Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Miss Puerto Rico

Here is more information on the fabulous range of pageants open to young ladies in Puerto Rico. Besides Miss Puerto Rico Petite, open to women 5'5" and under (ie. 90% of Island females), my new favorite pageant Miss Puerto Rico Sepia, which calls for women with tez trigueña, an ambiguous term that hints at darker skin, but not too dark. Of course "sepia" means something quite different to cafe, chocolate, or any other euphemism.



Puerto Rican Dada Poetry -- Para L.


Pana (breadfruit)



Tostones de pana


I have just returned from a brief holiday in la Isla del Encanto, where I indulged in tostones de pana, turron de coco, jugo de parcha, pastelillos de chapin, asopao de langosta, bolitas de mofongo, arroz con habichuelas blancas, queso blanco con pasta de guayaba, and many other delicacies. During my stay, I took part in a Boricua BootcampTM, deep in the Island, with a charming host family that taught me to cook typical dishes, use traditional vocabulary (example: Ese arbol esta choreto de pana. That tree is chock full of breadfruit), and catch up on pop culture. While there, I caught up on my tan and on the Dada Poetry that is Island nomenclature.

Here are just some examples:

Coraly
Naylomi
Yobriani
Abrianys
Abiliz
Raphet
Agne Marie (accent on the "e" in Agne)
Nalany
Jomar (note: Naylomi through Jomar are all part of one family!)
Adriel
Belmary
D'Mary
Nesyali
Yetzenia (not a Russian name, believe it or not)
Luangeli
Jhosmayra
Griselis
Yariel
Yandel

Pitonisa Lola

Rappel


Spain's Walter Mercado might well be the androgynous Rappel, but la Pitonisa Lola, a phenomenon that emerged from cable-access pay-per-call Tarot readings, gives both a run for their money. Some of her greatest hits are here. Enjoy.





Awilda Carbia



Puerto Rican comedian Awilda Carbia died recently. Here she is imitating vedette extraordinaire Iris Chacon and former Puerto Rican first lady Kate Barcelo.