♪ ♫ Coqui...Coqui ♫ ♪

September 23,

El Grito de Lares

The Cry of Lares

         

El Grito de Lares was Puerto Rico's first and only call for independence as a revolt against Spain. Organized by Ramon Emeterio Betances and Segundo Ruiz Belvis, 600 to 1000 men met on September 23, 1868, at a farm in Pezuelas, Lares, where they planned on creating a new, independent, Puerto Rico Republic. While the group met little to no resistance in taking Lares, the following day they were defeated by the Spainish in San Sebastion. After twelve years of planning the revolution would last only 24 hours. Puerto Rico would remain under Spanish rule until 1898, where under the Treaty of Paris the island was ceded to the US. Puerto Ricans became US citizens in 1917.Celebration of this day was outlawed in Puerto Rico by the Spanish and Americans at different times. The issue of independence is still a hot topic in the island. A referendum on the issue of independence, statehood, or continuance will take place on November 6 of this year. While the day is not declared a national holiday, it is widly recognised. Hundreds of people visit the Lares plaza to mark the occasion, and Puerto Ricans in the states host events in large cities such as Chicago and New York.

Salude Puerto Rico...Me Encanta la Isla Del Encanto!

Piña Colada

The national drink of Puerto Rico since 1978, this delicious beverage was created in San Juan during the 1950 and/or 60'ss. There are two bars that credit themselves with the invention of the cocktail. Barrachina in Old San Juan boasts a plaque claiming it was there that head bartender, Ramon Portas Mingot, created the drink in 1963.

Another popular belief is that the creamy concoction was created by bartender Ramón Marrero, while working as the head bartender at the Caribe Hilton International Hotel, the most popular hotel in Puerto Rico among the 1950s. The drink was originally made using Don Q rum and Coco Lopez coconut cream, can't get more Puerto Rican than that! After spending months perfecting the recipe, Mr. Marrero is said to have sold the first piña colada on August 15, 1954.

Ingredients:

 2 ½ oz. Rum (Don Q)

 2 oz Cream of Coconut (Coco Lopez

2 oz Pineapple Juice

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender with ice

Blend...duh?!

Pour into cup of your choice....go all the way and serve in a coconut!

Garnish with a pineapple and a cherry

Delicioso!

La Borinqueña

National Anthem of Puerto Rico

La tierra de Borinquen donde he nacido yo es un jardín florido de mágico primor. Un cielo siempre nítido le sirve de dosel y dan arrullos plácidos las olas a sus pies. Cuando a sus playas llegó Colón exclamó lleno de admiración: "Oh!, oh!, oh!, ésta es la linda tierra que busco yo." Es Borinquen la hija, la hija del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol.

The land of Borinquen where I have been born is a flowery garden of magical beauty. A constantly clear sky serves as its canopy and placid lullabies are sung by the waves at its feet. When at her beaches Columbus arrived full of awe he exclaimed, "Oh!, oh!, oh!, this is the lovely land that I seek." Borinquen is the daughter, the daughter of the sea and the sun. Of the sea and the sun, of the sea and the sun, of the sea and the sun, of the sea and the sun.