Today we continue our newest series: Knights Sound Off, and we do so in hopes of lifting the voices of our brothers, the Honorable Knights of Omega Delta Phi in regards to current events, fraternal news, as well as other on-goings. From September 15th to October 15th, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States. The month long celebration commemorates the contributions and the legacies of those with Hispanic/Latin roots and who’ve played a pivotal role in the shaping of America and her culture.
According to the United States Census Bureau website, “The observance was born in 1968 when Congress authorized the president to issue an annual proclamation designating National Hispanic Heritage Week. Just two decades later, lawmakers expanded it to a monthlong celebration, stretching from September 15 to October 15.
The timing is key. Hispanic Heritage Month — like its shorter precursor — always starts on September 15, a historically significant day that marks the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The designated period is also a nod to those from Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively”
The following Honorable Knights shared their thoughts on Hispanic Heritage Month and what it means to them as well as what their respective colony or chapter are planning on their respective campus.
Daniel Moya-Carpio
Alpha Omicron Chapter
University of Texas at Dallas
Fall 2019
Background: Guerrero and Chihuahua, Mexico
“Hispanic Heritage Month means to me, a call of action and time to commemorate and celebrate Hispanic customs, struggles, and to bring light to Hispanic excellence across the nation and the global theater”
“My favorite aspects of my culture are that we are ingrained with a deep sense of pride and perseverance while also seeing the levity and beauty of life. Whether it be through dance, art, or cuisine. My favorite custom is the grito, we will always celebrate and greet our roots loudly and with pride.”
Iker Soto
Omicron Chapter
University of Wisconsin- Parkside
Spring 2020
Background: Ciudad de Mexico
“My favorite part about being Mexican is just seeing how big my family is and how outgoing we are and just always cracking jokes and having an amazing time”
“Omicron Chapter is commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting a virtual presentation regarding Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurship. Two of our very own brothers are hosting it, one of them being one of our chapter founders”
Luis G. Chabes
Alpha Chi Chapter
University of North Texas
Spring 2020
Background: Zacatecas, Mexico
“To me, Hispanic Heritage Month represents a time to recognize the vital contributions made by Hispanic people to American culture. It is a time to truly highlight the beauty of our culture and the art of literature, music, and food within it.
“Being members of historically Latino fraternity with multicultural membership, I believe we should use our background to voice the importance of events like Hispanic Heritage Month. We have the platform and strength in numbers to spread a message and help commemorate the importance of our cultural identities”
Luis Lopez
Alpha Chi Chapter
University of North Texas
Fall 2018
Background: Honduras y El Salvador
“My favorite aspect of my culture is when people in Central America celebrate the palm festival when we commemorate the two patron saints and carry the Virgin Mary. This tradition comes from pre-Columbian Mayan culture and is celebrated to commemorate the start of the rainy season”
“My colony or chapter plans to commemorate Hispanic heritage Month by acknowledging that ODPHI is more than one just one culture and we embrace anyone who is of a different origin and also of different ethnicity”
Giovanni “Sir Khronos” Monterroso
Beta Alpha Chapter
Northeastern Illinois University
Fall 2013
Background: Guatemalan and Cuban, my father is from Guatemala City, Guatemala while my mother is from La Havana, Cuba.
“Hispanic Heritage Month means to me an opportunity to share my heritage and culture with my fellow brothers of Omega Delta Phi and with other Latinos. It also gives me a chance to learn more about other cultures and heritage directly from people that have been raised in those cultures and to be able to get a personal connection to them”
“During Hispanic Heritage Month, my chapter tends to cook and serve traditional Mexican dishes for International Day, which occurs during Hispanic Heritage Month. Typically, we serve pozole and flautas and it is cooked by one to two Mexican brothers but we allow every Mexican brother to cook so that we can see how the recipe is similar or different based off the different regions or areas of Mexico. My favorite custom on my mothers side is creating our own version of the ofrenda on the anniversary of the death of a loved one where we light candles and say prayers. This is a new custom to me since, in the last few years, my grandparents have passed on and my mom and uncle are the ones who have shown me this custom”