ome
of us within the Diáspora have always sought
to see Puerto Ricans organizations in the USA, who have honestly and without
ulterior and mundane motives, created cultural centers within their communities.
Such is the case of the House of Puerto Rico in San Diego, some 200 miles south
of Los Angeles, CA and a few spittle miles of the Mexican border.
I first heard of them from some obscure Boricua man in L.A. who suggested I help
them build a website, after which I was prompted to travel south, look them up
and for 6 pasteles offer to enhance their web presence. They have come a long
way, growing in membership and local status while striving with bigger
nation groups like Romania and Iran to have their cultural houses built as
bulwarks to the local community.
Ralph Costas explains the quest that it's been to
realize a dream.
Ralph Costas, executive treasurer for HPRSD states that they have shed "blood,
sweat and tears" for the last 7 years, trying every fundraiser imaginable, to
come up with the $180,000 needed to complete the project
So, after months of delays over construction issues, they finally have their own
stucco
and red-tile building address as
The House of Puerto Rico within the House of
Pacific Relations circle of cottages at Balboa Park.
Even members of the Festival Del Cuatro observe in SRO
condition.
Opening last Saturday February 4, the feat
almost seem amazing, as I beheld the beautifully simple design and content of
the mini-museum.
In those seven years the 200 members of the House of Puerto Rico group managed
to raise the $180,000 to build the cottage. It joins nearly 20 other cottages
representing nations in a tradition going back to 1935 when the first cottages
were built for the California Pacific
International Exposition. Afterward, they were turned over to nationality-based
groups. The House of Spain will be next in line to build.
Partial display of the Mini-Museum, which includes
musical instruments.
There's a section devoted to Puerto Rican history, culture and art. In addition,
the house will probably host cooking classes and serve as a meeting place for
Puerto Rican seniors, members of the military and others, members say.
Historical displays are crafted in a very professional
and exquisite taste.
According to reports in the local newpaper, members of the House of Puerto Rico
were “bursting out of our seams,” as Aileen Alvarado-Swaisgood states. “We're
just so proud to be able to have our house. Being the first Latin American
cottage is a treat.”
Members of the Executive Board relax simply because
it's finally real.
The Puerto Rico house will be open for several
hours every Sunday afternoon starting at 12
p.m. The delay in construction stemmed from
the sidewalk, which had to be rebuilt to comply with rules governing
disabled
access, but now sojourning Boricuas from all the world can stop by and maybe
engage in a game of dominó and a sip of maví.
I was there, but you can learn
more...
HERE
