Armando David Ortigosa decided that something needed to be done to motivate the young people of Mexico to participate in its presidential election. He looked north for inspiration, where the “Rock the Vote” campaign used pop stars to try and get young voters to the polls. The Mexican equivalent became known as Tu Rock Es Votar.

Could it be that the “Tu Rock es Votar” campaign resulted in a closer Mexican 2006 election, one that ironically left the youth feeling more disillusioned than ever? Felipe Calderón Hinojosa edged out Andrés Manuel López Obrador by such a thin margin that the losing side demanded a total recount, which was not granted. The ensuing cloud surrounding the election left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Mexicans.

When the Centro Hispano de Todos los Santos [All Saints Hispanic Center] provides makeovers for mothers, many of them realize how emotional it can be when one who is used to taking care of others is taken care of herself.

Corn to dough and dough to tortilla. It’s simple, it’s automatic, and it’s how Alfonso and his siblings make their living. Step up to the counter to learn more.

Tatiana explains the symbolism behind the colors of the Mexican flag- red, white and green- as well as preparing a dish which both includes those colors and honors those values.

In celebration of the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday in which the departed are sometimes honored with the preparation of their favorite dishes, Tatiana shares with us a bit about her recipe for "Dead Raising Chilaquiles," as well as her philosophy regarding life and death.

Tatiana shares with us some home remedies for the restoration of our physical and spiritual health.

Cycling prodigy, Miguel Angel, and his parents speak about how he got into cycling.

Miguel Angel's parents explain how he came to be known as "the Superman."

The Planeta Palabra gang encounters a young Gypsy boy who explains to them about the Gypsy nation of Rom and its culture, providing them with a ton of new words in the process.

Raquel tells us about Spain's most traditional and unique annual festivals.

Our friend, Rafael, returns this week to talk to us about his homeland and its culture. As he explains, the Mayan culture continues to thrive in Guatemala via its language, clothing, and customs.

In Guatemala, people of Mayan descent not only retain various native forms of dress, but they also speak dialects of the Mayan language, a language many people wrongly presume to be long lost to history. Rafael treats us to some examples of words and phrases in this language, and also explains some of the particulars of traditional dress.

A fishing village like Adícora can be a place of work and industry for locals, but also one of rest and relaxation for travelers. Chober comes from a fishing family and knows the trade, but he recognizes the growing importance of tourism. His generation realizes that the survival of both ways of life necessitates better care of the environment and increased ecological awareness.

Félix, a barber from the town of Sosúa in the Dominican Republic, tells us a bit about the tools of his trade, his family and his pastimes.