Pueblo Viejo commemorates “Day of Chief Enriquillo” with cultural tribute

Azua.- The Permanent Commission for National Commemorations and the Mayor’s Office of Pueblo Viejo, Azua, celebrated the “Day of Chief Enriquillo” on September 27 with a vibrant cultural event honoring the Taíno nobleman and first guerrilla fighter in the Americas, who led a rebellion against Spanish colonial authorities. The ceremony took place at the ruins of the colonial church of Las Mercedes, where Chief Enriquillo’s remains are believed to be.

The event featured speeches from local officials and cultural figures, including the mayor of Pueblo Viejo, Víctor Figuereo, and Professor Lidia Martínez de Macarrulla, a key advocate for locating Enriquillo’s remains.

Juan Pablo Uribe, president of the Permanent Commission of Patriotic Anniversaries, emphasized that honoring Enriquillo’s legacy strengthens national identity and sovereignty, echoing President Luis Abinader’s decree 783-21, which established September 27 as “Enriquillo Day.” The event included indigenous rituals, poetry performances, and a symbolic tree planting, bringing together hundreds of students and community members to celebrate the legacy of this historic leader.