Friday, January 08, 2010

Petition drive for a U.S. stamp to honor the 65th Infantry Regiment

Featured cause

El Pozo Productions is organizing a nationwide petition campaign to request that The Borinqueneers of the 65th Infantry Regiment be considered for a commemorative U.S. stamp honoring their unique military service as the only all-Hispanic unit in U.S. Army history.

To help make this happen, download the Petition Form at http://www.borinqueneers.com/files/Stamp_Petition.pdf. Collect as many signatures as possible.

Return the original signed petitions to El Pozo Productions, PO Box 302, Crompond, NY 10517 by February 15, 2010. El Pozo will then forward the petitions to the Committee for consideration. El Pozo prefers to submit petitions as a group to make more of a statement.

You may also send your own letter to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee:

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
c/o Stamp Development
U.S. Postal Service
1735 North Lynn St., Suite 5013
Arlington, VA 22209-6432.

For more information,
www.borinqueneers.com

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Building community

A significant part of Puerto Rico Sun's mission is building community. The social networks have been instrumental in helping us fulfill our mission.

I want to thank everyone who is part of the PRSUN familia in one way or another. Looking forward to a prosperous new year.

Here's a glance:

PRSUN on Twitter, 895 followers
Clarisel Gonzalez on Facebook, 1,486 friends
Puerto Rico Sun Communications' Facebook page (open): 259 fans
Puerto Rico Sun's Facebook group (closed/by invite): 162 members
Clarisel's Photo Place page at Facebook, 42 fans
Puerto Rico Sun's very own social network at www.puertoricosun.com: 68 members
PRSUN at MySpace: 386 friends
New: Puerto Rico Sun Communications' LinkedIn group: 29 members

Happy new year from Puerto Rico Sun Communications. PRSUN hopes to grow as a community media and art business in the new year. One way you can help support our efforts is by leaving a tip via PayPal.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

PRSUN TV: Parranda!!!! in the Bronx

Get a taste of Parranda!!!! at Coqui Mexicano, a small fusion shop in the South Bronx. The community parranda was held in celebration of Coqui Mexicano's first anniversary as a business in the Melrose section. It was held on the day after Thanksgiving as a way of thanking the community for the support and kicking off the Christmas season.

Parranda!!! @ Coqui Mexicano from Clarisel Gonzalez on Vimeo.


Felicidades from PRSUN.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

A Christmas greeting...


Comment | Copy This


Feel free to leave me a voice blog at http://snapvine.com/prsun.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company Launches Innovative Advertising Campaign Through the Eyes of Artist Elliott Erwitt

A Celebration of Puerto Rico's History, the Campaign Takes You on a Photographic Journey of the Islands, Its People and Culture

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Puerto Rico Tourism Company will unveil a new integrated marketing campaign designed to increase awareness and make Puerto Rico a top of mind destination. The $10 million advertising campaign will run locally on networks like Bravo, Food Network, Fine Living, Travel Channel, CNN and CNBC. Print will run in titles like Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest, Food & Wine, In Style, Town & Country, and Travel & Leisure. Digital and out-of-home advertising also supports the campaign. The campaign is scheduled to launch in December 2009 and run through June 2010.
At the center of the initiative is a series of Elliott Erwitt photographs taken during a return trip to Puerto Rico this spring where the world-renowned Magnum photographer re-discovered the Islands' essence: romantic, rich in culture and experience.
The new campaign is designed to provide a glimpse of life in the islands of Puerto Rico as seen from an artist's point of view. "We are so proud of our islands - the people, culture, richness and beauty of it all - that having a celebrated photographer like Elliott Erwitt capture it in photographs is a compelling way to share our islands with the world," said Jaime Lopez, executive director of The Puerto Rico Tourism Company. "He depicted the true realism of Puerto Rico; he captured our beaches, yes, but he unveiled so much more with images of our rain forests, our architecture and culture that make Puerto Rico so special."
Erwitt's initial voyage to Puerto Rico was fifty years ago when the photographer was called upon by one of the advertising industry's first Mad Men, David Ogilvy of Ogilvy & Mather, to capture the vibrancy and lifestyle of Puerto Rico through an artist's unique perspective. His photographs reflected contemporary life on the Islands and revealed character, depth of history and an unparalleled culture not found elsewhere in the Americas. These images created a ground breaking and aesthetically pleasing tourism advertising campaign which not only increased travel to the islands, but also greatly impacted economic development.
"Tourism enriches our economy and is a very important focus for us," said Governor Luis Fortuno of Puerto Rico. "We have a lot to offer travelers this year from world class events to new hotels and exciting cultural events that help round out our already amazing offerings that make Puerto Rico a top travel destination." Although years have gone by since Erwitt first photographed Puerto Rico, his lens still captures the same richness of experience that tourists from around the globe can experience during a visit to the Islands. "These images capture the heart and soul of Puerto Rico and its people," added Governor Fortuno. "It provides a glimpse into the Islands and paints a picture for travelers' of what a trip to Puerto Rico can offer."
The campaign, created by Ogilvy & Mather and De La Cruz Advertising is targeted toward people who want their vacation to be an enriching experience, people who want more than just a pretty beach; they want a sophisticated experience where they can learn about culture and history. The advertising plan, running in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington DC, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Atlanta and Miami, consists of television, print and online webisodes with messaging that evokes a personal connection with Puerto Rico and inspires people to visit the islands. Each ad features a specific aspect of what the island has to offer - history and architecture, dancing, gastronomy, culture, Puerto Rico's various islands, and more. The theme of these ads - through the eyes of an artist - will live on through the years through the eyes of other influentials and consumers as well.
To find out more about Puerto Rico, consumers can go to seepuertorico.com to browse Elliott's photos from his first trips in the 50s and 60s, and today, and watch webisodes on a variety of experiences that the islands have to offer. The web site also allows visitors to find out more about specific destinations, experiences, attractions, places to eat and stay and special offers. All advertising will drive consumers to the web site.
With Erwitt as a partner, the campaign closely resembles a photojournalistic essay detailing expectations travelers' should have of Puerto Rico and reflecting the Islands' everyday reality. As David Ogilvy said 50 years ago during the first series of Erwitt images, "I'm thrilled to watch an artist tell a story and proud to know that advertising through an artist's photographic eye can reflect the feeling and character of such a unique travel destination," said Steve Hayden, Vice Chairman Ogilvy & Mather.
Puerto Rico has so much to offer. This year alone, Puerto Rico will add 2 new hotels: W and St. Regis. They will be the host of world class events such as the PGA Golf Tournament in March and Latin Billboard Awards in April. Recently built, the Sheraton is the flagship location for its convention center offerings. Unlike its cousins, Puerto Rico is the only island in the Caribbean that continues to build hotels.
About Puerto Rico Tourism Company
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), founded in 1970, is a public corporation responsible for stimulating, promoting and regulating the development of the tourism industry. It markets Puerto Rico as a tourism destination through advertising, public relations and promotional activities; promotes tourism among local residents; provides visitor orientation and technical assistance to investors; evaluates tourism facilities and establishes standards of quality; and regulates and oversees gaming operations. PRTC has offices and representatives in the U.S. Mainland, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

Source: Puerto Rico Tourism Company

Monday, November 30, 2009

Follow me at Twitter

Follow me at Twitter. Lately, I have been tweeting more, blogging less.

I'll be updating there.

http://twitter.com/prsun

Thanks for your continued support.

Friday, November 20, 2009

WNYC - WNYC News Blog » Puerto Ricans in New York Struggling…Still

WNYC - WNYC News Blog » Puerto Ricans in New York Struggling…Still

Interesting article on Puerto Ricans in New York

Puerto Rican Artisan and Health Fair in the Bronx

Community calendar

The Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture at Hostos Community College will be transformed into a typical Puerto Rican plaza this weekend, with fountains, palm trees, piragua and coquito carts and artists, sculptors, vejigante mask makers and artisans selling traditional wares.

The transformation will take place tomorrow for Comité Noviembre’s fourth annual artisans fair. Over 30 artesanos puertorriqueños from throughout the United States and Puerto Rico will showcase their unique and traditional art at the fair. Musical and cultural acts will entertain throughout the day, and children and adults will have the opportunity to take part in workshops on mask-making, the history of the Three Kings Celebration, and the music of Puerto Rico and the Taíno Indigenous People. This year’s event also features a health fair to educate people about the chronic diseases that have a disparate affect on our community, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity.

The event is free to the community and will be held at the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture at Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, at 450 Grand Concourse, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. It is a great opportunity to kick-start the holiday shopping season and kick off a healthy New Year.

Each year the fair attracts thousands of people from across the New York metro area.

The event’s workshop schedule is as follows:
Artisans Workshops
11AM – Noon
• Taíno Storytelling
• Three Kings Celebration

Noon – 1PM
• Taíno Petroglyph Symbols
• Vegigante Mask Making

1PM – 2PM
• Taino Spirituality

4PM – 5PM
• Historical Overview of Boricua Music

Health Workshops
Workshops hosted by sanofi-aventis US

12Noon – 1PM
• Health & Flavor in the Latino Kitchen

1PM – 2PM
• Power Over Diabetes

2PM – 3PM
• Stay in Touch


The charge of Comité Noviembre is to promote, acknowledge, create awareness and take ownership of our rich culture, language, and history. Comité Noviembre is the collective effort of ten key Puerto Rican organizations: the Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly, ASPIRA of New York, the Association of Hispanic Arts, El Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños, El Museo del Barrio, Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights– Justice Committee, the National Institute for Latino Policy, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, and the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration which plan and coordinate el mes de la herencia puertorriqueña.

source: CN press release

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

LLADRÓ Celebrates Puerto Rican Day with launch of Our Lady of Providence

As a photographer, one of my favorite subjects to shoot are religious icons. The Virgin Mary is on top of my list. Our Lady of Providence, the patroness of Puerto Rico, is, of course, one of my favorite images to photograph. Actually, I have introduced several people in New York City to Our Lady of Providence through my photography. One of my most popular photographs is an image I shot of Our Lady of Providence at St. Jerome's Church in the South Bronx, and one of my photos will be published in an upcoming religious book (TBA) and is currently on display at an art exhibit at the Bronx Blue Bedroom Project in the Bronx.
As you could imagine, I was so happy to learn that Lladró will launch a sculpture in her likeness at an event in New York City during Puerto Rican Heritage Month. I hope to be there.

Here's the press release:

Lladró, the world renowned Spanish producer of exquisite porcelain works of art, will launch a sculpture in tribute to the patroness of Puerto Rico, Our Lady of Divine Providence, at its boutique in New York City on November 19. The unveiling coincides with Puerto Rico’s celebration of Discovery Day.

The Spanish company honors Puerto Rican traditions and culture with this faithful depiction of the image of the Virgin with the Christ Child in her lap. Ángeles Lladró, member of the Lladró Board of Directors and daughter of one of the three founding brothers, explains that the company decided to create this sculpture during her last visit to Puerto Rico.

“I was so enthralled by the open nature of its people, very similar to the Spanish character in so many ways, and their appreciation of our brand, that we thought of making a piece to show our gratitude,” she says. “This faithful depiction of the image of Our Lady of Divine Providence is our best way to honor the Puerto Rican culture, tradition and religious devotion. It is a very touching scene, in line with other Lladró maternities, and I loved it right from the beginning.”

With this magnificent porcelain depiction of the Virgin, Lladró not only pays tribute to the people of Puerto Rico, but also celebrates two rich cultures united by the same roots.

Created in glazed porcelain and decorated with Lladró’s traditional spectrum of colors, the piece is noteworthy for its size, 16 1/2" x 7", considerably larger than other Lladró Virgins. The combination of white and blue, the colors symbolizing the purity of the Madonna, with ocher tones, further reinforce the splendor of an image venerated mainly by the order of the Servants of Mary.

The Latin phrase on the porcelain base, "Tu honorificentia populi nostril," or "You are the glory of our people," is taken from Tota Pulchra Es, the 4th century anonymous “canto” that includes texts dedicated to the Virgin from biblical books.

Worship of Our Lady of Divine Providence originated in Italy in the 13th century. It was a very popular devotion that later passed to Spain, where a shrine was built in her honor in Tarragona, Catalonia. When Gil Esteve Tomas, a Catalan priest, was appointed bishop of Puerto Rico in the mid 19th century, he brought this devotion with him to the island. In a decree signed in 1969, Pope Paul VI declared Our Lady Mother of Divine Providence as the patroness of the island of Puerto Rico.
During the reception, the sculptor of the piece, don Nacho Aliena, will demonstrate the techniques that he employs in executing his work. He will be available to answer questions about the design of the Virgin of Divine Providence.

The suggested retail price is $1,500. Lladró will donate 10% of all sales during the New York City celebration to the Puerto Rican Family Institute (PRFI), a non-profit organization responding to the needs of the growing Latino population both on the U.S mainland and in Puerto Rico since 1960.

“We are so proud to join with Lladró in launching this Virgin,” says María Elena Girone, President and CEO of the PRFI. “The Virgin not only symbolizes devotion and faith in Puerto Rico, but also reminds us of our mission to help the needy, the essence of our organization.”

About Lladró
Lladró was established by the brothers Juan, José and Vicente Lladró in 1953, and has a presence in more than 120 countries. Lladró has proprietary shops in the most important commercial centers in the world: London, New York, Beverly Hills, Singapore, Hong Kong, Moscow, Tokyo, Miami, Las Vegas, Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, where the company is headquartered. For further information on Lladró visit www.lladro.com.

About the Puerto Rican Family Institute
The Puerto Rican Family Institute, Inc. (PRFI) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the functioning and self-sufficiency of diverse marginalized communities, and to prevent the disintegration of families. It is a humanitarian services agency that promotes programs dealing with families, provides cultural services to children, youth, adults and families, and that respects all races, cultures and personal identities. The identify and community of each individual, independently of how they define themselves, serve as the foundation for the cultural services offered by the Institute. The principal services include psychological care, preventive care, education, mental health, care for AIDS sufferers, case management programs, home care, crisis intervention, and Head Start. PRFI operates about 48 programs throughout New York, Jersey City, New Jersey and Puerto Rico.

(NOTE: I was having problems with Blogger and hope to upload the image of the sculpture soon.)


source: CapitalWirePR press release

To view some of my photos, visit my "Our Lady" photo set at http://flickr.com/photos/clarisel.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The 2010 Census and Puerto Ricans

Community calendar

Research Seminar
The 2010 Census and Puerto Ricans: Statistical Policy Issues and Politics
Presenter: Angelo Falcon, President, National Institute for Latino Policy
Refreshments will be served
6 p.m., Thurs., Nov. 12
Centro Conference Room 1437 East Bldg. at Hunter College in Manhattan
For more information,
http://www.centropr.org/events.html?event=60

Monday, November 09, 2009

PRSUN Radio chats with Comite Noviembre's Teresa Santiago

PRSUN Radio puts a spotlight on Comite Noviembre, an organization that celebrates a host of activities in New York City for Puerto Rican Heritage Month. I chat with CN's Teresa Santiago tomorrow at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

November is Puerto Rican Heritage Month in NYC and a key woman behind many of the cultural, civic and artistic celebrations going on is Teresa Santiago. For more information about the nonprofit Comite Noviembre, go to www.comitenoviembre.org.

To listen live, the interview is at 9 p.m. tomorrow. After it airs, the show will be archived and available online.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

UPDATE: Listen to my interview with Teresa Santiago at http://blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Puerto Rican-related opportunites at Centro

Centro - Request for Proposals

Submission Deadlines: November 15th - for Spring semester

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Centro) seeks proposals for cultural and educational activities that contribute to the study and interpretation of the Puerto Rican experience in the United States. Proposals must address Centro's core mission of advancing knowledge about the Puerto Rican experience in the United States.
http://www.centropr.org/news.html?news=87

LIBRARY & ARCHIVES

Request for Historical Preservation & Research Partnership Proposals
Application deadline for Spring 2010 Grants: Nov. 18, 2009
Application deadline for 2010-11 Grants: Jul. 1, 2010

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Centro) seeks partners to collect archival material, conduct research and disseminate knowledge about the history of Puerto Rican communities and individuals in the United States. Centro will provide limited funding on competitive bases to awardees for initiating projects for the development and collection of data and for the analysis of existing or new archival materials
http://www.centropr.org/news.html?news=72

Source: Centro

NOTE: Please make sure to let Centro know you learned about this opportunity in Puerto Rico Sun. Support independent community media.