Honors San Lorenzo and the Bronx The Noche Jíbara/Guayabera Gala has been held annually as the gala night to usher in Fiesta Boricua. This event seeks to honor the invited town from Puerto Rico showcasing the theme “Lo Mejor de Nuestros Pueblos”- San Lorenzo for 2014. This year it will be the municipality of San Lorenzo. Additionally, we have added a new theme to this year’s 21st Fiesta Boricua, “Lo Mejor de Nuestros Barrios” and, to represent that, we have selected The Bronx, New York. The Gala will be held in the courtyard of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, located at 3015 W. Division St. For a $50 donation, participants will be able to enjoy Puerto Rican food, live music and two drinks. San Lorenzo Will Represent “Lo Mejor de Nuestros Pueblos” The municipality of San Lorenzo, which has a population of 41,000 residents and is located in the eastern center part of Puerto Rico, was selected to represent the 21st Fiesta Boricua theme “Lo Mejor de Nuestros Pueblos”. Geographically, it is comprised of 10 barrios (districts). Its bountiful hospitality has earned it the recognition as the town of “El Buen Samaritano” (The Good Samaritan). A delegation from San Lorenzo, headed by its mayor, the honorable José “Joe” Román Abreu, will be honored at Noche Jíbara. Mayor Román Abreu has instituted a creative participatory democracy project to address the municipalities’ socio-economic problems entitled “Revolución Social”. During the Gala, two of the town’s most outstanding musical groups, Trío Rafaelito Muñoz and Conjunto Típico Decimania, will provide live musical entertainment. A sampling of the town’s artisanry will be on display and for sale. The Bronx Will Represent “Lo Mejor de Nuestros Barrios” The Bronx, New York is often associated with the promise and challenges of the Puerto Rican Diaspora. Some of New York’s most prominent Puerto Rican personalities have come from The Bronx including the creators of Puerto Rican Salsa, as well as other cultural icons. This year’s Fiesta Boricua will feature Herman Olivera “… considered by many as one of the very few soneros left in the true salsa genre”, a highly talented singer who has accompanied the likes of the legendary Eddie Palmieri. He will be accompanied by The Bronx’s very own Giovanni “Yova” Rodríguez. A delegation from the Bronx, including the Latino political pioneer State Assemblyman José Rivera, will represent “Lo Mejor de Nuestros Barrios” theme of the 21st Fiesta Boricua. |