Antenor Orrego, the man who became a school

A couple of weeks, the Private University Antenor Orregode Trujillo gave me highest award offered academic, honorary doctorate. I remember something of what was then said.

Gonzalez Viana War Cross and the rector, Doctor Honoris Causa by the UPAO

I remember the story of a philosopher who had tired of human wisdom and was immersed in a background of skepticism sad and lonely.

One afternoon, walking by the sea, thought he heard a child's voice came from heaven or anything that may call him behind a wave. The boy said:

"Take and read. Take up and read.

His name was Augustine (St. Augustine future) and he told us that this was his first revelation of human knowledge. He read a few pages of the Bible and felt the great wonder is that knowledge is always incomplete and the smallness of a man calm in front of the shimmering sea.

Bring to mind the memory of Father of the Church because that was exactly the concept that knowledge was Antenor Orrego. "I never get full or complete. Be content with half knowledge. The other half is what you look for a lifetime. "

Born to teacher, Cesar Vallejo was that as he was born in 1892. This was true of Carlos Valderrama, Alcides Spelucín, Francisco Xandóval, Macedonio de la Torre, Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, a whole series of amazing young people that just spent twenty years old but already dreaming of innovation in aesthetic give new content to the music and the poem, die seek the truth, unite the peoples of Latin America and build a single nation great, common and free.

They met in Trujillo. Never in Peru and rarely in the rest of the world has come together in one city so wonderful group.

"I repeat. Never get full knowledge. You always miss a key. You will go through life looking for the secret word. "

We are seeing in our theaters a beautiful three-dimensional version of "Alice in the wonderland." You might recall the same way that always happen in dreams, Alicia does not know exactly where you are or where they were heading. It knows it must run for the White Rabbit and ask the right questions. Search the White Rabbit is the path of wisdom.

What has this to do with the university? The university should be the beginning of a quest for knowledge and an ongoing investigation that will never end to fill. Orrego quote:

"Students want a broad base of human integration because they will not be simple specialized insects a lucrative profession. So they have to, first and foremost teachers who have a real human form, a true moral demeanor, a genuine ethical dimension that makes them capable of any renunciation for the sake of interests. For one of them will emerge the new university of the future. "

And I quote again:

"All universal truths should be taught and professed in college, but reworked, rethought, re-created and re-interpreted in some way, teachers and students. This is called the biblical culture and forge dynamic and not rigid culture of literal texts, culture simian routine and repetition. "

By holding these truths about the university and many others across the land, for demanding the fulfillment of the dream of Bolívar and the union of the peoples of Latin America, thousands of men and Orrego himself among them suffered insults and vile prison and five thousand trujillanos were executed in 1932 two miles from campus UPAO the bloody walls of Chan Chan.

When his friend, the young Victor Raul Haya de la Torre said he was eager to organize a political party to implement the change and the socialist revolution, disagreed with him.

"Party, no. School .- said true to his anarchist training. -A school for Indians, peasants and middle classes know their rights and fight to conquer them.

That libertarian concept, born of Adult Education González Prada. The rest is history.

When you walk through the campus of the Private University Antenor Orrego and see which houses one of the most important teaching of Latin America, I am convinced that life is beautiful passed, as did Orrego, searching for the missing word. And I also realize that a man, moved by passion, death can be transformed into a school.

The Bicentennial to be held in Trujillo

Trujillo, Peru - picture Elpadrino1

Across America, and even in Spain, is celebrating one year since the American Revolution Bicentennial. It is considered that the time that each of our nations proclaimed their desire to be free from colonial rule.

On May 25, 2009, the commemoration began in Bolivia. The next countries on the one hand it will, Colombia on July 20 and on the other, Mexico on 16 and Chile on September 18, 2010. As for Paraguay, the celebration will be held on May 14, 2011, while Peru will not do so until 2021.

In a website of the Spanish company "Rush" is an animated map of America that are turning on lights as a country is emancipated. One of the last to see that light is Peru. For its part, the Ministry of Education, Lima has convened a national competition entitled "Towards the bicentennial of the independence of Peru 2021."

This little light of "Hustle" comes on slowly and too late, and the date that the ministry is for the bicentennial is a mistake.

What is taking place in the world of our speech is not necessarily the proclamation of independence in a current capital. What actually remembers the first expression of the will to be free and to establish a different identity against the colonial powers.

In fact, Bolivia has evoked what is the uprising of Charcas, Sucre today, 25 May 1809. As we know, full independence would come only after the victory of Ayacucho on December 9, 1824.

What Mexico will remember the morning of September 16, 1810, in which the parish priest of Dolores, Guanajuato, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, called a mass, and with the proclamations of "Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!", Viva Fernando VII! and Death to bad government, urged the people to revolt against the Spanish. This event was known as "Grito de Dolores."

The Long War of Independence in Mexico only culminate on September 27, 1821.

In the same manner and for the same reasons, celebrate Chile, Colombia, Venezuela this year the start of this process culminated only many years later.

If the decision to wait in Peru until 2021 had been taken by the municipality in the province of Lima is understood the matter. Let him do the Ministry of Education means a gross distortion and misrepresentation of history.

The Bicentennial in Peru should have taken place 30 years ago in commemoration of the exploits of Tupac Amaru. It was he who, with his proclamation, with its own life and the most formidable on the continent due to war demanded the freedom of every American in Spain and its king. Freedom for him meant not only a political separation but the abolition of all forms of human exploitation from the half and the villages of Indians to the enslavement of blacks. For him, the abolition was declared in Peru before in America. The central date of the uprising had its bicentennial in 1980 ... and we're in 2010.

The uprisings of Tacna, 1811 and 1813, Huanuco, Cusco 1812, 1814, have not been taken into account by the holidays initiators of Ministry of Education.

Finally, if centralism as frivolous or biased ignorance, it happened all at the Ministry of Education, at least you can advance the date to December 29, 1820 which produced the Declaration of Independence in Trujillo.
Cabero and Manuel Muñoz, José Luis Orbegoso, Jerónimo de la Torre, José Modesto de la Vega, José María Lizarzaburu, José Tadeo Effio and the Marquis de Torre Tagle, among other neighbors, signed the minutes and with the people gathered in the square, there proclaimed freedom of the motherland.

It was at this event which lowered the colonial flag and was replaced by the new flag of Peru.

It was in Trujillo, where the Spanish-occupied central and southern highlands over the entire (Bolivia), fled the country.

Twice capital, was in the same city where they founded the first republican institutions, the Supreme Court of the Republic and the first secular university in America. For all reasons, Congress named the department of La Libertad.

This year will mark 190 years of the proclamation of the independence of Peru held in Trujillo, and if you forget the past deeds, at least this is where to begin now to celebrate the bicentennial.

The War of the alfajores

Alfajores - Photo lovelihood

Where do alfajores? What are the real? These questions sound like metaphysics, and almost are. In Los Angeles have triggered a war of communiques between Argentineans, Nicaraguans, Peruvians, Bolivians and Chileans. It is a war of nostalgia in which everyone feels that the only thing original on earth is what proved the longed-for child in distant homeland. Roger Navas-Balladares, born in Nicaragua, is to blame for the conflict. In 2003, he founded Split Bean Coffee, a company dedicated to provide the most distinct varieties of coffee. From time to time, came prepared alfajores and been successful. Newspapers such as "Los Angeles Times", "San Jose Mercury News" and "The Philadelphia Inquirer", among others, have spoken of a "mysterious recipe that soon we all become addicted." Blancmange, pineapple, guava, raspberries, strawberries, chocolate and even peanut butter are some of the flavors of this dessert recipe which, according to Roger, he is from Trujillo and Chiclayo in Peru seasoned with Hispanic origins that make tracing origins some distant pastry Asturias. Professor Samuel Huntington for not noticing that Hispanics are going to get at USA, and maybe he's right. History confirms that when the invaders prepare cakes and write poetry is because they have decided to stay and conquer. Roger was my student at the University of Berkeley. Instead of a quick useful profession, he sought knowledge. While making Cultural Anthropology studies explored the Kabalah and traditions of Judaism, without neglecting kosher food. He continued with flamenco and made a trip to India, whence come out in the twelfth century monks who spread heterodox. Egypt was the bridge and, finally, Spain, the recipient of that religious dance. For all regions and, of course, kitchens, walked my student. When my class we read Latin American novel, I asked us to include this marvelous cookbook is "Like Water for Chocolate." No wonder she has exchanged the cap and gown on his apron and chef's hat. If this conflict becomes holy war, a suicide can devour alfajores and launch his car into a consulate in Los Angeles. Therefore, I venture to remind everyone that the gingerbread comes from the Moorish occupation of Andalusia. Brings up the etymology of "al-hasu" which in Arabic means "stuffed." Still in Cuenca, Spain, called "gingerbread" and is made from almonds, honey and figs, wrapped in a wafer. Over time, each region of America (speaking as a Christian) adapted the Spanish alfajor and cooked their own versions. All in all parties prepare the "original." Only in Argentina and Peru, there are over twenty varieties culminating in the delirious "KingKong" a slice of cake made in Chiclayo and contains a variety of tasty stories ecumenism and flavors. Student of Theology in Lima, Maria Elena Miranda said that the gingerbread proves the existence of the soul. Moving the nose in the style of Samantha, says that the two cookies are our bodies and the taste is the soul spreading throughout the universe. For its part, the publicist says Mariola Saavedra are Jaren daily diet. From Buenos Aires, to my office, says psychologist Andrea Yannuzzi these are the only wars that come from the love of lair. How is, then! In these candid days, Latinos who live in the USA think that we are made of mud and generous puff of God, but also of nostalgia and paste alfajores.

The cat and literature

Thank you, dear friends of Salem Courier. " As I recall, a thousand and so many of you last filled the facilities of the former Senate to witness the award gave me the Congress. Dozens of emails now asking me back what I said. As I did not write, here's some of what was recorded that day. Thanks, always, Eduardo.

Chepén, Peru - picture todochepen.com

A day in Chepén, my people, when I was 15, I visited a great aunt named Mercedes who had just turned 99.

Upon entering his home discovered that she was praying the rosary. Since I had seen, I sat next to her not to interrupt their devotion, and I started to read a magazine. However, there was something strange in the matter: my Aunt Mercedes recite only the first part of the Hail Mary, and was waiting a while as if in church or as if someone beside her to recite the "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

I looked both sides, and I found your likely companion. My curiosity made me get up and I approached the solitary devotion. In the end, I discovered that there was someone at his side, but it was not a human being. It was his cat. Whenever my aunt finished the first part of Ave Maria, accompanied the cat with a long purr like cats always do when pure love light up your internal engine next to someone who loves them.

When the old and the cat had finished praying, I put a chair beside her and asked her to tell me stories. My aunt was an excellent storyteller, and I think his novels were the source of the stories teenager at that time began to write.

However, at that time I was presented another problem. At 99, my aunt was in good health, but suffered from some omissions. He began to tell a gripping story of the early twentieth century, but when I was about to reach the outcome he forgot he had started and began another.

As realized my surprise, my aunt told me:

"I understand, son. But I also want you to understand me. When the old and we have to leave this world, we sit in a rocking chair and I forget. Just as young people go to school to remember some disciplines and concepts, old sat every afternoon to forget.

I think that final day was the beginning of my literary vocation. I realized that literature serves as my aunt's cat Mercedes to avoid that we are all alone in the world and to allow that even in the greatest solitude, we can communicate with our God, the universe, our land and the people most want in it.

As the fifty Hail Marys prayed that my old aunt, the mission of the creator of fictions is to say, express, and to proclaim mumbling songs with memories and nostalgia led to the expected collective happiness of mankind and for the infinite expanses of life.

I realized also that just as in school are taught to remember, also had to learn to forget and that could also be the task of literature I produce: to make our people forget the harshness and the perversity of this long night insomnia, violence and bloodshed that has most often been the history of Peru.

Make peace with the bad memories decree does not mean forgetting the crime, much less accept with resignation the abuse, much less consent to the impunity of the wicked and unjust. Like the cat that woke up my aunt after a long string, I thought that literature should be removed from the lethargy of our people and make them see that democracy and freedom are not given away but must be fought. The writers have usually assumed the role as his remake history. In Peru we live in, that role is much more important. Here we must keep our history come undone.

My books can not erase the exploitation of the poor, the corruption of the powerful, nor the torture and genocide that is often suppress the anger of the poor and fair. My literature is not going to change the world, but it drives me to serve generous causes and values without which man stops being man and society is becoming unbearable.

And that was the mission I set myself at the age of fifteen when I wrote my first story and met the cat and forgetting my Aunt Mercedes. If you want to know what happened next, I tell you. A year later, death came to visit the old ... and maybe both stayed to talk and pray together forever.

Ciro Alegria while waiting to be shot

Ciro Alegria

The most important American Indian novel - "The world is wide and others' (1941) was written by a Peruvian Ciro Alegría, who years earlier had survived a massacre, had dodged a firing squad, had spent several years in prison, had been banished after and most of his life could not return home because a succession of dictatorships always stopped him.

On Christmas Eve 1931, Ciro Alegría, then a boy of 22, was the local APRA in its home city, Trujillo, to assist in the delivery of food for poor children. He was accompanied by his friend, the painter Mariano Alcántara was more or less the same age.

APRA was a political and social movement that was rising up a few years ago to make major structural changes and to propose the union of the Latin American countries against United States imperialism. In agriculture, Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, their leader, proposed the expropriation of large estates, a feudal relic in which the landowner was master of the lives and destinies of his Indians.

A few hours after the distribution of bonuses, Ciro and drinking with fellow Mariano traditional hot chocolate that night. The young writer's eyes caught the attention of a beautiful classmate and invited her out for walks in the adjoining Plaza de Armas in Trujillo, Peru's largest. That would save his life.

When there were a few minutes before midnight, a truck with soldiers parked in front of the local party. Newcomers carrying machine guns. Some were stationed outside the door. A group of them entered the room making shots left and right. There were dozens of deaths. Most of those were, indeed, children and housewives.

For its part, Mariano Alcántara, tired of waiting for his friend, had gone to sleep under the desk in the administrative office. When soldiers entered shooting, believed that one of his rounds had settled. It was he who many years later, Trujillo I tell our history.

In July the following year in the same city explode a revolution that was destined to be the starting point of a formidable social insurgency in Peru. It is normal for young university Ciro Alegria take part. The rebels seized the city jail for a week and installed a popular government. However, the armed forces besieged Trujillo by air, sea and land and, after many unequal battle, crushed the rebellion. Thousands of Trujillo were shot summarily against the walls of the ancient pre-Hispanic city of Chan Chan.

Cyrus may be one of them, but death was not yet on their lists. After riding kills pursued in balance, was finally caught. A court martial decided his execution. In prison, he waited for months to comply with the fateful decision.

When I met him several decades later, Joy told me that there, in dreams and in the midst of the four prison walls, he had seen Rosendo and the various characters of his epic novel "The world is wide and strange." "I was dying to get out to write" I said .-.

The work, published nine years later, the Indians of an Andean community have to face the invasion of their land by the landowner who protect the armed forces and the laws of the republic. Only nature mysticism and gives them a tremendous resistance to ancestral Indian community will continue its struggle. International award-winning and published in 1941, this novel would also be the first entry of the figure of the Indian in Peruvian literature. Before she was published, the Indians had not been considered worthy to enter the pages still colonial Peruvian authors.

A Ciro was commuted the death penalty by a prison he suffered some years and then exile in Chile. In this country would be published "The Golden Serpent" (1935) and "hungry dogs" (1939). "The world is wide and others," published in almost all languages, was to become a global novel.

Not even the fame won by these events could serve to return to their country. Successive dictatorships was prevented or made Peru a very dangerous place for the novelist who finally went to the United States and was dedicated there to the university chair.

After a long exile and after a few decades back. Fulminant heart attack ended his life in 1967. They had not done away with the gun of the irrational, not the eventful years of persecution and martyrdom, or the possibility of being shot. Neither would get the death because their readers these days we are celebrating the centenary of his birth and eternity of the characters or the book he revealed that he thought as he waited to be shot.

Lima, Carlos V and the pisco sour

"If the Queen of Spain died / Carlos Quinto would reign. / Correría Spanish blood / as are the waves of the sea. "

Since the late nineteenth century, Peruvians tend to end a party dancing to the rhythm of this waltz whose lyrics seem to have no rhyme or reason for anyone with minimal knowledge of the history of Spain. And yet, the dancers draw sparks from the floor, lift their heads as if they were dancing flamenco and answer lisp with no reply when asked to relate what Carlos Quinto.

Pisco sour - Photo tomaszd

The Carlos V singing was not the emperor of that name, if one remembers that this did not happen to any queen that had problems. As anyone can remember, dynastic order, Carlos was the fifth in Germany, but the first in Spain, both of which came together under his leadership. After him, followed by several monarchs Carlos, but did not arrive until the fifth. Yet the Fifth is visited Lima?

Never to return to a story which in itself is long, summarized: the death of Fernando VII, for lack of a male descendant, was designated as heir his daughter Elizabeth. Don Carlos, brother of the monarch, did not accept this inheritance, and claims to the throne, his and his heirs, generated during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries a series of wars that have not officially ended. Spanish things, like say César Vallejo.

This is the Carlos V to sing the Lima. It did not become king, but was greeted like a king by the Lima, when he reached the capital of Peru in 1875, during a publicity tour that would take him to other former colonies. He stayed at the Hotel Maury and for two months, was the center of attention of the Lima.

In its brief presence is resulting in the waltz that begins with this note, and so is the popular expression "no hay quinto malo '. And finally, your visit is the origin of one of the most delicious, sinful and euphoric national symbols, the pisco sour, prepared in his honor, whose name is enough to overwhelm the nostalgia of Peruvians who live abroad.

Lima was founded as the official City of Kings, but three hundred years of the colony, there was not even that one visit. Maybe, who saw a closer Felipe II was said to be, held in El Escorial, climbs on the nights of Castile to glimpse behind the mountains of Mexico supernatural lights, Lima or Cusco.

To make matters worse, the character of higher rank who has exercised authority in Peru was mayor of Trujillo, but not in Lima. I mean, Manuel Godoy, Prince of Peace, Duke of Alcudia and powerful minister of Charles IV, who gave the city rival with a coat of arms against which Lima is commoner or middle class.

Should we infer from this that Lima is a nostalgic city of the kings who never visited and that, however, gave it its name? Maybe. The popular delirium posed by the presence of the Spanish royals visit Peru when it seems to check. Además, de acuerdo con encuestas de la agencia Datum, España y sus monarcas actuales son el país y los personajes que más simpatías despiertan entre los peruanos.

Sin amores obligatorios, España y sus reyes de hoy son los únicos responsables de la amistad que suscitan, y hay un hecho concreto que hace admirable a su monarca. En la historia mundial del siglo veinte, y en toda la de España, Juan Carlos es el único rey que ha sido capaz de rescatar la democracia en su país sin más arma que su indómita presencia moral.

En Madrid, ocurrió algo que nunca se había visto, un hombre solo y sin pistolas, fue capaz de detener las máquinas de guerra y la ferocidad de un golpe de Estado. Fue en los años 80 y aconteció después de que, en una historia similar, los militares de Grecia habían depuesto al rey Constantino, hermano de doña Sofía. Pero el rey no fue ni calculador ni pusilánime, ni siquiera prudente, fue español.

The Nobel Peace Prize, then ask for him, was not given, and this award along with which it was given to Borges and to be bargains to Vargas Llosa is one of the debts you have with us Swedish Academy, which has lost that way, some names that could have been prizes for the prize.

San Pedro de Alcantara Santa Teresa said that seemed made of tree roots. In this way, and consistency is the image that Spain and its king we offer Hispanic Americans. Above and below the passes and fatuous nostalgia, is a perpetual tangle of roots, some indomitable faith, a lifelong adventure and a way of life that bind us the world is the world.

COMING AND HUGO MUÑOZ - On the occasion of the sentence on Alberto Fujimori

Hugo was awakened after midnight, with heavy knock on the door of his house. "Coming. I'm coming, "he shouted, and went to the bathroom to get ready. "They are wrong. They think it's my birthday "- perhaps he thought. "They must be dizzy. I'll invite you a coffee.

This may have been the beginning of the evening. I guess because I knew and I was his professor in college, and I know that was nice and amiguero, he would not leave anyone waiting but either one and 45. "I'm coming," cried again when they returned to hear the knocking at the door.

On the night of July 18, 1992, gave him no time to dress. A kick opened the door of his house two masked men carrying machine guns. They passed the bed where his wife and sleeping baby without caring teacher to be seen, and finally reduced him by force and forced him to leave.

Hugo Munoz was waiting at the door by a group of soldiers, several military trucks and the largest Martin Rivas, head of the "Hill" and execute the provisions of the then president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori.

In the student halls, kidnapped seven boys and two girls. Once on board the vans, the hostages were brutally beaten to "tame" as ordered Rivas, who loved the job.

Luego de dos horas por la carretera central del Perú, los vehículos se detuvieron y un grupo de soldados bajó con palas a cavar las futuras tumbas. En medio de forcejeos y gritos, los detenidos fueron obligados a arrodillarse. A causa de las bestiales torturas, alguno ya había muerto en la camioneta. Al fin, Martín Rivas dio la orden de disparar sobre el grupo.

The ten young victims of Fujimori were buried in haste because it was daybreak and were passing other vehicles. In the days that followed, the criminals were buried and dug up two more times until I finally decided to set them on fire, and pour dirt on top.

One of the executors, welcomed the system of sincere confession, which he thought would relate later to bring the hostages to Army Headquarters, from where the decisions, but there was countermanded, and finally, the final mandate of the extermination .

Who gave the order to the crime? When asked what the greatest Rivas, said: "If Pérez Documet was the general in charge of the difference, who were the only ones who could be on it? Clearly, no? If the orders came not from Fujimori, Montesinos and Hermoza, whose else could come? ".

Everyone knows that night like every night of that fateful time, Alberto Fujimori spent the night at the headquarters because he was afraid, very afraid.

Everyone knows that, days later, denounced the kidnapping of students, went on television to declare the country that the students had self-kidnapping or had left college to join the ranks of Sendero Luminoso.

Everybody knows that when a congressional committee investigating the crime, Fujimori tanks surrounded the house to intimidate the Legislative Investigating Committee.

Everyone knows that, afterwards, the discovery of the bodies, and the perpetrators brought to justice did not meet a single day in jail, and soon received a presidential pardon.

Everyone knows that in Peru modest nine students and their teacher were victims of a slaughter ordered by a man who boasted of his admiration for a beast nearby, and said in those days: "He will be Pinochet, but I'm Chinochet."

Everyone knows that this character simpleton seminalfabeto almost Lombrosian, justified in public and private, as often as he could, the bloodshed as the only way to defeat the trails.

For all this, we all know, it is inconceivable that you keep calling political and political party is called the gang of his followers. Those demanding the acquittal of his boss or the presidential amnesty in a country where we have in effect the Constitution and laws.

Threats were made without success to the president, judges and prosecutors. For the rest of the Peruvians, we want to scare.

I met Hugo Muñoz, and I will not forget. You, either, Alberto Fujimori. You do not sleep and in the Headquarters of the Army, or sleep. In its white nights, perhaps at this very moment looking distressed wall of his cell, and create see Hugo Muñoz. "Coming. I'm coming "- perhaps he says. And that is true: It is.

Don Tulio, the lord of the astral bodies

I met my friend Don Tulio, making a man.

"You are going wrong .- I criticized him.

"What you want is mujer. said, and returned to his task.

A half and half between the shadow of the night and the first light of day, watching from the small wooden bench where I was, the Maestro Eduardo Calderon Palomino, also called Don Tulio, looked huge.

Her belly was what most contributed to the staggering proportions of that silhouette against the light. His head seemed carved a thousand years ago with Chinese eyes and a nose of an ax to which was added long hair gathered in the way they did the prophets. At least four donkeys wide measure, had told me the secret to the index on the lips a good friend.

Don Tulio

At five in the morning in the village of Las Delicias de Moche, Trujillo, the dead mingle with the living, and animals with men. Roosters chat with other roosters that live in pens far away, and those with other and others, and so on until the end of the world. Dogs and wolves are the same thing. The building has returned to the original unit in which men and beasts and things were connected. All nature is pending collection of light vapors rising from the east. A few stray dogs announce the day.

Since that time, the Tuno was dedicated to the manufacture of ceramics and wood carvings. At seven began to be a healer. At that time, coming from Trujillo and from all the villages through which flows the river Moche, arrived home to people who confessed to suffering from all sorts of ailments and sorrows.

The teacher received one by one so quiet and they would prescribe herbs potions considered necessary for its cure. Some carried a cloth bag in a very sneaky little rodent, guinea pig, whose use is essential for specialized diagnostics.

I counted between fifty to sixty guinea pigs slaughtered in a single morning. On the patient's body that sometimes their symptoms had not declared, the healer rubbed several times the short animal still alive while repeating a spell almost inaudible.

After opening the skin to the rodent in his heart throbbing, the Tuno was able to discover the root of the problem and find a solution. In some cases, to heal enough to eat certain infusions made from herbs. If it was a disease of God, that was the solution, or consulting a specialist healer, a cardiologist, for example.

In other markets, when the disease had been induced by a sorcerer Maler, my friend sentenced to one table was needed.

- What is most important to make a human?

- Only God knows!

- Of course! But I mean in your work, buddy.

He thought. He looked toward the sky.

- Being God must be a tremendous responsibility! ... Read more »

ISAAC "GOLDEMBERG THERE?

I think we met 76 years, the first time I came to this country, but this may be a memory inventado.Existe even an anecdote about how he was our meeting, but I've been told many times in recent years and with so many variants that I do not think that is completely true, and I can not say which one is the one that remembers and serves as the narrator in this story. Worst of all is that we're both storytellers.

New York - photo credit: Charlie Cravero

It happened in New York, as I'm told, more precisely, at a meeting in the Village. We were in a group of people whose main activities were the theater and painting. They spoke English, yet do not know why I suspected the guy was at my side understood Castilian. Or perhaps it was he who asked me:

-Do you speak worse worst

"Sure. I'm Peruvian, you know?

-! What a coincidence! ... I am too.

The group conversation resumed. Quizás el tema es Jimmy Carter, el candidato demócrata de ese año, o quizás no porque, en este tipo de charlas, cada persona tiene un tema que no necesariamente comparten los demás, y la más conmovedora muestra de solidaridad humana se da en el hecho de que nadie escucha a nadie, pero todos hablan y parecen sentirse muy contentos de ello.

"Well, I'm from northern Peru.

-Otra coincidencia más. Also I am.

A lady called me aside to ask what I think about the painter who has just opened an exhibition at the side, and this short for an instant matches.

"It's a scoundrel, a trickery, a plagiarist.

I have no time to tell the lady that I have not gone to the "vernissage" but does not care. Rather, it is interested in knowing your opinion.

- What are you doing? - Take an oversight by the lady to ask for Isaac. Or maybe it's the opposite:

"I write stories and novels.

-No puede ser. That's what I do. To end the match, I said you're like me in northern Peru. Well, I guess not Pacasmayo province. Right?

"From there. And what district of the province you were born?

"In Chepén, Lima street-answer both at the same time. (I believe this story because it fails should have a third person to ask.)

It's been almost a quarter century and we have never seen again, if this time we really saw. Those who repeat the story does not say whether that time I had read "Life installment of Don Jacobo Lerner Goldemberg this superb novel whose theme is the life of the Jewish community in Peru. Of course they can not know, but yes, I had read, and I found it really quite extraordinary. It was published in English and Castilian and received rave reviews from the New York Times, Newsweek, The New Yorker, among others, and yet none of this proves that Isaac and I we are known.

Moreover, recently got my hands on another text of his, a voluminous copy of "The Big Book of Jewish America," the most complete anthology on the life, miracles, and pilgrimages works People of the Book in the continent. A more novel - "Time to time" and five books of poetry completed a work that has been translated into English, French, Hebrew, Italian and German.

After the time we met in New York (assuming that we were), we have crossed dozens of times in Peru. Our vacation times coincide and, during the summer gringo, we have been the same days in Cusco, Lima, Trujillo and Chepén, usually in the middle of the same group of friends, but there was always someone told me "just for five minutes Isaac was here "and immediately told me the famous story. The only thing that tends to vary is the city where we met sometimes San Francisco is also such as Seville, Paris and Jerusalem

The issue comes about because a few years ago we agreed in Lima during the International Book Fair and even in the same area, the presentation of my book "The Invisible E" - but we were invisible. Do not remember seeing him in the crowd. For his part, Isaac does not know what happened, but can not say that I saw, and therefore we have to wait some years for someone to invent a story about an alleged meeting us at the time.

He said that 24 years have passed without us to turn to see. Yet now we are in contact. We had to wait for it to have invented the Internet and e-mail, and they brought us even more matches. The first e-mail Isaac says,

"I went to E Invisible and I was amazed with your items and coincidences: I also am a Scorpio (November 15), the two chepenanos and above all, Jews. For I am not going to tell your old man by that name - (Gonzalez) LEON-not descended from converts. I think it's time to write a novel, two hearts and two brains, which is to say on all fours ... "

Which means we have met invisible and invisible through email. And besides, the matter is that so far I have not ever found Isaac on the phone that lets me in his message, and all our communication is done through a doubtful, suspicious, call the hypothetical computer that skepticism both uncertain as the story that brings us together. Isaac Goldemberg "exist? May have existed and been deleted from time to time. We can not know. There is no irrevocable proof of their presence in the world, and that usually happens to us storytellers, and all the magic words that we speak without knowing it.