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When I was a child and living in Puerto Rico, a long time ago that is, there were acerola bushes everywhere. You could find them on the side of the road, by pastures, en el monte, by the beach, and in peoples yards. They are called West Indian Cherries in English. Acerolas are sweet and tart as well.

Acerola is a large, relatively fast growing bushy shrub or small tree (to 15 feet). Fruits are round to oblate, cherry-like but with 3 lobes. They are bright red (rarely yellow-orange) with thin skin, easily bruised. The pulp is juicy, acid to sub-acid occasionally nearly sweet, with a delicate flavor and apple notes. The fruit is very high in Vitamin C, up to 4,000 mg per 100 g fresh weight, but typically around 1,500 mg C. Green fruits have twice the Vitamin C level of mature fruits. Fruits develop to maturity in less than 25 days. Seeds typically three with fluted wings, forming a triangle. Many aspects of seed viability have not been studied.

Doesn’t this picture make your mouth water? acerola – grows wild in the island Siempre Boricua, Ivonne Figueroa JULY 2005 JULY 2005 EL BORICUA PAGE 2

EL BORICUA is Published by: - Editors and Contributors - BORICUA PUBLICATIONS El Paso, TX 79936

©1995-2005 Boricua Publications All articles are the property of Boricua Publications or the property of its authors.

Javier Figueroa -El Paso , TX Publisher Ivonne Figueroa - El Paso, TX Carmen Santos de Curran Executive Editor & Gen. Mgr. Food Editor & Executive Chef Luis R. Claudio Boricua Sports Editor Dolores Flores – Dallas, TX Language Editor

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Search for us in Tere Matthews EBSCO Library Database. Desiree Collazo Poet Laureate Journalism Intern of EL BORICUA A la orden . . . .

Cassie López Midge Pellicier Who’s Who Editor Contributing Editor

Advisory Panel Members EL BORICUA is a monthly cultural publication, established in 1995, that is Puerto Rican owned and Paul Figueroa operated. We are NOT sponsored by any club or Dolores M. Flores organization. Our goal is to present and promote our Carmen Santos Curan "treasure" which is our Cultural Identity - “the Puerto Javier M. Figueroa Rican experience.” EL BORICUA is presented in Fernando Alemán English and is dedicated to the descendants of Puerto José Castellanos Ricans wherever they may be. Ivette Farah Mildred Lanie JULY 2005 EL BORICUA PAGE 3

La Tiendita

Visit la isla . . .

Have you ever visited the Park of Camuy River Caverns? Or walked through the beautiful State Forest of Río Abajo, Cambalache, or Guajataca? Have you ever fixed your eyes upon the red earth where the pineapples are planted between Barceloneta and Manatí? If you have answered yes, you have been in the Puerto Rican karst region.

The karst is that region of limestone, which is characterized by subterranean rivers, mogotes, sinkholes, canyons, valleys and caves. Mogotes are tall beehive-shaped hills of limestone, often covered by dense forest. Millions of Trabalenguas . . . years ago sediments and skeletons of marine organisms accumulated at the bottom of shallow seas and eventually hardened to form limestone. Geological Paco Peco, chico rico, movement elevated the limestone to the surface. Through time, the tropical le gritabá como loco climate with its intense rains and flash floods sculptured the limestone to create a su tío Federico. a spectacular topography of mogote karst, channels, cliffs, caves, caverns, Y éste le dijo: depressions, sinkholes, and an enormous network of tunnels and cracks. Lots -¡Poco a poco, Paco Peco, poco pico of water circulates through and accumulates in these underground formations. The rain, which falls in the karst zone rapidly travels from the recharge areas (such as sinkholes, fractures, and cracks) and is conducted underground to the discharge points (springs and water holes). In many places, these conduits are Refrán Puertorriqueño . . . . in fact caves, created by that very same flow of water. Al que se muda, Dios lo ayuda. The karst topography can be observed in the northern section of the island between Loíza and Aguada. We can also see isolated karst outcroppings at other points throughout the main island such as Aguas Buenas, Cayey and Cabo Rojo, as well as on the adjacent islands of Mona and Vieques. YOUR AD

The karst region occupies some 617 square miles, approximately 20 percent of Puerto Rico's total land mass. This is the area where the conical topography of the mogotes is most developed, particularly to the west of the Río La Plata. FITS HERE The karst region contains our greatest source of underground water. Practically all the municipalities from Dorado to Hatillo and the industries located there utilize these reserves. Many of the northern rivers and other BORICUA . . . bodies of water also receive a significant part of their volume from these underground fountains. is a powerful word. It is our history, The karst provides a habitat for many species of plants and animals, including it is our cultural affirmation, some species that are rare, vulnerable, or facing extinction. A walk through the it is a declaration, karst region permits one to observe beautiful plants including rain palms, fan it is a term of endearment, palms, broom palms, rose trees, little three horned devils, and several types of it is poetic . . . orchids. If looking for animal life, one may have the opportunity to observe ...... it is us. Puerto Rican boas, several species of bats, blue tailed iguanas, forest guaraguaos, the beautiful San Pedritos, and many other species. Read interesting island trivia . . . Printed with permission. at Photos of Puerto Rico.com JULY 2005 EL BORICUA PAGE 4

July 3, 1935 Cheo Feliciano, musician - dob

Gerardo Rivera, Lawyer and TV personality - July 4, 1943 dob

July 9, 1909 Gilberto Concepción de Gracia was a founder and first president of the Partido A Walk through the Rainforest Independentista Puertorriqueño. Born in By: Alexa Fernández, Staff Writer Vega Alta Concepción received several degrees in Puerto Rico and the US. He died We walked the concrete path in El Yunque. in San Juan on March 15, 1968. I remembered the trail. Last time we did this was two years ago: my mother, Chrissy, and I, huffing July 17, Luis Muñoz Rivera, poet, speaker, journalist, and puffing, feeling a cold dampness as we walked at 1859 politician, head of the pro-statehood Liberal a 45-degree angle. Most of the trail was like this; we Party. Muñoz Rivera served as Resident were exhausted and exhilarated when we reached the Commisioner in Washington. He was born in peak. Although it was the lowest peak, it was an Barranquitas and died in San Juan in 1916. accomplishment in itself, this ascension to glimpse above the trees of this vast rainforest. July 17, José S. Alegría, poet, writer, lawyer, and Now I climbed the trail again, while my 1886 politician, became the president of the Puerto mother waited in the car with my niece and nephew. Rican Nacionalist Party, and director of the Mónica, Liza, and David joined me on the trail. We Puerto Rican Insitute of Hispanic Culture. wondered how the concrete was brought up here to Alegría died in San Juan in 1965. make this trail. The plants were huge - parts of the July 17, Juan Alejo de Arizmendi y de la Torre was a trail were damp from the mist of the rainforest. The 1757 Catholic priest who became Puerto Rico's coquies sang their songs, some at a higher pitch than first native Bishop. others. It was pointless to locate them; I have never seen one in all of the years that we had gone to July 21, Jesús T. Piñero is appointed first native Puerto Rico. But what lovely music! We listened 1946 governor of Puerto Rico. for the next one to sing. We stopped to rest, careful not to step out of the trail - at some points, it was the July 22, Aida Alvarez was appointed by President only surface to walk on. We met other hikers and 1949 Clinton in 1997 to head the Small Business tourists who were on their way down, many of them Administration or SBA. She became the first told us that we didn’t have long to go. These Latina to head the SBA and the first Boricua strangers comforted us with words of to be appointed to a cabinet position. Alvarez encouragement. is from Aguadilla. We reached the tower. I felt revived and alive. We climbed the last few steps to claim our July 25, U.S. invades Puerto Rico through the port at reward: the view. It was breathtaking - both because 1898 Guánica of the altitude and the sights. Only air surrounded The Puerto Rican Flag, designed in the later us, like the air that encloses a bird in flight. A mist July 25, part of the 1800's, becomes the island's hung in the air - it caused a calming feeling that 1952 made people in the tower speak in whispers and low official flag. tones. When I turned to see the view from different July 25, angles I could see where the mist began, how it Puerto Rico's Constitution Day 1952 passed over the trees. The air up there was cool, damp, and windy - the perfect ending to a long hike July 27, Dr. José Celso Barbosa, physician, that left us sweating and panting for fresh air. I 1857 journalist, and politician, was a founder and didn’t want to leave, but it was getting dark and the head of the pro-statehood Puerto Rican trail would be treacherous with no light to guide us. Republican Party. We left with the promise that next time, we would continue to the highest peak. JULY 2005 EL BORICUA PAGE 5

Las Fiestas Patronales Nuestros Símbolos Patrios by Midge Pellicier, Contributing Editor

Son nuestros símbolos patrios I lived in the island twelve years; from first grade through La bandera, y el escudo High School, then I returned to the states. Therefore, my La flor de maga, del patio memories and/or anecdotes from the island are mostly from Y el anuro coquí menudo a young person’s point of view. Son nuestros símbolos patrios Los que nos dan la constancia Every town in Puerto Rico celebrates their own “Fiestas De que somos borincanos Patronales”, yet there seems to be something special and Aun estando a la distancia magical about the ones in one’s own town; for some reason we always think they are “the best in the island”. Of course, Nos recuerda la bandera... I will not be the exception. Although nowadays there seems No amonesta el coquí to be a festival for everything, back when I was growing up Que existe una cordillera in Cabo Rojo, “Las Fiestas Patronales” were it! All year Donde crece el lindo alelí

long we anxiously awaited the last week of September, not Un Yunque lleno de helechos because I was from a religious family that would be going De orquídeas y de cundiamores to mass for San Miguel Arcángel during those designated De floresta, siendo el barbecho ten days, but because I could not wait to get on the rides, De la fauna en sus alrededores walk around “La Plaza” at night, listen to our island’s best musicians and perhaps get a glimpse at the singing star of Al mirar la flor de maga the moment. Nos proyecta a la belleza De los ríos, las montañas Y a la flora de mi tierra “Las Fiestas”, were the perfect opportunity to find anyone

who was in town yet you had not seen in a while. Everyone, El escudo, nuestra herencia rich or poor, made an effort to go to “La Plaza del pueblo”. Dejada por los españoles As a youngster, you suffered the stress of having your De Isabel I, la Católica, reina parents declare “We are not going tonight!” Oh! To hear Quien envío los galeones that was like having a spear pierce through your heart! It was like murder! Devastating! The worse thing that could Una herencia que nos trajo Nuestra raza en tres colores happen to anyone! (Well, that is how it felt to me!) Taínos con tapa rabos ¡Blancos¡, y ¡negros bembones! “Las Fiestas” always began on a Friday. The anticipation started working its way up as soon as you saw the carnies Trayendo cual resultado assemble the gigantic machines: the carrousel, the tempest, Un producto, puro, isleño the flying chairs, the worm, the Ferris wheel and all the Compasivo, bueno, honrado kiddie rides. “Los kioskos” surrounded “La Plaza” as well ¡El jíbaro Puertorriqueño...!

as “las picas” (gambling huts that really had nothing more © Manuel Jordán than a small roulette with tiny horses on top). The atmosphere in “el pueblo” also changed. People spoke [email protected] about the bands that were coming, the shops in town all had great bargains as everyone wanted to look their best. It was a time where you wanted to “tirarte la tela” (dress up). On that first Friday, you prayed the rain would be forgiving. → continues on page 8

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Our PRIMOS section journeys through Hispanic America celebrating the culture and heritage of our cousins. Take a tour with us through the rest of beautiful Latino America.

SQUASH - SPICED SQUASH SOUP Serves 8

2 tbsp. butter 2 medium onions, chopped 2 medium carrots, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 cup tomato puree 2 fresh, hot chilies, seeded and chopped 2.5 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cubed 5 cups low-sodium, chicken broth (remove fat) Pepper to taste Paraguay very small amount of salt (optional) lime wedges Borders Argentina, Bolivia & Brazil

In a large, non-aluminum saucepan, warm the butter The Paraguay River divides the country into sharply contrasting over medium heat. Stir in the onions, carrots, and regions, namely, in the west, the Gran Chaco, or Paraguay Occidental, garlic. Cook for 3 minutes and then cover the pan. and in the east, Paraguay proper, or Paraguay Oriental. The Gran Lower heat and cook for 3 or 4 more minutes, until Chaco is part of an alluvial plain that extends from Paraguay into the vegetables are very tender. Bolivia on the west, Argentina on the south, and Brazil on the east. Grassy plains, swamps, and scrub forests cover the area. Stir in the tomato puree, chilies, butternut squash, and chicken broth. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes. Paraguay proper consists mainly of the southern extension of the Paraná plateau. This elevation, from 300 to 600 m (1,000 to 2,000 ft) Mash the squash pieces with a potato masher or the high, forms a watershed that gives rise to numerous tributaries of the back of a spoon (the soup does not need to be Paraguay and Paraná rivers. On its western edge the plateau falls off completely smooth), season to taste (optional) and sharply to a region of fertile grassy foothills toward the Paraguay serve. River; in the east it descends gradually toward the Paraná River. The main rivers are the Paraná, the Paraguay, and the Pilcomayo. Lake Pass lime wedges to be squeezed into each bowl of Ypoa is the only large inland body of water. Among Paraguay’s many soup. spectacular waterfalls is Guaira Falls.

Guaira Falls Twice the size of Niagara Falls, the cascades at Guaira descend 130 ft/40 m. Though this waterfall is less convenient to get to than better-known Iguacu Falls (80 mi/130 km south), the trip is worth the effort. Check locally to see if a half-day boat trip is running between Iguacu and Guaira - we thoroughly enjoyed that relaxing journey through beautiful scenery. 220 mi/355 km northeast of Asunción. JULY 2005 EL BORICUA PAGE 7

Arte Boricua by: Nellie Escalante-Dumberger

Aixa Requena: Transforming Images

Aixa Requena is one of the most prominent artists among the younger generation of Puerto Ricans. Her work is characterized by her experimentation with various media such as the technique of printing photographs on canvas, installation art, and video. Her subjects tend to be a nostalgic and an evocative representation of the vitality and sensuality that characterize the Caribbean and its people.

Aixa Requena was born in San Juan in 1951. She earned a Bachelors of Arts from the University of Puerto Rico and then continued her studies at the Art Student’s League in San Juan, the studio of Maestro Fran Cervoni, and the Fine Arts School of Puerto Rico. In 2003 she obtained her MA from Hunter College in New York. Fig 1 Espectro

Espectro/Ghost, 1994 (FIG. 1), is one such work that combines photography and painting. It is a photographic emulsion on canvas where the photo is printed onto the canvas and then painted over. The image, a woman in a sleeveless, dress tilting her head sideways, and holding a hat, truly appears like an apparition walking through the layers of paint toward the viewer. The texture that embodies the paint, scratches and cloud like silhouettes, create an otherworldly aura, a perfectly suitable environment for this ghost. On the top and bottom of the work, a fabric- like pattern emerges which brings the viewer back to reality.

The concept of texture continues to be part of Requena’s work in 2001 where she showed a group of photo-based paintings for an exhibition titled, Antilles Textures at Lehman College Gallery in the Bronx. The works capture glimpses of Fig 2 the rich tapestry of life on the island of Puerto Rico, weaving together the threads of Spanish, African, American, and indigenous culture and history. Window-like frames in her paintings reveal domestic scenes, which are viewed as vignettes (FIG. 2). In other works, historical events are interwoven with personal imagery. Drawn from a “theater of memory,” Requena recreates a sense of place and time. She is a storyteller who weaves tales and allows the viewer to complete the narrative.

Requena’s patchwork style of creating where she combines various mediums is further explored in another work titled Between Spaces (FIG. 3, detail), which was exhibited in 2002 in El Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. Between Spaces is an installation (an artwork made for a specific space), which takes us across the Atlantic to New York, where the artist lives. It includes the moving image, along with photography, paint, and newspaper clippings. Requena’s process is as Fig 3 Between Spaces interesting as the artwork itself. She filmed a video titled Subway, which included subway footage from before and after the events of September 11. She then took scenes from the video and worked them onto aluminum plates using pigments and photo emulsion. She also minimally included paint in metallic tones and newspaper clippings related to September 11. On a large aluminum panel, she then projected the subway video. Aluminum is a constant in Between Spaces, a direct allusion to the steel covering the subways in the city. This poetic response to September 11 explores the concept of city and solitude. The work is also made more poignant with the passing of time since the taking of photos and video footage are now prohibited making the installation fleeting, an illusion conjured up by memory, typical of the installation medium and of Requena’s work in general. Fig 4 Encrucijada → continues on page 8

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Fiestas Patronales – continued from page 5 ArteBoricua – continued from page 7 Encrucijada/Crossroads is a more up-to-date exhibition Being in the middle of hurricane season you could almost which was presented in 2004 at The Institute of Puerto Rican guarantee that it would pour, not just rain. During the day at Culture in San Juan.. Here, Requena unveils her most recent school, we all spoke about who was going, where we would explorations in multimedia in which she fuses video with meet, felt sorry for the ones that already knew were not going digital photography. As she utilizes the manipulative ability of the digital process to transform images, the artist alters video and thanked God for the additional chance of getting to see footage to conceive undefined images such as appear in the boy we liked. As a teenager, you also prayed the bands be dreams, “provoking a sense of melancholic nostalgia whose so good and famous that your parents decided to go everyday, origin is distance and migration.” FIG. 4, depicting a nude yet you could consider yourself lucky if they chose to go the person crawling on sand, is an example of this artistic method. two weekends. Transitory images such as those from memory, dreams and the unconscious continue to resurface in Requena’s work. In her By late afternoon, we were on our best behavior, I would early work the image moved slowly through the textured paint. convince (almost begged) my sister Mickey to do everything Later, she combined images on a two dimensional surface to create narrative. As her images refused to remain stagnant, she was supposed to and not get into trouble (Mickey never moving images were then incorporated into her work evoking cared whether she got in trouble or not; to this day nothing movement, distance, and migration. Finally, as these images ever troubles nor stops her and the word “stress” does not continued to flood her work, they caused her to push the exist in her vocabulary!) By the time my mom got home from envelope further and now alter them to create her own reality. By using and combining various techniques and artistic work, everything was done and the clock was not fast enough mediums, Requena brings about her own vision. This, to me, for me. My mom would make the “Get ready” announcement, exemplifies the process of life as one takes bits and pieces of which Mickey and I were more than happy to comply with various experiences and combines them to form one’s own and soon we would be on our way. After the odyssey of reality. finding a parking spot in our small town, which had the In 2002, Aixa Requena was invited as one, of among five, capacity of flipping my mother’s mood like a light switch and Latin American artists to exhibit their work at the International elevating my stress level in fear of her wanting to turn back, Painting Fair in Geneva. In 1996 she was asked to represent we walked towards “La Plaza”. The mixture of smells Puerto Rico at the Fifth Annual International Painting Biennial in Cuenca, Ecuador. Requena’s work has been displayed in welcomed you; pizza, candied apples (nothing like the ones in numerous solo and group exhibitions around the world, “Las Fiestas”), cotton candy, “pinchos”, “bacalaítos”, including France, Venezuela, Spain, Washington D.C., and “empanadillas”. We always went to the “kiosko” of the Police Haiti. Athletic League since I had been an active member from childhood. After the effussive hellos I would patiently await a Nellie Escalante-Dumberger, editor of Arte Boricua, formerly reasonable amount of time (while scouting the hundreds of worked at El Museo del Barrio and is a lover of the arts..." She faces to see if I spotted one of my friends) and asked for is a lecturer on Puerto Rican art. permission for the traditional “vueltas” (walk around). That was as typical of “Las Fiestas” as the rides themselves! Once you arrived, the big thing was to walk around the perimeter of Physical Geography - Puerto Rico is mountainous. The Central Mountains extend almost the entire length “La Plaza”, over and over again, until the music of the main of the island. The average elevation of these mountains, band began. The older adults would bring their lawn chairs which include the Cordillera Central and the Sierra de and place them near the stage, while others just stood there Luquillo, is about 915 m (about 3000 ft). Although the waiting for the show, but most younger people went for “las mountains and adjacent foothills cover most of Puerto Rico, on the North side of the island lies a coastal plain vueltas”. That is how you had the chance of seeing people you up to about 19 km (about 12 mi) wide, and a narrower had not seen in a while. You also saw people that you knew coastal plain up to about 13 km (about 8 mi) wide had to have come from the countryside. Humble people you extends along the Southern coast. For most of its length knew had not gone shopping in years and wore what they the mountain system is nearer the South coast than the North coast, and the slopes are generally steeper on the thought was their fanciest. Men in suits that smelled like moth South side. At the East end of the island, however, the balls, with a white tie, white socks and white shoes, hair mountains curve toward the NE corner. → continued on page 10 JULY 2005 EL BORICUA PAGE 9

Let’s take a quick look at the league and see what the Sports Report Boricuas are doing out there… Benjamín and his brother José Molina are involved in numerous charities and community activities, including Angels' Elementary School Visit program, Angels' Hispanic outreach program and area youth baseball clinics in the Los Angeles area. Sandy Alomar is hanging out in Dallas now. He is currently playing with the By: Luis R. Claudio Rangers filling some big shoes that Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez Dallas, Texas left behind. Sandy is currently the only Boricua on the squad but he has a lot of Dominicans to keep him company! Just got released from jail in San Antonio in time to write this article… man was I having fun celebrating the San Antonio The Yankees now have two Boricua’s behind the plate with Spurs’ victory when the local constable decided that I had Wilberto (Wil) Nieves assisting Jorge Posada with his duties enough… well being the ever so astute individual that I am… though Wil is not on the current active roster. Ray Sánchez, I told “Señor Autoridad” that I had not had enough fun yet Bernie and Rubén are the other Boricuas wearing pin stripes. and further more, I knew my rights… the women that swore JC Romero is playing in Minnesota. That place is so cold, I to honor, obey and make sure I had clean underwear in case of saw a lawyer with his hands in his own pockets the other day. an accident, finally paid the bail and so here I am… What on earth would motivate a Boricua to play in such a place? Iván Rodríguez has found a home in Detroit. Not too much reading about Puerto Rico sports there at San Antonio’s municipal jail… so I had to hurry home and find Hey got to shut this thing down for this month. Not to out what is going on in sports…It looks like Carlos “Beat the mention the fact that I have to return this orange jumpsuit USA Olympic Team” Arroyo will be staying with the Pistons back to the folks at the San Antonio Municipal Jail. They for at least another season. Now I have never played were great host, very cordial and not too shabby a place to basketball in my life…something about those baggy shorts stay if you are in San Antonio and want to overdo your fun that just don’t attract me… any juey, so the way I see it, its and games. See ya next month. pretty simple math. You sit on a bench with your legs crossed so as not to expose anything through those baggy shorts, and Luis R. Claudio you collect a nice chequesito…is that not our way or what? …hey, hey, hold the hate mail, it’s only a joke! Oh hey by the way, Carlos Arroyo will become a dad in August of this year; he and his wife are expecting a baby girl.

Have you noticed that since my “compueblano” Carlos Beltrán arrived in New York, the Yankees have been embarrassed all over the place…The Mets have their number, This report is a courtesy of Luis R. Claudio, a native of Tampa Bay does too…it seems that even that New Jersey Guánica, Puerto Rico, now in Dallas working as General little league team with the over-aged Dominican pitcher can Manager for a telecommunications company. Luis and his beat the Yankees nowadays… Bernie Williams is not doing wife have three boys. Luis coaches an amateur baseball team too well. Lately he has been struggling in Center Field… for college age kids in Dallas, Texas. For more information maybe he needs to get back to the Salsa dance floor with visit http://www.elboricua.com/Claudio.html Rubén (Sierra)…y dice Kinito “Honey, tú sí joni…” Wepa a bailar merengue!

Just in case you were a couple of cells down from me in San Antonio, last Saturday Iván Calderón (the boxer not the difunto) defeated Mexico’s Gerardo “Diablito” Verde. Calderón came out very aggressive, not too typical of his boxing style. He moved towards Verde constantly, like me after that last piece of “pollo”, scoring numerous points in his relentless attack. In the end, Calderón connected with at least 162 punches and threw over 600. Twelve rounds later Calderón was the winner… Is it possible that he heard me complain about those other two, John and Tito? I hope so cause I sleep better when we win! JULY 2005 EL BORICUA PAGE 10

Cardinal Aponte Martínez August 4, 1922 - Present

Cardinal Luis Aponte Martínez was born in the Puerto Rican town of Lajas. Lajas is situated on the south-west side of the island is known as "La Ciudad Cardenalicia" and was founded in 1883 by Teodoro Jácome Pagán. He is the second Puerto Rican Bishop and our first Cardinal.

Cardinal Aponte is the first Puerto Rican in history to be consecrated Cardinal of the Catholic Church. His love of religion, which is very strong, started at a very early age in his life. His parents were devout Catholics who had many children, and in turn passed down the love of their faith to their children. Aponte Martínez started his religious career as an altar boy in the town parish. This experience was the inspiration that ultimately led to Aponte Martínez’ decision to choose the vocation of the priesthood.

As he matured, Aponte Martínez began his studies at the Seminary of San Cardinal Luis Aponte Martínez Juan. Upon completing his studies at the Seminary, he traveled to the First Puerto Rican Cardinal United States to further study at the Seminary of Saint John located in of the Catholic Church → Brighton, Massachusetts. During his time spent at the Seminary of Saint John he simultaneously attended the University of Boston in Massachusetts. Additionally, Aponte Martínez also went on to earn his doctorate degree from the Seminary of Saint Leo, in Florida. At last, after years of studying, his dream of becoming ordained into the priesthood became a reality when in 1950 he was ordained in San Germán.

Fiestas Patronales – continued from page 8 Following his ordination, Aponte Martínez would go on to serve as the slicked down by “brillantina” and combed to superintendent of the Catholic Schools for the diocesan of Ponce and also the side. Ladies with such flowery dresses as the Chancellor of the Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico for a period that they seemed to have made the dress out of ten years. During this time he also served as Chaplain for the Puerto Rican National Guard. of their table cloth, wearing “zapatacones”

whose platforms evidenced the unpaved trail The second biggest moment in the life of Aponte Martínez took place on they had to walk to make it to “Las Fiestas”. October 12, 1960. It is on this day that he would become the second It is those people I recall the most, not the Puerto Rican to be consecrated a Coadjutor Bishop. A Coadjutor Bishop is a Bishop or Archbishop that has been appointed by the Pope. His duties famous singers, not the people with their are to assist a diocesan Bishop or Archbishop with any duties within the fashionable clothes from the mall or the diocese. They are also given automatic right to succession if the one they shops in town, but those “jibaritos” that are assisting passes away, retires, or resigns. Aponte Martínez was came from afar to enjoy “Las Fiestas” of San recommended for this magnificent opportunity by Cardinal Francis Spellman of New York. Miguel Arcángel. Picturesque people that

perhaps no longer exist, yet they will live The opportunity of all opportunities for someone who is devoting himself forever in the minds of those of us who to the church finally happened in the spring of 1973. On March 5, 1973 ended up making our lives far away from our Pope Paul VI honored Aponte Martínez by appointing him a Cardinal. While bestowed such an honor he still managed to hold his town, yearning for those moments in position as the President of the Board of Directors of the Catholic nostalgia while experiencing the same University of Puerto Rico and also as the President of the Latin American sensation we felt on the tenth day of Episcopal Conference. Cardinal Aponte Martínez was also instrumental in celebration, that last Sunday, where as we the preparations pertaining to his holiness Pope John Paul II’s visit to Puerto Rico in 1984. left “La Plaza”, we knew, we would have to

wait another year to come alive again. Cardinal Aponte Martínez retired from his religious career in 1999.

Cassie López Who’s Who Editor JULY 2005 EL BORICUA PAGE 11

The Rican Chef

OREGANO

Orégano can be grown easily at home in your garden or in planters, so hopefully you have fresh orégano available to you. Most grocery stores now carry fresh orégano in the produce department. Purchased fresh orégano should be rich green in color and not the least bit limp. Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can extend the life of fresh orégano by storing whole stems with leaves in a glass of water with a plastic bag loosely tented over the glass in your refrigerator. I stick a bamboo skewer in the glass to hold the bag up. Fresh orégano may also be frozen, but I don’t recommend it. It is readily available in the garden or store. mailto:[email protected] To dry fresh orégano, tie sprigs into a bunch and hang in a cool, dark place with good ventilation. Once dried, seal tightly and store Asopao de Gandules away from sunlight. This is better than the store bought orégano. For the most part, dried common orégano sold in your grocery store is 16 oz. frozen, or canned gandules (pigeon peas) actually a mixture of different varieties of orégano combined with 1 cup medium rice marjoram and thyme. 3-4 tbsp. sofrito 2 oz. cooking ham, diced All dried herbs should be kept in a cool, dark place in a tightly 2 oz. Salted pork, diced sealed container and used within six months. It won't go bad if kept 1½ tbsp. achiote oil longer, but the color and flavor will deteriorate greatly with time. 8-10 Manzanilla olives 1 tsp. alcaparras - capers ½ tsp. crushed dried oregano Orégano cooking tips: 1 tomato, chopped 6-8 culantro leaves or some cilantro Fresh orégano leaves are always the first choice when possible. ¼ cup tomato sauce Remove and discard the stem. 2½ qts. water When using orégano in a bouquet garni, do not strip leaves from Saute the ham and salted pork in a deep heavy pot. the sprigs. Just tie it up with the rest of the herbs. Bring the heat down to low and add the sofrito and Orégano can become overpowering and bitter if too much is used saute for 5-8 minutes to blend the flavors well. Add on mildly flavored odds. A little goes a long way. the capers, olives, rinsed rice, and gandules and stir to introduce the flavors again. If you find you are out of orégano, marjoram can be substituted. Use 1/2 the amount of orégano called for. Basil, savory, and thyme Add the water to the rice mixture with gandules, add can also be substituted. the crushed dried orégano and stir well. Bring the heat Orégano goes well in almost all tomato dishes. It also up to medium and cook the soup uncovered for 20-30 minutes. The soup will thicken as it cooks. Remove compliments meats and vegetables like lamb or zucchini. from the stove when it starts to thicken. When using dried orégano, crush it in the palm of your hand before adding to the food. This helps release essential oils and revive Serve as soon as possible with pan de manteca or flavor. sobao on the side – or tostones.

Tips 1 tbsp. fresh orégano = 1 tsp. dried. The soup will continue to thicken if you leave it on the heated stove, so remove it as soon as it starts to 1 ounce fresh orégano = 1/2 cup chopped. thicken.

JULY 2005 EL BORICUA PAGE 12

musical tribute to his late father. This was just Paoli on bongos, and his piano player. This was a demonstration of his skill at the “repique”or soloing on the bongos. The band went into a jazzy version of the classic “Oye Como Va”, ending with a rousing Bomba that threw the crowd into a frenzy.

The man pulled it off live, and in front of his own people here in San Juan, an audience which knows its music, its roots, and how it should be played.

The CD “Mi Tambor” is Paoli’s first release as a bandleader and is just as exciting as seeing him perform live. It is very well recorded, and the songs flow throughout. The band was well rehearsed and it shows. This music is very intricate to begin with and leaves no room for wandering or drifting

Paoli Mejías The CD opens with a salsa, “Cuidado con la percusión” the Puerto Rican Percussion Sensation only salsa on the record, and a nod to his years in the salsa trenches, paying his dues. To come out of Puerto Rico today as a conga player, bandleader and release a new CD to back it up, takes exceptional talent, a “Revelation” is an Afro-Jazz piece written by sax player lot of confidence, and a strong combination of the two. Paoli Miguel Zenón, another up and coming Puerto Rican phenom. Mejías has got what it takes, and also knows that his time has Zenón plays on and arranged a lot of the songs on the record. come. The selections “Evidence”, Öye Como Va”, take us through A Río Piedras native son, the 35 year old developed a keen Latin Jazz territory, and “Hello Nany”, is a piano bongo sense and deep awareness of percussion as his means of duet, which displays great musicianship. _expression while listening and playing along with local ‘rumberos’ as a young man in the San Juan area, which in itself The Plena is well represented in “Dance” with some of San is a hotbed of musical talent. Juans best ‘pleneros’ backing up the band, leading right into “Lo que dice el Tambor” a Bomba featuring Yuba-Ire a full Paoli spent years playing and studying the complex rhythms and blown Bomba band. A dazzling example of how it’s done!!! beats of the Afro-Cuban traditions, as well as immersing himself in the Bomba y Plena culture. He appeared along with some of The record winds down with a duet with Paoli and an Indian Puerto Rico’s top artists as a sideman and a sought after studio tabla player. Again showing his strong influence by world player. Having toured and recorded with Eddie Palmieri for over music, which is evident throughout the CD. The final cut is a eight years, exposed Paoli to world music and gave him some tribute to Tito in a great timbal solo. international recognition as a percussionist to watch. He recorded on the Grammy winning “Masterpiece” with Tito Paoli Mejías is a musician that has matured into a master Puente and Palmieri, impeccable credentials in the realm of percussionist, and is ready to take to the world stages to Latin music. represent Puerto Rico.

To showcase his new CD “Mi Tambor”, Paoli presented Paoli says it best when he says “escucha Mi Tambor”!!! himself as frontman of his own quintet at this years Heineken JazzFest. Surrounded by four congas, a djembe, and an array of percussion instruments, he took the crowd on a voyage of discovery. James Nadal Opening on the djembe, with an Arabian flavored number, Music Editor for El Boricua there was no looking back. He took us from there on an Puerto Rico extended plena done at rapid fire pace. The next piece was “Mandingo mondongo”a very African rooted display of his arsenal. Thus showing his knowledge and ability to execute and use polyrhythms at will. This was followed by “Hello Nany” a