Tuesday, September 30, 2008

PR Gubernatorial Debate Tomorrow Night

Politics

WAPA TV in Puerto Rico is televising live the first debate among the four candidates running for governor of Puerto Rico. The debate in Spanish will be at 8 p.m. tomorrow. Stateside subscribers of WAPA America will also get to see the debate live from Puerto Rico.

To check out the debate online and for more information, go to www.wapa.tv.

Meanwhile, for those interested in Puerto Rico politics, make sure to vote in PRSUN's unofficial poll for Puerto Rico governor right here at www.prsun.blogspot.com.

Monday, September 29, 2008

At the end of the day


At the end of the day
Originally uploaded by haymaco.
Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by haymaco.

Mysterious and beautiful 'end of day.'

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Friday, September 26, 2008

Thursday, September 25, 2008

'Nuestras Abuelas' Exhibit in Massachusetts


Our art

The Nuestras Abuelas Project was launched in December 2007 in La Prensa of Western Massachusetts, a monthly bilingual newspaper founded by boricua Natalia Muñoz. Each month La Prensa runs a full page with pictures and text of a grandmother from Latin America. During September-October, the entire collection of photographs, creative text and personal objects will be presented together in exhibits at the Westfield and Holyoke Libraries.

The Nuestras Abuelas exhibition at UMASS, curated by Noemí E. Valentín, Waleska Santiago and Muñoz, is a celebration of the legacy of our grandmothers’ struggles, responsibility, work, and love through the eyes of their granddaughters. Focusing on the Latina and Puerto Rican women’s experience, the exhibit gives a glimpse of the world and times in which they lived, which today serve to inspire and motivate us.


Opening reception for the exhibit
Tomorrow, 5-7 p.m.
Free
Central Gallery
UMASS, Amherst
Music by Lorena Garay

The Nuestras Abuelas exhibit opens today and will run through October 25.

For more information,
http://www.umass.edu/fac/calendar/central/events/NuestrasAbuelas.html

(photo courtesy of Nuestras Abuelas Project)

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

PRSUN Featured @ Briz

Hey gente, check out Puerto Rico Sun Communications at www.briz.com, a community for small businesses.

PRSUN is a featured business on the site's homepage today, I just learned.

Support independent community media. -- Clarisel

Tuesday, September 23, 2008



Originally uploaded by Moliniano.
Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by Moliniano. Image depicts a protest at UPR.

'¡Alabanza! Corretjer' in El Barrio



Community calendar


Saludos,
For those who are interested in purchasing tickets for the ¡Alabanza! Corretjer event. Tickets are now available @ Camaradas El Barrio
2241 First Avenue/115th Street
El Barrio, Manhattan
212-348-2703
Or you can e-mail me and I will make the necessary arrangements to get them to you.

Gracias,
Sery Colón
Agüeybaná Productions
serycolon@aol.com


(Click on image to see larger text.)

Monday, September 22, 2008

CIRCA Puerto Rico 09

Opportunity

The First International Art Fair in the Caribbean
San Juan, Puerto Rico (Fourth Edition)

CIRCA PR 09, fourth edition of the premier
international art fair in the Caribbean and Central America, will be
held from April 17 - April 20, 2009 at the new Puerto Rico Convention
Center in San Juan.

To download application form, go to http://www.circapr.com

For additional information, please write to us at: info@circapr.com.

Deadline for all applications Circa Puerto Rico 09: November 10

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Sports Spotlight: Boxing's Melissa 'Huracan' Hernandez


Bronxite Melissa Hernandez is known in the boxing world as “Huracan,” Spanish for hurricane.
This boricua boxer made history earlier this month in Las Vegas, winning her third world title belt, the vacant Women's International Boxing Association's super featherweight crown.
She defeated Elsa Nuñez, scoring a unanimous 10-round decision. This is the latest addition to her titles. Hernandez is also the winner of the International Female Boxing Association’s Super Bantamweight title and the Global Boxing Union’s Female Lightweight Title.
Described as fiery, highly entertaining, and confident, Hernandez says she loves the challenge of the sport.
"I am pound for pound one of the best female boxers in the world and I don’t want to just talk about it," she says. "I want to show it. In New York City, I am without a doubt the best female boxer, and I want to prove that I am the best wherever I go."
She now holds a title in three different divisions, which is a real accomplishment in the boxing world. If she were a male boxer, she would probably be a millionaire and more of a household name.
Based on her number of titles alone, she joins her fellow Puerto Rican male boxers Wilfredo Benitez, Wilfredo Gomez, Hector Camacho, Felix Trinidad, and Wilfredo Vazquez who have won three or more division titles.
Hernandez, who was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and raised in the Bronx, says she always "wanted to be up there with all the great Puerto Rican boxing champions from the past."
Although boxing is a male-dominated sport, Hernandez believes there is a market for female boxers. She is outspoken about the need for the sport to be fairer to female boxers.
"Women boxers get the short end of the stick all the time cause promoters feel women have a set pay already," she says. "For example, women don’t get that much for title fights. The men get well you up to millions. The women don’t."
But this does not deter Hernandez's love for the sport.
Her family is not crazy that she's a boxer because "they don't want me hurt."
Still, Hernandez is never really outside the ring.
“Things I like to do when I’m not boxing is training my fighters," she says. "I have a stable of fighters from amateurs to world champions at the famed Gleason’s Gym. Crazy thing about me is I eat, sleep and box."
On her spare time, she enjoys spending time at home with her family and friends.
"My home girl Belinda Laracuente, also a boxing champion, often times comes over to help out with the cooking, where we often share recipes," she says. "Nice place to relax when I don’t have a fight coming up. Everyone comes to the house to get the best Latino cooking in town." -- Ismael Nuñez

Ismael Nuñez is a freelance writer based in East Harlem who contributes his writings to Puerto Rico Sun.

(photo courtesy of Melissa Hernandez)

Friday, September 19, 2008

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

OPEN to feature PRSUN


Bronxnet @ Rincon Criollo
Originally uploaded by clarisel
Tune in to OPEN this Friday
10 a.m. Channel 67, Bronxnet, a community media outlet in the Bronx


Host Rhina Valentin interviews me on the Puerto Rico Sun and Bronx Latino projects I run.
-- Clarisel

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

'Buscando Nuestras Raices' Photo Exhibit

Community calendar

6:30 p.m., Thursday, September 18
Opening Reception - Buscando Nuestras Raices With Comité Noviembre in Puerto Rico .
A photo exhibition by Elena "Mamarazzi" Marrero and Luis Cordero
Free
Cemi Underground in NYC's El Barrio
For more information, www.cemiunderground.com.

Alarm clock


Alarm clock
Originally uploaded by arturodonate.
Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by arturodonate who says, "This little guy will make sure to wake you up every morning like it was his job!"

I miss the wake up call
.

Monday, September 15, 2008

@ Fiesta de Flores


IMG_0381
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
La Bruja performs at La Fiesta de Flores yesterday at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. For more photos of my day at the Fiesta de Flores, go to
www.flickr.com/photos/clarisel

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Obama, McCain and Boricuas

National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights Challenges Presidential Candidates to Address Critical Issues Affecting Puerto Ricans

The National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights (NCPRR), a civil rights organization that addresses issues of racial equality, environmental justice and economic parity, has written to presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama seeking a dialogue with the Puerto Rican community on the candidates’ positions and ideas for Puerto Ricans in the United States.

The letter reads in part, “(t)he Puerto Rican community,…has struggled to unite and set a course that will define our people in terms of respect, dignity and prosperity. Despite the evidence of our condition, Puerto Ricans continue to lack equal voting rights, adequate economic opportunities or equal protection of the law.”

In the letter, the NCPRR asks candidates their strategies to advance the living standards and civil rights of Puerto Ricans both in the United States and in Puerto Rico.

“Our community votes and we should know the intentions of candidates whose policies and perspectives will impact the well-being of Puerto Ricans,” said Victor Vazquez-Hernandez, president of the NCPRR. “We want the candidates to provide answers to our community on questions affecting their well-being, and to let us know if either will finally lead the change that will cause the 8,000,000 Puerto Ricans who are citizens of the United States to finally realize equal treatment before the law.”

The letter invites the candidates to collaborate with the NCPRR to develop a means for communication with the Puerto Rican community.

“We are willing to work with the candidates to creatively set up a discussion that will allow our community to understand the candidates’ positions," said Vazquez-Hernandez, a professor of history at Miami Dade College, who is a Vietnam Era veteran and a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). "Our children are also dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we should know what the future will bring from these candidates.”

source: press release from the NCPRR

Atardecer en el Morro II

Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by Petite Photography.

Beautiful Old San Juan sunset shot
.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Flor exotica @ night


Flor exotica @ night
Originally uploaded by verodomica.
Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by verodomica.

Have a great weekend.

In the Mailbox

Don’t miss this opportunity to see three excellent Puerto Rican films. Mr. Morales will be attending. I will also be there to congratulate and thank him. - Miriam Colón Valle


This Friday, September 12th at 6:30 p.m.
Film: ANGEL

Saturday, September 13th at 3 p.m.
Film: LO QUE LE PASO A SANTIAGO

Sunday, September 14th at 4:30 p.m.
Film: LINDA SARA

Walter Read Theater
65 Street between Broadway and Amsterdam, NYC

Admission $11 and $8
For ticket information, www.filmlink.com
Or call 212-875-5600

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Featured story

3 cleared of cruelty in Puerto Rico pet massacre

A Puerto Rican judge on Wednesday found a contractor and two of his workers not guilty of animal cruelty in a highly publicized massacre of dogs and cats seized from a housing project and hurled off a bridge last year.
Following weeks of testimony, Superior Court Judge Miguel Fabre ruled prosecutors did not show sufficient evidence to make a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, telling the court that investigators had no witnesses linking the trio to the pets' deaths in October.
For the complete report, go to
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jnVM28pujsusIu2PeX7-zhySk87AD9347V080


Editor's note: How shameful. I can't believe these workers were cleared in this case.
Generally, Puerto Rico must do a better job at caring for its animals and send a message to citizens that animal abuse, neglect or abandonment will not be tolerated and that there will be consequences. This poor treatment of island animals is one reason that Puerto Rico Sun has adopted animal rights as a cause.

PRSUN is currently raising $$ through change.org to support the ASPCA. www.change.org/prsun

Hispanic Heritage Month Book Giveaway

For PRSUN Readers





In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct 15), PRSUN is joining forces with Hachette Book Group USA. Hachette has rounded up a collection of its best books that celebrate Hispanic Americans to offer exclusively online to their favorite bloggers and websites to host a free Hispanic Heritage Book Giveaway.

PRSUN is one of those blogs. PRSUN will select 1-5 winners from the US and Canada only. Each winner will receive one copy of ALL 8 books! PRSUN will select the winners and Hachette will mail the books at no cost to you.

FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

E-mail me your mailing address to prsuncom@yahoo.com. Please remember to send me your full mailing address (no PO Boxes), so Hachette can mail your books if you win.

Good luck.

Exibiendo sus cuernos


Exibiendo sus cuernos
Originally uploaded by Mr.Frankie.
Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by Mr. Frankie.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Community Calendar

Upcoming events at Centro in NYC


September 18
Playing America's Game
A roundtable discussion of Latinos in baseball focused on historical and contemporary issues about race, place, and identity for Afro-Latinos with Prof. Adrian Burgos, University of Illinois and Bernardo Ruiz from Quiet Pictures and winner of the 2008 NCLR ALMA Award(R) for Outstanding Made-for-Television Documentary on Roberto Clemente
6:30-8 p.m.
Faculty Dining Room- Hunter College West Building 8th Floor

September 25
Welcoming Event: In pursuit of Puerto Rican Studies
New Centro Director Edwin Meléndez opens a community dialogue about the current challenges and opportunities in Puerto Rican Studies and shares his vision on Centro's role in the process.
6 p.m.
Lang Theater- Hunter College North Building 4th Floor

Free

For more information about Centro, www.centropr.org

Monday, September 08, 2008

@ the Bx PR Parade Fest


IMG_0329
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
In Sepia -- Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club dancers perform at the Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade Festival yesterday.

For more shots at the festival, go to www.flickr.com/photos/clarisel. (photo by Clarisel Gonzalez)

Patillas, Puerto Rico / El niño y el mar

Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by Oquendo.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Across the bay


Across the bay
Originally uploaded by arturodonate.
Today's featured image from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by arturodonate.

Absolutely beautiful and blue.

Philadelphia Fest Celebrates 25 Years



Feria del Barrio serves as one of Philadelphia 's largest celebrations of Latino music and culture -- the only one celebrated in the heart of the Latino community. Feria del Barrio is a free outdoor festival for the entire family, Latinos and non-Latinos alike, featuring children's activities, arts, crafts, food and some of Latin America's most renowned musical artists.

Come ready to eat your favorite Latino dish, dance to your favorite salsa, bachata or merengue tune, buy your favorite piece of Latino art, hand-crafted jewelry, or book by your favorite Latino authors; get the information you need from local social service agencies, get free medical testing and more. And don't leave the little ones behind because there will be lots of fun, engaging activities for them too in the carnival-like Kid's Corner, including a moon bounce and face painting!

Salsa stars Hector Tricoche and Objetivo Fama winner Marlon Fernandez will perform as well as Marino y su Comando 7 y Naldy y los Hijuelas del Mambo with the sounds of bachata, merengue and bomba groups.

Additionally, every year the Feria del Barrio organizing committee recognizes an individual whose life and work has positively impacted the Latino community.

"As the President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Varsovia Fernandez is a tireless advocate for improving and increasing economic opportunities for Latino business owners in the City of Philadelphia ," said Cesar Santiago, Main Street manager for the Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises. “She has helped increase long-term revenue for her members by millions of dollars, sponsored trade missions to Latin America and strengthened corporate relationships for the benefit of Latino Business Owners."


12:30 -6 p.m. tomorrow
El Centro de Oro
North 5th Street between Lehigh and Cambria Avenues
Philadelphia

For more information about Feria del Barrio or future activities in the Latino community, please contact Yolanda Jiménez Colon at 215.423.6320 or yjcolon@tallerpr.org .

source: Taller PR

Visit Me at Zazzle

Featured shop



A way of supporting the Puerto Rico Sun project is by shopping at PRSUN online stores. Shop features items with my photography.

Thanks.

See you at Zazzle.

Clarisel, www.zazzle.com/prsuncom*




Friday, September 05, 2008

Bronx PR Festival is this Sunday


IMG_7992
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
This Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade young queen Ariana poses with her dad Noel after the parade in May. She is part Chinese and part Puerto Rican. This reportedly is the first time in the parade's history in the Bronx that there is a reigning Chinese/Puerto Rican queen. (photo by Clarisel Gonzalez)

Featured story

Bronx boricuas will finally have their festival this Sunday, months after the Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Here's a link to a Bronx News report titled "Party on My Puerto Rican Friends" that provides more info. on this Sunday's free festival:

http://www.bxnews.net/http%3A__www.bxnews.net_google123462b68effff4c.html/Headlines.html

(See related August 27 entry posted at Bronx Latino at www.bronxlatino.blogspot.com.)
RIP

Puerto Rican novelist Edgardo Vega Yunqué dead at 72

Puerto Rican writer Edgardo Vega Yunqué, who founded the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center in the lower East Side, has died, his literary agent said. He was 72.
The author of 17 novels, who was born in Cidra, Puerto Rico, and lived alone in Brooklyn, died at Lutheran Hospital on Aug. 25, the agent, Tom Colchie, said.
For the news report, go to
http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2008/09/04/2008-09-04_puerto_rican_novelist_edgardo_vega_yunqu.html
Featured video

In case you missed, here's a YouTube video of Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño from Puerto Rico speaking about the environment at the Republican National Convention earlier this week.



Fortuño is running for governor of Puerto Rico under the New Progressive Party (pro-statehood) ticket. He is a Republican and supports the candidacy of Senator John McCain for president and of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for vice president of the United States.
Film

Fundraiser in El Barrio for 'Who is Albizu' Documentary


Here's an excerpt of the synopsis of this documentary:
Albizu is a two-hour documentary poised to revitalize the legacy of Puerto Rico’s most prominent freedom fighter. The film’s unique approach not only captures the personal story of a charismatic leader at the center of a major socio-political conflict; it takes a contemporary look at Pedro Albizu Campo’s invaluable contribution to Puerto Rican identity, culture, and the continued struggle for independence throughout Latin America.

For more information and to watch the trailer, go to www.whoisalbizu.com.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Community Service

Here's an invitation from Hostos.

School groups, community-based organizations, clubs, cultural organizations, senior citizens centers

You are cordially invited to attend

BomPlenazo 2008 in the Bronx

The Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture's

Biennial celebration of Afro-Puerto Rican Culture

October 7-12

Bring your class, group, club or cultural organization to any one of the festival events and we will assign a special CULTURAL GUIDE to greet, brief and accompany you to the event. The guide will give you background information on the artists, the music and dance programs they perform and the social and cultural contexts from which the traditions have come.

The guides are Hostos students who did course work with many of the festival performers and artisans in Loiza during the summer of 2008.

They will be on hand to prepare audiences for performances, answer questions and interpret presentations. This program will provide educators with a tool that will add a special dimension to the festival, making it a more meaningful experience for students. If the event schedule does not suit your schedule please call to make a cultural guide appointment at your convenience.

Don't miss this service! It's free and so is your admission to the events.

For more information or to schedule your group visit, call:

718-518-6631

or email rdelossantos@hostos.cuny.edu

(Editor's Note: Feel free to mention you read this in Puerto Rico Sun.)

Wednesday, September 03, 2008


TV

Rubén Sánchez en directo

CaribeVisión Televisión Networks anunció oficialmente la llegada a la cadena del periodista Rubén Sánchez y el lanzamiento de su nuevo programa televisivo ‘Rubén Sánchez Directo’ que iniciará su transmisión el lunes 8 de septiembre en horario estelar de las 7 p.m en Puerto Rico Canal 24, 11 p.m. en Nueva York Canal 34, y en Miami, Florida a las 12 a.m. por el Canal 48.
‘Rubén Sánchez Directo’ será el primer programa producido totalmente en Puerto Rico por LatinUno y CaribeVisión transmitido desde Puerto Rico hacia Nueva York y Miami.

Para información, www.caribevision.com.

Foto de Rubén Sánchez, cortesía de CaribeVisión

In English: CaribeVision Television Networks officially announced the launching of a new Spanish TV program by journalist Ruben Sanchez titled "Ruben Sanchez Directo," which kicks off Monday, September 8. The show, produced in Puerto Rico, will air at 7 p.m. on Channel 24 in Puerto Rico, 11 p.m. on Channel 34 in New York and at 12 a.m. on Channel 48 in Miami.

La Mina

Today's featured footage from the PRSUN Video group is from RicanGeek.

Monday, September 01, 2008

Personajes de Pueblo: Caimito


Personajes de Pueblo: Caimito
Originally uploaded by Moliniano.
Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by Moliniano. This is part of Moliniano's ongoing "Personajes de Pueblo" series. Check Moliniano's photo site at flickr for more.
Featured story

Many of Puerto Rico's stray, abused pets live in peril

CAROLINA, Puerto Rico - When Puerto Rico Rep. Javier Rivera Aquino introduced a bill this summer that would have made pet owners accountable for their animals, many had high hopes that the proposed legislation would help put an end to the island's animal-welfare crisis.

Although the bill sailed through the House, it was criticized as too costly, and the Senate backed down.

For the full report from the Orlando Sentinel, go to
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/services/newspaper/printedition/sunday/orl-pranimals3108aug31,0,7922057.story