OUR PRIDE
OUR FLAG
Puerto Rican Flag
The flag was completed in New York City at Chimney Corner Hall in Manhattan on December 22, 1895. The flag of Puerto Rico has a rich history. Dr. Julio J. Henna led a group of 59 Puerto Ricans who organized the Puerto Rican section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party. As part of their activities, a flag was created to rally support for independence from Spain. The Puerto Rican flag was designed by inverting the colors of the single starred flag of its neighbor in the Caribbean, Cuba. The first known incarnation of the symbol was made by Manuela `Mima' Besosa, the Puerto Rican Betsy Ross. The motion to adopt the flag was approved unanimously by the Puerto Rican revolutionaries. In 1895, Cuba and Puerto Rico were the only two Spanish colonies left in the Western Hemisphere. The Puerto Rican Section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party founded by Jose Marti, agreed upon using the Cuban flag as the model for the Puerto Rican flag. Basically they are they same flag with inverted colors. The Cuban flag has blue stripes and a red triangle; the Puerto Rican flag it's just the opposite. Our flag was designed after the Cuban flag with the colors inverted as a sign of solidarity with Cuba, as suggested by Lola Rodriguez de Tio. Some celebrate Puerto Rican Flag Day on June 11th others celebrate it on December 22. Our flag was one hundred years old in 1995. Boricuas in 1895 were fighting for independence from Spain. Some wanted independence so that Puerto Rico could be annexed to the United States. Some hoped Puerto Rico would come into some sort of Antillian alliance or confederation. Both sides worked together in one accord. A group of Puerto Rican patriots in New York City worked on this project and that is where our flag was born. It was then a revolutionary flag in defiance of the Spanish reign. The reason they did not use the Lares Flag was because it represented a defeated effort. They wanted a new flag.
Reference: http://www.elboricua.com/flag.html
Reference: http://www.elboricua.com/flag.html
"La Borinquena" midi - Courtesy of Rene Ramos
Que bonita bandera,
Que bonita bandera,
Que bonita bandera
es la bandera Puertorriquena.
Que bonita bandera,
Que bonita bandera,
Que bonita bandera
es la bandera Puertorriquena.
Reference: http://www.elboricua.com/flag.html
NATIONAL ANTHEM
"La Borinquena"
(New Version)
donde he nacido yo,
es un jardin florido
de magico primor.
Un cielo siempre nitido
que sirve de dosel
y dan arrullos placidos
las olas a sus pies.
Cuando a sus playas llego Colon
exclamo, lleno de admiracion;
Esta es la linda
tierra que busco yo.
Es Borinquen querida la hija,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol.
Letra: Manuel Fernandez Juncos
Música: Ramon Collado
Autor: Felix Astol Artes
Reference: http://www.elboricua.com/flag.html
"La Borinquena Revolucionaria"
(Old Version)
Lola Rodríguez De Tio
Despierta, borinqueno
que han dado la senal!
Despierta de ese sueno
que es hora de luchar!
A ese llamar patriotico
no arde tu corazon?
Ven! Nos será simpatico
el ruido del canon.
Mira, ya el cubano
libre sera;
le dara el machete
su libertad...
le dara el machete
su libertad.
Ya el tambor guerrero
dice en su son,
que es la manigua el sitio,
el sitio de la reunion,
de la reunion...
de la reunion.
El Grito de Lares
se ha de repetir,
y entonces sabremos
vencer o morir.
Bellisima Borinquen,
a Cuba hay que seguir;
tu tienes bravos hijos
que quieren combatir.
Ya por mas tiempo impavido
no podemos estar,
ya no queremos, timidos
dejarnos subyugar.
Nosotros queremos
ser libre ya,
y nuestro machete
afilado esta,
y nuestro machete
afilado esta.
Reference: www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/lola.html
"Our Grito de Lares Flag"
The "Grito de Lares" is Puerto Rico's first and only cry for Independence. On September 23, 1868 between 600 to 1000 men, mostly Puerto Rican born and from the west of the Island, revolted for Independence from Spain. Of the arrested most were innocent jibaros their only guilt was being passive victims of the political regime. The citizens of the Capital as well as the wealthy were indifferent to the independence movement. The men were poorly armed without aid, protection or training. The revolt which was planned for September 29th began instead on the 23rd as a result of betrayal. On the evening of the 23rd the most daring met at the farm of Manuel Rojas in Pezuelas, Lares. Led by Manuel Rojas this group of men marched towards Lares. Second in command was Matias Brugman, other leaders were Joaquin Parrilla, Eusebio Ibarra, Manuel Cebollero, Juan Terreforte, Andres Pol y Gambino Plumey. This group was able to "take" Lares without any resistance before the Spaniards became aware if the revolt. The group proceeded to form a provisional government declaring an independent Puerto Rico Republic. The new President was Francisco Ramirez, Aurelio Mendez was the Government Minister, Clemente Millan was the Justice Minister, Federico Valencia was the Minister of the Treasury, Manuel Ramirez was the Secretary of State, Bernabe Pol was the Secretary. The following day they marched to San Sebastian where the Spanish militia awaited them and the rest is history. El Grito de Lares is now immortalized. In 1969 Governor Luis A. Ferre, a statehood supporter, declared September 23rd a National Holiday. Lares was declared a Historic Site by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. Lares is known as the birthplace of Puerto Rican Nationalism. Lares Flag designed by Betances, sewed by Mariana Bracetti. The Flag had a white cross dividing the flag into four sections (rectangles). The top two sections were blue and the bottom sections were red. On the top left rectangle was a white star.
Reference: http://www.elboricua.com/lares.html
Reference: http://www.elboricua.com/lares.html
NATIONAL COAT OF ARMS
P. R. Coat of Arms
The Coat of Arms of Puerto Rico were first granted by the Spanish Crown in 1511, and are the oldest arms still used in the New World. It was officially re-adopted by the Commonwealth government of Puerto Rico in 1976. On the shield, the green background represents the island's vegetation. The lamb (of God) and flag on the shield are those of St. John the Baptist, while the book with the seven seals on which the lamb sits represents the Book of Revelation, generally attributed to John the Evangelist. The border is made up of several different elements: castles and lions to represent Castile and Leon (Castil-Leon), as well as a flag that represents the two kingdoms united as Spain. The cross of Jerusalem stands for the Catholic faith. The F and the arrows (flechas in spanish) represent Ferdinand II of Aragon while the Y and the yoke (yugo in spanish) represent Isabella I of Castile, who originally granted the arms. The motto, "Joannes Est Nomem Ejus", means "John is its name", as San Juan, or St. John, was the original name of the island.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_Arms_of_Puerto_Rico
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_Arms_of_Puerto_Rico
MUNICIPAL FLAGS
Our Municipal Flags
Each town in Puerto Rico has its own Municipal Flag.
Marícao 
Quebradillas 
Reference: www.proyectosalonhogar.com
CANCIONES
En Mi Viejo San Juan
En mi Viejo San Juan
Cuantos años forjé
En mis años de infancia.
Mi primera ilusión
Y mis cuitas de amor
Son recuerdos del alma.
Una tarde partí
Hacia extraña nación
Pues lo quiso el destino
Pero mi corazón
Se quedó frente al mar
En mi viejo San Juan.
Adiós, adiós, adiós
Borinquen querida
Tierra de mi amor.
Adiós, adiós, adiós
Mi Diosa del Mar
Mi tierra del Palmar.
Me voy, ya me voy
Pero un dia volveré
A buscar mi querer
A soñar otra vez
En mi viejo San Juan.
Pero el tiempo pasó
Yel destino burló
Mi terrible nostalgia
Y no pude volver
Al San Juan que yo amé
Pedacito de Patria
Mi cabello blanqueó
Y mi vida se va
Ya la muerte me llama
Y no quiero morir
Alejado de tí
Puerto Rico de mi alma.
Reference: Provided by Aurye