Tampa, FL — The Dominican community of Tampa gathered again to celebrate National Merengue Day, an event that DAOT — the Dominican Association of Tampa — has organized for over three decades to preserve culture, unite families, and strengthen Dominican pride in the city. Although this celebration is now an annual tradition, this edition had an exceptional emotional weight.
The celebration comes a year after the city of Tampa issued an official proclamation recognizing November 26 as National Merengue Day, highlighting the cultural, educational, and community value that Dominicans have contributed to Tampa for generations. But this year, beyond the recognition, the atmosphere was marked by a shared feeling: no one could celebrate without remembering the Jet Set tragedy in Santo Domingo.
On April 8th, a catastrophe at the iconic Jet Set club left more than 200 people dead, becoming one of the most painful episodes for the Dominican diaspora worldwide. The wound remains open. Entire families in the Dominican Republic and abroad continue to face profound grief, and Tampa — home to thousands of Dominicans — is no exception.
The journalist and presenter Filippo Ferretti, known for his closeness to the Dominican community, recently traveled to Santo Domingo to visit the Jet Set and document the tragedy in a report that sought to honor the memory of the victims and accompany the survivors. His presence at the Tampa event was full of symbolism.
“This year, merengue sounds different. It sounds like a tribute, a mourning, and a resistance. Merengue unites us in happy moments, but it also embraces us in the most difficult moments,” Ferretti expressed to a moved audience.
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For her part, Tanya Hernández, president of DAOT, highlighted the importance of keeping the celebration alive even in the midst of pain: “Merengue is part of our identity. Today we celebrate our culture, but we also honor those who are no longer with us. This is a day to remember, to unite and to continue strengthening our community.”
