September 21, 2007, Cont. from front page, Fiestas Patrias in San Miguel de Allende, September 21-30, 2007, Adios, San Miguelada, R.I.P., By Jesús Ibarra, First step to solve problems in rural communities, By Jesús Ibarra

A commission led by City Hall secretary Cristóbal Finkelstein Franyutti, along with a team of experts headed by historian Francisco Javier López Morales, began assembling the necessary applications for San Miguel de Allende and the shrine at Atotonilco in 2004.

Finkelstein noted that the main criteria for selection include authenticity, integrity and outstanding universal value.

The conditions of authenticity are defined within the World Heritage Convention’s operational guidelines as follows: “Depending on the type of cultural heritage, and its cultural context, properties may … be understood to meet the conditions of authenticity if their cultural values are truthfully and credibly expressed through a variety of attributes, including design, material, workmanship, setting, traditions, techniques, language and other forms of intangible heritage, as well as spirit and feeling.” Integrity is defined as “a measure of the wholeness and intactness of the natural and/or cultural heritage and its attributes.” To determine a site’s integrity, it is necessary to assess “the extent to which the site includes all elements necessary to express its outstanding universal value; is of adequate size to ensure the complete representation of the features and processes which convey the site’s significance; and suffers from adverse effects of development and/or neglect.”

A singular city

“San Miguel is a wonderful, unique Mexican city that cannot be compared to Guanajuato or Querétaro, which are capitals. It has its own great personality. There is no other town in Mexico as stately as San Miguel de Allende,” said Javier Villalobos, president of ICOMOS in Mexico. The International Council of Monuments and Sites is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization whose main objectives are conservation and restoration, and it is the main UNESCO organization in charge of cultural heritage sites. Villalobos sees San Miguel as having all the requisite characteristics to be added to UNESCO’s prestigious listing (see Atención, July 20, 2007).

Finkelstein echoes the point that San Miguel is unique in that it is the first small Mexican city to be considered for World Heritage status that is not a seat of state government. “The list of cultural heritage sites is replete with historical downtowns and colonial cities, so we have to show that we are not just one more city with a historical downtown—that we are different,” he said.

Preserving cultural heritage

According to Finkelstein, other important considerations of ICOMOS and UNESCO are how a site procures and manages resources for preserving and maintaining its cultural heritage and whether there is a good relationship among the different levels of government and between the government and the community at large.

The program Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Towns), which provides federal, state and local funds, is one source from which the local government draws resources to maintain and preserve the historical buildings in San Miguel.

To improve the chances that the shrine at Atotonilco will also be named a World Heritage site, the local government is working to relocate the itinerant vendors who currently sell their wares in front of the church. “It will cause some disagreement, but it has to be done to enhance the image of the city,” said Finkelstein. “We are also restoring some murals and the shrine’s façade with the support of the “Adopt an Artwork” program, headed by Roberto Burillo.”

Finkelstein added that next year, through a joint effort of the government, the community and civic organizations such as Fluviales de Vida, a new sewage system and water treatment plant will be built at Atotonilco. This is in keeping with UNESCO’s concern for the natural environment in addition to a site’s cultural significance.

He also commented that anyone who wants to build a housing development or mount other construction projects in the area will have to prove a benefit to the community. “If there is no benefit, no permit will be granted,” he said.

Where do we stand?

According to Finkelstein, the application process for World Heritage status for San Miguel is going well. “At the end of the year, the executive council of ICOMOS will meet to analyze the files and make a recommendation to the UNESCO panel,” said Finkelstein, who added that San Miguel has the advantage that some of the decision makers will have visited the city and some are from Latin America. “Reading through a file without knowing the place is not the same as visiting a site and knowing its culture,” he commented.

Meanwhile, the local government has been promoting San Miguel’s bid by inviting international authorities and experts to the city. Two ICOMOS members, Michael Petzet (international ICOMOS president) and Alfredo Conti (president of ICOMOS in Argentina), have been to San Miguel twice. An international congress titled “New Views to Authenticity and Integrity in the World Heritage of the Americas,” organized by INAH, ICOMOS, the UNESCO World Heritage Center, the Getty Conservation Institute, the World Monument Fund and Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez (Bellas Artes), was held in San Miguel in August 2005. ICOMOS authorities were also invited to San Miguel for the presentation of a book based on that meeting by López Morales.

UNESCO’s 10 selection criteria

(from “Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention”)

i. to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;

ii. to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;

iii. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;

iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;

v. to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;

vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);

vii. to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;

viii. to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;

ix. to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;

x. to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of properties are also important considerations.

Fiestas Patrias in San Miguel de Allende, September 21-30, 2007

Friday, September 21

5pm, Horse show, with horses of Pedro Domeq, Plaza de Toros de Oriente, Recreo, second block

6pm, San Miguel’s Fair opening, fairs facilities, behind Presidencia, Salida a Querétaro. (Fair will open at 6pm from Monday to Thursday, at 2pm on Fridays and at midday on weekends)

Saturday, September 22

12pm, Basketball match, Parque Juárez, Diezmo Viejo & Prolongación Aldama

4pm, Bullfight, Plaza de Toros de Oriente, Recreo, second block

9pm, Pop concert, Jesse & Joy, Fair facilities, behind Presidencia building, Salida a Querétaro

Sunday, September 23

1pm, Music, Jardín

7pm, Music, Jardín

9pm, Rock & Roll concert, Locos del Ritmo, Fair facilities, behind Presidencia building, Salida a Querétaro

Thursday, September 27

10am, Civic act, commemorating the end of the Independence war, Casa de las Conspiraciones, Plaza Principal & Relox

8pm, Violin concert, in honor of Saint Michael Archangel, Jardín

9pm, Rock concert, Panteón Rococó, Fair facilities, behind Presidencia building, Salida a Querétaro.

Friday, September 28

10am, Civic act, honoring El Pípila, Jardín

5:15pm, Pilgrimage, from Colonia La Aurora, La Parroquia, in front of the Jardín.

7pm, Concert, San Miguel composers, Plaza Cívica, Mesones

12am, Mañanitas, for Saint Michael Archangel, Parroquia, opposite the Jardín

Saturday, September 29

3am, Processions, from Valle del Maíz, La Aurora, with stars, mojgangas, rockets and fireworks, from Calle Núñez to Jardín

4am, Alborada, fireworks and rockets, Jardín

6am, Mañanitas, for Saint Michael Archangel, Parroquia, opposite the Jardín

8-11am, Pre-Hispanic dances, Jardín

11am, Mass for Saint Michael Archangel, Horse ride of San Martín, Parroquia

1pm, Voladores de Papantla, Jardín

2pm, Burning of cardboard “monitos”, Plaza Principal, in front the Jardín

3pm, Offerings for Santa Cruz del Cuarto, Crucero Calzada de la Estación

4pm, Pre-Hispanic dances, Calzada de la Estación

5pm, Entrance of Xúchiles, Main streets, to Jardín

7pm, Pre-Hispanic dances, Jardín and Plaza Cívica, Mesones

8pm, Voladores de Papantla, Jardín

9pm, Fireworks, Jardín

Sunday, September 30

7-9am, Pre-Hispanic dancers, Jardín and Plaza Cívica, Mesones

11am, Parade, pre-Hispanic dances, mojigangas, burn of fireworks and “Castillo,” from Ancha de San Antonio to Parroquia

1pm, Pre-Hispanic dances, to honor Fray Juan de San Miguel, in front of the Parroquia

3-7pm, Voladores de Papantla, Jardín

9pm, Fireworks, Jardín

Adios, San Miguelada, R.I.P.
By Jesús Ibarra

After 33 years San Miguel’s most controversial event, the Sanmiguelada (Running of the bulls), was cancelled due to concerns over security and the possible impact on the city’s bid to be named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Although the event was a money maker for local bars and restaurants, the outrageous behavior of crowds of unruly alcohol-drenched “juniors” could no longer be defended by arguments of economic benefits. In June this year Mayor Jesus Correa publicly cancelled this tradition held the third weekend in September. Since the announcement the city has received letters of congratulations from international animal rights organizations.

The cancellation was widely publicized by national media. Cristóbal Finkelstein, City Hall secretary, said that news of the cancellation was spread through Televisa and TVAzteca, as well as the main newspapers in the country and through several interviews Mayor Correa has had on different national radio stations. “Everybody, even abroad, knows there is no Sanmiguelada. We have even received letters from the United States and Europe, congratulating us for having made the decision,” said Finkelstein. “Festivities, culture and life in San Miguel go on, but not this event. We expect a lot of people during that weekend, but a controllable amount. For security reasons, no events will be allowed in public squares. We have asked the restaurant owners to promote events inside their businesses to attract tourism.”

Finkesltein added that there will be security checkpoints at the city’s entrances and they will be prepared in case of incidents.

History

The first Sanmiguelada was in 1973. During the first years, the event was held the first Saturday of October. Atención’s Friday, October 8, 1976 issue published the first note about Sanmiguelada: “The running of the bulls through the streets of San Miguel was initiated by the Peña Taurina, whose president is Javier Espino, secretary Melchor Larrea, and treasurer Javier Rodríguez. This is the fourth year of this event…they decided to rent six cows weighing about 300 kilos each, from the Ranch of Vallumbroso. Except for two of these animals, the rest appeared to be extremely weak and fell to the ground without being able to get up, immediately after being freed from their crates.”

Later, during the eighties it began to be held on the last weekend of September. Organizers finally settled on the third Saturday of September.

Ten years ago, on September 22, 1997, Atención published an article by T. Kelley, which said, “When first released the magnificent animals—a bit confused—take a few seconds to size up their tormentors who’ve gathered around the cattle trucks shaking tablecloths and curtains. Then they charge. Suddenly pandemonium breaks out; with screaming people running as fast as they can in all directions. But there are only two directions: up the street or down it. There is no climbing over a barricade or up a tree or a pole because those are already occupied. There is no safe place. All you can do is run or press yourself into the shallow recess of a doorway and take your chances.”

Through the years, several people were injured in different Sanmigueladas, but 2000 was a special year because it cost a human life. On October 2, 2000, Atención published “125 people wounded during Sanmiguelada,” an article by Eva Merkel: “The young man hit by the bull during the Sanmiguelada (running of the bulls) last week is still hovering between life and death after undergoing operations on his lungs, liver and kidneys. Manuel Cacho, 22, was one of the 125 people wounded during the Sanmiguelada.”

Manuel Cacho died some days later. Susan Roettinger, in “Death of a young man,” said “The recent and tragic death of Manuel Cacho, who was only 22 years old, due to injuries sustained at the Sanmiguelada, has focused the attention of many people in the community on the annual event of running the bulls. I believe that it is time for all of us to take a serious look at an event that does not represent what San Miguel de Allende means to us, its inhabitants. Nor does this event reflect the historical significance or cultural achievement of San Miguel de Allende” (Atención, October 30, 2000).

This year, on Saturday, September 29, the nearby city of Salvatierra will adopt the Sanmiguelada with the name Marquesada (see Atención, July 27).

Rodrigo Carrasco, head of the Public Relations Department of Salvatierra and in charge of the organization of the Marquesada, said that the event will be supported by 300 public security elements from the municipalities of Yuriria, Celaya, Acámbaro, Maravatío, Cortazar and Villa Corregidora in Querétaro, as well as the state police and the army. Carrasco said sale of alcoholic beverages outside established businesses will be prohibited and this will be enforced by army operatives.

According to Carrasco, the event will not only include the running of the bulls, but cultural events such as concerts and an exhibition of pictures by artist Francisco de Goya with bullfight motifs. A “Goyesque” bullfight will be in homage to the one held each year in Plaza Las Ventas in Madrid.

Carrasco said 25–30 thousand people are expected over the four-day weekend from Thursday, September 27 to Sunday, September 30. “On Saturday, September 29, the day of the running of the bulls, we expect 15–20 thousand people,” said Carrasco, who added that the city expects an income of ten million pesos. “Salvatierra does not have the hotel capacity for lodging so many people. However, we have adapted big houses to receive the visitors,” explained Carrasco.

Excerpts from letters by international organizations congratulating Mayor Jesus Correa on canceling the Sanmiguelada.

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

Dear Mr. Mayor Jesús Correa and Honorable City Council:

On behalf of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, I would like to congratulate you for taking a strong position in support of animal welfare by canceling the Sanmiguelada running of the bulls that has been a part of your city’s annual celebration for many years.

… With the rise of violence, both toward the animals and toward fellow participants, during the Sanmiguelada you have made the most compassionate decision: the link between cruelty to animals and violence towards humans is too strong to be ignored.

Allan Komberg, MD
Executive Director

Frente Antitaurino (Front against bullfights)

Dear Mayor Correa:

… This is an excellent opportunity, not only for your city but for the entire country, to have such a privilege (to be named UNESCO Cultural Heritage). Please, do not allow continuance of such atavistic tradition to deprive Mexico of such important recognition. Let’s demonstrate to the world that Mexico is a civilized country, where we disapprove of injury and human losses, as well as the mistreatment of animals. With that, we can keep growing as a nation and be an example to other countries.

Lic. Gustavo Larios Velasco
Spokesman

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Mayor Jesús Correa:

… I would like to thank you on the part of all of our members and of all those concerned about the issue, for having cancelled the Sanmiguelada or running of the bulls for this year. We would like to urgently invite you to forbid permanently this event, which is deeply cruel.

Hannah Schein
Head of the Captive Animals Department

The local government has taken some significant steps in order to address numerous challenges (social, economic, housing, health) experienced by the rural communities in the municipality around San Miguel de Allende and to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

The municipal government has hired a group of consultant architects,—Sandra Pérez Melesio, Guadalupe Horta, Juan Carlos Martínez Hernández, Luis Martín, and Lourdes Murillo—who have divided the municipality into seven zones or micro regions to better facilitate this analysis.

The first micro region is the urban area and was not included in the study. The second micro region at the northwestern part of the municipality includes 23 communities such as Cruz del Palmar and La Cieneguita; region number three, also at the northwestern part, includes Atotonilco and Los Galvanes among 57 other communities. The colonial chapels along the Rio Laja basin and the bathing resorts (balnearios) are spread along these two areas, which made them an appropriate area for tourism development. One of the main problems detected in these micro regions is the isolation of some communities during the rainy season, when the level of the San Damián River rises.

Region number four is located at the northeastern part and includes Los Rodríguez and all the surrounding communities. Because of the heavy lean towards agriculture in this area, one of the main problems is contamination produced by the many small dairy farms that are not using healthy standards. Region number five includes the area of Corral de Piedras and Clavellinas, at the southeastern part of the municipality, between the road to Doctor Mora and the road to Querétaro. This is the area with the highest migration rate in the municipality. Region number six, also on the road to Querétaro but bordering the hills, includes the communities of Santas Marías, Puerto de Nieto, Cerritos, and Guadalupe de Támbula among 52 communities. This region has the particularity of having several old haciendas that, according to architect Martínez Hernández, should be preserved and restored. He also suggested that this is an appropriate region to develop a commercial area in order to generate job sources and businesses for th
e inhabitants.

Region number seven includes the communities among the hills in the southeastern border with Querétaro. This region is characterized by its abundance of natural resources and presence of wild flora and fauna and the incredible isolation of the communities, among which are Jalpa, La Campana, El Tigre and El Pinalillo. Architect Murillo mentioned that the church in Jalpa should be considered as part of the cultural heritage of the municipality.

Among the main problems in all the regions is the standard of health. In most of the micro regions, there are health centers in good conditions, but the doctors only attend once a month or less. Another common problem is the lack of sewage management in most of the communities. According to the architects, water and electricity services are available to between 70 and 99 percent of the inhabitants in the regions.

Ángel Gastélum, head of the Urban Development Department, said that this is the first step in order to achieve a better quality of life for all people in the rural communities.