Showing posts with label puertoricosun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label puertoricosun. Show all posts

Thursday, March 08, 2018

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#prsun is an independent digital media and social marketing business with a mission of informing, empowering and building community.


Wednesday, November 01, 2017

PRSUN Network: Let's Get Social

Updates are being made on our social media pages. Like our official Facebook page at facebook.com/prsun, our PRSUN Facebook closed group (request an invite) or follow @prsun on Twitter.

Thanks.

#prsun

Friday, September 22, 2017

Ways to help the People of PR Now

#prsun is in solidarity with the people of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Updates on what you can do to help are being made on our PRSUN group Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/prsun.


Monday, July 24, 2017

PRSUN 15th Anniversary Celebration a Success

PRSUN celebrated its 15th anniversary on Saturday, July 22, at the Willis Avenue Community Garden in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. More than 50 people attended the three-hour outdoor reception. .


Here is a collection of photos from the hot summer day.
























Thank you to all who attended. 


Congratulations to the 10 Puerto Rico Sun award winners who exemplify PRSUN's mission of informing, empowering and building community in their own way:


Apryl Cadabra Entertainment Agency, INC.


Elijah Cruz/Things by Eli

Milagros Gonzalez/PRSUN Adviser

Zoraida Graciani/Zoraida's Coquito

Aixa Rodriguez/Teacher and Activist

Sol/PRSUN Mascot

Tanya Perez/Business Owner at Sweet Qzine
and at TMN Skincare and Wellness

Tanya Torres/Artist

Dhylles Victoria/The Sip & Chat Movement

The team of the Willis Avenue Community Garden

Congratulations to all.

Love you all.


To view more photos, visit my photo page.



Thursday, January 12, 2017

Happy New Year Puerto Rico Sun Network

Welcome back to PRSUN.

This is a milestone year for #prsun. This summer we celebrate 15 years of informing, empowering and building community via media. Thank you for your ongoing support of this digital media platform.This year we will be blogging more.

Like our Facebook page: facebook.com/prsun. Follow us at Twitter: @prsun. 

Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/clariselmedia.


Thursday, January 29, 2015

Latino Stats American Hispanics by the Numbers

The Reading Corner

Last Christmas I received in the mail a new book titled Latino Stats by Idelisse Malave and Esti Giordani, a Puerto Rican mother-daughter team who take a closer look at Hispanics in this country. The recently released paperback book (published by The New Press) is now part of my Puerto Rican/Latino library collection, and it is expected to become a go to guidebook for anyone who wants to better understand the new reality of our nation's widely diverse Latino population. It has been described as the go-to book for anyone who wants to understand the future of America.

This book serves as an important resource for advocates, educators, journalists and policy makers because it cuts through the rhetoric and sensationalism in the mainstream media and highlights with actual numbers the reality of Latino life in the U.S.

Latinos are both the largest and fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the country while many continue to fight for status as Americans. There are 53 million Latinos in the U.S.: one in six Americans is Latino. Thirty years from now, it will be closer to one in three. In about 15 years, Latinos will be 40 percent of the U.S. electorate. As of 2013, Latino buying power stands at an impressive 1.2 trillion, with women driving the purchases.

With statistics on jobs, family, lifestyle, identity and more, Latino Stats is a multi-generational source aimed at being a starting point to delve deeper and educate ourselves on the very broad Latino population and work towards a more equitable future.

Here is a snapshot of sample stats from Latino Stats:

On voting, education and social issues
*Seven out of ten Latino registered voters identify with or lean towards the Democratic Party. Latinos accounted for 10.8 percent of all registered voters in 2012.
* Over the past four decades, the number of Latinos receiving college degrees grew by sevenfold.
* With a median annual household income at $39,000, Latinos earn $11,000 less than the median for the total U.S. population and have the lowest weekly earnings out of any other group.

On immigration
* During the Obama administration, a record-breaking 400 thousand immigrants a year have been deported at a cost of billions of dollars.
* Undocumented immigrants contributed $10.6 billion to state and local sales tax, property tax (even if they rent), and income taxes in 010.
* The majority (two-thirds) of Latinos were born in the U.S. Only 17 percent of all Latinos are undocumented immigrants; the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. has been declining since 2007.

On lifestyle and family
* Just over half (53 percent) of Latinos identify as Catholic. Twelve percent identify as mainline Protestant, 13 percent evagelical Protestant, 6 percent with a non-Christian religion, and 12 percent are unaffiliated.
* Latino millennials living with their parents spend 21 percent of their time with family, and those who live on their own commit 31 percent of their time to family. Latino millennials also spend 14 percent of their time on "me time," slightly more than non-Latinos (10 percent). Interestingly, Latino millennials also carry the least amount of credit card debt compared to their non-Latino counterparts.
* Latinos account for 15.4 percent of same-sex couple households. Contrary to media depictions of Latino homophobia, 59 percent of Latinos also agree that homosexuality should be accepted rather than discouraged by society.

For more information, http://thenewpress.com/books/latino-stats.

Latino Stats will soon be available in the PRSUN aStore as well.






Monday, December 08, 2014

Memories of Puerto Rican Heritage Month '14


For Puerto Rican Heritage Month I attended a series of cultural and social events in New York, including Mayor Bill De Blasio and NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito's reception at Gracie Mansion, Mark-Viverito's celebration at the City Council Chambers, the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s luncheon at Don Coqui in the Bronx, and a jibaro Mass in honor of Our Lady of Providence, patroness of Puerto Rico, at St. Luke's Church in the South Bronx. November is always a great Puerto Rican time in New York City. It ushers in the holiday season for sure.

(At the Puerto Rican celebration at City Council Chambers on Nov. 5, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito honored actress and TV personality Rosie Perez.)

Here is an album dedicated to Puerto Rican Heritage Month that I created with more photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/clarisel/sets/72157647098400453/




-- Clarisel

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Like NEW Puerto Rico Sun FB Page

Hi, Puerto Rico Sun Communications is back. I have decided to create a new Puerto Rico Sun FB page, which is an extension of this blog.

facebook.com/prsun



Thank you.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Q&A with Rocky on Broadway's Luis Salgado

The actor plays Kid Rizzo in the new production

By Ismael Nuñez




Here is the story of Rocky on Broadway, which is currently playing at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. Yes, it is that familiar Rocky story from the movies: "Somewhere in downtown Philadelphia, a down-and-out fighter named Rocky Balboa struggles to stay on his feet. But when the chance of a lifetime comes along, he takes his best shot at becoming a champion… and his last shot at finding first love."

The iconic underdog story Rocky has inspired an innovative new stage production, brought to life by a five-time Tony Award-winning creative team, including director Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher), songwriting team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime), and book writers Thomas Meehan (The Producers) and Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, the Oscar-winning Best Picture). Rocky is a heart-stopping theatrical experience for everyone brave enough to follow their dream such as Puerto Rican actor Luis Salgado who plays the role of Kid Rizzo in the production.

Puerto Rico Sun had the pleasure of chatting with Salgado about being a Puerto Rican artist in New York, his new role in Rocky on Broadway and more.

1-Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

"I was born in Puerto Rico and my blood is Taíno. Spanish-Caribbean is my soul". Those lyrics from “The Capeman” define very well how I feel. Living in New York City, I have the chance to represent my culture and inspire many other Latinos, through the arts. It is a great time to honor and celebrate our Latino identity, and tell those stories from our own experience.

I started performing at Bellas Artes (Performing Arts Center) in San Juan, professionally directed by Ernesto Concepcion, Sr., at the age of 16-17 - when we did a play called Vida Vida. Then I had the honor of performing alongside renowned actors Angela Meyer, Lucy Boscana and many others, in a revival of Francisco Arriví's Vegigantes, the classic play about three generations of a Puerto Rican family, dealing with race. Another experience that I’ll never forget was working in the Zarzuela by Ernesto Lecuona Maria La O with Johanna Rosaly at the Paoli Hall, directed by Gilberto Valenzuela. I studied at the University of Puerto Rico for three years and then moved to NYC to pursue my dream of being on a Broadway stage.

Now I am celebrating 10 years since my very first Off-Broadway Show, Fame on 42nd St., which I did in 2004. It has been a ride, and I am thrilled to be in my third original Broadway production with a wonderful cast and inspiring creative team. We just recorded the music album for “Rocky Broadway” this past week, and that’s part of the wonderful opportunities that we get to experience and learn from being an original cast member. This album is an addition to my record collection, which also includes . In the Heights and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, which represent my other shows on Broadway.

2. You are on Broadway and you are Latino...Are you aware that in this city there is a large Latin American community?

I am extremely aware because I love my community and try to contribute something to it with every step I take. Sometimes I get to do that by simply doing my art. Other times it is by working in the community such as on R.Evolution of Evolution through the arts. “R.Evolución Latina” is now in its sixth year of empowering local communities and our programs continue to expand.

There is also a BIG interest in the Latino community nowadays. I see it, hear it and feel it.

We have always been here, very present in society, in sports, in arts…Now because of the potential for business in the Latino market, people are paying more attention.

That is why it’s very important that we also use this time to represent our community in the best way possible and voice the things that most empower us and have the greatest potential to make positive changes and contributions in areas such as the arts, TV, news media, public service and cultural awareness.

3-For the part of Rocky on Broadway, you watched the past Rocky movies, right?


Funny enough, I have seen all Rocky movies, many times. I love the first two. I love the relationship of this character [Rocky] with himself, Adrian and his community. My favorite is perhaps Rocky 4 when he meets Drago. But overall, the musical is based on Rocky I, where he gains his self confidence and the love of his life.

Besides my passion for boxing and theater, this show speaks to me closely because my wife Denisse has also been a major inspiration in my life, to dare to go beyond and pursue my dreams with her endless support. She came all the way from Puerto Rico with me and now we have made our dreams come true, one step at a time.

4-In this play you act, dance, and sing. You really had to do a lot of training, practicing?

The last 10 years I have been madly in love with musical theater, so every show has brought the challenge of this combination. I have always had a new positive challenge in every project. I find that being in the arts is the best way to not only train my body, but also my mind, education and spirit.

5-Puerto Rico has produced many gifted boxers. Take any lessons from any of them?

I wish! It would be a great honor to train or do a full training camp with one of the great champions of my island. Perhaps with Miguel Cotto. To be by his corner when entering the ring, that would be a dream. I am very passionate about boxing in my daily life, far beyond this show. I find the discipline and mental challenge of a boxer, one of the greatest of all.

6-A lot of gifted Puerto Rican actors/actresses made a name for themselves on Broadway: Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Jose Ferrer, Raul Julia, Miriam Colon, Benicio Del Toro. How do you feel about that?

I have huge respect and admiration for them all. For sure Raul Juliá has always inspired me. Somehow, I realized that he was 24 when he moved to NYC. I was 21, so it sort of inspired me to have three years of studying as my main plan, before pursuing bigger endeavors. I studied non-stop for a year an half, and then got my first musical after performing at places like Madison Square Garden with such Latin music stars as Thalia and Paulina Rubio and traveling to Japan as a guest dance/choreographer artist. I knew quick that NYC was home, that I wanted a life in the theater here. Great leaders like Miriam Colon (and the work she has done at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater), as well a Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera and the legacy of José Ferrer have created a road map and opened doors for me and my generation.

I also love the story of the underdogs, and there are so many not so famous names that have also inspired me such as Puerto Rican dancer Carlos Sierra, who I saw perform in the Broadway show Swing with the great Maria Torres, who I later worked with in my first Broadway-bound show Mambo Kings. Also Julio Monge, who I saw many times in videos doing Fosse, and whose footsteps I followed in re-creating his role in the musical The Capeman for the concert version staged by the Public Theater at Central Park a few years ago. I even got to take workshops with him before I moved to NYC. All of these people have a part of my heart and a part of my history.

7-Do you feel their presence is with you when performing?

Yes and yes!! When doing “In the Heights” at the Richard Rodgers Theater, I had stories of Raul Julia in my mind during intermissions. I remember telling myself: "I am performing where Raul Juliá performed.”


8-So after Broadway what’s next? Movies, television, telenovelas or another Broadway show?

I love Broadway and there is so much more for me to accomplish here, in the many fields that I love and admire – as producer, choreographer and mainly, as an actor. But I have been able to experience film in projects like Enchanted and Step up to the Streets. I would love to do more film as well. I love all the arts, but among all the forms, musical theater thrills me. To be in front of an audience and get their honest reactions live every night, eight shows a week, while being challenged with dancing, singing and acting night after night is fascinating to me.

9-Any message you’d like to say to the Puerto Rican community here in New York City?

"Si yo no hubiera nacido en la tierra en que nací, estaría arrepentido de no haber nacido allí”. Even when I discover a strong connection with many places in Latin America and admire our collective history as Latinos, I find myself having a very unique human experience thanks to the vulnerable heart and warmth that comes from my island, my people, my family, my pasteles and coquito. Thank you to all of the people who with pride and respect, honor who we are as Boricuas, as Latinos.
Make the Taíno blood always shine throughout the world!


###

Salgado's Broadway credits have included: Women on the Verge…and In the Heights. Pre-Broadway: Mambo Kings (Frankie Suarez). Off-Broadway: Fame on 42nd Street (Ensemble, Joe Vegas u/s). Other: The Capeman (Public Theater). Film: Across the Universe, Enchanted, Step Up 2: The Streets, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more information about Salgado, visit www.luissalgado.com.

(video courtesy of Luis Salgado/YouTube)

Ismael Nuñez is a contributing writer to Puerto Rico Sun. He is a resident of East Harlem.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

PRSUN Photo Team's Eileen McNamee at the PR Day Parade

This was the second year Eileen McNamee covered the National Puerto Rican Day Parade as part of the PRSUN photo team.
Our team was working on a photo project to document the 2012 parade through the lens of a diverse team of photographers and photojournalists. This was the third year PRSUN curated an online group exhibit. All team members received official press passes from the National Puerto Rican Day Parade to cover the June 10 parade from their perspective for PRSUN.
Eileen is a science teacher. She says she has found creativity between the arts and sciences. Her photography is mostly from the Bronx where she lives. She especially enjoys concentrating on the nature and history of the Bronx. But from time to time, she likes to go out to document a colorful parade.
View Eileen's beautiful photos from the parade here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmcnamee/sets/72157630068897849/with/7359927392/

To view the PRSUN photo team's exhibit from this year's parade, go to
http://www.flickr.com/groups/nyprparade12.

Most of Eileen's photography and art work is at



Friday, April 13, 2012

From Menudo to Evita, Ricky Martin Shines



By Rita J. Egan

I was in the sixth grade when friends and I prepared a skit around the music of the Broadway play Evita. I'm not quite sure how we came up with the idea, but I do remember the commercials and how badly I wanted to go to New York City and see the play.
I never did get a chance to see the original, and grew up to be a teenager who was a huge fan of the group Menudo. Through the years, I also became a great admirer of Ricky Martin.

Imagine how excited I was when rumors began circulating in 2010 that Martin was up for the part of Che in the Broadway revival. I waited in anticipation for the day I would finally see Evita.
Finally on March 24, my friend Silvia and I had the opportunity to catch one of the preview performances. It was the matinee and unfortunately Elena Roger (Eva Peron) doesn't perform Saturday matinees, but the show was a good one just the same. The scenery was breathtaking, and the ensemble numbers were exhilarating.
Christina DeCicco did a nice job as Evita, but it was Rachel Potter, Juan Peron's mistress, who left me teary-eyed after she sang "Another Suitcase in Another Hall." There's sweetness in her voice that I'm sure will touch many theater-goers as well as leave many lasting impressions. Michael Cerveris’s portrayal of Peron was perfectly understated relaying the message of how this powerful man was overshadowed by his charismatic wife.
And then of course, there was Martin. The character Che serves as a narrator of the story as well as Eva Peron's conscience of sorts. Many times Che observes the scenes from the sidelines. You would think a star such as Martin would be a distraction, but somehow he moves seamlessly along the edges when needed. And when it's time for Che to take center stage, Martin moves gracefully from observer to star. It seems the role was made for him, incorporating his talents for singing and dancing. During the number "High Flying Adored," where he sings of Eva achieving success at such a young age, Martin seemed to easily relate to the lyrics.
Martin also cleverly delivers Che's lines. He seemed to handle them with an ease that had the audience catching the sarcasm and chuckling with him.
With it being a preview, it seemed that there were a few kinks that needed to be worked out, but I'm sure nothing that the talented actors haven't already handled. As for Martin’s fans, they have all of 2012 to catch their favorite performer shining on Broadway as Che.
Rita Egan is a contributing writer to PRSUN. A freelance writer, check out Rita's columns in the Smithtown Patch at http://smithtown.patch.com/search/articles?cat=1998198867&contributor=70720. Rita’s email is rje229@gmail.com.

Evita is playing on Broadway. For more information, visit http://evitaonbroadway.com.
(Photo of Rita Egan posing in front of the poster of Ricky Martin (Che) outside the Marquis Theatre.)


Saturday, February 11, 2012

Iguanas belong ‘au naturel,’ even in Puerto Rico

Commentary
By Luis Chaluisan

Iguanas: they’re not common pets in New Jersey, thank the power, even though people occasionally decide this exotic (as in non-native) animal would make a great pet. It’s not so. Iguanas belong in their native habitat, where they have the company of other iguanas, the right temperature and food, and the chance to be an iguana “au naturel.”

Caribbean tourist attraction
During a recent vacation in the Caribbean, I saw lots of iguanas, which made it easy for me to continue to be fascinated by them – their myriad colors, especially the bright green of young ones; their long ring-tails; their front feet, especially, with long, curving finger-like appendages; their casual ability to “go out on a limb,” seeking a flower or a tender green leaf at the end of a branch that looks incapable of holding them.
And, these kids can travel too! If they need to get away, they can do it. They’re not graceful, but they’re fast.
Far from eating red hibiscus flowers in St. Thomas was the iguana I met years ago in Ewing, NJ. That poor guy lived alone in a glass tank in a store. What a life: a caged curiosity shoppers could look at. Weekends when the store was closed had to be worst for that iguana – not even any gawkers.
Here are a few “fun facts” about iguanas from information I’ve accumulated over years of watching them. 
  • In the Family Iguanidae, they’re a kind of lizard, and lizards are reptiles. Lizards have what their snake relatives lack: ears, eyelids, four legs. Their lizard tongues serve as both organs of taste and odor detection.
  • Tropical, omnivorous, arboreal, quiet and diurnal (daylight creatures; inactive in dark), iguanas can weigh 25-30 pounds and grow to six feet or more – mostly tail. They have pointy scales along their back and males have dewlap. Life span: about 20 years.
  • Iguanas may forage and bask in groups. They love to bathe, swimming like snakes with legs against their bodies. To elude enemies, they can stay under water for about 30 minutes.
Puerto Rico’s plan
Just before coming home, I was disturbed to see a sad story in the Virgin Islands Daily News about iguanas. The government of Puerto Rico plans to capture and kill them, then sell their meat. Reason(s): iguanas are not native to that island (even thought elsewhere in the Caribbean, they’re a protected species); they outnumber the human population . . . and (believe it or not) the bad economy makes the idea appealing.
So now Puerto Rico’s looking for a company to “process” iguanas that would be hunted or trapped and kept alive for the slaughtering process. As I see it, PR aims to treat iguanas the way “food animals” are treated here in the US and everywhere else factory farming takes place. Horrible.
Then again, I’m not too surprised. Only a few years ago, Puerto Rico earned notoriety for killing hundreds of pets – cats and dogs – in the most barbaric way.
Now the island is “moving right along” with iguanas, apparently no more enlightened, or compassionate, than before.

Luis Chaluisan is a contributing writer to PRSUN. He is the editor in chief of salsamagazine.com.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Thank you for being part of the PRSUN journey

Ten years ago, in the summer of 2002, I started the Puerto Rico Sun e-magazine when I lived in San Juan. I wanted it to be a publication that covered themes related to the Puerto Rican diaspora and that connected Puerto Ricans no matter where they lived. An online magazine made sense even though I first envisioned PRSUN as a newspaper since I was a print journalist.

I didn't know at the time how much newspaper journalism was going to be transformed. It is a little heartbreaking, but then again I love a free and open Internet and will continue to defend it. I have been engaged in online media for 10 years now -- making too little for all the time, work and money I have put into this media project, which has been more of a labor of love. I have mostly bootstrapped this business, which is registered in the Bronx, NY.

This summer I celebrate 10 years. I'm not sure how much more time I will dedicate to PRSUN, but I know this project has been part of my journey from my time in Puerto Rico to my move to New York. The mission has always been the same to inform, empower and build community.

Thank you for being a part of the PRSUN journey. I have been posting photos in an album dedicated to the last 10 years on my Facebook page. To view the photos.


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Thursday, December 08, 2011

Please vote PRSUN for chance to win $10K

Update: Thank you to everyone who voted for PRSUN. Your suppport was not enough to win this one, but PRSUN is moving forward. Continuing to inform, empower and build community.


Thursday, July 24, 2008

Flags in El Barrio


IMG_9320
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
Today's featured image from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group

I shot this photo earlier this week at a community garden in NYC's East Harlem. Visit my photostream at flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/clarisel) for more recent photos of East Harlem.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

New: PRSUN Video




Puerto Rico Sun's newest project is PRSUN Video at flickr. Like the Puerto Rico Sun photo group at flickr, there is now a video group too showcasing short videos about Puerto Rico or Puerto Rican-related themes.

Today's featured video is by Luis Munoz. It is a true beauty of Old San Juan. Luis did a nice job.

To check out the PRSUN Video, go to
http://www.flickr.com/groups/prsunvideo/

Monday, July 21, 2008

.Flamboyán flowers.

Today's featured image from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by Mi nombre no es cLaRa bOw.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Friday, July 18, 2008

Guanina Ojos de Miel


Guanina Ojos de Miel
Originally uploaded by Pacu007.
From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group, today's featured image is by Pacu007. This doggie waits to see a vet.