x Puerto Rico
Special Issue Puerto Rico Spring 2018 Architecture Beaches Biodiversity Cuisine Festivals History Music Nightlife Sports University of Puerto Rico
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Letter from the Students
We, the Puerto Rican students of Cornell University, are happy to have the opportunity to reveal the story of our island in collaboration with Guac Magazine. The articles within describe our vibrant culture, rich biodiversity, historic architecture, and flavorful cuisine. The story of Puerto Rico is one of enchantment, syncretism, and resilience - we look forward to sharing this with you in this special edition of Guac Magazine. In September 2017, Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. This natural disaster exacerbated pre-existing issues that plagued the island, thus resulting in a long-standing economic and political crisis. However, the people of Puerto Rico have always been incredibly resilient in the face of extreme adversity, approaching some of life’s hardest situations with a helping hand and a community-centric mindset. As Puerto Ricans at Cornell, we aim to educate the people in the Cornell community about Puerto Rico and what it means to be a Puerto Rican in the United States. From organizing panels about the current economic crisis in Puerto Rico, to serving authentic Puerto Rican food in various student run events for the Cornell community, we bring to you the vibrancy and tantalizing enchantment of Puerto Rico in order to raise awareness and promote dialogue for the stories of Puerto Ricans all around the world. We are so excited to share our stories about favorite foods, buildings, ecosystems, and festivities with you. Hopefully after reading this issue, you get inspired to come visit Puerto Rico and first-handedly experience the Island of Enchantment.
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Table of Contents
History
Javier Pareja
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Viejo San Juan’s Architectural Integrity
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Biodiversity
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Top 5 Beaches on the West side of Puerto Rico
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Natalia Gulick
Marielisa Cabrera
Gabriela Angelys
Cocina Criolla: A Puerto Rican Culinary Adventure 24 Marisabel Cabrera
The University of Puerto Rico Wants You!
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Music
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Visibilizing and Unifying a Country Through Sport
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Las Fiestas
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A Night Out in Puerto Rico
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Santos Rivera Cardona
Andrea Cordero Rivera
Alejandro Sanchez
Pedro Suau
Julia Siegel
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Interview
With Marielisa and Marisabel Cabrera Where you raised in a different place and if so, what was everyday life like compared to where you were born?
My name is Marielisa Cabrera. I’m from San Juan Puerto Rico. I am a senior here at Cornell University, majoring in Biological Science and doing a minor in infectious diseases and I’m also pre med.
I was born in one on the suburbs of San Juan, one of the smaller municipalities, it’s called Guaynabo, and it’s just 20 minutes away and a lot of people that work in San Juan and make a living there still live in Guaynabo and commute to work and everything. Being raised in Guaynabo made me, I guess I was raised in a slow pace when compared to San Juan, but like I told you, a lot of people also live there, and a lot of my neighbors would also work in San Juan and everything so I guess it’s not that different. There was a lot of nature around and I had a big backyard and I would play in it and when it was a school day I would come back and play with my neighbors and during the weekend I would either go to my neighbors’ homes or some of my family members’ because they also lived in that area. My grandmother lived, I would say two minutes by car away from me so I would get to visit her often. She would make amazing Puerto Rican food and some of my aunt’s lived there. My cousin lived maybe ten minutes away from me and she was my age so I would go and play with her all the time You mentioned Puerto Rican food, do you have a favorite dish? Ahh that’s a hard question. That’s not fair, all of them are good. I really like tembleque. I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s like a coconut. It’s not like a pudding but it’s sort of a jello. It’s basically like coconut milk with cinnamon. Those are the flavors. What are your favorite memories growing up or being raised as a kid? I think spending a lot of time with my family and my neighbors and also friends. I feel like Puerto Rican culture is very social. I would come from school and instead of doing homework I would always be involved in extracurriculars with people from my class or even outside of school. I used to do Ballet, maybe two or three hours everyday and I would sometimes come back home and be with my neighbors for a little bit and then have dinner with my family and also study at night. During the weekends I would always be out of my house, whether it was road trips to the beaches, spending time with my friends, spending time with my family, I would always be doing something.
Head over to guacmag.com for more video interviews!
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My name is Marisabel Cabrera. I’m originally from San Juan Puerto Rico, but I was born and raised in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico which is 20 minutes away from San Juan.
Speaking to how life has changed before and after the hurricane. What would be the differences in life before and after?
How has the hurricane made access to medical systems and basic utilities harder?
I was there during, or during the aftermath of the hurricane. My parents and younger brother were there during and after the hurricane and life was very tough. Out of disasters such like that, you notice the little things that you have, that you don’t really notice that you have, are gone. You have to restructure everything. For example, a simple thing like milk was a luxury after the hurricane. Petroleum was obviously very important to power generators. Petroleum was restricted. You had to buy 10 to 20 dollars a day. The lines were super long, eight nine hours under the sun. Water was very hard to find too. A lot has changed, but I think I’m hopeful. So that’s good.
Medical systems and infrastructure go together. Because a lot of the hospitals were torn down and very much affected in their infrastructure. To power the hospitals, it was very hard because petroleum was lacking and it was very regulated by the government too. Medical assistance was lacking too as doctors also went through the hurricane and they’re finding food and water and the basic things in life to survive for their families. A lot of the doctors performed surgery with lights in their camera, the flashlight in their phones, and obviously that’s not good. It’s a risk for the patient lying on the operating table and a lot of the medical tools were not clean, not sterilized, so that’s also a risk for developing further illnesses.
When was the last time you were there? How was it? The last time I was there was last week during spring break. It’s getting better. I was there during the winter break for 6 weeks. And it wasn’t that bad because three months had past since the hurricane. A lot of the trees had grown their leaves. Puerto Rico is all green, have trees everywhere and its beautiful. You come back and you see it’s as if they dropped an atomic bomb on the island. All of the trees were just black. A lot of them were just dead, but the ones that survived just didn’t have leaves. El Yunque, I think that’s the only rainforest in the United States. You saw the mountain, it’s very visible around the island anywhere. It was just black, pitch black. When it was dark green, very alive, and then just pitch black after. How has the hurricane affected infrastructure, the economy and medical systems? I think that the hurricane hit very hard in Puerto Rico, not only the actual disaster, but its aftermath. Puerto Rico has a huge debt and a lot of people know this, and the economy is not that good. When you have such a natural disaster with an unstable economy, with a huge debt, with people that don’t live in good conditions from the start, before the hurricane, well it hits harder because people don’t have the resources they had or should have.
How do you feel about the lack of American response, especially because of the administration now? The administration has played an important role in the taking action and helping of the aftermath of the hurricane. Generally, Puerto Ricans during the election, the presidential election, when Trump won, they thought they weren’t going to be that much affected because we have a fixed status with the constitution and nothing was going to happen, but after a disaster like this, we noticed it really does affect us and the status, the political relation with the US also affects us because we do have citizenship, but we are not considered full citizens of the United States due to probably racism, colonialism, imperialism and things like that. The US response hasn’t been optimal, hasn’t been good at all. It could’ve been faster, it could’ve been more and it could’ve been more strategic and I guess it’s very important for governments to have a natural disaster plan. The logistics, supplies did reach us, we had medical supplies in the island but they stayed inside the ports because they couldn’t coordinate the logistics of distributing the medical supplies and food and water to the people who needed it because they didn’t know who needed it the most. Communications were down and after a hurricane you get out of your house and you don’t know who is alive, who was most affected because you can’t communicate with anyone.
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History Visiting America’s Largest Colony: Why You Should Avoid Big Resorts by Javier Pareja "There are two Puerto Ricos. There’s the one with stunning beaches, elegant rainforests and fascinatingly complex culture—the one I call home and the one I think everyone should see. Then there’s the one with resorts, pre-made piña coladas, and exclusive 18-hole golf courses."
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bviously, if you have the opportunity, you should go to Puerto Rico. There’s something for everybody here; we have world-class beaches, amazing cuisine, a vibrant city nightlife, and breathtaking sights. It’s incredible how much there is to see and do in such a small island— there’s a reason we like to call it la isla del encanto, or “the island of enchantment.” However, when planning your trip, you should be wary of which Puerto Rico you are going to visit: the beautiful place I call home, or the indebted United States colony.
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There are two Puerto Ricos. There’s the one with stunning beaches, elegant rainforests and fascinatingly complex culture—the one I call home and the one I think everyone should see. Then there’s the one with resorts, pre-made piña coladas, and exclusive 18-hole golf courses. That last one is a popular choice for many unwitting tourists looking to just kick up their feet with a drink in their hand in a resort beach far away from their home. But hopefully I’ll convince you that not only will you have more fun and learn more about the island and its people visiting the real Puerto Rico, but also that by going to a big resort or a
fancy American chain hotel, you are inadvertently contributing to the perpetuation of our most relevant and troubling political issue: our status as a US colony. In order to understand how this works and why this is so, we have to first understand how we got here. For that, we have to go all the way back to 1898, when the Spanish ceded Puerto Rico to the US as part of the Paris Treaty accords. Ever since then, we’ve had a “special” yet unclear relationship with the US, who deemed Puerto Ricans to be “foreign in a domestic sense” when it came down to defining our citizenship status. In April of 1917, the US Congress passed the Jones-Shafroth Act which officially granted Puerto Ricans full US citizenship but also impeded us from voting in US Presidential elections and from having representatives in Congress. Fast forward to 2006, the failed Congress-issued tax incentives have indebted the local government, and the housing market is on the brink of collapse, marking the beginning of the island’s financial crisis. The government suddenly found itself with an almost inconceivable $72 billion debt and a fleeing middle class brought upon by a wave of foreclosures. Faced with a situation like this, cities and states in the US have certain options to ameliorate the economic damage, such as declaring bankruptcy or debt restructuring, but being “foreign in a domestic sense” meant we had no such protections and were at the total mercy of Congress—who did absolutely nothing. Then, in September of 2017, with things still as hard as ever, disaster struck: the monstrous category 4 Hurricane Maria completely devastated the island from coast to coast. The destruction was unprecedented and the structural and financial damage was next to irreparable. Aid to the island arrived far too late and was inconsistent even at its most effi-
cient. In the aftermath of the disaster, however, the fears of many analysts were realized: middle class professionals were leaving the island at extraordinary rates, even compared to 2006 levels. So much so that a second, more brutal wave of foreclosures rained down on the people, which then forced even more Puerto Ricans to look elsewhere for opportunity. The banks were then forced to sell these foreclosed properties to the big resort companies and American real estate developers who are currently turning them into luxurious condos and paradise resorts. When I say “don’t stay in a resort,” I don’t say so because they are overpriced or because they are not worth it—in fact, if that’s what floats your boat, I hear these places are actually world-class—what I mean is that when you give these people your money, you are implicitly contributing to this process of foreclosures and the people’s exodus into the US, almost entirely a byproduct of our status as a colony. When you go to Puerto Rico, please do not give these developers your money. Instead, invest your money in us, the people of Puerto Rico, who want to keep our homes and can benefit from your business. Stay in a nice local bed and breakfast. Rent a car. Go to the beaches. Go see historic Old San Juan. Go to el Yunque. Go kayaking in our bioluminescent bays. Go out and enjoy the nightlife. Go see the real Puerto Rico—hopefully you’ll be able to see the beauty and splendor of the island I love so much and, despite everything, am proud to call my home. Javier Pareja is a student at Cornell University. He is from San Juan, Puerto Rico. His favorite part of Puerto Rico is the neighborhood of Rio Piedras in San Juan because of its rich history, beautiful street art and growing underground music scene. 9
Architecture VIEJO SAN JUAN’S ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY: A Walkthrough of Puerto Rico’s Historic Architecture by Natalia Gulick
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I am a second-year architecture student from New York City. My mom’s family is from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I spent my summers and holidays. I was always interested in architecture – regardless of whether it was the modernity of Manhattan or the history of Old San Juan. Architecture in the city of Old San Juan is most heavily influenced by the Spanish colonial style due to the arrival of the conquistadors in the 16th century. This is evident in both the city planning and the architecture itself. The layout of the small capital is composed of rows of major streets and winding alleys, interspersed with sprawling plazas where people can gather to eat piraguas and drink cortaditos. The residential and mixed-use buildings themselves tend to be two or three stories tall, with lofty ceilings, thick wooden doors, elaborate balconies and pastel-washed facades. Here are five can’t-miss locations in Old San Juan you should be sure to check out! Tip: if you go to the beach in the morning, you’ll still have time to hit all of the spots in the afternoon. Calle San Sebastian is best experienced on a Saturday evening for a taste of the local nightlife!
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Cuartel de Ballajá + Museo de las Américas in San Juan
La Fortaleza
The official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, La Fortaleza, was built in the 1530s and originally served as the island’s first line of defense. When Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristobal were erected, La Fortaleza was converted into the Governor’s palace. In 1846, it was renovated in order to convey a more governmental and ornate impression rather than the austere and stark fortress it once was. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983 – in addition to El Morro and San Cristobal – the mansion has hosted dignitaries from around the world and is the oldest executive residence in the Americas. PRICE: Free admission and guided tours HOURS: 9 AM to 4 PM on Monday-Friday ADDRESS: 63 Calle Fortaleza San Juan, PR 00902 PHONE: 787-721-7000 ext. 2211
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Castillo san Felipe del Morro Castillo San Felipe del Morro, or El Morro, is Old San Juan’s primary fortress and defense against nautical attacks. Named after King Philip II of Spain, it was built in 1539 upon the arrival of Juan Ponce de Leon and the other conquistadores in order to defend their port. Continuous improvements were made to the fortress as military technology evolved, and can be seen in the construction of the fort itself. A lighthouse was built in 1908 as a lookout point for the United States military, which vastly contrasts with the traditional garitas, or sentry boxes used by the Spanish militia, studding the walls. PRICE: $7 gives you full-day admission to both El Morro and the auxiliary fortress Castillo San Cristóbal HOURS: 9 AM to 6 PM Monday-Sunday ADDRESS: 501 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan, PR 00901 PHONE: 787-729-6777
Cordado
Paseo de la Princesa
A promenade which wraps around the exterior walls of Old San Juan, the Paseo de la Princesa is a walk through history. Bringing visitors past lush gardens, historical statues, and small restaurants, the path culminates in La Puerta de San Juan, or the gate of Old San Juan. Feel free to take a stroll and take in the waterfront view, while salsa music and the sound of locals echo in the background. ADDRESS: 101 Paseo De La Princesa, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
Calle san Sebastian
Calle San Sebastian is one of Old San Juan’s main streets and the nexus of Saturday nightlife. Throughout the year, people can be found around the many restaurants and bars located on the street, which is also home to one of Puerto Rico’s largest cultural events, Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. In a celebration of Puerto Rico’s rich artisanal and cultural history, painters, sculptors, musicians and other relevant acts fill the capital with their goods on the third weekend in January. At night, the city is transformed into a swarm of music, with over 200,000 people packed into the city squares. ADDRESS: Calle San Sebastián, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
Cemeterio de los Proceres
Cementerio Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis was built in Old San Juan during the Spanish colonial era to entomb prominent Puerto Rican figures such as nationalist revolutionary Pedro Albizu Campos and politician Jose de Diego. Located next to Castillo San Felipe del Morro, its seaside location serves as a symbol of crossing over to the afterlife. While it is open to the public, it is important to be respectful if you visit seeing as it houses the bodies of some of the island’s most notable cultural icons. HOURS: 24/7 access, but can also be seen from the walls of El Morro ADDRESS: Calle Cementerio, San Juan, PR 00901
Natalia Gulick is a student at Cornell University. She is from New York City and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her favorite part of Puerto Rico is the historic capital of Old San Juan because of its rich culture, colorful architecture, and stunning ocean views. 13
Biodiversity by Marielisa Cabrera
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El Yunque National Forest El Yunque National Rainforest is the only tropical rainforest in the United States. From serene waterfalls and rivers to precipitous crags, it is the home of over 200 different species of trees and plants (23 of which are found nowhere else in the world!) and the coquí frog, the national symbol of Puerto Rico. These small frogs are found throughout the island and are remembered by every tourist that tried to go to sleep to the sound of their mating calls CO-KEE… CO-KEE. El Yunque is also known for its unique Taíno petroglyphs and Yokahu Observational Tower which sits among the tropical clouds. Fun fact: it rains almost every single day of the year! Puerto Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay Located in the small island of Viequez, Puerto Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay is one of the most enchanted and magical places in Puerto Rico and the world. If you go and move the water with your hands during a “new moon”, millions of dinoflagellate microorganisms produce a burst of bright light. In other words, the water glows in the dark when it is moved! They offer kayaking tours so you can explore the bay while floating on blue sparkles. Fun Fact: It was officially declared the brightest recorded bioluminescent bay in the world by Guinness Book of World Records in 2008! Guánica State Forest Guánica State Forest is home to about half of Puerto Rico’s birds and a native 700 years old Guayacán tree. The forest has many trails connecting the arid parts of the forest to the more “humid” ones, as well as beaches (Playa Tamarindo) and Fort Caprón. The forest in best known for being the home of El Guaragao, a species of red-tailed hawk that is a permanent resident of the island. Fun fact: Cornell’s Ornithology lab houses Guaraguao birds!
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These photos were taken over Spring Break 2018. All of the pictures were taken at El Yunque, since it is the only open trail after the Hurricane Maria.
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Las Cavernas del Río Camuy and La Cueva del Indio Las Cavernas del Rio Camuy are part of a large network of underground limestone caves and tunnels carved out by the third largest underground river in the world, El Rio Camuy. While only 220 caves have been explored, some experts believe that there are more than 800 caves that have yet to be discovered. Night tours called ECO NIGHTS are arranged once a week for visitors to see the massive exodus of thousands of bats from the caverns to hunt for food. It is a truly beautiful and spooky sight! La Cueva del Indio is known for its breathtaking scenic view of the Puerto Rican countryside and Taíno petroglyphs. It is also along the coast and just a short walk from huge cliffs and arches made by the powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Fun fact: The scene of the Fountain of Youth where Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and Blackbeard drink from the challises of Juan Ponce de Leon in Pirates of the Caribbean IV: On Stranger Tides was filmed in La Cueva del Indio. There are several other scenes that were filmed in Puerto Rico.
El Corredor Ecológico del Noreste (CEN) El Corredor Ecológico del Noreste is an area of almost 3,000 acres designated as a protected Nature Reserve in the northeast coast of Puerto Rico. There are 54 species of plants and animals that are considered threatened or endangered including snowy plover, Puerto Rican boa, Carey (Hawsbill sea turtle), Puerto Rican screech owl and the West Indian manatee. The beaches along the CEN (over 5 miles long) are important nesting grounds for the largest marine turtle in the world, the leatherback sea turtle. The CEN contains all of the coastal wetlands found in Puerto Rico including beaches, mangroves, grass beds, coral communities, sugar cane plantations, swamps, and forests on volcanic substrate. It is a perfect place to explore different ecological communities found in Puerto Rico by just walking and hiking. Fun fact: All of the beaches in Puerto Rico are legally open to the public so you can go anywhere for a dip and a suntan or to watch sea turtles go back to the sea after they hatch at night!
Marielisa Cabrera is a student at Cornell University. She is from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her favorite city is Culebra, Puerto Rico because of the abundance of colorful coral reefs, beautiful beaches, and sea turtles.
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Beaches
Top 5 Beaches on the West Side of Puerto Rico by Gabriela Olivera and Angelys Jimenez Soto
Puerto Rico is a beautiful tropical island that has arguably the best beaches in the Caribbean. Since the main airport of Puerto Rico is in the capital San Juan, most tourists usually get to see the beaches located near this area and forget, for example, the West side of Puerto Rico. There is, in fact, much more beauty to see and explore outside from San Juan.
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Peña Blanca, Aguadilla Peña Blanca is the hidden treasure of the municipality of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. What’s interesting about this beach is that it is quite a challenge to get there, since you have to do some hiking and it is not well-known. The bay is composed of huge rocks that look like a cave with the most beautiful wave formations. It is a peaceful place where you can relax, snorkel, freedive or enjoy the wonderful view. It is a great secret place where you can spend time with your family, walk around and enhance your overall Puerto Rican experience. . La Pocita, Isabela: El Pozo de Jacinto These two locations are the perfect hotspot for families to enjoy with their kids. La Pocita has its own natural pool as it is divided by a wall of rocks that stops the waves of the open ocean to come into the shore, thereby creating a little reservoir suitable for children of all ages to swim in. Nearby to La Pocita lies El Pozo de Jacinto, a mini rock formation in which legend has it that a man once lost his cow as it fell down the cliff and into the water. When you stand by the cliff and shout “Jacinto se te fue la vaca”, which means Jacinto you lost your cow, the water supposedly gets “furious” and starts slamming against the walls of the ocean water well. La Parguera, Lajas Puerto Rico: Bioluminescent Bay La Parguera is a destination where you can hangout and get the whole experience of a tropical island. The quaint waters make it perfect for individuals to sail their yacht and paddleboard. Also, you can visit the bioluminescent bay nearby at night. There are only five bioluminescent bays in the world and three of them are in Puerto Rico. The bioluminescence is caused by small microorganisms and transforms every splash or movement in the water to light up, giving the bay its iconic glow.
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Playa Sucia, Cabo Rojo “Playa Sucia” is a beautiful beach located on the South-West Coast of Puerto Rico in Cabo Rojo. It is, in fact, categorized as one of the most amazing beaches and nature hotspots in Puerto Rico, primarily because of its biodiversity. Its scenery is perfect for hiking, a romantic date or even just a traditional beach day. What makes it interesting is the view of the lighthouse on top of the limestone cliffs. If you are a tourist or a traveler and you want to explore more of this wonder and you should definitely prioritize making a pitstop at the Salinas. Survival Beach, Aguadilla A hidden gem for any Puerto Rican, Survival Beach is a 30 minutes hike but it is totally worth it. The adventure starts at Surfer’s Beach, taking you through a trail of trees, mangroves and rocks as you discover this paradisiacal beach. Here you can appreciate breathtaking views, from short stretches of sand to incredible rock formations, and at the end of the trail you’ll get a total view of the beach and amazing cave structures. You can keep walking while you enjoy the beautiful views of the ocean and mountain, the sound of crashing waves and the little ponds on the rock formations along the shore. A few cautionary notes: it is recommended, especially during Summer, to wear sneakers and to bring a hat, water and sunscreen because the climate can be incredibly hot and humid at this time of the year. Lastly, although the water seems crystal clear, there are some dangerous rocks at the bottom of the seabed and currents that can be hazardous for the most experienced swimmer.
Angelys Jimenez Soto is a student from the University of Puerto Rico Relief Program. She is from Moca, Puerto Rico. Her favorite city in Puerto Rico is Rincon because of its perfect sunsets and authentic beach town.
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Cuisine
Cocina Criolla: A Puerto Rican Culinary Adventure by Marisabel Cabrera
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uerto Rico is an island of stunning natural beauty, lively music, charming people, and deliciously colorful food. From the folklore to the DNA, everything about Puerto Rico was shaped by the presence of three cultural groups: the Spanish colonizers, the indigenous Taínos, and the West Africans brought to the island through the transatlantic slave trade. Taíno spices like recao (coriander), fruits like guayaba (guava) and root vegetables like yuca (cassava) formed the basis of the island’s food.
Spanish foods with a heavy emphasis on meats, rice, olive oil and garlic were later introduced, along with African crops like tamarind, pigeon peas, and perhaps the most important, plátano (plantain). Ingredients, cooking techniques, and distinctive tastes of the three cultural groups combined to form cocina criolla (Creole cooking): a cuisine that keeps us Puerto Ricans eternally bound to our roots. The following dishes resulted from this grandiose fusion of ingredients and flavors.
Mofongo and Tostones The preparation of mofongo and tostones begins by cutting green plantains into round pieces and frying them. To prepare mofongo, the rounds are put into el pilón (the mortar) where they are then pounded and combined with spices and herbs to give the recipe a personal touch. Popular plates that consist of this deliciously soft, lumpy and chewy mash are mofongos rellenos (stuffed mofongos), where carne frita (fried pork), churrasco (skirt steak), bacalao al
ajillo (garlic marinated codfish), jueyes (stewed land crab) and others can be stuffed into the mash. The preparation of tostones consists of flattening the plátano pieces using a tostonera (plantain press). Then, these rounds are again fried into a deep golden-yellow color. Mofongo and tostones can be served as appetizers or as sides. These wholesome mounds of mashed plantains are some of Puerto Rico’s foundational dishes and our most internationally renowned menu items.
Mountain of coconut shells on a bike tour in Guanica
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Colorful Old San Juan street 26
Arroz con… Many Puerto Ricans eat arroz con habichuelas (rice and beans) every day; it is even served as a main dish in school cafeterias. The dish consists of white rice with a tomato-based bean sauce poured on top. The bean sauce tends to contain cooking ham, vegetables like squash and kidney, pink or white beans. Arroz mamposteao is quite similar, but the white rice and the bean sauce are cooked together, resulting in a drier consistency but a more colorful plate. The same applies to arroz con gandules (pigeon peas), arroz con garbanzos (chickpeas), and arroz con pollo (chicken). Arroz con salchichas, yellow rice with Vienna sausages, may not be found in restaurants but it is guaranteed to be in the home of every Puerto Rican family. Lechón a la varita The highlight of Puerto Rican family reunions and Christmas festivities is whole pig roasting on a spit and love for el cuerito, the pig’s smoked skin. After meticulous seasoning, preparation, and grandiose roasting, the meat’s flavor and consistency meets all expectations. The meat ends up wondrously moist and tender as it falls off the bone at the gentlest touch. Puerto Ricans make sure that no part of the pig is wasted. The pig’s stomach, brain and bones go into many soups and stews. The blood of the pig is used for morcilla (blood sausage). Pasteles Though it is not a dish very well known outside the island, pasteles are among the most beloved foods in Puerto Rico due to its uniqueness. The dough of pasteles is made with either green bananas or cassava. Pasteles are usually stuffed with cassava, chicken, or sautéed pork and then are wrapped in banana leaves and boiled. Taking a yunta (set of two) out of the boiling water, cutting the color-coded strings (for identification of the ingredient inside), opening the warm banana leaves and slicing the soft dough is every Puerto Rican’s dream, especially during the Christmas season. Where in Puerto Rico can I eat these? Authentic Puerto Rican food can be found anywhere around the island, even at a neighbor’s house! Closer to the island’s coasts are restaurants that are more specialized in seafood. Along the mountains you can find places specializing in lechón a la varita and mofongo. Coastal restaurants serve the freshest seafood you can imagine: it is just a matter of hours (or even minutes!) from the fishing net to your table. The world renowned kioskos (kiosks) are typically found right on Puerto Rico’s beautiful beaches, particularly those at Luquillo, Piñones and Cabo Rojo. Los kioskos typically serve frituras (fried foods), all of it freshly prepared and fried. The famous lechoneras, found in the central areas of the island, are restaurants specializing in lechón a la varita and dishes like morcilla and el cuerito that derive their
ingredients from roasted pig. In addition to the unbelievably moist and juicy pork, they serve delicious arroz mamposteao, arroz con gandules, mofongo and tostones as sides. I recommend checking out Guavate, about an hour away from San Juan, which is a long stretch of road filled with world renown lechoneras. But remember: every Puerto Rican family has their own unique, colorful and tasty recipe for each dish described above. The best food is always cooked at home! Feel free to talk to a local about their favorite ingredients and flavor combinations. Have a great meal! Or as we say, buen provecho! Marisabel Cabrera was born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.. Her favorite city is Barcelona, Spain because of the similarities in culture and food to her home in Puerto Rico. 27
Education
The University of Puerto Rico Wants You! by Santos Rivera Cardona
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he University of Puerto Rico was founded in 1903 with the goal of graduating teachers who would teach English to the island’s population. UPR consists of eleven campuses that are distributed around the Island; Rio Piedras (which includes the Law School), Cayey, Carolina, Aguadilla, Mayagüez, Ponce, Utuado, Ciencias Médicas (Medical School), Arecibo, Bayamon and Humacao. Throughout the years, the mission of teaching English to the Puerto Rican population changed completely. At the moment, UPR’s new mission is to help Puerto Rican society and work as the only mechanism of economic growth. When the University expanded from graduating teachers to having different campuses with different goals, UPR became the island’s best university and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez is now one of the top universities in the world. For example, the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez is on the list of best engineering universities in Latin America and it is among the best in the world. Many corporations around the world, and even NASA, go to Mayaguez searching for students
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to work in their facilities. On the other hand, the University of Ponce has the island’s best kinesiology program. The other campuses have different specializations like aerospace, agriculture, and other different studies. Since the University of Puerto Rico has always had this prestige among society, UPR is a goal for every student in the Island. When kids first enter school, they learn about UPR and engage in activities that the university creates, thus creating an early link between them and their future. It should be noted that UPR reflects the culture and history of Puerto Rico. On its different campuses the UPR has museums, historical structures, and locations near iconic places in Puerto Rico. For example, at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, we have the Puerto Rican Indian Brewery across the road, which produces beer and barley malt to be exported. The Brewery leaves an iconic smell that you will never forget. In addition, UPRM has an investigation plant in Magueyes Island that you can visit. Arecibo also
has the Observatory, while in Rio Piedras you can use the train to go to the capital of Puerto Rico. As a student, you can use the University of Puerto Rico as a place where you can develop personally, academically, and professionally by visiting a beautiful Island in the Caribbean and engaging in different activities. There are excellent opportunities to do an academic exchange to UPR and network with professionals that have a different perspective. I can give an example of a student I interviewed that made an exchange to UPR, and her experienced was delightful. When I had the chance to interview her, she said she loved Puerto Rico so much that she was inspired to use the resources of her university to highlight the situation that UPR students are facing. In addition, I know other students and professors who visited Puerto Rico for a semester and then returned to make their life there. As a society, Puerto Rico is a very inclusive and diverse place where you will feel welcome. While there, you can learn or develop another language (Spanish) and also learn about a different culture. By studying at UPR, you will learn to explore many other views in your academic field, which will help you in your future. Since the vision we use to interpret and evaluate things in the Caribbean is really different from other institutions, this is a great place to visit so that when
you go back to your country you can implement other views and solutions based on what you learned in Puerto Rico. Honestly, you might also want to stay in Puerto Rico after learning about its history and the solidarity among members of its society. The University of Puerto Rico is the only solution to the economic problems the Island has: by visiting and studying there you will also contribute to helping Puerto Rico after the Hurricane. UPR graduates many professionals that are known around the world, and you can also be part of that. At this time, UPR needs students to go, contribute ideas, innovate, and put its name on the map in other places. Many professors will be glad to have students that can also teach them about other perspectives and ideas in different academic fields. For example, UPR has given me the opportunity to have my own radio program in Radio Colegial (UPRM radio station). I invite you to go to UPR and be part of the first educational institution in Puerto Rico and the university responsible for Puerto Rico’s economic growth. Puerto Rico will appreciate you visiting and helping the Island get rid of its problems, and I can assure you that every Puerto Rican is going to help you feel at home.
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Music by Andrea Cordero Rivera
The idea that music can influence the development of a culture is complicated, and at first may seem illogical. After all, wouldn’t a culture first have to exist as a defined entity before it can create its own distinct sound? However, we can understand how ideologies that underpin a culture are encoded in its musical (and other artistic) creations when we look at how music exercises direct influence on those who hear it.
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In Puerto Rico, “Salsa” is a very popular type of dance music; Hector Lavoe, Cheo Feliciano, and Marc Anthony along with El Gran Combo are some of the most popular salsa artists. As part of a massive social development initiative spearheaded by Puerto Rican banking giant Banco Popular, the legendary salsa group El Gran Combo recorded and released a remix of their most well-known single ‘Y no hago mas na’ (which loosely translates to, “And I Do Nothing Else”). The original lyrics depicted a caricature of a young man who lived off of government aid and refused to earn a living by working, preferring instead to laze around and eat all day. In the remix, however, the narrator calls on his listeners to band together and reinforce a set of values centered around hard working and socioeconomic advancement on a national scale. The motivation behind such a project is clear! The song was meant to both counter the perceived negative cultural effects of its predecessor, and to subtly re-program its listener to forget the negative stereotypes attached to the image of Puerto Ricans.
direct encounter with it. My memories begin on a sunny afternoon in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, the coastal town on the west side of the island where I grew up. My mom, my sister, and I were invited to a bombazo: a casual gathering of folks who -- still to this day -- play, sing, and dance traditional bomba. I started to hear the sounds of the drums as soon as we arrived at the location. The sounds awoke a feeling inside me that could not be contained. I felt every slap of the drum running through my blood along with every step that the dancers took. I couldn’t stop moving; the rhythm filled me. As someone with Afro-Puerto Rican roots, I felt connected to those roots through the music and the dancing.
I felt every slap of the drum running through my blood along with every step that the dancers took. I couldn’t stop moving; the rhythm filled me.
Despite the negative stereotypes, Puerto Ricans are well-known for being loud and happy. From our rich mixture of African, Taino, and Spanish cultures comes la Bomba, Salsa, and Reggaeton. A pure African music style that was brought by the African slaves who worked on the island’s sugar plantations, la Bomba creates a non-verbal dialogue between the dancer and the drummer. I have always been aware of the existence of la Bomba. Puerto Ricans learn about it in history class as something to be viewed as a valued cultural treasure, but it was not until five years ago that I had my first
Jumping from 1800 to 1990, La Isla today is filled with the sounds of Reggaeton, a genre that blends hip-hop raps and Jamaican-style beats. This new music has become very popular among young Latinxs. Major Reggaeton artists from Puerto Rico include Tego Calderón, Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, and Calle 13 (now called Residente). Reggaeton is the music genre, along with Salsa, that I grew up with. I remember going to high school parties and dancing all night to Wisin y Yandel and Daddy Yankee. At the end of the day, the blend of la Bomba, Salsa, and Reggaeton make a huge part of Puerto Ricans’ society and culture. It defines how we speak and act. It makes us who we are… Andrea Cordero Rivera is a student from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. She is from Moca, Puerto Rico. Her favorite part of Puerto Rico are the people, because they are boriculas hasta en la luna.
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Sport
Visibilizing and Unifying a Country Through Sports by Alejandro Sรกnchez
Geographically, Puerto Rico might be as a small island, but when it comes to talent, we put our name in the charts.
As Puerto Ricans, we have become very passionate with sports. Even though I do not see us as patriotic as we should be, in sports we take pride to another level. For example, we create movements based on sports such as #TeamRubios, our National Baseball Team. Additionally, when our tennis player, Mรณnica Puig was in Rio 2016 Olympics, the entire country was paralyzed whenever she had a match. In fact, her Olympic final match for the gold medal was watched in every TV available in the island. Therefore, sport events have a positive impact in Puerto Rico. Through sports my country experiences a sense of belonging, unifies the communities within our nation, and there is a dramatic change in terms of crimes.
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When Puerto Rico participated in the last World Baseball Classic, criminality changed drastically. The entire country was focused in supporting their National Baseball Team in this important tournament. We even started a trending topic for that event called #TeamRubios. Every single player of team dyed their hair into a golden/blond style. The trend spread not only in the team but also many Puerto Ricans dyed their hair in support for the team. Thus, this sport event was a memorable one because we were showing pride of our nationality and that does not happen very often among Puerto Ricans.
Another event that marked Boricua’s history in sports was when Mónica Puig won our first Olympic gold medal in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Surprisingly, this tennis player paralyzed the entire country with her performance. She was an inspiration for athletes who played for our National Team and for women who are often overshadowed by male representation in sports. Throughout these events we can see how sports can unite us as a nation and impact our sense of identity as a collective and reduce violent acts within our community. Children were getting inspired by these events. They were starting to visit baseball parks and tennis courts. Indoor
games like video games were not a trend anymore. Our young population became more active and started going outside their rooms. We owe it all of that to sports. Thanks to sports, my country felt happy again of being Puerto Ricans. My country could be small geographically, but it is talented enough and our enthusiasm can compete with any other bigger or smaller country. Alejandro Sánchez Ruiz is a student from the University of Puerto Rico, Carolina Campus. His favorite place in Puerto Rico is Toro Negro State Forest in Jayuya, where he enjoys camping and witnessing spectacular views that allows him to escape from reality.
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Las Fiestas A Guide to Some of Puerto Rico’s Most Popular Cultural Gatherings and Events by Pedro Suau Chinchorreos y Parrandas You have not experienced a typical holiday season in Puerto Rico if you haven’t attended a Chinchorreo or a Parranda. Let’s start with the Chinchorreo. For a Chinchorreo, You get up early in the morning to meet with your friends and family at a familiar pick up spot where a bus picks everyone up and takes everyone to different spots throughout the island, to eat, sing, and explore local businesses throughout the island that one would not go to on a day to day basis. A Parranda is very similar to a Chinchorreo in the way that you go to many places on the same day, but normally Parrandas take place at night. In a Parranda, the neighborhood gets together and goes from house to house playing music. Once the group reaches each house, the host must have refreshments and food to welcome them, and later join them for the rest of the Parranda as they move on to the next house. La Noche de San Juan The Night of San Juan is celebrated on June 23rd. This cultural and religious festivity is lionized on the shortest night of the year, the summer solstice. La Noche de San Juan is held on the eve of the St. John’s Holy Feast Day. During this night, family and friends get together at the beach to drink, eat and have fun. When the clock strikes midnight, it is tradition that everyone falls backwards into the water mimicking the baptism of Jesus; in Puerto Rican folklore, it is done as a superstition for good luck. It is a night to be with good company, a nice atmosphere and have a refreshing dip in the beach during a hot summer night. Las Calles Las Fiestas de la Calle de San Sebastian, or as people often refer to them, Las Calles, are celebrated with a religious backdrop, the celebration of the Saint Sebastian. They take place in and around la Calle San Sebastian (San Sebastian Street) which is found in the Puerto Rican capital’s historical district, Old San Juan. The festivities are held once a year, usually during the third week of January, marking the end of the Puerto Rican holiday season. Las Calles are often compared to Mardi Gras in New Orleans with a Puerto Rican twist. Live music is played day and night. While at the same time, There are food trucks around with typical Puerto Rican cuisine, and stands that sell cultural antiques and memoirs to help remind you of your great weekend at Old San Juan. It is also one of the biggest and most popular night-life scenes(day-life too) across the entire island, as the local bars and stands open up early in the afternoon until Las Fiestas close at about 3 am. Las Calles is an extravagant manifestation of Puerto Rican culture, and no matter what you are looking for from your experience, you will leave thrilled and wanting to come back for more. Pedro Suau is a student at Cornell University. He is from San Juan, Puerto Rico. His favorite part of Puerto Rico is Jobos Beach in Isabela because of its beautiful scenery, refreshing water and relaxing ambience. 34
Image Description La Noche de San Juan
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Nightlife
A Night Out in Puerto Rico by Julia Siegel
Whether it be a barbeque on the beach, complete with freshly made churrasco and ice cold beer; a sit down dinner in the old city, featuring mofongo, asopao, and a mojito; or a stay in dinner with the family, serving homemade rice and beans with tostones and a generous glass of wine, every good friday night starts with a good dinner. Puerto Rico’s typical foods are not only delicious, but are an essential part of the average night out. This is where you first gather with loved ones and begin the social journey.
A few friends come over with a bottle of Don Q Cristal and mixers and we toast to any and all things worth celebrating. Once the whole gang is together it’s time to head out.
7:00pm
9:30pm
8:30pm Once you’re done with your meal, it’s time to get ready. You serve yourself a cup with any type of beverage available and begin to sip it while you forage through your closet for something to wear. Depending on where you’re going, the outfit choice will vary. Tonight I opt for a cropped tank top, flowy pants that luckily do not reach the floor, and sandals. This outfit, apart from adapting to the tropical vibe, is ensured to keep me cool in packed bars and not get dirty when walking on the cobblestone roads. Once my hair and make up is done, I finish off my cup and head out.
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10:00pm La Placita is commonly known as “La Plaza de Mercado” by day. It’s a giant open aired fresh food market surrounded by all types of highly acclaimed restaurants. By night on the weekends, all neighboring streets are closed off to cars and packed with people bar hopping. It’s the place to be on Friday night if you live in the Metropolitan area. This bar sells $2 Nutella flavored shots, the other sells frozen Madras, and the last offers the full sake bomb experience. While everyone searches for their favorite bar and drink of choice, you are likely to bump into old friends and meet new friends, sing to the songs blasting from the bars on either side, and dance to the beats of salsa, merengue, bachata, and reggaeton. This is the best time to have open, casual conversations and stroll through the cobblestone streets, pointing out the colorful buildings they pave.
La Placita is also home to a number of popular clubs. Most blast loud music and are structured with porches looking onto the street and enclosed rooms with flashing lights. Upon walking in there is no bone in your body that does not feel the urge to move to the rhythm. The mostly reggaeton songs are characterized with a dance focused on sensuality. Anywhere you look you will find one person pressed against another, grinding with impressive dexterity. This is exceedingly normal to all of us, but to outsiders it may seem a little like sex with clothes on. If you don’t have partner yet, it won’t be long until someone comes up to ask for a dance. This is also a convention: it is rare to find a man walk up to a woman and press against her without explicit consent to dance, and even rarer to see this occur without a slap in the face as the consequence. (Ladies, if you want a fun game, keep track of how many guys ask you to dance).
Now, MAYBE, you can say it’s time to go: some bars are closing, though others are in it for the long run, but I get it, your feet hurt. Time to take an uber over to Isla Verde, find el Churry (the late night food truck specifically for drunk people of your dreams), and grab a bite. A sandwich with lettuce, tomato, mayo-ketchup, potato sticks, chicken, and skirt steak combined with your soft drink of choice. I promise nothing tastes better in this physical state.
11:00pm
1:00am This is not time to get tired or to shut down or to go home (att. ITHACA), instead it’s time to re-evaluate where you are and where you want to be. If the club ever gets a little old or they play a song you don’t like, there is no need to worry. Simply walk out, cross the street, go inside the first door you see, and BAM, new scene. Grab a drink at the bar, talk to someone new, and continue to dance the night away.
2:30am
3:00am If food makes you drowsy, it might be time to go home, but it might also be time to grab a ride to Old San Juan. Take a stroll through the colorful old city and walk to El Morro, the oldest fort in the Caribbean. A large field of grass is the perfect spot to sit and watch the stars with a view of the ocean after a long night out. If you’re like me, you may find yourself in a conversation worthy of lasting until the sunrise.
Julia Segel Nieves is a student at Cornell University. She is from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her favorite part of Puerto Rico is the tropical rainforest El Yunque because of its rich biodiversity, breathtaking scenery, and natural playgrounds for the venturesome. 37
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Cilantro: the Connector The connections that will make you travel the world more efficiently
The Team Directors
Content
Creative
Marketing
Editor in Chief Zeyu Hu
Editors Ami Mehta
Chloe Tsui
Danyal Motiwalla
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Daisy Dai
Duoer Jia
Arianne Seenauth
Judy Lang Dong
Ilayda Samilgil
Lynette Huang
Lolia Briggs
Yiwen Sun
Marettu Girma
Xiaoxiang Ma
Teresa Liang
Creative Director Ami Kurosaki Marketing Director Cathy Zhang Web Director Adam Gleisner Head Illustrator Eric Lee Web Designer Tony Li Managing Editor Yi Hsin Wei Internal Operations Ethan Kahm Treasurer Akhil Mithal
Brandon Smith Lauren McBrearty Zoe Hauser Writers Gabriela Angelys
Xiaotong Chen
Marielisa Cabrera Marisabel Cabrera Santos Rivera
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Zaeem Rana
Rivera Alejandro Sanchez Julia Siegel Pedro Suau
Special Thanks Lolia Briggs for her filmography with the interviews Auri Ford for her additional photographs Image Credits:
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Cover Photo by Marisabel Cabrera
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