STOCKTON, CA - Sunday May 6, 2012 the Coalition of Mexican American organizations (COMA) held their annual Cinco de Mayo parade in Downtown Stockton. COMA hires a professional judges association, Pacific COast Judges Association, to judge the parade and give awards to the best parade entries with the theme of ‘Peace in the Valley.’
The winners:
The General Zargoza Award (Grand Prize)
Ballet Folklorico Santa Maria
Battle of Puebla Award
Taft Montessori
Best Band
1-Cesar Chavez Marching Titans
2-Banda de Guerra – Demetrio Ortiz
Best Floats
1-Hazelton Elementary School
2-Commerciantes Unidos
3-Ballet Folklorico
I fail to understand the politics that stands behind many events in this city, such as the unpleasant event that took place after the parade, to which I personally witnessed such immature and distasteful behavior by an individual who was an organizer for the parade. I understood the theme for the parade was to be “Paz en la Valle” Peace in the Valley, I would like to ask for my own curiosity, how are the winners chosen, and what is the requirement/guideline that the judges follow. I understand that COMA pays a nice price for the Judges, are they from this area? And I assume that are deemed reputable for the task that they are being paid to do. I personally would like to know what are their requirements for making their selection and what they base them upon? I was told that the theme for the Cinco de Mayo Celebration was “Paz en la Valle” Peace in the Valley. The floats we all beautiful and each group should be proud! I was looking for the message of PEACE to be addressed among the winners and perhaps I overlooked something. Was the theme part of the judges requirement? I would like to know.
Posted by Linda Medina | May 8, 2012, 5:47 pmhttp://bwnews.us/2012/05/09/civic-auditorium-locks-out-youth-group-peace-message-effort/
http://bwlatino.com/2012/05/10/civico-cierra-puertas-a-grupo-de-jovenes-con-mensaje-de-paz/
Posted by bilingualweekly | May 9, 2012, 10:47 pm