WHEREAS, David Piña is a restauranter based in Philadelphia and a community organizer focused on celebrating culture and heritage in Philadelphia’s Latino Community; and
WHEREAS, Piña is a born leader who has taken bold action throughout his life. He moved to Mexico City on his own at age 14 and ran a kitchen at a local restaurant by the time he was 17, catching the attention of other chefs, artists, and celebrities. When he was 19, he immigrated to Philadelphia where he started again from the bottom of the restaurant industry and quickly worked his way up, purchasing a restaurant of his own, Tamalex, in 2011 and expanding to a second location in 2024; and
WHEREAS, Piña and his family immigrated from Mexico and celebration is their nature. Back home, his father, Pedro, organized festivities for Carnaval, a celebration of Mexican independence which dates back to 1868 in Puebla, the location of a key battle in Mexico’s quest for independence; and
WHEREAS, Piña organizes two annual festivals celebrating Mexican culture and Philadelphia’s Latino community. Since 2007, Piña has hosted the Carnaval de Puebla, a colorful parade of costumed marchers, live music, dancing, and re-creations of the Battle of Puebla. In the fall, he organizes festivities for El Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead in South Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Piña has not only brought the community together to celebrate, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he organized food giveaways at his restaurant. He donated more than $18,000 to families in need through home deliveries of groceries which included traditional ingredients for Mexican dishes to hundreds of homes; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes David Piña for his career in Philadelphia’s Restaurant Industry and Philadelphia’s Latino Community.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to David Piña as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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