The two have so much passion for their culture because of how they were raised and where they are from.
“My Hispanic heritage is my foundation,” Tapia shared. “It represents resilience, strength, culture, and pride in where I come from. I was born in Puerto Rico, on the island that radiates light and culture through the sound of the ocean waves, the coquí at night, the breeze through the palm trees, and the singing and dancing to bomba and plena.”
“Being Puerto Rican is a huge part of who I am,” Marcano explained. “My heritage connects me to my family, my culture and the island that shaped so much of my identity. I had the honor of playing softball for Puerto Rico, which was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Representing my culture on the field reminded me of the pride, resilience, and passion that comes with being Hispanic.”
While Puerto Rico holds a very special place in their hearts, Buffalo quickly became a loving home for them. The Bills also quickly became their favorite team.
“I came to Buffalo at age 12 in the spring of 1992, when Jim Kelly was quarterback,” Tapia said. “At first, I didn’t know much about football, but by that winter I understood what it meant to be a Bills fan. I’ll never forget hearing “The Bills Make Me Want to Shout” on Kiss 98.5 after a touchdown, my mom, brother, and I danced in our living room like lifelong fans.”