Mana honored as Latin Grammys' Person of the Year

Mexican rock band Mana became the first group ever to be honored as the Latin Recording Academy's Person of the Year Wednesday, when its four members were recognized during a star-studded tribute concert for their creative accomplishments and philanthropic efforts.

Lead vocalist Fher Olvera, drummer Alex González, guitarist Sergio Vallín and bass player Juan Calleros received a crystal trophy before artists, industry leaders and others in an event the day before the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.

"Mana is a band that has given its all always — heart and soul," Olvera said on stage before recalling the band's humble beginnings and the years in which they all slept in a van. "We were working a lot, a lot, a lot until we reached what we have been sowing... . We never thought, for example, that we were going to play in Israel or that we were going to be playing two years ago in the White House."

Fher Olvera, from left, Alex Gonzalez, Juan Calleros and Sergio Vallin, of Mana, appear on stage after performing at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

More than a dozen Latin artists honored the band with renditions of its greatest hits. Gilberto Santa Rosa sang a salsa version of "Bendita tu Luz," Pablo Alborán performed a pop rendition of "Rayando el Sol," and Pepe Aguilar accompanied by the Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández interpreted "Mariposa Traicionera."

The academy bestowed the honor on the band for its achievements and contributions to the Latin community and support of environmental protection and human rights causes.

Mana has highlighted environmental, social, political and human rights issues for more than 30 years through its songs, concerts and, more recently, social media. It has also promoted the Latino vote in the U.S. and has denounced what it deems as social injustices in countries such as Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia.

Fher Olvera, of Mana, performs at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Olvera on Monday visited a temporary shelter in the Mexican state of Jalisco where members of a caravan of Central Americans attempting to reach the U.S. border were resting. He offered them words of encouragement and sang "Rayando el Sol" y "El Muelle de San Blas."

"I went to see them. We've been supporting the immigrants here in the United States for more than 20 years," Olvera said. "At the end of the day, we are brothers, we are human beings... We shouldn't be afraid of them... I told them be careful. I saw babies, I saw children. It was sad, but they have a lot of hope."

González added that the immigrants wouldn't be on this journey "if there wasn't so much corruption in the countries they're coming from."

Fher Olvera, of Mana, performs at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

"Nobody wants to leave their country," González said on the red carpet. "These people are running away from a lot of very drastic situations. It's a humanitarian crisis, but we have to help these people one way or another. Yes, it's illegal to enter a country, but as Fher says, brothers and sisters, humanitarian crisis, we have to help them."

The band established the nonprofit Fundación Ecológica Selva Negra in 1996. It works to preserve endangered species, offers educational programs on the environment and organizes community development projects.

Mana has won six Latin Grammys and four Grammys and has released more than 48 No. 1 hits worldwide. The group has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Fher Olvera, of Mana, performs at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

The band wrapped up the night with "Labios Compartidos" and "Clavado en un Bar."

"People like you are the ones who make it possible for this industry to keep moving," Aguilar told the band. "Thank you for your professionalism."

Previous recipients of the honor include Shakira, Ricky Martin, Carlos Santana, Miguel Bose and Plácido Domingo.

Gabriel Abaroa, president and CEO of the Latin Recording Academy, right, looks on as Fher Olvera accepts the Person of the Year award on behalf of Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

The Latin Grammy Awards will be presented Thursday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show will be broadcast live beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on Univision.

Beatriz Luengo, left, and La Marisoul, of La Santa Cecilia, perform "Corazon Espinado" at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Pablo Alboran performs "Rayando el Sol" at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Pablo Alboran performs "Rayando el Sol" at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Guillermo Galvan, left, and Pucho, of Vetusta Morla, perform "Cuando Los Angeles Lloran" at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Pepe Aguilar performs "Mariposa Traicionera" at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Vetusta Morla performs "Cuando Los Angeles Lloran" at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Enrique Bunbury performs "Vivir Sin Aire" at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

Enrique Bunbury performs "Vivir Sin Aire" at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala honoring Mana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo by Chris PizzelloInvisionAP)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A $8 billion defense package approved by the U.S. House of Representatives over the weekend will “strengthen the deterrence against authoritarianism in the West Pacific ally chain,” Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te said Tuesday, in a reference to key rival China.

The funding will also “help ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and also boost confidence in the region” Lai, currently Taiwan’s vice president, told visiting Michigan Representatives Lisa McClain, a Republican, and Democrat Dan Kildee at a meeting at the Presidential Office Building in the capital Taipei.

In the face of “authoritarian expansionism,” Taiwan is “determined to safeguard democracy and also safeguard our homeland," Lai said.

Also known as William Lai, U.S.-educated former medical researcher is despised by Beijing for his opposition to political unification with the mainland. In recent elections, the pro-unification Nationalists won a narrow majority in the legislature, but their influence on foreign policy and other national issues remains limited.

The Senate will vote Tuesday on $95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

The package covers a wide range of parts and services aimed at maintaining and and upgrading Taiwan's military hardware. Separately, Taiwan has signed billions in contracts with the U.S. for latest-generation F-16V fighter jets, M1 Abrams main battle tanks and the HIMARS rocket system, which the U.S. has also supplied to Ukraine.

Taiwan has also been expanding its own defense industry, building submarines and trainer jets. Next month it plans to commission its third and fourth domestically designed and built stealth corvettes to counter the Chinese navy. as part of a strategy of asymmetrical warfare in which a smaller force counters its larger opponent by using cutting edge or nonconventional tactics and weaponry.

Lai, of the pro-independence ruling Democratic Progressive Party, won the January election handily and takes over next month from President Tsai Ing-wen, whom Beijing has sought to isolate for the past eight years.

China is determined to annex the island, which it considers its own territory, by force if necessary and has been advertising that threat with daily incursions into waters and air space around Taiwan by navy ships and warplanes. It has also sought to pick away Taiwan's few remaining formal diplomatic partners.

While Washington and Taipei have no formal diplomatic ties in deference to Beijing, McClain emphasized the need for the entire world to observe the strength of the relationship.

“Peace is our goal. But to do that, we have to have relationships and we value your relationship. Not only militarily, but economically,” she said.

Kildee said the timing of the visit was especially significant given the recent passage of the funding bill to “provide very important support to insure security in this region.”

"It’s important for the people of Taiwan, it’s important for the people in the United States, it’s important for the entire world,” Kildee said.

In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, from left Mark Alford, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, U.S. Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee, Lisa McClain, secretary-general of the Republican Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives meets with Taiwan President-elect and Vice President Lai Ching-te in Taipei, Taiwan on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. McClain and Kildee jointly led a cross-party group of lawmakers to visit Taiwan from April 23 to 25 . Members also include Mark Alford, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Mark Alford, center left, a member of the House Armed Services Committee shakes hands with Taiwan President-elect and Vice President Lai Ching-te in Taipei, Taiwan on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Lisa McClain, secretary-general of the Republican Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives and Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee jointly led a cross-party group of lawmakers to visit Taiwan from April 23 to 25 . Members also include Mark Alford, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, U.S. Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee, left, meets with Taiwan President-elect and Vice President Lai Ching-te in Taipei, Taiwan on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Kildee and Lisa McClain, secretary-general of the Republican Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives jointly led a cross-party group of lawmakers to visit Taiwan from April 23 to 25 . Members also include Mark Alford, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Lisa McClain, left, secretary-general of the Republican Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives meets with Taiwan President-elect and Vice President Lai Ching-te in Taipei, Taiwan on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. McClain and Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee jointly led a cross-party group of lawmakers to visit Taiwan from April 23 to 25 . Members also include Mark Alford, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Lisa McClain, left, secretary-general of the Republican Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives meets with Taiwan President-elect and Vice President Lai Ching-te in Taipei, Taiwan on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. McClain and Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee jointly led a cross-party group of lawmakers to visit Taiwan from April 23 to 25 . Members also include Mark Alford, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)