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Thousands of Revelers Brave Rain to Celebrate Dominican Pride

By DNAinfo Staff on August 14, 2011 12:07pm  | Updated on August 14, 2011 6:28pm

Ederlin Diaz, 21, of Brooklyn and her daughter, Angeliz Diaz, 3, brave the rain for the Dominican Day Parade in Midtown on Aug. 14, 2011.
Ederlin Diaz, 21, of Brooklyn and her daughter, Angeliz Diaz, 3, brave the rain for the Dominican Day Parade in Midtown on Aug. 14, 2011.
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Paul Lomax

By Paul Lomax, Carla Zanoni and Tom Liddy

DNAinfo

MANHATTAN — More than 100,000 revelers braved a sopping-wet Sunday to celebrate the Dominican Day Parade, donning colorful outfits and dancing to music despite the dreary skies.

The festivities had been pushed back until 1:15 p.m. due to the torrential rain that has been soaking the city, cops and organizers said.

Crowds were initially sparse along the Sixth Avenue parade route, which runs from 34th to 56th streets, after the scheduled 11 a.m. kickoff, but those who showed didn't let the gloom get to them.

"I'm very proud being a part of my country," said Ederlin Diaz, 21, of Brooklyn, a Santo Domingo native who was with her daughter, Angeliz, 3.

Girls dance at the 29th Annual Dominican Day Parade in New York on Aug. 14, 2011.
Girls dance at the 29th Annual Dominican Day Parade in New York on Aug. 14, 2011.
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DNAinfo/Paul Lomax

"This is my first parade and I would not have missed it for the world."

Minaya Yzma, 53, who is originally from Santo Domingo and now living in Washington Heights and her friend Trinidad Munoz, 33, also from Washington Heights, have been coming to the parade since the '80s.

"We don't care about the weather," said Munoz. "We are so proud of our country! The rain, eh - it  doesn't matter to us!"

Youngsters from the Boticarios baseball team traveled from the Dominican Republic to enjoy the annual parade and take part in a baseball tournament sponsored by Queens City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras.

"I love New York! I always wanted to come here and play baseball," said Roberto Farraeli, 8, of Santo Domingo, who donned his baseball uniform and waved the Dominican flag. "I just wish it would stop raining!"

And pals Christine Salas and Odessa Bernal, both 24 and wearing yellow ponchos, traveled from Washington D.C. to take part in the celebration.

"We're very proud of our country," said Salas. "This is our first time here and we would not have missed it for anything! We don't care about the weather! It's a great day for everyone!"

On hand for the parade was Mayor Michael Bloomberg, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and Congressman Charlie Rangel.

"Every year I come to this parade, and I'm reminded of all the things that make us great as a people - our enthusiasm, determination and most of all, our love for one another," Rodriguez said.

"There are so many people in our community that have reached heights we never would have dreamed of when we were young."

The Dominican community counts among its members Pulitzer Prize winners, scientists, musicians, business owners and educators as well as 15 elected officials in the US, according to Rodriguez.

This parade, which was founded in 1982 by activist Miguel Amaro, is in its 29th year and is a great source of pride for those in New York's community of 700,000 Dominicans.

"For me it is a great honor to be the Godmother of the Dominican National Parade," said Lourdes Stephen, co-host of Univision's entertainment news show "Sal y Pimienta." 

Lourdes Stephen, the godmother of the 2011 Dominican Day Parade and host of Univision's
Lourdes Stephen, the godmother of the 2011 Dominican Day Parade and host of Univision's "Sal y Pimienta."
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Facebook/Lourdes Stephen

The Santo Domingo native spent three years in New York covering national news, including the September 11 attacks, the Staten Island ferry crash and the death of singer Celia Cruz, before moving to Miami in 2006.

"For Dominicans, this event is extremely important because it reminds us and everybody else about who we are and all that we have to offer," said Stephen, who earned the Dominican Republic's "Premio Nacional de la Juventud" (National Youth Award) in 2007.

"We are hard working, high-spirited and patriotic people. We love our Quisqueya [Dominican Republic], no matter how far away or long since we have been there. We carry the beat of our great country in our hearts and we bring that sound and spirit as Dominicans wherever we go. "

On Friday, Upper Manhattan community leaders and police officials urged revelers to follow the law and be respectful of their neighbors during and after the festivities because of problems at and after last year's parade.

The warnings for zero tolerance came a year after a pregnant teen was stabbed in the back of the head along the parade route and a YouTube video surfaced showing cops and revelers clashing.