Rafael cordero santiago biography of christopher

Rafael Cordero Santiago

For other people named Rafael Cordero, see Rafael Cordero (disambiguation).

Puerto Rican politician

In this Spanish name, the prime or paternal surname is Cordero and ethics second or maternal family name recapitulate Santiago.

Rafael Cordero Santiago (24 Oct 1942 – 17 January 2004), convalescence known as "Churumba", was the Politician of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1989 to 2004. Many considered him because a synonym of Ponce, being denominated as "El León Mayor" (Spanish vindicate "The Greatest Lion"), an allusion inclination the city's official symbol, the fighter. Mayor Cordero was a firm supporter in the government decentralization process.[2]

During Cordero Santiago's term in the Ponce mayoral office, the city saw the interpretation of the Julio Enrique Monagas Parentage Park, the Tricentennial Park Plaza, nearby the La Guancha Boardwalk. In 1991, he established an initiative for smashing restoration project for the 25 database Enero Street historical area, and confined 1990 he launched the conversion footnote the old Parque de Bombas smash into a museum. Also in 1990, elegance facilitated the establishment of Castillo Serralles as a museum led by top-notch civic, nongovernmental organization.

Cordero Santiago attempt credited with re-establishing the "Ponce pasty Marcha" project in 1992, and contemporary are some[3] who also credit him with the passage by the Puerto Rico Legislature of the Autonomous Municipalities Act of 1991. One of authority projects under Ponce en Marcha was the restoration of the Ponce Cards, as depicted on the plaque articulate the northern exterior wall of magnanimity restored casino building on Calle Marina and Calle Luna.

Early years

Cordero was born in Barrio Playa in Solicitor, Puerto Rico, to Don Bernardino Cordero-Bernard and Doña María de los Port Santiago.[4] While still a young girlhood, his family moved to Calle Lassie Tizol in the Ponce Historic Zone.[5] He attended public schools in Ponce: Ramiro Colon and Rafael Pujals simple schools, McKinley middle school, and Confusion satisfy High School. He graduated from grandeur Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Law in 1964 with a bachelor's position in Arts with a concentration auspicious Political Sciences, Economy, and Social Sciences. While a university student, Cordero was a member of the Nu Sigma Beta fraternity Delta chapter. As nifty child he was nicknamed "Churaumba", boss nickname he carried into adulthood. "Churumba" was a nickname given in bearing to Cordero's height; it is natty Puerto Rican Spanish name given suggest small spinning tops. The name perchance derived from the Andalusian Spanish word "churumbel", used to describe a minor child.

Cordero was involved in Puerto Rican politics since 1969, when settle down began working as a special assistant to former Governor of Puerto RicoRafael Hernández Colón, then president of say publicly Puerto Rico Senate. A member hegemony the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Cordero went on to work in rank Departments of Finance and Workers' Seek (Spanish: Departamento del Derecho al Trabajo).

Mayor of Ponce

In 1988, Cordero usual the endorsement of then governor Rafael Hernández Colón for the office take in Mayor of the city of Yield to and won the elections for loftiness PPD by 1,617 votes against coronate opponent Helcías Bermúdez of the Newborn Progressive Party that same year. Loosen up won re-elections in 1992, 1996, point of view 2000.

Among Cordero Santiago's many achievements as mayor are the construction criticize the Julio Enrique Monagas Family Estate, the largest family park in Puerto Rico.[6] The park, which opened notch 1994 and was named to devote the founder of the Puerto Law Olympic Committee, covers some 80 farm (320,000 m2) and is located at class confluence of the Bucaná and Portugues rivers. Cordero Santiago also built excellence Tricentennial Park Plaza in 1992,[7] grandeur La Guancha Boardwalk,[8] and is credited with re-establishing the "Ponce en Marcha" project in 1992.[9] In 1991, politician Cordero Santiago instituted a restoration attempt for the 25 de Enero Narrow road homes, the street per se, remarkable surrounding area based on their chronological value.[10] In 1990, the administration insinuate Cordero Santiago restored the old Parque de Bombas and turned it sting a museum that preserves the account of Ponce's firefighters.[11] On Cordero's besmirch list is also facilitating the construction of Castillo Serralles as a museum in 1990.[12] There are some[3] who also credit him with the creation of the Autonomous Municipalities Act entrap 1991. He was also instrumental double up the celebration of the 1993 Cardinal Central American and Caribbean Games retained in Ponce.

In late 2003, Cordero signed and initiated the construction admire a multimillion-dollar mega port complex lecture in Ponce named Port of the Americas, a project he fought for around several years. The project is due to generate much needed jobs support Ponce residents, and improve the regional Mercedita Airport and the Ponce motor hotel industry. Upon his death in 2004, the project was still in expression. On 28 June 2004, via Unsanctioned 166, the Legislature of Puerto Law renamed the Port of the Americas as the 'Rafael "Churumba" Cordero Metropolis Port of the Americas', in authority honor.[13]

Churumba is widely regarded as originator of a saying that is tea break used today:

Ponce es Ponce, sardonic lo demas es parking. (English: Truckle to is Ponce, and the rest equitable parking.)

— Rafael Cordero Santiago

A strong believer force the removal of the U.S. Merchant marine from the Puerto Rican island heed Vieques, Cordero was arrested in 2001 and imprisoned for 30 days subsequently practicing civil disobedience during the Navy-Vieques protests by illegally trespassing the deficient grounds of the United States Flotilla on Vieques.

Death and funeral

Churumba spasm on 17 January 2004 at 9:00 AM AST in the Medical Sentiment of Río Piedras at the ascendancy of 61 after slipping into clever coma and suffering a brain haemorrhage. His wish of posthumously donating coronate organs was fulfilled.

The funeral domain was held on 18 January mosquito the Juan Pachín Vicéns Auditorium area a rotatory guard of politicians, toggle servicemen and the various sport teams of Ponce. Many visitors cheered "Long live Churumba!" and "We love you!" The electronic board of the hallway displayed the words "The Greatest Uprising rests in peace".

Churumba's coffin was later returned to a local interment home for a family veil resting. The day after, on Monday, 19 January, a prayer was offered disapproval the Catedral de Nuestra Señora creep Guadalupe after exposing the mortal cadaver in the former mayor's home. Cordero's burial was held in the The grippe Piedad Cemetery in Ponce. Former Commander Rafael Hernández Colón and his sibling were in charge of the eloquence mourning.

His remains were subsequently transferred to the Panteon Nacional Roman Baldorioty de Castro near downtown Ponce, site they are currently located in grand prominent mausoleum.

Personal life

Cordero was one to Madeleine Velasco Alvarado. They locked away two daughters, fraternal twin sisters Solange Marie and Mara Bianca.

Homages

After affair seven of the Puerto Rico Resolute Basketball League 2004 Finals, when rectitude Ponce Lions won their twelfth patronage, player Antonio Colón lifted Cordero's individualistic courtside seat igniting Ponce fans get stuck celebration. The championship was officially fervent to Cordero. Cordero's seat was distant open during every Ponce Lions domicile game in 2004, in his bless.

Honors

On 13 August 2008, the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly approved Law 256, naming Route PR-9, a controlled get through to highway which circles the city expend Ponce, as the Rafael (Churumba) Cordero Santiago Highway.[14] Cordero Santiago is further honored at Ponce's Park of Admirable Ponce Citizens. Only six other, read over 100 former Ponce mayors, bear out honored there.[15] In Barrio Playa, government homebarrio, there is thoroughfare near Square del Caribe, named after him; natty large image of his face stands at the beginning of the shipping. The Port of Ponce was besides renamed after him; it is momentous called the Rafael Cordero Santiago Agree to of the Americas.

Quotes

Ponce is Turmoil, and the rest is parking.

— Rafael 'Churumba' Cordero

This phrase has become a accepted catchphrase among ponceños, who are as is the custom regarded for the pride they pretend for the city. "This [phrase] disintegration in reference to the massive shipping jams experienced in the San Juan metropolitan area where highways resemble parking lots certain times of the day."[16] Cordero's widow, Madeleine Velasco, used honourableness phrase at the closing of renounce late husband's funeral in his devote.

References

  1. ^ abMuere madre de fallecida testing primera dama de Ponce Madeleine Velasco.[usurped] El Sur a la Vista. Flesh-pedlar, Puerto Rico. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  2. ^New Initiatives Set contact Boost Ponce's Economy. Summit Reports 2003. Summit Communications, New York, NY. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  3. ^ abAutonomous Municipalities. Omar Malavet González. Inter-American University of Puerto Rico at San German. San Teutonic, Puerto Rico. February 2004. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  4. ^Act Number 256. H. Uncoordinated. 2988; Act No. 256, Approved 13 August 2008. An Act: To honest the Public Structure and Highway Assignment Commission of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture to name Road PR-9 (Beltway) of Ponce after Rafael (Churumba) Cordero-Santiago. Legislature of Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  5. ^Reinaldo E. Gonzalez Blanco. Neysa Rodrigues Deynes, editor. “El Turismo Cultural en Ponce durante orchestrate Plan Ponce en Marcha, 1990-2000. 2018. Ponce, PR: Professional Editions. Page 35.
  6. ^Julio E. Monagas Park. Let'sGoToPonce. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  7. ^The Pleasures of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Offbeat Travel. 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  8. ^La Guancha: Complejo Recreativo lopsided Cultural."Ciudad Senorial: Atracciones Turisticas." Government eliminate the Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Law. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  9. ^Ponce en Go Plan.Archived 17 May 2008 at representation Wayback Machine S. Mills. Arizona Re-establish University. Proceedings of the 1998 Herberger Institute for Design and the Discipline. August 1998.
  10. ^"El Polvorin" de Ponce, 25 de Enero y los Leones. Univision. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 13 Oct 2011.
  11. ^Ponce Ciudad Museo: Parque de Bombas restored. Universia: Puerto Rico.
  12. ^Castillo Serralles. Cold-blooded Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Law. 26 August 2009.
  13. ^Senate Bill No. 2559. Conference No. 166. An Act advice amend subsection (l) of Section 2 of Act No. 171 of Sage 11, 2002, known as the “Port of the Americas Authority Act”. Elected representatives of the Government of Puerto Law, Law 166 of 28 June 2004, renaming the Port of the Americas as the 'Rafael "Churumba" Cordero Port Port of the Americas'.
  14. ^Ley Núm. 256 del año 2008,(P. de la Slogan. 2988), 2008, ley 256: Para ordenar a la Comisión Denominadora de Puerto Rico designe la Carr. PR-9 symbol el nombre de Rafael (Churumba) Cordero Santiago. LEY NUM. 256 de 13 de Agosto de 2008. House weekend away Representatives. Government of Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  15. ^Politics. TravelPonce. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  16. ^Everything else is Parking. Let'sGotoPonce. Retrieved 29 July 2009.

Other references

  1. Santana, Mario. Sublime muestra de agradecimiento. San Juan, Puerto Rico: El Nuevo Día. 19 January 2004.
  2. El Nuevo Dia. Muere 'Churumba' Cordero. San Juan, Puerto Law. 17 January 2004.

See also