Ministry of Culture Honors Founding Father in Border Region Province

 Juan Santiago, Elías Piña, July 23, 2018 – The Ministry of Culture sponsored an event in this municipality of the border region province of Elías Piña, to commemorate the 157^th anniversary of the arrest and execution of Dominican patriot Francisco del Rosario Sánchez.

The event, co-sponsored by the National Provincial Directorate, was held July 6-7 and was headed by the National Director of Provinces Altagracia Fernández, who represented Minister of Culture architect Eduardo Selman.

Francisco del Rosario Sánchez who, along with Juan Pablo Duarte and Matías Ramón Mella, were the three key individuals who contributed to the Independence of the Dominican Republic, was executed on July 4, 1861, at the age of 44, in the cemetery of the Province of San Juan de la Maguana, also situated along the border region.

His remains lay in the Altar of the Homeland, in Santo Domingo, alongside Duarte and Mella, in the same place where a group of patriots declared the country’s national Independence. Sánchez is remembered as a founder and national hero of the Dominican Republic.

The Ministry-sponsored celebration to honor Francisco del Rosario Sánchez is an important part of its on-going program to preserve the patriotic and cultural values of the Dominican Republic.

The event was held under the same Cedar tree where Francisco del Rosario Sánchez was arrested, along with other freedom fighters. They were surrounded and wounded after one of their colleagues turned them in.  He was sentenced to death by a military board and executed on July 4, 1861.

Regional representatives, such as municipal mayor Pasón Soler and Joaquín Flores, the Provincial Director of Culture in Elias Piña, participated in the event.

As part of the commemorative ceremonies, the Ministry also inaugurated a giant and colorful mural in the monument dedicated to Sánchez, created by  artists from the Ministry. A series of conferences, workshops and artistic events were also included in the program.

One specific conference, titled “Sánchez: En Route to Martyrdom,” delivered by Professor Altagracia Fernández, summarized the life of the national hero and his struggle to obtain national Independence.

Also included in the two-day program: an Art-forum event; Origami workshop and a puppet theater dedicated to the life of Sánchez.  Dozens of children enjoyed the presentation.

The evening’s activity concluded with the proclamation delivered by Sánchez, and represented by actors Vidal de la Cruz, Angel Mariano and Aramis Polanco.

Also, a local theater company presented the play “The Homeland.”

Magician “Tommy Show” also delighted the children and young people that attended the various activities held for young and old.