Panamanian paraders waiting to exhale
Brookyn Borough President Eric Adams is sandwiched by
Panamanians. Maria McKenzie
Caribbean Life, SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2021 11
Now that a greenlight was
given for the return of the Halloween
and Macy’s Thanksgiving
Day Parade, organizers of
the 26th annual Panamanian
Day spectacular are breathing
easier that their Oct. 9 event in
Brooklyn will elude the virtual
webcast imposed last year.
“We are ready to leave from
Franklin Ave. and follow the
usual route to the Brooklyn
Museum,” Maria McKenzie,
spokesperson for the organizing
Day of Independence Committee
of Panamanians in New York Inc.
(DICPNY) said.
Along with members of the
co-ordinating committee, she
recently posted a video on their
web portal extending invitations
to everyone to join the return of
the revelry — ‘Desde aqui para
alla.”
Translated to English to
interpret “from here to there,”
McKenzie is seen simultaneously
pointedly signaling the directions
addressed by the phrase
voiced in Spanish.
In a video she explains that
the return is slated to begin at 10
am, with the usual array of Panamanian
nationals in display of
their polleras (traditional dress),
guayabera (traditional men’s
shirt), tembleques (hair ornaments),
escapulario (necklace)
straw hats, cuisine, bandanas,
and banners.
Back to the streets annually
festooned with a two-star,
red, white and blue banner in
celebration of Panamanian culture,
McKenzie and others said
despite the many postponements
of other parades, the standard
bearers of the isthmus remained
optimistic that the oldest parade
to celebrate the diversity of their
heritage would prevail against
pandemic fears.
“Even though our parade is
always held the day before the
Hispanic Day Parade and theirs
was cancelled early in the year,
we never ever thought our parade
would not happen.” “Since last
year’s virtual parade, we have
held fundraisers, spoken with
participants and planned for the
return of our annual street celebration.”
Last week DICPNY announced
the names of the honored grand
marshalls for this year’s procession.
Bishop Eric D. Garnes, Alfonso
Rogelio Greaves, Godfather
and Godmother Sherwin and
Grasiela Johnson and Godfather
James Smith DJ Coochie will
kick-off the festivities.
Proud of the heritage that
connects the English and Spanish
speaking Caribbean community,
their Puente del Mundo
(bridge of the world) mantra will
be evident following the downgraded
limited WIADCA Labor
Day showcase which recently
restricted spectators from the
Nostrand Ave. start route along
Eastern Parkway.
Now that positivity rates are
spiraling downwards for the
coronavirus and its variants,
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio recently
announced the return of the
Oct. 31 and Thanksgiving Day
traditions.
“We are thrilled to welcome
back in its full form the Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade, a
world-renowned celebration that
ushers in the magic of being in
New York City during the holiday
season,” the mayor said in a press
release.
Will Coss, executive producer
of the event amplified the
statement saying: “For our 95th
celebration, we are delighted to
return this cherished holiday tradition
closer to its original form
as we march down the streets
of New York City and into the
homes of a nationwide audience.”
According to Mayor de Blasio’s
release COVID-19 testing will be
in place.
Regardless of vaccination status,
all participants and staff will
be required to wear face coverings
and warranted protective
equipment during the Nov. 25
event.
For more info. Log onto www.
PanamanianParade.org
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
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