INSIDE THE NUYORICAN ON PEDRO'S STREET NAMING DAY...

The altar on stage represents the Church of the Mother of Tomatoes (La Iglesia de la Madre de Los Tomates) which was founded by the late Rev. Pedro Pietri who was officially ordained as a minister with the Ministries of Salvation in California. Rev. Pedro ministered to his flock by visiting with inmates in prison and in insane asylums and bringing them salvation through his poetry and dark humor. He received new comers to his church by baptizing them as Born-again-Nuyoricans with Agua Florida (Florida Water) and blessing them with the black hand he carried attached to a long a stick..

Hand Awards Honorees

The Hand awards were designed by Adal Maldonado with tailoring by Gracias Medina. The ring on the hand was designed by Rebecca Moore. The hand award is a replica of the black hand Rev. Pedro carried around as part of his performance prop. It is the first time these awards have been presented by members of El Puerto Rican Embassy. El Puerto Rican Embassy began when Eduardo Figueroa prophetically pronounced, "Puerto Rico is a Spirit Republic. Puerto Ricans are a Rainbow people. We are made up of all the races of the world.. Wherever you go there you will meet yourself.” El Puerto Rican Embassy has among many of its artifacts an official passport designed by Adal and its Manifesto and National Anthem written by Rev. Pedro. El Puerto Rican Embassy plans to make the Hand Awards Ceremony an annual event.
This Year’s awards went to the following institutions and individuals.

Visual Arts
Taller Boricua, East Harlem, NY

Education
Boricua College, Brooklyn, New York & New York, New York

Life Time Achievement
Piri Thomas, Author & Poet

Nuyorican Poet & Visionary
Miguel Algarin, Poet, Playwright & Co-Founder Nuyorican Poets Café

Poetry
Lois Elaine Griffith, Poet, Playwright & Nuyorican Founding Poet

Poetry
Jesus Papoleto Melendez, Poet, Playwright & Nuyorican Founding Poet

The Cafe was filled with poetry luminaries, fans, friends & family all day long, (& all night long!) The stage was a constant tribute to our Nuyorican roots through poetry, music, song and dance performances, culminating with the Cannonization of Pedro as the Patron Saint of La Iglesia de la Madre de Los Tomates and the Hand Award Ceremony.

Performers played to a full house all day & night!

The Cafe received a street sign that will proudly be displayed forever!

Performances were non-stop at the Cafe. (Above) La Bruja & her band heat up the stage.

V.A. Nitza Tufiño sketches the crowd from the stage.