Latino pride displayed at Brentwood parade

For Rafael Mondalvo, the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Day Parade in Brentwood, which took place Sunday for the 45th year in a row, is an annual opportunity to embrace his roots.

"It's one day a year I get to be Puerto Rican," said Mondalvo, 45, of Brentwood. "The rest of the year I'm just a truck driver. I don't wear my colors."

Decked out in a mesh tank top and ball cap in the Puerto Rican flag's red, white, and blue, Mondalvo, who has come to the event the past three years, named other pleasures the parade offers him. Among them: the chance to eat fried food and enjoy a beer.

Mondalvo was one of an estimated 50,000 spectators at the parade up Fifth Avenue. Many, like Mondalvo, sported a Puerto Rican flag theme. But there also were people of Salvadoran, Cuban, Mexican, Ecuadorean and Guatemalan heritage, to name just a few.

Grill smoke from cooking meats and corn cobs mingled in the air with vehicle exhaust.

Local politicians were out on the parade route, waving to the crowd. They were joined by marching bands and cars tricked out as mobile sound systems that filled the air with Latin music. Engine trucks from local fire departments added sirens to the mix.

The parade is sponsored by Adelante of Suffolk County, a nonprofit group based in Central Islip that provides community services including elder care and youth programs.

Bobby Peña, lead street coordinator for the parade, took a quick break from directing participants onto the route from side streets to speak with a reporter. Peña said about 70 area groups were represented and 2,000 marchers took part.

"Within the next couple of weeks they'll start planning for next year," said Peña, 45, a retired NYPD officer from Plainview.

Tommy San Miguel, whose parents are Puerto Rican, said he's lived in Bay Shore for 16 years, but he attended the parade for the first time. He was impressed.

"It's beautiful," said San Miguel, 51, a business owner. "It keeps the culture alive."

Rafael Rosado, 43, an artist from Glen Cove, attended with several family members. He said he's been coming for 15 years and explained why: "Pride. The parade. The unity of the people. The food, family and fun."

The parade has established itself as the Hispanic population on Long Island has soared. Census figures released in March counted 441,594 Hispanics on Long Island, a 56-percent jump since 2000. The figure makes Hispanics 16 percent of the Island's total population.