cont. from front page,

President Calderón signs an economic “anticrisis” plan that addresses unemployment, inflation, supports small businesses and assures transparency in government spending.

The agreement was signed by President Calderón himself, members of his cabinet, governors of the different states, company owners and representatives of the worker unions. It was ratified by the Banco de México, the IFE (Federal Electoral Institute) and the political parties. 


Support for jobs and workers

The Temporary Job program will provide 2,200 million pesos for supporting the unemployed. 

Calderón announced the creation of the Job Preservation Program, through which vulnerable companies, which may be at risk of bankruptcy, will be supported with 2,000 million pesos in order to avoid the dismissal of workers. 

In case of losing his or her job, the worker will receive medical service from IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social) for six months, instead of two, after the dismissal. 

The government will invest 1,250 million pesos in the Job Exchange for training and employment projects. 

Support for families

A gasoline price freeze is in effect for the whole year and the price of propane will fall by 10 percent.  The government will invest 750 million pesos to financially support poor families so that they can get new and more efficient electrical appliances with less power consumption for their homes.

Support for small businesses

The price of electricity for industries will decline and the federal government will channel 20 percent of its purchases to small and medium businesses. The government will invest 5,000 million pesos for a program to develop small and medium businesses which will supply the oil industry. The financial credit for businesses will increase 21 percent through Nacional Financiera and Bancomext (loan and credit companies)

The government will create a new brand with the slogan “Hecho en México” (Made in Mexico) in order to promote the acquisition of national goods and services. 


Investment for infrastructure

The investment for infrastructure, both private and public sector, will be 570,000 million pesos in 2009. Besides resources already authorized, PEMEX will have an additional 17,000 million pesos for investment and each state will have an additional 14,000 million pesos for investment in infrastructure. 


Transparency in public expenses

The Union Congress will approve a new government accountancy law which will strengthen transparency and will establish clear rules about what the three levels of governments will have to do. 

Public expenses will be allocated to confront the crisis. All the public expenses programs will be published in the Official Federal Journal (Diario Oficial de la Federación). 

The federal government will sign 21 agreements with state governments to immediately begin the implementation of most of the budget programs. The expenses budget authorized for 2009 will not change.

(Sources: El Economista, January 7, 2008; La Jornada, January 8, 2008)

Festivities celebrate hero of independence
By Jesús Ibarra

This year, the celebration of the anniversary of Ignacio Allende’s birth on January 21 will be grander than ever: on that date the city will also celebrate the installation of the World Heritage commemorative plaque. Several events will take place from January 15 to 21 to honor the two events. According to Verónica Agundis, head of the Education and Culture Department (Dirección de Educación y Cultura), these will include three lectures and a poetry performance associated with the restoration of the San Juan de Dios cemetery, a lecture by nationally renowned San Miguel historian Guadalupe Jiménez Codinach about the life of Ignacio Allende and concerts by the Symphonic Band of the Mexican Navy and the chorus of the Mexican army. On January 21, a military parade will wind through the streets of San Miguel, followed by the unveiling of the commemorative plaque.

Immortal stories of simple mortals

The celebrations for Allende’s birthday began yesterday with two public talks. Archeologist Cristina Martínez Monroy spoke about funeral traditions in Mexico, and local historian Graciela Cruz López discussed her research on the Hospital of San Rafael and San Juan de Dios, founded in 1770 and formerly located on the site of San Juan de Dios cemetery. “Studying the old panteón and the hospital helps us learn more about San Miguel in those times,” said Cruz. According to her, the hospital was very important during 18th century because it was at a strategic point on the road from Mexico City to the northern territories. Its patients included not only San Miguel residents but travelers as well. “We found a register from the first 26 years of the hospital’s existence, between 1770 and 1796, that included the names of 2,000 male patients and their occupations; the names of women at that time were not recorded—only their ages and marital status. We found only one woman with a registered occupation: the hospital cook
.” 

Cruz said that she studied the hospital within the context of the neighborhood. “San Juan de Dios was one of the most populated neighborhoods, and it is currently one of the oldest and well preserved,” she said. Currently, the hospital building houses the Hermanos Aldama school, and according to Cruz the warmth of the children has kept the spirit of the hospital alive. 

Cruz’s study of the hospital was complemented by an archeological study of the cemetery carried out by Dehmian Barrales (see Atención, October 31, 2008). Barrales’ lecture, “Immortal Stories of Simple Mortals,” will take place today, January 16, at 11am at the Teatro Ángela Peralta. Barrales will speak about the three skeletons found in the cemetery: “Doña Antonia,” a Caucasian woman of Spanish heritage, “Xóchitl,” an indigenous girl, and “Santiago,” an infant. At 6:30pm, a poetry performance about death, called “Los Forjadores de Cantos” (Makers of Songs), will also take place at the Ángela Peralta.

Ignacio Allende, leader of independence

Historian Guadalupe Jiménez Codinach, an expert on Ignacio Allende’s life, will give a lectura about the local hero on January 17 at noon at the Ángela Peralta. 

Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the parish priest of Dolores, has usually been considered the instigator of the Mexican independence movement, and the movement is said to have begun in Dolores. However, in her article “Ignacio Allende y los Sucesos de 1808–1811” (Ignacio Allende and the Events of 1808–1811), Jiménez Codinach argues that Allende was the real motivation behind the drive for independence and San Miguel el Grande was where the movement conceived. “Through the years, the figure and role of Allende in the independence movement of 1810 has been diminished and the roles of others such as Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos have been highlighted,” says Jiménez. She says that Allende’s reaction to the news that Napoleon Bonaparte had invaded Spain in 1808 was this: “If the French defeated Spain, we should establish an independent government, to be managed at our convenience.” The historian says that Allende shared those ideas with some other sanmiguelenses such as father Manuel Castiblanque, the priest at La Santa Casa de Loreto, and others. As the tyranny of the Spanish government worsened, which led to the failed attempt of some criollos (headed by Francisco Primo Verdad y Ramos) to create a government independent from Spain in 1808, Allende began to meet with friends, soldiers, priests and other citizens, including the Aldama brothers, Juan and Ignacio, Mariano Abasolo, Miguel Vallejo, Francisco Lanzagorta, Vicente Umarán, Felipe González, and Father Manuel Castiblanque. They gathered in the basement of Allende’s brother’s house on Calle Reloj. It was Felipe González who suggested that Allende find a respected priest to act as spokesperson for the movement and bring the treasonous message to the people. Allende decided that Hidalgo was the best choice. 

According to Jiménez, Allende admitted he had been the leader of the insurrection at his trial following his capture in Chihuahua. The document of his trial was not known until the twentieth century. Hidalgo, after his arrest, conceded that he had not wanted to take part in the movement. 

A military parade and commemorative plaque

According to Agundis, on January 21 a large military parade will pass through the main streets of San Miguel, made up in part by soldiers of the 16th military garrison in Sarabia (near Celaya). “Ignacio Allende is considered the “first soldier of the nation,” so it will be exclusively a military parade in which no schools or civilians will participate,” said Agundis. “Only the soldiers and the police departments from the state will be marching.” The parade will begin around 10am, and at 1pm a plaque commemorating the UNESCO World Heritage status of San Miguel de Allende and the Shrine of Jesús Nazareno in Atotonilco will be placed near the statue of Ignacio Allende at the Plaza Cívica. A similar plaque will be placed in Atotonilco. 

Casa de Allende Museum

The Casa de Allende Museum, located in the former residence of Ignacio Allende, has been under restoration for more than a year. According to Matilde González Rulán, director of the museum, it will reopen this year, although she does not know exactly when. “The architectural restoration has been completed, as well as the security and electrical installations,” she said. “We are just waiting for the National Coordination of Museums from INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) to send the exhibits for the museum. On the ground floor we will have information and artifacts about San Miguel’s history in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the recreated drugstore and a replica of an 18th century shop. The upper floor will be furnished as an 18th century house, similar to what Allende’s house might have looked like.” She added that there will be an exhibit explaining Allende’s genealogy and his participation in the independence movement. 

González Rulán said that the Casa de Allende Museum will complement the future museum to be housed in the former presidencia building, which will include exhibits about the pre-Hispanic history of San Miguel de Allende. 


Program of activities

(all events are free and subject to change)

January 15

Lecture, 11am
Mexican Funeral Traditions
Cristina Anahí Martínez
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Hernández Macías & Mesones


Lecture, 6:30pm
Hospital Real de San Rafael y San Juan de Dios
Graciela Cruz López
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Hernández Macías & Mesones

January 16

Lecture, 11am
Immortal Stories of Simple Mortals 
Dehmian Barrales
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Hernández Macías & Mesones

Poetry performance, 6:30pm
Maker of Songs
Grupo Collage
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Hernández Macías & Mesones

January 17

Lecture, noon
Life of Ignacio Allende
Guadalupe Jiménez Codinach
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Hernández Macías & Mesones

Concert, 7pm
Symphonic Band of the Mexican Navy
Jardín

January 18
Music, 1pm, 5pm
Danzón
Jardín

Concert, 7pm
Chorus of the Mexican National Army (Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional)
Jardín

January 19

Poetry Contest, 11am
Mexican Independence
By local elementary school students

January 20
Oratory Contest, 11am
Mexican Independence
By local high school students
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Hernández Macías & Mesones

January 21

Military Parade, 10am
Main streets of San Miguel

Installation of commemorative plaque, 1pm
Plaza Cívica
Mesones

Concert, 7pm
A tribute to Ignacio Allende
Plaza Cívica
Mesones

Breaking news: City secretary resigns

Due to different political aspirations, Cristóbal Finkelstein Franyuti, city secretary, resigned his position January 12, during the regular City Council session. On Tuesday, January 13, Finkelstein passed the office to Mayor Correa’s secretary Tomás Ramírez, who will be in charge of the office until an interim secretary is appointed. 

Interview with Cristóbal Finkelstrein Franyuti, next week