to "comunidad del valle." i'm damian trujillo, and today, we're celebrating the aztec new year. the local celebration on your "comunidad del valle." male announcer: nbc bay area presents "comunidad del valle" with damian trujillo. ♪ damian: we begin today with the monthly visit of the mexican consulate in san jose. ambassador juan manuel calderon is the consul general. he's with us, along with loren cruz. she's the consul of community affairs on "comunidad del valle." welcome to the show. juan manuel calderon: damian, thank you. thank you very much for your invitation that we have every, every month, and i say thank you. damian: thank you very much, and you want loren to do all the talking, so we'll go to her really quick. juan: well, today we are talking about the event that we are going to have in this month of march and we are going to have many, many events for the mexican community.

and we like to share this responsibility with loren. she's in charge for all the mexican community, and she knows already what kind of events were are going to have on march. damian: all right, go ahead. tell us what's going on. you're very busy this month. loren cruz: we are very busy this month actually. thank you so much, damian. and it's a very wonderful--it's very wonderful to be here for the mexican consulate. the mexican consulate is actually organizing different activities throughout the month and we're going to have a very busy month in every particular aspect that we cover in the community affairs department. for instance, for a he w mexicane health window.e consulate that is open from monday to friday, from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00, until noon. so, this month, we have the great honor of opening a new service.

now we are joining also western dental, and we are going to be offering a new service on dental care for all of our community. and this is particularly important for all the latinos because we actually found that uc berkeley published a couple years ago a study that reflected that our community was in great need of dental services. i don't know when was the last time that you went to the dentist, damian. damian: so, i have to go three times a year. my teeth are really bad. loren: well, that is actually very important for us, but not everyone has this chance as you know. our community has mainly three different, well, obstacles that sometimes prevent us from going to a dentist. rsof all, you know our community is immigrant, so immigration is one of those barriers that we face in this new country. the second big barrier for our community is of course the language. not all of us speak very fluent english to be able to access

or to have access to these dental services in the us. and third--and the third one is the most important for all of us. you know that dental services in the us are very expensive. so, all of these different elements combine all together and prevent our community from having a very good dental care, and this is also reflecting in the--you know, it has different connotations in the overall health of our community. it has an impact on the kind of things that we are able to eat. it has an impact even in developing diabetes in our community. so, this is a very important aspect, and that is why the consulate has decided to join forces with a new partner through our ventanilla de la salud that is operated by the health trust. so, in march, we are continuing to offer this particuservic we welcome all of our community to come to the consulate

to have access to this particular service in which dental--western dental is going to be offering workshops on how to take care of your teeth, to learn as well how often we have to change our toothbrush, for instance. we have to make some--we're starting some campaigns as well to learn how to use, in a very effective way, the toothbrush, the floss as well, and how to change it. we have to change our toothbrush, for example, every three months. so, that is very important. and we are actually going to target very specific vulnerable groups among our latino community. for instance, children, pregnant women, and older adults, because sometimes we have to make more effort on these particular groups. so, we invite all the community to come over to the mexican consulate in san jose to get your free dental care kit.

so, please come join us and this is a great opportunity that we all have to, you know, take advantage of. and then, well, continuing with all of the rest of the activities, our consul general has actually selected a very fine exhibition from mexico. it's integrated by 24 wonderful photographers that are reflecting the reserve of the biosphere that is located in tehuacan-cuicatlan. i don't know if you know that in july, the--on july 2, 2018, last year, very recently, the un actually pronounced this specific reserve in mexico to be part of the world heritage. but yes, it is a wonder, a mexican wonder, and we as mexicans have to be very proud the world has acquiredis a veryh

and that has been registered under the un. and our consul general has actually selected this exhibition that is currently being presented at the mexican consulate of mexico in san jose, and we are actually presenting these 24 pictures. we welcome all the community as well, and especially the children and the schools to come over to have guided visits, for us to explain to them why this specific reserve is so important. i don't know if you know about this, but this is where corn started to be domesticated. can you imagine that? and this is where these human beings also from meso-america, from those indigenous communities started to be settled, started to become settlers. so, this is--that is why the un has chosen this particular reserve in mexico to become one of the unique sites

damian: well, it's awesomef the that you all are sharingitage. this with all of us. i know that you have an important phone call to take. juan: just let me say, this area, the location, this area is between the mexican state puebla and oaxaca, and we have these 24 photographs. it's beautiful, beautiful. the maestro francisco toledo selected these 24 photographs. it's very, very beautiful. we invite all the mexican community. damian: and it's free of charge. juan: yes, of course. damian: well, thank you so much for coming on the show and explaining all of this to us. our time is running out, but there is the address for the mexican consulate. if you wanna make an appointment, call mexitel. there's the number there. and they are accepting applications for consul por un so, log on and find out more about that great program. thank you so much for what you're doing. juan: thank you, damian. thank you very much. damian: and up next, celebrating the aztec new year. stay with us.

that leave therea lasting impression. like the feeling of movement as a new journey begins, or the sight of soft fur, warmed by the morning sun. you might remember new flavours, the sound of an old friend's laugh, or a view that defies all expectations. these are the memories that stay with you, long after the moments have passed.

♪ damian: celebrating the aztec new year here on "comunidad del valle." with me to celebrate the new year is pedro aquihua perez. your reaction when you see images like that, and you hear the sounds of the drums, and you hear the sounds of those acorns on your ankles? pedro aquihua perez: yeah, definitely. well, it's an adrenaline rush, right? it's something that kinda gets the blood boiling, in a good way of course. you know, very excited, and it just takes me back, right, to our ceremonies and our practices on a weekly basis. damian: for a lot of us who are not familiar with aztec dancing, it looks beautiful, it sounds beautiful, but to you it must be something very spiritual to celebrate. pedro: it is, it is.

i mean, you know, it's something different for everybody, right? every individual kind of connects in a different way. you know, we are ceremonial in that way, we're spiritual, and so it has a deep meaning. it kinda brings us together. it centers us, you know? it allows us to continue to work on ourselves, right, in a good way so that we may continue to, you know, really influence the young, the jovenes, you know, the young people that come around. and through culture and tradition, then we impact in a good way. damian: talk about your name, aquihua. pedro: aquihua, so, aquihua is nahuatl and it means, like, the essence of water. so, that is, it calls to me. it is something that i, you know, hold close to my heart, tonalamatl, which is a study of our time when we were specifically born from date and time. and so, that is the essence of my persona.

like water, transparent, clear, healing. and you know, they say--we say, you know, water is life. damian: absolutely. are you able to change your name on your driver's license? or maybe that's in the future, or it's more--it's not about that, it's more about the spiritual aspect of your name? pedro: that's a good question. it's more about the spirituality aspect of it. i use it interchangeably of course, but it is something that i am able to do if i choose to. and so, yeah, thank you for bringing that up. damian: no, so, a lot of people are thinking, again, on january 1, but talk about the significance of what you're celebrating on march 9 and 10. pedro: definitely. so, this year we are currently leaving six rabbit. our new year in our way of tradition begins usually the second week in march. and so as we approach that time, we are coming into chicome

acatl, which is seven reed, for this coming year. real special time, really important. you know, acatl is a year that brings with it the call for unity, the call for firmness, the call for energy and strength. damian: all right, and talk about the celebration. what's gonna be happening over those two days? i would imagine a lot of dancing. pedro: yeah, a lot of dancing, damian. we have dancers that come in from all over the country, including from mexico. maybe anywhere between 600 and 700 danzantes that come and converge in san jose at emma prusch park. and you know, it's a big all nations, all races.the comm, and it's just a beautiful gathering for san jose to celebrate, bring in the new year with prayer, with ceremony, with spirituality. damian: how blessed are we to have this here in san jose?

pedro: you know, it's an amazing thing. we are in our 21st year, and you said it right, it's a blessing. you know, we are--we have the largest celebration of aztec dancing in the entire country. damian: hey, is that right? pedro: here in san jose, and only second to mexico city. you know, like i said, we're in our 21st year, and you know, it's a blessing to have that. it's a lot of energy. the community converges. you know, we're now, you know, we are known for that. you know, the community comes together and really, you know, kind of unites in a good way. damian: all right, well, it's march 9 and 10 over at the emma prusch park here in san jose, celebrating the aztec new year, the ano nueva mexica. we'll be back and talk about the celebration in our next segment.

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so you sell for thousands more celebrating the mexica new year. talk about the word "mexica," because one way is to say

it the way i said it, the aztec new year, but el ano nueva mexica is kind of the way they used to say it, no? pedro: correct, yeah, "mexica" is in reference to the, you know, it really is a replacement for aztec. so, aztec is actually a european term. mexica is the correct term for our people, and so it's the mexica new year, yancuic xihuitl. damian: what is it that made you say--and i don't know how long you've been doing it, but that made you say, "i want to celebrate my culture, my indigenous culture, in this way"? pedro: yeah, you know, as mexicanos, as chicanos here in the united states, we often find that--you know, that the time and place where we question our identity, where we begin to search, you know, who we are and where we come from. and like most people, we search, and aztec dance, you know, een the vehicle for search, you know, who we that foundation, you know,om.

the cultural identity of the individual and our community. and so, in searching that out, i found that this was--you know, this is who i am, this is who we are as people, as a community, and it's growing and it's a beautiful thing. it really changes lives, you know, and that's what we do. we work with our youth to have a positive direction in their life, to have an identity that will then allow them to be, you know, healthy and productive for their entire life. damian: and it's a family affair for you, verdad? pedro: it's a family affair, todo la familia. so, everybody, my wife, tamara, who you know very well, and our daughters, and my son, we're all involved. we're all danzantes and we love it. you know, we live it. it's a spiritual thing for us. damian: for those who, again, maybe are not of this culture, they're going to experience and expect? pedro: yeah, you know, i think the first thing you'll notice is the electricity in the air, the beautiful energy. you know, you'll get the sense, you know,

the copal burning, the sage. a lot of people, you know, harmonizing, coming together in community to learn together, to experience that beautiful event. you'll see a lot of vendors. you'll see a lot of food. you'll see a lot of danzantes of course. a lot of people just really coming together for a good cause, to learn, to share, and to really strengthen that bond, that community bond that san jose can have, and should have, and will continue to have as we move forward with events like this that are very important. damian: what kind of a testament to your work and your organizers' work is the fact that in oaxaca, or wherever they're talking about this event here in san jose? pedro: yeah, you know, it's a beautiful thing. you know, we--like i said, during our new year celebration, we bring in people. we bring in maestros, teachers from mexico, from all parts of mexico, to give us, you know, their knowledge, their conocimiento, their teachings. and we invite danzantes from all over, you know,

the united states and mexico, and so many come, and those that can't come will send their best wishes. and it's something that is talked about, and we're proud of that because we want to continue. we want the event to cnu and also as a community gathering, a festival, if you will. damian: with that many danzantes, is it choreographed or does everybody--once you know, you know what you're celebrating, and you know what the steps are, and where north, south, east, west is? pedro: yeah, no, no choreograph here. it's something that comes from the spirit. of course the danzas, you know, are--it's a danza that is--that we all learn, that we all work and practice. damian: la misma danza. pedro: it's la misma danza. no, pero the beat, you know, everything that comes it comes from the heart. and so, we know the ne you know, from, you know, thousands of years, and so we wanna, you know, pay tribute to that and honor it in a good way,

but mainly it's from the heart. damian: that is awesome. well, again, it's happening at emma prusch park here in san jose, march 9 and 10. that's this coming weekend. make sure that you attend either one or both of those days. thank you so much for keeping the cultura alive, pedro. pedro: gracias, damian. damian: all right, gracias. and we'll have some live danza music, so stay with us. ♪

on "que pasa." ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

damian: and our saludos for those celebrating a special day, felicidades. ♪ damian: and here is our contact information. you can follow me on twitter. my handle is @newsdamian. also, pick up a copy of "el observador" newspaper and support your bilingual weeklies all across the bay area. we thank you once again for sharing a part of your sunday with us. we're gonna leave you with some danza azteca and calpulli tonalehqueh. have a happy mexica new year. ♪ ♪

female: we salute the direction of the sun. --star that is near. the giver of life and light. ometeotl! ♪ ♪

[speaking foreign language] [speaking foreign language] [speaking foreign language] female: saludamos, diferenciamos. give thanks to our mother earth, that mother who takes care of us, that one day we will return to, to return back to nature, to the earth. ometeotl! ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ [speaking foreign language] [speaking foreign language] ♪ female: we salute the direction of the east, of the west, of the north and the south. the four directions of life. ththe four seasons.- to give thanks to the creation. ometeotl! ♪ ♪

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