HERO'S FROM THE PAST

SORAYA

Soraya was born in March 11th, 1969 in New Jersey to Colombian parents, she used her fluent command of Spanish and English to write and perform in both languages. She was a brilliant musician, composer, lyricist, producer and arranger. Soraya’s first album, titled En Esta Noche/On Nights Like This, debuted in 1996. It was released in both Spanish and English and as a result, her music was promoted worldwide. This first offering quickly sold more than one million copies, and Soraya instantly became a major star throughout Latin America, Germany, Spain, Australia and Puerto Rico. She was well-known to Latin music fans in the United States as well.
At the age of 31, and at the height of her career, she was tragically diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. Soraya spent the rest of her life using her music, her voice and her formidable talent to raise awareness and educate women in underserved communities about the disease.
Soraya was a breast cancer advocate for support and education, especially of Hispanic women. Soraya became the first Latin spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, touring The Americas to raise awareness. During September and October, she took a break from her music career to focus on breast awareness.
In order to encourage other women like herself, Soraya wrote and recorded "No One Else/Por Ser Quien Soy", a song that reflects her experience in fighting breast cancer. Both tracks can be downloaded on her official website. All proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation.
"I know there are many questions without answers, and that hope doesn't leave with me, and above all, that my mission does not end with my physical story" were Soraya's last words to her fans and the media before her passing.

SIMON BOLIVAR

Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios y Blanco, commonly known as Simón Bolívar (July 24, 1783 – December 17, 1830) was a Venezuelan political leader. Together with José de San Martín, he played a key role in Latin America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.
Following the triumph over the Spanish Monarchy, Bolívar participated in the foundation of the first Republic of Colombia (today referred to by historians as "Gran Colombia" to avoid confusion with the current nation of the same name), a state formed from several former Spanish colonies. He was President of Gran Colombia from 1819 to 1830. Bolívar is credited with contributing decisively to the independence of the present-day countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia and is revered as a national hero in them.
Simón Bolívar was born in Caracas, Captaincy General of Venezuela (now the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela). The Bolívar aristocratic bloodline derives from a small village in the Basque Country (Spain, Europe), called La Puebla de Bolívar, which is the origin of the surname.[1] His father descended remotely from King Fernando III of Castile and Count Amedeo IV of Savoy, and came from the male line of the de Ardanza family. The Bolívars settled in Venezuela in the sixteenth century.