August 28 is a date set aside all across Mexico for paying tribute to senior citizens, alternatively known as Dia del Abuelo or Dia del Adulto Mayor. To mark the occasion this year, Chapala’s DIF family development center hosted a big celebration for the community’s elders on Friday, August 30.
Scores of seniors and their families arrived at 10 a.m. for the celebration of a thanksgiving Mass, officiated by Padre Candelario Trejo Roa.
During a short interlude following the service the crowd enjoyed an informal song and dance fest with vocalist Lupita Jimenez and several gray haired gents from the audience taking up the mike.
Senior of the year
The event continued with Mayor Jaoquin Huerta, First Lady Marisela Navarro and DIF director Olga Ramirez stepping up to present the 2013 Distinguished Senior Award to Margarita Maldonado Cisneros in recognition of her many years of service on behalf of persons suffering from physical disabilities.
Born in Autlan, Jalisco in 1946, Maldonado lost her mother at the age of eight months. She was raised by an aunt and uncle until she reached her teens and moved to Mexico City to live with her biological father. It was there that she met her future husband, airplane technician Jorge Venegas Rocha. The couple eventually settled in Chapala to raise their five children, including daughter Cinthia Teresa who was diagnosed with neonatal cerebral hypoxia shortly after her birth.
In bringing up a child with severe impairments, they came in contact with other parents meeting similar challenges, as well as professionals and philanthropists involved in treatment and therapy programs. Jorge took advantage of his technical expertise to become a skilled wheelchair repairman. Margarita got involved in facilitating access to specialized care for families in need. She became a founding member of the Programa Pro Niños Incapacitados del Lago, A.C., serving on the board of directors for a full decade. As coordinator linking Niños Incapacitados with DIF services for the disabled, she has extended a helping hand to more than 200 families over the years.
In acknowledgment for dedication and generous heart, Maldonado received a silver medal from DIF Jalisco, a framed certificate of appreciation and floral bouquet from the city and a thundering round of applause from fellow seniors.
Elder talent
The celebration continued with a contest among the choral groups and folkdance troupes for elders sponsored by DIF centers throughout the municipality.
The Nuevo Sol Fuerza y Union songsters from Santa Cruz de la Soleded won over the panel of judges with their rendition of Ojos Tapatios, nabbing first place standing over competitors from Ajijic, Atotonilquillo, San Antonio Tlayacapan and Chapala.
The Atotonilquillo dancers, outfitted in stunning black velvet Oaxaca style embroidered ensembles, gave a fine performance to the classic tune La Llorona, but it wasn’t strong enough to beat out to sole rival, Chapala’s Grupo Guadalupano who defied the debilities of advanced age to tap out lively steps and energetically swirl their wide floral skirts to a potpourri of sounds from the state of Sinaloa.
The winners will move on to represent Chapala in the regional phase of DIF’s statewide Seniors Sports and Cultural Match.
The festivities closed with a hearty pozole feast.