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Monday, October 29, 2001 Online Edition 43 |
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Honduran fish immersed in
Chinese flavors
By SUYAPA CARIAS Chinese Press Attache Juan Carlos Yang explained that over the last two years, the Chinese Technical Mission has offered financial and technical aid towards the production of 209,600 pounds of tilapia, with a value of nearly $6 million. As part of its program, the CTM has organized several training seminars which have been attended by more than 200 Hondurans. A large part of the tilapia project is in floating hatcheries installed at the Lake of Yojoa. Last week, several members of the press, as well as representatives of the Los Nortenos and the Lobos del Mar associations, had the privilege of tasting six Chinese style dishes made with the fish in Tegucigalpa’s Dinastia restaurant: Fried tilapia with Chinese sauce, fried tilapia fillet, tilapia with seasoned soy sauce, sweet and sour tilapia fillet and steamed tilapia. Although it is not possible to publish all
six recipes, we are glad to share the following one with our readers (It is
easy to make, healthy, and of course, delicious):
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While Honduras does not officially celebrate the Anglo-Saxon event, globalization (a.k.a. cable television) has attached Halloween to our culture. While some Hondurans know about the scary monsters they make all those movies about, they are still attached to the horror stories of their own making. A list of original Honduran monsters would include such characters as “la sucia,” “el cadejo,” “el duende” and “la chula.” The beautiful “sucia” sings an enchanting song and seduces the groom-to-be. When, consumed with lust, the groom-to-be takes “la sucia” into his arms, she converts into a wrinkled old lady. “La sucia” is then supposed to take out her breast and offer it to the groom-to-be saying the magical phrase, “Toma tu teta” (Take your teat). The man then goes crazy and can never recover from the trauma of almost cheating on his beloved. I should mention that, being a very Catholic country, most of Honduran superstitions are connected to Satan. Any ghost of supernatural event is immediately attributed to the Horned One, Himself. Brides are not spared from this evil entity, who takes the form of “el duende” (the dwarf) when the wedding bells are soon to be tolled. Instead of appealing to women’s lust, though, “el duende” offers his victims jewels and promises them unlimited riches. Women overcome their revulsion of “el duende’s” grotesque appearance and agree to run away with him for the money. What a surprise, “el duende” runs away with their souls instead. “La chula” is a ghost that haunts little children. Stories vary as to what “la chula” looks like. Some say she is a ragged old hag that screams like a banshee. Others say “la chula” is a monster shaped like an owl. “La chula” is the most common Honduran form to get children to go to bed. I remember being told to go to sleep or else “la chula” would get me. I was snoring not long after. Finally, “el cadejo” joins our monster line-up. This one’s a little more complicated. There are two “cadejo’s” a white one and a black one. The white “cadejo” is reputed to be good, the black “cadejo” bad; though sometimes the black cadejo goes dressed in white (it’s confusing, just don’t trust the creature). Anyway, the fantastical creature appears as a dog (white or black) to people that have lost their way in the wilderness. If the lost person approaches the dog, it will change appearance. The good cadejo will turn into a knight in shining armor and will lead the lost person to safety. The bad cadejo is really Lucifer and will turn into a rabid black horse and will take the lost person to Hell. So, here are some ghost stories to share in your tropical Halloween. Be careful if you’re getting married, a child, or lost somewhere. And remember, do not trust the beautiful woman, the short creature, the wailing monster or any stray dog! |
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CULTURAL EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT — NOVEMBER 1 — Photographer Jose Luis Elvir will present an exhibit of pictures titled Estampas de mi tierra, at the Salon Candelero of Hotel Honduras Maya, Tegucigalpa. Inauguration is scheduled at 7 p.m. PAINTING EXHIBIT — NOVEMBER 2-9 — The new Portal La Leyenda art gallery located in the community of Santa Lucia, Francisco
Morazan, will present an exhibit of paintings by Guillermo Yuscaran. It will be inaugurated on November 2 from 6:30 p.m. CHILDREN's PLAY — NOVEMBER 10,11,17,18 - DECEMBER 1,2 — Teatro Bambu will present its latest play titled El
Invento, at the Renacimiento Theater in Plaza Millenium, Col.
Tiloarque, Comayaguela. Cast includes Hondurans Danilo Lagos, Luisa Cruz, Karla Nunez, Felipe Acosta and Edgar
Valeriano. Showtime is 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. on Sundays. Admission is
Lps. 40. More information at 238-3289.
TRADITIONAL GAMES FESTIVAL — THROUGH OCTOBER 27 — The Ministry of Culture, the Mujeres en las Artes and other related organizations are holding their first traditional games festival at the community of San
Juancito, in Francisco Morazan department. More information at 221-0697. POETRY LITERARY SPACE — WEDNESDAYS — Cafe Paradiso in downtown Tegucigalpa is offering Ateneo
Literario, a space for poetry reading every Wednesday at 5 p.m. More information at 237-0337.
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MUSEUMS &
GARDENS TEGUCIGALPA MUSEO DE HISTORIA REPUBLICANA The
Museum of Republican History is located at the Villa Roy building in
Tegucigalpa's Barrio Buenos Aries.
It is open 8:30 to 3:30, Tuesdays through Sundays and features
portraits, paraphernalia, and other interesting items from past
presidents. Admission is
Lps. 20 for non-resident foreigners and Lps. 10 for Hondurans and
Central Americans. For
more information, call 222-3470 or 222-1468. CENTRAL BANK MUSEUM The
Central Bank of Honduras located at the Comayaguela annex building is
open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
It has a permanent coin and painting exhibit. For special presentations, call the Emision y Tesoreria
department at 237-2270 (-78), ext. 2117 (-2120). [CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE.] NATIONAL ART GALLERY The
Galeria Nacional de Arte features rock art, pre-Columbian ceramics,
colonial paintings, religious art and a wide selection of 20th century
Honduran painters. The
gallery is located at the Plaza de la Merced in downtown Tegucigalpa.
It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday
from 10-2 p.m. Admission
is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for senior citizens, Lps. 3 for students
and Lps. 1 for children accompanied by adults. IGUANA FARM The
Biosfera Ecocentro Iguana Farm in Colonia La Joya invites the public
to come and learn everything about iguanas.
Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 3 for children.
The facility is open every day (except Wednesday) from 9 to 5. For more information, call 230-6346. COMAYAGUA,
COMAYAGUA COMAYAGUA MUSEUM OF
ARCHAEOLOGY Located
in the city of Comayagua, two hours north of Tegucigalpa, the
Comayagua Museum of Archaeology is in the building that served as the
seat of government in the 19th century.
Exhibits include prehistoric fossils, cave art, ceramics, and
objects used by indigenous cultures during the pre-Colombian era.
The museum, which also has a small library, is open to the
public Tuesdays through Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. COMAYAGUA RELIGIOUS MUSEUM Located
in the Casa Cural in front
of Comayagua's cathedral, this museum features religious paintings and
objects dating back to the 16th century.
Hours are 8-12 and 2-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
For more information, contact Leonardo Letona at 772-0348.
LA
PAZ, LA PAZ LA PAZ HOUSE OF CULTURE The
La Paz Casa de la Cultura is
located in downtown La Paz. It
features an attractive exhibit of the Lenca handicrafts and culture.
It is open Mondays through Sundays. SAN
PEDRO SULA, CORTES SPS MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND HISTORY The
Museo de Antropologia e Historia de San Pedro Sula features exhibits
on the development of Sula Valley, from 1500 B.C. to the middle of
this century. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Tuesdays through
Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for students and
children under 12, and Lps. 2 for senior citizens.
For more information, call 557-1496/557-1798 or fax 557-1874. MUSEUM OF NATURE OF SAN PEDRO SULA Sponsored
and managed by the Fundacion Ecologista H.R. Pastor Fasquelle, this
new museum was inaugurated last December in its current location at
the Biocentro on 3 Avenida and 9 Calle Noroeste.
It has 24 exhibits on the environment, natural resources and
biology of Honduras. Hours
are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays.
Admission is Lps 5 for students from public schools and Lps.
10.00 for everyone else. YUSCARAN,
EL PARAISO YUSCARAN HOUSE OF CULTURE Yuscaran's
Casa de la Cultura is
located at the former Casa
Fortin in downtown Yuscaran, El Paraiso department, just 45 km
from Tegucigalpa on the road to Danli.
It is open Mondays through Saturdays. OLANCHO PECH CULTURAL CENTER The
Pech have built a small house in El Carbon, Olancho to display their
modern handicrafts. An
exhibit of archaeological finds in the area is planned.
You can ask to see the collection and/or get a tour of a Post
Classic era fortified site. The
Pech Cultural Center also offers medicinal plant tours, nature hikes,
Pech dinners, etc. There
is no admission fee to the cultural center.
Hours: If you ask, they will open it. COPAN COPAN ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Located
in the village of Copan Ruinas, Copan department, the museum exhibits
a splendid assortment of Mayan pieces that have been found in the
Copan Ruins Archaeological Park just 1 km away.
LA PUENTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL
MUSEUM Featuring
a sizeable collection of Mayan handicrafts and photographs as well as
a room with Japanese antique ceramics, this museum is located at the
El Puente Archaeological Site, about an hour's drive from Copan Ruinas. MAYAN SEPULTURAS MUSEUM Inaugurated
in 1996, this is the premier Mayan museum in the Mundo Maya, featuring
the finest examples of Copan's tombs, sculptures and architecture.
Located at the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park, the museum is
open Monday through Sunday. TELA,
ATLANTIDA LANCETILLA BOTANICAL GARDENS Located
2 kilometers from Tela on the Atlantic coast highway, the gardens
feature one of the largest collections of tropical and subtropical
plants, shrubs and trees in all Latin America.
It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mondays through
Sundays. There is an
admission charge. LA
CEIBA, ATLANTIDA TROPICAL BUTTERFLY FARM The
Tropical Butterfly Farm & Gardens of La Ceiba is open to the
public Wednesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The farm is located at The Lodge at Pico Bonito in the village
of El Pino, about 25 minutes west of La Ceiba.
Admission is Lps. 30 for adults, Lps. 15 for children and $6
for international visitors. BUTTERFLY AND INSECT MUSEUM Thousands
of butterflies and insects from Honduras and 18 other countries are on
display in La Ceiba' private Butterfly and Insect Museum.
It is located in Colonia El Sauce, 2nd etapa, casa G-12. Visiting hours are 8-12 and 2-5, Monday through Saturday.
The museum is closed Wednesday afternoon.
Fees are Lps. 15 for adults and Lps. 10 for students.
Tel. 442-2874, e-mail: rlehman@ns.gbm.hn TRUJILLO TRUJILLO RUFINO GALAN MUSEUM A
private museum which has a memorabilia section, old chairs, anchors,
silverware, beds of famous people locally.
There is an industrial archaeology section on how lights, axes,
stoves, sewing machines, typewriters have changed over time.
They have a good collection of Garifuna handicrafts and the
best collection of NE Honduras archaeological pieces -- all unmarked.
A written guide to the museum is available at the Trujillo
Tourism Office in English and Spanish.
The museum is open 8 to 4, closing for lunch.
Adults Lps. 20, children Lps. 10.
Located on Calle 18 de Mayo, next to the Crystales River and
the famous "piscina" or pool, about a 15-minute walk out of
town. ROATAN,
THE BAY ISLANDS CARAMBOLA BOTANICAL GARDENS The
private Carambola Botanical Gardens and Nature Trails is located in
Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands. A
wide variety of exotic plants is featured here, including "Roatan's
most extensive orchid collection."
It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 445-1117 and ask for Bill or Irma
Brady. BAY ISLANDS MUSEUM A
private museum at Anthony's Key Resort, Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay
Islands, it mostly includes archaeological pieces, but there is a
small section on the modern Bay Islanders.
Museum admission is included in the cost of the dolphin show at
Anthony Key's Institute of Marine Sciences.
Small buses or taxis will take you to Sandy Bay from most
Roatan towns. The Maya Calendar is a public service for our readers. If you would like to announce an event taking place in Honduras, please send the information to: Calendar Editor, Honduras This Week, Fax 232-2300, e-mail: hontweek@hondutel.hn |
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Monday, October 22, 2001 Online Edition 42 |
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The same thing occurs in The Goose with her own two soccer teams, Olympia and
Motagua. These two teams lead the Honduran Soccer League as most frequent holders of the championship trophy, and the rivalry they cause amongst Goose residents is bigger than any gang or political affiliation. Team Motagua sports a navy blue uniform. It has been alive as long as Olympia, creating roots that run decades into the past. The Motagua’s mascot is an eagle (couldn’t one of these mascots actually inhabit the country?), and, no, they also do not have the real thing caged up somewhere to cry out when necessary. Motagua has the second largest amount of championship titles, causing a bitter grudge in the hearts of their hardcore fans. This year, though, that cup does not reside in The Goose. Neither the lions nor the eagles were able to claim it in last year’s championship. Instead, the cup rests in Puerto Cortes. Team Platense (their mascot is a shark) won the cup fair and square, and it does not seem willing to easily give it up. |
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Monday, October 15, 2001 Online Edition 41 |
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Double tragedy strikes Honduras sports scene
Victory was expected and all the sportscasters were preemptively celebrating last Sunday morning (Oct. 7). Trinidad and Tobago, the only team in the division to have lost all their games, was playing in San Pedro Sula's Olympic Metropolitan Stadium. Honduras had the home-field advantage and the only dark cloud in the sky came from one player who had missed practice for most of the week because he had been arrested regarding a homicide. Honduran fans rallied and, despite having to play at noon in the hottest of Honduran cities, the team responded in like. The players were all aggressive on the field, maintaining the ball in Trinidad and Tobagan territory. Several shots were made on the opposition's goal. None of them made it in. They were either too high, or too far right, or not strong enough, or simply caught by the seemingly massive goalie. The first half ended with frustrating zeroes on both sides of the scoreboard. The second half began and, again, team Honduras dominated the playing field. But still, no goal was scored. Could it be the players were getting greedy? Several plays on Trinidad and Tobago's goal began from half field and were done by one player alone, who did not pass to anyone and always missed the target. Suddenly, a Trinidad and Tobagan player escaped and burst through defensive lines. Before anyone could properly react, the ball was past Honduras' goalie and Trinidad and Tobago was beating the home team by one. Beating? It would be better to say beat, because there was no change on the board after that. Honduras lost an important game, and now the only way to classify is by beating Mexico in their own, Azteca Stadium. The odds are not too favorable and hope grows dimmer.
Monday morning, when Soto still had not appeared, his relatives filed an official missing persons report at the local police office. Officers were sent to search the Holiday Inn hotel the sports journalist was staying at and found nothing in any of the rooms. The investigation proceeded and interrogations took place. Another twenty-four hours would pass before authorities could get a further clue into the case. A fetid odor was reported by Holiday Inn employees. The odor was found to be coming from a chute containing the hotel's elevator cables and other electric cables. When police and other crews showed up to investigate, Aristides Soto's body was discovered. Four suspects were detained by police in the course of their investigations. Two of the men, Juan Diaz Martinez and Mauricio Humberto Carranza, were hotel security personnel. Another, Sebastian Cruz Orellana, is the hotel's front desk manager. The main suspect arrested for questioning was a French citizen staying at the Holiday Inn. According to La Tribuna, Daniel Jacques Joseph Raffray, a civil engineer visiting the country, was seen heatedly arguing with Aristides Soto late into the night before the sports caster's disappearance. So far, the French man has not been accused of any crimes. Coronary reports state that Soto had been dead for forty-eight hours before he was found. They reported the cause of death as electrocution. Two blows have left the heads of Honduran sports fans spinning, and as time passes, the images will become clearer. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Aristides Soto's death will be cleared up; and the pressure will mount as the date approaches for Honduras's last chance to qualify for the World Cup finals.
By C.F. AGURCIA But what about the other kinds of graffiti? The expensive graffiti that uses plastic and wooden signs to mark territory or seek attention? How many people take offense to that? By "that," I mean the endless amount of political propaganda that is littering The Goose. Let's analyze this form of graffiti a little closer. In The Goose's gang underworld, there are small, relatively weak gangs, like "Los Batos Locos," "La Trece" and "Las Panudas." These could be compared to Honduras' smaller political parties (i.e. PINU, UD and Christian Democracy). Their reign is small, as are their pockets, so their campaign posters are few and far between, rarely seen, but still noticed. The two big fish in the sea, though, are the traditional parties; the Nationals and the Liberals. They have divided their graffiti campaigns into presidential and mayoral, but their red and blue colors do not go unnoticed. The smallest of the largest (can I say that?) would be the Liberal party mayoral candidate. He has almost no campaign funds and his same party prez candidate is not sharing. Still, Marco Antonio Andino's face sprouts up on huge posters here and there. Second comes Miguel Pastor, National candidate for the Goose's mayor spot. This guy was a little smarter, and a little richer than his opposition. Pastor's posters and "graffiti" tend to be sitting next to public works he has done. For example, the new garden he planted in Morazan Boulevard. Still, Goose residents cannot claim to have never seen his face, it has been all over TV and the papers in paid advertisements. But, then again, the media would not qualify as gang graffiti. Ricardo Maduro, National Party Presidential candidate is the runner up in the political graffiti contest. Posters and flags are all over The Goose with Maduro's name on them. A little smarter than his competitor, though, Maduro concentrated his campaign on bumper stickers. This would have worked out fine if they had remained on bumpers!! Instead, Maduro bumper stickers litter even the black boards of the national university's classrooms. Finally, the big winner is Liberal Party prez candidate, Rafael Pineda Ponce. This man's campaign has managed to streak all of The Goose in the white and red colors of his party. Pictures of him, with a new hair dye job and about the size of a movie screen, are everywhere. If gangs really mark their territories with their graffiti, and these rules would apply to politics, then The Goose would definitely be Pineda Ponce territory. The man's campaign has spared no expense in littering the whole town with his propaganda. Speaking of expenses, how are they funding this expensive campaign? Oh, I forgot, the "Professor" isn't saying. Neither is the National Congress for that matter. According to a friend of mine that lives in Los Angeles, the city has a recently new rule dedicated to dealing with gang graffiti problems. The city will fine home owners if they do not remove graffiti from their properties in twenty-four hours. Therefore, home owners are forced to paint over their desecrated property as soon as the crime was committed. This practice has proven successful, because it erases the graffiti and discourages future incidents from occurring. So, if we go out and remove graffiti (gang-related, political or otherwise) as soon as it litters our walls, sidewalks, streets and light posts, maybe the people unwittingly making our city uglier will get the point and go away.
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Camilo Corea: A musician in search of Honduran roots and identity HTW: You were the director of the OTI orchestra during many years. Corea: I began directing the orchestra some years ago and it wasn't easy to reach. Many foreign directors, artists, were hired because there was no belief in the capability of national musicians. Finally, once I participated in the OTI festival and won with a song, and the director at that time commented to me that he still didn't have the musical arrangement for my song ready and I showed him one I myself had prepared and he was so surprised when he read it that he asked me: Why aren't you directing the orchestra?...I answered, "because those in charge don't believe in Honduran directors." He discussed this with those in charge and finally I had the opportunity to direct my own song and little by little started to direct the orchestra. HTW: Now you have composed a new musical proposal...Tell us about it. Corea: I will tell you story by story, song by song...During years I have sustained the hypothesis that "El Sique", which is part of our folklore, is not really indigenous, but an interpretation of the waltzes from Europe that our grand-grand parents used to listen to. Our folklore is so poor that my aim is to enlighten our understanding of what truly could be the origins of El Sique...I formed a musical group called "Altamar" and I have been composing music during years trying to interpret, understand, our culture. In the case of "El Sique", my version is one way of seeing its roots, its reason of being. Once I went to Trujillo and walked by the beach and came to a small hut lightened by candles and all the people playing music and dancing at the beach...They were Garifunas and as I approached I felt the energy of their gathering and feasting grow stronger and stronger...I never forgot this experience and decided to write a song based on their rhythm and mythology, about the creation of the universe...This song, entitled "The Creation", was presented by me in the Manuel Bonilla National Theater. The rhythm I use reminds me of tales my father told me about Africa..One of them says the world was created under the spell of certain musical rhythm, so I started working my piece under this idea. Later I started knowing more about the Garifunas and found out that the "Punta", which is so popular in our country and abroad, was being mistreated when it really is a very sacred dance, a ritual dance, only used on special mortuary occasions by the Garifunas. People were merchandising a very sacred and ritual dance in songs like "Sopa de Caracol". In my song I wanted to give the Garifunas their real category with respect for their culture and beliefs. "Moro Latino" is another of my musical pieces. Tropical music is mainly known as Caribbean, as Cuban. This kind of music mainly has African influence. I believe that Indians too have contributed historically to our culture and history but are unheard. I wanted to show their existence and contributions through a dialogue between the Spanish culture and the Indian culture. This song tells about a Spanish ship coming to the shores of Honduras represented by a Spanish guitar playing at the beginning of the song, and a response in piano representing the Indians. The music represents an imaginary dialogue between the Indians and the Spaniards, which shows two ways of thinking and living. "La Señora" is very special to me...When I was a child, my mother taught me how to love the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary. In the town where my mother grew up, every seventh and eighth of December they used to sing songs to the Virgin Mary. My mother used to love specially one of these songs and used to sing it. I used to play this song for her. As time passed I started changing it and modifying it. That's how this song became "La Senora". The piano plays this song remembering those days. I combined the original music with Garifuna rhythms to give it more strength and force. As I said at the beginning, the music composed about El Sique asks if it is or not original...of our country. As an engineer I travel through many, many towns and villages and no one speaks about El Sique. The musical scale used in America is of European origins. Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do...A tone, a tone, a half tone, a tone, a tone, a tone, a half tone...This breaks the mathematical precision of music with its structure so I work with: a tone, a tone, a tone, a tone... no half tones. I work with different scales, not conventional ones. Not with "Mi" and "Fa".You can find in many native indian and eastern cultures' a different scale based on complete tones, not half tones. The sique song begins with a chant of the guitar trying to sing what El Sique would sound like if it truly were indigenous of our country. Then the piano starts to sing a simple sique which reminds of the "marimba" and guitar in our music and finally the waltzes that our grand parents ought to have heard when they lived. "Nocturno" is a musical image with different scales reflecting mental states in which the protagonist sets himself in a different surrounding. He sweetly begins to remember different landscapes but he really doesn't know where he is going, who he is and the music keeps tracing different rhythms. He is in an inner search and at the end, when he doesn't know what to do, he tries to act rapidly, he's desperate. In this part, Garifuna music begins. It's like a permanent question: Who are we? Where are we going to? "La Lejania" (The Distance)`is a love song. The main character knows that the woman he loves will never be with him. It's painful for him to know this. The piano, in a style of what should be the sique for me, sings this pain and the memory of the loved one. It ends, and then a Garifuna drum begins to sing the same story in its own rhythm. This project began many years ago, as if through a window in an unknown town I had seen all the souls of our artists passing by to remind us to search in our roots for our identity. This is my contribution. I try to show what we could be... I wish to take my musical proposal out of Honduras, to other countries, so I can let others know and feel the soul and heart of Honduras. |
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Monday, October 8, 2001 Online Edition 40 |
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By C.F. AGURCIA On September 28, 1821, three men riding on tired steeds were seen approaching the city of Comayagua, in the then Spanish province of Honduras. Rumors had spread about these riders, and the messages they brought with them. The rumors had reached the right ears, and when the riders were sited, Dionisio de Herrera, governor of the province, prepared to greet them. When the governor and the riders finally met, two of the riders exchanged quick pleasantries and mounted fresh steeds that had been prepared for them. With a salute to the mandatory, they continued on their yet unfinished journey. The remaining rider handed de Herrera the scrolls and messages he had been charged to deliver. The governor read the papers and smiled. The riders remind me a lot of the North American hero, Paul Revere. Paul Revere has been immortalized in history and literature as a rider calling out the infamous warning, "The British are coming!" Instead of communicating the threat of an attack, the 1821 riders (whose names we do not even remember) communicated a message of victory, "The Spanish are gone!" Thirteen days before their arrival in Comayagua (then capital of Honduras), the riders had witnessed the signature of the Act of Independence in Guatemala City. The riders who communicated the Central American independence to El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica then passed on into the shady mists of time. Dionisio de Herrera became Honduras' first Head of State (our George Washington, you could say) and went on to become one of the country's heroes. The very next day, our own Tegucigalpa was celebrating her birthday. Our little own Goose is 423 years young, imagine that! Four and a quarter centuries might seem like peanuts to some of the capital cities of the Old World, but it's pretty damn old here in America. In fact, The Goose is one of the oldest capitals in the continent. Morazan Boulevard was the place to celebrate The Goose's anniversary. The street was closed off and the Mayor decided to throw a block party with a couple of concerts on the side. Goose denizens gathered together for this festivity. Some wore the blue, white and blue of the Honduran flag; others wore the blue and yellow that decorate the city's coat of arms. Everyone had fun. Rumors have it the soiree ended up becoming a debauched bacchanal of sorts. People partied and drank and had fun, head banging to such bands as Most Wanted, Los Rabanes and Los Diablos Negros. Now that September's over, it does not mean we have to be less patriotic. Instead, with last month's celebration fresh in mind, we must continue doing good deeds and exalting the great names of Honduras and Tegucigalpa. |
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Monday, October 1, 2001 Online Edition 39 |
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Foundation created to help kids with HIV/AIDS in Honduras
By SUYAPA CARIAS Headquartered in Tegucigalpa, Fundacion Amor is staffed by volunteers from diverse professions and occupations who have decided to do something to help these unfortunate children, most of them orphans, who have been forgotten by society. "So far, there is no governmental or private organization to help these kids receive the medical treatment they need. These are the people nobody wants to work with," said Murillo, the foundation's president, who is determined to make a difference in their lives. "We are the ones called on to leave a mark, to make history in this country. That is why we decided to work with this cause." According to Murillo, there are about 50,000 Hondurans currently infected with the HIV virus. Moreover, health authorities estimate that by the year 2005, there will be approximately 8,000 orphans with HIV throughout the nation. Basically, Fundacion Amor looks for raising funds to finance anti-retroviral medications and other related medications for infected persons, especially children, a challenge that is not easy but not impossible. Murillo says that approximately
Lps. 10,000-Lps. 12,000 ($640-$770) is needed for every child per month. Located in the community of Valle de Angeles, Francisco Morazan, the shelter houses 15 patients, of which five are currently children between three months and 14 years old. Only two of them, however, are receiving the necessary medical treatment. "We try to offer patients the opportunity to live their final days in a peaceful, more dignified way," said Laura Elena Sanchez, who has worked there as volunteer since 1998. She explained that all those who arrive at the shelter have to fulfill three requisites: Be HIV positive, be extremely poor and have been abandoned by their family, if they have any. "We provide patients with excellent, healthy food, a decent roof and bed, and medical attention to the extent of our possibilities." The home also has a pharmacy with basic medicines, a school room and a small chapel. Inside the latter, there is a wooden cross carved with the names of those who have died there so far. The home is financed with private donations from Spain and is supported by a few institutions and private companies in Honduras, such as the Honduran Institute for the Prevention and Treatment of Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Narcotics Dependency
(IHADFA) and Panaderia Bambino bakery. The needs, however, permanently abound, whether for medicines, serum or coffins, just to mention a few examples. But Sanchez has faith that they will be able to take care or more people in the near future. "He told me he had the virus, but I wanted to be with him anyway," said Isabel. Omar died in Casa Zulema last December. He was 21. She is HIV positive now, and although she has no symptoms, the emotional pain and fear she carries along is more than evident. "I regret what I did, and all I ask is for God to give me another chance, to not abandon me," Isabel said nervously, unable to hold back the tears. The only thing Isabel wishes for at this point is to spend more time with her mother, a humble woman who works as a domestic employee, but who hardly has a chance to see her daughter, especially now that she has become sick too, due to a circulatory problem in her legs. In fact, Carmencita wouldn't be the first child to be adopted. Jose Antonio, an 11-month-old baby, is getting ready to leave with his new parents. "We realize that adopting a boy with HIV must take a whole lot of love," said Sanchez. The baby was abandoned in a San Pedro Sula hospital, he was given to the Honduran Family and Childhood Institute
(IHNFA) and they sent him to Casa Zulema. Casa Zulema has a savings account in Banco de Occidente, where donors can make deposits: 21401-110-719-0. For more information, please call the foundation's offices at (504) 232-3245, or contact this newspaper.
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A walk in the park By C.F. AGURCIA In front of the School of Fine Arts lies Parque La Libertad (Liberty Park). Its tall trees provide ample shade to enjoy the bronze monument dedicated to famous local poet Juan Ramon Molina. Some say this is the spot for artists of the quill to come and get inspired for their next masterpiece. La Concordia Park located in Barrio Abajo is quite an adventure. This is the Goose park most visited by local schools. The reason, of course, is the multitude of replicas of Maya architecture that lie there. This reminder of our cultural heritage has been enjoyed by many generations of Gooses and Goosettes pretending to be archaeologists communing with the past. Downtown Tegucigalpa would not be what it is without its very own Central Park. No one who has ever visited this city has missed this bustling plaza lying before the city's cathedral, always decorated by the dozens of doves living around it. Civic inspiration can be found by watching the stately statue of Francisco Morazan atop his steed. Morazan is the most venerated of Honduras' heroes and is remembered as the visionary who momentarily united all of Central America under one Federation. Among the regular visitors of Central Park are senior citizens full of stories from yore, when Central Park hosted dances, fairs and even boxing matches. Dionisio de Herrera Park, while small, is very nice. Across from Manuel Bonilla Theater, this lovely area once housed the Monument to Mothers, but now holds a brand new monument dedicated to Honduran fathers. Still in the downtown Goose area is one of my favorites, Parque La Leona. It has paved venues covered by lush bougainvilleas that lead you to a picture perfect view of old Tegucigalpa. Up for some sport? La Leona has a couple of basketball courts always filled with both young and older people interested in playing. If experience and movies serve as a proper guide, parks are also the perfect location for a romantic date. If this is your goal, then Alfonso XIII is your setting. This park is in the Lomas del Guijarro neighborhood and was built by commission of the Spanish King it was named after. A statue of him stands there as a reminder. Alfonso XIII has a great view and plenty of lawn spaces to toss out a blanket and have a picnic. And now my favorite: the United Nations Park. This most excellent of Goose green areas is on the drive up Mount Picacho. Another, small drive on a dirt road and through pine grooves leads you to the home of the famous Cristo del Picacho. The U.N. park lies extensively behind it. Meandering stone pathways lead you through varied vegetation into recreation areas. Kids of all ages (i.e. 0 through 99) will find at least one fun, nice and relaxing activity to do in this great place. Speaking of breaths, the air up there couldn't be cleaner (oh, what the greedy merchant in me wouldn't do to can it and sell it down below).
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A member of the Chinese
Technical Mission to Honduras shows an attractive, just-made tilapia fillet
in sweet and sour sauce.
Two
losses, one before the cameras and the other behind, have left Honduran
soccer fans dumbfounded
Blow one left Honduran fans shocked and upset, but unprepared to what came next. It began early Sunday morning, when Televicentro sports caster Aristides Soto did not show up for the broadcasting preparations. The game began and ended and Soto still did not show up. Finally, daily La Tribuna reported, journalist Kilveth Bertrand called the police to report him missing.
Two
girls share the same space.