Hola LA! Stands for Hope in Support of Padres Contra el Cancer's 5K Run

'Hola LA!' sharing Celeb MC duties at the event.  Naibe, Kikey and Bel with Esperanza, Padres Contra el Cancer's mascot

PADRES Contra El Cáncer (Parents Against Cancer) is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life for children with cancer and other blood disorders and their families

At 4:30am "Don't Stop Believin'" blared from my phone waking me from my sweet slumber.   Yes, 4:30am - thank goodness I don't mind being an early bird.  On this special day, Sunday, June 23rd, I was to join my 'Hola LA!' co-hosts, Bel Hernandez, Naibe Reynoso and other celeb's for shared MC duties at Padres Contra el Cancer's Stand for Hope 5K Run/Walk at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.  I was so excited about the event that I didn't even press snooze!

Kikey talking about the Stand for Hope 5K run/walk with Naibe and Bel

Kikey with boxer, "Bam Bam" Brandon Rios who's next fight is in Nov against Manny Pacquiao

Did you know that More than 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States every year. PADRES focuses on the needs of the entire family affected by childhood cancer and blood disorders, helping THOUSANDS of children from across the country, including California, South Florida, New York City and Las Vegas.

Esperanza, the mascot, with wonderful children who attended the 5K run/walk

Naibe and her daughter crossing the finish line

And the event was particularly close to my heart as cancer has also touched my life...my grandmother has a rare form of skin cancer and is currently getting treatment.  

  

Kikey, taking a turn at MC'ing the event with fellow 'Hola LA!' co-hosts  

Funds from the 2013 ‘Stand for HOPE!’ will support PADRES’ commitment to raise awareness for childhood cancer and also help expand its level of support services, which include transportation to hospitals for treatment; interpreters & case managers; grocery vouchers; and emotional support groups.

'Hola LA!' Exec. Producer and Actor Enrique Castillo crossing the finish line

In conjunction with the 5K run/walk,  Be the Match held a bone marrow drive for 18 year old Laura Garcia and 17 year old Jose Rodriguez. They both need a bone marrow transplant to save their lives. And they had a tremendous amount of new registrants...as they should, it only involves filling out a form and a simple cotton swab of the inside of the cheek.  Do you think you may want to register for the bone marrow registry??

  

So CALL (contact) Padres Contra el Cancer and Be the Match to find out how you can help these two AMAZING organizations!  I know I have :) 

Padres Contra el Cancer (Parents Against Cancer) http://www.iamhope.org

Be The Match (National Marrow Donor Program) http://bethematch.org

I'm a Cindo de Mayo Parade Grand Marshal?

Me along with my three other beautiful Hola LA! co-hosts we were the Grand Marshals for Cyress Park's annual Cinco de Mayo Parade!

What an gift to be included in the Cypress Park Parade which has a 22-year old tradition of having a Latino Celebrity serve as Grand Marshals - and this year Bel Hernandez, Dyana Ortelli, Naibe Reynoso and myself took that coveted honor - wow, even as I write this, I realize how so darn cool that is!  

Personal moments that happened behind the scenes:

As Grand Marshals, our duties included a VIP Meet and Greet breakfast reception where we got to mingle with fellow entertainers and meet great people from the community.  But it's never an Hola LA! outing without some sort of  "excitement"  happening.  As it turns out, poor Dyana was lost and could not find the VIP reception location (so she missed breakfast, coffee and the meet and greet).  Many calls and texts later and still lost, her phone died at the very point the parade was starting and our parade car was taking off...with out Dyana!!   We three took off sad that Dyana got lost and had to miss the parade but, we had to go on and wave and say HOLA to all the beautiful faces of Cypress Park.

A favorite heart fullfilling moment on the parade route for me was when I would lock eyes with a little boy or girl and say "hi mija" or "hi mijo"...their eyes would grow wide as saucers and their smile would grow really big...that made my day each and every time. 

Was the parade route really short?  Or was I having too much fun?  because before I knew it, we were parked at the festivities location - where we were to be introduced on stage and the fun party would continue with food and entertainment.  As we were parked, still sitting in the car chatting and taking pictures, out of nowhere DYANA shows up!  She missed the whole parade but she made it to the festivities.  Apparently she found a cop who kindly drove her to us.  As she sat shotgun (although it would have been hilarious to hear otherwise) she regally waved out of the cop car window - getting in her parade experience...lol.   Reunited, we finished out our Grand Marshal duties strong and had a very fun day!

Excited about our sign!

Ready to take off, missing our colorful Dyana, no really behind the smiles we were sad :( 

Still sad :( we managed to lift our spirits
I'm hoisting our Hola LA Celebrity Grand Marshal trophy!  Cue song... "We are the Champions..." 

Ta-Dah!! Real smiles of JOY as Dyana magically appears
Dyana was born wearing that sombrero LOL

On stage introduction to the crowd and officially presented our wonderful trophy

Special Thanks To:

Rafael Lopez, the parade’s celebrity liaison - you were just wonderful Rafa!

Ed Reyes, L.A. City Councilman has partnered with Cypress Park Neighborhood Council in helping with some of the city logistics and permits to host the parade

Cypress Park, for having us represent your wonderful city

New Episode Airs

Saturday, May 25th at 6:00pm on KCAL9

Sunday, May 26th at 4:30pm on CBS2

Latin Heat Article on the Cinco de Mayo Parade:
http://www.latinheat.com/2013/04/24/hola-la-hosts-grand-marshals-at-cinco-de-mayo-parade

5 Things You Don't Know About the 'Hola LA!' Hosts

Hola LA! returns to CBS/KCAL9
on March 30, 7:00pm

And the hosts are getting personal!

 I've asked my co-hosts to reveal five things about themselves that only their closest friends may know.  Check out what they reveal to only my Livin' la Vida LA! blog readers.

Photo by:

Bel Hernandez

The CEO/Moderator

1. My life's motto is Just Do It!
2. I lived in Mexico City for 2 years working as a Mexican Folk dancer
3. I'm one of the authors and also on the book cover for 8 Ways to Say I love My Life and Mean It
4. I have 3 children, 2 grandchildren and the BEST husband in the world!
5. I recently made the switch from an iPhone to a Galaxy III 

Photo by:

Kikey Castillo

The Actress/'In The City Gal'

1. My last audition was for an NBC TV Pilot
2. I take it as a huge compliment when people say I look like Eva Longoria
3. My favorite place to eat is Gratitude Cafe, and it's great for celeb spotting too!
4. I was very shy as a child
5. I once interviewed Anjelica Huston who's now on one of my favorite TV shows, Smash

Dyana Ortelli

The HAC (Host, Actress, Comedienne) and Fashion Victim!

1. I'm Spanish and Aztec.  Does that make me"Spaz-tec"? 
2. The first time I realized I was funny was when I tried to sing "Killing Me Softly" without being funny
3. I've been featured as "fashion victim" in The National Enquirer, Star, and People en Español (for reals!)
4. I hyper-ventilated in the ladies room at the Laugh Factory the first time I did stand-up comedy!
5. I don't play any instruments -- except for the organ :P

Naibe Reynoso

The Mom/Award Winning Journalist

1. I worked a red carpet event 10 days after giving birth to my son
2. I was once a guest co-host on The View
3. The book I would recommend to the first lady is "The Four Agreements"
4. My husband is a writer for the Disney show A.N.T. Farm
5. I used to host a weekly show dedicated to the Twilight franchise

We're baaaack so tune in Saturday, March 30, 7:00pm on KCAL9.  We LOVE our wonderful viewers!!!

Kikey Co-Hosts, 'HOLA! LA' on KCAL9 Los Angeles

The first and only English-language TV talk show with a Latina POV !

HOLA! LA hosts and guest LtoR: Naibe Reynoso, Dyana Ortelli, Esai Morales, Kikey Castillo and Bel Hernandez

A not to miss premiere show 

with VIP guests Esai Morales and John Leguizamo 

Sunday, September 30th at 5pm

 on 

KCAL9/CBS Los Angeles 

This is a dream come true!!!  After so, so many YEARS of long hard work to bring our very own sweet show from concept to fruition to our ultimate goal - Network TV, it has finally happened.  

How we got started with a goldmine of a show:

It started with a handful of talented people in a friends casting office in LA to brainstorm on realizing a talk show that included Latina women, because none of the shows anywhere on network TV were including the Latino voice and perspective.  This lead to 'Let's Talk!' and we launched a successful run on the Internet for a few years winning over male and female fans all over the nation.

What the "Little Show That Could" did next:

We always had our sights set on TV, so we jumped onto KJLA a digital local cable station with a limited reach within the LA market.  But no matter, we were finally on TV and our loyal fans continued their enthusiasm and support for our show.  After a season run on KJLA we went into hiatus and bless our lucky stars...it was during this break that the BIG TV Dogs came a callin'.

My, how far we have come - Network TV: 

We were elated beyond belief when we found out we had a meeting with CBS to talk about bringing on the show.  In sports terms it would be like, "being called up to the majors" ...it was a BIG DEAL. The meeting went like a dream, CBS was IN and 'HOLA! LA' was born.  Same great hosts, same great chemistry, same great type of content just elevated because hello it's CBS.  I am personally so greatfull to CBS and everyone there who helped make 'HOLA! LA' possible.    

Right after our very first meeting with CBS

And here we are the 'HOLA! LA' hosts LtoR: Naibe Reynoso, Dyana Ortelli, Kikey Castillo and Bel Hernandez

What's next for 'HOLA! LA':

We hope to keep brining you many more great 'HOLA! LA' shows, but it's really in the hands of the viewers, our awesome fans and the TV gods.  It's just the way the TV industry works, so if I could ask for my Christmas present early :)  I would ask for our fans to please support our show by:

• spreading the word about our premier show, Sun 9/30 @5pm on KCAL9 (LA Only)
• watching our premier show (you can even set your DVRs)
• and finally writing/emailing CBS letting them know that you want to see more of our show - believe it or not letter campaigns to keep a show on the air work

We hope to keep bringing you more great shows!  

John Leguizamo’s one-man show “Ghetto Klown”

Am I funny to you? Am I your clown?!  How many times have you heard that?  Either as a jest or in a quarrel?  Or better yet, how many times have you said it to someone else…for dramatic effect of course.

Well, John takes that phrase to another level and say’s “Yes.  I am a clown, I am a Ghetto Klown” and his funny comes from pain.  There is a saying that the most funny comedians are the most wrought with pain.  And John is FUNNY!

John Leguizamo performing at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre

On Sunday, I went to see John’s 5^th one-man show, “Ghetto Klown” at The Ricardo Montalban Theatre with some friends and myyyyy was I laughing as his tragedies!  It was laugh out loud HA’s and giggling and head nodding yes and definitely some knee slappings going on too.  

LtoR: Kikey Castillo, Naibe Reynoso, Karina Noelle, Lorena Alvarado

We relate to John in this show as he recounts his journey from ghetto boy in Queens to becoming a Hollywood movie star.  I mean, haven’t we all had a dream that we had to fight hard for, aren’t we all looking for love, we certainly have all lost love, who hasn’t had a difficult relationship with a parent, or at some point simply believed that we “just aren’t good enough”.  

John Leguizamo displays his life, the raw truth of it, on stage for the world to laugh AT him and WITH him...a “Ghetto Klown” for sure!  

Direct from Broadway

 John Leguizamo in

“Ghetto Klown”

15 performances only! Sept 30 to Oct 16

Tickets On Sale through tix.com

Performances at The Ricardo Montalban Theatre

Leguizamo explains, “Ghetto Klown” is all the things I say to my therapist and my manager, but would never want the general public to know.  It’s cheaper than a lawsuit and I get to take a bow at the end.  It’s like Wikileaks but with no international manhunt. Yet.”

Click play to see video of John's Show or go to livinlavidala.blogspot.com

I’m more of a fan of John’s now! 

Funny guys are sexy...Muah!

My favorite John Leguizamo movies:

To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar

Ice Age as the voice of Sid

Moulin Rouge

Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet

When You Got It…Pay It Forward

August was one of my best months this year, hands down.  There were some really great personal achievements, some amazing career successes and just as important as my personal and career highs - - - was my continued commitment to philanthropic endeavors.  This month, I was ALL OVER Los Angeles, ‘paying it forward’.    

 

Stephanie’s Day

click here for Stephanie's Day info

On August 13th my ‘Let’s Talk!’ family (co-hosts & creative team) went out to the CBS studios in Studio City to support ‘Stephanie’s Day’.   

Stephanie’s Day is a resource fair to provide families with children impacted by autism and other special needs, one place to gather valuable information, enjoy fun activities and more.   

The event was started by Steve Mauldin, General Manager of CBS2/KCAL9 fifteen years ago in Dallas in honor of his daughter,

Stephanie, who has autism.

LtoR: Gissel, Naibe, Steve Mauldin, Stephanie, Bel and me

And I got to meet Stephanie! She is a doll and she loves purses; making sure all of our purses were zipped up! Good looking out Stephanie. She has a bright playful spirit and you can just tell she is a very sweet and loving young lady.  As a past national spokesperson for ‘What’s In Your Lunch Box?’ a non-profit for autism awareness, I was proud to be supporting a cause I love and believe in.

 For information on Stephanie’s Day visit http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/stephanies-day/

   

A Place Called Home

www.apch.org

It was a chilly day but that didn't stop the kids!

I got to spend a whole day at Will Rogers state beach on Aug 17th with 200 kids ranging in age from kindergarten to high school and boy was that an awesome day!.   

Most of these amazing kids who came from the south central LA area had never been to the beach in all their lives.  Makes you appreciate the little things that’s for sure. 

And guess what they wanted to do the minute they hit the beach? Swim, of course! They turned into little mermaids and mermen out there. Seeing all these cute little faces giggling and laughing all day was so heartwarming.   

At the end of the day, one of the mentors from ‘A Place Called Home’ thanked us and told us how much this meant to him personally. As he tried to hold back tears he told us that he’s been working with some of these kids for months and he had never seen some of them smile or laugh until today, and for that, he was deeply grateful.   

click photo: see the long line of kids :)

A Place Called Home is a safe haven in South Central Los Angeles where underserved youth are empowered to take ownership of the quality and direction of their lives through programs in education, arts, and well-being; and are inspired to make a meaningful difference in their community and the world.

For A Place Called Home volunteer information: Email: volunteer@apch.org

  

Strike Out ALS

www.strikeoutalsla.com

Juan Quintero in picture

Play Ball! Did someone say softball? Bring it! This wonderful event brought out my competitive spirit but more importantly it brought out a whole community out to support one of their own…Juan Quintero. 

Juan is Rick Quintero’s brother.  You know Rick as the CHP traffic cop who also reports the traffic for the number one rated morning news show “Good Day L.A.” But on Saturday, August 27th the spotlight was not on Rick but on his wonderful brother, Juan. 

The Ringer's or Ragamuffins, one in the same :p

Five years ago, Juan was diagnose with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS–what most of us know as Lou Gehrig’s disease and his loving family has been there every step of the way.  Their family bond and spirit is amazing and full of strength in light of their brother’s health.   

This year marked their 5^th fifth annual fundraiser “Strike Out ALS” to cover the continued medical needs of Juan and to also share some of the proceeds with other ALS patients in need. 

Madeline, Lorena, Rick Quintero, Gisset, and Kikey

In solidarity of the Quintero’s family plight a group of my friends formed a team consisting of Let’s Talk! co hosts, Encounters web series creative team, a PR pro from Terry Hines & Associates, a Univision employee, a Hollywood makeup artist and more.  We played hard and came out the winners!!!   

Oh did I forget to mention we played a team of mainly kids who nearly kicked our butts???  Well played young opponents… well played…

I will definitely be there again next year and will recruit more of my friends to come out and play. Watch out, I could be recruiting YOU on my team next year!

To form a 2012 “Strike Out ALS” team visit www.strikeoutalsla.com

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