Independencia and Bahoruco Display the Best of their Culture at the Regional Book Fair

Independencia and Bahoruco Display the Best of their Culture at the Regional Book Fair
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 9/25/2011

The VII edition of the Regional Book Fair dedicated its second day of activities to the provinces of Bahoruco and Independencia, who honored the late journalist and poet  Apolinar Perdomo as well as historian, professor and poet General Rafael Leónidas Pérez y Pérez.

The pavilions in both provinces were inaugurated by their provincial authorities. For Bahoruco, the Syndicate of Neyba, Orlando Gómez, and for Independencia, Governor Malkun Santana

The pavilions in both provinces were inaugurated by their provincial authorities. For Bahoruco, the Syndicate of Neyba, Orlando Gómez, and for Independencia, Governor Malkun Santana, cut the ribbons and formally opened their respective pavilions.

Both pavilions bring together, in their design, the diverse aspects of the distinctive culture of each community. Bahoruco’s pavilion displays allusive images of the surrounding vineyards, agricultural activity representative of the province as well as a photo exhibit of the city of Neyba and its development throughout history. Independencia boasts an attractive pavilion full of the various aspects of the Taina culture along with an exhibition of informative posters that illustrate the history of its municipalities.

General Rafael Leónidas Pérez y Pérez, the writer being honored by Independencia, received a plaque from Alejandro Arvelo, the Director General of the Book Fair. Pérez y Pérez thanked the Ministry of Culture for this honor and stressed the important contribution the Book Fair makes in all the communities it reaches.

Throughout the day, various cultural activities were held in the fairgrounds where the culture and identity of Bahoruco and Independencia were the main protagonists. In the food pavilions, visitors enjoyed such dishes as “plátanos con viajacas (tilapias) con coco” and various products derived from the region’s grapes.

In the children’s tent, groups from Neyba and Independencia delighted the children. In other areas, there were round table discussions, book presentations, conferences and other activities related to issues and topics pertaining to this southern part of the country.

The day ended in the Arena Casandra Damirón Theater with the National Folklore Ballet, the Lago Enriquillo of Independencia Folklore Group and the Municipality of Bahoruco Folklore Ballet.

Doctor Orlando Gómez Román, Syndicate of Neyba, cutting the ribbon to formally inaugurate the Bahoruco pavilion at the Book Fair..

Alejandro Arvelo, Director General of the Book Fair; Fernando Ramón Santana, Mayor of Jimaní; General Rafael Leónidas Pérez y Pérez, writer from Independencia honored  at the Book Fair; Governor Malkun Santana and Mónica Pérez, Provincial Director of Culture all gather for the cutting of the ribbon to formally inaugurate Independencia’s pavilion.

Mónica Pérez, Provincial Director of Culture for the province of Independencia, tells visitors what to expect in the program of activities in the pavilion.