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By Sugey Palomares

Don Omar fans can look forward to getting to know the reggaetonero on an intimate level.

The "Dile" singer recently celebrated his Latino pride during a Time Warner Hispanic Heritage Month event and revealed that he will close 2011 with a couple of intimate performances in the U.S. William Landrón -his real name- may have ended his marriage to the weather girl Jackie Guerrido earlier this year, but he confirms that he is living "the best years" of his life.

He isn't exactly exaggerating since he reached the top of the music charts in the U.S. and Europe this year.

During the press conference Don Omar explained:

"At this moment I want to share with my Latino community. I always try to do better and this time I want to make it special, intimate."

Will he get as intimate as Enrique Iglesias does at his concerts? We secretly hope not! Check out the confirmed concert dates and locations below. Will you be getting to know Don Omar on an intimate level?

- Dallas: Far West nightclub (November 17)

- Los Angeles: Nokia Theatre (November 22)

- New York: Beacon Theatre (December 1)

Tags Chisme, Don Omar, Jackie Guerrido, Latin Music, Latinos, Musica Latina, popnews, Reggaeton

By Tony St. Jean

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Tr3s is featuring the stories of seven remarkable Latino students and honoring them as Agentes de Cambio. These seven students are the 2011 Hispanic Heritage Youth Award Recipients, selected for their extraordinary accomplishments and talent. Check out Melissa, Jose, and Catarina – all Latino youth change-makers committed to doing what they love while making a difference.

Though she is still a student, Melissa is already looking to teach the next generation of youth. She wishes to become an English teacher to instill a love of reading and writing in others. In addition to her academic achievements, Melissa is the Editor-in-Chief to both the Spanish Literary Magazine and the English Literary Magazine her school publishes. Melissa, who is Venezuelan and Spanish, has a positive outlook on her future – “It’s not just recognition for what I accomplished so far, but also support and motivation for what I hope to achieve in the future.” Melissa’s passion in education is match by our next participant’s drive to help others.

Catarina loves to help so much that she has set a personal goal of logging 4,000 hours of community service by her 25th birthday. During the summer, Catarina volunteers at Peeble’s Elementary School where she works with children as a teacher’s aide. She was given the title “Community Service Lieutenant” by her school for her extraordinary efforts in the community. Catarina recently taught a week long course in animal awareness to kick off her Leadership Academy Senior project. She strives to be a role model to her peers, “I want to set a good example. I want everyone to be able to go out and volunteer”. Our last student also wishes to motivate others with his actions.

Jose Antonio Villanueva’s mom told him that if he wanted to get further in life, it would be through education. Taking his mother’s advice, Jose has excelled in academics and has become the top Hispanic Math and Science student in his school district. Jose was named a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar for placing in the top two percent of Hispanic SAT test takers. His high AP test scores earned him the prestigious AP Scholar Award. Jose, who is Mexican and Spanish, wants to see more Latinos in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields. Jose attends Stanford University where he is majoring in Civil Engineering.

Tags Education, Hispanic Heritage Month, Latinos

By Sugey Palomares

Can we get a Cobb Salad with a side of William Levy?! One lucky winner will get a chance to indulge in a private lunch date with the Cuban hunk himself! The auction is being hosted by The Hispanic Heritage Foundation and will close today.

The auction will help celebrate the 25th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards taking place this Thursday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The lucky winner will also receive a two night hotel stay in DC and get to attend the 25th annual awards.

The minimum bid for this unforgettable meal is $1,000, but the current bid is up to $5,000! Ladies and gents (why not?) get your check books out and click here for more details on how you can win a private lunch date with William Levy. The funds will go to the charitable organization. We are sure restrictions apply, including no fondling or wedding proposals included. Good luck!

Tags Chisme, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, Latinos, William Levy

By Sugey Palomares

Nothing says a Hollywood relationship is getting stronger than Twitter shout-outs. Eva Longoria recently tweeted fans to follow her boyfriend and Penelope Cruz's little brother, Eduardo Cruz. The actress, who has recently hit 1.7 million followers on her Twitter account, tweeted:

"Everyone welcome Edu to Twitter!"

So sweet! The couple were recently caught supporting Penelope Cruz at the premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" in Disneyland. Eva walked the red carpet on her own, but we hear that Edu was already waiting for his novia inside. Things are pretty serious if Eva is already attending family affairs. Guess we will have to follow Eduardo on Twitter to keep getting the scoop!

Source: [AOL Latino]

Tags Disneyland, Eduardo Cruz, Eva Longoria, Latinos, Penelope Cruz, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

By Sugey Palomares

For years Mario Domm has had a Don Juan reputation, but that may be coming to an end. The Mexican pop star and Camila front man has had a string of affairs with starlets including Irán Castillo, Belinda, and Yuridia, but he’s hooked up again with Yuridia!

Domm ended his relationship with the beauty due to scheduling conflicts and -apparently- her cheating ways (it turns out she was still romantically involved with Argentine beau Matías Aranda). Now the couple appear to be on in full force after she posted a cuddly picture of the two with the caption in English:

"Let the world come rushing, come down hard, come crushing. All I need is right here beside me".

And he replied in English too:

"I love u"

Do you think this couple will last?

Source: [Mezcalent]

Tags Camila, Chisme, Latinos, Mario Domm, Musica Latina, Yuridia

By: Sugey Palomares

What is a party without a little perreo? Puerto Rican duo Alexis y Fido officially dropped their fifth album Perreologia this week, which offers up fourteen new tracks to shake inappropriately to at the club or in the privacy of your own home. The duo, who have been involved in Puerto Rico's reggaeton movement since childhood, are known for their raw approach to the classic reggaeton beat. Alexis y Fido's new album offers many infectious tracks including one of our favorites titled, "Energía." The song has hooks full of energy and gallant-like lyrics honoring the special ladies in their lives. Unlike their last hit studio album Down to Earth, Perreologia includes a slew of collaborations with top-grade artists like Daddy Yankee, Franco el Gorila, Tony Dize, and so many more. Overall, the album is pouring with creative energy that's aimed to please.

Tr3s was granted exclusive access to the album release party at the Katra Lounge on Wednesday night. We got to hang out with the fellas and find out what the socially conscious group thinks about the university protests in Puerto Rico, what fans can expect from their new album Perreologia, and even got a special message for fans!

What can your fans expect from your new album Perreologia?

Alexis: Bueno, this album was made with lots of love for the fans. It’s dedicated to everyone that enjoys our music and el perreo that makes you want to have a good time on the dance floor. We were so lucky to collaborate with so many people like Tony Dize, Daddy Yankee, Flex, Eddie Avila, Franco el Gorila, Nova y Yori and so many more. We really produced this album with so much love for the fans. If they end up grabbing it, I know they won’t regret it.

You guys are known for being masters of wordplay. What inspired the lyrics in this album?

Alexis: Fido is the one that comes up with all of it. He is the mastermind.
Fido: Bueno, the fans are who really inspire us. We started to build on the songs based on what we thought our fans would really enjoy. I am very observant and like to stay on top of current events and what is going on in this world. All those things inspire us.

Speaking of current events, what are your thoughts on the university protests going on in Puerto Rico right now?

Fido: I support the students completely because I was a student at the University of Puerto Rico. There were always problems when it came to access to grants and scholarships. It’s true that financial aid is there to help us, but it wasn’t enough to cover the cost of books. This happens to so many students and they need more support to build a future for themselves.

What message do you give to those students in Puerto Rico that are struggling with this situation right now?

Fido: To keep going with their message. I know that a lot of artists from our industry are supporting them and they have our support too.

What can fans look forward to next from you guys?

Alexis: We are working really hard to promote the album. Right now we are planning on touring the States and getting the word out on this album. So far the response has been crazy. We really want to thank our fans for all the love.

Fido: We are also hitting up Panama City and Ontario in April. So you know, just traveling and trying to get the message out. Like Alexis said, this wouldn’t be possible without the fans.

Tags Alexis y Fido, Daddy Yankee, Eddie Avila, Flex, Franco "el Gorila", Latinos, Nova y Yori, perreo, Perreologia, Puerto Rico, Reggaeton, Tony Dize

By Michael Lopez

Ever wonder why your abuela is still kicking butt in her senior years? A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have the answer. According to their most recent stats, U.S. Latinos, on average, live longer than both whites and African-Americans, sometimes by up to several years.

Image : Grandmother

Their research has shown that a Latino born in 2006 could expect to live about 80 years and seven months, while the life expectancy for a Caucasian baby born at the same time would only be 78. Interestingly, an African-American born in 2006 would only be expected to reach 73.

What are the reasons? That’s the trickier part. Some have argued it’s related to diet, others say it has to do with genetics, and still others relate it to the hardships of immigration and manual labor (which they believe can “toughen” one's body).

A big takeaway from all of this is that many of the Latinos studied have not fully adapted to the American culture…which is actually a GOOD thing. Jane Delgado, president of the National Alliance of Hispanic Health, spoke up by saying,

“The American lifestyle is very sedentary. That’s not a good thing.”

Meaning the junk food, desk jobs, and poorer health habits of the country haven’t quite affected Latinos as much…yet. Many have said that life spans may shorten for third and fourth generation Latinos, who are less likely to be as active and durable as their immigrant grandparents.

We say, the best way to figure out the secrets of Latino longevity is to talk to the oldest relatives you know. Grandpas, great-grandmas, whatever, if they’re deep in their 80’s and still going strong, they must be doing something right! Plus we’re sure they’ll greatly appreciate the company.

Source: [Yahoo]

Who’s the oldest relative in your family? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Cultura, Immigration, Latinos, National Alliance of Hispanic Health

In our latest installment of Deep Thoughts, Blogamole contributor Michael Lopez channels "Stand and Deliver" to remind you that knowledge is power.

By Michael Lopez

We know it’s still summer break and the last thing any of us want to think about right now is school. But let's get serious for a minute — the results of a new study have revealed that the number of Latino students expected to return to school this fall is way lower than we would have expected.

The American Council on Education (ACE) recently released their Gender Equality in Higher Education: 2010 report, a followup to studies conducted in 2000 and 2006. Unfortunately, the results are showing some very discouraging college stats for both Hispanic men and women.

Believe it or not, only 42% of Latino men ages 24 or younger are in college right now. And that figure has dropped since 2000, when the percentage was at 45. Yes it could be worse, but c'mon fellas! Don’t you think we’re more than capable of beefing that stat up?

College education leads to more opportunities, intellectual enrichment, and phatter paychecks once you grab that diploma! And don’t get us started on high school. Only 51% of Latino young adults born outside the U.S. have earned their diploma.

Male immigrants, who represent one out of every three Hispanic young adults, are at a particular disadvantage. But listen to this one: Only 81% of U.S. BORN Latino young adults actually complete high school. 81%? What’s up, all you in the remaining 19%? Get that diploma and keep it moving!

Remember, a person with a Master's degree earns about $31,900 more per year than a high school graduate — a difference of as much as 105%!

Things are a little bit brighter for American Latinas. According to ACE, while only 9% of Hispanic young men go on to earn their bachelor degrees, young women total 14% (the same percentage as African-American females).

The people behind the study take these figures seriously, and so should you. Jacqueline E. King, an assistant VP at ACE said, “Raising the attainment rate of Hispanic men-and women-looms as one of the most significant challenges facing American education.”

Blogamole doesn’t like going for the whole preachy vibe, but we KNOW Latino young people are capable of a lot better than that. So go ahead, enjoy your summer, but when you get back to school STUDY HARD! Work toward college and that degree, because if there’s anything we love, it’s showing all naysayers that we mean business!

For more information on how to pay for your college education, visit the Hispanic Heritage Foundation web site.

What do you think about the results of this study? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags College, Deep Thoughts, Education, Latinos, Surveys

By Michael Lopez

Another awesome season of television has flown by and now it’s time to honor the names and faces that made it all happen. Tomorrow (July 8th) at 5:30 AM (PDT), “Community”’s Joel McHale and the beautiful Sofia Vergara will announce the nominations for the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. To join the fun, visit www.emmys.tv, as they will be streaming the announcement live!

“I’m so honored to be announcing the nominees. It’s been such an exciting year for television, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” said Sofia. Added Joel, "I have two children, and I've never woken up this early for anything."

While there weren’t an overwhelming amount of Latino stars in major primetime series this year, the ones we did see definitely made an impact. We’re not sure if there’s still time to get them on the ballot, but here’s our Latino wish list of stars who deserve a shot at the winged gold statue:

Sofia Vergara
Why not begin the roundup with the lady handing out the noms? It would definitely make for an entertaining reaction during the announcement. But more importantly, it’s majorly well deserved. Her feisty portrayal of Gloria on “Modern Family” has the word “breakout” written all over it and warrants big time Emmy love!

America Ferrera
We already know America’s an Emmys vet. With two nominations and one win under her belt, why not give her one more chance to take home the gold? We were seriously bummed when “Ugly Betty” was canceled, but here’s at least one more opportunity to give it a final standing ovation.

Jorge Garcia
“Lost” is another great series that unfortunately came to end this year. And for anyone watching the finale, Jorge wound up being the most important character of all (Hello?! He took over the island!). His performance as Hurley was dramatic, comedic and totally worthy of an Emmy nom.

Eva Longoria Parker
After five years on “Desperate Housewives”, the Emmy’s FINALLY began to take notice of Eva’s great work for the first time last year. She earned the nomination, but we’d like to argue that this season required even more acting chops with all of that heavy Ana, Carlos, and Lynette drama.

Aubrey Plaza
Here is another breakout star! Aubrey has a Puerto Rican background and a whole lot of talent. Many critics have already predicted her new series, “Parks and Recreation,” as an Emmy favorite. So why not throw a nom in for her perfectly subdued performance as April Ludgate?

The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air live coast to coast on August 29 (8-11 p.m. EST) on NBC.

Source: [Emmys]

Which other Latino stars would you like to see nominated for an Emmy? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy Awards, Latinos, MTV Tr3s, nominees

In our latest installment of Deep Thoughts, Blogamole contributor and gamer Michael Lopez makes a great case for a "Machete" first-person shooter spin-off. Help us out, Robert Rodriguez!

By Michael Lopez

Remember a few months back when everyone was talking about the 2010 Census? We're all about empowering our comunidad by tracking data, but the survey only covered the living population! Shouldn't us gamers have a virtual census for the characters who inhabit our consoles?

Thankfully, NewScientist.com did something like that — complete with pie charts, detailed statistics, and colorful graphs. So, how do Latino characters measure up in the world of videogames?

Spanish warrior Vega in Super Street Fighter II

Based on 150 of the top selling games, the study concluded that roughly 80% of all main characters were white, followed by 10.7% African-American and a mere 2.7% Latino! Additionally only 10% of playable characters were female (time to crank out more Princess Peach games, Nintendo!).

Good luck trying to find any elderly peeps in the virtual world…Only 1.7% of main characters are of senior citizen age (not much company for that old guy from Tekken).

Even though we won’t get the 2010 Census results until the end of the year (which we’re pretty sure it will show a major spike of Latinos in this country), the previous one speaks volumes. When analyzed with 2000 Census data, Latinos made up more than 12% of the entire US population.

To be represented by only 2.5% of videogame characters seems WAY too disproportionate.

And who do we even have to work with right now? Samba de Amigo’s maraca-shaking monkey, that freaky masked guy from Street Fighter, and Mexican banditos in Red Dead Redemption?

C’mon, videogame designers… Show us some love and let’s start cranking out spell-casting, princess saving, alien-blasting Latino characters ASAP!

Source: [PopSci]

Which videogame series need more Latino main characters? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Deep Thoughts, Latinos, videogames