Colombian Independence Packs Park

Colombians celebrated the 196th anniversary of their independence last week in a colorful festival that packed the biggest park in Queens.
Last Sunday, more than half a million Hispanics, especially Colombians, came together at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to celebrate Colombian Independence as part of a series of events that will be taking place throughout July.
From early in the morning, the yellow, blue and red colors from the Colombian flag were everywhere. Hundreds of people wore those colors on t-shirts and hats as part of their outfit of the day.
Well-known singers and bands participated in the event and performed on the Centro Civico Colombiano’s (CCC) stage. Orquesta Canela, Los Gemenlos de Alquinia, Sonora Dinamita, Eduardo Osorio y su Orquesta, Jorge Mesa y su Tropicumbia and Vicente Torres were some of the artists who performed.
Talented children and teenage artists such as Danny Bocanegra and Jessica Rendol who was accompanied by the CCC folklore ballet also participated in the event. Also Tiffani and Lillian Uribe (9 and 10 respectively) sang “cumbias,” typical music from Colombia.
The beauty of Colombia was personalized with Miss Colombia 2005, Adriana Cecilia Tarud Duran, who sent a warm message to the public and said she was very happy to be part of the celebration and that through the people that were there they could celebrate the love that they have for their country.
On the other hand, Humberto Orjuela, executive director of the Centro Civico Colombiano (CCC) and director of the Festival, said, “I am satisfied with the presence of more than half a million of my fellow country people.”
The Colombian counsel general, Jaime Buenahora, asked Colombian residents of the Big Apple the following: “I want you to become great ambassadors of Colombia in this nation that has accommodated you. More than anything, I want you to renew your commitment to the country where you were born.”
Colombian Independence Day is on July 20.
Luis Alejandro Medina, and Natalia Cruz and Yolanda Vzquez were the godfathers of the festival and each of them said they were satisfied with the great work that the CCC did in organizing the event.
elcorreo@queenscourier.com