Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The Seventh Regional Cultural Event for children and adolescents from Cabo Corrientes, Tomatlan and Puerto Vallarta was held as part of the May Cultural Festival in Pitillal. Its purpose was to provide these youngsters the opportunity to express themselves through an artistic forum.

The competition categories were poetry, ranchero singing individual, pop singing individual, individual music performance, folkloric dance, modern dance, group singing and musical performance, in both the children and youth categories.

Celina Lomeli Ramirez, president of DIF Vallarta, welcomed participants from the various cultural disciplines and motivated them to give the best of themselves in their performances. She went on to congratulate all the parents for supporting their children and allowing them to attend the Youth Network, in order to keep them away from the streets and the vices they may confront there.

"The Youth Network is here to support parents in their children’s education. Thank you for letting us join you," she added.

The Cultural Festival was presented throughout May 2011, with great success, to visitors and residents of the city, and on this occasion the photographs from The First Photographic Event in the city of Puerto Vallarta were mounted the courtyard of the Municipal Presidency.

The exhibition was conducted by Maestro Michael Mancillas, who has 25 years of teaching experience, and 8 years with the College of Western Photography Guadalajara. The mission of this college is to train professional photographers and to become an integrated learning community.

This exhibition is the result of the last course held in Cuale river island, where the 24 students presented 47 works printed in large format. The images speak of "Vallarta Lives,” the city's people, traditions, sports, food and more. This project is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and the Municipality of Puerto Vallarta through its Arts and Culture Branch. Monica Venegas and Michael Mancillas together cut the ribbon to open this exhibition entitled "Puerto Vallarta: Awaken your Senses."

A few minutes later in Parque Hidalgo, Spanish music accompanied Paty "La Solana,” who created a romantic evening filled with magic and rumba Flamenco, along with Algeciras, a professional Flamenco group.