Celebrity Events Issue 55 by Celebrity Group, LLC

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ISSUE 55

CELEBRITY EVENTS NO

EXCUSES

STAY FIT & HEALTHY MBR Fitness Owner Monica Vargas shares Her Advice

TASTE OF LA FRONTERA Event Hosted by Mr. Amigo Association

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PHOTOS OF

TOP LOCAL EVENTS

A TASTE OF LIFE WITH

Franco Valobra

RIO GRANDE VALLEY’S

WOMAN LEADER

MELISSA CASTRO AN INSPIRING STORY OF A SURVIVOR

MEMORIAL HERMAN Breast Cancer

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CELEBRITY BECAUSE LIFE IS AN EVENT

EVENTS

MAGAZINE

Staff PUBLISHER Marco A. Romero pxe@mac.com

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Michelle Romero michelleromero_pxe@yahoo.com

CREATIVE TEAM Creative Director | Stephen Araiza saraiza@celebrityrgv.com Art Director | Jessica Alanis jalanis@celebrityrgv.com

PRODUCTION Director of Production | Hugo Torreblanca hugo@celebrityrgv.com

ADMINISTRATION Program Manager | Paula Vallejo pvallejo@celebrityrgv.com Executive Assistant | Lyris Garcia customerrelations@celebrityrgv.com Ofﬁce Assistant | Ruby Castillo ruby@celebrityrgv.com

MULTIMEDIA Web Director | Alberto Calderón alberto@argentaagency.com Social Media/Designer | JC Dominguez jc@argentaagency.com

MARKETING Public Relations | Arely Jimenez ajimenez@celebrityrgv.com Public Relations | Marissa Moncriffe marissa@celebrityrgv.com Public Relations | Denisse Acha dacha@celebrityrgv.com

ADVERTISING Sales Representative | Rodolfo Bolivar rodolfo@celebrityrgv.com Sales Representative | Edward Davis edavis@celebrityrgv.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Director of Photography | Alberto Porras aporras@celebrityrgv.com For advertising information please call Celebrity Events Magazine at: 1(956) 504-2273 Celebrity Events Magazine is published ten times per year by Celebrity Group Magazines.This magazine may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photo copying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented without written permission from the publishers prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for care and return of unsolicited materials. www.celebrityeventsmagazine.com www.facebook.com/celebrityeventsmagazine Printed By Celebrity Group Magazines All Rights Reserved ©

CELEBRITY EVENTS MAGAZINE IS A PROUD MEMBER OF:

Photographer | Sinthia Vera sinthia@celebrityrgv.com Photographer | Ivan Michael ivanmichael86@gmail.com

COPY & RESEARCH Contributing Editors | Holiday Inn Staff; Healthmeup.com

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M T S

956-554-9365

R E T

TOWN HOMES Villaswestminster

2000 Westminster Circle | Brownsville, TX 78521

CELEBRITY BECAUSE LIFE IS AN EVENT

EVENTS

Index ISSUE 55

MAGAZINE

COVER Melissa Castro

Melissa Castro Photography by: Ivan Michael Hair/Makup: Tanya Mendoza & Marbie Cisneros Divalicious Party Spa Jewelry: Park Lane Jewelery Location: Zocalo Bar & Grill

EVENTS 10 Martin Luther King Day of Service 15 Get Connected Networking 20 Winter Texans Zoo Mixer 23 Meet & Greet with Alex Dominguez 24 Arbor Day 34 7th Annual Legacy Gala 38 Wings of the City 42 Women's Chamber of Congress 44 Memorial Herman Breast Cancer Ribbon Cutting 52 Martin Luther King Day

ARTICLES 08 No Excuses; Stay Fit Stay Healthy 13 Run For Your Health 14 How to Stay Motivated: New Year's Resolutions 21 Dwight Howard Pro Camp Basketball 2013 22 On the Roll With Beach Patrol 26 Alex Dominguez Interview 32 Rio Grande Valley Woman Leader Melissa Castro 36 Danica Markovic 45 Eating to Live 46 "The Law" Luis Vega MMA Fighter 50 Pay It Forward 51 Staff Thoughts

Franco Valobra Celebrity Events Magazine is a publication that focuses on capturing life events in which our motto says it all â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because life is an event.â&#x20AC;? Every issue includes the latest events happening in The Valley, ranging from grand openings, galas, fundraisers, weddings and more. We cover the best of what each city in the Valley has to offer. Our magazine also features striking content of those who make us proud, the best in business, lifestyle, fashion, recreation and much more. We reach our audience through different platforms which include: an elegantly designed and perfectly bound magazine, an interactive website, prominent social media, and a bi-weekly subscription newsletter.

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HEALTH & FITNESS | MBR FITNESS

“We should always be grateful for our lives, regardless of the ups and downs and learn from the experiences we have had.”

Monica Vargas (MBR Fitness owner) BS Kinesiology, Certified Personal Trainer NASM PES, Crossfit Level 1 coach, Crossfit for Kids & Gymnastics

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No Excuses Stay fit, Stay Healthy by Monica Vargas | Photography by Meri Bella Photography

We are reminded during the holidays of our accomplishments over the past year. The goals we achieved, the ones we might have missed, and the happy and sad times that took place. We should always be grateful for our lives, regardless of the ups and downs and learn from the experiences we have had. What did you accomplish? Where did you stumble? What did you learn and what did you overcome?

Start Today 2014 is here and once again we are able to clean our slates, freshen our minds and jump at the chance to start over. The most common resolution is getting in shape. We often say “This is the year I will commit to health, fitness, eating right and embracing a new lifestyle!” In the fitness industry, we meet countless people that are ready to change but are confused. With so much information out there, fad diets, books, and what “a friend read in a certain magazine,” it’s no wonder why people walk away from their goals and why a third of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned by January 30th. With the abundance of information out there, what is commonly overlooked is how simple the lifestyle actually is. I have led a very fit and health oriented lifestyle since I can remember. I have studied fitness, health and nutrition, I live and breathe it. I am far from calling myself an expert, because who really knows it all, but my focus is on helping people transform and modify themselves from the inside out. I do not sit back and tell my clients what to do, I show them. MBR Fitness was born out of my passion to make a difference in my community.

Our Commitment We at MBR Fitness are committed to change the people around us. We are knowledgeable, focused and dedicate our time to help people from all walks of life change and improve their quality of life. Changing habits and altering mindsets so that clients can create their own goals and successfully reach them. Our members have positively changed their lives and have accomplished goals. Running their ﬁrst mile, learning that they are able to sprint, being able to run with their kids and grandkids, completed a 5K, 10K, Marathons and even Triathlons! Getting back into old jeans, being courageous enough to wear a two-piece bathing suit and attending prom in the dress of their dreams to name a few. Our members are people from all walks of life coming together as a family. We laugh, work hard, run faster, lift, learn and grow.

No Excuses 2014 is here! What is stopping you from reaching your fitness and health goals? What excuse will you have at the end of this year? Let me and MBR Fitness help you reach your goal, whatever it might be, big or small, adventurous or safe. Discipline, consistency, focus, effort and dedication are values we embrace. Not only will they help you in specific goals but will also change your mind set and help you become a more confident, secure and successful individual outside the gym. So what are you waiting for?

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Let our team at MBR FITNESS help you change your life. #getafterit2014 #noexcuses Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

ON THE SCENE | BROWNSVILLE

Photography by: Sinthia Vera

TASTE OF LA FRONTERA â&#x20AC;&#x153;Taste of La Fronteraâ&#x20AC;? event hosted by the Mr. Amigo Association featuring regional cuisine from restaurants on the border, wine and spirits, music, and entertainment.

10 Celebrityeventsmagazine.com | Issue 55

For more pictures of this event, visit us at www.celebrityeventsmagazine.com

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unning may not be the answer to all your troubles but it can sure do a lot of good to your physical, mental and emotional health and may even help in disease prevention. Running can beneﬁt you in many ways so read on to know how. 1) You’ll burn a lot of calories. Running will help you burn a lot of calories and maintain your ideal body weight. 2) You’ll keep your blood cholesterol, sugar and pressure in check. Exercise is one of the best ways to naturally reduce your blood pressure keep high cholesterol and blood sugar in check.

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3) You’ll lessen your risk of a heart attack. Running will strengthen your heart and ensure the efficient flow of blood and oxygen throughout your body, which helps decrease your risk of a heart attack. 4) You’ll keep your bones strong. Running and other weight-bearing exercises strengthen your muscles and increase bone density, which can fend off osteoporosis. 5) You’ll boost your energy levels. Running is a great way to boost your energy and maintain improved energy levels during the day. 6) You’ll boost your self-esteem and confidence levels. Running requires a lot of motivation and discipline. Setting and achieving a goal of running frequently will increase your confidence and self-es

teem. This is especially true if you set a speciﬁc goal, such as running a marathon and accomplish it. 7) You can broaden your horizon. Running is a great way to break away from the daily grind. It gives people the opportunity to explore areas of their own community and give them time for thought!

“It can sure do a lot of good to your physical, mental and emotional health” 8) You can support a cause. Many marathons and runs beneﬁt charities and causes, such as health awareness, social causes or for natural disasters. Running is a great way to contribute something in your own to a higher cause. 9) You can meet and network with other runners. As part of running groups or clubs or at marathons, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet and get to know other runners.

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956.371.5382 | 956.407.9171 3101 Pablo Kisel Blvd Suite B-8 Brownsville, TX 78526 Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

LIFESTYLE | KEEPING RESOLUTIONS

HOW TO STAY

MOTIVATED: NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS BY TREYE GREEN

AS YOU ENTER the New Year once again, it’s time to commit to a fresh round of resolutions. Whether it be working out more often or cutting back on social media, embracing the new patterns needed to accomplish our resolutions can at times be a challenge. Shaking old habits is not the easiest task. But with a great deal of dedication and employing a few of the tips below, you will be well on your way to sticking to whatever personal goals you’ve set for 2014.

MAKE A VISION BOARD One of the most beneficial ways to stay motivated about your resolutions is to literally see your goals each day. A vision board is easy way to visualize your aspirations for the year and where you hope to see yourself in the future. So grab a couple of old magazines or books and cut out photos, quotes and whatever else might embody your mission for the year. You can get as creative as you like since this is your personal project to keep you encouraged while making your life changes. Place the

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completed board in a prominent place that you’ll see it each day -- maybe your bedroom or beside your bathroom mirror. It’s the perfect way to keep those resolutions fresh in your mind throughout the coming year.

be able to improve. Describing your thoughts about the changes you are witnessing is also a valuable exercise. You can use your words as a motivator if you hit a snag later in the year or just need an extra boost of encouragement as you are starting out.

USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM

And remember, there is no hard-and-fast rule about when to write in your journal. You can do it in the morning before your workout or after you’ve finished your tasks for the night. Just keep it consistent and feel free to put all of your worries, concerns and triumphs in its pages.

If you have a friend or family member that has a similar resolution as you, you can easily double team on those goals for some added support. You’ll both benefit from having someone to confide in when you’re tempted to side step. Plus, it will be even more fulfilling to know that you both helped each other endure the tough times and inevitable temptations. So call up your best friend or favorite cousin and make a pact to take on 2014 together!

WRITE IT OUT Keeping a daily journal is another helpful way to keep track of your progress each week with your new goals. Use it to recap your accomplishments for the day or week, and to focus on any areas where you might

HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE It’s completely up to you to stick to any resolutions you make. So it is crucial you don’t let things slide by -- especially when you are first attempting to start new habits. Take it week by week as you try to change your habits. And lifestyle coach Ellie Kay stresses that it is crucial to keep your routines as consistent as possible during the first 21 days. “Habits drive our lives,” she told CBS. “It takes 21 days to change

ON THE SCENE | BROWNSVILLE your thoughts and start to develop a new habit. It’s the 21 days that kill you.”

to go down a different path with similar end results.

BREAK IT UP

This week give yourself permission to throw away certain goals that have caused tremendous stress and frustration.

Since your supply of self-control is finite, make resolutions that require small acts of will, not weeks of vigilance. “Saying to yourself ‘Lose 10 pounds’ sounds specific, but it’s less likely to work than behavioral goals like “This week I’ll try to go to the gym three times, take the stairs at work at least twice, and bring a healthy lunch every day,” says Andrea Bonior, Ph.D., a psychologist in private practice in Washington, DC, and author of the “Baggage Check” column for the Washington Post Express.

ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS Find out what distracts you and block these out ruthlessly when working at your goal. You may need to sign out of all social media websites, turn your phone to airplane mode, confine yourself to a quiet room, or decline any calls to go out on a particular day.

“GET CONNECTED” NETWORKING BROWNSVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Brownsville Chamber of Commerce hosted “Get Connected” Network for new Chamber members interested in learning more about the different beneﬁts The Chamber can offer.

Keeping distractions at bay will bring added importance to the task you’re engaging in and increase your productivity. Take frequent breaks, such as once every hour or half hour for ten minutes at a time—Fatigue is a sneaky distractor!

It takes 21 days to change your thoughts and start to develop a new habit. it’s the 21 days that kill you. You’ll feel good when you accomplish each goal, and your success will help bolster your resolve: The better you are at making small changes, the easier it will be for you to keep going.

CRANK UP YOUR GREATEST HITS When you feel discouraged, remind yourself how much you’ve accomplished in the past, suggests Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D. “People beat themselves up about still needing to lose the baby weight or no longer going to yoga class. But they overlook the long list of things they have done that required major self-discipline, like building a nest egg or sticking with the computer training they needed in order to get a better job.” Lombardo’s advice: “Write down 100 things you’re proud of, right down to ‘I get out of bed when I don’t want to.’ It’ll remind you how much willpower you really have.”

A CLEAN SLATE Sometimes when you are frustrated with a lack of motivation, you need to take a break and create a clean slate. It is important to distance yourself in order to gain perspective and build fresh momentum. Simply distancing yourself from the task allows you to reframe the goal or let it go all together. Sometimes the goal is the wrong goal in the first place and you will be able

Limit your pursuits this year to only a few at a time. Having too many pursuits is like juggling more balls than you can manage. There are all kinds of opportunities out there: ask yourself which ones are worth it and whether you have enough time. If you take on something new, consider dropping something else to balance the time in your schedule.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY Each year we set resolutions with the larger goal of becoming our best selves possible. And there is a great joy that can come in challenging our set patterns and stepping out of what we are comfortable with doing. Remember to have fun with the process. And even if you fall short or lose sight for a bit, every day is a new chance to give your resolution another go. Give yourself a designated cheat day if you’re attempting to eat healthier. Replace your normal social media binge with an entertaining book instead. There are numerous ways to keep your journey engaging while remaining dedicated to making positive changes to your life. Here’s to your best year yet!

Visit www.celebrityeventsmagazine.com for more photos! Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

ON THE SCENE | BROWNSVILLE

Photography by: SinthiaVera

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OF SERVICE “MLK Day of Service” event hosted by the University of Texas at Brownsville University Scholars program. Everyone had a great day enjoying good food and fun activities!

For more pictures of this event, visit us at www.celebrityeventsmagazine.com

16 Celebrityeventsmagazine.com | Issue 55

TECHNOLOGY | INTEGRATION

I N T E G R A T I O N

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The Ultimate Home Experience Time to Integrate with SoundCrafters

We give the control to you! Imagine complete control at your ﬁngertips! SoundCrafters Integration is the RGV’s leading source for custom home theaters and residential automation. Being an Apple Authorized reseller, SoundCrafters specializes in controlling your home with a touch of a button. Whether an Apple or an Android device we provide custom programming, creating a simple user experience. After all, technology should simplify your life not complicate it.

Quality - Care - Knowledge We are passionate about providing the RGV with the best service in home technology and control solutions. Being family owned and operated, we believe in 100% client satisfaction and conﬁdentiality, and will provide the same level of service of which we would expect in our own homes. With 15 years of experience, our highly trained technicians will ensure that your system is installed and operating to perfection. Our goal is to create harmonious environments, seamlessly bridging man to machine.

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Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

Photography by: Sinthia Vera

ON THE SCENE | BROWNSVILLE WINTER TEXANS

ZOO MIXER LUNCH | DINNER | COCKTAILS

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

The Gladys Porter Zoo hosted a “Winter Texan Discount” on February 5, 2014 to honor Winter Texan Appreciation Day. Patrons participated in fun activities and were able to enjoy a great afternoon visiting the Zoo’s newest aquarium exhibit.

HAPPY HOUR

Monday-Saturday 3pm-7pm ALL DAY HAPPY HOUR SUNDAY

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For more pictures of this event, visit us at www.celebrityeventsmagazine.com

MAKING US PROUD | DWIGHT HOWARD

Pro Basketball Camp in December to win the hearts of the local Houstonians. He has remained humble during his transition, and is more than happy to serve his new community. Several children participated in the December Pro Basketball camp at the Toyota Center, and unlike your typical celebrity, Howard was in attendance and active for hours engaging with the children. Dwight had a few elementary school boys that couldn’t wait to meet him just so they can play him one on one, and “trash talk” just like a true Basketball player. Some were so conﬁdant to say that they could “beat him by a million points!” Howard was not hesitant to compete with the small, yet courageous kids, and accepted the challenge by having free-throw contests, and even blocking their shots as if he were playing against Lebron James! All fun in games, Dwight was elated to be amongst upcoming players and fans that will never forget this event.

Dwight Howard Pro Camp Basketball 2013

wight Howard often nicknamed “superman” is an Atlanta native that began playing basketball at age 9. Raised by a family of sports-lovers, being a basketball player was more than likely in his future. Currently, Howard is Transitioning to play for the Houston Rockets after playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012. His professional basketball career began with the Orlando Majic in Florida where he was named a “ﬁrst pick”. He committed 7 years to Orlando Majic and soon became a household name. The name Superman was etched in stone to a mass of fans after he participated in the Annual Slam Dunk Contest and wore a red cape—soaring several feet and dunking into the basketball goal. Howard, since moving to Houston has involved himself in multiple volunteering events during the season, as well as person ally coach and motivate the youth at his

Several professional coaches were assisting the kids by sharpening their skills and showing them tricks and moves that the pro’s use. Young girls and boy’s ranging from 6-12 years old excitedly ran up and down the court showing off their skills to Dwight Howard and fellow campers. Although some kids were shy and a bit star-shocked, there were of course others that wanted to witness for themselves if Dwight Howard was really ‘Superman’! In an interview Howard states that “Life is tough sometimes, and meeting children that he may never see puts a smile on his face.” Dwight Howard is relatively a very comical and fun-hearted athlete that blends perfectly with the children (with the exception of his towering height). They say never to meet your heroes, but in this case Howard proved how inviting and humble a Pro Athlete could really be. Nothing but fond memories for these future stars in training!

SOCIAL & EVENT CENTER

“THE BEST QUALITY & THE MOST ELEGANCE FOR YOUR MONEY” Weddings | Quinceañeras | Private Parties Catering Services Valleywide For More Information Contact: Aaron H. Balli Jr. (956)821-5944 | 1620 E. Grifﬁn Parkway, Mission, TX

CELEBRATION HALL

For More Information Contact: Aaron H. Balli Jr. (956) 821-5944 1905 W. Grifﬁn Parkway, Mission, TX Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

MAKING US PROUD | BEACH PATROL

On the Roll with Beach Patrol It’s that time of the year again! The sun begins to burst through the clouds and you’ve come here to enjoy the beautiful beaches at South Padre Island. But before you jump into the waves, take a few minutes to read and learn about our Cameron County Beach Patrol and its safety program. CCBP Chief, Michael Johnson, gave us a brief insight of what this program consist of and what it has to offer to the public.

The Beach Patrol was founded last year on January 2013 and was up and running by Memorial Day 2013. Their mission is “to provide a professional lifeguard service to Cameron County Beaches through the direct prevention of and response to aquatic accidents and through public education and training.” They have established twelve lifeguard towers which are spread out between Isla Blanca, Andy Bowie and access points three and four, and response to emergencies in access ﬁve and six. This totals to 26.24 miles of mixed coverage. At the moment they have two emergency vehicles, two jet skis and one Polaris to aid them on their daily operations.

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by Arely Jimenez | Photography by Hugo Torreblanca

The CCBP is an aﬃliated member of the American Red Cross and an applicant to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA). The USLA is the gold standard for beach patrols across the nation which helps reduce the incidence of death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, national lifeguard standards, training programs, promotion of high levels of lifeguard readiness, and other means. Ocean lifeguarding is definitely more intense and dangerous than pool lifeguarding. Lifeguards working for the Cameron County Beach Patrol have to complete numerous physical exams in order to get hired. Lifeguards are required to exercise for one hour on a daily basis in order to maintain a fit physique. Ocean lifeguards expose themselves to intense water and land trainings to be physically prepared to complete rescues. These lifeguards are no joke! Since the past year, they have expanded and grown their organization. Their main goal is “Prevention through education” and they accomplish this by visiting diﬀerent independent school districts throughout the valley. They educate the youth on

beach safety by teaching them about rip currents, poisonous marine life, and the flag warning system. The Cameron County Beach Patrol can be found on both Instagram and Facebook where they post important beach safety information as well. Simply search Cameron County Beach Patrol if you are interested.

Quick tips for beachgoers:

• Swim near a lifeguard • Swim with a buddy • Stay hydrated • Drink responsibly • Do NOT swim at night • Keep a close eye on your children • Always wear sunscreen • Carry your cell phone at all times Cameron County Beach Patrol:

Operation hours: Monday -Friday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm; extended hours will be implemented once the season begins. Contact Info: 3317 State Park Road 100 South South Padre Island, TX. 78597 Ofﬁce: (956)761-3700 E-mail: michael.johnson@co.cameron.tx.us

Photography by: Sinthia Vera

ON THE SCENE | BROWNSVILLE

MEET & GREET WITH

ALEX DOMINGUEZ “Meet and Greet Alex Dominguez”, Candidate for Cameron County Commissioner Pct,2. Event hosted at Ice House Sports Bar & Grill.

777 lunch menu

LUNCH SPECIALS 11-4 PM 3-7 ADOLIOS HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY COME RELAX TODAY, WHETHER IT BE FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE. SUNRISEMALL BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS

956.982.0491 FACEBOOK.COM/ADOLIOS

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Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

ON THE SCENE | MCALLEN

Photography by: Sinthia Vera

ARBOR DAY This past year, the City of McAllen, Keep McAllen Beautiful, and Texas Forestry Service organized the second annual Arbor Day Challenge. This year, they teamed up again to bring the community an exciting, family-friendly event that played an important role in â&#x20AC;&#x153;plantingâ&#x20AC;? the future for trees in our city.

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For more pictures of this event, visit us at www.celebrityeventsmagazine.com

20th

anniversary R

SEASON TICKETS ON SALE Box Seat

20 Game

Mini-Plan Tickets $100 Per Seat

10 Game

Season Tickets $280 Per Seat

Reserved Grandstand Season Tickets $225 Pet Seat

Senior/Child Reserved Grandstand Season Tickets $150 Per Seat (*must be 65 or older)

Mini-Plan Tickets $50 Per Seat

5 Game

Mini-Plan Tickets $25 Per Seat season starts

May 15, 2014

PICK UP YOUR TICKETS AT THE WHITEWINGS OFFICE Hours: 9am - 4pm | 1216 Fair Park Blvd Harlingen, Texas | whitewingsbaseball.org

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP PROSPER THE COMMUNITY’S SOCIAL STATUS?

Alex

ominguez

Running for County Commissioner for Cameron County. By: Arely Jimenez | Photography: Sinthia Vera

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER?

I think the County Commissioner position is one that is very important. It requires somebody that is responsible, that is good with budgets but also knows how to talk to people and has an idea for what the vision of the county should be. Part of the reason why I’m running is that I think that we need to be spending our money in a way that we further develop job growth in this county.

do is devote more time to bring businesses here, not just really big ones but also to develop small businesses too, maybe develop an environment where local business people are willing to invest their own money to create more jobs. We have the Port of Brownsville and South Padre Island, I think what we could do and what I would be willing to do out of my own pocket is to find ways to market these two resources to bring more jobs to the area.

WHAT IS YOUR MISSION STATEMENT?

My mission statement is that we need to be promoting growth while fighting corruption at all levels. WHAT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO FOR THE CAMERON COUNTY COMMUNITY?

The way I see things real public serveness is someone who is willing to go above and beyond their position. Even though this is a paid position by the county I’m willing to devote my own time and my own resources to try to bring businesses to this area. Right now, Hidalgo County has a vision where they are growing tremendously. They have many more jobs than we do which drags more business towards them. Anytime you go to McAllen you see lots more restaurants than you are going to see here. I think that what we need to

26 Celebrityeventsmagazine.com | Issue 55

WHAT CHANGES WILL YOU BE IMPLEMENTING IF YOU ARE ELECTED?

The first that we are going to do is do a top down analysis on how budgets are in every department in the county. We need to find out where money needs to be, more properly invested and where we might be able to cut back a little bit. It’s important to look at the county budget responsibly, because we don’t want to be raising taxes on the citizens if we don’t have to. And if we do need to raise taxes we need to find alternative ways to raise revenue. We need to find out ways to apply for grants and to develop a method in our county that we don’t have to be just devoted on taxing people of the bridge. We recently heard about a bridge increase or increasing people’s property taxes.

A big part of the debate in Washington right now is income disparity. In Brownsville, there is quite of income disparity where some people are very wealthy and then some people are incredibly poor. Statistically, Brownsville is one of the poorest cities in the country. What we need to do as a community is foster education and also job growth. My position doesn’t really help out in the area of education however, as one of my campaign pledges, I promise to donate ten percent of my salary to graduating high school seniors so that they can go into college. But more directly what I could do as a commissioner , is try to promote job growth and that might be through a good tax benefit policy where we try to draw businesses here by offering tax breaks or tax incentives or really finding companies that are looking for an area that has land. We have plenty of land in my precinct and the opportunity for people to come and work. I know “Space X” have been talked about but part of the reason is we have a good land supply. We need to be finding those jobs but also more white collar jobs in the medical and also some engineering possibilities. I think what matters is that you need to have a kind of commissioner that is active trying to bring those jobs. WHAT’S YOUR OPINION ON THE IMMIGRATION REFORM?

You know, I think not enough is being done in Washington to help out with immigration reform. I know here we live in a community where there are many people that live here that are undocumented and would love to have the opportunity to become citizens and residents of the United States. My father naturalized, so I have deep in my heart the passion to help people who want to come to the United States and work hard to be given the chance to become citizens. As a county commissioner, my area will not impact the immigration debate at all. However, for anybody that is wanting that kind of help I would love to sign any petition to convince our congress man and ladies to vote on the bill that’s before the senate right now. The senate has approved it, the house of representatives in Washington is the one that does not want to vote on it. I think that is politically Continued on page 31

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3777 N Expressway Brownsville, TX 78520 For more restaurant information call (956) 547-1500 ext. 1191. Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

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Alex Dominguez Continues from page 26

biased and I think they need to get things in gear so that we can develop further. Our business communities across the country want this immigration reform because they want people who are hard workers and we have a lot of those immigrants who want to be those hard workers.

A new reason to celebrate.

WHY DO YOU THINK THIS POSITION SUITS YOU BEST AND WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM YOUR OPPONENTS?

I have business experience working with others, other companies and also I have employees so I know what it’s like to pay payroll taxes. I know what it’s like to hire people and provide them an opportunity. I think what differentiates me from the others is I have a high level of education. I have time to devote to this job and a sincere passion

A GOOD CANDIDATE IS SOMEBODY WHO DOES THE RIGHT THING EVEN WHEN NOBODY IS THERE TO TELL THEM THANK YOU. to help people and to help this county. There are still streets in the county that our unpaved, many that are lacking lights. What we need to do is devote time and energy to help the infrastructure of these areas so that they can look just like all the other nice streets in Brownsville. What drives me is my sincere passion for wanting to help out other people. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO PEOPLE WHO DON’T GO OUT AND VOTE?

It is very important to have people to come out and vote. I know some people think it is not important and I also know some people honestly believe that it will make no difference at all because they think some elections are bought and stolen by “politiqueras.” I think that does happen and I understand why those people are frustrated about the election process. However, in Austin and in Washington they looked to Cameron County and all they see there is that people are not voting. If people are not voting in Cameron County why should they care and help out Cameron County? All that Washington looks at is numbers. If our numbers stay low we will get fewer and fewer benefits. We need to increase our voter turnout if nothing else, to bring out more attention to people. Part of my job as a candidate is to try to convince people to believe in the voting process and believe in democracy. It is important for our youth to get active in the voting process and make it part of their way of life. I want people to vote for good candidates. I think that any candidate will be willing and should be able to look a person in the eye and say I’m a good person you can trust me. A good candidate is somebody who if I was going to put forward my mission statement on how to convince somebody to vote for me it would be saying this “A good candidate is somebody who does the right thing even when nobody is there to tell them thank you.”

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Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

RIO GRANDE VALLEY

WOMAN LEADER

MELISSA CASTRO Photography by: IVan Michael Hair/makeup: Tanya Mendoza & Marbie Cisneros Jewelry: Park Lane Jewelry

y name is Melissa Castro and I was born in Lubbock, Texas. My parents divorced when I was three years old. My three sisters and I were raised by my mother. We lived on Tulipan St. in the Southmost area located in Brownsville, Texas. We grew up very poor. We did not have a car until I was in high school. I remember we had to ride the city bus everywhere.

32 Celebrityeventsmagazine.com | Issue 55

My mother left in the ﬁrst city bus in order to ride two more buses then drop off my little sisters at the day care and then continue her day with her three jobs. She worked as a secretary during the day and cleaned two different medical ofﬁces in the evening. She would arrive on the last city bus late at night. We grew up with hand me down clothes; most of it bigger than our size, but that way “it would last longer.” I remember making long Christmas lists and always receiving the same stuff: socks, underwear and candies. Somehow, Santa’s good toys always ran out at my neighbors’ house. My neighbors would go to McDonald’s every Tuesday and I clearly remember waiting for them to come home to see what toy their Happy Meal had, like if it was the most valuable thing. I was a very smart child, always in honor classes and receiving awards. My parents never took me to school or picked me up. I have no recollection of them ever attending any of my awards ceremonies, which used to be at night. I would take the bus or walk to my school to receive my awards. My mother was working and I would only see my father during weekends. I don’t recall ever owning a jacket.

eat everything they want. I had a goal and I was going to reach it no matter what it took. I have been through many tragedies in my life. I’ve lived through poverty, hunger, rape, suicide attempt, kidnapping, and depression. I have been beaten and worst of all, I buried two boys who were born premature at birth one in 2002 and the other in 2005 due to domestic violence. My son was ill for many years. We would often spend weeks in different hospitals and he underwent many surgeries. No matter how difﬁcult my battles have been, I always stood up knowing that God was with me. In life we have to suffer, but we have to get up and continue walking towards our goals. I knew that everything I was going through would only make me stronger and I always kept telling myself “my pain will not be in vain.” I have been my own boss for twenty-three years now and I have also been my kids’ #1 fan. For many years, every winter, my children and I donate coats to children in Mexico. We have transformed into Santa Claus with awesome gifts for hundreds of kids as well. Helping and serving others is a must. I fou-

WE ARE NOT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US. WE ARE WHAT WE CHOOSE TO BE. IF WE HAVE FAITH AND HOLD GOD’S HAND... ALL WILL BE WELL AND WE WILL BE AMAZING. I would wear several shirts to keep myself warm. When I was in junior high, I used to volunteer at the office and I remember seeing a jacket inside the lost and found box. A couple of weeks passed by and no one ever claimed it; I figured that if I told them I had lost a jacket with its description I would finally own one.

nded Brownsville Raza a little over three years ago. We focus on helping as many people in need. We have proven that people help others out of the goodness of their heart with no beneﬁt other than to help another. We are a family full of angels with big hearts who immediately come together to help another.

I began working at Whataburger at the age of fourteen, of course lying about my age. I grew up knowing I wanted to give my children a better life, a life where they would never need anything. I would be the one to leave them and pick them up from school. I would attend all of their ceremonies and events. I would take them anywhere to travel and they would get to

I thank God for all the tragedies I have been through, for they have given me an understanding heart. When someone goes through hardship I can tell them I DO KNOW what you are going through, I was in your shoes and I am here. My suffering has not been in vain. I have taught my children and wish to continue teaching others how to be survivors and not victims. Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

ON THE SCENE | MISSION

Photography by: Sinthia Vera

7TH ANNUAL

LEGACY GALA “A MAGICAL MASQUERADE” The Foundation at Mission Regional Medical Center (MRMC) held its 7th Annual Legacy Gala in Mission, Texas. The annual event benﬁts the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at MRMC. The Foundation’s mission is to promote awareness and raise much needed funding for the nonproﬁt hospital. Over 300 community leaders and medical professionals attended this year’s sucessful Legacy Gala.

34 Celebrityeventsmagazine.com | Issue 55

For more pictures of this event, visit us at www.celebrityeventsmagazine.com

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Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

MAKING US PROUD | DANICA MARKOVIC

• What is the proudest moment you shared with your teammates? The two proudest moments I shared with my teammates would be winning two National Championships. • What was your worst injury? If I say that I haven’t missed more than two practices during the season time in four years, would you believe me? And neither of the two times was due to injuries. I was very lucky to stay away from missing practices. • Who is your biggest motivation and why? My biggest motivation is my family. I always want to make them proud because they put a lot into raising my brother and me. My parents and brother would watch every single match that was streamed online. No matter what the time is back in Serbia, they would wake up and be a great support. Also, I would consider life as my motivation too. You never know what is waiting for you around the corner so I use every day to be positive, motivated, happy and to learn something new.

Danica Markovic

Motivated Athlete by Arely Jimenez

• Since when have you been playing volleyball? My whole family has been involved in volleyball, so since I was very little I have dreamed to do the same. I started playing when I was 9 years old. Before volleyball, I tried many sports such as: basketball, ballet, gymnastic, tennis, but my heart stayed with volleyball. • How was your experience playing for UTB’s volleyball team? It has been a magniﬁcent experience. From the ﬁrst time I entered Garza Gym and put on the UTB jersey, I started a journey that any player in the country could dream of. Each year, we had girls come in and out, and it was very hard to say goodbye to each senior who graduated. However, we built the friendship that no one will ever take from us. We have great coaches who encouraged us to become better every single practice and game. They believed in us and never stop pushing beyond our limits, because at the end of the day, when we say “we can’t do this”, they were there to push us more and prove that there is always room for improvement.

36 Celebrityeventsmagazine.com | Issue 55

• Were there any rituals that you did before each game? Personally, I don’t really have a ritual other than speaking to my parents, but as a team we had a team dance that we play before every single match. Every year, we chose a different song and it is usually a country line dance. Last year, the song we picked was Copperhead Road from Steve Earl. • Did you have a difficult time adapting to the valley’s environment and your new life in UTB? To be honest, I didn’t really have a difficult time adapting to the new environment, however it was very unusual. Not just the culture, but also the customs, weather, and language. I came to Brownsville ready to experience new things but, as a 19 year old girl, who just crossed the Ocean, it was emotionally hard. • Could you share your best bonding moment with your teammates? Hmmm, this one is a hard one because, whatever we did, it was a way of bonding. I would say that the best one would be the Halloween dress up idea. I cannot recall where we traveled to, but we flew, so coaches’ idea was to dress up either as a 80s volleyball style player or any other costume we wanted. Along with both coaches dressed up, and thirteen other players, we marched on the airports and it was fun to see people around us staring, but with the smiles on their faces.

“

Obstacles are here to make us stronger,

smarter

and more

”

experienced.

• Who is your favorite volleyball player? Ivan Miljkovic is my favorite volleyball player. He has played for the Serbian National Team for many years. He is a well known player around the world. • If given the opportunity, would you play in a professional league? Yes, I would deﬁnitely consider playing in professional league. Unfortunately, US doesn’t have any professional clubs, so in order to play, I would have to move. • What advice would you give to new athletes playing for UTB’s team? To be prepared for obstacles in life, school, and on the court and to not give up no matter what. Obstacles are here to make us stronger, smarter and more experienced. I would also say to always work a little harder than everyone else, because everything will pay off at the end of the day, I promise.

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38 Celebrityeventsmagazine.com | Issue 55

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A TASTE OF LIFE with Franco Valobra

interviewed by: MARISSA MONCRIFFE photography by: leo mar & alberto porras

ranco Valobra is a seasoned, successful businessman born in Switzerland and raised in Italy. He is an heir to a family owned jewelry business that began in Torino, Italy in 1905. Devoted to his family and preserving the family empire, Franco has thus run the company gracefully and has given back to the community. We spoke with Franco today to get an inside look at his fruitful life and his motivations. While speaking with him, he endearingly showed a great amount of wisdom and charm as he expressed his empathy for children, his career and his appreciation for life and its lessons.

40 Celebrityeventsmagazine.com | Issue 55

So tell us a little bit about yourself? “I’m Franco Valobra, I’m Italian, I was born in Switzerland, but—still, I’m Italian. I’ve lived in the United States for all of 30 years, and I love to be here. I am the fourth generation of a family that made jewelry for the Italian Royal Family, and I run stores in Houston,TX, New Orleans, Louisiana and Lugano, Switzerland.” Wow! Well I have learned that you fundraise a lot for children such as March of Dimes, Boys and Girls Harbor and the Children’s Hospital. What’s your inspiration for that? “Well, children are really the most important thing to me. I do fundraisers for a lot of very worthwhile causes. I wanted to involve children, obviously they are to me the most important because it’s really our feeble attempt at immortality. Our children are bringing a little bit of us in the next generation, and their children will do the same. We will never be immortal, but it is important to have a little bit of that. Furthermore, I find it morally and spiritually unacceptable for children to have to die for whatever reason; cancer or diseases or anything else. We have lived, whether it’s 30, 40, 50. We have lived enough of a life, we’ve experienced the joys the sorrows and we have tasted life. We want to taste more, we want to live to be 100, and maybe I will not have it, but I have tasted it. I know what life is all about and I can die. A child that is 3, 5, 8 years old or even 15 has not. And it is a complete injustice that they are not able to do that (to live).” So tell ME more about your other business ventures and your involvements? “Really jewelry is my life. When I grew up --I was 16 years old, I told my father “perhaps I did not want to be a jeweler?” He said, “You can be anything you want, but if you’re not going to be a jeweler you have to change your last name!” So it was sort of known…I’m really just involved in jewelry. I have a passion for Ferraris; sports cars. I’m into racing. I have a few cars that I like, but my main preoccupation is my family, my business and my fundraising.”

So will your jewelry business remain family owned? “Always…In fact, the fifth generation is already going! Although they are only 6 and 10; one wants to be an inventor and another wants to be a dragon! They ultimately are going to be jewelers if I can have my way.” What do you like to do on your personal time for enjoyment? “Be with my family…when I don’t, I like to race Ferraris. It’s a dream that I’ve had since I was little. My father did not care for cars, so when I asked him to buy me one he said the most important thing is that a Ferrari is something you buy yourself, it’s the affirmation of your success: Letting you know that you’ve made it. No one needs a Ferrari for God’s sake, but you want one and you work hard to get it. Another thing that I like to do is organize fundraisers. We have done a very successful one that has raised well over 100- to $200,000. We don’t keep track because we always want to be bigger and better, and we raise this money in about 4 hours with family and friends.” That’s amazing!...So, If you were not in the antique and jewelry business, what do you think you would be doing now? “Wow, bold question, I have no idea! I would probably be sailing on a boat somewhere in the Caribbean, fishing two lobsters a day, and trading one for a bottle of wine.” So what is your oldest antique? “We have antiques that go back to 1820’s1850’s. You’re actually sitting on a bench that is from the 1880’s! But Jewelry is our business, the antique is what we picked up in the last 30 years.” When you retire, what values do you want to instill in the company? “Know your history and where you come from. And 2 main important things: If you know where you’ve been, you might have a

clue on where you need to be. That’s what I would instill.” What advice would you give new entrepreneurs with a similar business background like yourself? “You’ve heard it--you know, be relentless, never take no for an answer, work hard. I’m not going to B.S an entrepreneur; a lot of people can put good, hard work into something and still fail. It’s a combination of things. There needs to be LUCK! Luck is always involved with being at the right place at the right time. Something you can’t judge until you’re in it. There’s a way of sort of making your luck, and making your luck is just working 5% harder than anybody else. And never take no for an answer if you can help it…Be relentless! If there’s a wall in front find a way to walk through it.” if you could describe yourself in one word what would it be? “Loyal.” Concluding our interview, we further learned that Franco Valobra is a very humble, family oriented man that has worn several hats: jeweler, businessman, dare devil and most of all a humanitarian. He and his associates have manufactured enough monetary success to endorse hundreds of thousands of dollars for his charities and causes. He is a living legend and a product of a long line of accomplished businessmen. His wisdom has encouraged others to have a sense of pride, to give back to those in need and to cherish the most important factor; family. His captivating intelligence encourages others to live for a purpose, and to ensure that each decision warrants a greater reward. Ultimately, his dazzling and flawless jewels and antiques are proof that his franchise serves quality, and not just an accessory, but a timeless gift that never depreciates.

“OF SORT OF THERE’S A WAY MAKING YOUR LUCK,

AND MAKING YOUR

LUCK IS JUST

WORKING

5% HARDER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.” Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

Photography by: Alberto Porras

EMILIO’S SCRAP METAL

Se Compran: Catalizadores Baterias Cobre Aluminios y Alambrado de Vehiculos

ON THE SCENE | HOUSTON

WOMEN’S CHAMBER OF CONGRESS

The Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce is a nonproﬁt organization of highly inﬂuential and diverse women and men dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of women through avenues of leadership, education, advocacy and mentoring.

ALEJANDRO (956) 238-9311 JOSUE (956) 336-9161 7252 BROUSSARD AVE. | OLMITO, TX 78575

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42 Celebrityeventsmagazine.com | Issue 55

For more pictures of this event, visit us at www.celebrityeventsmagazine.com

ON THE SCENE | HOUSTON

Photography by: Alberto Porras

MEMORIAL HERMAN BREAST CANCER RIBBON CUTTING The newest Breast Cancer Center is located 2535 Kirby Rd. Houston, TX. This facility uses new, top of the line machines and therapeutic ser vices to give their clients the feeling of being in a spa instead of a clinic.

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#WeLoveOurPets Take a photo of your child and their pet and use the hashtag above for a chance to be featured in Celebrity Kids Magazine! #CelebrityKids

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Eating to LIVE by Marissa Moncrife

Ever heard the phrase “You are what you eat?” This saying defines the consumption of the harmful preservatives and chemically altered meat that Americans are congesting on a daily basis. Fast food restaurants are getting wealthier everyday because of how fast and easily accessible they are. There will always be a McDonalds or A Burger King just minutes away, and for most people it’s their only option especially in a rush. Eating health restricting foods happen to be the most affordable option for Americans. Nowadays people are getting hip to the raw, organic lifestyle; eating fresh, unaltered food that will strengthen your health and immunity rather than hinder it. I spoke to a few owners in the Houston area that are advocates for the “raw life”.

“

We serve organic produce and grass-fed beef. Of course organic is good for you. There are no pesticides, no hormones, no GMO’s. It’s just all natural and it tastes good. With all the minerals and enzymes, when you taste the food, you taste a difference. We do not use any microwaves and this makes us different from other restaurants. We do not use hot processed oils. We only use Extra Virgin olive oil and coconut oils. When we serve every dish, we want to make sure that not only does it taste good—it’s good for you.”hat are advocates for the “raw life”. - Jason Ergen, Manager of Organic Harvest Grille, Houston, TX

and Spirulina, we also offer Moringa. Everything we do is plant based. We are dealing with nutritional deficiencies, especially in both the Hispanic and African American community, the way around that is for us to incorporate concepts and recreate the culture around food.” - Lu Thomas, Superfood Village, Houston, TX

“

We specialize in clean eating, which is food that is clean of all preservatives, all chemicals-nothing processed or artificial. Everything is allergy friendly, so we try to make it to where whatever the dietary restrictions are, it still tastes like junk food. For “Indulgence” we cook any style of food. For each client we do the menus and everything from scratch, so it’s personally catered to whatever they want. We cook for the Astros, football players--the Texans, and the Rockets. They have very specific diets so we create it to be whatever they need.” - Chef Natasha Treu, of Indulgence Catering and Clean Sweets Bakery, Houston, TX

Delicious Chlorella Smoothie Recipe

“

What we do is we’re an ingredient company, and we trade natural functional foods for the active community; people concerned about health and wellness. We work with community groups, and we help them understand high density nutrition opposed to conventional foods. The company’s motto is: “Helping inspire a culture around health and wellness”. We’re trying to bring in to the mainstream culture the consumption of Chlorella

-1 cup of Greek Yogurt -2 or more tablespoons of honey -1 cup of frozen/fresh strawberries -1 orange/ 1 cup of fresh orange juice -1 cup of ice -1 teaspoon of Chlorella powder *Mix all ingredients in blender until smooth

Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

Miguel, was very difficult and overwhelming. His older brother, Roberto Vega, took the role as the father figure and helped their mother with the financial instability. Roberto became Vega’s male role model during his teenage years; a person he could look up to and the man he tried to be like. Vega recalls being a good student throughout his early school years. “I always had good grades in school, even though I didn’t try hard. Whenever someone had a higher grade than me, I always tried my best to beat them next time. I was very competitive!” Vega graduated from Lopez High School in Brownsville, TX. and attended Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, TX. after serving his prison term, and while on parole. He pursued the same career as his father, Guadalupe Vega, and studied Applied Science of Welding and Fabrication.

“The Law” Luis Vega

Local Mixed Martial Arts Fighter

By: Arely Jiminez | Photography: Sinthia Vera

D LIKE A

of prison on parole. Who would have known, that his life was about to change completely. “Prison changed my life for sure and it wasn’t until then, that my journey in Brazilian JiuJitsu (BJJ) and MMA would be close to begin.” The time served in prison was a huge eye-opener for Vega. He realized he had been living on the “wrong side of the tracks” all those years. It was time to make a change. It was time to live life different, “in a manner that counts.” Living under a roof with only his mother’s salary, Neri Gonzalez, and four other siblings Lorena, Roberto, Sofia and

N G

BORN AND RAISED in Brownsville, Texas, talented Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter, “The Law” Luis Vega tells us about his life journey and fighting career. In the eyes of many, Vega was a “malicious thug.” A young docile boy who grew up being bullied and by the age of fourteen was facing an emotional wringer due to his parent’s divorce. This heartbreaking event transformed him into a rebellious and violent individual leading him to numerous street fights and illegal activities. His corrupted schemes were paid behind bars for two and a half years in prison. On March 14, 2002 at only 20 years of age, he was permitted to get out

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During his college years, he met great people who had goals and aspirations to be someone in life; a completely new mindset to Vega. “I was used to people thinking about negativity revolving around drugs or illegal activity.” It was in 2003, while in college, when he remembers watching a documentary called “Choke” about Rickson Gracie (Brazilian JiuJitsu Master and MMA fighter). After watching that inspiring documentary, Vega took initiative and looked for a place where he could learn Brazilian JiuJitsu. A year later on March 2004, Vega found what he was looking for in his native Brownsville. He signed up to train JiuJitsu with coach Manny Galvan, whose older brother, Meme Galvan, introduced Vega into the world of kickboxing. “I was hooked! Even though Manny was a blue belt at the time, I learned my first JiuJitsu

through him. His brother Meme introduced me to my first kicks.” He rarely missed class and his hard work and dedication was rewarded in 2006 by earning his blue belt in JiuJitsu. However, it didn’t stop there; Vega aspired more of this Martial Art and was eager to test himself in MMA competition. Vega’s ambition for fighting led him to meet the man who would introduce him to the MMA sport, Rio Grande Valley’s MMA legendary trainer, Luis Benavides AKA “Mr. B.” He was immediately put to test and recalls that the first training sessions with “Mr. B” seemed like the hardest that he had ever experienced. “Quitting seemed like the easiest and most profound way of not going through with it, my body felt like quitting. But I always said to myself, I’ve been through worse in my life and I’m still here, this is nothing.” After nine months of preparation and intense training, Vega had his first amateur fight on April 2007 against wrestler and Brazilian JiuJitsu practicioner, Eric Montbleu, in Houston TX. He took his opponent to second round and scored a Technical Knock Out (TKO). “It was an incredible feeling winning in front of almost three thousand people.” On September

2007, he did it again. He went up against Kenneth Hardcastle and finished his opponent with an arm triangle choke in the third round. After two successful fights as an amateur fighter, his trainer encouraged him to fight professionally, so he did. Vega’s professional career began on February 2008. His confidence was riding high going into his first professional fight against pro veteran, James “Duece” King, in Pharr, TX. “I didn’t think his experience would play a factor, but it did.” This time around, Vega learned the hard way and understood the importance of experience over skill. As one of Vince Lombardi’s quotes says,

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Luis Vega

Continues from page 47

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“It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get back up,” and that is exactly what Vega lived by. He bounced back strong after facing San Marcos’ native Randy Gray, submitting him into the first round by a triangle choke. On August 2008, Vega found himself fighting at his third professional fight against Christopher Gregoire AKA “Kano”. “I dominated all the rounds until the last two minutes of the fight. I caught his heel strike on my orbital, causing me to go through the worst pain in my life.” This awful incident left Vega with a broken orbital bone and was required six months layoff for his recovery. Unfortunately, Vega would have to battle Texas Boxing and MMA Commission facing with an indefinite suspension that would keep him out of fighting for two years. During this stage of his life, Vega began his career now as a coach and mentor for his younger brother, Miguel Vega. Doors began to open for Vega. He was invited to teach BJJ at a local club in Weslaco, TX. His interest for this grew stronger and he pursued to learn other mixed martial arts such as Muay Thai and wrestling. While in Weslaco, Vega found a new passion in teaching MMA and BJJ “I had found a passion for teaching and training people and found much pleasure helping them achieve their goals.” On November 6, 2010, Vega made a successful return to the “Cage.” He overcame obstacles and struggles with his fallen relationship of nine years and finally got cleared by the Texas Athletic Commission to be licensed once again. Vega boasted a seven fight win streak after his return and was given the opportunity of a lifetime after fighting for the prestigious MMA promotion “Bellator Fighting Championship” on March 23, 2012. He fought on national television and was the first Rio Grande Valley fighter to fight and win on a stage that big. “It was a defining moment in my career because I had tons of people witness on T.V. It was then that the Texas MMA community started to take notice. I started to get offers around the state to headline local shows and fight other prospects as well.”

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Now, at almost thirty three years of age, Vega is close to the crossroad of his career. He has become an inspiring individual to many and has put his name high in the Rio Grande Valley. He finds himself doing two things he loves, a trainer for his younger brother as well as other fighters and a fighter himself. “I find pleasure in doing both, but most importantly, I enjoy changing the image me and my family once had. I love to help people and I try my best to lead by example. I try my best to send a message to the young kids that look up to me, that anything in life is possible. All you need is a goal, dedication and hard work.” Special thanks from Luis Vega: Luis Benavides “Mr. B”, Kru Kayan , Manny Galvan, Meme Galvan, Tyler Bosard, Danny Salinas, Joe Rodriguez and the rest of Team Pound. My family, friends and last but not least, my wife/best friend Ivonne Guevara. Let’s not forget my kids Nehomi, Ashley, Rebecca, Juliet and Luis Jr. for motivating me to do what I love.

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INSPIRATION | PAY IT FORWARD

PAY IT FORWARD Begin the Movement

Start Today!

or too long, man has been cruel to one another. We believe it’s time to begin the movement and start to spread kindness and happiness. The more people we can get involved the greater success we will have in spreading these acts of kindness amongst the greater population. It is important to take care of each other and show that there is still hope in mankind. For generations we have grown as a society and keeping our kindness and integrity alive is essential in continuing the growth of the world. Learn today how you can pay it forward and be part of this great movement!

“

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” - GHANDI

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STAFF THOUGHTS:

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure? This month’s staff gets the “Celebrity Quiz” and shares with us some interesting answers to questions we all want to know! Current Favorite Song: “I really don’t have a favorite song. I’ve listened to so much music that if I hear a song. It’s my favorite. Then 5 minutes later I’ll hear another and love it just as much.” Biggest Guilty Pleasure: “After a long day just unwinding with a glass of Pinot Noir.” If I Had A Super-Power It Would Be: “Telekinesis. The power of the mind is infinite and I would love to have that at my fingertips. (Muahahaha!)” My Goal Is To One Day: “Own and operate my own imaging center. To help find cancer, heart problems, and other internal afflictions in low income areas and for people without insurance. ” If I Wasn’t Working With Celebrity Group I’d be: “On a yacht somewhere along the Caribbean living life to the fullest! Oooor expanding my photography career here in my hometown, the lovable RGV. ” — Sinthia Vera, Photographer

Current Favorite Song: “I must say, I don’t have a current favorite song. My all time favorite was, is and will be “El Pajarillo” by El Cartel De Nuevo Leon.” Biggest Guilty Pleasure: “UGH! Cheat meals after my workouts! Food just taste so good.”

Current Favorite Song: “Dare You by Hardwell.” Biggest Guilty Pleasure: “Since I’ve been working out and eating healthy my biggest guilty pleasure would be cheat treats.”

If I Had A Super-Power It Would Be: “The power to heal. All type of illnesses would be history in my world.”

If I Had A Super-Power It Would Be: “Instead of choosing a super power I would to be like batman, I love batman!”

My Goal Is To One Day: “Look back in life and say, ‘God placed me exactly where I needed to be. I have succeeded through every obstacle and I have become a positive role model to many.’”

My Goal Is To One Day: “I have 2 major goals in life, one is to become a criminal investigator, but my all time dream is to be touring around the world singing.”

If I Wasn’t Working With Celebrity Group I’d be: “Working as an assistant counselor in a Youth Program or Juvenile Detention Center.”

If I Wasn’t Working With Celebrity Group I’d be: “If I weren’t working with celebrity group I would be doing what I’m doing, going to school.”

— Arely Jimenez, Temporary Public Relations

— Ruby Castillo, Ofﬁce Assistant

Issue 55 | Celebrityeventsmagazine.com

ON THE SCENE | HOUSTON

Photography by: Alberto Porras

MARTIN LUTHER KING HOUSTON, TEXAS

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the greatest public icons during the Civil Rights Era and he remains a legend in the eyes of everyone that believes in equality and peace for mankind.

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APRIL 4-6, 2014 FRI: 3PM - 8PM SAT: 10AM - 6PM SUN: 11AM - 6PM LOCATION:

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