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Lorain’s Boricua
Festival celebrates Puerto Rican traditions
By Ingrid Marie Rivera, La Prensa Correspondent
LORAIN: “La tierra de Borinquen, donde he nacido yo, es un
jardín florido de mágico primor...”
A taste of Puerto Rico’s rich traditions - its music, food and
culture – were all celebrated in South Lorain this past weekend
when the local Puerto Rican Home Club hosted its 14th
annual Boricua Festival and 4th annual Puerto Rican
Parade, Sept. 16-17, 2011.
The festival featured a Latino Art show and silent auction,
folkloric music and dance by Julia de Burgos’ dance group
Isla del Encanto, raffles, domino games and a Talent Show
Saturday. Roughly 100 people attended the club Friday, said
Julie Ortiz, the club’s secretary.
Dozens of people lined up to watch the parade Saturday
afternoon, many carrying Puerto Rican flags or displaying their
Puerto Rican pride on T-shirts, hats and banners. The parade
welcomed floats filled with artists performing the cherished
music of the island.
Grupo Los Maximos, a reggaeton group from Lorain,
performed their original song “Puerto Rico” atop El BoriMex
club’s float. One group marched and chanted “Stop deportations.
Keep families together.” Like any Puerto Rican parade, there
were no shortage of a variety of cars, trucks and motorcycles.
Some spectators wondered why there was a Puerto Rican parade and
not a Mexican parade in South Lorain on Sept. 16 – Mexico’s
Independence Day. But for the Santiago family watching the
parade, the day was a double special treat. Marylou Ornelas
watched the parade near Pearl Avenue with her daughter Emily
Santiago, 8, daughter, Gabriela Santiago, 11, and son, Pedro
Santiago, 13. They are proud of both their Puerto Rican and
Mexican heritage. The Santiagos’ three cousins including Jayden
Santiago Ott, 9, joined them, and they were waiting for more
family to turnout for the parade. Emily, Gabriela, Pedro and
Jayden said they would love to learn more Spanish and visit
their Puerto Rico and Mexico someday, and listed their favorite
ethnic foods.
Among their Puerto Rican favorite dishes they listed rice,
pernil (pork) and alcapurrias; among their Mexican dishes:
tacos, they said in unison.
And that is the festival’s exact purpose: to teach and
reacquaint both the young and old with their Puerto Rican
culture, in addition to serving as the home’s main fundraiser.
Evelyn Vásquez, one organizer for this year’s pageant for
the Puerto Rican home, said she wants the young to learn their
culture.
Eight girls are competing in the 2011 pageant. Running for Miss
Chiquitita are Nahivelys Marrero and Ajaysha Quiñones;
Running for Princesa are Nadia García and María
Pedraza; and Running for Reina are Quirena Olivencia,
Rose Sánchez, Jaileene Sánchez, and Bianca Cruz.
The 5th annual pageant will take place Oct. 8, 2011
at the home, and will feature a talent portion.
“The girls are doing so well. They are learning about their
culture, learning dances of Plena and Bomba,
learning how to speak Spanish,” Vásquez said.
She added that she wanted to thank the previous organizer of the
pageant, Nidia Silva. “She did a wonderful job for the
last four years.”
Nidia Silva and her husband, Juan Silva, former President
of the Puerto Rican Home, had organized the Boricua Festival for
many years. This year, the Puerto Rican Home welcomed a change
in leadership. Its new officers include President Mon Rivera,
Vice President Million Medina, Treasurer Rosie García,
and Secretary Julie Ortiz. Juan Silva previously said it
was time for him to step aside from his leadership position but
that he would continue to help the Latino community in other
ways.
Richard Romero,
magazine editor and writer, joined the Puerto Rican Home’s
leaders and helped provide funds for the festival’s
entertainment this year. Romero said he wants to help the ethnic
clubs. “Many ethnic clubs are closing up because they can’t
survive in this economy,” Romero said “A lot of people don’t
have the opportunity to go to Puerto Rico, so let’s bring the
culture to them,” he said.
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To see video coverage of the Puerto Rican Parade log onto La
Prensa’s YouTube Page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/LaPrensaWeekly
In honor of Puerto Rico, here is its National Anthem, Himno
Nacional de Puerto Rico,
“La Borinqueña.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds8txCOwLuc
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La tierra de Borinquen
donde he nacido yo
es un jardín florido
de mágico primor.
Un cielo siempre nítido
le sirve de dosel
y dan arrullos plácidos
las olas a sus
pies.
Cuando a sus playas llegó Colón
exclamó lleno de admiración:
"Oh!, oh!, oh!, ésta es la linda tierra
que busco yo."
Es Borinquen la hija,
la hija del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol. |
The land of Borinquen
where I have been born
is a flowery garden
of magical beauty.
A constantly clear sky
serves as its canopy
and placid lullabies are sung
by the waves at its feet.
When at her beaches Columbus arrived
full of awe he exclaimed,
"Oh!, oh!, oh!, this is the lovely land
that I seek."
Borinquen is the daughter,
the daughter of the sea and the sun.
Of the sea and the sun,
of the sea and the sun,
of the sea and the sun,
of the sea and the sun. |
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