Poderosa Alianza Internacional

Hace tiempo llevo mencionando a la FOCALAE -el Foro de Cooperacion de America Latina (FEALAC siglas en inglés). Aquí continúo con mas detalles para mostrarles la importancia de la alianza entre Asia del este y nuestro continente. Verán que esta influencia asiática va mucho mas alla de dramas y musica pop. Lamentablemente, el website en español es de lo peor, pero el inglés (creado en Seul Corea) es muy informativo (el link en siguiente párafo).

El Foro de Cooperación  América Latina – Asia del  Este (FOCALAE) es una asociación donde participan 18 estados latinoamericanos y 15 del Asia del Este. El objetivo es "de promover la interacción y conocimiento mutuos, busca forjar vínculos más efectivos y dinámicos entre dos regiones que se caracterizan por su rápido crecimiento y cuyas relaciones no se han desarrollado aún en forma acorde con las posibilidades de complementación mutuas."

Los países miembros (y sigue creciendo) son:

ASIA DEL ESTE: Australia, Brunei, Darussalam, Camboya, China, Indonesia, Japón, Corea del Sur, Filipinas, Singapur, Tailandia, Laos, Malasia, Myanmar, Nueva Zelandia, Vietnam.

LATINOAMERICA: Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, República Dominicana, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Al analizar los sistemas de gobierno de cada país es obvio que este no es un factor común. China es comunista, y Corea del Sur es democrática. Sin embargo, la FOCALAE comprende a 13 de los países mas ricos del mundo, y dos de las primera naciones a nivel mundial.

¿Que aún no sabes cual es la fuerza de la FOCALAE? Estas poderosas naciones asiáticas se unen con la riqueza de recursos de nuestro continente. Los paises mas vastos con una extensa variedad de productos y recursos naturales, son de America Latina.

En fin: Asia tiene el poder económico, America Latina tiene el producto y la fertilidad. Y el propósito de esta unión es de "fomentar el "crecimiento y complementación mutuas". No puedo evitar compar la FOCALAE con la NAFTA, la cual tiene pautada una reunión en mi ciudad en noviembre. Se le ve muy pequeña y limitada. ¿Por qué no unen sus esfuerzos estas dos asociaciones?  Así se evitarían duplicar esfuerzos, perder tiempo y una tremenda oportunidad de traer un verdadero cambio a nivel mundial... me imagino que hay alguna lucha de poderes con intereses encontrados... ¡como siempre!

Entonces: ¿de verdad crees que es una casualidad que los primeros conciertos de tu música pop favorita se estén celebrando en estos países? Esta alianza sin precedente promete traer muchos cambios en todos los aspectos de nuestros países latinos. Afortunadamente, la mentalidad de las nuevas generaciones es muy abierta. Seremos testigos de alianzas fructífera para todos. ¡Atrás quedó la ignorancia y la resistencia a la globolización!

Estén pendientes... la invasión de productos asiáticos (incluyendo producciones) está por llegar. Y con los productos llegan las personas asomándose a nuestras costas en busca de nuevas oportunidades y aventuras. Así es que, amiga: tu deseo de ver mas asiáticos caminando por tu vecindario está a la vuelta de la esquina. ¿Qué piensas hacer?

Swamps, alligators and a shot gun wedding

The train's lounge

Yes, I'm blessed! Without a steady income (close to zero), managed to pull off a mini vacation to visit my dear sis.

The little adventure started with a train ride from San Antonio to New Orleans, Louisiana. A long 15 hour ride, but worth the experience. A good option to travel on a tight budget and spare time. The service is fairly good, comfortable seating, a lounge, dining room, and private rooms for long trips.  

Too bad this transportation system does not receive the support it deserves. Municipal areas and businesses along the rail road tracks should keep the view clean and free of eye sores.

Debris, dumpsters and scrap metal yards...

Debris, dumpsters and scrap metal yards were part of the scenery. Especially Houston. The view was dirty and unappealing. On the other hand, little towns like Lafayette embraces travelers with cute arrival plazas. 

On a second trip, I rented a car for a quicker return home. Driving through I-10 towards Louisiana was a refreshing change from the dry Texan plains. Passing miles of rivers, lakes and swamps was a beautiful contrast of regions.

The down side of the car trip? Dead baby alligators along the roadside. The inevitable habitat species victims of progress.

Henderson Swamp in LA

It was an 8 hour car trip. Arrived on time for my youngest niece's wedding. A cute, intimate ceremony in an unusual (for us) southern setting. No tropical or Latino wedding here! The constable's southern accent was funny. Just like a shot gun wedding... baby and all! (the cutest!). 

As I said, a blessing. Being with family, meeting new friends, witnessing a promise of love, and enjoying the beauty of nature that is still around us. Can't ask for more!

Latin men = Unfaithful macho

Latin men= Unfaithful macho 

Coming soon, my web site! It's still under construction, and it's not as easy as I thought. But I'm very lucky for having DJ Casper's expertise. Creating the site was his idea. So, he "volunteered" to be the designer. He's been inputting all those thingys: plug in's and such. A lot work, no matter how simple it is. I took a peek at his screen while he was forming it, and it looked like an email to aliens. Hence, the name of his site: AliensorDj's, check it out, very original!

This means my romantic stories will finally be published in the site. The first story is being revised, and the second is in progress. And, guess the topic... interracial love, of course! My female characters are Latinas, not Asian. Got tired of seeing all these dramas within the same race.

A Cha-Vergara pairing?
SEXY! 

As much as I love Kim Sun A, the time has come to see Cha Seung Won with Sofia Vergara...a Cha-Vergara pairing?, that would be SO SEXY! That is, if he can handle her hotness!  

The intention is to bring the multicultural reality of our times with my characters. So, these are women living situations we relate to. They portray our Hispanic cultural values. Very sensual. Overflowing with love, intense passions, and our world famous feistiness (¡y olé!).

Then my male characters... well, Asians of course! sprinkled with a dash of other foreigners, for a tasty flair of diversity. WARNING: the Latin men characters are losers. As mentioned above: these are situations we can relate to. Surely my Latina readers will easily relate to this story line.

In short: Latin men = unfaithful macho. Well, except Dad, of course! Oh, and maybe a couple of my peeps...might as well leave the "nice list" open. In case they check this posting. Most likely not, since this is a girly blog, he, he...

And to those Machos Latinos  that take offense in my writing: first, go clean up that worldwide reputation. For sure it will be a very interesting thing to see how that social stigma of womanizing players can be erased. 

Bottom line: a lot of writing, editing, reading and more editing. All the while keeping at heart the honest intention of being a good role model as a social observer. That will also be my legacy as a  mom and a woman: to support relationships beyond racial prejudice and geographic limitations.

Besides, it truly is a blessing to combine both of my passions: writing and cultural globalization. A blessing that keeps multiplying with each one of you readers.

My legacy as a mom and a woman.

Hope to see you later in my site.

Thanks for your support! 

Latino = Macho Infiel

El estigma social del macho latino.

Pronto viene mi nuevo site. Aun está en construcción, ¡nada fácil! Gracias a Dios que cuento con el apoyo de un artista gráfico, DJ Capser. El me sugirió crear el site. Lo ha diseñado, y le ha entrado toda la madeja de codigos, plug in's, y demas enrredos. Arduo trabajo por muy sencilla que sea la página. El otro día me asome a su monitor y parecía que se comunicaba con extraterrestres... ahora entiendo el nombre de su site: AliensorDj's, visítenla tiene un estilo único!

Finalmente voy a poder publicar mis historias en el site. Estoy por terminar mi segunda historia romántica... y adivinen el tema... amor interracial, ¡por supuesto! Mis heroínas son latinas, no asiáticas. Me cansé de ver los amores eternos de los dramas entre ellos mismos. Que me disculpe Kim Sun A, es hora de ver a Cha Seung Won con Sofia Vergara. ¡Digo! si es que el puede con una latina tan caliente (je,je).

Intento traer la realidad multicultural de nuestros tiempos con mis personajes. Son mujeres que viven situaciones con las que podemos identificarnos. Tienen nuestros valores culturales, están llenas de amor y pasiones intensas, y el exquisito sabor que nos caracterizan en todo el mundo.

Mi legado como mujer y madre...

Y en cuanto a mis personajes masculinos, pues, ¿qué creen?...asiáticos, ¡claro esta!, y uno que otro extranjero para darle diversidad. Advertencia: en mi historia el hombre latino
lleva las de perder. Latino= macho infiel. SORRY!

Al latino que se ofenda, pues que haga campaña de limpieza mundial! A ver como le hace para quitarse ese estigma social (a excepción de mi padre, ¡claro! aunque de seguro que luego voy a tener que añadir mas a mi lista de "buena gente"). 

En fin, mucho trabajo. Con la esperanza de ser un buen ejemplo como observadora social. Además, quisiera que mi legado como mujer y madre sea el de una vida emocional sin prejuicios raciales, ni barreras geográficas. De verdad es una bendición poder unir mis dos pasiones: interculturalidad y escritura. Una bendición que se multiplica con cada uno de ustedes leyendo mi material. Espero verlos luego en mi site.

Gracias por su apoyo! 

My Little Asian Corner

Gwangju City  Pavilion, Denman Estates Park, 
San Antonio, Texas

A few posts ago, a reader expressed her frustration about living in Central America. She said: "I live in the wrong side of the world". Apparently, the immersion in the Asian culture is not promoted or not accessible for her.  She wanted to socialize with Asians and participate in cultural activities. Sadly, besides dramas and TV programs, she had no other options.

In spite of this limitation, it really doesn't matter where you live. Nowadays there are many intercultural opportunities regardless of your location. It is also very interesting to learn a culture from different perspectives. My passion!

Painting by: Teodoro Kuan
(1994)

Now, one thing's for sure, before immersing in other cultures, I embrace my Puerto Rican heritage. Appreciation for my background, and to know all about my roots is vital. It is this cultural self-appreciation that makes me more sensible and receptive towards diversity. And a better Puerto Rican to display to the world.

As Miguel Rodrigo Alsina, Professor of Communication Theories at the Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona) and author of "Teorias de la Comunicación" (Communicatin Theory) stated: "a culture evolves through the contact with other cultures".

Evidently, the curiosity and interest is mutual! Asians want to know about us, too. New friendships are based on this mutual cultural interest. I'm lucky to count among my friends: a Taiwanese passionate about Latin music, Salsa dancing and creator of beautiful paintings with Spanish influence; an enthusiastic social networking manager -also Taiwanese- that encourages interracial relationships through his groups; and then, far away: there's a Korean Tango dance instructor and a Filipino Arquitect living in China. 

Not only they are friendly, but eager to share their culture. This interest creates an interesting interaction where we mutually enrich our cultural knowledge and, share our passion for diversity.

My little Asian corner... 

Even more, altough meeting people is great, learning through other means is as enticing as well. History and art are great sources. So, here's a suggestion to my reader: look for a little Asian corner wherever you are. Whether via the internet; library or favorite bookstore; world associations; the embassy in your city or cultural centers. There are many options that are economical, if not free.


Recently, I became a member of Sister City International. A non-profit program that empowers alliances among cities of the world with the USA. It was through this association that I learned about the alliance between San Antonio, Texas and Gwangju Metropolitan City in Korea (other cities as well). There's even a beautiful symbol of this alliance, a Korean pavilion that I visited recently (see more details of the pavilion here).

This trip, to be honest, was not a passionate excerpt of a K-drama, where a gorgeous Joseon dynasty warrior emerged from the lake allured by my Latin charm (HA! I wish!, I mean, the charm part)... It simply was an educational and inspiring experience. Which taught me about this architectural historical art. Visiting the pavilion gave me a closer appreciation of this invaluable donation to our city. Yet, the best part of the experience was to find my little Asian corner in the very heart of Texas.