ENTERTAINMENT

“Do whatever you need to do to have a project of which we can all be proud,” Telemundo President Joaquin Blaya told Luis Avalos. Based on a true incident from Avalos’ childhood, “El Regalo de Paquito” (“Paquito’s Gift”) is a Spanish-language television special that he starred in, wrote, produced and directed. It is the warm story of a Latino boy’s journey in finding the true meaning of Christmas. The opportunity “opens the possibilities for other Latinos to present their works,” Avalos said. He will go on location this month to Texas to play a faith healer in the Old West for the upcoming CBS series “Plum Creek.” “El Regalo de Paquito” will be aired on the Telemundo network and can be seen on KVEA-TV, Channel 52, on Dec. 13 at 8 p.m.

Cheech Marin, who co-stars in the CBS series “Golden Palace,” has recorded a children’s album, “My Name is Cheech, the School Bus Driver.” The educational and entertaining family recording marks the first foray into children’s entertainment for the entertainer who shared a Grammy for Cheech & Chong’s “Los Cochinos” album. A humorously illustrated lyric booklet accompanies the English and Spanish versions of the album.

Singer and composer Carlo de la Cima will represent the United States in the International OTI Song Festival in Valencia, Spain, on Dec. 5. De la Cima won the Los Angeles and then the national competition with his song “No Te Mueras America.” De La Cima recorded his first song at age 13 in his native Peru. Since then, he has recorded several albums and travels to Puerto Rico regularly to host his TV show, “Jueves de Bohemia.” De La Cima will be competing with singers from 22 countries for a $50,000 prize. Yuri, Lissette, Nydia Caro, Ednita Nazario and other singers have participated in the competition, which was created in 1972 by the Organizacion de la Television Iberoamericana to promote original musical composition. The OTI festival will be broadcast by Univision starting at 10:30 p.m.

“I am no more than a simple troubadour,” says Mexican singer-composer Armando Manzanero. His works have been translated into many languages and recorded by artists such as Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. But Manzanero’s respect and admiration for other composers has led to his recording “Las Canciones que Quise Escribir” (“The Songs I Wanted to Write”), in which he interprets melodies from other great composers, including Agustin Lara and Carlos Gardel. In this BMG recording, Manzanero, perhaps best known for the favorite “It’s Impossible,” offers ballads such as “Solamente una vez,” “El reloj” and “El dia que me quieras.”