Christmas 'En Mi Pais' (In My Country): A Banco Popular Musical Special With 20 Latin Singers
December 08 2004 - 4:16PM
PR Newswire (US)
Christmas 'En Mi Pais' (In My Country): A Banco Popular Musical
Special With 20 Latin Singers Two Million to Enjoy the Show in
U.S., Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Dominican Republic CHICAGO, Dec. 8
/PRNewswire/ -- Banco Popular North America, the country's largest
Hispanic-owned financial institution, announced today the release
of "En Mi Pais" (In My Country), its latest musical production
featuring over 20 Puerto Rican and Latin American singers. Filmed
on location last August at the beautiful colonial-style "Central
Aguirre" hacienda in Salinas, Puerto Rico, "En Mi Pais" brings home
the joy of the holiday season and the traditions that are the
cornerstone of the Christmas celebration throughout the Americas
continent. Although already in its 13th edition, this year's
musical special marks a series of important firsts for this popular
holiday tradition. Chief among this year's important developments
is the television broadcast of "En Mi Pais" in nearly 50 top U.S.
Hispanic markets, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Panama and Dominican
Republic. Conversations are also underway for the transmission of
the show in Mexico during the month of December. Over two million
viewers are expected to enjoy this year's Banco Popular music
special according to Bank officials. "This year's music special
captures a celebration of friends and family from Puerto Rico and
Latin America gathering to share holiday traditions that unite
their countries and diverse Hispanic cultures," said Tere Loubriel,
Executive Vice President of People, Communications and Planning at
Popular, Inc. "Christmas is a very special time for Latin American
families. So this special, already the Bank's 13th annual
production and holiday tradition, celebrates the values of this
important time of the year for our communities." This year, Banco
Popular has partnered with Mexico's Azteca America to broadcast "En
Mi Pais" in their 38 U.S. Hispanic markets as the newest feature
within their popular holiday schedule. Azteca America will air the
show as a two-part series on Saturday and Sunday, December 11 and
12, respectively, during the early evening programming schedule. A
large hacienda house, typical of estate homes located in the
country site nearby a Caribbean sugar mill, is the scene where
singers, friends and guests gather to share stories and songs from
different Latin countries. Director Paloma Suau conceived "En Mi
Pais" as a musical Christmas card with a message of unity,
friendship and brotherhood, while highlighting Latin America's
cultural richness. Central Aguirre's opened its doors to welcome
such leading Puerto Rican talents as Jose Feliciano, La India,
Victor Manuelle, Ednita Nazario, Lucecita Benitez, Danny Rivera,
Tommy Torres, and Mapeye, among others. Also participating are
renowned Latin American singers including: Alejandro Fernandez,
Lila Downs, Julieta Venegas and Sin Bandera, from Mexico; Ruben
Blades from Panama; Soraya, from Colombia; Cachao, from Cuba; Oscar
D'Leon, from Venezuela; Millie Quezada, from the Dominican
Republic; and Tania Libertad, from Peru. "En Mi Pais" is the 13th
edition of the musical special series offered by Banco Popular
every year. "The musical special is more than a contribution to the
Latin American legacy of popular music. It is a commitment to
education for the Hispanic communities we serve," said Richard L.
Carrion, chief executive officer and chairman of the Board of
Directors of Popular, Inc. The show's DVD and music CD will be
available for sale at Banco Popular branches in the U.S. and Puerto
Rico, Popular Cash Express locations in the U.S. and music retail
stores. Telephone sales of the DVD and CD are also available by
calling toll-free 1-877-460-2001, or by visiting Banco Popular's
website at http://www.bancopopular.com/. The DVD and CD will go on
sale on Monday, December 6, for (US) $18.95 and $13.95
respectively. Proceeds from the sales of this musical special will
be donated to support the community work of the Banco Popular
Foundation (Fundacion Banco Popular). Banco Popular North America
is the U.S. banking subsidiary of Puerto Rico- based Popular, Inc.,
which ranks among the country's 30 largest financial institutions,
with over $37 billion in assets. Currently, Banco Popular North
America operates a total of 136 branches in California, Texas,
Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Florida. Banco Popular was
established 111 years ago in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Popular, Inc.
and its family of companies have always been committed to meeting
the needs of its customers through innovation, and to fostering the
development of the communities it serves. Azteca America is the
fastest-growing Hispanic network in the United States. The network
is a wholly owned subsidiary of TV Azteca S.A. de C.V., one of the
two largest producers of Spanish-language television content in the
world. Azteca America currently has presence in 38 Hispanic
markets, including: Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, Chicago,
Dallas, San Antonio, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Phoenix,
Brownsville-McAllen, Albuquerque, San Diego, Fresno-Visalia,
Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, Denver, Orlando, Austin, Tampa, Corpus
Christi, Tucson, Las Vegas, Monterey-Salinas, Hartford, Salt Lake
City, Bakersfield, West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, Santa Barbara, Palm
Springs, Omaha, Yakima, Naples-Ft. Myers, Wichita, Reno, Boise,
Victoria, Oklahoma City, Charleston and Chattanooga. Web site:
http://www.aztecaamerica.com/ DATASOURCE: Banco Popular North
America CONTACT: Frances Ryan, Banco Popular North America,
+1-847-994-5972, or cell, +1-847-924-4766, or ; or Julie Rosenthal,
JR Communications, +1-202-248-8449, or , for Banco Popular North
America; or Daniel McCosh, +011-52-55-1720-0059, +1-212-207-8623,
or , or Juan Pablo Alvarez, +011-52-55-1720-5705, or
+1-212-207-8623, or , both of Azteca America Web site:
http://www.popularinc.com/ http://www.aztecaamerica.com/
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