North Hudson paid homage to its Cuban population with the 15th annual Cuban Parade and Festival of New Jersey last Sunday, kicking off in North Bergen. And despite a rainy start, nothing could dampen the event’s message: the Cuban population is here to stay, as is the impact of those with Cuban roots.
“We want to keep the Cuban culture going here in Hudson County,” said Emilio Del Valle, the parade’s founder, shortly before kickoff. “I know a lot of the Cubans have moved away and some of them have gone to Miami, But we still have our culture here and we want to make sure we still keep this parade going every year.”
The West New York/Union City/North Bergen area has the highest concentration of Cuban Americans in the country outside of the Miami-Dade region.
Del Valle also discussed Jesus “Manito” Perez, a Cuban expatriate well known in the North Hudson area for his senior day care businesses. Perez passed away last year. A pioneering member of the parade, officials dedicated this year’s event to him.
“We miss him very much,” Del Valle said. “He was a tremendous individual that had businesses here, had many properties here, many awards. He’s helped a lot of people and we’re honored to dedicate our parade to him.”
The honorees
Perez wasn’t the parade’s only honoree. Oneida Quevedo, who opened Guttenburg’s first dance studio in 1966, received Artistic Godmother honors for her decades of creative service.
One of her graduate students, Susell Sierra, helped celebrate Quevedo’s half-century milestone with the Oneida Dance Studio’s float.
“She has a great school for the girls, for our community,” said Sierra, whose daughter now attends Quevedo’s school. “It teaches the girls dancing, discipline. It’s very good for them in school.”
“Although all of [us] Cubans are very proud and grateful for the United States and all the things, the freedom and the liberty they have given us, we never forget where we are coming from,” said Maria, a parade organizer who asked that her last name not be used, while atop a float for Las Brisas Cafe in Union City. “Today is to celebrate our Cubanism, being Cuban.”
“It doesn’t matter if it rains or snows. I’m Cuban; I’m here.” – Disela Pereira
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Of course, one didn’t have to be Cuban to celebrate the heritage and impact. For West New York Commissioner Cosmo Cirillo, an Italian-American, his participation was about helping support the community and showing “my honor to their heritage and culture. That’s what makes our country so great: the ability to celebrate everybody’s diversity.”
With the rain creeping to a slow halt, the parade finally kicked off around 12:10 pm down Bergenline Avenue towards Union City, bringing to onlookers the infectious salsa music, Cubano bakery treats and unmatched rhythm.
One of the parade’s biggest side cheerleaders, Disela Pereira, couldn’t help but sway to the music.
“I come every year!” Pereira proclaimed. “I’ve been around for 50 years, and every time they come, I’m here. It doesn’t matter if it rains or snows. I’m Cuban; I’m here.”
But with the music calling, Pereira quickly returned her attention to the event with a friendly demand: “Let me watch the rest!”
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