy-tu-duena/

You can also find vids on YouTube

Picture credits: I hold no rights all rights  belong to owner of the production.

Aztec Legends :ATT’s World Cup commercial for El Tri

Mexican Manners

“If you have ever watched a movie made in the 1940s and early 1950s, you’ll have an idea of the manners that Mexicans use. It is all based on “respect.” We consider Mexican manners to be “formal.” Compared to our American casual manners, the Mexicans are very formal.” -From Manners  in Mexico by Mark McGrew April 2005 Guadalajara-Lakeside Volume 21, Number 8

For Mexicans manners are held in very high regard & are  treated with utmost importance within in our culture. Regardless of social position or the amount of education received a good upbringing(manners) is considered the most valued  inheritance that every parent passes down, an inheritance that every family holds dear. In Spanish to say someone is rude , the following phrase is often used:  “mal educado”  literally= wrongly( inadequately/ poorly) educated. Parents always teach their kids that manners will reflect not only upon them, but that it will also reflect upon the family and their upbringing. Often times moms will scold their kids when they exhibit poor manners by saying “People will think you had a mother who didn’t care or perhaps even that you didn’t have a mom”

For those who : have friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, family members, coworkers, etc.. who are Mexican & want to interact with them and share in their culture or for those studying Spanish or just interested in learning about other cultures. I wanna start a new section called “Mexican Manners” &  try to add  facts, information on customs and manners found in Mexican culture.

Mexican Pop

Check it out it’s Mexican POP!  Ok my friends here is you’re daily slice of Mexican pop culture: MV by band Camila  a unique flavor, real romantic vibe very bitter sweet , emotional song  called: “You Lie”

If ya like what you’re hearing support these guys they’re a great talent, feel free to visit Camila’s offical home page (can be found in Eng/Span) and get all your Camila goodies (News, Music info, Bio, Photos,Videos,Tour Info, Forums)

the adress is http://www.camila.tv/us/home

Follow Camila on Twitter: @CamilaMX , @pablocamila , @SAMOCAMILA

CAMILA Facebook http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=145456&id=254160188123#!/Camilamusic

Watch Camila Videos on Youtube at their Vevo page :http://www.youtube.com/user/camilaVEVO

Mexican Beauties

Check out this beautiful video, it is the intro to Mexican TV show: “Lo que Callamos Las Mujeres” = The secrets we Women Keep. It’s a long running series that deals with women’s issues, and experiences . Each day a new short drama along with its main character is introduced. Sometimes the stories are sad, serious, and other times they’re lighthearted, fun, and romantic. The show’s storytelling serves as  a form of  commentary on important social issues. The show’s purpose is not only to entertain, but to diffuse information on important topics,to incite consideration and action in its viewers. Fun fact about the show: Many of the contestants from “La Academia”= Mexico’s American Idolesque show become cast members of  “Lo Que Callamos  Las Mujeres.”  This is one of the reasons why the show’s popular. Fans of La Academia like to see their favorite singers act. In conclusion, it’s a really a cool show. If  you are interested, you can watch it on TV on the Azteca America network or online, there’s some videos on YouTube just search “Lo que Callamos Las Mujeres”

Let’s learn some Spanish: About Good Manners

When learning a language  who isn’t  eager and excited to learn what will make you sound cool, fun, and friendly, so that you can make new friends &  enjoy communicating with others in your new language?  Well, nothing makes a person cooler than great manners, & so today that’s what we will be learning about. Today’s lesson specifically talks about one little word: “Qué.” While it might be common knowledge that “what” in Spanish = “Qué”(pronounced Keh). The meaning & usage of this word as it pertains to Spanish is sometimes ,not entirely understood. In Spanish missuse of the word  can mean sounding very rude.  Many times I’ve seen on TV the depiction of various characters who speak Spanish(Mexican more often than not), upon listening to another language, umm…say English he/she will automatically respond in a stereotypical voice “Qué??!”

It truly is a most disturbing sound to hear. It’s  a  method used for the purpose of augmenting  inanity, boorishness when it comes to  the portrayal of that character.  The reality of it is that, ““Qué” would not really the first thing someone would say in Spanish. Why? Well, because manners are held in very high regard & are  treated with utmost importance  in Hispanic culture, regardless of social position or the amount of education received.  When you are told something  & did not hear or understand, the polite way to respond is by using the phrase “Mande usted” (mah-deh-oo-steh-ehd) the formal version or “Mande”(shortened version).  The word “mande” literally  means= “You may request/ instruct.”  In essence it means excuse me. Only it has more of a : beg your pardon, excuse me what was that, say that again please,  I’m sorry I  couldn’t hear, but if you’d be so kinds a to repeat you have my attention”…etc  kind of connotation to it.

Another time when “Mande” is used is, when being addressed or called over.  Say your boss has decided to give you an assignment &  so he addresses you “Mrs. X come over for a minute”  You would respond by saying “Mande usted Señor/Señora” = Yes boss(sir/ mam).  At a store if a shopper would adress a clerk , the shopper would also receive a  “mande usted.” Another example, Say your mom calls you into the kitchen . You go to the kitchen and say “What?”, because you’re used to the “what”   in the English expressions: “what is it/what’s the matter?”  It’s quite likely that you’ll receive the following scolding : “What do you mean Qué? Don’t be so rude/disrespectful, you don’t say “Qué, you say Mande usted”. “Mande” in  This sense= yes mom, you called, Yes ma’m. “Qué?” does have it’s place in Spanish however,  “Qué?” alone is used as more of an interjection than a question, and it’s used to express: surprise/shock /or confusion in a  direct, and explicit manner, thus using it alone sounds rude at times.  The moral of the story? One little word can mean the difference between sounding abrasive & disrespectful, or friendly, and well mannered.