Santo Domingo. The Dominican Tourism Ministry and the Brugal rum company dedidated the Brugal Merengue Festival to the Dominican musician resident in Puerto Rico, Bonny Cepeda, for his contributions to the country.

The author of the hit tune "Asesina" will receive a plaque Thursday , the festival's opening day.

Brugal executive Angela Duverger said Cepeda will also be one of the performers at the Festival to featuee merengues of the 1980s, with bandleader Rasputin and a 25-piece orchestra heading the show.