On Friday, September 4, 2015, the Puerto Rican Cultural Center hosted Noche Jibara/ Guayabera Gala at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Humboldt Park. The gala was the official kick off for the 22nd Fiesta Boricua on Saturday, September 5 thru Sunday September 6, 2015 at Paseo Boricua. The Gala not only celebrates the launch of Fiesta Boricua but it is also the opportunity to welcome the delegation from the City of Cayey, Puerto Rico; as well as its’ Mayor, the Honorable Rolando Ortiz Velázquez. This year Fiesta Boricua was dedicated to Cayey and its’ cultural legacy.
Sandra Candelaria, Women for PASEO Program Director and her staff members (Daisy Jiménez, Sylvia Correa, and Maya Lozano) organized the Gala. Women for PASEO appreciates the hard work and commitment from the following staff members for helping make the Noche Jibara/Guayabera Gala a successful event. We acknowledge the excellent work and volunteer efforts from: Geniz Hernández, Viola Salgado, Lourdes Lugo, Shirley Payton and Raúl Maldonado (PRCC), Joshua Stern, Carlos Ruiz Jr, and Virginia Boyle (PACHS), Jonathan Contreras and Gregory Rueda (Integrated PASEO), Leo Lavender, Gustavo Varela, Pedro Mercado (Vida/SIDA), Luz Ramos, Digna Gerena, M Echevarria and various El Rescate residents (El Rescate), Alma Moreno (Centro Infantil), and Tatiana. We are also grateful to the staff from the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture for their much-appreciated assistance. The PRCC is extremely happy to recognize and thank the following sponsors for their generous food/beverage donations: Eddie’s Café, Roeser’s Bakery, La Bomba Restaurant, Jaffa Bakery, and Revolution Brewery.
By Sandra Candelaria
