en inglés

The municipal president of Jocotepec participated in the Popular Consultation of the Fiscal Pact

Héctor Ruiz Mejía – In the Southeast Region, the municipality of Jocotepec took the first place in citizen participation in this Popular Consultation of the Fiscal Pact.

The Consultation consisted of a single question: «Do you agree that every six years, the terms of the Fiscal Coordination and the way in which the federation distributes taxes should be reviewed, in order to decide if Jalisco remains or leaves the Fiscal Pact?» 

Jocotepec was positioned well above Chapala(despite the population difference), which  only recorded 1,369 votes  far behind Jocotepec, which closed with 2,161 votes.

In third place was the municipality of Mazamitla, with 943 votes, and the last place went to Santa María del Oro, with 102 votes.

Thus, out of the ten municipalities that make up the Southeast Region, a total of 7,775 votes were cast, out of the 30,606 possible, which represented a 25.40 percent participation rate of the regional goal.

These were the results of this first democratic exercise that took place this November 27 and 28; there are still three more dates of voting  for the state of Jalisco, which is expected to reach 33 percent of citizen participation. the required participation for the Consultation to be binding.

Jocotepec was positioned well above Chapala(despite the population difference), which only recorded 1,369 votes far behind Jocotepec, which closed with 2,161 votes.

Municipal President José Miguel Gómez López was disappointed that Jocotepec did not reach the expected goal of 5,683 opinions, saying there were not enough ballot boxes and  only four participation centers  in  the entire municipality.

«By giving us only four ballot boxes, we were deprived of the possibility of many people to attend, because people work and have things to do; this influenced the low participation», explained José Miguel. 

The mayor added that, in the first stage of the exercise, only one of the four electronic voting booths set up in Casa de la Cultura José Vaca Flores Jocotepec, was in operation. This caused the process to slow down, so that, according to the mayor, who was present to exercise his vote, people got tired of waiting and did not participate.

The Popular Consultation regarding the Fiscal Pact had an initial cost of 22.5 million pesos with a total of 430 electronic ballot boxes, for which an additional budget of three million 388 thousand 813.30 pesos was increased; therefore, in the end, the budget used was 25.8 million pesos and 530 ballot boxes were installed. The Consultation  seeks to convince the Federal Government to  assign more funds to the State and different governmental programs of  the municipalities.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

Lake Chapala Community Orchestra. Photo: Archive.

Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic (JAL) Lakeside will reverberate with the sound of music this holiday season as local song groups and bands announce a busy schedule of entertainment and sing- alongs.  Demand has been so brisk that already the Lake Chapala Community Orchestra has had to add a performance because the first two sold out. Semanario Laguna will update this list as new events are added, but we recommend checking the Lakeside entertainment Facebook pages like Lakeside Live and Ajijic and Lakeside Entertainment Group for more events as they pop up.  

Our current list of holiday  music and dance events:

Lake Chapala Community Orchestra

A Lakeside Christmas with Mariana Vigueras (soprano)

Thursday  Dec..9.21  3 pm and 5:30

Friday Dec.10.21 3 pm

Lakeside Presbyterian Church

Reservations: lccotickets@gmail.com

Yves Restaurant

Christmas Jazz with Lolita Moreno Azpeitia  Band

Dec 2,2021

Free. Reservations 376 766 3565

Joven  Ballet

Gala Ballet

Sunday ,Dec. 12.21

4:30 pm

Chapinaya

Tickets $200:  WhatsApp 331088 2546

Los Cantantes del Lago

It’s Christmas

December 7 and 14 7 pm

December 8 and 15: 4 pm

Bravo Theater, Riberas

Tickets $350 at Mia’s Boutique and It’s Kinda Bazar or online at https://loscantantesdellago.com/reserve-tickets/

Lakeside Little Theater

Songs for the Holidays

December 22, 4 pm

 McIntosh Auditorium at LLT

200 pesos. Tickets at LLT box office or

 at https://www.lakesidelittletheatre.com/tickets

Lake Chapala Society

Holiday Concert with Enrique Allende

December 18, 2:30 pm and 5pm

LCS Garden

Tickets $600 and $450 available at LCS Office or online at https://bit.ly/39mknlL

Los Amigos Big Band

A Big Band Christmas

Dec. 17, 18, and 19th

4 sentido, Riberas

Times and ticket price TBA

The program will be an hour long and feature a broad  traditional repertoire including  Diana and Acteon, Giselle, Frescos, Carmen, and neoclassical and contemporary dances 

Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic (JAL). The Joven Ballet HH will perform once again in Lakeside only the dancers will charm audiences outside at the Chapinaya Jardín de Eventos in West Ajijic instead of its usual indoor stage at the currently unfinished Auditorio in Ajijic. The performance is scheduled for the afternoon of December 12.

According to Laura Elena Fernández Dávalos,  Managing  Director of Pirouetteando of the Isaac y Esteban Hernández Classical Dance Training and Promotion Center, the program will be an hour long and feature a broad  traditional repertoire including  Diana and Acteon, Giselle, Frescos, Carmen, and neoclassical and contemporary dances,  some with classic Mexican music like Llorona, Huapango de Moncayo, and La Bikina.

Dancers from the Joven Company are 10 to 18 years old, but  group of  young dancers 4 to 6 years old from Lakeside will open the performance, all under the direction of Artistic Director Professor Héctor Hernández, father and trainer of Isaac and Esteban Hernández, professional ballet dancers at English national Ballet and San Francisco Ballet and namesakes of the Center.

The Joven Ballet HH, based in Zapopan, normally trains and performs part time in the Auditorio in Ajijic as part of its mission to travel the state of Jalisco, taking ballet to places where there are no ballet schools or performances. The Isaac y Esteban Hernández Classical Dance Training and Promotion Center is a non-profit association that trains professional classical ballet dancers and promotes ballet as an option for all children.

The Joven Ballet performance will be December 12 at the Chapinaya Jardín de Eventos.  Doors open at 4:30, performance begins at 5 pm.  Tickets are 400 pesos, which includes one drink. A o-host bar will be available. Funds raised by the performance will be used for a new floor in their training venue in Guadalajara used by dancers from the Center’s free classes for poor children. Local sponsors of the performance are Lago Travel and Pancho’s Deli  Market in Riberas.

Tickets are available by calling 33 108 2456.

The champion San Cristóbal team. Photo: Courtesy of Sergio Andrés Acosta.

María del Refugio Reynozo Medina — “San Cristóbal is a loving town,” says Giovanni López, the Colombian soccer player who participated in the last game of the 2021 season at La Ribera.

October 31 was just the final episode in a series of encounters between players, sponsors and fans. The 2020-2021 season, which began more than six months ago, involved encounters between the main towns of La Ribera (El Chante, El Tepehuaje, San Juan Cosalá, Jocotepec).

The grand finale was scheduled for October 31. The only ones to arrive were the Escombro team from El Chante and the San Cristóbal team from the town of San Cristóbal Zapotitlán.  During the match, fans shouted “San Cris, San Cris!”until they were hoarse. They focused on the ball as they gulped from their cans of beer. Referees’ whistles resounded in the green field and the players’ bodies moved lightly under the midday sun.

At the end of a season with months of effort, the reds of “San Cris” had defeated Chapulines and Pumas from Jocotepec. They also defeated El Nacional, El Nuevo Nacional and El Júpiter, all from Nextipac.

With the shout of ¡goooool! and the noise of the fans, the San Cristóbal team was crowned champion and received the shiny cup in the middle of the field. They also received a prize of 12,000 pesos.

Wearing the red and white uniform of the San Cristóbal team. From left to right: Cristian Domínguez, Sergio Acosta, Neisser Valverde, Giovanni López and Osmar Steven. Photo: Courtesy of Sergio Andrés Acosta

After leaving the El Chante field, they returned to San Cristobal to participate in the celebration.

The arrival of the vehicles with the fans was accompanied by the sound of honking horns and shouts of joy along the main streets. Families gathered on street corners or outside their homes to watch the contingent pass by, heading first to the cemetery.

“We dedicate this victory to Luis Gómez “El Padrecito,” said one of the organizers with emotion. Luis passed away in November of last year and was a great promoter, director and soccer fan. The tribute was also for José Luis de la Luz, and his son of the same name. Both lost their lives in an accident and were important and beloved members of the soccer community.

At twilight, the caravan arrived at the cemetery led by a band playing “Un puño de tierra.”

Because it was the eve of Day of the Dead, many of the graves were freshly decorated with flowers and papel picado bows. Team members let the trophy rest for a few minutes on the grave of Luis Gómez, and the crowd sang with fervor as the grave turned into an altar. They said goodbye with “El muchacho alegre” and advanced to the tomb of the Luises, whom the fans remember as “El Catrín” and “El ruso,” to whom they dedicated another song.

Germán Balmori with Germán Balmori Jr. One of the main promoters of the San Cristobal team. Photo: Courtesy of Diego Reynoso Aldrete.

The celebration lasted until late into the night in the lounge on the shore of the lake, where there was dinner and more music. The host was Germán Balmori, who has also been a team collaborator for many years. Elías García called the players to the stage to cheer them: Diego Reynoso, who played as right back; Osmar Steven, Colombian goalkeeper; Alonso Chavarría Bautista; Ángel Valdez; Colombians Cristian Domínguez, Neiser Valverde, Sergio Andrés Acosta and Giovanni López; Jorge Navarro El mosquita; Abraham Ibarra; and Oscar Cabañas.

The attendees immortalized the triumph with red and white t-shirts, some of which bore the names of the honorees; Russian, catrin with the image of the patron saint Señor San Cristobal. 

“I wanted to give the victory to my team,” said Technical Director Isaías García Godoy. The final score of the championship game was 4-2, giving the team a season record of 6-3. With this, “El Sancris,” in the words of a fan, became not only champion, but also our champion. 

Translated by Mike Rogers

San Andrés Apostle, patron saint of Ajijic. Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles / Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan  (Ajijic, Jal.)– A few days before the start of Ajijic’s patron saint festivities (November 22-30), the authorities have finally given the green light for the festivities, which, due to pandemic restrictions, will be held as the ancestors used to do it,  the old-fashioned way. 

The conditions include a closing  time of 12:00 midnight, a restricted capacity, sanitary  checkpoints in charge of the guilds, signage  at entrances and exits, permanent use of masks and monitoring by the Municipal Government. 

Maximiliano «Max» Macias,  who is in charge of the delegation’s office, commented that they are working together with merchants, guilds and organizing groups, to be able to bring a very healthy and old-fashioned celebration.

«They will be different this time the festivities, as to come with the family, spend some time and have dinner. We are starting little by little and reactivating the economy. For example, merchants who have not been able to make a living will be allowed to work, as long as they respect the requirements of the Ministry of Health,» said Max.

Likewise, through the delegation’s web page -Delegación Ajijic 2021-2024-, the calendar of activities for the novenario (9-days of masses and celebrations)  was published;  The guild schedule is:  Nov.22nd musicians’ guild), Nov.  23rd merchants’ guild, Nov. 24th terrace owners who reached an agreement,  and Nov. 25th the new youth guild). People agreed to bring musical groups to perform at the kiosk, while from November 26th to 30th, the activities that will take place will depend on the budget of the remaining guilds.

People have taken this news as good, since, both in social networks and in interviews conducted by Semanario Laguna, they expressed their joy for the realization of the festivities. «It is good because on the one hand we see that little by little we are getting out of this pandemic, and on the other hand because they give the population a space to have fun,» highlighted Sara, an interviewee from Ajijic.

Finally, the person in charge of the office called the attendees to the celebrations in honor of Saint Andrew the Apostle, and the merchants, to respect the established measures, otherwise, with all and penalty, they will be called to attention.

The program of the religious novena to St. Andrew the Apostle will be held as usual

The program of activities and participating guilds is on the wall of the parish of San Andrés Apóstol

The program of activities and participating guilds is on the wall of the parish of San Andrés Apóstol.

Sofía Medeles /Translated by Elisabeth Shields  (Ajijic, Jal.)- The religious celebration of San Andrés Apóstol will take place in the usual way -unlike the celebrations in the main square, which will have modifications-, with the mañanitas, masses, rosaries and Eucharistic adoration.

The mañanitas will be held at 7:00 a.m. The masses will be held at three different times, 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Rosaries will be at 6:30 p.m., and Eucharistic adoration – in charge of Adorers and Honorary Adorers – will be on Wednesday, November 24, Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26.

San Juan Cosalá’s boardwalk baths 

Héctor Ruiz Mejía – Jocotepec( JAL). – Semanario Laguna toured the boardwalks of Jocotepec municipality and found many of the bathrooms in bad condition. Some of the restrooms, such as the ones on the San Juan Cosalá boardwalk, have irregular and unreliable schedules; there are times when they are open until 5:00 p.m., but only for a short time, and other times when they are not even open at all.

In the case of Chantepec, the bathrooms are not even in operation, since they are in terrible condition. Carlos Monreal Macías, in charge of the Jocotepec City Hall, assured that changes are already being considered. «We have already received a report on the situation of the restrooms in Chantepec, and the truth is that they are in very bad condition. We are even contemplating the installation of stall dividers, since they don’t even have the basics,» he said.

Regarding the irregular and unreliable schedules, reported regularly by citizens, and Seminario Laguna, he said that he was unaware of the situation, but announced that measures will be taken. He added that constant vandalism has made it difficult to maintain the facilities in good condition. He mentioned the example of Chantepec, where the benches and grills have been vandalized, as well as the constant graffiti. In August alone, eight of the barbecue grills in the western zone of the malecón del Chante, had to be repaired due to vandalism.

Finally, he pointed out that due to the high prices of scrap metal, copper theft is still a problem. It’s a constant battle to keep electricity working in good condition as the wiring is a perpetual target for thieves. Municipal presidentHector Nanuel Haro Perez of Jocotepec urged everyone to report any theft that they see.

Juan Martin Santana, Director of Public Services, asked everyone to help maintain and respect all public areas, «I want to ask people to help take care of our public spaces, they are for everyone to enjoy. In these times it is very important to have these spaces, to be able to live together.» The number for the Jocotepec Police is 387 763 0006.

Translated by Amy Esperanto

INE will be at The Ajijic Cultural Center to provide services to voters.

Sofia Medeles (Ajijic,Jal.) – Personnel from the National Electoral Institute (INE) will be at the Ajijic Cultural Center (CCA) for citizens to renew, process, or replace their voter credentials. 

The INE will be open at the CCA from November 24 to 29 (except for the weekend days of November 27th and 28th). They will be open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Tokens for appointments will be issued to citizens in order of arrival.

Translated by Amy Esperanto

In the photo, the actors playing  Don Paco and  the boy Emiliano,  in  the HBO series Mariachis.

Staff. The town of Chapala is one of the locations where the Warner Media series in production for HBO, tentatively named Mariachis, will be filmed, with the participation of singer and actor Pedro Fernández.

Filming will take place for 10 days in the town. Afterwards, filming will begin on another series by HBO, called Pancho Villa, also set to be filmed in part in Chapala, according to production personnel.

Translated by Dee Lynn

Photo: St. Andrew Catholic Church. 

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- With no fields to sow and no cows to herd in Ajijic, the farmers’ guild, once one of the strongest of the nine guilds, is now one of the hardest hit in the Ajijic’s patron saint festivities.

The festivities in honor of San Andrés Apóstol are held from November 22 to 30 In the Parish of San Andrés Apóstol, where the patron saint of Ajijic is located. 

Semanario Laguna spoke with one of the members (of the guild. Ramona Díaz, receiving the media outside her house hiding her hands to protect herself from the cold, nostalgically commented that her membership in the guild is because she inherited it from her father, who inherited it from her grandfather. Senora Diaz acknowledged that the guild is one of those that has been fading the most with time.

«It used to be a robust day because there was a lot of farming and ranching, but the guild members have been doing less and less. Today there are fewer than 25 of us who cooperate, and there is no longer anywhere to plant or have livestock, that is why the festivities have been lost,» she mentioned while raising her voice a little to be able to stand out among the noise of trucks and cars passing by outside her home.

She went on to say that the only thing left is the name, because only memories of this trade remain, and they will probably be those of this last generation. «I don’t think I will pass it on to my children, because they are no longer committed to the faith or to the profession. Not only my children, many young people no longer approach religion today.»

She said that another important factor in the lack of participation not only in her guild, but in all the guilds,is the diminished  the day of the youth which  is a colorful day with a lot of celebration in other areas, but here it is different, because they have been leaving aside religion and customs, they only see the celebration.»

Looking to the side, she recalls a tradition that is basically lost, in which the guild on the following day, made a small procession with lanterns to get to the last mass of the day which represented that they were receiving their day. They called this the «entrada.» «It would be nice if those of us who participate in the guilds could agree to wear a shawl and wear our tresses, so we could show more of our traditions and roots.»

Finally, she called on the community of Ajijic, adults, youth and children, to get more involved in the traditions that remain since, with pride, she says it is part of what makes Ajijic magical. «Another one I remember is the battle of the roses -men giving roses to women during the dances in the plaza. It was nice and fun. It should be done again and we could motivate them, for example, by giving a prize to the one with the most roses. Let’s not let the traditions that made us what we are die.»

Translated by Sydney Metrick

St. Andrew Catholic Church.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- With no fields to sow and no cows to herd in Ajijic, the farmers’ guild, once one of the strongest of the nine guilds, is now one of the hardest hit in the Ajijic’s patron saint festivities.

The festivities in honor of San Andrés Apóstol are held from November 22 to 30 In the Parish of San Andrés Apóstol, where the patron saint of Ajijic is located. 

Semanario Laguna spoke with one of the members (of the guild. Ramona Díaz, received the media outside her house hiding her hands to protect herself from the cold, nostalgically commented that her membership in the guild is because she inherited it from her father, who inherited it from her grandfather. Senora Diaz acknowledged that the guild is one of those that has been fading the most with time.

«It used to be a robust day because there was a lot of farming and ranching, but the guild members have been doing less and less. Today there are fewer than 25 of us who cooperate, and there is no longer anywhere to plant or have livestock, that is why the festivities have been lost,» she mentioned while raising her voice a little to be able to stand out among the noise of trucks and cars passing by outside her home.

She went on to say that the only thing left is the name, because only memories of this trade remain, and they will probably be those of this last generation. «I don’t think I will pass it on to my children, because they are no longer committed to the faith or to the profession. Not only my children, many young people no longer approach religion today.»

She said that another important factor in the lack of participation not only in her guild, but in all the guilds,is the diminished  the day of the youth which  is a colorful day with a lot of celebration in other areas, but here it is different, because they have been leaving aside religion and customs, they only see the celebration.»

Looking to the side, she recalls a tradition that is basically lost, in which the guild on the following day, made a small procession with lanterns to get to the last mass of the day which represented that they were receiving their day. They called this the «entrada.» «It would be nice if those of us who participate in the guilds could agree to wear a shawl and wear our tresses, so we could show more of our traditions and roots.»

Finally, she called on the community of Ajijic, adults, youth and children, to get more involved in the traditions that remain since, with pride, she says it is part of what makes Ajijic magical. «Another one I remember, is the battle of the roses -men giving roses to women during the dances in the plaza. It was nice and fun. It should be done again and we could motivate them, for example, by giving a prize to the one with the most roses. Let’s not let the traditions that made us what we are die.»

Translated by Sydney Metrick.