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By Rafael Abreu

Colombian pop diva Shakira ended 2011 on a high note last year, celebrating the holidays with her family with a surprise visit from her boyfriend, Gerard Pique, in Miami for her mother's birthday, earning her Person of the Year award at the Latin Grammys, receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and, perhaps her most cherished achievement: falling in love with Spanish soccer star Gerard Pique.

The two have been inseparable since before their romance went public last year, after her 11-year relationship with her Argentine manager Antonio de la Rua, also ended publicly as word spread of his alleged infidelity, and her romance with Pique simply couldn't be hidden from public view.

So it's no surprise that as the singer turns 35 her still-flourishing romance to Pique continues to make news, not because of any impending breakup or fighting, but because, for a celebrity pair, it has actually appeared to go quite well for them publicly.

Last year, the soccer star celebrated Shakira's birthday with friends, opting to spend their mutual birthdays together and announcing as much to the world on Twitter.

This year reflects a couple reaching new heights in a relationship that reportedly began in 2010.

According to MSN's Wonderwall Latino, Pique raised the bar for men everywhere by giving his popstar girl a shiny new...no, not a wedding ring, yet. Instead, he opted for a Mercedes Benz SLK, valued at an estimated $55,000. Thanks for putting us all to shame, Pique!

Tags AOL Latino, aol latino en blogamole, Gerard Piqué, Shakira

By Zuania Ramos

After making history by becoming the fifth Venezuelan to be crowned the world's most beautiful woman, earning the title of Miss Universe and taking in a glorious holiday vacation with her boyfriend in New Jersey, Dayana Mendoza returns to promote her projects for 2012.

The first is her participation in magnate Donald Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice,' where she'll showcase her business acumen with Latin American pride.

In an interview with Dayana, the Venezuelan beauty shares insightful details about her life after her Miss Universe coronation, including what went wrong that left her depressed:

AOL Latino: How does it feel to participate in 'Celebrity Apprentice' and once again work with the Trump family?

DM: I feel that since Miss Universe, I haven't stopped working with the Trump family, especially with the opportunity they gave me to stay in the United States and work with Trump Models. Now I'm continuing with 'Celebrity Apprentice,' which has been one of the greatest opportunities I've achieved.

AOL Latino: How does it feel to represent Latinos in this opportunity?

DM: Two of us Venezuelans are representing Latinos on the show, Patricia Velasquez and me. I feel a great sense of pride because we're women forging a difference. We Latinos have been identified and categorized by stereotypes, and the idea is for both of us to show that, yes, we did come to this country to work and do things with heart and honesty. On this occasion I'm also happy to continue collaborating with the Latino Commission on Aids, which provides assistance to Hispanic AIDS patients.

AOL Latino: How did the invitation come about?

DM: It came during a conversation with Mr. Trump. I stopped by his office to say hello and he spoke to me about the program. I wasn't sure it was something I wanted to do because I have seen it in the past and knew that it was very strong, very intense, so I wasn't sure. But in the end I decided to do it because it's for a worthy cause.

AOL Latino: What is your strategy to win on the show?

DM: Mine was to approach it serenely, honestly and work. I didn't have a single strategy because it's an extremely competitive game in which you have to remove someone to stay in it yourself, so participants work differently and all have a distinct end on the show. There are many personalities one deals with, so in the end it is much improvised because you never know how another person will react under pressure.

AOL Latino: How has it been to enter the Anglo market?

DM: It is interesting because one already knows what a Latino is like and how he/she works, but now I'm learning how things operate in the Anglo world. My goal is to educate people and show what Latin Americans truly are, and that we just didn't show up if it wasn't for our culture and to achieve and do the best we can for our families -- we came to work. I want people to understand that our culture is like any other, we just have to merge.

AOL Latino: How has your life changed since Miss Universe?

DM: After Miss Universe I studied acting for a year and a half, and it left me very depressed about school. I felt I wasn't learning enough nor working enough because I was stuck there all week. It felt like slavery and I was depressed because the school didn't compel me or hold my attention enough. So I left to Germany for two months to clear my mind and work. From there I returned to the United States, and I've been working as a model, doing commercials and promotional campaigns until now. I'm taking things slowly, though immediately after I got back I was offered this opportunity.

AOL Latino: Do you have anything lined up after the show, or are you looking for something in particular?

DM: There are things I want to do, but I don't know where to start or what to do first. Once [the show] airs, I want to prioritize opportunities and personal goals ... I only want to do what I like, work and be OK. The funny part is that one is good when stable and stability is love, work and family. And for us Latinas, it is more difficult at times because we've got one thing going here, another there -- the ideal is to have it all.

AOL Latino: How does it feel to be an icon at such a young age?

DM: I'm very flattered and honored. I simply hope that people understand who I am as a person. I've never wanted to portray an image of what I'm not. I've always been very spontaneous, but I'm still the same person. Being a beauty queen is a great opportunity, but it isn't a career. Very simply it is an opportunity one enjoys, but there has to be a Plan B, you have to go to school and you have to work. It is wonderful to live out your dream, but I would like people to know that I'm a human being like anyone else.

'Celebrity Apprentice' airs on NBC Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. (EST).

Tags AOL Latino, aol latino in Blogamole, Celebrity Apprentice, Dayana Mendoza, donald trump, Miss Universe, Patricia Velazquez

By Karli from the Blog

Russell Brand just introduced Tony Bennet to the stage to honor Amy Winehouse. The feeling at Nokia is really amazing right now.  Bruno Mars hit the stage to bring the energy to another level with his performance of her songs! Incredible !  Amy, you are dearly missed!  What an awesome tribute!

By the way I went to the restroom and as soon I came back Tyler the Creators' mom thanked me for bringing her water and holding her down during Tylers aceptance speech. Oh and Kevin Hart missed me because some drunk seat filler sat in my seat while I went to charge my phone.

Yes yes and yes! My girl Katy Perry takes home the Video of the Year award!!!!! Awwww Russell Brand looked extra emotional as he thanked him for his support and love!!!   Sorry for all the "!!!" but this girl deserves it! Party!

Then Lil' Wayne hits the stage and the entire Nokia Theater smells like illegal substance!

No one stood up for the performance, it was horrible! lol

Tags Amy Winehouse tribute, Bruno Mars, Karli from the Blog, Katy Perry, Lil Wayne, Russell Brand, Tony Bennet, Video of the year, VMAs

A few weeks ago, E! reported that famous bebé Suri Cruise owns, in addition to "over 100 pairs of shoes and a wardrobe that would rival any A-lister," the coveted iPad.

An eyewitness told Life & Style that Suri recently put her stuffed animals aside to use a drawing program on the expensive device while Tom and Katie carried on a conversation with dining partners. She played with the iPad for about 20 minutes before the family headed out of the restaurant just before midnight.

With a current price tag of $499 and up, are her parents spoiling her — or are they simply preparing her for our "Minority Report" future?

Technologists and science fiction fans have known for decades that touch screen devices would inevitably be a part of everyday life. The New York Times reports that back in 1972, computer scientist Alan Kay outlined the specs for dream hand-held computer of the future, with rechargeable batteries a touch screen and the ability to deliver books. In describing his Dynabook,
he wrote “such a device is possible that a target price of $500 is not totally outrageous.”

Grown ups may be the current primary demo for the expensive iPad, but according to Fast Company, the device and its forthcoming tablet competition have the potential to become indispensable tools for children. The device can act as a picture book, coloring book, audiobook, TV, educational game player, and visual toy.

Industry leaders predict that touch screen devices will replace books with interactive, connected apps, and in the process, kids becoming indoctrinated with technology, adopting to new interfaces and developments easily due to early exposure. Teens are already developing apps for the iPad, signaling a shift in how young people will communicate. Read more...

Tags Education, iPad, Suri Cruz, Technology

On Monday (June 7), U.S. Border Patrol agents shot and killed 14-year-old Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca near the Paso del Norte bridge in Texas. Officials claim that the boy was part of a group that was trying to cross without papers, which leaves Team Blogamole wondering why shooting an unarmed minor was the most appropriate response.

The Obama administration's decision to further militarize the border with Mexico has had serious consequences. Instead of signing a moratorium on deportations and raids until there is comprehensive immigration reform (such as passing the DREAM Act), more National Guard troops at the border are creating a new world of problems for local residents and putting innocent minors at risk.

Regardless of why Sergio was on the border or if he did indeed throw rocks at border patrol agents, this entire situation makes our stomach turn.

Yahoo! News reports that about 30 relatives and friends gathered late Tuesday to mourn Sergio's death, whose shooting Monday evening has Mexicans seething over the second death of a countryman at the hands of U.S. Border Patrol agents in two weeks.

The boy's sister, Rosario, told Associated Press Television News that her brother was playing with several friends and did not plan to cross the border. "They say that they started firing from over there and suddenly hit him in the head," she said.

The boy's mother said he had gone to eat with his brother, who handles luggage at a border customs office. While there, he met up with a group of friends and they decided to hang out by the river, she said.

"That was his mistake, to have gone to the river," she said in an interview with Mexico's Milenio TV. "That's why they killed him."

Mexican officials have said they want the U.S. to conduct a full investigation into the events that prompted the shooting.

Source: [VivirLatino]

Editor's Note: MTV Tr3s Senior Producer Daniela Capistrano received a call today (June 9) from her friend who is traveling across the U.S. by car. A few hours ago, he was stopped by agents in New Mexico, where they grilled him for several minutes with questions like "Where are you going?" and "Are you Mexican?"

Capistrano's friend is a resident of D.C. and was on his way to a convention in California. He had broken no laws.

What do you think about Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca's death and the rise of racial profiling? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Immigration, Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca, shooting

What do vampires and homies have in common? Besides a love for brooding music, the answer is Summit Entertainment. The company responsible for the "Twilight" franchise will also distribute “The Gardener,” a film directed by "New Moon" director Chris Weitz that is currently shooting in Los Angeles.

Featuring a Hispanic cast, the film is about a Mexican gardener and his son on a hunt for their stolen truck. Weitz's production is being supported by Homeboy Industries, an enterprise run by former gang members.

The homies have taken “The Gardener” under their wing, helping the filmmaker navigate the neighborhoods and to be as "authentic" as possible. Weitz even adjusted the language in the script to match the slang of not just the city, but of individual streets.

Demián Bichir, who played Fidel Castro in Steven Soderbergh’s “Che,” is in the starring role.

Thankfully, "The Gardener" attempts to dial in to our current political climate — the film is about an undocumented worker who not only has to worry about making a living, he is raising his son alone, while holding the underlying immigration threat at bay.

When the New York Times asked Weitz why he had chosen to make “The Gardener” after “New Moon” gave him so many choices, the director said it “was a chance to reconnect” with his family heritage. His grandmother, Lupita Tovar, from Oaxaca, Mexico, was a star who sometimes made films shot simultaneously in English and Spanish. She married Mr. Weitz’s grandfather, the agent Paul Kohner.

A recent shoot took place in and around Ramona Gardens, a sprawling public housing development. According to NYTimes.com, neighbors vaguely remembered a film crew’s having been in the area to shoot scenes for “American Me,” a 1992 film, directed by Edward James Olmos, about a Mexican-American Mafia kingpin. Others mentioned “Colors,” in which Sean Penn and Robert Duvall, as a pair of Los Angeles police officers, chased gang-bangers around the city in 1988.

Stacey Lubliner, a producer of “The Gardener,” said the film might be done in time for release this year. “We’d hope to be one of those films in contention,” she said of a looming awards race in which this movie, with a little luck, could be positioned as a kind of homegrown “Slumdog Millionaire.”

With the film's production extending to other Hispanic neighborhoods, Chris Weitz is clearly on a mission to promote the Latino experience. "This was a chance to get in touch with the language,” said Mr. Weitz, who figured that 30 percent of the dialogue in “The Gardener” would need English subtitles.

He added, “I’m one of the few people in my family who doesn’t speak Spanish.”

Source: [NYTimes.com]

Will you see "The Gardener" when it hits theaters? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Chris Weitz, Summit Entertainment, The Gardener, Twilight

Congratulations, Bomba Estéreo! The psychedelic cumbia stars are MTV Iggy's "Best New Band In The World," beating out 24 other major indie acts like Surfer Blood, Das Racist, Matias Aguayo, The Very Best, The Best Coast, Asteroid Galaxy Tour, Toro y Moi, Soko, Sleigh Bells, and more!

Calling them "the hardest working band in Colombia," MTV Iggy will award Bomba Estéreo the following prizes:

1. An MTV Iggy homepage takeover (to go up soon, so stay tuned)

2. A live performance taping with MTV Iggy

3. Bragging rights that will extend forever across the universe, in perpetuity, in all languages, across all of space and time

Bomba Estéreo shared their reaction on Twitter:

Wooooooooooooh! #Gracias RT @MTV_Music the best new band in the world is... @BOMBAESTEREO http://su.pr/1HTVkK

After facing such fierce competition, Team Blogamole is proud of Bomba Estéreo's achievement. It feels like just yesterday they were our Descubre & Download artist! Go, Simon and Li!

Are you proud of Bomba Estéreo? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags 2010, Best New Band In The World, Bomba Estereo, MTV Iggy

Team Blogamole recently sat down with horror legend George A. Romero. He gave us the deets on his upcoming projects, dream gig, Latino heritage, and more! We'll be rolling out clips for the next two weeks — stay tuned!

Cover your brains, zombie fans: "Survival of the Dead" hits theaters today (May 28)!

George A. Romero loves comics. During his interview with Team Blogamole, the director explained how his favorite comic books influenced the gore and morality in his films.

"I grew up on the old DC Comics [releases], before the Comic Code," Romero explained. "I thought they were tremendously moral, and then they got shut down for being immoral... somebody missed the mark there."

Read more...

Tags cinema, George A. Romero, horror, interview, Survival of the Dead, zombie

Team Blogamole recently sat down with horror legend George A. Romero. He gave us the deets on his upcoming projects, dream gig, Latino heritage and more! We'll be rolling out clips for the next two weeks – stay tuned or we'll eat your brains!

Get ready, zombie lovers! "Survival of the Dead" hits theaters tomorrow (May 28) and is filled with xenophobia, struggling workers and disillusioned soldiers.

Hey, are we still talking about a movie?

In our epic interview with the iconic director, George A. Romero shared that he enjoys incorporating playful moments into his bloody creations, but that doesn't mean he doesn't take his work seriously.

"There are all sorts of horror genres," explained Romero, "some of which I wouldn't do."

For Romero, horror works best when it includes political satire. "I would not do a "Friday the 13th" movie, just some guy standing there with a knife," he explained.

Read more...

Tags George A. Romero, interview, Survival of the Dead, zombie

Team Blogamole recently down with director George A. Romero. He gave us some perspective on his new film, "Survival of the Dead", upcoming projects, his dream gig and more! We'll be rolling out clips for the next two weeks – stay tuned or we'll eat your brains!

True George A. Romero fans already know about the director's Latino roots. Born to a Cuban father and Lithuanian mother, Romero's films are inspired by Afro-Caribbean spiritual beliefs.

Ever the honest guy, Romero has spoken candidly about his own father's prejudices against Latinos.

In a 2009 interview with Lee Karr, Romero gave some insight into his conflicted upbringing:

"I'm half Latino, I'm a New York baby right. So my Dad is Cuban, my Mom is Lithuanian. My Dad say's 'I'm not Cuban!' - but you were born in Cuba? 'I am Castilian, from Spain! Family went to Cuba to open a hotel!' Okay, well let's say you're a Cuban, you're a Spanish guy? 'Yes, but I am not a Puerto Rican!'

I grew up in New York with a Spanish Dad right in the days of West Side Story, where you know the Puerto Rican gangs and shit? My Dad is telling me Puerto Ricans are shit. I have a Latino Dad who's telling me that Puerto Ricans are shit.(laughs) I mean this is a very confusing situation...anyway."

When we asked the legendary horror master to discuss the Latino characters in his latest film, he opened up — in the most cinematic of ways.