MINERD and the Embassy of Mexico Commemorate the 208th Anniversary of the Birth of National Hero Benito Juárez

MINERD and the Embassy of Mexico Commemorate the 208th Anniversary of the Birth of National Hero Benito Juárez
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 03/24/2014

The Ministry of Education, through the Vice Ministry of Educational Management and Decentralization, commemorated with an artistic cultural event the 208th anniversary of the birth of Mexican hero Benito Juárez, who was proclaimed by several Latin American countries “Benemérito de las Américas” because of his defense of human freedoms.

The activity was held at the Benito Juárez Elementary School, located in the Cristo Rey sector in the National District, and was headed by the Deputy Minister of Management and Decentralization, Mr. Luis de León and the Ambassador of Mexico in the Dominican Republic, José Ignacio Piña Reyes.

Delivering the speech on behalf of MINERD, De León said that the tribute to Juárez takes place at a time when the Dominican Republic boasts its endorsement and support for education to change the course of the nation, just as other Latin American and Caribbean nations are doing.

He stressed that Benito Juárez was born in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca, on March 21st, 1806, and that his parents were Marcelino Juárez and Brígida García, indigenous Mexican people.
He explained that the Mexican patriot’s scathing sentence: “Among individuals and nations alike, respect for the rights of other people is what constitutes peace”, commits us, at a time when Latin America breaks the dependency, unifies and integrates around the great values that proudly show the progress achieved on matters of democracy, education, culture, and identity.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Piña Reyes, speaking before dozens of children and teens who packed the auditorium, said that Juárez was a very humble child of indigenous descent who did not speak Spanish, but that thanks to his studying with tenacity and through his hard work, he achieved a lot in his professional career and for Mexico.
The diplomat recalled that Juárez enacted the reform laws that allowed the separation of the church and the state, turning Mexico into a secular state, and that he promoted religious freedom and was an advocate for the poor.

Likewise, the diplomat said that on May 11th, 1867, the Dominican Congress proclaimed Benito Juarez as “Benemérito de las Américas”, thereby becoming the first legislative body to confer that title to the Mexican hero.

Benito Juárez studied Law, was alderman of the City Council of Oaxaca, as well as Congressman and Governor of his native town, President of the Supreme Court and President of the Republic twice, from 1861 to 1863 and in 1871. He died on June 18th, 1872.
In the moving ceremony, Luz Belkis Gómez, school principal, and Roselina Camacho, regent school principal, presented a plaque of recognition to the Mexican Embassy for the support it provides to this school, which every year sponsors the exchange of its two best students with their counterparts from other countries in Mexico, among other facilities.

Likewise, Ambassador Piña Reyes donated to the school the video collection “El Alma de México” (The Soul of Mexico) that contains the history of that nation.

In addition, attendees enjoyed presentation by a poetry group composed of students of secondary education, artist Milagros Holguín, and a mariachi that closed the ceremony. Meanwhile, student Elvira Cruz Madrigal read a brief history of the hero.
Also, at the head table were the Director of District 15-04, Ramona Heredia Araujo Delgado, Giordania Simó Morales, Director of evening lyceum Benito Juárez, and María Jarvis Joseph, Director of the night lyceum.