Page 70 - Hola_USA

C OV E R

Wearing the t-shirt
from his namesake
foundation, the singer
spent days greeting
and speaking with the
victims of Maria.

Do you think celebrities have a duty to What does solidarity mean to you? It
do social work? A lot of people ask me means to forget about yourself for a
that. But look, with the power of conven- moment and look at the person beside
ing that music and acting give us, we you and help them. I am an educator, I
have to take advantage, and we need to am an artist, I am creative, and I want
talk about this type of thing. I know that things now—especially when you see
everybody has their problems and every- someone suffering and you know you
one says, “Look, I have enough problems can help. Instant gratification, that’s
at home to get involved in this.” But tak- what we artists live for; that’s why we go
ing action helps everyone involved—I back onstage—because you sing, they
am aiding someone in need, and also clap, you feel so much…. My spiritual
healing myself with the feeling that mentor in Cambodia almost hit me
comes from helping others. when I told him I wanted to leave the
entertainment world to save lives. He
With so many commitments, your resi- said: “Focus on changing one life; if you
dence in Las Vegas (All In), the Versace change one life, you have done a lot.”
series filming (it premieres in January),
your sons, your wedding plans…how do Are Matteo and Valentino solidary chil-
you prioritize your humanitarian work? dren? In this home we talk about empa-
There came a time when I said, “Look, thy. It’s important for us to find out
music is over”; music was the way to get how others feel. And so when HOLA!
to them. For the rest of my life I will USA names me “Humanitarian of the Ricky lived the onslaught of hurricane Maria
in Puerto Rico like everyone else. He knew
focus on saving lives and fundraising— Year,” I say “Thank you very much.” nothing about his brother or mother for seve-
talk to governments. I took it upon These tragedies will bring out many, ral days. He was one of the first celebrities to
myself to gather information and then many heroes. There are many heroes fly to the island with a humanitarian plane.
Above, next to the mayor of San Juan,
educate. I went to the United States Con- out in the streets. And those who never Carmen Yulín, touring the area to see the da-
gress, I spoke about this matter, and laws did anything are doing it now. We hit mage. At press time Ricky has managed to
have been strengthened; laws have been rock-bottom hard. That was an awaken- raise more than $4 million for Mexico and OMAR CRUZ (4)
Puerto Rico.
created in many countries. ing for many who simply hadn’t under-

68 H OL A. C O M