Amigos Latinos Event | Photo by Monica Brutto | The Wright State Guardian

Amigos Latinos collaborated with the Latino Center to host the third La Comida this semester, concluding the series with a festive theme on Thursday, Dec.1 in the Pathfinder Lounge.

The event began with dozens of students of all ages ready for the 12 p.m. start time, when students sang Christmas karaoke while enjoying tamales and Brazilian chocolates.

According to President of Amigos Latinos Mariangely Bonilla Custodio, La Colombiana, a local Latin restaurant, catered food for the event. In previous La Comida events, this catering sold out in just 20 minutes.

Students also enjoyed the various cultural presentations on Latin countries and territories such as Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Guatemala, which highlighted the diversity of Latino culture through holiday traditions.

According to the Amigos Latinos leadership, the organization has planned the event since the beginning of the semester. A few weeks ago, the group started seriously putting the event together.

While La Comida translates to “food” in English, it means a lot more to Amigos Latinos and the Latino Center.

“Celebrating Christmas is very important to the Latino culture,” Assistant Director of the Latino Center Catherine Hernandez Hogan said. “We wanted to be able to showcase our traditions.”

These traditions included catering Latino food, playing games like dominoes and singing Christmas carols.

According to Hernandez Hogan, Latinos represent approximately three percent of the student body, emphasizing the need to represent this group and provide a safe space for the Latino population.

President Bonilla Custodio echoed this sentiment in a reflection of the first La Comida.

“La Comida is an event where we celebrate different moments in the semester with our campus family and friends by giving free food to students and faculty on campus,” Bonilla Custodio said. “Doing this provides a sense of belonging to all of our Latino students.”

Students can look forward to more La Comidas next semester and attend the Latino Graduation on Dec. 6. For more information about the organization and its events during the upcoming semester, visit Amigos Latinos’ Engage page. 

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