César Santiago

I was raised in Isabela, Puerto Rico and I'm currently living in the Washinton, DC Metro Area. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and a Master's Degree in Software Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Presently I work as a software engineer in the healthcare sector.

A passion for journalism, human rights and the fight against censorship has led me to join Global Voices as a translator and contributor.

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Latest posts by César Santiago

Puerto Rico: Plagiarism Revealed Through the Net

Janet Marilyn Hernández, a Venezuelan blogger and public relations professional, discovered that her thesis was plagiarized in a newspaper article and blog post written by professor Ivan Ríos of the University of Puerto Rico. Using email, posts, Twitter and Facebook she brought the situation to the attention of the University and the mainstream press. The professor has since resigned.

27 September 2012

Puerto Rico: “Ateorizar” Takes Atheism Online

Finding an absence of online projects in Spanish about atheism, Puerto Rican blogger Manolo Matos started "Ateorizar." The podcast will be going to its third season next October, and the blog has received over 150,000 visits. Matos talks to Global Voices about his project.

9 August 2012

Puerto Rico: “Why So Much Fear of an Image?”

Photojournalist Ricardo Alcaraz publicly denounced that the University of Puerto Rico censored one of his photos from a photo essay he was preparing for the 25th anniversary edition of the University's monthly newspaper Diálogo, where he has worked since its foundation. Dozens of people have republished the censored photo on their walls on Facebook and distributed the link to the 80grados story on Twitter. There has been an outpouring of solidarity and outrage.

5 March 2012

Puerto Rico: Blogger Exposes Misleading Commercial

Puerto Rican blogger Ed Morales gave a first hand account of the shooting of a Fiat commercial that shows actress and singer Jennifer López driving around her old neighborhood in the Bronx, New York. In fact, as Morales demonstrates with photos, López was never there.

30 November 2011

Puerto Rico: Tropical Storm Irene Leaves Heavy Rain and Damages

Tropical storm Irene hit Puerto Rico on August 21st leaving wind damage, floods, constant rain, and the evacuation of entire communities. This is the same storm, now a hurricane, that is hitting the United States east coast. The online community has posted videos of the aftermath of tropical storm Irene in Puerto Rico.

27 August 2011

Puerto Rico: ‘Speak Your Mind’ Online

Under the slogan "Speak your Mind," the online magazine Qiibo covers everyday Puerto Rican politics and the latest entertainment and technology news. Global Voices author Cesar Santiago interviewed the staff about their interests, their place within Puerto Rico's online media, the possibility of alliances with traditional media, and the Puerto Rican blogosphere.

25 April 2011

Puerto Rico: Controversial Decision on Domestic Violence

Puerto Rico's Supreme Court upheld a decision from a lower court that stated that a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her partner in an adulterous relationship was not protected by the country's domestic violence law. The blogosphere reacts to the decision.

3 April 2011

Puerto Rico: In Defense of the Hispanic Studies Department

The department of Hispanic Studies is one of 10 academic programs that have been put "on pause" by the administration of the University of Puerto Rico starting August 2011. The administration cites low enrollment numbers as the justification for this action. Students and faculty members have criticized the decision and explain the importance of the department.

8 February 2011

Puerto Rico: Violence Continues as Students Engage in Civil Disobedience

On January 20th, students from the University of Puerto Rico started staging acts of civil disobedience as part of their strike against the $800 dollar annual fee imposed by the administration. The Police has arrested almost 100 protesters and assaulted journalists who have been covering the incidents. Social media and blogs have been an important tool of dissemination and a space for analysis.

28 January 2011

Puerto Rico: Online Debate on Hooded Protesters

Recently, hooded individuals protesting in the student strike at the University of Puerto Rico committed acts of vandalism that were caught on camera. Members of the Puerto Rican blogosphere discuss the impact they have caused to the cause and some wonder if they are students at all.

18 January 2011

Puerto Rico: Police Occupies the University of Puerto Rico

After the conclusion of a two day walk out organized by students, the Police has occupied the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico for the first time since 1981 in anticipation of a possible student strike on December 14. The blogosphere and social media networks are buzzing with reactions.

13 December 2010

Puerto Rico: Bloggers Criticize Censorship Call of Calle 13 Song

The president of the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Regulatory Board described Calle 13's latest song as "obscene" and "lewd" and has invited the general public to send their complaints so she can forward them to the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Puerto Rican blogosphere reacts.

26 November 2010

Panama: Retirees Protest With Street Closures

Street closures and peaceful protests have marked the claims of retirees who call for an increase in their pensions. Twitter reactions are almost all against these measures that affect everyone. However, there are those who see the closure of streets as the only viable option.

20 November 2010

Puerto Rico: Government Solidifies Grip on The Supreme Court

For the first time in history, the pro-statehood National Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (NPP) has a majority of judges in the country's Supreme Court. The court, in a partisan 4-3 vote asked last week to increase the number of sitting judges to nine which could give the NPP a solid 6-3 majority in the court for years to come. The blogosphere and online media react.

11 November 2010

Peru: Municipal Elections, Delays and the Electronic Vote

After over three weeks since the municipal elections, the people of Lima still didn't know for certain who would be their next mayor; a minimal difference between the candidates has put the spotlight on electronic voting, and the slow process brought forth all kinds of suspicions, doubts and even accusations of fraud attempts.

27 October 2010