Think Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day? Think again! Join host David Flores and SME Homero Vera for a 45-minute deep dive into the true story behind the holiday.

We uncover the incredible 1862 Battle of Puebla, where General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín—a native son of Goliad, Texas—led 4,500 poorly equipped Mexican soldiers, including local hero Major Porfirio Zamora Galván, to defeat the superior French army in a massive upset. Discover the "Texas Connection" to this global holiday and the mesteño spirit that connects our roots and our heroes on both sides of the border.

Recipe:

CORN TAMALES

TAMALES DE ELOTE

Corn tamales or tamales de elote are only

seasonal and not very well known, even amongst

Mexican-Americans from other regions of the state. In

our family we always look forward to the corn season

so we can make these delicious corn tamales.

Field corn is the best corn to use, it tends to make

better masa*. The sweet corn makes for a more liquid

masa.

2 dozen ears of corn

2 cups melted vegetable shortening

1 cup melted butter

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

corn husks

Take one ear of corn at a time and place on cutting

board. With a sharp knife cut the ends of the ear. Peel

off the rough outer husk and discard. In a sink of

lukewarm water place the soft inner husks. Pull off all

excess cornsilk of ears of corn and set aside. After

cleaning all ears of corn, place ear on its end and with

the sharp knife scrape the kernels of the ear. When

you accumulate a good amount, place in a large bowl.

After scraping all the ears, liquefy the kernels in a

blender, one cup at a time. If you need to pour a little

bit of the melted butter & shortening, do so. Pour

liquefied corn in a bowl and repeat until all kernels are

done. Add melted butter and shortening, sugar, and

salt and mix into a masa. Take corn husks and place

masa into the husk and roll into a tamale. Repeat until

all masa is gone. Place upright in a steamer pot and

cook for about 20 to 25 minutes or until done. Makes

about 3 to 4 dozen. Enjoy.

*masa = dough

Book:
El Mesquite by Elena Zamora O-shay (Zamora’s daughter)

Join host David Flores and Subject Matter Expert Homero Vera (Editor/Publisher of El Mesteño Magazine) as they dig into the story of Rancho Los Braziles, a place in north-central Brooks County that has been in continuous operation for nearly 150 years. In this episode, you will learn about:

• The Founding: The journey of Don José Anastacio Barrera, who crossed the river from Cd. Mier, Tamaulipas, to the Republic of Texas to establish the ranch on May 7, 1878, after buying 1,100 acres for 250 pesos.
• The Legacy: How the Barrera family, who trace their roots to the founding of Mier in 1753, endured a severe drought in the 1890s through hospitality and familia, eventually going from sheep and goats back to raising cattle.
• The Brand: The two theories behind the ranch's unique fierro (brand) shaped like the sole of a shoe (suela de un zapato): a nod to Anastacio's sons, Placido and Manuel, who were legendary trackers (rastreadores), or a reference to the leaf of the native Brazil tree that gives the ranch its name.
• South Texas Grit: The story of the ranch's longevity, from its humble land deal to being honored by the Texas Department of Agriculture in 1987 for 100 years of service.

Recipe Segment: Leche Quemada Dulce

Book Segment: The Woman Who Lost Her Soul: And Other Stories by Jovita Gonzalez, published in 2006 by Arte Público Press

Episode 13: The Legacy of Don Esteban Cisneros and Doña Eulalia Tijerina de Cisneros
Dive into the history of South Texas with the story of Don Esteban Cisneros and Doña Eulalia Tijerina de Cisneros, a powerful couple whose legacy stretches from Victoria down to the Rio Grande Valley. Host David Flores and Homero Vera of El Mesteño Magazine explore Esteban’s life as a pioneer and leading stockman from one of the original 41 families in the Martín De León colony.

Discover how Eulalia, an heir to a massive land grant, established the resilient Rancho La Atravesada. Learn about their battles against Anglo vigilantes and Eulalia’s landmark legal victory against Mifflin Kenedy after he fenced in her property. Finally, hear the modern story of how their great-grandson, Dr. Carlos Canales, had their remains moved to the Premont Cemetery to honor their fierce Mesteño spirit.

Episode 12: The Mercy of the Mesa: Francita Alavez, The Angel of Goliad
Welcome back to the El Mesteño podcast! Host David Flores and editor/publisher Homero Vera dig deep into a true South Texas story of courage and compassion during the heat of the Texas Revolution.
This week, we uncover the incredible life of Francita Alavez, known to history as "The Angel of Goliad," an unsung heroine who showed humanity when the world was at war.
In 1836, Francita arrived in Texas, accompanying Captain Telésforo Alavez. Her first recorded act of mercy occurred at Copano Bay when she convinced Mexican soldiers to loosen the cords binding captured Texian volunteers.
The real test came at Presidio La Bahía. While the tragedy of the Goliad Massacre unfolded, Francisca was a light in the darkness, providing prisoners with food and water. She is credited with saving over 20 men and boys from execution by hiding them or helping them escape the firing squads.
The mystery of her identity—from Francita Alavez to Francisca Alvarez—is solved years later on the King Ranch. Homero Vera shares the story of how Doña Panchita's secret life was uncovered in 1936 through the memoirs of Elena Zamora O’Shea, revealing a heroine who is now said to be buried in an unmarked grave on the ranch.
Tune in for this powerful reminder that our heritage is built on compasión, not just generals.

Venture into the gritty, dangerous, and often misunderstood era of Los Tequileros on El Mesteño*Podcast Episode 11. Host David Flores and *El Mesteño* Magazine Publisher Homero Vera explore how ordinary South Texas ranch *vaqueros* became alcohol smugglers in response to the 1920 Volstead Act (Prohibition).

Discover the geography of the dangerous tequila trails that snaked from the Rio Grande (between Zapata and Los Ebanos) toward the hub in San Diego, Texas. They also discuss the lethal conflict between the tequileros and law enforcement like the Texas Rangers, and how corridos such as "Los de Parás" and "Los Tequileros" preserved the tragic stories of this period in Mexican-American history.

Books:

Border Contraband By George T. Díaz https://a.co/d/0jf3Qbfo

Rain of Gold by Victor Villaseñor https://a.co/d/0fCNFdqX

Music:

Rumbo Al' Anaqua, Rosa Canales Perez & Joe Perez https://www.youtube.com/@rumboalanacua09

Welcome to El Mesteño as host David Flores and editor Homero Vera dive deep into the life of Don Pedrito Jaramillo, "The Healer of Los Olmos". Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, around 1830, this legendary curandero or faith healer settled near Los Olmos Creek in Texas in 1881. He was regarded as a saintly figure by thousands who believed God gave him the don (power) to heal the sick.
The episode explores oral histories detailing his humble life in a jacal and his famously "odd" remedies, like curing a mentally ill ranch hand with sleeves sewn onto a vest or stopping a baby's crying with water from a mud puddle. You'll also learn about his complex relationship with the Catholic Church, including his significant $1,500.00 donation for "La Campana" (The Bell) of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Falfurrias. Discover why, over a century later, his influence is still felt, and his Shrine and Texas Historical Marker are visited in Los Olmos, Brooks County.

On this episode of the El Mesteño podcast, Host David Flores and Subject Matter Expert Homero Vera explore the life of Catarino Erasmo Garza, the journalist, folk hero, and revolutionary who bridged the gap between "the pen and the sword".
The episode dives into the late 19th-century borderlands—a cultural and political battleground—where Garza forged his revolutionary spirit in the print shops and ranchos of South Texas. Learn how Garza moved from founding newspapers like El Bien Público and El Comercio Mexicano to fearlessly criticizing Mexican President Porfirio Díaz and local Texas authorities in his paper, El Libre Pensador. His status as a defender of the Mexican people solidified after a shootout during the Rio Grande City Riot of 1888.
The discussion moves to the "Garza War," which began on September 15, 1891. Garza led about 26 armed men, known as the "Libres Fronterizos" (Free Bordermen), across the Rio Grande to launch a revolution. Their "Plan Revolucionario" declared that the Díaz government was plagued by "frightful corruption" and called for the people to rise up against dictatorship.
Discover how the mobile conflict forced the U.S. and Mexican armies to cooperate until pressure from the Texas Rangers and U.S. Army forced Garza to flee Texas by 1892. Garza’s legacy is preserved as a precursor to the great Mexican Revolution of 1910, who used the power of the press to fight for civil rights and dignity on the border.

On this episode, Host David Flores and Subject Matter Expert Homero Vera dive into the history of Duval County to celebrate the legendary Anastacio B. Saenz—or "Tacho"—and his equine empire at Rancho Mesquite Bonito. Tacho was a true pioneer of the American Quarter Horse, with four of his horses (Ace of Hearts II, Leonell, Little Pancho, and Saenz) listed in the A.Q.H.A. Foundation Sire Registry.1Discover how Mesquite Bonito became a center for high-stakes carreras de caballos (horse races) and international business, attracting Mexican Generals who crossed the border to buy his prized stock. Learn about the sale of the horse Leonell to General Miguel Acosta for a dineral ($1,000) in 1928, and Tacho’s influential sale of Ace of Hearts II to Bill Warren, who would become the first president of the American Quarter Horse Association.

The episode also tracks the family legacía (legacy) back to Tacho’s uncle, Agapito Saenz, who set the stage for racing in the region. Hear the incredible story of Agapito’s 1911 journey to secure a $600 racehorse from Seguin, Texas, which was delivered over 150 miles on foot through the brush country. It’s a nostalgic and proud look at the dedication of the pioneers whose efforts continue to shape the world of racing today.