Celebrations Salvadoran Style

    Saturday, I had the opportunity to share in the celebration with a small village who had fought 6 years for their rights to own and farm in a village(pueblo) not far away from the Capital of San Salvador.  They named their pueblo "Romero" in honor of Oscar Romero who worked for the rights of poor people in El Salvador.  They celebrated Mass, creative acting drama with humor and break dancing from their youth group, and food with Cis, our Language School.

                                                               

                                                             Break Dancers, Pueblo Romero

                                                               Music Concert Verde(green)UCA                                                    

A "Love" Wall, Santa Ana, El Salvador

      Today, I went with a friend from Language school to visit her Salvadoran friend's family in Santa Ana.  Santa Ana is about 2 hours from San Salvador by local bus.  I loved the charm and tranquil atmosphere.  There is a great restored Cathedral and Theater around the Plaza.  The Plaza is full of friendly families, and lots of little stalls to try fresh fruit juices and local treats.

Monsenor Romero Remembered March 24

     Oscar Arnulfo Romero is one of the great Heroes and Saints of our world along with Ghandi, Martin Luther King, J.F.Kennedy, and Nelson Mandela.  All of them worked for Human Rights and better conditions for the poor without promoting more violence.  He was appointed Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, and then his friend Rutilio Grande was assassinated soon after for organizing the poor.  This tragic event led Monsenor Romero to speak out loud on the injustices, repression,and death squad murders against the poor by the ruling government.  On March 24, 1980 he was assassinated in the Chapel of the Divine Providence Hospital after a sermon calling on the government soldiers to stop killing innocent people.  Later during his funeral at the National Cathedral of San Salvador the government troops fired on and bombed mourners.

     I marched in solidarity last night with my friends, the brave Salvadoran People, and people around the world who want to remember Monsenor Romero and all that he said and also did for the poor and opressed.  We want to remember that today these acts of violence and social abuse continue in our world.  Last night there was a huge full moon that only comes once every 20 or 30 years, and it lit the path of our journey to the Cathedral together while we were singing and saying out loud that Romero Lives!  JUSTICE lives!!   Peace!
     *** If you are interested, there is an excellent book,"Oscar Romero- Memories in Mosaic" by Maria Lopez Vigil published by Epica.

LAS MUJERES (The Women)

     The International Womens' Day was March 8.  I marched with students and teachers from my Language School together with energetic Salvadorans who actively want better opportunities and social justice.  We marched for many blocks in the heat, and we ended at the large shady Park "Cutzatlan".  The Day was full of color, hope, beautiful art, music, poetry, drum beats, laughter, food, and Women who want changes around the world.  I liked the fact that babies, young girls, and women of all ages participated, and hoped for a better future free of domestic violence, abuse, and unfair economic situations.  My thanks to fellow student friends Ana and Kevin for use of their photos.

Volcano San Salvador

                                                             San Salvador and the volcano

                                                   

                                                     View from the top

                                                                  Volcano San Salvador 

                                                          View of Panchemalco

View of Lake Ilopango

Volcano San Salvador is the 5th highest volcano in El Salvador.  Don't worry!  It's dormant with a large 540m deep crater called El Boqueron ("Big Mouth"). I hiked up to the top with my Language class to a look-out with amazing views below of San Salvador and Pachemalco, the ocean, and Lake Ilopango.  There is a wonderful old Indian Legend in El Salvador about "Cipitin" who lives in a cave at the foot of a volcano called "Sihuatepeque", and he scatters volcanic ash like stardust.  He represents pure love to those young that can see him when they visit the volcano.