Fiestalegre Promotions makes
its mark in Long Beach, California with “El Día de San Juan 2003”
Report by Don Jibaro

It was beautiful day in June 2003, and open season of Puerto Rican Festivals throughout the whole United States of this here America. In over twenty-seven years as a Boricua resident in California I have observed that the Puerto Rican community in California is scarce, scattered and virtually non-existent... except in the summer, when the Festivals and Parades draw the Boricua Diaspora from its secluded sub-urban habitat and all come together for a grand Time of Fiesta!!!

Tens of thousands Boricuas and friends thus gathered to celebrate "El Día de San Juan"... a Fiestalegre, Inc. Puerto Rican Festival and Shindig in the progressive City of Long Beach, a few miles south of Los Angeles. Benny García, the Festival promoter, rests all year but in June he pulls out all the stops.

The moveable spirit of "tambó, salsa y bongó" dwelt in the midst of him and his portable 2-way radio. No tears there. Benny made Boricuas come together to recognize each other, exchange "wepas" and business cards. and foremost, to have a "bembé." In a "caliente como el diablo" weekend of self validation and expression, the detrimentally scattered Puerto Rican community of California came together for a "Wango Tango" type of experience. This was big; big as the Puerto Rican flags that hung portentously on the stage and allso on the bodies of almost every other attendee--consciously solemn and important. Big was also the friendship and the spirit of brotherhood that permeated the gathering. Ironically, one would think that "it takes scattering in order to bring togetherness."

As the vernacular would dictate, "the 'mámises' were hot and the 'papichulos' were everywhere." This was proven by the fact that I was once speaking to one lady, when a "muscular hunk" with a PR tank top passed by us. Being the funny "gordito" that I am, I told her. "I used to be like that..." Without losing a beat she quoted Will Smith, driving an alien ship in the movie "Independence Day". "I got to get me one of these."

With celebrities and many other "big shots" parading the grounds, the celebration instilled a yet bigger air of cultural awe and social fulfillment. The celebrities were not antagonistically proud and indifferently distant as in times past, but friendly and cordial, who did not mind to stop and chat with the people and even sign autographs.

The music was loud and the food was hot... "bacalaitos" as big as Frisbees and "alcapurrias" big enough to serve as the main course were the treat of the day. The Boricua novelty and curio booths were always crowded and the local CD vendors had a sound system so powerful that it sounded like a live band. Of course, all the congeros, timbaleros, cencerreros and bailadores were there to "enhance" the sounds, be at one with the "ritmo" and "parteé" like it was the last day on Earth.

As you probably may or may not know, EL DIA de SAN JUAN commemorates the birth of the patron saint of Puerto Rico, St. John the Baptist, whom had also more than one festival in early times. Besides the Nativity on the 24th of June, two of fellow saint St. Augustine's sermons (nos. cccvii, cccviii) are consecrated to the celebration of his martyrdom (Passio or Decollatio).

Unfourtunately. St. John was decapitated by Herod as a request of his wife Herodias, whose daughter Salomé danced so sensually and made Herod all fuzzy and tingly... (Herod had stolen Herodias from his brother Phillip, John knew it... Herod didn't like John and... well, enough soap!

Back to the BORICUAS...

As PUERTO RICANS in USA celebrated St. John's Birthday, it became a time to come together and exchange more than just business cards. This celebration, which used to take place in San Dimas, was sponsored by Fiestalegre, a group who is trying to make their mark in California as promoters of Puerto Rican events with dignity. I wish them the best, since it's no easy task to gather major salsa acts and other celebrities.

Sometime ago... my wife bought me a ball of MOFONGO for FIVE DOLLARS (ouch!) but I realized that it is not too often I get to have this treat, of course, unless I'm at a festival or at a Puerto Rican shindig of some sort. I was also glad that my ten year old Sammy is not fond of mofongo. All in all, from my ever-present analytical jibaro point of view, I expound the social context of these festivals with regard to such matters as cultural and historical value in an effort to assess things fairly.
 

Yes. the intrinsic purpose of these events is self validation and expression, but such is much needed, especially when you happen to be so far from "La Isla del Encanto" and you have images of the tales that your mother told you when you were growing up far from home in Montana or The Bronx. This is the closest thing to belonging into the essential nature of all things Puerto Rican. There were no reports of aberrant activity or behavior and for that we were grateful.