Latas conmemorativas por la celebración de los 200 años de Jalisco. Foto: Gobierno de Jalisco. 

Redacción.- En el marco de las celebraciones de los 200 años de Jalisco, el Gobierno estatal, en coordinación con el Grupo Modelo, presentaron el 9 de junio la cerveza Estrella de Jalisco, conmemorativa por los festejos del bicentenario.  

Las latas conmemorativas constan de cuatro diseños emblemáticos representantes de la identidad de Jalisco en el mundo: el Mariachi, la Minerva, la Charrería y el Agave.  

‘’Es un momento para brindar en el estado porque estamos celebrando los 200 años de Jalisco y de verdad nos sumamos a esta celebración me refiero a nuestra cerveza, Estrella. Nos sumamos a esta fiesta con la producción de algo especial, son cuatro latas conmemorativas coleccionables que tienen la identidad visual que fuimos trabajando en equipo y que darán un gran salto a esta celebración y que sin duda están a la altura de estos 200 años y de este gran Estado que es Jalisco’’, destacó Jesús Adrián Cedillo, Gerente Regional de Ventas de grupo Modelo.

Por su parte, Raúl Escalante, Vicepresidente Legal y de Asuntos Corporativos de Grupo Modelo señaló que Grupo Modelo está por cumplir casi 100 años desde su fundación. 

“Hoy somos orgullosos miembros de la cervecera más grande del mundo. ¿Qué es lo que más nos llena de orgullo de esto? Entre otras cosas, que nos ha permitido llevar el talento mexicano en formato líquido a más de 150 países. Ese talento, como el de los jaliscienses que están detrás de nuestra emblemática Cerveza Estrella de Jalisco, que hoy deleita a millones de personas más allá de nuestras fronteras’’.

Virgen de Guadalupe de la parroquia de San Andrés Apóstol. Foto: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles.- Una de las imágenes que se encuentra dentro de la parroquia de San Andrés Apóstol, pese a tener un peso histórico, hoy en día se encuentra deteriorada. Se trata de la imagen de la Virgen de Guadalupe, que se encuentra a un costado del altar principal. 

Según datos, se trata de una pintura al óleo y, aunque no se cuenta con datos del autor, esta provendría del siglo XVIII, que comprende desde el año 1700 al 1799. El daño se encuentra en la capa pictórica, requiriendo una restauración.

El deterioro ya se puede percibir a simple vista. Foto: Sofía Medeles.

“Sí se puede restaurar, si en algún momento hay una propuesta o proyecto para hacerlo. Por sus características y elementos, esta pintura probablemente viene del siglo XVIII, y aunque no hay mucha información sobre quien la trajo, de donde, y no hay firma de autor visible, es una de las joyas de la parroquia, por su calidad, y su antigüedad”, aseguró un historiador entrevistado.

Una adulta mayor de la población, identificada como Cuquis, comentó que alguna vez en misa un padre explicó su origen, del cual, solo pudo recordar el lugar donde se encontraba. “No recuerdo que padre la trajo, ni en qué año, solo sé que antes estaba en la Catedral de Guadalajara”, mencionó.

Blanca, otra mujer de Ajijic, compartió que la Virgen está desde que tiene memoria, teniendo su primer recuerdo vívido de una misa en el año 1986, cuando acompañó por primera vez a su mamá a misa en la delegación. “Siempre ha estado y desde que la vi por primera vez, me pareció imponente”.

Por su parte, Sara, una catequista del poblado, comentó que esa Virgen “ha estado presente desde siempre”, y como la incluían en la evangelización de los pequeños, señalando que cuando estaban frente a la imagen, les decían que cerraran los ojos, y ellos decían que la sentían como una mamá.

Hoy en día, la imagen continúa en el mismo lugar desde que llegó, tras un grueso cristal para preservarla, cuyo marco fue recientemente restaurado y recubierto con láminas de oro. 

Frida, la perra labrador falleció a los 13 años de edad. Foto: SEMAR. 

Redacción.- Frida, la perrita rescatista de la Secretaría de Marina de México (SEMAR) quien participó en la localización de víctimas en el terremoto de septiembre de 2017, falleció el martes 15 de noviembre.

Frida, quien representó la esperanza de muchas personas en aquella catástrofe que asoló al país, participó en el rescate de 12 personas y 40 cuerpos de entre los escombros. 

“Querida Frida, aunque tu partida nos duele, hoy la Familia Naval promete honrar tu memoria, actuando bajo el legado que nos enseñaste: «nobleza, lealtad y amor.» Gracias por servir a México, siempre vivirás en nuestros corazones”, lamentó la Secretaría de Marina en su cuenta de twitter. 

La perra de raza labradora había cumplido 13 años, se jubiló desde el 2019 de la Armada de México, dedicando al menos nueve como rescatista al servicio de la Secretaría de Marina de la ciudad de México donde se le edificó una estatua en bronce en su honor.

El entrenamiento de la perra labrador inició desde su nacimiento en el 2019 en el cual Frida demostró aptitudes “muy destacadas” según los informes de la Marina. La primera misión de la can fue en el 2010, en Haití, después del terremoto que dañó la isla y varias personas desaparecidas, pero fue en el terremoto de México que se ganó el corazón de toda la nación donde participó en al menos 53 operativos.

La Generala visitará Chapala para bendecir el lago el domingo 10 de julio. Foto: Archivo. 

Redacción.- Bajo el lema “Custodia nuestra Vida entre tus brazos”, la Virgen de Zapopan visitará Chapala este domingo 10 de julio. 

La visita 67 de la Generala al Lago de Chapala dará inicio a las 10:30 de la mañana con la recepción de la imagen en en la entrada del municipio por la carretera a Guadalajara, a la altura de la gasolinera. 

Programa de la visita 67 de la Virgen de Zapopan a Chapala. Foto: Facebook.

De ahí, la Virgen será trasladada en un carro alegórico hasta el malecón, donde a las 11:30 se hará la bendición del lago en la espera de un buen temporal de lluvias, para posteriormente celebrar la Eucaristía en la parroquia de San Francisco de Asís, ceremonia que será presidida por el Cardenal Francisco Robles Ortega. 

El lunes 11 de julio a las 09:30 a.m. la Virgen de Zapopan navegará por las aguas del Lago de Chapala para visitar la Isla de los Alacranes. 

Luego del recorrido, la Generala regresará a la parroquia alrededor de las 12:00 del mediodía y las 04:00 de la tarde se celebrará la misa de despedida. Finalmente, a las 04:45 se cantará el Salve para iniciar su retorno a la Basílica de Zapopan.

Juan Olivares «Juanito» – July 12, 1944 – May 28, 2022. Credit: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- One of Ajijic’s first and most prolific photographers, Juan «Juanito» Olivares, died last Saturday, May 28, 2022. He is survived by his wife Alicia Morales from Ajijic, and three children: Aquiles, Imelda, and Judith. He  leaves behind a historical photo narrative covering almost his entire life

He was born on July 12, 1944 in Ajijic. His parents were Antonio Olivares and Romana Sánchez. In an interview from two years ago, Juanito said that he began his artistic career before his 20th birthday, with a plastic arts course. He used photography to improve his drawing technique, but soon photography became his main medium. Of his success, he explained, «when I was doing well, I would print up to 300 photos. When I started, the photos cost 50 centavos, and they went up to 75 centavos, one peso, two, three, and so on until they cost what they cost today.»

With his steadily increasing reputation, he became a fixture at town festivities, and important celebrations throughout the town. During this interview, he nostalgically mentioned how his work as a photographer was devalued over time, due to the advent of cell phones. Even so, he continued painting and making signs and small landscapes for businesses in town. Until the end of his days he remained in love with his little town of Ajijic, «the landscapes have changed a lot because of the development, but it is still beautiful every moment of the day.”

His collection included photos of old hammocks, fishermen, the lakeshore when it still had no pier, no boardwalk, and other landscapes of many iconic Ajijic sites. Some of what he photographed remains today, but much has disappeared; his body of work is art and history. He photographed traditions that are now almost extinct, such as the Day of the Cross, and the Day of the Altars of Sorrows.

Translated by Amy Esperanto

Jesús María Higuera Hernández, born on March 1, 1951, passed away at the age of 71 on May 22, 2022. Photo: Facebook.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Beloved Ajijic personality Jesús María Higuera Hernández, known as Katuza, was recognized worldwide, not only for his artistic skill, but for being a spiritual master and revolutionary man every day of his life.

Born on March 1, 1951, he grew up in Ajijic in a family originally from the town.  Later he would travel to Canada to start a restaurant. After a few years abroad, he decided to return to his hometown after succumbing to excessive drinking.

Katuza, pictured performing a ritual in Porter’s music video «Palapa». Photo: YouTube.

Upon his return, according to one of his closest friends, Daniel Palma, he continued excessive drinking, until he had a scare that made him forswear alcohol. After this, he became interested in the Huichol culture and their pilgrimage of «La Cruz».  Joining them he learned about dance, healing, spiritual rituals and temazcal (sweat lodge), and received the title of marakame (one who merges art and culture) by the Wixárika community.

One of the skills for which he was most recognized was the temazcal, an ancestral healing ritual connected to the sweat lodge. One of his students, Luis Ríos, shared that with his apprentices, Katuza was always very firm, with a strong and sincere character, which surprised many, and alienated many others.

«He handled the traditional Mexican temazcal with burnt brick, mud and his own hands. He fought so much that he lost the sense of the temazcal. It moves with love and with love people are healed. The temazcal goes deeper, cleanses your being, your soul, and returns the essence of why we are alive, that’s how he taught me,» Luis said.

Katuza during a cleansing he performed at the Municipal Government Palace, in 2016. Photo: Facebook.

He performed dozens of temazcals not only in Chapala, but also throughout México and even Europe. National and international people became interested in him because of his rituals. Several of his acquaintances said that he was always traveling to continue learning and cultivating his skills, which is why he was portrayed in articles in media around the world, such as the New York Times.

«Once, some friends of mine were looking for this kind of healing. I took them to Katuza because he did what they were looking for. After they left, they told me that, in healing them, he was very specific with each one, ridding them of what ailed them, without having to mention it to them. They were very surprised, that’s why they recognized him as the medicine man,» Daniel Palma shared.

One of his wood and leather drum courses in the main square of Ajijic. Photo: Facebook.

As for his artistic side, his friend and colleague Daniel said that he handled wood and stone in a very rustic way, and his main creations portrayed lizards and iguanas.

Jesús María passed away last Sunday, May 22, at the age of 71. Many of his friends and acquaintances bid him farewell with a mass and small rituals.

He was a man who is a legend of the people Ajijic who is described with multiple titles: shaman, teacher, friend, artist, tyrant, and who inspired dozens of writings, songs, and videos that captured his eccentric life. One of those is a fragment of the song “Pájaro Rojo”, by Erick de Jesús Ocelotl:

Bajando luces de otros tiempos

Between the moon and the cold 

Goes a marakame marking dreams

And the whispers of a child 

[…]

Because you 

You paint wings to my senses

And I 

Smiling at your madness I tell you

[…]

Katuza is on an uncertain journey 

Red bird red bird friend 

Don’t forget what I say 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

Jesús María Higuera Hernández «Katuza» in his temazcal (sweat lodge). He passed away last Sunday at the age of 68. Photo: Facebook.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- «Katuza», one of the most iconic characters of Ajijic passed away last Sunday, May 22 at the age of 68, leaving an artistic and spiritual legacy in  Ajijic..

«Katuza» was the local name by which Jesús María Híguera Hernández was known since he was young. He was born on March 1, 1954 to a family from Ajijic. He studied in both Ajijic and Chapala, graduating as an accountant in the municipal capital, in the school known as «la academia de las monjas» (the nuns’ academy).

He never practiced his profession. He had a restaurant in Canada and later returned to México to begin his career as an artist, sculptor and shaman, being his marakame name – people who heal with traditional Huichol methods of the region,  Cehuia Ilhuiac Marakame.

His relatives and acquaintances described him as a sincere man who said things as he thought them and disliked people who acted hypocritically, and as very spiritual and ahead of his time. «He spoke as he was told,» said one of his sisters.

He died last Sunday, May 22, of a heart attack. In the next edition of Semanario Laguna, we will publish his complete profile, his history, and his work in the town of Ajijic.

Translate by Patrick O’Heffernan

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

Bertha Mendoza Díaz professes great fervor to the image of the Lord of Huaje

María del Refugio Reynozo Medina.- Seventy-three-year-old Bertha Mendoza Díaz is originally from Jocotepec. She and her brother Cándido Mendoza Díaz grew up seeing the loving devotion to the Lord of Huaje by their parents. The Lord of Huaje is one of the two sacred images of Christ revered in Jocotopec. The other is the Lord of the Mountain.

Their father, Cirilo Mendoza Valencia, one of Jocotepec’s artisan woodworkers taught the trade to Cándido. Cándido, in addition to being a woodworker, is a musician and has been a high school art teacher for 24 years.

Bertha Mendoza Díaz talks about the testimonies of faith.

Because of his great devotion, Cirilo Mendoza always wanted to be one of the organizers of the feast of the Lord of Huaje. Around 1970 he heard that it would be the last year that the Lord of Huaje would be celebrated due to lack of economic resources. 

Don Cirilo went to the parish of Señor del Monte (Lord of the Mountain) to ask to borrow some banners and candlesticks because the precinct of the Lord of Huaje did not have any.

Don Cirilo asked the priest permission to borrow what he needed. The priest told him, “If any of the things are lost, you will pay for them. Don Cirilo replied, “If it is necessary for me to stay and sleep with him, I will.» 

Cándido Mendoza Díaz is a laborer, musician, high school art teacher and professes a love for the Lord of Huaje instilled by his parents.

On the evening of the eve of the feast, a group of helpers set out to close the door when the decorating was finished. The door remained stuck open and could not be closed, even with the help of the others. Don Cirilo remembered that he had promised to stay overnight with the Lord. His sympathetic helpers, Ángel Paz, Benito Inés and Catarino Olmedo went to get their personal items to join Don Cirilo for a sleepless night.  When they returned, ready to settle in, they tried to close the heavy wooden gate one more time. Before everyone’s eyes, the gate closed. “He was testing us,» said one of the helpers.

The first celebrations that honored this Christ were only two days: Saturday and Sunday occurring the days after the January feast. Then the celebration of a novena (nine-day prayers and celebration) was added.

Mrs. Bertha continued with her love for the image of Lord Huaje and was very close to the activities of the temple. Although in the temple a loving contemplation was not always experienced.  She remembers a priest named Emeterio Romo, whose actions were very strange.  He was allergic to flowers. He used to say, why are you having so many parties?”  When he was asked to authorize a party, he was reluctant.

“They are our images of Christ,» the women would tell him. 

On one occasion in 1975 Bertha found out that a meeting was being held to change the date of the feast.  She and other people did not agree and tried to prevent it. In the end, the celebration date was changed to the current one in May.  But the first year of the change they celebrated in January and May. 

Mrs. Bertha jealously guards all the images of the Lord of Huaje that come into her hands

That last January celebration has been referred to as the feast of the excommunicated, referring to the people who participated in it. The first time the celebration was held in May, the organizers sent a summons to the organizers of the January celebration, through the presidency, so that they could borrow the platform. Tempers flared and the two groups were fighting for the platform. The platform was shared and that year the Lord of Huaje had two celebrations and many faithful gathered around the image.

Many stories are shared about this Christ figure. Someone once said that he opened his lips. Some say that sometimes it becomes very heavy to carry him.  Or that sometimes the photos taken of him do not come out.

One time a man promised some banners, but he did not pay for them. One afternoon someone came to the man’s house carrying some banners. “Here are the ordered banners,» he said, and he asked for payment.

Mrs. Bertha professes great love for this crucified man and talks closely with him. On one occasion, her granddaughter had a pickup truck stolen. «Why?» she thought and questioned inwardly; «it was the truck or you,» she heard in her heart.

On one occasion, she thought it was all over, she was diagnosed with a tumor, and the need for intervention was urgent. Before leaving for the hospital, Bertha threw herself at the feet of the crucified one begging for her health. When she was in the hospital undergoing clinical examinations, the doctors found nothing malignant. In her heart, she understood that it was Him. “Do I love Him?” she says to me.

“Do I want it?” she says with a faraway look. “Oh, what if I don’t love him!” she says with a frank smile, very close to tears. “I have not only heard about him since I was in  my mother’s womb. I have lived and loved him.” 

Translated by Nita Rudy

Altar a la Virgen Dolorosa at Carlos Esparza Urzúa’s house, Miguel Martínez street, corner with 5 de Mayo.

Staff. – Mounting altars in honor of the Virgen de los Dolores is a tradition that has been waning over time at Lakeside; however, in the municipal capital of Chapala, a group of neighbors from the neighborhood of La Purísima, led by Carlos Ernesto Esparza Urzúa, keep the flame alive. 

For 15 years now, Esparza Urzúa has been motivating his neighbors to make the altars. When it’s time to organize, «I ask and I tell them to do, and if they don’t want to do it, I’ll do it,» he exclaimed. With few or many members, he continues with the customs that his mother instilled in him. 

In spite of the fact that other years the tradition was celebrated «in a big way,» with personifications of girls dressed in black and much more cooperation from neighbors from other streets, the participation was reduced during the pandemic.  

This year, Esparza Urzua set up the main altar inside his house, on Miguel Martinez Street. The neighbors on 5 de Mayo Street supported him with three more. The group of ten people prayed a rosary at each altar and then, in accord with the tradition, asked, «Has the Virgin already cried?» In response, they received a glass of water, which represents the tears of the Virgin.

Carlos has kept images of the Virgin of Dolores for three generations, placed in the center of the altar, accompanied by a metal cross. His mother taught him to add a ladder representing the moment when Jesus returns to heaven, in addition to placing nails and hammer to represent objects used during the crucifixion.

The dice also symbolize the soldiers fighting for his tunic; the rooster that crowed when Peter, the apostle, denied Jesus three times; and white doves that represent peace. 

Carlos Estrada Urzúa uses in his altar the colors purple and blue as a symbol of mourning, and regional plants such as clam, chamomile, birdseed and clover, the latter representing the Trinity. 

In previous years the altars were kept up all night. However, security is no longer the same and things are stolen, said one of the neighbors, and as a result they dismantle their altars between 10:00 and midnight.

Finally, Carlos’ neighbors, who have grown as a family, will support him in setting up the Tended Christ outside his house, starting at 8:00 p.m. until the end of the March of Silence on April 15, Good Friday. 

Translated by Sandy Britton