Month: February 2011

Opinion Editorial: Native Blood in Borikén (Puerto Rico)

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Posted by: “tainonews@uctp.org” tainonews@uctp.org la_voz_taino Tue Feb 22, 2011 2:37 pm (PST) UCTP Taino News – Many of us are by now aware that in the year 2000 a DNA study was done that proved scientifically the continued presence of Native American descendants in Borikén (Puerto Rico). The results of the study showed that approximately 62% of the island’s population is of indigenous descent on via their maternal line. This news created an uproar – mostly from those who denied that our indigenous ancestors had survived the Caribbean ‘holocaust’. On the positive side…

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Preserving Our Traditional Puerto Rican Cuisine

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Eris Carriga

Preserving our traditional Puerto Rican cuisine. . . by Erisbelia Garriga Traditional Puerto Rican Food Each ethnic group considers its own typical cuisine as the best food in the world.  At the same time virtually all cuisines have had foreign influence.  Puerto Rican cuisine has been no different, with contributions from Spanish, French, African and more recently American food.  One pillar of Puerto Rican cooking is its seasoning, sofrito, which gives it its distinctive flavor. I was born and raised in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.  I grew up among women who…

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Elizabeth Baez – Puerto Rican Artist

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Puerto Rico its sites and the culture are my greatest influence. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, the great city of many tall grey buildings that cast cool shades and shadows. When I was 12 years old, we moved to Puerto Rico. This was a total contrast! It was like someone turned on the light switch of the sun. Sun and light everywhere, I saw what seemed to be 100 different kinds of greens; as in the inspired paintingPalmas del Rio. Bold rich colors everywhere! Even the soil has…

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Vejigante Masks – Vejigante de Ponce

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Carnivals and festivals are very important traditions in Puerto. Such festivals are religious in nature and represent the fight between what is good and what is evil. It is a blending of Caribbean, Spanish and African customs. Rich in culture and heritage, vejigante masks, St. James the Apostle and the cities of Loiza and Ponce play very important roles in the vejigantes of Puerto Rico. There are three major festivals in Puerto Rico. They are the Carnival of Ponce, St James Festival, and the Hatillo Mask Festival of the Holy…

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