Culture Ministry Unveils Salomé Ureña Monument in Jamao al Norte

Culture Ministry Unveils Salomé Ureña Monument in Jamao al Norte
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic  6/06/2012

The Ministry of Culture held an event in honor of Salomé Ureña in Jamao al Norte, where it unveiled a bust of the celebrated poet and teacher.

Also present was a commission from the Ministry of Culture headed by Enegildo Peña, deputy minister for the Northern Region; Eleanor Grimaldi, director of the Libro y la Lectura (Books and Reading) and Eugenio Camacho, provincial director of Culture. Other official linked to the promotion of Books and Reading also participated.

The event was overseen by Minister of Culture, José Rafael Lantigua, who gave a speech in which he said, “this woman unites exceptional qualities for which we are paying permanent tribute. How great it is that in these marvelous hills of Jamao, in our province of Espaillat, we can have a school named after her and can unveil a bust of her that was not in the school before…now, on a daily basis, teachers and students can see the face of the woman who is honored at this school.”

Minister Lantigua affirmed that the placing of the bust is part of the program being undertaken by the Ministry of Culture (MINC in Spanish) in which it is recognizing the great Dominican historical personalities. He also pointed out that this program extends beyond Dominican borders, as is the case in Spain where they recently unveiled a bust of Juan Pablo Duarte.

Once he concluded his speech, the Minister of Culture handed over a donation of 200 books to the school library, which was received by the Melanio Núñez Gómez, principal of the Salome Ureña de Jamao al Norte School.

Melanio Núñez Gómez thanked the Ministry of Culture for the donation as well as for the installation of the monument. He said that both gifts would provide spiritual inspiration to the students of the school as well as for the teachers. The event concluded with a performance by the Folklore Ballet of Santiago who delighted those present which included dozens of students, teachers and community authorities.

Also present was a commission from the Ministry of Culture headed by Enegildo Peña, deputy minister for the Northern Region; Eleanor Grimaldi, director of the Libro y la Lectura (Books and Reading) and Eugenio Camacho, provincial director of Culture. Other official linked to the promotion of Books and Reading also participated.

The cultural event continued in the community of Jababa, where the MINC donated 3,000 books to benefit 15 different schools, including: Las Lagunas, Pedro J. Henríquez, Juan López Abajo, Magüey, Hogar La Milagrosa and Quebrada Onda.

The books were given to the principals and teachers of the 15 schools in the rural area of Moca, in the presence of Zoila Victoria Paulino, director of the Jababa Center and José Abigail Cruz Infante, president of the Foundation for Comprehensive Development and Social Action (Fundación Pro- Desarrollo Integral y Acción Social -DIAS).

A bust of Dominican poet Salomé Ureña was unveiled at the cultural event.

Melanio Núñez Gómez, principal of the Salome Ureña de Jamao al Norte School, receives a symbolic gift of books from the Minister of Culture, José Rafael Lantigua.

Books were also given to principals and teachers of the 15 schools in the municipality of Jababa.