‘Very proud to be a Dominican’: New Yorkers showed up to celebrate their heritage

BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) — New York City has the largest population of Dominicans outside the Dominican Republic.

There was a really fun party at the Bronx Zoo celebrating the Dominican people and their contributions to life in the Bronx.

The evening was called Noche Quisquiyana, or, as many said, the best party ever. It began with the national anthem and the Dominican national anthem.

It was a free party for more than 250 people to celebrate their heritage in the Dominican Republic and their life in New York City, which is home to more than 700,000 people of Dominican descent.

The party’s host was New York City Councilmember Rafael Salamanca.

“Throughout the years, we have seen the influx of Dominicans and what a vital role they have in our economy, our healthcare, our bodegas and our restaurants,” Salamanca told PIX11 News.

This is the third annual “Noche quisqueyana,” held each summer before the National Dominican Day Parade in Manhattan. This year, the parade will be held on Sunday, August 11, and will air on PIX11.

Four Dominican New Yorkers were honored, including two bodega owners and the president of the United Bodega Association, Fernando Radhames Rodriguez.

“Being a Dominican is everything,” Rodriguez told PIX11 News. It’s hard-working, it’s family, it’s helping others. I’m very proud to be a Dominican,” he added.

Diana Rodriguez, Fernando’s daughter, told PIX11 News that she is extremely proud of her father.

“ He is the definition of a hard-working man,” Diana said. “He’s instilled in my siblings and I that you truly get what you work for,” she added.

A fourth honoree, Bronx-born Fidel Malena, went to Columbia on a full scholarship and now serves as the regional representative for Governor Kathy Hochul, helping his fellow Dominicans in the Bronx.

“I owe it to my family, my friends, and to the higher being for keeping me humble,” Malena, the honoree, told PIX11 News, “to serve as a public endeavor to advance the public interest,” he added.

Many at this party will be going to the Bronx Dominican Parade this Sunday on the Grand Concourse and then the bigger national parade on August 11, which will air on PIX11 News.

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