Blanes

The town of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico was founded by Don Bonocio Llenza Feliú on July 1, 1881. Don Bonocio Llenza Feliú was born in Blanes, Catalunya. While there is no monument to him in Blanes, it is not difficult for the imagination to capture his early life in a coastal town which was the center of ship-building and fishing in the 19th century. Blanes is located in Catalonia on the Costa Brava. The first settlers are thought to have inhabited the area as far back as the third century BC and archaeologists have excavated the remains of houses from the first century BC. The town thrived as a ship building centre in the 19th century but its fortunes declined in the first half of the 20th century, particularly during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) when the local population suffered bombing, famine and repression. Modern tourism arrived in the 1950s and over the next 20 years Blanes started to flourish once again, developing into a popular international holiday destination. Back from the seafront you'll find evidence of a town steeped in history, with ancient monuments, churches and buildings still standing as reminders of this area's past.

A few photos that capture Blanes (more to be added shortly):

Casa Defilló Amiguet in Mayagüez

On Friday, the 9th of October 2009, through the generous assistance of Dinorah Rodríguez Torres, from the Office of the City of Mayagüez Property Management, and with the support of Hon. José Guillermo Rodriguez, Mayor of the City of Mayagüez, I was able to visit the historic home at 21 Calle Mendez Vigo where Pilar Defilló Amiguet, mother of Pau (Pablo) Casals, was born on November 11, 1853. The house was built in the 1840’s in the colonial neo-classic style and was the center of much social and cultural activity during Pilar’s childhood. The house is currently closed to the public but plans have been put forward to transform it into a museum. With many original features still intact, it was not difficult for me to imagine the Defilló Amiguet family living in the center the growing city of Mayagüez in the 1850’s.

I have included a few of the many photos that were taken.  More will be shared in later posts as I continue to piece together the Puerto Rican childhood of Pilar Defilló Amiguet.

Bija: The Architect of Memory

Arcihect Alfredo Wiechers, known as Bija to his family and friends, was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. After completing his studies at L'École Speciale d'Architecture" in París in 1905, Wiechers lived in Barcelona where he worked for the renowned architect Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia who became his mentor. The book explores the archectural influence Barcelona had upon the construction of modern Ponce, Puerto Rico. Wiechers returned to Ponce in 1911 and infused all his projects ---hotels, stores, homes, mausoleums and factories, with a creative mixture of distinctively Catalan elements and inventive solutions to tropical environment. As most of his clients were prominent Puerto Rican families of Catalonian origin, memories of Barcleona and Catalunya dominate his creative thoughts and work. Today, Ponce is still known as “Little Barcelona” due in large part to Wiechers work, most of which still stands today as a tribute to Catalonian influence in the Caribbean.

Don Bonocio Llenza Feliú:From Barceloneta to Barceloneta

The town of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico was founded by Don Bonocio Llenza Feliú on July 1, 1881. It was one of the last municipalities created by the Spanish government in Puerto Rico. Don Bonocio Llenza Feliú was a very active and enterprising man, devoted to trade and the world of business. Born in Blanes, Catalunya, he had four ships: Santa María, Pinta, Niña y Joaquina, which carried goods and passengers back and forth from Barcelona to Puerto Rico. He named Barceloneta, Puerto Rico in honor if the district of Baceloneta to honor the prosperous contact he maintained with that shipping district of Barcelona. The book is rich with information about the food, dress, religious beliefs, manners, health, and social habits of the people of his day as well as the important economic relationship forced between Catalunya and Puerto Rico in the 19th century.

Pilar and the Waters of Liberty

The mother of acclaimed cellist Pau (Pablo) Casals, Pilar Defilló iAmiguet was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, in 1853 to Catalan parents who had a comfortable position on the island. The family possessed a profound social consciousness and were friends and supporters of Ramón Emeterio betances, Puerto Rican nationalist and absolutist, considered to be the father of the Puerto Rican independence movement. Pilar’s father was a member of “The Secret Abolitionist Society" founded by Betances. The society baptized and emancipated thousands of black slave children. The event, which was known as "aguas de libertad" (waters of liberty), was carried out at the Cathedral of Mayagüez. Through the eyes of Pilar the book explores the work of the absolutists, the social conditions of the time and the contribution of Catalonians to the cause of social justice in 19th century Puerto Rico.  Sample pages (click on images to enlarge):

Catalan:Caribbean Connections

I have begun work --- as both author and illustrator --- on three books that explore the historical and cultural connections between Catalunya and Puerto Rico through the lives of individuals shaped by the society of their time.  The reading age for the books: 4-8.  The books will betrilingual, written in Catalan, Spanish and English.  My research began in Puerto Rico and will continue over the next few months in Catalunya.  The books are titled:
- Pilar and the Waters of Liberty
- Don Bonocio Llenza Feliú: From Barceloneta to Barceloneta 
- Bija: The Architect of Memory