In Latino tradition, Three Kings is an important part of Christmas. Mark your calendar.

EL MUSEO DEL BARRIO’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY THREE KINGS DAY PARADE

¡FELIZ DIA DE REYES!

Friday, January 5, 2007

Starting at 11:00 a.m.

Press Invited at 10:30 a.m. to Parade Line-Up with Three Kings, 30 Madrinas and Padrinos

106th Street between Madison and Park Avenues

NEW YORK, December 2006 – On Friday, January 5, 2007, El Museo del Barrio once again brings the spirit of the holidays to el barrio and to all of New York City with the 30th Anniversary of El Museo’s Annual Three Kings Day Parade and Community Celebration. The parade kicks off at 11:00 a.m. at 106th Street and Madison Avenue, continuing through East Harlem up Third Avenue to 116th Street, then heads west and culminates at La Marqueta Plaza, located along Park Avenue between 116th and 115th Streets. Following the parade, the Three Kings will offer a gift to each of the children marching in the event.

As the most festive event of the holiday season in Latin America and the Caribbean, Three Kings Day is a time to rejoice with family, friends, and community. This year’s parade will continue to celebrate the strength, vitality and diversity of New York City and convey the hope and joy associated with this Latino holiday. Thousands of New Yorkers will cheer on school children from across the city as they march alongside live camels, donkeys and sheep, floats, festive musicians and large colorful puppets representing the Three Kings. Pre-registered school groups begin the morning with a theatrical holiday program in El Museo’s Teatro Heckscher before joining in the parade.

El Museo is proud to announce this year’s Three Kings: Jesús “Papoleto” Meléndez, a recipient of a 2001 Fellowship in Poetry from the New York Foundation for the Arts and one of the pioneers of the Nuyorican poets’ movement; and Freddy Rodríguez, the visual artist who designed the recently inaugurated Flight 587 Memorial in Belle Harbor and whose work is included in both of El Museo’s current exhibitions, ¡Merengue! Visual Rhythms / Ritmos visuales and This Skin I’m In: Contemporary Dominican Art from El Museo del Barrio’s Permanent Collection. The third King will be announced the week of the parade. Representing the 30 years of this time-honored tradition, 30 long-time friends of El Museo del Barrio are serving as padrinos and madrinas in this anniversary parade celebration. This esteemed group includes activists, artists and community leaders.

Please join our esteemed Reyes magos along with local residents, New York City school children, their teachers, and the general public in this special celebration. All are invited to march, and registration will take place at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the parade in the courtyard of El Museo del Barrio. There is no charge for participation and costumes are optional. Anyone interested in bringing their musical talents to the parade by playing their own güiro, clave or maracas should please contact El Museo, and advance registration for groups is recommended by calling 212.660.7144 or sending an email to threekings@elmuseo.org.

Three Kings Day Celebration Continues on Saturday, January 6, 2007

All are welcome to continue El Museo’s 30th Anniversary Three Kings Day celebration on Saturday, January 6 from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. at a holiday presentation for families at El Museo’s Teatro Heckscher. Lilia Veiga will lead a special edition of the game show Juguemos Todos, offering gifts and prizes to winners. Scholastic characters Maya & Miguel will make a guest appearance, and then at 3:00 p.m. El Museo presents Cuatrisimo, a program exploring the evolution of one of Puerto Rico’s national stringed instruments, the cuatro, by Jose Obando, Salsa Consultant of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Obando will explain the history of the cuatro from its 8th-century Moorish-influenced form, to its emergence as a distinctly New World instrument. His program, accompanied by a live performance, will trace the instrument’s cultural history and demonstrate its many variations.

Musical genres such as the Seis, Aguinaldo, Danza, Bomba, Plena and Salsa will be featured during the Saturday program. Musicians from New York and Puerto Rico, including Yomo Toro, who was part of the former Fania All-Stars, Luisito Rodriguez, Felix “Junior” Vega, Willie Martinez, Cristian Rivera, Ana Flores, Alfredo Torres and Johnson Morales will demonstrate the cuatro’s musical heritage in a lively concert.

The program is presented in tandem with an exhibition of Puerto Rican stringed instruments at the musical instruments gallery of The Metropolitan Museum of Art: a modern bordonua and a 19th-century Jibaro guitar. A Puerto Rican gourd or güiro is also included in the exhibition. The Jibaro guitar, decorated with West African motifs, reminiscent of textile patterns, was donated in 1915 to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and is one of only two such instruments that survive. Seating for this theater program at El Museo will be first-come, first-serve, and admission is FREE.

Parade Sponsors and Organizers

El Museo del Barrio’s 30th Annual Three Kings Day Parade is made possible with the generous support of Con Edison, Mount Sinai Hospital, NY State Senator José Serrano and NY State Assembly Members Adam Clayton Powell IV and Peter Rivera. The program is supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the NY State Council on the Arts, a state agency. El Museo would like also to thank the staff at Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center, NBC Today Show Holiday Toy Drive and Scholastic, Inc. Media sponsors for our Parade and Celebration are TIEMPO New York, Univision 41/Telefutura 68, WADO 1280 am.

This year’s parade is organized by Lili Santiago Silva, Theater Manager, and by the entire staff of El Museo del Barrio. In addition, many volunteers contribute vital help and support throughout the planning of this time-honored community event.

About El Museo del Barrio

El Museo del Barrio is New York’s leading Latino cultural institution, representing the diversity of art and culture in the Caribbean and Latin America. As the only museum in New York City that specializes in representing these cultures, El Museo del Barrio continues to have a significant impact on the cultural life of New York City and is a major stop on Manhattan’s Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue. El Museo del Barrio was founded in 1969 by a group of Puerto Rican educators, artists, parents and community activists in East Harlem’s Spanish-speaking El Barrio, the neighborhood that extends from 96th Street to the Harlem River and from Fifth Avenue to the East River on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

El Museo del Barrio's varied permanent collection of 6,500 objects from the Caribbean and Latin America includes pre-Columbian Taíno artifacts, traditional arts, twentieth-century prints, drawings, paintings, sculptures and installations, as well as photography, documentary films and video. Through the sustained excellence of its collections, exhibitions, publications and bilingual public programming, El Museo del Barrio reaches out to diverse audiences and serves as a bridge and catalyst between Latinos and Latin Americans, their extraordinary cultural heritage, and the rich artistic offerings of New York City.

El Museo del Barrio is located at 1230 Fifth Avenue between 104th and 105th Streets and may be reached by subway: #6 to 103rd Street station; #2, #3 to Central Park North station or by bus: M1, M3, M4 on Madison and Fifth Avenues to 104th Street; local crosstown service between Yorkville or East Harlem and the Upper West Side in Manhattan M96 and M106 or M2. Museum hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 11AM to 5PM. Closed on Monday and Tuesday. Suggested museum admission: $6 adults; $4 students and seniors; members and children under 12 accompanied by an adult enter free. To learn more about El Museo del Barrio, please visit our website at www.elmuseo.org or call 212-831-7272.

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Sun-Sentinel, Fri, 15 Dec 2006 0:23 AM PST
Execution review ordered
Florida's beleaguered death penalty may have been thrown into limbo Thursday, a day after what critics called the botched execution of a convicted killer from Puerto Rico who took 34 minutes and two doses of lethal drugs to die.

To read more,www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-fexecute15dec15,0,7986524.story?coll=sfla-news-florida

Merry Christmas to all the supporters of the Puerto Rico Sun project.

Check out the beautiful array of photos in the Puerto Rico Sun group at flickr.

Felicidades hoy y siempre.

Clarisel

P.S. Have any ideas for the "PRSUN TV" show (that airs in the Bronx)? Feel free to e-mail me at clarisel@puertoricosun.com.

Health

Ethnic Divide for Diabetes: City's Puerto Ricans Far More Likely to Die
of Illness, Study Says

For more info., visit www.redorbit.com/news/health/758733/ethnic_divide_for_diabetes_citys_puerto_ricans_far_more_likely/index.html?source=r_health

By Judith Graham, Chicago Tribune Dec. 7--Puerto Ricans in Chicago are
three times more likely to die of diabetes than white residents and
almost twice as likely as black residents, according to a study that is
spurring calls for action among community leaders.

Our Little Tree
By Samaris Ayala

My sisters christmas tree
No matter how small or tall
the tree, she always gave us
a tree with much love
To have a small tree
was not an embarrassment
it was really decorated
and loved with much sentiment
My sisters christmas tree
a story possessed each ornament
Even when we were having
a difficult struggle
We never felt we were in trouble
because we had an "arbol."

c 2006 Samaris Ayala

Samaris can be reached at sallypatches@yahoo.com.

Comite Noviembre has several activities for Puerto Rican Heritage Month. Check out www.tiempony.com (current edition page 15) or www.comitenoviembre.org for details.

Note:

There have been problems posting featured photos from flickr directly to this blog.

Feel free to check the Puerto Rico Sun photo group at flickr directly. You will enjoy a wonderful mix of photos by a diverse pool of photographers.

BomPlenazo on PRSUN TV

Highlights of the BomPlenazo extravaganza at Hostos Community College will be featured in the next PRSUN TV to start airing at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Channel 69, Bronxnet. Show repeats at 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 12:30 p.m. Thursdays.

REMINDER: TONIGHT'S THE FUNDRAISER FOR THE Bx3M.

Come Support
YERBABUENA PERFORMING
WINE WILL BE SERVED
Crew and cast members of this exciting new movie by filmmaker Judith Escalona expected to attend.

6-8:30 p.m.
Suggested Donation: $5 minimum
PRdream/MediaNoche, 161 E. 106 St., El Barrio

PRSUN TV Nominated for a BETA Award

PRSUN TV, a cultural arts show that airs on Bronxnet's Channel 69, has been nominated for a Beta award in one or more categories. The Beta awards recognizes the work of independent producers on public access television in the Bronx.

Winners, selected by a panel of judges, will be announced at Bronxnet's Beta award ceremony in November. This is Bronxnet's version of the Emmy awards.

Thanks.

PRSUN TV

Bx3M 161 East 106th Street, First Floor, New York, NY 10029, 212.828.0401


A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Hello, I'm Jaime Sanchez the executive producer of an exciting new film project entitled Bx3M. It's written and directed by Judith Escalona, a fresh talent with a bright future in filmmaking -- if she can acquire the funding to get her projects done. I ought to know. I'm a veteran film and stage actor who played a leading role in Sidney Lumet's The Pawnbroker, and Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch. I also worked directly with Judy as the lead in her short film The Krutch. That film is currently in the film festival circuit.

Bx3M is her new feature-length film project, the story of three Latino youths growing up in a city going up in flames. Think of the Bronx circa 1978, now fast forward to the present. The Bronx looked like a war zone then, thankfully that's changed. What hasn't, and probably never will, is the struggle involved in growing up. Maria, Mona and Michael are adolescents who have to make choices that will change the course of their lives. Like most teens, and I was one of them, they aren't even aware of this profound fact. Two of them will make it, one of them won't. But I don't want to reveal the ending. You'll have to see the film for that and it hasn't been made yet.

That's why I'm writing you today, to ask for your support in getting Bx3M produced. The production team of Clarisel Gonzalez and Izzy Ruiz have been working closely with Judy to put together a fine cast of young actors. The crew too is almost ready to go. All of them are volunteering their time to get this wonderful film made. There are expenses, however, that can't be bartered or deferred. Your contribution will help us meet these costs.

Any contribution you make, whether it's $5 or $5,000, will help and is deeply appreciated. PR Project Inc., a not-for-profit cultural organization, is acting as the fiscal sponsor for Bx3M so that your donations are completely tax-deductible. Actually, I like to think of these donations as an investment in filmmaking that is smart, thought-provoking, and compassionate -- as this project certainly is.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. Should you wish to make a contribution, and I urge you to do so now, please send a check or money order to:

Bx3M
c/o PR Project Inc.
161 East 106th Street, First Floor
New York, NY 10029

The check or money order should be made payable to: “PR Project Inc. (Bx3M)” . Thank you again.

Jaime Sanchez
New York City
October 5, 2006

NEW FILM ABOUT COMING OF AGE IN THE BRONX
SCHEDULED TO BEGIN SHOOTING
FUNDRAISING RECEPTION

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 6PM – 8:30PM AT PRDREAM

New York City, October 9, 2006 – Bx3M begins shooting at the end of October. Written and directed by Judith Escalona, the film is the story of three Latino youths coming of age in a city going up in flames. Think the Bronx circa 1978 or Manhattan 2002. The comparison may not be immediately apparent but urban blight and human suffering are as common today as they were then. So are the youth growing up during those confusing, turbulent years who must make choices that will change the rest of their lives.

The “3M” stands for Maria’s Birthday, Mona’s Move and Michael’s Revenge – the three interlacing stories that together make up Bx3M. Escalona is actually returning home to the “Boogie Down” to make this feature-length movie after spending most of her adult years in Manhattan and abroad. It is her way of coming to terms with what she left behind, according to the director, the “friends who never made it out when the Bronx was burning. And I don’t simply mean the tenements that were torched.”

Real life experiences inform the lives of Maria, Mona and Michael, the fictional characters Escalona has created. She previously wrote and directed The Krutch, a surreal narrative about a Puerto Rican psychoanalyst with an identity problem. The short film stars veteran film actor Jaime Sanchez and is currently on the film festival circuit. Sanchez is Executive Producer of Bx3M. Clarisel Gonzalez and Izzy Ruiz-Calaf are the film’s producers. They grew up and currently live in the Bronx.

Filming is expected to be completed by early next year and post production by early Spring.

Bx3M is sponsored by PR Project Inc., a 501 ( c ) (3) not-for-profit, new media enterprise located in Spanish Harlem. Its mission is to empower community through technology, documenting the Puerto Rican/Latino experience in the U.S. Donations to Bronx3M are welcomed and fully tax-deductible. Visit their web site at www.prdream.com and click on the donations button. By mail, make checks or money orders payable to PR Project Inc. (Bx3M). The mailing address is: Bx3M c/o PR Project Inc., 161 East 106th Street, First Floor, New York, NY 10029.

On Thursday, October 19, between 6PM and 8:30PM, a fundraiser for Bx3M will take place at PRdream, 161 East 106th Street, First Floor, between Lexington and Third Avenues. For more information, call 212.828.0401.

Community calendar

ELLIOT, A SOLDIER’S FUGUE
▪ October 6 - 29, various matinee and evening performances at 3:00 pm, 8:00 pm.
Page 73 Productions (P73)and El Museo del Barrio proudly reprise the critically acclaimed play "Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue" written by Quiara Alegría Hudes and directed by Davis McCallum on the stage of Teatro Heckscher of El Museo. Page 73 Productions first presented the play’s premiere in early 2006 at the Culture Project, where it received critical praise and played to sold-out houses.

Mateo Gomez is Elliot in "A Soldier's Fugue."

"Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue" tells the story of three generations of Puerto Rican men in one family and their experiences in the US military. At 18, Lance Corporal Elliot Ortiz crossed over to Iraq . At 19, he received the Purple Heart. Now, back from active duty, Elliot is a hometown hero. As Elliot comes to terms with his own memories of war, the military experiences of his father and grandfather unfold, revealing startling similarities that unite the Ortiz men across time. As Elliot’s tale moves back in time, the stories of his father, mother and grandfather move forward until past and present collide, wringing love and beauty from devastation.
Admission: $35 per ticket, $25 for El Museo members. Call 212 279 4200 for tickets
or visit www.p73.org.