Passengers on a flight from Ecuador were in for a surprise when some of their fellow passengers—the chorus of the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey—began to sing a capella Amanecer borincano (the Sunrise of Borinquen) as they were landing in Puerto Rico. Borinquen or Borikén is the name the aboriginal Taíno people called the island.
Some passengers recorded the moment, and the video went viral on social media.
Puerto Rico is currently undergoing a severe economic crisis, and also an extreme drought. “Amanecer borincano,” written by Alberto Carrión, speaks of the beauty of the island and its people, of its traditions, of hope, and the future.
The chorus was representing Puerto Rico at a musical event in Ecuador.