OUR ACTIVITIES JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2010

OUR ACTIVITIES JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2010

CEPE-Taxco, an ecological campus.

Starting on the first of January of 2010, CEPE-Taxco is declared an ecological campus. This integrates a series of actions: from the implementation of a program of collecting batteries, and cells, to the separation of garbage and the creation of a campaign to help inform the community of Taxco about ecological awareness. In addition to that, there are also special projects, such as a paper recycling project, battery neutralization, Spanish and ecology courses, expositions, and most importantly a botanical garden of medicinal plants in coordination with the same Botanical Garden of UNAM. (Profr. Marco Fabián)

A PUMA swimming pool in Taxco.

CEPE-Taxco is hosted at the ex Hacienda “El Chorrillo”, which has very old and complex architecture with some buildings from the 16th Century. Because of this, at our Taxco campus it is always necessary to have maintenance and construction projects. In regard to these projects, last year it was discovered that it was necessary to restore the swimming pool at the hacienda, which was a project that took more than three moths to complete. The result?...a practically new swimming pool, which includes the emblem of UNAM’s Puma. Visit CEPE-Taxco! (Profr. Marco Fabián)

Conference of Dr. Elisa Vargaslugo at CEPE-Taxco.

As part of the activities of the group of students in the “Vice Royal Taxco” course of professor Roberto Díaz, there was a conference under the direction of Dr. Elisa Vargaslugo Rangel in regard to her book La Iglesia de Santa Prisca de Taxco; on Wednesday, the 20th of January the student community and the community of Taxco attended this great conference in the “Independence” Auditorium of CEPE-Taxco, an event that marked the beginning of these activities on the campus. Dr. Elisa Vargaslugo Rangel posed the reasons of the motivation of writing this book, such as her line of investigation which included three authors such as Manuel Toussaint; she mentioned that her search of information brought her to different historical archives in Mexico and abroad, and included Taxco, Zacatecas, the General National Archives, and some from Spain. Dr. Vargaslugo commented on ecstatic emotion and religious intensity that were important factors in the creation of this great and joyous Mexican baroque construction. She also mentioned the current great challenges, such as the reconstruction taking place from damage that has happened over time and from pollution in the environment. (Profr. Marco Fabián)

The FFL Theater in Taxco: Dirección Gritadero, Guy Foissy.

On the 20th of January on the “Revolution” Stage (formerly CADAC), there was a presentation of the play titled Dirección Gritadero, by Guy Foissy, under the direction of Jessica Esther Moreno, with a degree in Acting and a graduate of the National School of Theatrical Art of INBA; currently she is studying for a degree in Dramatic Literature and Theater with UNAM, in the area of Direction. The play indicates that the destiny of a certain bus is the “gritadero,” a place institutionalized by the government to free all humanity of their ‘screams.’ The anxiety of the eternal wait unites hopelessness and it is under this situation that three women discover the motives of the origin of each others screams. The three women wait anxiously for the arrival of the bus because they can no longer contain the screams that they carry inside, screams of lost love, of loneliness, and of failure; and through these scenes the audience is left with looking for a useful meaning of life. The presentation of this play was possible thanks to the help and collaboration of the College of Dramatic Literature and Theater of the Faculty of Philosophy and Language of UNAM. It goes without saying that the people in attendance at the “Revolution” Stage applauded the three actresses and the other members of the support group with much enthusiasm, and the theater group received their corresponding certificates from the directors of CEPE-Taxco with much emotion . (Profr. Marco Fabián)

Welcoming Party for Students in the Spring I Term.

On Friday, the 22nd of January, there was an upbeat party to welcome the thirteen foreign students who would be taking classes during the Spring I Term of 2010. With the help of the Cultural Department and youth from the local government of Taxco de Alarcón, there was a presentation of a promotional video of this beautiful colonial city and young people from the city of Taxco were invited to speak about the activities that students could do during their free time, and this allowed for these youth to have the opportunity to get to know people from other cultures and countries as diverse as: South Africa, Korea, Belize, and other countries. The event was quite animated and our students enjoyed the high quality of hospitality and welcoming that helped with the process of integrating them into their new temporary community. (Mtro. Jorge Salinas)

“Gongorina Conference in Taxco”: eight conferences and a magisterial.

On the campus of the Ex Hacienda “El Chorrillo” of UNAM, with great success there was a presentation of the Gongorina Conference in the “Independence” stage (previously the Auditorium), which was organized in the frame of the Restoration of Taxco’s Historical Archives. Thanks to the coordination of Adam Alberto Vázquez Cruz and David Galicia Lechuga on behalf of UNAM’s department of Philosophy of Language, it was possible to set up two months of work in recent investigations in relation to the diverse works of the dramatist Luis de Góngora y Argote. In the first month, there were the presentations: Leonor Fernández Guillermo with his text “Góngora, new drama and comody,” María de los Ängeles Villanueva Mendoza with “He was a man with a hit nose. The poetic relation between Góngora and Quevedo”; David Galicia Lechuga presented “Three erotic moments with Góngora,” and finally, Jorge Gutiérrez Reyna presented “The epitaphs of First Solitude and Blood Weddings.” As one can appreciate in the titles, the variety of points and themes related to the works of Góngora that permitted those in attendance to hear and understand a great part of the literary contents created by the Spanish dramatist. In addition, they talked about his relation to other writers from his period, such as Quevedo, Calderón, and of course Juan Ruiz, but also there was comparison to other poets who at first seem distant, such as García Lorca, showing the test of time through the universal themes in literature. In the second month there were the presentations: Lilian Camacho Morfin with the text “The body and satirical and humorous sonnets of Luis de Góngora,” Adriana Contreras García with “The poetic Gongorian: search for sensual pleasure,” Ana Elvira Vilchis Barrera with “Metaphors of life in writing Memorized, Flowers, in me,” and ending with Adam Alberto Vázquez Cruz with his text “Feminine Metamorphosis.” We can affirm without a doubt that those in attendance greatly enjoyed all of the lectures that were presented in this Gongorian banquet. To end this golden joy of a “Gongorian Conference” in Taxco, the Magisterial Conference was presented “The golden metaphor in Góngora, Quevedo, and Sor Juana,” under the direction of Dr. Dolores Bravo Arriaga, whose participation was presented by Professor Javier Cuétara Priede, the Director of CEPE-Taxco. It is notable that there were many young people in the auditorium, practically filling it . (Mtro. Rodrigo Espino)

CEPE-Taxco’s Advisory Council Meeting.

With the final adjustments of various details concerning academic projects of CEPE-Taxco and the extension center of the National School of Visual Arts (ENAP), on the 5th of February of this year, there was the 4th Advisory Council Meeting. At this reunion there was a presentation of a project of the Extension Center of ENAP, under the direction of the Coordinator Professor Soledad Garcidueñas López. The Professor Javier Cuétara Priede also presented a project of developing CEPE in Taxco. Included in the mentioned project it is important to highlight the project of the Restoration of Taxco’s Historical Archives, to which there have been great advancements, such as the digitization of part of the corresponding colonial period. Another of the projects by CEPE-Taxco highlighted to help develop Taxco and the Northern zone of the state of Guerrero is the On-line High School education program, which will necessitate the collaboration of the Secretary of Public Education State Government. The members of the Council finally remembered to present in writing the mentioned project for the following meeting with the directors of PROTUR. (Mtro. Rodrigo Espino)

Work session in Taxco to revise the conditions for the continuation of UNAM in the State of Guerrero.

In March of 2011the current agreement between UNAM and the State of Guerrero Government will be completed concerning the location of CEPE and ENAP in the Ex Hacienda “El Chorrillo.” To negotiate the extension of an agreement for 35 more years, on the 9th of February there was a reunion in the “Revolution” stage between UNAM and the Touristic Promotion of Guerrero (PROTUR), an organization assigned by the State Government of Guerrero to take responsibility of this situation. On behalf of UNAM, those present were: Dr. José Luis Palacio Priet, the General Director of CEPE, Professor Gerardo Reza Calderón, the General Secretary of CEPE, Professor Luis Leopoldo Hidalgo García, the Sub Director of Agreements and Contracts of the General Studies and University Legislation Office, the Professor Javier Cuétara Priede, Director of CEPE-Taxco, and Professor Sol Garcidueñas López, the Coordinator of ENAP-Taxco, as well as other various members of CEPE-Taxco’s Advisory Council. The meeting was opened by the municipal president of Taxco, Lic. Álvaro Burgos Barrera, who functioned as a mediator. On behalf of PROTUR there was Lic. Alfonso Guillén; as well as two local deputies, Lic. Manuel Saidi Pratt and Lic. Ramiro Jaimes. Taxco’s very own civil society presented itself with interest that UNAM stays in the community of Taxco, with people present from Taxco and the area such as: intellectuals, academics, inventors, professionals, commercial workers, and factory workers, as well as different social groups such as Taxco’s Rotarian Club, the City Committee for Touristic Development in Taxco, Taxco’s Forge, and the Group, United for Taxco, among others. The civil society protested that PROTUR 1) should have answered to the academic proposition that UNAM presented in August of last year, and 2) that PROTUR had put up for sale a historical building that is patrimonial to the citizens of Taxco. In regard to the sale of a historic construction, PROTUR mentioned that, in fact, along with other historic buildings, they put out an advertisement on the internet which read: “Open to different possibilities of development, being wealth of PROTUR,” but that the Ex Hacienda is not for sale. CEPE-Taxco presented an academic project in development. The offer from UNAM included GED’s, degree programs, diplomas, and post graduate studies on line, intensification in cultural programs, special projects (such as the restoration of the La Casona), among many others. In addition, it was emphasized that possibilities of maximizing the room for studies would be amplified, complete, and sufficient, in order to implement in the city and the state a project of academic and cultural development in the highest degree. Finally, it was mentioned that the Advisory Council would evaluate the proposition that UNAM presented, and that the documents and commentaries of Taxco’s very own public would be delivered. The presence of UNAM in any state of the Republic, without question, only brings about benefits. (Profr. Marco Fabián)

"Lara-Maceda: Guitar Concert" on the "Revolution" stage.

On the night of February the 12th, on the “Revolution” state (formerly CADAC) there was a guitar recital of two virtuosic guitarists, Rodrigo Lara Alonso, and Iván Maceda Vela, two talented young Mexicans with great artistic direction; both of whom received scholarships in diverse programs and have participated in important institutional associations. The people in attendance, all different ages, delighted in the excellent performances of divers Hispanic / Latin American composers, such as heitor Villa-Lobos, Gorge Cardoso, Manuel M. Ponce, and João Pernambuco, among others. To end the recital, the artists graciously received the invitation to cheer their alma mater, as well as, between moving applause from the audience, the directors of CEPE-Taxco awarded them with a certificate for their valuable performance . (Profr. Marco Fabián)

Citizen Council Reunion for the Culture and Arts of Taxco.

For the first time on the CEPE-Taxco campus, there was a meeting of the Citizen Council for the Culture and Arts of Taxco, of which the professors Javier Cuétara and Rodrigo Espino are a part of. On the 12th of February in the “Juan Ruiz de Alarcón” Library, members of the council met, in a cordial atmosphere, to discuss diverse issues that were brought up by members of the council in preparation of the next meeting with UNESCO, such as the cultural activities that are planned for the Mexican Independence and Revolution. (Mtro. Rodrigo Espino)

CEPE-Taxco in the celebrations of Cuauhtémoc.

On the 16th and 17th of February, CEPE-Taxco presented in the “Independence” auditorium, a series of talks about the festivals in celebration of the birth of the last Mexican “Tlatoani”: Cuauhtemotzin. As is the oral tradition, Cuauhtémoc was born on the 23rd of February in 1501 in Ixcateopan, Guerrero. After the conquest of México-Tenochtitlán, Hernán Cortés ordered his execution in the year 1525, and his remains were brought to his place of birth in Ixcateopan. These remains have been a motive of different investigations, among those including the famous historian Eulalia Guzmán. During the exposition, Lic. Rafael Rodríguez del Olmo commented on the significance of “La carta viva” or the “living card” of generations of native relatives of Ixcateopan that have dedicated their lives to guard the oral tradition and protect the remains of Cuauhtémoc. Profesor Flavio Bautista, a native náhuatl speaker, delighted the audience with a relative lecture of this great person. To end, the audience was invited to partake in the celebrations in Ixcateopan, where the diverse Mexican ethnicity, pre-Hispanic dancing, and offerings can be observed in honor of the last Mexican Tlatoani. Participating in the event, Flavio Bautista, Francisco Castro, Javier Cuétara, Rafael Rodríguez, and Sergio Lugo. (Profr. Marco Fabián)

University Theater in Taxco: The Architect and the Emporor of Asiria, by Fernando Arrabal.

On the night of February 17th, in the “Revolution” stage, there was a presentation of the theatrical play The Architect and the Emporor of Asiria, by Fernando Arrabal, under the direction of Elizabeth Montaño. This event was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the College of Dramatic Literature and Theater, a faculty of the Philosophy of Language department of UNAM. The actors Alan Uribe and Enrique Estrada demonstrated a work of excellence with a play demanding much energy. All of the facets of human misery were narrated on a desert island through someone from a shipwreck, The Emperor: malicious, incestuous, cannibalistic, through his death, his heredity is transmitted into the setting, creating an unfortunate circle that leads one to think of a dark destiny. (Profr. Marco Fabián)

A Nobel award in Taxco: Dr. Aaron Ciechanover visits the ex Hacienda “El Chorrillo”.

There were great expectations in the community of Taxco with the visit of Dr. Aaron Ciechanover, a 2004 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry. As part of his academic activities in Mexico, Dr. Ciechanover was invited through his connection with UNAM to visit the silver city of Taxco. His trip to Taxco included visiting the campus of the Ex Hacienda “El Chorrillo,” of which he was informed of the history of the Hacienda as a benefit to the silver production of Taxco. The second part of his visit included the famous workshop of the Ballesteros, where Ciechanover could observe the process of the transformation of bars of silver being turned into various silver objects such as jewelry and ornaments. In the end, his visit included the historical center of Taxco, with the marvelous temple of Santa Prisca and San Sebastián church, followed by a brief look at some of Taxco’s silver shops. In all, Dr. Ciechanover and his companions were greatly impressed, especially with the hospitality that they received on the university grounds, the Ballesteros workshop, and in general with the people of Taxco that met these distinguished visitors. (Mtro. Rodrigo Espino)

The Local Astronomy Comittee .

Through the Coordination of Scientific Popularization in Basic Education and the Cultural Direction of the Municipal of Taxco, this past 11th of February on the campus of the ex Hacienda “El Chorrillo”, there was the first work session with the Local Committee of Astronomy, which will partake in various activities related to the observation of stars, and in general, the diverse scientific and cultural activities that will take place in the month of April. Those who opened the meeting asked Professor Javier Cuétara to accept the position of President of the committee; Professor Cuétara said that he accepted with pleasure, always and whenever there are needs to act in the future, not just for political reasons, proposing that the generation of an integral, permanent program with cultural activities and in regards to astronomy and other sciences of which UNAM can participate; he also assured that they would incorporate other areas of study, in the way that through inter discipline there would be more firm and positive effects in the educational programs. In this way, the committee set the base for the next Committee of Science and Technology in Taxco . (Profr. Marco Fabián)