Blogamole ›

4/1 Billboard Update: Looks like the powers that be at either Billboard or Telemundo got our message about Prince Royce because we hear that he's been invited to perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards! We've got a feeling this member of music royalty will go very far!

3/29 Billboard Update: Our sources say that Prince Royce has not yet been invited to present or perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, which is kind of weird, since he has six nominations. Come on Telemundo!

By Michael Lopez

If you thought the Latin Grammys featured A-list talent, wait until you see the lineup that Billboard has assembled for its 2011 Latin Music Awards. Pitbull, Maná, and Don Omar are all confirmed performers for the April 28 celebration.

Created 22 years ago to honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music, the event now serves as the grand finale for Miami's Latin Music Conference. Unlike the Grammys or American Music Awards, Billboard’s winners are all determined by tangible record sales.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that El Don’s “Danza Kudoro” is on the honoree list. Currently the most-watched Spanish-language video on YouTube, it’s nominated for Hot Latin Song of the Year. Other nominees include Aventura, Prince Royce and Wisin y Yandel.

But they won't all be reggaeton artists. Classic ensembles such as Banda El Recodo will bring its entire orchestra to the stage to performing hits from the top-selling Me Gusta Todo de Ti album.

And for all you wondering whether or not Camila was breaking up, the Latin Music Awards may provide an answer. All three members are set to jam, performing live renditions of hits from Dejarte de Amar.

We’re sure there will be plenty of more surprises once the curtain goes up, and you can bet Blogamole will be dishing the details come April 29.

Are you excited about the Billboard Latin Music Awards? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Award Shows, Banda el Recodo, Billboard, Billboard Latin Music Awards, Camila, Don Omar, Hot Stuff, Mana, Música, Pitbull

Tags Boardwalk Empire, Lindsay Lohan, Paz de la Huerta, Samatha Swetra

By María de los Ángeles Corral/The College Board

Every spring, schools across the United States offer students opportunities that can drastically influence their life paths — notably AP (advanced placement) Spanish courses. When I took my first one, I thought, “Why aren’t all my classes like this?” Besides preparing me for the rigors of college, this college-level high school course gave me the confidence to take on other AP subjects and consider fields I previously thought were out of reach.

Employers are increasingly recruiting and developing workers who are multilingual, according to Andrés Tapia, chief diversity officer at an international human relations consulting firm. “That’s one of the reasons rigorous courses, such as AP courses, in the languages and literature are critical,” he said. “If people are going to navigate and bridge the culture, they need to have more than just vocabulary.”

I checked in with my former high school classmates, María Catalina Catalán and Marcelo Venegas Pizarro, to see what kind of an impact our AP Spanish courses made on their lives. Here's what they had to say:

What led up to you taking AP Spanish?

María: When I was 7 my family emigrated from Mexico, which ended my use of Spanish in school until I took AP Spanish. I was then able to explore the grammar, mechanics and beautiful literature of my culture. Many of us knew tenses and conjugation, but had not put those labels on it.

Marcelo: Although I was a fluent Spanish speaker when I arrived from Chile at age 9, with AP Spanish I discovered so much more about what my culture had to offer than even my parents had shown me.

Did taking that AP Spanish class influence your career path?

María: I think it definitely influenced my thinking. I wanted to know how to better teach children. I earned a bachelor’s degree with a double major in early childhood education and Spanish. I went on to earn a master’s degree that focused on dual-language education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Today I teach at a predominantly Latino grammar school. I hope I am now giving children the kind of instruction I would have liked as a second- and third-grader and the kind of education I want my child to have.

Marcelo: I went to college and then on to the University of Illinois Medical School. Today I work as medical director of Lutheran Medical Center’s HIV outpatient program in Brooklyn, N.Y. The patients we have are 90 percent Spanish-speaking. There’s no way I could have known as a high school student how much my language and appreciation of culture would factor in my career.

Research shows that speaking additional languages helps students learn all subjects better. Plus, AP courses stand out on college applications and may help you to qualify for college credit and scholarships.

The AP Program offers 34 college-level classes. Find out which ones are offered in your school at www.collegeboard.org/apescuelas.

Tags AP, Cultura, culture, Education

By Michael Lopez

As if being adored by movie audiences wasn’t enough, Cameron Diaz has now captured the hearts of theater owners, too. CinemaCon recently announced it will honor the A-list actress as its 2011 Female Star of the Year.

Listing itself as the Official Convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), CinemaCon recognizes the stars and filmmakers who draw audiences. And with more than $2 billion in box office receipts to her credit, it comes as no surprise that Cameron made the honoree list.

“Since making her debut on the big screen in The Mask, Cameron Diaz has continued to capture the attention of audiences around the world with her inescapable charm, innate comedic timing and unparalleled screen presence,” CinemaCon managing director Mitch Neuhauser said. “From the outrageously comedic There’s Something About Mary, to the action packed Charlie’s Angels and the critically acclaimed Being John Malkovich, Diaz has proven to audiences that she can take on any role and we are thrilled to be able to present such a remarkable actress with the CinemaCon Female Star of the Year Award.”

CinemaCon’s will also recognize Ryan Reynolds, Russell Brand and Tyler Perry. Of course, even if you combined all of their box office receipts, it would hardly compare to what Cameron has pulled in with the Shrek and Charlie’s Angels franchises.

Set to take place next week in Las Vegas, we imagine the 2011 CineCom Awards Banquet will be packed with plenty of big name celebs and a lot of good popcorn.

What’s your favorite Cameron Diaz movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Cameron Diaz, CinemaCon, Female Star Of The Year, Hot Stuff, Movies, Movies & CineMás

By Michael Lopez

Time to call Guinness — reggaeton star Don Omar has officially smashed a world record. Believe it or not, his “Danza Kudoro” is the most-viewed Spanish-language music video of all time. With more than 96 million viewers, Omar’s first Meet the Orphans single has officially become a YouTube sensation.

So what makes “Danza Kudoro” so eye-catching? It could be the bikini-clad women shaking their stuff on Don Don’s yacht, but it could also have something to do with the hot choreography and “El Don” spiffed out in a top-of-the-line blazer.

But “Danza Kudoro,” which spent more than 16 weeks in the No. 1 slot on Billboard’s Hot Latin charts, is also a fantastic song, with accordions, deep bass grooves and thumping beats. Plus, with a little auto tune and some help from Lucenzo, the lyrics come off flawless.

There is no doubt that El Don is riding a wave of momentum right now. His Meet the Orphans album is a huge hit and his South American tour continues to sell out. At this pace, we can only imagine what kinds of records he could break when audiences see him floor it for this summer's Fast Five.

Are you one of the 96 million people who watched “Danza Kudoro?” Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Danza Kudoro, Don Omar, Guinness World Records, Lucenzo, Música, Meet The Orphan, Videos, YouTube

By Michael Lopez

Spring is in the air, which means warmer weather, blooming flowers and longer days. Of course, none of that matters to the hardcore gamers, many of whom will be nestled indoors and glued to their TV screens, controllers in hand. Why? Because spring also promises an onslaught of highly-anticipated video games!

The EA golf game Tiger Woods PGA 12, set to hit stores March 29, may not feature its namesake on the cover, but the simulated Masters tourney will offer plenty of new online capabilities.

Old school gamers are in for a major treat with the new version of Mortal Kombat. Now with 3D graphics, online play and numerous new “fatalities,” it mixes the classic fighter format with plenty of fresh twists. Available exclusively for the Xbox 360 and PS3, expect to see it fly off the shelves on April 19.

And what fun is gaming without a few movie tie-ins? This May, expect to see digitized versions of Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp in Lego Pirates Of The Caribbean. Encompassing all four Pirates movies, it offers 2-player cooperative play and plenty of cute interpretations of Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl.

Dig The Sims much? Fans of this series have been able to control virtual people and build up intricate faux communities. Now EA is pushing the concept even further with The Sims: Medieval. Yup, your favorite 2D humans are now donning armor, crowns and jester outfits in the Middle Ages. Could there be virtual dragons to slay? You’ll have to pick up the game to find out.

And though it may not be a game per say, spring’s biggest electronic import is bound to be the Nintendo 3DS. Announced last year, the innovative handheld will become available in U.S. stores on March 27. Featuring groundbreaking technology that lets you experience 3D without wearing glasses, the pocket-sized device is expected to launch alongside three-dimensional Street Fighter and Nintendogs games.

Which upcoming video games are you most excited about? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Hot Stuff, Lego Pirates Of The Caribbean, Mortal Kombat, Nintendo 3DS, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Sims, The Sims: Medieval, Tiger Woods PGA 12, video games

By Michael Lopez

Many people use music to help cope with difficult moments in their lives. Whether it's trouble at home, an agonizing breakup or remembering a lost loved one, songs can offer a therapeutic escape. No one knows this better than Mexican rockers Pxndx, who are creating new music to help their local brethren cope with increased violence in their hometown of Monterrey.

“A nosotros nos gusta darle música a la gente y que se distraiga de esos temas," drummer Jorge Vázquez recently said.

And according to the latest news reports, a distraction is exactly what the citizens of Monterrey need. Once known as a vibrant, metropolitan city, Monterrey has recently fallen prey to the warring Gulf and Zetas gangs. Last year, more than 500 residents were murdered because of the escalating violence, and top concert acts have now refused to play in the city.

Not Pxndx. Regarded as hometown heroes, the quartet has sold millions of records and recently recorded their first Unplugged special. Now hard at work on their sixth studio album, the guys plan to address Mexico’s political turmoil in their next batch of lyrics.

"Lo malo es que no puedes hacer nada, te da mucha impotencia y sientes tristeza de que no hay forma de arreglarlo, más que cada quien haga lo que sabe hacer, en nuestro caso: música," said bassist Ricardo Treviño.

Expect to hear it all laid out in the upcoming Pxndx album, set to be released sometime in the next year.

What do you think of Pxndx's efforts? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Chisme, Cultura, Música, Mexico, panda, Pxndx

By Michael Lopez

What do you do when you’ve got an aggressive pooch and a few billion dollars to spare? Hire the world-famous “Dog Whisperer.” Mexican-American canine god Cesar Millan recently tackled one of his wealthiest clients yet, Mark Zuckerberg’s Beast!

Cesar Millan, Beast and Mark Zuckerberg/Photo via Beast the Dog

Twenty-six-year-old Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg made headlines last month when he and his girlfriend adopted the white Hungarian Sheepdog. According to the pup's very own social network page, Beast's personal interests are “herding things, cuddling, loving and eating.”

He also like to stir up trouble. In his Facebook photo gallery, Beast can be seen scurrying, barking and putting up a fight during his first bath. But of course, all that changed after a meeting with Cesar. According to one recent post (no doubt written with a little help from Mark):

“Met Cesar Millan today. He made me really calm.”

We’re glad the little guy has calmed down, but did he really have that much to worry about? Since his owner is currently worth more than $13 billion, we imagine Beast should be living a pretty carefree life.

Are you a friend of Beast on Facebook? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Beast, Cesar Millan, Dog Whisperer, Facebook, Hot Stuff, Mark Zuckerberg, Pets

By Michael Lopez

She may be retired from LPGA, but that doesn’t mean Mexican golf legend Lorena Ochoa has left the sport behind. She recently announced that she will partner with PGA champ Greg Norman to design an intricate new course in the Mexican Caribbean.

"I'm very happy and excited to participate in my first golf course design project," Ochoa stated.

And we’re sure that the Spanish construction group she’s working with is just as excited to work with her. Lorena is largely considered to be the best Mexican golfer of all time. At just 29 years old, she has already won numerous high-profile tournaments, including the Corona Championship and the Women’s British Open.

OHL, the construction group funding the project, has invested more than $1 billion in the Mayakoba resort, the site of the new course, and is erecting nearby hotels for international tourists.

Located just south of Cancun, Lorena’s 987-acre course will offer breathtaking views of the Yucatan Peninsula. We imagine that will make for an enjoyable 18 holes no matter how well you can work the nine irons.

Are you a fan of Lorena Ochoa? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Golf, Hot Stuff, Lorena Ochoa, Mayakoba, Mexico, Sports

By Michael Lopez

Citizens of Brazil, Chile and El Salvador got to catch a glimpse of Barack Obama this week as the President kicked off a five-day Latin American tour designed to focus on such issues as immigration, trade and energy.

Although President Obama had planned to visit the Mayan ruins in El Salvador on Wednesday, he instead boarded an early flight back to the U.S. to meet his security team and strategize about the ongoing Libyan conflict.

“It's logistical," National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said. "He's doing a call in the a.m. with his national security team, and thus will not have time to visit the ruins. So he'll be wheels up a couple hours earlier."

That’s not to say that Obama’s visits were unproductive. The U.S. President and newly-elected Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff signed deals on energy cooperation and opened up discussions about future trade negotiations.

"[Obama and Rousseff] understood each other, they get along well,” said a senior Brazilian government official. “That will be of enormous help on any issues that may be difficult. The most critical part is that Dilma can now pick up the phone any time and call Obama because they established a good personal relationship."

While in Chile, Obama praised the country for its economic growth. Meeting with President Sebastian Piñera, he emphasized continued U.S. support and worked to mend the tumultuous history between the two nations.

"I think it's important," Obama noted in a Chilean joint press conference, "that we're not trapped by our history. And the fact of the matter is, that over the last two decades we've seen extraordinary progress here in Chile and that has not been impeded by the United States but, in fact, has been fully supported by the United States."

El Salvador proved to be the quickest leg of the trip, due to Obama’s early exit. Nevertheless, he was able to meet with President Mauricio Funes and even pledged $200 million in economic aid, which he said the government would use to fight against “the social and economic forces that drive young people to criminality.”

Do you think President Obama has helped strengthen ties between the U.S. and Latin America? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Barack Obama, Brazil, chile, Cultura, El Salvador, Latin America, Libya, Politics, President Obama