María Hilda Robledo Vázquez, opened «Memo» Cenaduría when she was only 20 years old. Photo: Sofía Medeles.
Sofía Medeles(Ajijic).- «Memo’s» is one of the most long-lived and emblematic local businesses in Ajijic. At 72 years old, its founder, Mrs. María Hilda Robledo Vázquez, shared the trajectory of her 52-year business.
María Robledo, better known as Mari, opened the diner when she was only 20 years old. She says that she wanted to start a business, so she started with tacos, then added menudo, until she got to what she currently sells, which is a variety of typical Mexican food dishes.
«Before being located where the business is today, we moved from two other places. Before, we were known as «Los Deportes» because we were in a place that was a sports store. Later, my stepfather made a contract with a brewery to put up the billboard, and since his name was Memo, they put it in his name. They said they were going to change it, but in the end they didn’t, and that’s how it stayed’ that’s how we became known,» the Mari related.
Mari Robledo also said that she began to be recognized by the people of Guadalajara when she was visited by some godparents of one of her brothers about six years after starting her business. They told her that they would recommend her to people from Guadalajara, and people from Guadalajara have been coming to visit her ever since.
«Sometimes customers come and tell me, I remember when my parents used to bring me here, and you are still running the business after all this time,» added the founder of the restaurant.
«Memo» has approximately 30 years on Hidalgo Street #25, in the center of the town, where there have been hundreds of tourists both local and national, and even international.
Mari shared that she has learned that her clientele comes through word of mouth, and they always let her know that they were satisfied with her dishes, especially with the pozole, one of her best-selling preparations.
Since its founding, the business has remained very family-run. At the beginning, Mari worked with her sisters. Later on she worked with her children, Fernando, Laura, Virginia and Alejandrina, who supported her at some point. The last one helps her still.
In addition, her son-in-law Francisco Romero and her grandchildren Izbia, Alejandro, Romina and Fernanda have joined the team; besides, María Elena Martínez, Corazón de Jesús Cerna and Guadalupe Pulido, are her employees who help her in the kitchen.
Although she finds the cooking business exhausting, María Robledo Vázquez hopes that the restaurant will continue for many years to come.
«The business has always been a support to help my children get ahead and give them an education. My daughter Alejandrina already knows how to do things here, and she told me that she would like to continue. I hope she does.»
Finally, Mari thanked all her customers because they have always been unconditional and come back to the restaurant with pleasure.
Translated by Sydney Metrick
The mayor of Chapala (right) accompanied with the Jalisco Secretary of Tourism.
Editor.- Chapala Mayor Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel announced the projects to improve the Pueblo Mágico aspects of Ajijic and the tourist areas of Chapala in his presentation of the Model of Magic Towns of Jalisco.
Aguirre Curiel shared details of the project and the funds to improve infrastructure and tourism on social media.
«This project consists of four thrusts that will allow our Pueblo Mágico, Ajijic, to better receive visitors and show off its beauty: Analysis and improvement of mobility in the town; Establishing a Tourist Agent; Analysis and improvement of its visual presentation; and waste management».
The mayor emphasized that the objective is to improve the quality of life of the people who live in Ajijic and the people who visit it, so he considered this an important policy «for Ajijic and for Chapala this news means a lot, because it strengthens the economic and touristic growth of our municipality, without losing the traditions and culture that identify us».
During the press conference held at Casa Jalisco on April 11, a first investment of 20 million pesos was announced for the start-up of the Magical Towns Model in the nine towns of the state that have this distinction.
Finally, Alejandro Aguirre, recognized the influence of Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez in the designation of Ajijic a Pueblo Mágico, highlighting its traditions and excellent climate as some of its main attractions, without forgetting the influence of the retired residents of the Expat community.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
By: Patrick O’Heffernan
I am so looking forward to this weekend’s celebration of the Passion of Christ. Although my wife and I bought our house in Ajijic over 5 years ago, we actually did not move in until almost 3 years ago. The preceding years we visited, managed a ranch, and stayed in various homes around Lakeside. We were never here during Semana Santa and Easter, so this will be my first. I experienced Christmas in Baja when I was in my 20’s, but I understand the two holidays and the attendant celebrations are nothing alike.
I am going to find out, for sure. The route of the Passion of Christ goes right by my house. My neighbors and I will be in a mirador that overlooks the pathway up to the Stations of the Cross in the tépalo, and the return procession will go down our street. Dale Hoyt Palfrey of the Guadalajara Reporter published an excellent photo essay of the Passion, from past years from the trial and flogging all the way up the mountain to the crucifixion; going through her photos made me realize the scale of the event.
I am not a Catholic, although my mother insisted I go to the local Catholic grammar school (supposedly “better” than the public school), so I am familiar with the story. But the focus was always on Easter, with Good Friday and Palm Sunday distant seconds. We did the stations of the Cross on Good Friday in the church attached to the school, but that was it. The idea of the entire story being reenacted with full costumes, supporting casts and a crucifixion is a mind-boggling reminder of the power of religion.
In retrospect, it shouldn’t be. In Indonesia I watched the procession of the Hindu festival Thaipusam where thousands of devotees followed long lines of entranced men and women who pierced their cheeks with spears and put hooks through their skin attached to ropes dragging weights behind them So, following an actor playing Christ carrying a cross up the trail through the hills is not surprising, but the scale of the event here in Lakeside is impressive.
I was always taught to respect people’s practice of their religion, as long as it did not harm anyone (apparently the people in Thaipusam felt no pain while in a trance and healed very quickly). I understand that the Passion may involve hardship and maybe pain for some of the actors, but that is their passion and it is to be respected, as is the whole celebration and the devotion of the people in it and following it, Expats and Mexicans.
Which makes me think a little about Santa Semana and tourism. I was out on the streets today in downtown Ajijic and they were very crowded. People were shopping, cruising the sidewalks with takeaway margaritas and beers, enjoying themselves, as they should be.
But various government officials in Lakeside’s municipalities have predicted as many as 2 million visitors will arrive in Chapala and 180,000 in Jocotepec. Seems high to me – that would be 25% of the population of Guadalajara arriving and spreading out through the towns of Chapala. In Jocotepec, that would be an increase in population greater than all of Lakeside. But that is what they said, so we reported it. And we will report on the actual numbers, if they are calculated.
While numbers like that may be good for business – assuming everyone can actually get here and find a place to park and a restaurant table – I worry that the sheer numbers of people on holiday may not encourage respect for the Passion. If you are here on a holiday weekend, you are having fun, and there is probably no way you are going to be one of the 2,000 people following the procession up to the crucifixion, so you might be tempted to ignore the solemn event taking place. But, like I said, this will be my first Good Friday celebration in Ajijic and I may be pleasantly surprised by the respect of the crowds. I hope so.
El 12 de abril, una máquina ingresó al predio Los Tepetates. Foto: Gloria Reza (Facebook).
Sofía Medeles.- Propietarios de un predio en Ajijic, denunciaron el pasado 12 de abril un intento de despojo con documentos falsos y asesoramiento de exfuncionarios de Chapala relacionados con otras invasiones en el área.
Los presuntos invasores señalados por los afectados son el abogado Omar Pérez Contreras, quien en años anteriores habría fungido como titular de alguna secretaría del Registro Público de la Propiedad, además de ser defensor del caso de invasión federal ocurrido en San Antonio Tlayacapan, por parte del excandidato a diputado local Jesús Arambul Solorio; Tonatiuh Cañedo, exdirector de Reglamentos, Inspección y Vigilancia de Chapala y Sergio Antonio Macías Aldana, notario de Tuxcueca que fue suspendido en enero de 2020 por 18 meses; pese a que no se sabe la razón, se especula que fue debido a malas prácticas.
La familia Ibon fue quien reclamó la posesión del terreno debido a que cuentan con las escrituras desde el año 1950 del predio denominado “Los Tepetates”, que se encuentra en La Floresta, a un costado del fraccionamiento Riviera Alta, mismo que han conservado por herencia.
Miembros de la familia consultados comentaron que se enteraron de esta invasión gracias a que sus vecinos colindantes, con quienes tiene una longeva amistad, les avisaron que, se habían metido con una máquina a su predio el pasado martes 12 de abril.
Al llegar se encontraron con el supuesto dueño, Omar Pérez, Tonatiuh Cañedo y el notario, quiénes los recibieron, según señalaron con agresiones verbales. Al arribar la policía municipal verificó ambas escrituras, confirmando que los supuestos dueños estaban en lo incorrecto y dando la razón a la familia de Ajijic.
«En las escrituras que presentaron había varias inconsistencias. Una de ellas es que buscaban el terreno ‘Los Ahuilotes’, cuando el nuestro se llama “Los Tepetates”. Otra de ellas es el año de adquisición, sus escrituras son del 2009 cuando las de nosotros tiene más de dos generaciones en la familia, además no conocemos ni a los supuestos propietarios, ni a quien refieren que les vendió», afirmó uno de los copropietarios.
Además, la familia aseveró qué se enteraron de que los señalados estaban buscando a toda costa información sobre el predio y la familia propietaria, llegando incluso a ofrecer dinero y terrenos a cambio de qué se le proporcionaran datos.
Tras una acalorada discusión y la intervención de los elementos policiales, los presuntos invasores cedieron y sacaron su máquina, alegando que buscarían el terreno de su propiedad.
«No creemos que haya sido un error, sino un intento de despojo por la manera en que se manejaron, una forma de la que ya hay antecedentes tanto en Ajijic como en San Antonio, además de los antecedentes de los involucrados que se presentaron», manifestó uno de los denunciantes.
Finalmente, miembros de la familia Ibon advirtieron a propietarios cercanos a su predio y propietarios de terrenos en general, a estar al pendiente ya que en las últimas fechas se han registrado este tipo de acontecimientos. Por otro lado, agradecieron el apoyo que tuvieron de pobladores de Ajijic y de amistades que los pusieron sobre aviso, y les proporcionaron la información necesaria para sus investigaciones.
Asimismo, pidieron a las autoridades estar al pendiente de estas prácticas y métodos de invasión, y no permitir este tipo de abusos, ya que han sido varios los casos que se han documentado en Chapala, relacionados con el despojo de terrenos.
Camiones en la zona del Bajío, al poniente de Ajijic. Archivo 2021.
Redacción.- Criminales de cuello blanco han puesto sus ojos sobre Chapala para apoderarse de terrenos en zonas federales, usando escrituras falsas y notarios corruptos que usurpan funciones, para así, expedir documentos apócrifos con los que intentan adueñarse de los espacios públicos.
Tanto el Gobierno de Chapala, el Colegio de Notarios del Estado de Jalisco y el Gobierno del Estado, han llamado a la población para denunciar malas prácticas de notarios públicos, esto luego de indagar que, en complicidad con particulares, han realizado la falsificación de documentos para adueñarse de terrenos en zonas federales.
Las autoridades municipales, en coordinación con las estatales, han emprendido una estrategia para detener actos ilícitos por parte de notarios y personas que intentan apoderarse de terrenos en Chapala. La Dirección General de Delitos Patrimoniales y Financieros de la Fiscalía de Jalisco, cuenta con Carpetas de Investigación por irregularidades cometidas en el municipio.
En el Colegio de Notarios de Jalisco pidieron responsabilidad a quienes quieran adquirir un bien, para que sea con base en la ley y, lamentando que gente que tachó como “gandalla”, se quieran apoderar de terrenos, asegurando que no se protegerá a ninguna persona que intente hacer actos ilícitos.
“No vamos a solapar a nadie, también ahí tiene dos cosas, la dirección de catastro, que es la que participa con los avalúos y el registro público de la propiedad, creo que; no creo, estoy totalmente convencido de que esas escrituras no pueden dar seguridad jurídica”, dijo en entrevista a medios Jaime Natera López, Presidente del Colegio de Notarios de Jalisco.
Desde hace diez años el problema de las invasiones en cerros y zonas de playa del Lago de Chapala ha ido creciendo de manera acelerada, sin que ninguna autoridad se haya atrevido a ponerle un alto a las invasiones que, en muchos casos, se sospecha que se han usado métodos de corrupción de particulares y notarios públicos, que buscan apoderarse de terrenos de la nación.
Los notarios públicos que sí están avalados son: Jorge Chávez, Sergio Macías, Juan Carlos López, Sergio Macías (padre), Luis Enrique Ramos, Juan José Rodríguez, Adriana Villaseñor, así como fedatarios de La Barca, Ocotlán, Ayotlán, Tototlán y Atotonilco, con la condición de que estén presentes. El usurpar funciones para un trámite notarial cuenta con penas que van de dos a seis años de prisión.
Pedro «El peles» Dávila fue el ganador del Torneo de Pesca en San Juan Cosalá. Foto: Alma Serrano.
Alma Serrano.- Con la participación de 25 pescadores, se realizó el Torneo de Pesca en San Juan Cosalá, en la categoría libre, el pasado 10 de abril.
De 10:00 de la mañana a 3:00 de la tarde, los competidores de entre 11 y 60 años, provenientes de poblaciones como San Antonio Tlayacapan, Ajijic, Chapala, Jocotepec; y hasta de La Barca, Jamay y Guadalajara, además de los competidores locales, quienes se instalaron en el borde del malecón con sus cañas de pesca.
El ganador del primer lugar fue Pedro Dávila alias “El Peles” de San Juan Cosalá quien pescó una lobina de dos kilogramos, el segundo puesto fue para Gilberto Padilla de San Antonio con una carpa de un kilo y medio; mientras que el tercer lugar se lo llevó Adán Gildo, quien asistió desde La Barca.
El costo del boleto fue de 50 pesos y se premió a ocho de los 25 participantes gracias a que el ganador del primer lugar compartió su premio con otros participantes “para que no todos se fueran con las manos vacías” y para motivarlos para que asistan en el siguiente torneo.
Así, los primeros tres lugares recibieron 800, 600 y 400 pesos, respectivamente; mientras que los cinco restantes se llevaron 200 pesos.
Agustín Vázquez Calvario, promotor del torneo, lo consideró un éxito por la gran participación de todas las edades que registró.
“Me cae que yo pensé que iban a venir menos y nomás de aquí de la ribera, se me hace increíble que venga gente de bien lejos para participar, que chido la neta”, comentó.
Asimismo, anunció que el próximo domingo 8 de mayo se realizará un nuevo Torneo de Pesca en la delegación de San Juan Cosalá.
Chain-link fence located near the pumping plant being removed for the second time. Photo: Sofía Medeles.
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera activists removed a chain-link fence for the second time they claim had been placed in federal territory of Lake Chapala.
The action took place last Friday, April 8, in the area that had been allegedly illegally fenced near the re-pumping plant of the Municipal Potable Water and Sewage System (SIMAPA), to the east of the town.
On this occasion, not only was the fence removed, but it was cut up, and the activists used hammers to destroy the bases where the posts are placed, so that the fence could not be put up again, as happened last time. Although the land owners tried to intimidate them by taking video, the activists were not deterred.
At the end of the meeting, there was talk of returning to the beach in the area known as «Tío Domingo», where in August and September last year, at least seven fences were removed. Of all these, five have been rebuilt, and two of the lands allegedly illegally occupied have been planted with crops to justify their takeover by the adjacent landowners. Two of the alleged illegal fences have been rebuilt twice.
Also, two more disputed fences were recently removed to the east of Ajijic, at the end of Donato Guerra Street; in one of these, the owners chose to remove the entire fence and, in the other, they raised it again, however, it was removed again.
The meetings of the group to act against this type of invasion will be announced through social networks. Members of the «anti-rejas» movement say that the participation of the Ajijitecos and other interested parties is important, since it is an issue of interest for all the residents of the area around the lake.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Only 27,168 cast their vote in the lake area.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía.- Only 9.97 percent of the electorate in District 17 participated in Sunday’s vote on the Revocation of Mandate on Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO).
Of the 272,259 people who were expected to go to the polls on April 10 in the 15 municipalities that make up the district, only 27,168 cast their vote. Of these, 25,270 voted in favor of AMLO’s continuation as president, 1,548 voted to revoke his mandate and 350 left their ballot blank.
Between Chapala and Jocotepec, seven thousand two votes were cast, of which six thousand 351 were in favor of AMLO, 558 against him, and 100 were null votes.
Nationally, voter participation was also low, according to INE only between 17 and 18.2 percent of those registered on the nominal list cast their vote; Jalisco registered 9.06 percent, one of the states with the lowest participation. The election had no impact because, it required at 40% of the current electoral roll.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Trucks in the Bajío area, west of Ajijic. File 2021.
Editor. White-collar criminals have set their sights on Chapala to seize land in federal zones, using false deeds and corrupt notaries who use their positions to issue forged documents with which they try to take over public spaces.
The Government of Chapala, the Association of Notaries Public of the State of Jalisco and the State Government have called on the population to oppose bad practices of public notaries, after investigating that, in complicity with private individuals, they have falsified documents to take possession of land in federal zones.
The municipal authorities, in coordination with the state authorities, have undertaken a strategy to stop illegal acts by notaries and individuals who try to take possession of land in Chapala. The Dirección General de Delitos Patrimoniales y Financieros de la Fiscalía de Jalisco, has opened investigations into irregularities committed in the municipality.
The Notary Association of Jalisco asked for regulations to insure that those who want to acquire a property, do so based on the law, and condemning people they labeled as «loafers», who want to take possession of land illegally. The Association vowed it would not protect any person who tries to do illegal acts.
«We are not going to overrule anyone, but we must consider the Registrar who participates in the appraisals and the public registry of property. I am totally convinced that some of these (fake) deeds can give legal certainty,» said Jaime Natera Lopez, President of the College of Notaries of Jalisco in a media interview.
For the last ten years the problem of invasions in the hills and beach areas of Lake Chapala has been growing at an accelerated rate, without any authority trying to put a stop to the invasions. in many cases illegal the takeovers of property have been facilitated by corruption by private individuals and notaries public.
Among the public notaries that are endorsed as legitimate in Lakeside are: Jorge Chávez, Sergio Macías, Juan Carlos López, Sergio Macías (father), Luis Enrique Ramos, Juan José Rodríguez, Adriana Villaseñor, as well as notaries public from La Barca, Ocotlán, Ayotlán, Tototlán and Atotonilco, on the condition that they are present. The misuse of notarial procedure is punishable with two to six years of imprisonment.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Leonardo Saucedo better known as «El Chiri,» is a dancer by inheritance. From the age of seven his grandfather assigned him to the Lord of Huaje in Jocotepec to whom he offers his dances during the festivities. Photo: María Reynozo.
By: María del Refugio Reynozo Medina
Since he was a child, Leonardo Saucedo learned dance from his father Leobardo Saucedo Valentín, a dancer who performed the representation of the conquest in the town of Nextipac, municipality of Jocotepec.
Leonardo watched the rehearsals with rapt attention. He clearly remembers the characters; La Malinche, Hernán Cortés and Cuauhtémoc.
“-Get up, great monarch, Hernán Cortés is coming….” La Marina began in one of its dialogues in the colloquium that recreated the episode of The Conquest. It lasted more than three hours and up to 60 actors participated among dancers and musicians with guitar, stringed instruments, and drums.
At the age of seven Leonardo suffered a very strange illness. Small wounds appeared on a large part of his body that oozed. His grandfather entrusted him to the Lord of the Huaje, the Christ carved on a huge gourd tree found in the vicinity of San Pedro Tesistan and located in the chapel formerly known as the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in the municipal capital of Jocotepec.
She promised him that if he healed him, she would give him her little grandson so that he could praise him through dance. So, they undertook the pilgrimage from Nextipac to the temple of the Lord of the gourd tree, walking, praying, dancing and the seven-year-old boy carrying despite his illness, a heavy wooden drum.
Don Leonardo «El Chiri» is now 86 years old, he remembers that moment and tears come to his eyes.
“I was even hot when I arrived,» he says.
After fifteen days, the boy was completely healed.
His father used to take to the Lord of gourd tree for the festivities of «the dawn» (rockets, cinnamon, bread and ringing of bells).
In addition to his love for dancing, he remembers that he used to help his father in the fields every day. During harvesting the fruits or burying the seeds in the middle of the furrows he would go over the dialogues. Though the official rehearsals were in the afternoon when the days in the fields were over.
As a dancer «El Chiri» went to Zacoalco de Torres, San Luis Soyatlán, Tizapán el Alto, Santa Rosa, Atequiza and Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos.
Now he says he is sad to see himself getting old, however, as long as he exists he will also live his fervor for the crucifix made from the gourd tree. Every time he goes to Jocotepec, the first thing he does is to visit the image and take a candle to it. Every year he is also present at the feast. “Although I may be crawling, I have to go.”
«El Chiri» they call him in town because one day in a soccer game, ten minutes from the end, he scored an Olympic goal that led his team to victory. “It was a fluke,» he was told.
«El Chiri» learned very well his side as an actor not only as a dancer. He recreated characters with different voices. ‘The Indians did some voices, he says, and the conquistadors did others.”
One day when they were walking up the hill on their way to Cajititlán for a presentation, the woman who was going to play La Malinche fell into a stream. By the time they reached their destination she no longer had a voice. «El Chiri» had no problem representing the female voice and completing the picture. He had a very good memory, although «we had no school,» he says.
In those days they had for school a leafy mango tree, a piece of smoked board and his teacher.
However, he came to learn not only his own dialogues but those of everyone else.
Now his memories are vague, and among them he’s lost some incomplete stanzas of what was the splendor of the colloquies of La Conquista.
“Silence and little morulla, if you want to see this dance.
Listen to me, so many women, which one is the most murmuring,
is she braided or is she hairy.
Adorned with little rags shut those little lips.
Don’t disturb Juan Guarín epa maistro of the violin
Touch me the dwarfs to dance them here …”
Translated by Sydney Metrick
© 2016. Todos los derechos reservados. Semanario de la Ribera de Chapala