For this island. Sugar, spices, gold, just a few of the perks the spanish enjoyed for over 400 years. That is, until the u. S. Was happy to help, you know, liberate the island from the spanish and make it a u. S. Commonwealth. That means puerto rico is neither an independent country nor an official state. And its people dont have a vote in the u. S. Congress or in president ial elections. Despite all of that, Puerto Ricans are unstoppable. And their Cultural Impact on the u. S. And the world . Massive. To really get to the bottom of how puerto rico has not only survived but thrived requires an understanding of the cultural history of the island. So thats what were going to do now. And in case youre new to this show, thats like our whole mo here. [upbeat latintinged music] [upbeat latintinged music] music has become the love language between the u. S. And puerto rico. From the time of the tainos to the Enslaved Africans who were brought here later on to modern day, music has been an outlet and a voice of the people. Even the great jazz pioneer Jelly Roll Morton once said, you cant make jazz without certain elements of latin music. Well, let me let me translate that for you. If it aint got that latin swing, it aint a thing, all right . And in todays political climate, puerto rico continues that tradition of artists using their voices to bring awareness and make change. [daddy yankees gasolina] oh oh oh [singing in spanish] listen, yall, this is reggaeton. And im sure by now youve heard of it. Back in 2004, daddy yankee made it a Household Name with his global hit gasolina. Reggaeton originated in panama. But puerto rico became known for the genre when afrolatino artists like Tego Calderon and ivy queen used the platform to tackle racism and political issues. [singing in spanish] now, the number one artist in the world is bad bunny, whos taken the genre to the next level with hits like i like it, featuring cardi b and j balvin. In 2022 alone, his music had well over 10 billion streams. [upbeat music] this art form has become the voice of the next generation, including puerto rican artist Villano Antillano [singing in spanish] who bad bunny himself showcased as the next big thing to come out of the reggaeton world. [singing in spanish] oh my god. Thats hot. Hey. Thats so hot. You like this . How are you . How are you . How you doing . How are you doing . [laughs] that beat is hot. Oh, yeah. Isnt it . Yeah. I love reggaeton. Me too. Yeah. I thought itd be over by now though. I thought, ok. Yeah. [laughs] because i was like, oh, its not going to last. I didnt really start in reggaeton. I feel like now, i found, like, a space. Like, i, sort of, like, dipped my feet in reggaeton. And then i was like, ooh, the waters nice. And i stayed there. [laughs] so play a little bit. Play i want to hear it some more. [singing in spanish] pa pa. Its hot. [laughter] so so how did you get your start . Well, basically, i started making music with a collective thats called la maldad. And theyre basically, like, a cultural project. And they socially conscious. Yeah, yeah, theyre very proud of our roots. And theyre doing a lot specifically for the queer community. They knew that i made music. And they saw something in me, Mitxhell De Leon specifically. Thats my baby. And he was like, yo, i really like what you do. And i think that i want to, like, give you the space for you to perfect it, and, like, i have a studio so i can just record you. Yeah, oh, amazing. Amazing. Unheard of. And thats how i got my start. And has your work changed since then to now . Entirely. Yeah, yeah . Like, everything. Its been a lot of growing, you know, because, like, when i started releasing music with la maldad, i was malepresenting. I still go by the same name, which is Villano Antillano. The music Collective La Maldad helped launch villanos career with early hits like pajara. [singing in spanish] and my gender changed. My Gender Expression changed. I grew sonically. And, like, when i medically transitioned, like, how i understood music changed. Changed as well. Because your brain changes. And the way you process data and information changes. Oh, wow. Being true to herself paid off when her hit bzrp music sessions, number 51 Found International success. [singing in spanish] now youre a a huge star. Can i say that . Yeah, i think so. Like, blew up. [laughs] congratulations. Thanks. Thanks. Thats really nice. And its pretty amazing. Yeah, it is. For you to be this Big A Star In in puerto rico in the world. I mean, its its incredible what youre doing. Youre a pioneer. Thank you. And her fame keeps growing. She recently became the first trans artist to crack spotifys global top 50. And check out her tiktok likes, over 6 million strong. And what do you attribute your your success . I just think that as a human being, ive had to work, like, ten times harder than anyone just to be, like, granted. Not even then, because i was never granted a seat at the table. I grabbed the seat. And i put it at the table. And i sat there. [laughs] and now what . Exactly. Im at the table. What . And im and im here. Villano is not only here, but she is making puerto rico and the world Pay Attention to the things that matter to her. Why is it that im 27 years old and ive never sought it with a trans doctor, you know, like a woman who was a trans woman who was a doctor . Why do you make my life and the life of my collective so difficult . Now i have a lot of, like, more resources and things that i didnt have before to tell my story and our stories better. What do you want to do with your story . How do you want to move it forward . I think it just does that by itself. I feel like now, i can just focus on being a superstar. And people are going to, like, naturally be like, oh, this person had overcome so many of these things to get to where they are. And theyre going to look into that and be like, you know, why is it so hard for these people . At the end of the day, im like, thats for the public to look into and think about. Were doing it. Yeah, no, i mean the mo for the most part. Society may be slowing catching up to trans issues. But villano is not waiting. Shes living her life on her terms and saying the things that need to be said. The obstacles are so many. Puerto rico is one of the most violent places to live in as a woman on this hemisphere also. Its horrible, like, horrible. We have death rates that are, like, just ridiculous. That ties into a social revolution. Literally is fighting against patriarchy and machismo and misogyny and all these things that are expected of women and that are imposed usually by men because most of the perceptions of what society thinks a woman has to do are ideas that a man came up with. I feel like machismo and patriarchy is like, yall are fucked up. Is is part of the problem also that puerto rico is a commonwealth . Is that part of the problem . I think the commonwealth is a farce. And its just a fancy term that is employed to hide the fact that were a colony. I feel like when you take a nation and you impoverish them, and you, like, destroy their education system, theres a lot of poverty. Theres a lot of, like, hunger. And so, like, were we get violent. All of that ties back to the fact that were not an educated population. Im, like, giving you a crash course of, like yeah, no, i know. And i love it. I love it. Why puerto rico is so fucked up. Please do. Puerto rico for dummies. You know, it doesnt get to, like, if we were our own country. Sadly, were never going to know because weve never been our own country. Right. So i cant hypothesize. Yeah. But its going to take years for us to become a more conscious people. Its a lot. Its a lot of things that theres a lot going on in puerto rico, the devastation from maria, irma, the earthquake. And yet, youre creating great music. I mean, i thats what i see walk going through the island, yeah. But i feel like, historically, thats also weve also been very inclined into the arts because its theyve been a diversion from our problems. And thats where great art comes from. It it is, sort of, a release valve. Sadly. [chuckles] yeah, you know, an escapist. Yeah, it is a lot of escapism. Yeah. Thats the precise word. Yeah. I feel like what we do in our music and a lot of Puerto Ricans do regardless is just, we make the story prettier and more attractive. Yeah. And, like, theres this magic to it. Magical realism. Or artist, yeah. Making life a little more fun, more exciting than it really was. Yeah. Art is what helps us survive everything. Yeah, yeah, yeah, like, why not . [chuckles] why not, right . Well, thank you for having me here. What a pleasure. Thank you for sharing. Sure thing. Thank you for coming. Yeah. Thank you for stopping by. Villano is a great example of how Puerto RicansCombat Obstacles with art and beauty. [singing in spanish] and shes far from being alone. [singing in spanish] im javi, im 31, and im a fitness instructor. I saw myself in a photograph. And we were all smiling, and i looked closer, and i was like that thats what everybody sees . Im back, and i got botox® cosmetic. The lines were so prominent its all i saw in the photograph, so now when i take photos, and i see myself in photos, its its me, i just have fewer lines. Botox® cosmetic is fdaapproved to temporarily make frown lines, crows feet, and Forehead Lines look better. 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[upbeat latintinged music] outside the fortress walls of el viejo san juan, youll find the colorful and very private community of la perla. The settlement was created in the 18th century when the spanish ruled puerto rico and forced Enslaved Africans and nonwhite servants to live apart from the rest of the community. It was a rough existence. [suspenseful music] but the people had a secret [percussive music] that allowed them to express themselves, communicate, and preserve their culture. Bomba. [laughs] shit is hot. What are you playing thats so hot . Bomba, man. Bomba. Thats bomba. What is bomba . Basically, bomba was developed mostly around the 1500s to 1600s. That early on. Wow. Yes, by the enslaved people that were brought during the slave trade and the colonization of puerto rico. And also, before the spanish came here, there were a native Indigenous People, tainos. Right. Right. And so bomba is actually a mixture of the different ethnicities that came to the island. Its a Fingerprint OfFingerprint Of puerto rico. Enslaved africans created bomba more than 400 years ago, not only as a form of music, but as a way to share secret messages. Certain moves or beats became codes and could be a protest or even a shoutout that they were plans to do Something Like open up a can of whoop ass and rebel. Now when the colonizers finally got a clue about subversive messages buried in the beats, the ongoing battle to silence movements of independence began and have continued into modern times. It was gag laws. It is, yeah. Implemented, like, in the 50s. In the 50 1950s . Yeah, yeah. That late. Not that long ago. Yeah, yeah. To break it up. Police would come, arrest people, you know. It it wasnt permitted. Yep. Bomba represents that resistance to oppression by governments or other countries as well. The families just held onto it to it. So they they kept it together. And they kept the bomba going, but in private spaces and family spaces. Right, right, right. In secret. Puerto ricans have been Fighting Colonialism for five centuries. The u. S. Took the reins from spain in 1898. Since then, whenever theres been a push to become an independent nation, both the u. S. And puerto rican governments have said, not so fast. I mean, get this. You see this flag . Pretty, right . But as recently as the 1950s, it was against the law to fly it anywhere in the country. Why . Because it was a symbol of independence. The ban is gone now. But so is the original flag. The shade of blue was changed to match the good old stars and stripes. But through it all, bomba has survived. [percussive music] its incredible how, sometimes, culture can disappear. But a few people can bring it back to life. And then, it has a whole new existence. We lost a lot. When we talk about bombas, we have the drums. Yeah, yeah. And they actually have two roles. We have one that keeps the groove going. [percussive music] we call that. Buleador. And we also have. Hes the one who actually provides notes on the drum. Theres also the. The space where we play, which is batey. Batey, yes. Batey is basically the center of the community. Anybody from the community can come learn and play. Right. Its not so its open. Its open to everyone. Yeah, its very open, batey. Yeah, yeah. So its every friday, we play our hearts out and and so youre going to do that tonight. Youre going to play your hearts out. Of course. We are. We can take you there. Oh, i cant wait. But i would like to show you some steps so you can yeah, please. So i dont show up, like, you know yeah, man. [chuckles] so you can have some unarmed. But ok. Lets do it. If i were to be dancing, i say hello to the drummer. And i would move. Yo, this is totally off the chain. Theres a call and response between dancer and drummer. Youre not dancing to their beats. The drummer plays the beats that go with your steps. So he has to keep up with you . Yeah. Exactly. Youre setting the tone of the beat. I need to be aware of what hes doing. Right, right. Come on. Every rhythm has a step. This one is the basic step for sica. You put your point, side, point, side. Now quick, point, side, point. There you go. Thats a basic step. And now were just going to move through the space. We call this el paseo. Its like taking a stroll. Right. So when youre ready to start, you look for the primo. You salute. And lets start carrerita. There you go. Quicker now. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. And now jump. Say goodbye. Well, that was hot. That was hot, man. Yeah. Looking good. Really good. That was good. That was nice. So youre good . Yeah, yeah, real good. Thats so do you want to go to the batey . Yeah, lets go to the batey. Lets go. [chuckles] [gentle music] now youll see all the people gathering here. And theyll theyll sing their heart out all night. It already sounds incredible. Yeah, man. [all singing in spanish] walking towards the batey, the ceremonial space, is an emotional experience. And its easy to see how this community has kept bomba alive. [all singing in spanish] by continuing to pass it down to future generations. [all singing in spanish] but its when you join in that you really start to get it. [singing in spanish] with every slap on the drums, you start to feel the heartbeat of this place. Through dance, song, and music the people here both tell stories and experience them. They become a part of them. [singing in spanish] even this space, the batey, connects them directly to the indigenous taino roots of this island, reminded to never forget the past. [all singing in spanish] [gentle music] [singing in spanish] when i was diagnosed with hiv, i didnt know who i would be. But here i am. Being me. Keep being you. And ask your Healthcare Provider about the number one prescribed Hiv Treatment, biktarvy. Biktarvy is a complete, onepill, onceaday treatment used for hiv in many people whether youre 18 or 80. With one small pill, biktarvy fights hiv to help you get to undetectable and stay there whether youre just starting or replacing your current treatment. Research shows that taking Hiv Treatment as prescribed and getting to and staying undetectable prevents transmitting hiv through sex. Serious side effects can occur, including Kidney Problems and kidney failure. Rare, lifethreatening side effects include a buildup of lactic acid and Liver Problems. Do not take biktarvy if you take dofetilide or rifampin. Tell your Healthcare Provider about all the medicines and supplements you take, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney or Liver Problems, including hepatitis. If you have hepatitis b do not stop taking biktarvy without talking to your Healthcare Provider. Common side effects were diarrhea, nausea, and headache. No matter where life takes you, biktarvy can go with you. Talk to your Healthcare Provider today. Meet the team. Behind the team. The coach. The manager. And the snack dad. All using chase to keep up with their finances. The coach helps save goals here, because she saved for soccer camp there. Anddd check this out. The manager deposited a check. Magic. And the snack dad . Hes getting paid back. Orange slicesss. Because this team all has chase. Smart bankers. Convenient tools. One bank with the power of both. Chase. Make more of whats yours. Chase. [gentle music] im heading to the center of the island to one of the most important precolumbian archaeological sites in the world, the caguana ceremonial grounds, a sacred place for the taino people who thrived here until the 15th century before colonizers Like Columbus arrived on the island and changed the course of history. Some archaeologists argue that the taino bloodline no longer exists. I believed that too and even mentioned it in my show latin history for morons. So columbus enslaves all the tainos until he exterminate them. And that, my lovely morons, is called the caribbean holocaust. And that is the end of the tainos and their time on earth. [percussive music] but heres the thing after my show, i got a letter from a woman who said, hold on a minute. Shes taino and very much alive. So i met with some members of her tribe to educate myself. Historians in the pr government claimed the taino people have been conquered and wiped out. But bebe naniki and pluma insist that thats a myth. [laughs] can you tell us where exactly are we here . This is caguana, one of our ceremonial centers that, unfortunately, we continue to struggle to be able to manage and caretake this space. The government has basically said its theirs. And theres no more native people here. So they are the ones to take care. They see this as a dead place. Those stones that youre going to see are live beings. Theyre not just stones. You know, every part of this area is sacred. Incrreible. Its the same fight of Indigenous People all over the world. All up and down north, and south, and Central America to protect their lands, to get respect, to protect what was theirs, and and to get Something Back from what was stolen. So how many taino are living and existing today . Smithsonian magazine has reported that 61 of all Puerto Ricans have trace taino dna. But heres the thing, the puerto rican government does not recognize the existing members of the taino community as an active tribe because the percentage of taino dna in their blood isnt high enough to qualify. Without representation and, at the very least, acknowledgment, what chance do the taino people have of getting their ancestral lands, like this one, given back to them or protected . We fought really hard around the issue of the privatization of caguana because we understood very clearly that it was a test. Let me calm down a second. This illegal junta thats been imposed here by the United States would have decided to sell it off. Mmhmm. Our sacred sites are not for sale. Right. Strong language and a sentiment shared by many of the Puerto Ricans on the island as well. Bebe naniki feels that the u. S. Involvement in Puerto Rican Politics has put caguana at risk of being developed for commercial use. For decades, the taino people of puerto rico have taken their fight around the world asking for help from various organizations, including the un. And while their voices have been heard, still no formal decisions have been made. Their hope is to be recognized as an official tribe. But how do you validate your existence . What evidence does the government need . Do you think the dna test helps . Right. I had had a feeling. Ah. Mixed race people are one major side effect of colonization. And being latino means that you are intrinsically of mixed blood. But who gets to decide how much of your dna makes you part of any one community . If indigenous blood is measured as proof of tribal membership, then depending on who sets the standard membership could also be denied. For bebe naniki and pluma, measuring dna alone is not as valuable as the stories and traditions passed down from their families. And the Caguana Ceremonial Center is a big part of that. [laughs] thank you. [gentle music] surrounded by their ancestors, this traditional ceremony is meant to bond our relationship as friends by making me a part of the community, an extended family member. [maracas rattling] as the guatiao, or oath exchange, began, i felt instantly transported. [chanting] with each gust of cleansing smoke, i felt a deeper connection to this place and its people. [all shouting, chanting] [horns tooting] [all shouting, chanting] its a powerful feeling that overtakes you. I felt, like, you know, ancestors calling on me. And yeah, i i felt all that. It was very powerful. Dont find it weird if you start dreaming with ancestors because the ones that you are acknowledge them, they find a way to communicating. Bring it. Bring it. [laughter] im ready for it. Give me some wisdom. Ill take it. You cant help but appreciate how special this place is. And its clear how important it is to native peoples. Its my hope that it can continue to be used by the taino people as a Gathering Place for generations to come. And from this point forward, i will carry plumas words with me. We are not ghosts. We are not extinct. That is a myth. Im orlando and im living with hiv. I dont have to worry about daily hiv pills because i switched to everyothermonth cabenuva. For adults who are undetectable, cabenuva is the only complete longacting Hiv Treatment you can get every other month. Its two injections from a Healthcare Provider. Now when i have people over, hiv pills arent on my mind. Dont receive cabenuva if youre allergic to its ingredients, or if youre taking certain medicines, which may interact with cabenuva. Serious side effects include allergic reactions, postinjection reactions, Liver Problems, and depression. If you have a rash and other allergic reaction symptoms, stop cabenuva and get medical help right away. Tell your doctor if you have Liver Problems or Mental Health concerns, and if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering pregnancy. Some of the most common side effects include injectionsite reactions, fever, and tiredness. If you switch to cabenuva, attend all treatment appointments. It feels good to just live in the moment. With everyothermonth cabenuva, im good to go. Ask your doctor about cabenuva today. Want your clothes to smell freshly washed all day without heavy perfumes . Try downy light inwash freshness boosters. It has longlasting light scent, no heavy perfumes, and no dyes. Finally, a light scent that lasts all day. Downy light book a work trip. Earn onekeycash. Shake some hands. Do not forget to laugh. [laughing] book a getawayfromwork trip. Use onekeycash. Order some sides. Do not disturb. Join one key to earn and use rewards across expedia, hotels. Com, and vrbo. Im saving with liberty mutual, mom. They customize your Car Insurance so you only pay for what you need. You could save 700 dollars just by switching. Ooooh, let me put a reminder on my phone. On the top of the pile oh. Only pay for what you need. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Only pay for what you need. [suspenseful music] liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. [wind howling] [upbeat latintinged music] ponce was the capital of the south coast of puerto rico under spanish rule until the u. S. Took the reins in 1898, relocating the center of commerce to san juan. This colonial city was one of the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Maria in 2017, the earthquakes in 2020, and then again by Hurricane Fiona in 2022. [wind howling] im meeting with Community Advocate javier de jesus martinez, architect and entrepreneur, who is determined to revive ponce to its former grandeur. Many buildings were damaged, primarily because of the hurricanes. Some of the buildings that were hit were hit again, in this case by the earthquake. Ah. It was double damaged. Right. And theres a whole process of reconstruction going on right now. Really . To restore all these buildings . Yes. Well are you going to be able to do them all . Yes, it they depends. The ones that are on the public realm, theres things that are already back into into construction. But the process of reconstructing a city or region, you have to consider the emotional, the cultural, the identity of a place in order to rebuild it. If you are not considering those, you will have a ghost town. I love cities. I grew up in cities. I traveled cities. So i try to develop the cities in terms of their culture. Im also the founder of a school of architecture that exists in the city. So i have a relationship with the with ponce. What is the difference between old ponce and the ponce that were seeing today . If we go back to the 19th century, ponce was the commercial capital of puerto rico. So the port was responsible for bringing products from europe, managing those into the islands. It was a cultural hub. Yes. I mean, because youre equidistant from South America and the us. Its the first country that you hit as youre coming from europe. It was a cosmopolitan city with theaters, with music, with architecture. Yeah, yeah. After the change in sovereignty, many, Many Political decisions and economical decisions shift that activity into the port of san juan. We have an economical crisis. Right. So its not just the port. Its old puerto rico. Its finance. Its economics. And its psychology. So how do we guide puerto rico out of this situation that puerto rico is in . Because it gets hit by hurricane. And then it gets hit by an earthquake. I mean, all these things are devastating. I think identity, community, and culture are the foundation for us in order to to rebuild into the future. And what what do you mean by that . When when we go back to the days after those disasters, when there is no satellite, when theres no internet, when theres no tv, all we had, it was community, culture, and our identity. Right. Because you didnt get the fema funding. Its a very long process in order to to get the reconstruction done. Who could forget the infamous paper towel incident when donald trump thought he was greeting fans and passing out swag in the aftermath of a disastrous Hurricane Maria . Clearly, that wasnt the kind of help the people needed. When Hurricane Fiona hit in 2022, the u. S. Government stepped up and made a 60 million pledge to aid in the recovery. As good as it was to finally get some attention and help, actually getting the money to the people is a slow process. And Puerto Ricans needs are still not being met. So yeah, i i think part of the problem, puerto rico has three paths, right . One is staying a commonwealth, going to statehood, or or going towards independence. So whats going to make the u. S. Care about whats going on here . I think youre pointing out to to a basic fundamental problem in puerto rico. In order for a society to develop, depends on the capacity of that group of people of taking decisions. So if youre not allowing a group of people making decisions, then youre allowing them to be completely colonized for the rest of their lives. Right. Right. And in the case of puerto rico, right now, that Political Division still fragmenting the different intentions of society. You mean those who want commonwealth, those who want an independent side . Yes. So theyre everybodys fighting against each other. Yes. The 2020 referendum in pr showed 52 of the island for statehood and 47 against it. But despite the different perspectives, theres still a tremendous sense of community in puerto rico. The day that a hurricane hit us, the day the series of Earthquake Hit us, we realized that we have the capacity of getting together, sitting down, looking to each other, and realize, you know what . If were going somewhere, its because we decided. Yeah. And Puerto Ricans, we have passed that moment. Theres communities are working in energy, water, participation. Its difficult. This is not something that will happen a day and a week. But if we listen and if we be civilized, the right stories, the ones that really are constructing the new imaginary of of a future puerto rico, that thats what Puerto Ricans have to decide. I have my position. Right. I want my country to be an independent country that can have negotiations with the United States and with the rest of the world. Thats fantastic. I know. Yes, its going to be difficult. It sucks, yeah. Its going to be tough. But i hear you. I mean, yeah, i i just think there has to be a choice made, you know, independence or statehood. Yeah. Im more selfish. Well because i i grew up in the states. So i want puerto rico to be a state. Its never too late. If we have performed great on the past, it means that there is blood, that there is identity, that there is proud in puerto rico. And i invest all myself on that because im pretty sure, from the ashes, theyre going to come out a new era. So im passionate about i can see that. Im passionate about it. [laughs] good luck with that. Thank you. I hope to come back and see a beautiful thriving ponce. Im pretty sure you will. Thank you. And no, its been awesome. [chuckles] thank you. You educated me. [upbeat latintinged music] change may be on the horizon. In december 2022, the u. S. House of representatives passed a bill, the first of its kind that would allow puerto rico to hold a binding vote that would offer three options, statehood, independence, or sovereignty with free association. There are still roadblocks. But this would be a huge step in recognizing that Puerto Ricans should have a say about their status and their future. Detect this living with hiv, i learned i can stay undetectable with fewer medicines. Thats why i switched to dovato. Dovato is a complete Hiv Treatment for some adults. No other complete hiv pill uses fewer medicines to help keep you undetectable than dovato. Detect this most hiv pills contain 3 or 4 medicines. Dovato is as effective with just 2. If you have hepatitis b, dont stop dovato without talking to your doctor. Dont take dovato if youre allergic to its ingredients or taking dofetilide. This can cause serious or lifethreatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop dovato and get medical help right away. Serious or lifethreatening lactic acid buildup and Liver Problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have kidney or Liver Problems, or if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering pregnancy. Dovato may harm an unborn baby. Most common side effects are headache, nausea, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, tiredness, and anxiety. Detect this i stay undetectable with fewer medicines. Ask your doctor about switching to dovato. I stay undetectable with fewer medicines. [upbeat latintinged music] ponces vibrant Community Spirit shines beyond the rubble of recent disasters. And its easy to see that the people of this city still know how to bring the party. Like many places around the world, puerto rico celebrates carnival. But in ponce, a mischievous character steals the show and the hearts of the community, The Vejigante. And the art form of making vejigante masks is so important here, it has its own museum. I met up with chelimar, a volunteer who teaches visitors about ponces Carnival Celebration and, of course, its star, The Vejigante. Its a character participates in a carnival. His purpose is to bring joy, happiness. He usually does that through dancing and music and being mischievous. He chased little kids and scare them, steal things. Well, not really stealing. Borrowing. Borrowing, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So vejigante is not the mask. Its the wearer at the ceremony. Yes. Having the horns, being covered from head to toe, not recognizable. And nobody should know who The Vejigante is. The Vejigante Tradition began in Medieval Spain and made its way to puerto rico 300 years ago, where communities like ponce made it their own. Masks can be in many different sizes. It can be made with many different colors. It can be made with many different material. Here, we exhibit a mascara that is made out of higuera. Higuera is a seed from a tree. And its purpose is to keep evil spirits away from the home. I i guess the scarier the mask, the better job you do of keeping yeah, its its the same as the gargoyles on churches. Right. Right. Right. Same same job. Same principle, yeah. Mmhmm. The artist who created these masks, Don Miguel Angel perez santiago, was a huge force in ponces vejigante culture. When he died, the community banded together to preserve his art. His family did not know what to do with his property. They just wanted to throw everything away. Right. And then, my grandfather and his colleague came forward to the family. And theyre like, hey, i dont think that [laughs] throwing away these things are the wisest choice. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So they decided to donate the house to make this a museum. Every city has their own carnival. And there wasnt a museum to educate people that came to visit. And it was such a magical thing. The materials in each mask are connected to the artist community. Coconut masks come from loiza. Mesh masks from hatillo. And ponce masks carry a distinctive five horns. These vejigante masks are used to celebrate carnival, also known as mardi gras or fat tuesday. This weeklong celebration, yeah, a whole week of partying, is when ponce really lets its hair down. These festivals are often accompanied by another traditional puerto rican art form, plena. [all singing in spanish] plena music originated in ponce and is famous all over the island for its callandresponse lyrics that can date back more than a century. The instruments and rhythms are born from native and african influences. Today, a local band has gathered with the community to show us how carnival is celebrated here in ponce. And guess whos going to join in the festivities . [thunder rumbling] [rain pattering] [indistinct chatter] byebye. Yeah. Im no longer john anymore. Vejigante. [singing in spanish] now let me tell you, the spirit and beauty of ponce and its people is something i have long admired from afar. But being smack in the middle of it is a whole other thing. This community, like all others in puerto rico, is proud of who it is. The people persist. They thrive. And more importantly, they stay true to themselves. [singing in spanish] [cheers and applause] that was great. I almost had a heart attack. But it was worth it. Gracias a todos ustedes. Gracias. I cant wait to come back and see this city rebuilt to its old glory. The people of ponce deserve it. Thank you. Gracias, reina. [all shouting in spanish] sometimes Jonah Wrestles with falling asleep. So he takes zzzquil. The worlds 1 Sleep Aid Brand for a better night sleep. So now, he wakes up feeling like himself. The reigning family room middleweight champion. Better days start with zzzquil nights. Im heading east from ponce to a town called juncos, a Farming Community known for its fertile soil and natural beauty. Its in the foothills of this region that youll find a restaurant called bacoa. And yo, let me tell you, this is not just any restaurant. Thanks to chef raul correa, rene marichal, and Xavier Pacheco, its widely considered one of the best restaurants in the world. Hola, caballeros. Que placer. Oh, nice to meet you. [all speaking spanish] thank you. Gracias, papito. Yeah, what a beautiful spot this is. Yeah. I mean, the beautiful breeze, the beautiful location. Yeah. Yeah. Howd you make this happen . We all have our own spaces. And we were looking to incorporate our ourselves, you know, to Work Together and have a life project. This is our homage to yeah. That was our abuelas food, you know. This is a place where we we can look back and also at the same time see the future. So youre taking traditional recipes that your mom, your grandparents, as a Jumping Off Place . Were Puerto Ricans. We believe in our cuisine. We believe in Sponsoring Farmers and all around that. And whats Puerto Rican Cuisine . Because Puerto Rican Cuisine has evolved. Its not simply mofongo, rice, and beans. We have a lot of people from many other places that they have the third generations here in puerto rico. Like a pan latin, kind of, a fusion. Definitely. Thats the main idea, yeah. Bacoa, the name is a combination of two words, coa. Coa is the instrument that tainos used to work the land. Oh, ok. And barbacoa is open fire. Right. So bacoa is coa and barbacoa together. And thats what we do here. No, it sounds incredible. It sounds incredible. And now youre here. So lets see you do something in the kitchen. Yeah, yeah, im ready to give back. [laughter] go back to the kitchen; i have to leave. I have a plane to catch, but im going to leave you oh, youre so busy, mr. Busy. Yeah. Sorry. Sorry. But dont mean to keep you youre with this guy, ok . All right. All right. Good. Ive been hearing about bacoa for a long time. And getting an invite to mess around in their kitchen is something i do not take lightly. Though i played a chef in a movie once, let me tell you, i am no chef in real life. But im always down for a challenge. Yeah, the dishes that were going to do today is called funche. Funche. Funche, yes. This dish is a very humble dish. It also comes from our african heritage. Right. Right. My father used to tell me it was a dish when he didnt have no money and you survival food. Survival food. Yes. That means very basics. Its cornmeal, coconut water, coconut milk. And we do equal parts of coconut milk and coconut water. Oh, wow. Beautiful. So you come here. [sizzling] oh. This here is called called el buren. El buren. El buren is very similar to la plancha. Right. Xavier will teach you later how to cook fish here. The grill. Its a grill, in english, here. Its a grill. Yeah. But its a grill. Its a wood fire grill. Yeah, i can nothing like wood fire. Yeah, no, i know. Right. You want to whisk it . Nothing ventured, nothing whisked. Do your thing. Work it. Im working it, my brother. Im working it. Work it. Yeah. You know what . Youre going to add in here, we call them funche. In the u. S. , you might call them grits or something similar. Oh, grits. Or if you go to italy, you call them polenta. Right. But where does it all come from . Its all come our people because corn did our people. Our people. Our corn is ours. And our Corn Products are ours. Yes, sir. Weve been weve been before everybody. Thats right. Another little food factoid for you. The idea of barbecue was not born in the u. S. , as some believe. In fact, it originated right here in the caribbean with the taino people, who called it barbacoa. This is what we do in bacoa. Remember, everything that we do, we put wood fire. Mmm. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Its incredible, bro. Right . Ive had grits all my life. But this is way better than any grits ive ever had. Hey, coconut water. Local coconut water. Mmm. Mmm. Local coconut milk. This is part of what were doing. This is the same funche. But were just playing with the texture. Its the same stuff, just different texture. Its all about the texture, man. Its all about the look. Its like a like a consomme. It is a soup. Its a consomme. Yeah, oh my god. Its incredible. It is a foam. It could be a whipped cream. Mmm. You can call it whatever. This is where we come from. And this is where were going yeah, yeah, i got you. Its amazing how the passion for their past has led these chefs to create forwardthinking dishes, bringing Puerto Rican Cuisine to new heights with the same humble ingredients they have loved all their lives. I i wish that raul is going to clean my kitchen before i start cooking. Ah [laughs] mira, mira. Im going to set it up for you. In fact, chef Xavier Pacheco has cooked around the world, but found himself back in his home of puerto rico with one goal, bringing the ingredients of this tropical paradise to the world. Im going to Start Playing with our local swordfish. Oh, local swordfish. Were going to sear this. We need some oil. Is that too much oil . Or is that enough . No, thats perfect. All right. All right. Then were going to finish at the wood oven. So were going to sear the flavors. Sear the flavor. Lock in the freshness thats right. And and the juices. And the juices. And then and then and then, bake it through. Thats right. These are sweet potato leaves. Theyre, like, little bitter, like sweet charred. Mmm. Yeah, yeah. So were going to saute them. And then, were going to plate. And people, its theyre going to believe that you are really, really good chef. Oh, yeah. Ok. All right. I dont know. I, kind of, feel like chef xavier didnt have me do any of the actual cooking. I feel a little judged. But, you know, as the saying goes, if you cant take the heat, get out of the kitchen. I just hope they dont forget about me, because im ready for some of that damn fine food. Hey, hey. Hows it going . Hey. [speaking spanish] you cleaned up well. [laughter] sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Our parents experienced poverty or our grandparents experienced poverty. Yeah. And and it gets trickled down through the memories, through storytelling, a nostalgia for what they went through. Yeah, man. So thats why funche for you reminds you of your parents struggle. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So its good food. Yes. Yeah, yeah. And simple is difficult. Yes. Really. Its really difficult. Right. Right. Its more work. Its its definitely more work when you dont have gas and you got to do it all by wood fire. And let me tell you this, this is the dish that you just make. Yes. Yes. Yes. This is the swordfish with the batata leaf, and confit tomatoes, and brown butter. And this is carne frita, which is a smoke pork. And then, we did fry it in the Wood Fire Oven with a bunch of onions and local peppers. This is probably one of the first dishes that we ever put in the menu. Yeah, yeah. Yo, i dont know if the camera is doing this food justice, because this is some of the most beautiful food i have ever seen. Its the kind of meal your eyes get to enjoy as much as your mouth. Mmm. Es diferente. So good. Were very grateful and humble thank you for being here. For having you here. Oh, thank you for having us, man. Your generosity, your friendship, is beautiful, man. I feel it. Thank you, hermano. Gracias. [gentle music] as i start to unpack my journey through puerto rico and reflect on the incredible people ive met here, its clear that sharing an identity is important. This island and its people are all working to preserve and protect their roots in history. From the indigenous tainos, whose language music, food, and traditions still live on, to the contribution so many African Peoples made to this island, puerto rico is a rich port indeed. [upbeat latintinged music] you know how they used to say the streets of new york were paved with gold . And then wave after wave of immigrants came here to make their lives better for themselves. The irish, the italians, the jews, the chinese they all got whole neighborhoods named after them. But what about us latinos . Weve been here in this city, and weve got every kind of latino. You want your Puerto Ricans . Wepa. You want your cubans . Dale dominicans . Que lo que tigre. Colombianos . Todo bien, todo bien. Mexicanos . No manches, guey. And this is where i grew up, too. And when i was a kid, i dont know what the streets were paved with, but it damn sure as hell was not gold. But that didnt stop latinx new yorkers from making big contributions