Dominican Week to be Celebrated in Puerto Rico

Dominican Week to be Celebrated in Puerto Rico

In commemoration of the 166th anniversary of National Independence, the Ministry of Tourism and the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in Puerto Rico have designed a program of various activities to celebrate Dominican week in Puerto Rico.

“we are using this special occasion to promote and motivate our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters to get to know our country better. We have joined these celebrations with the naming of the Dominican Republic as the American Capital of Culture.”

The information was released by Cosette García, director of the Dominican Tourism Promotion Office (OPT) in Puerto Rico, who explained that between February 20-28 the itinerary will include civic and cultural activities such as workshops of Dominican handcrafts, conferences, health fairs, carnivals, masses, speeches and press conferences with artists, craftspeople, academics and Dominican civil servants.

Ms. García said Dominican Weeks seeks to strengthen the bonds that unite Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and for that reason “we are using this special occasion to promote and motivate our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters to get to know our country better. We have joined these celebrations with the naming of the Dominican Republic as the American Capital of Culture.”

“Among the activities our Tourism Office will be organizing is the official reception or Gala of Independence, which will pay a red carpet tribute to the personalities in a ceremony that will be broadcast in Puerto Rico by A Latina and in the Dominican Republic by its sister broadcaster, Antena Latina,” she explained.

Cosette García added that entertainment will be provided by Dominican singer in Puerto Rico, Millie Quezada, the Quisqueya Group and a special presentation by the Tourism Ministry’s Folkloric Ballet group. In addition, there will be a special artisans’ exhibition mounted by the Association of Dominican Artisans represented by Henry Crisóstomo and Melvin Marte, mask designers from La Vega.

Ms. García said that those invited to the gala will have the opportunity to savor Dominican gastronomical culture through a select collection of Dominican dishes.

She said the activities are partially sponsored by American Eagle Airlines, Hotels AMHSA Marina and Brugal and Company.

Paint Your Dominican Republic

The Dominican Ministry of Tourism and the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in San Juan, says Garcia, are calling for a “Paint Your Dominican Republic” contest, directed at school children between fourth and sixth grades from all public and private schools in Puerto Rico.

She explained that the contest is part of the commemorative activities for the celebration of the 166th anniversary of National Independence being held in Puerto Rico.

“This promotional action seeks to increase interest among Puerto Ricans to get to know the DR as a tourism destination. Students interested in participating should send a drawing or painting of what the DR means to them to the Dominican Office of Tourism Promotion,” she said.

The winner of the contest will receive, along with his/her parents, a paid trip to the Dominican Republic, free lodgings in one of the Amhsa Marina Gran Paradise hotels and $200 dollars in spending money.

She explained that this contest is being supported by the Dominican Consulate General in San Juan through the Consul General Máximo Taveras as one of the first major joint efforts underway for the promotion of the DR in Puerto Rico.

Cosette García, director of the Dominican Tourism Promotion Office in Puerto Rico.

Dominican promotion poster in Puerto Rico.