61-year-old, María Quiroz Rameño is an unstoppable woman. Photo: Alma Serrano.
Alma Serrana (San Juan Cosala).- Maybe you didn’t have the childhood or adolescence you would have wished. Life is never as we thought it would be, no matter how much we plan it. From the country to the city, that’s how your life has been, with many inevitable changes and realities that have made you wake up.
Your 61 years have shown you how capable you are. Limits are nothing more than the experiences of others who have not dared to go, out of fear, where you knew you could go. Your determination makes you powerful and you always do the best you can, even if at the time you didn’t know how.
Being a mother has made you see, go, look beyond, be invincible and give it your all. For your children you took off the blindfold, to see that the world is not a loom that you can hold. Sometimes you had to weave your own way, with the fabric of your hands.
You were, are, and will be a daughter, a wife, a mother of four children who had to live in a hurry «with shots and pulls.» Being a mother has led you to be, even when you were widowed, bigger than before, stronger, more you. You never gave up. Nothing stops you.
Since you were a child, you had the desire to break everything you came across. You have learned that this unquestionable attitude only exists in extraordinary people.
Thanks to your innate, relentless will you have managed to achieve what only the brave, those who remain standing, can achieve.
You may not notice everything you have achieved because circumstances have not allowed you the time to contemplate. You have known what to do in the face of adversity, defending yourself from everything, you never lost faith. How courageous you have been.
There is no doubt that it is not necessary to be a mother for us to honor your life like that of millions of mothers. Undoubtedly being a mother has made you an impeccable human being at heart. I know that life has not been perfect neither with you nor with anyone else, but life does not need to be perfect to be wonderful.
Translated by Nita Rudy
Chapala moms had fun dancing in the atrium of the San Francisco de Asís parish during the contest. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- With an attendance of just over 300 people, the Adolfo Rayo Festival was held in the atrium of the parish of San Francisco de Asís in Chapala. The festival was held to celebrate mothers on their day, with prizes such as kitchen utensils given away, and entertainment provided by the Mariachi Águila de Chapala.
During the celebration, dance contests were held for the mothers, where everyone won a prize. Numbered tickets were also given out for the awarding of prizes such as frying pans, express pots, blenders, and buckets, among many other household items.
Translated by Rebecca Zittle
In center with paper in hand, the municipal president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel; (left) secretary general of SPTAC, Juan Cuevas Gudiño, and municipal trustee Gamaliel de Jesús Soto Pérez, during the report on the approval of the list of demands, in front of the Municipal City Hall. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- Chapala President Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel gave the go-ahead to seven of 10 petitions made by the Plural Union of Workers of the Chapala City Hall, in favor of the rights of civil servants.
The remaining three petitions will be submitted to the municipal council for approval, according to the secretary general of the union, Juan Cuevas Gudiño.
The list of demands delivered to the mayor’s office included the approval of medical services for parents who depend on the worker, minor children, and students with a valid school card. The demands were delivered by the union leader after the Labor Day march on May 1, with about 325 participants from the unions of the City Hall, DIF and SIMAPA.
In addition, it was established that an extra doctor at the Municipal Clinic will attend to the workers to avoid the need for workers to seek private consultation due to a shortage of medical appointments. Municipal medical services will also have the appropriate supply of medicines to cover any necessary services.
Additional requests presented by the Union of Workers of the Chapala City Hall included payment of overdue medical bills, and prompt reimbursement of the full cost of medical care upon approval by the Municipal Clinic director, to occur in the near future.
Another issue approved by the municipal president related to overdue and upcoming payments is the vacation bonus corresponding to five legal days of salary. In order to calculate the arrears, a review of documents will be carried out, stated Cuevas Gudiño.
In this respect, it was also requested that the workers’ vacations be respected, since there have been cases in which the directors have denied a worker’s vacation, and that these vacations be timely and fully made up when delayed.
One of the most relevant requests approved by Aguirre Curiel during the nearly one hour meeting was the freedom of the union to affiliate the 120 workers who have been working for the City Hall for more than three and a half years. SPTAC currently has 276 members.
The facilities of the Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia or the Coliseo Municipal Benito Juárez were made available for the union to assemble from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm on the last Saturday of each month.
The three requests that will be submitted to the Chapala City Council for approval are: the delivery of the extra bonus for the Public Servant’s Day, the 40 pesos biweekly transportation support, and reimbursement of pending and upcoming surgeries so as not to affect the family income of the union members.
Finally, SPTAC secretary general Juan Cuevas Gudiño openly thanked the municipal president for the recent approval of the five percent salary increase, as well as the increase in the savings fund from 65 to 100 pesos per unionized worker, reimbursement for surgeries and operations for the workers, and equipment necessary to provide citizens with the services they require.
The municipal president congratulated the workers on their day and reminded them of their commitment to work for the municipality. «I did not expect that it would cost us so much to start up … However, we have managed to move forward and stabilize. I thank everyone for their patience and support. It is clear to me that the face of the Municipal Government is each and every one of you,» said Aguirre Curiel.
Translated by MaryAnne Marble
The Chapala-Mezcala bus route charges ten pesos to San Nicolás de Ibarra. In the municipality of Poncitlán, the regular fare is maintained. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- The Chapala Plus public service bus line increased its costs in the municipality unexpectedly and without prior notice to users, causing consternation and confusion among riders. In neighboring towns, fares remain unchanged.
As of May 9, the drivers of the direct routes or «big buses», as they are identified by the population, began to charge ten pesos per fare within the limits of the municipality. No prior notice was given to the public about the price increase.
The smaller «chiquitos» buses, as of the closing of this edition, only increased their regular fare by one peso, according to the drivers. However, at the parking booth, the person in charge of the booth said that he had not yet received any orders in this respect.
This sudden increase caused discomfort among users, since many of them use the transport for short trips. In other words, people who used to pay only seven or eight pesos, now have to pay ten pesos in the large bus.
This is in spite of the fact that, according to those in charge of the ticket office, only one peso has been added to the minimum fare at the Chapala bus station. That is, from nine to ten pesos for users who travel between the municipal capital and the towns of Santa Cruz de la Soledad, San Nicolás de Ibarra and Ajijic.
The people’s dissatisfaction increased due to the fact that the same fare began to be applied to trips between San Antonio and Ajijic, or the municipal seat and the Riberas del Pilar agency, which is approximately three kilometers away.
The unexpected situation affected many users economically, since people who had just enough money to get to school or work were denied service by the drivers for not having the fare.
This was the case of Daniel, a father who previously needed 24 pesos to take his two children to school from San Antonio Tlayacapan to Ajijic. With the new prices the expense increased to 30 pesos, six more than before. Today, this family must calculate at least 60 pesos a day for transportation.
Young people were also affected, as they need to make two or more trips per day. As expressed by Lulu, a single mother who commutes from Chapala to Ajijic and from Ajijic to Walmart, at a total cost of 40 pesos a day. Whereas before she only spent 32 pesos on fares. «Luckily I brought the money, but it was my turn to see how many were left behind,» shared the young woman.
Complaints from different users qualified this increase as «unfair» since most of the vehicles are in bad condition, they said.. In addition, the drivers do not respect schedules, «they come at inappropriate hours and drive very badly», said Luis, a young man who uses the service every day to get to work.
Other criticisms were the lack of tact in dealing with users on the part of the company’s workers, who are often rude to passengers. And, the fact that the price increase was only within the municipality of Chapala.
The trips to the municipalities of Jocotepec, Poncitlán and Guadalajara, including the different fares of their delegations, continue unchanged. Semanario Laguna tried by various means to obtain information about the fare increase, but the company did not respond to repeated requests for clarification
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Jorge Padilla of San Antonio Tlayacapan won first place in the second Fishing Tournament. Photo: Agustín Vázquez.
Alma Serrano (San Juan Cosalá).- Ten participants were winners in the second Fishing Tournament held on the San Juan Cosalá boardwalk on May 8. The competition lasted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and was attended by more than a dozen participants from the different towns of the Chapala Riviera.
First place went to Jorge Padilla of San Antonio Tlayacapan, Chapala. Second place was won by Pedro Dávila «El Peles» of San Juan Cosalá, who won first place in the previous year’s tournament. Third place went to Matías of Jocotepec.
The winners of the first three places received 1,500 pesos, 1,000 and 700 pesos, respectively, while fourth place was awarded 400 pesos and from fifth to tenth place received between 50 and 100 pesos.
Translated by Mike Rogers
By Leticia Trejo
I know that not all of us like physical activity, but we all aspire to wellness. With so many exercise and fitness disciplines on offer, it can be difficult to choose, so we may decide on the «easiest» one, which is running. In our mind we generate an image of our sports clothes and running shoes, and of the attractive places where we will realize our dream of losing weight, improving cardiovascular condition, and perhaps meeting new people to share this activity.
My strongest recommendation is: Don’t do it, without first visiting some specialists or reading from approved sources the information you need to make this activity safe.
Do you know if you have a pronated or supinated footprint? Do you know if your knees are in the genus valgus or genus varus position? Has anyone mentioned if you have scoliosis? All these anatomical-postural conditions negatively affect the health of your joints, and within a year the pain will make you decide to decline your good intentions to improve your health.
The problem is not starting to run but not having a proper strategy.
The first thing to do is to visit an orthopedist to determine if your type of foot needs an additional insole in addition to the sports shoes you want to buy. Some sports stores can even perform a simple evaluation to find out what type of shoes you should buy.
The same orthopedist can also inform you if your knees might be negatively affected by running. At this point I will pause to explain something VERY important. Knees depend almost entirely on the hip joint. The femur (the thigh bone, the longest bone in the body) has two upper heads, one of which is completely round and inserts into the socket of the pelvis, called the acetabulum, forming different angles that predispose the position of the knees. Although this cannot be modified, since it is a construction of birth, we can improve this integration of acetabulum – femoral head – knee – feet. Work with exercises that strengthen the four sides of your legs — internal, external, right lateral and left lateral — as well as the external rotators of your hip, with both strength and elasticity exercises.
After having the proper knowledge in these points, you can visit a physiotherapist to check aspects of muscle tone, position of the spine, and relationship of the pelvic girdle. He or she will then be able to make the appropriate recommendations.
Acquire a pulsometer (heart rate monitor) so that based on your weight, height and age you can measure your heartbeat. This digital device will indicate, sometimes even with colors, the heart rate where your activity will be more efficient. Beats below a certain minimum are not efficient, but neither are beats above your maximum. And I remind you, SWEAT IS WATER, so don’t think that by sweating a lot you are burning fat and improving your physical condition.
Finally, be patient. Apply the rule: Gradualness – adaptability – maintenance. Enjoy the process and connect with all your body sensations so you learn to listen to your body and know what it needs and what could be damaging it.
Translated by Sandy Britton
Daniela Baez during the March 14th demonstration against sexual abuse at the Chapala Regional High School. Credit: Sofía Medeles.
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- Two months after Daniela Baez, a former student of the Chapala Regional High School of the University of Guadalajara (UdeG), filed a complaint for sexual abuse against David N, a professor at the same high school, there has been little progress. Daniela Baez cannot believe how torturous it is for victims to have to prove the abuse they suffered. She’s had to undergo repeated tests in order for the investigations to continue.
In spite of filing the complaint with the State Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation was transferred to the Chapala Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP), an institution that has summoned Baez countless times to request different physical and psychological studies on the matter, some without any logical sense for the victim. She’s been subjected to a «quite grotesque» gynecological study, despite the fact that the abuse happened more than seven years ago, in 2015 when Baez was 15 years old, and the professor was close to fifty. Additionally, in Mexico, the victim must present all the necessary evidence to start a legal process.
In her case, Baez had to thoroughly prove what happened. She’s identified the different houses he used, the times they went, and details of what happened in each location. Having to keep repeating the facts of her case is uncomfortable and tedious for her. She says that sexual harassment abuses in schools are well known, however, few students dare to raise their voices either due to social pressure or the tediousness of legal proceedings, as she’s experienced first-hand. Many of the victims refuse to complain about how difficult the process is, and how much strength a victim must have to withstand the gossip and rumor that people spread freely.
The UdeG issued a communiqué on March 15th announcing the suspension of the professor, David N, until the official investigations conclude. Once the judge’s sentence is announced, the university will also issue its own.
After her experience, the victim began to see a psychologist, who was the first to detect the problem. After the 8M (The International Women’s Strike or International Feminist Strike 8-M ) ,march this year, she got the strength to raise her voice within her family, and then in the community, noting how important it is for the victim to have a strong circle of trust and support to have the courage to accuse their aggressor.
«It’s not about how much you pay or how far you go,» Baez said about her case , as her only goal is for people to recognize that these actions are wrong, and to stop justifying, excusing, or ignoring them.
The International Feminist Strike 8-M was a movement that took place on March 8, 2018, International Women’s Day organized by feminist movements in support of women’s rights across the world and to determine the level of exploitation of women in the workplace, social reproduction and reproductive labor, nver damaging reputations in the process.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
The crime for which they were captured occurred last week and according to the investigations these people entered the church of San Francisco de Asis
Laguna Staff (Chapala,Jal.).- Two men were arrested after being accused of stealing more than 6 thousand pesos from a church in Chapala. Personnel from the Regional Prosecutor’s Office placed them at the disposal of the judges who served them with an arrest warrant for the crime of aggravated robbery.
They are Yahir Alejandro G. and Víctor Alfonso C., who were arrested on Isla del Presidio street at the intersection with De los Maestros, in the Gastronómica neighborhood, in the municipality of Chapala.
The crime for which they were captured occurred last week and according to the investigations these people entered the church of San Francisco de Asis, forced open a box of coins that was at the foot of a catholic image and extracted the amount of 6 thousand pesos, the cause of their arrest warrant.
Both were placed at the disposal of the Judge of Control and Oral Trial of the Fifth Judicial District, who will decide their legal situation. The arrested persons will be treated as innocent until a sentence is issued against them.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Removing the lasso from the heifer is one of the most awaited games for moms at the Mother’s Day event at the Lienzo Charro. Photo: Sofía Medeles.
Sofía Medeles(Ajijic).- Mother’s Day at the Lienzo Charro stadium on Revolución, morning mass and family reunions at the cemetery were traditions that returned to Ajijic after the pandemic.
The celebrations began on Sunday, May 8 at the Lienzo Charro ring, with an event organized by the Ajijic Charros Association, in conjunction with the Municipal Government of Chapala and the National System for the Integral Development of Families (DIF) of the delegation.
Throughout the afternoon, an estimate of more than 500 attendees enjoyed raffles, contests, a show of battles on stick horses, and the excitement of watching the contest to catch the heifer. Each of the four teams in the contest, made up of four mothers, were awarded a prize of 4,000 pesos.
«It is a very fun event, not only for the moms of Ajijic, because people come from Chapala, San Antonio and San Juan Cosalá, and they all have the opportunity to participate. We had a great time,» commented one of the participants.
In addition, according to Ajijic acting delegate Maximiano Macias Arceo there were more than one hundred gifts donated to the event by different individuals, businesses and the Municipality of Chapala. Those gifts included food and drinks, a washing machine that was raffled off, as well as cash.
On Tuesday, May 10, the day began with mass at the cemetery of the delegation, where approximately 150 people gathered at 8:00am to celebrate. Graveside visits this year were unrestricted, so in addition to attending and arranging the graves, some families spent several hours at the cemetery.
«In the morning, the cemetery had the greatest attendance of around 150 to 200 people at the mass. During the course of the day it decreased, with fewer in the afternoon, but all day long there were people,» shared Macías Arceo.
Translated by MaryAnne Marble
Municipal president of Jocotepec, José Miguel Gómez López, together with Eduardo Góngora Olmedo, one of the organizers of the grant and elements of the Civil Protection and Firefighters Unit next to the new truck.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- The new fire truck for the Civil Protection and Fire Department of Jocotepec has been officially received.
After a long process to acquire and transport the heavy load vehicle, as well as to collect the necessary funds to purchase it, the vehicle finally arrived at its destination.
The delivery took place last Friday, May 6th in the main square, around 10:00 a.m., presided over by the municipal president José Miguel Gómez López.
Also in attendance were the director of the corporation, Sergio Herrera Robledo, representatives of the companies Driscoll’s and Berrymex, among other berry producers, as well as various Rotary clubs such as Guadalajara International and Jocotepec-Chapala.
The new fire truck, which cost $20,000 dollars (approximately 400,000 pesos), plus the 50 thousand pesos it cost to transport it from the United States to the municipality, was exhibited in the plaza in the presence of members of the Civil Protection Department.
During the event, Gómez López thanked the effort of all the people and companies involved in the donations to make it possible, as he stressed the need for the additional fire truck.
«The important thing about this type of donation is that Jocotepec has grown, and so have its problems. More equipment is required not only to provide the services but also to ensure the safety of the population,» said the mayor.
He added that the number of services that the Civil Protection Unit provides is increasing, although he did not specify the exact number, so it is necessary to optimize the help to the unit so it can continue providing the service to the community.
Translated by Sandy Britton
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