The world seems to be awed by the images of people helping each other after the deadly earthquake in Mexico and shocked by the thousands of stories of solidarity and love during Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Are you surprised? I'm not.
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While I'm not Mexican or Puerto Rican, I have walked the streets of both beautiful countries, have met countless people from both places and have many friends who were born (or whose parents were born) in both places.
Our Latino culture promotes togetherness and love. That's who we are.
Looking at the images that have been coming out of Mexico, hearing the desperate messages of Boricuas outside the island and the amazing efforts they are putting together to help the people of Puerto Rico, the first thing that came to my mind is how lucky the U.S. is to have us here.
Take a look at these photos and remind yourself and everyone around you, that Latinos are in here in the States because the governments in our countries have failed us, not because our people are less than anyone else. And if you get grief from anybody, just show them who we are and what we're made of.
Minutes after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, September 19, 2017, Mexicans took to the streets.
They put aside their shock and fear and started helping their fellow Mexicans.
Hundreds of people organized in Mexico to gather supplies.
NGOs organized, via social media, a network of collection centers to receive donations in parks and other public spaces.
Thousands more have donated basic products.
Photos of people making sandwiches, putting together bags with basic hygiene products, and donating clothes and blankets were everywhere on social media.
Mexico's biggest celebrities have gotten involved.
This is an image posted by Hollywood star Diego Luna. He spent hours helping out, but he isn't the only celeb lending a hand to the victims of the earthquake in Mexico. Singers, actors, producers and directors have joined the thousands of volunteers.
Everyone is respecting this request for silence & it's incredible.
When rescue workers raise their hands, like you can see in this photo, everyone must be quiet. It means a person, a rescue dog or some equipment needs silence to try to hear survivors. It's a powerful gesture that in itself symbolizes to much.
Many have volunteered to dig people out.
These volunteers are even putting their own lives at risk.
The love for pets and rescue dogs has been moving.
In this pic are the stars of the canine rescue team. The dog in the middle, Frida, has been credited with helping rescue more than 50 people that were trapped under the rubble.
Everyone is helping the best way they can.
Mexican singer Gloria Trevi, for instance, is offering to take photos with anyone who donates $100 to the reconstruction efforts.
Puerto Rican stars like Marc Anthony, Daddy Yankee, Nicky Jam, ex NY Yankee Jorge Posada and NBA star Juan Barea have started to raise money to help both countries as well.
There is not enough information about what's going on in Puerto Rico.
But we know the devastation will be staggering. The few images that have come in from the island, where there is a massive power outage, are frightening, but also inspiring. People are helping people.
There are signs of love everywhere.
These are the messages that people are writing on cans of food being donated in Mexico. Similar ones are being collected all across the U.S. to send to our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico.
Again, are you surprised? I'm not. This is who we are.
