by Antonio Mejías-Rentas
María Conchista Alonso
HISPANIC HONORS: In the midst of Hollywood’s awards season, two Latino arts organizations are celebrating their own.
This week the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA) will hold a Latino Legacy on Film celebration to honor Hispanic contribution to cinema in the year of the 80th Academy Awards.
The Feb. 1 3 event at the Los Angeles Theatre Center will be hosted by NHFA founders Jimmy Smits, Sonia Braga, Esaí Morales, Merel Julia and Fé1ix Sánchez.
Celebrities expected to attend include actors Maria Conchita Alonso, Néstor Carbonell, Benito Martínez and Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Irene Cara.
The event will also pay tribute to the independent film Bella and honor two of its actors, Ali Landry and Eduardo Verastegui.
Later this month, the National Hispanic Media Coalition will celebrate its 11th annual Impact Awards gala, which this year honors Ugly Betty producers Salma Hayek, Silvio Horta and José Temez.
Héctor “EI Father” Delgado Román
The Feb. 22 gala, hosted by Betty stars Tony Plana and Ana Ortiz, will take place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Expected highlights of the evening will include actor Edward James Olmos presenting a special award to theatre troupe Culture Clash.
BAD BOYS OF REGGAETON: A number of Puerto Rican urban performers have had recent clashes with the law.
On Feb. 9, 28-year-old singer Héctor “EI Father” Delgado Román and several of his bodyguards were arrested after an altercation with a fan at a gas station that ended with several shots fired. According to witnesses, after the incident members of Delgado Roman’s entourage filled up several gas tanks and left without paying. Police were expected to file charges this week.
Earlier in the week, another 28-year-old reggaetonero, Juan Luis Morera Luna—known as Wisín—was arrested and released after allegedly hitting his 82-year-old father. According to news reports, the two were arguing over the care of their fighting roosters. The father, Luis Morera Rivera, was treated at a hospital but refused to press charges. The son is half of the popular duo Wisín & Yandel.
One of reggaeton’s biggest stars, William Omar Landrón—or Don Omar—is set to stand trial June 30 over drug and gun possession charges after a series of legal maneuvers took his case all the way to the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. Landrón and two other men were arrested in August 2005, allegedly with several marihuana cigarettes and a firearm. Hispanic Link.
