Banco Popular will present its traditional holiday special on December 7 under the theme "Estampas de Mi Tierra", highlighting the work of Olga Tañón, Chuwi and Fiel a la Vega, along with other Puerto Rican artists.
The musical production will celebrate Puerto Rican pride and the importance of photographs that preserve memories of family Christmases and landmark places on the Island.
"(The theme) represents different places. Through the special, we'll see not only the everyday, like a Christmas party with the whole family, but also those photos that take us to different places that are iconic or that represent places where, in other times, we enjoyed music," Natacha Vale, assistant vice president and corporate communications manager at Banco Popular, told Platea.
Another focal point will be the enjoyment of music as a cultural act and how it evolves across different eras in Puerto Rico.
When does it premiere? Sunday, December 7
Where can I watch it? On all local television channels, Molusco TV, and for 24 hours through the website popular.com
What is the theme? "Estampas de Mi Tierra," honoring images of special everyday moments and places that are landmarks for music on the Island
Who will perform? Olga Tañón, Genio La Musa, Young Miko, Los Pleneros de la Cresta, Roy Brown, Fiel a la Vega, Victoria Sanabria, Chuwi, El Gran Combo, Manolo Ramos, Manny Manuel, Luis Daniel, Decimanía, Anthony García, singer for El Gran Combo, along with his daughter Darianisse García, Elena, Montalvo (both young singers), Obie Bermúdez and Janina.
60 years of holiday musical tradition
Banco Popular's specials began in 1965 with a tribute to maestro Rafael Hernández Marín. In 1998, the bank again dedicated its production to the maestro, creating a special version of "Preciosa" that decades later would resonate at the final performance of Bad Bunny's residency.
Vale used this example to illustrate how music evolves: the final verses, which begin with "Preciosa te llevo dentro, muy dentro de mi corazón…" — that Marc Anthony performed do not belong to the original 1937 composition. They were added by musician Ángel "Cucco" Peña specifically for that 1998 special, titled "Romance del Cumbanchero."
Stories that intertwine
Beyond the legacy the traditional production leaves behind, the bank also maintains its practice of supporting and showcasing new talent on the Island's music scene.
"Developing this piece is important for continuing to support our culture, as well as those who work within it. We want to give new talent an opportunity, spark conversations about music and the impact it has on us, and pay tribute to those who came before and have left a mark on who we are today. We firmly believe that art and music are the living reflection of our identity, and with 'Estampas de mi tierra' we reaffirm our commitment to preserving and elevating the best of Puerto Rico for future generations," said Javier D. Ferrer, president and chief executive officer of Popular, Inc., in a statement.
This year, the band from Isabel, Chuwi, performer of WELTiTA alongside Conejo Malo and a participant in the bank's 2024 special, stands out.
These productions have served as a meeting point for artists at different stages of their careers, as was the case with Bad Bunny.
The artist from Vega Baja participated in the 2018 special, "Más de un siglo," with the track "Desde el corazón," two years after gaining international recognition with "Diles."
In a notable connection, his current musical director and percussionist, Julio Gastón, who collaborated on the album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" and on the residency "No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí," opened that same artistic presentation when he was just 12 years old.
For this coming December, the lineup also includes Genio La Musa, Young Miko, Los Pleneros de la Cresta, Roy Brown, Fiel a la Vega, Victoria Sanabria, El Gran Combo, Manolo Ramos, Manny Manuel, Luis Daniel, Decimanía, Anthony García, singer for El Gran Combo, alongside his daughter Darianisse García, Elena, Montalvo (both young singers), Obie Bermúdez and Janina.
On the production process for the special, "this one doesn't fall short," singer Olga Tañón told Platea.
"The film we're making of this is a luxury and you can see it in the work team (in charge of the production)," the merengue singer added, on her seventh time participating in the musical event.
Tañón has been part of the productions Siempre Piel Canela (1997), Romance del Cumbanchero (1998), Raíces (2001), Queridos Reyes Magos (2005), Lo mejor de nuestra música popular (2007) and Nuestra isla, nuestro encanto (2017).
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
