Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism.
With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Unfortunately, few people are aware of a unique event that occurred the night before the famous battle of May 5, 1862 in Puebla, Mexico. A secret plan was developed among the Mexican troops that night led by General Jose Cojones Del Toro. Knowing that the superior French troops would surely advance upon the city the next day , General Del Toro ordered every whore in town to report immediately to his base camp on the night of May 4th 1862. Dozens of cases of potent Tequila were also brought in by burro caravan. This patriotic squadron of "Putas" and donkeys bravely prepared to carry out their secret mission, to infiltrate the camp of French troops and seduce and inebriate them into a state of debauched exhaustion.
Del Toro's plan was to create a weakened enemy for the following day's battle and his plan worked to perfection. With the exception of a few French troops who had no interest in women and a few donkeys who were tragically taken by the French as War Brides, everything went as planned and the outcome of the next morning's battle was a glorious victory for Mexico. This little known episode in Mexican history has since been known as "La Noche de Tequilas y Putas."
On May 4th, 2002, at Mr. T's Bowl in Highland Park, L. A. Cacophony Society & PsychoWorks hosted a night of music, drinks, and south of the border entertainment for Paisanos and Gringos alike.
-- Al Pastor
