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On September 16, 2010, Mexico will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Mexican Independence movement, which was born in San Miguel el Grande (today, San Miguel de Allende) and Dolores (now, Dolores Hidalgo). Also in 2010, the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the initiation of the movement to overthrow the government of Porfirio Díaz and turn the tide of Mexican politics. Both movements forged the current Mexico, which today, two years before 2010, is beginning to plan a huge celebration.
On June 16, 2007, the National Congress created a commission to organize events to celebrate the bicentennial of independence and the centennial of the Revolution in 2010. Heading the commission is a man who has a long history of promoting Mexican culture, Rafael Tovar y de Teresa; he was formerly head of CONACULTA (National Council for Culture and Arts), the highest-level cultural institution in Mexico.
On November 20, 2007, the commission presented President Felipe Calderón with a basic program encompassing 400 activities for the celebration. On January 17, Tovar y de Teresa visited the main cities in the state of Guanajuato in which the Independence movement was fomented: Dolores Hidalgo, San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. At a press conference in San Miguel, held in the former Presidencia building, Tovar y de Teresa explained the main points and objectives of this program and the ways in which it will benefit our city. He also suggested that a federally managed museum, different from the project recently chosen for the former Presidencia building, could be established in the historical building as part of the basic program’s activities in San Miguel.
The Basic Program
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Tovar y de Teresa explained that the basic program centers on four concepts: memories, diversity, creativity and the future. It is further divided into five thematic units: education, culture, health, science and technology, and sustainable biodiversity. |
“Its main purpose is to be a reference point for federal government actions that could lead state and municipal governments to initiate similar activities to benefit their states and municipalities,” said Tovar, who added that the program “establishes the necessity of seeing the future as a consequence of the past.” The program is flexible, allowing for enhancement as new ideas are generated.
The five objectives of the basic program are 1) to organize and execute programs that integrate the actions of the federal government with proposals from state and municipal governments, with the goal of giving Mexicans a deeper and wider acknowledge of their history; 2) to remember and illustrate the ideals and principles of the 1810 and 1910 social movements, as well as the actions and thoughts of illustrious Mexicans who contributed to building the nation; 3) to contribute to the opening of informational spaces so that visitors can learn more about the context, development and influence of the Independence and Revolution movements; 4) to invite both organized groups and individuals to participate in the celebration; and 5) to guarantee plurality, inclusivity and diversity.
The four conceptual aims
Memories: Includes publishing specialized studies and other works for different audiences in order to help Mexicans learn about their past and the process of the country’s development. It will also include a program to help libraries and historical public archives improve their services.
Diversity: Includes programs that will grant funds for cultural projects and for scientific, economic and social development and health awareness.
Creativity: Support for personal and collective creations in artistic, scientific, popular culture and sports areas.
Future: Forums on issues important to the future of Mexico, such as democracy, public security, sustainable development, jobs, education, equal opportunity, technology, environment and natural resources and other topics that could improve the life of Mexicans.
The thematic units
Education: Focused on students, teachers and parents, this unit includes the creation and promotion of new educational videos and printed educational material, specialized publications, contests, forums, congresses and teaching history through new technologies.
Culture: Focused on recovering and illuminating the past for new generations, this unit includes raising international awareness of Mexican culture; cultural activities throughout the country; exhibitions, contests and national fairs; and publication of reprinted historical books and translations.
Health: This unit focuses on promoting health and disease prevention and increasing health services for all Mexicans.
Science and technology: This unit includes widening the telecommunications network and information technology throughout the country; researching new sources of energy and sustainable development; forums and congresses; and scholarships for studies in other countries.
Sustainable biodiversity: This unit promotes conservation of environment and natural resources, protecting endangered species, reforestation, and forums and congresses.
The Bicentennial in San Miguel
“Guanajuato has a privileged place in the bicentennial celebrations. It is a state in which several historical events happened, so there will be special activities here,” said Tovar. “There are several historical monuments, and it is necessary to facilitate ways that people can get to know them.” He said that the program for San Miguel includes the renovation of squares and parks, along with historical routes and roads. He suggested the possibility of bringing a federal museum to the former Presidencia. “This building may be a good space for a museum; the cultural values and historical archives already exist. New technologies are very attractive to children and youths, so Mexican history could be told using modern technology.”
Cristóbal Finkelstein, city secretary, said that if it were possible to create a federal museum in the former Presidencia as part of the bicentennial celebration the project would be accepted because it would reduce expenses of the local government. The project would be coordinated with the recently approved museum proposed by archeologist Gabriela Zepeda and her team.
Local businesses work to improve quality
By Jesús Ibarra
Several business owners in San Miguel have chosen to take part in a program run by the federal tourism department called Moderniza. The program offers a means of managing tourism-related businesses to improve quality, competitiveness and profitability while increasing client satisfaction.
Moderniza focuses on creating improvements in four main areas: enhancing awareness of clients’ expectations; optimum use of resources of the enterprise; encouraging workers to contribute, reach their potential and remain competitive; and creating a management system that fosters timely and effective decision making.
Those who successfully complete this program are recognized by the federal tourism department with the designation “Distintivo M.”
In 2007, several San Miguel businesspeople took these courses, supported by funds from the federal economics department (182,800 pesos), the state Sustainable Economic Development Department (113,100 pesos) and the local Tourism, Economic Development and Foreign Relations Department (32,200 pesos). Each business paid 2,200 pesos to participate.
Eight hotels, six restaurants, one arts and crafts company, and two associations participated in the courses, but only 12 became certified. On January 11, the local government, represented by assistant mayor Rodolfo Jurado, acknowledged those businesses that achieved the Distintivo M: Hotel Refugio El Molino, Best Western Monteverde Express, La Puertecita Hotel, Doña Urraca Hotel, La Casa de Lisa Villas en el Parque, Mechicanos Resaturant Bar, Casa Payo Restaurant, La Princesa Restaurant Bar, CANIRAC (the restaurant owners’ association), San Miguel Tourism Council, and Exim Accesorios Decorativos (an arts and crafts company).
During the ceremony, which took place at the Hotel Doña Urraca, Jurado congratulated the representatives of each business. Maru Riba, head of CANIRAC and owner of La Princesa, gave a presentation on how her business has improved six months after joining Moderniza.
Seizing the opportunity, some of the representatives and business owners complained about the closing of streets for underground cable installation in front of their businesses. Jurado explained that the work has to be done when the funds arrive or the money will be lost. He promised to hold a meeting with the heads of the appropriate departments to try to lessen the economic losses of affected businesses.
Transportation and the impact on World Heritage Cities
By Gabriela Blanco
Coloquio Comunicación
Vial en Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad
Jan 30, 10am–7:30pm
Jan 31, 10am–3:30pm
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Mesones 82
When San Miguel was visited by the UNESCO committee in September to evaluate San Miguel’s application for World Heritage status, one of the largest concerns expressed was the impact traffic was having on the city roads and centro.
This conference, organized by Presidencia Municipal, intends to find solutions and evaluate different techniques to solve these problems. Many national and international experts have been invited to assist and guide the city, the idea being that shared experiences and background will create a productive learning environment.
Currently, the Department of Transit is conducting a study of roads with experts who will offer recommendations, and will offer data on parking demand, vehicular capacity and pedestrian facilities.
Director of Economic Development, Tourism and International Relations, Francisco Peyret invites the entire community to attend the conference and to actively participate in the round tables and the exchange of information. “We need feedback to develop a strategy for the municipality, which are discharged guidelines from the experts and the views and participation of the citizenry in general. If any citizen has knowledge about traffic solutions, they are encouraged to participate in the discussions” he said.
According to Ivar Schacke, who has been studying the traffic problems in San Miguel, “Anyone you talk to in San Miguel feels that we have traffic problems. Most people also feel that not much is done about it. That’s not true, the town council has done many things related to traffic and transport, but sometimes not the right things.”
According to Schacke, the main traffic problems are:
Cars are a threat to the environmental health of San Miguel. There are too many cars, which leads to the horrendous traffic jams on the main thoroughfares. In addition to traffic jams, the cars create noise and pollution in the narrow and otherwise pleasant streets.
Parking along many streets does not provide for a pleasing view of the historical area. There are two well-designed lots— the almost empty one on Cardo and the recently constructed lot on Insurgentes, which is seldom lit and whose parking spaces are too small.
Walking is not easy everywhere. Frequently, the sidewalks are far too narrow for two people to pass comfortably and in many places you will find light poles or other obstacles obstructing the sidewalk. The prohibition of parking and at the same time widening of the sidewalk at San Francisco between the church and the Jardín is the first step in alleviating this problem.
The busses are problematic. The busses that are currently in use are far too large for the street system of San Miguel.
Cargo trucks are also far too large (Coca Cola trucks, gas trucks, materials trucks etc.) They provide obstacles to a smooth and safe traffic pattern.
Street lighting is a problem, as there is a serious lack of acceptably lit streets.
Schacke also suggests some possible solutions:
-complete the ring road around San Miguel,
-make the historical centro mostly vehicle-free and
-develop the public transport system.
Schedule of Events
Wed, Jan 30
10am: Opening
10:45am: Latin American Experience:
Urban development in historical centers, Juan Lus Isaza, Colombia
Problematic, legislation and conservation, Sergio Estuardo Cruz, Guatemala
4:30pm: National vision
Traffic problems in historical centers, Jacinto Amrando Chacha, INAH
Mobility in historical centers, Luis Enrique Mendoza, University of Guanajuato
Thur, Jan 31
10am: Local experiences
Conservation in Campeche, Carlos Vidal, Campeche
Challenges for conservation in Querétaro, Diego Prieto, INAH, Querétaro
12:30pm: San Miguel de Allende and traffic in the future
Access to historical centers, by Yanet Lezama, INAH Querétaro
San Miguel and its traffic cancer at the beginning of the 21st century.