By: Carlos Quinquiví
The residents of San Miguel de Velasco, proud of their Chiquitana History, Faith and Identity, celebrate today 304 years of the foundation of the Jesuit Mission of San Miguel Arcagel.
This town located 40 kilometers from San Ignacio de Velasco, becoming the second municipality of the Velasco province of the department of Santa Cruz, began the celebrations with a Popular verbena this Sunday At night in the Plaza 29 de September where the sky was illuminated by the pyrotechnic games and party with live music for the posakas (visitors) and locals.
The festive event also participated municipal, civic, educational, leaders of neighborhoods and leaders of indigenous communities who shared their perspectives on the situation of the region on this key date, which needs support for its growth and development from the three levels of government, so that there is impulse to agricultural and human and social development, said the neighbor, Ciro Hector Dorado.
San Miguel, today became the second Chiquitano municipality of the Velasco province of the department of Santa Cruz, had as its central act the celebration of the Holy Mass, in charge of the bishop of the diocese of San Ignacio, Robert Flow.
On Monday morning, many faithful crowded the missionary temple, and accompanied the image of the Patron Saint in the traditional procession through the main square.
Several neighbors consulted by the duty, stated that there were no works what to deliver to this employer’s party and that the economic crisis that the country is experiencing, also hits the inland settlers, due to the lack of work and high sources of work and high the prices of the family basket.
In this population, the shortage of fuels is also felt. There is a supplier and carriers also make long lines to load diesel and gasoline, whose supply is not permanent.
The important thing for San Miguel is that It has the bioceanic highway asphalted between San José de Chiquitos and San Ignacio de Velasco, although this work is not yet delivered by the national government.
The Jesuit Mission of San Miguel was founded on September 29, 1721 by the priests Francisco Hervás and Felipe Suárez, with the help of Chiquitanos natives. His temple was declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. San Miguel is part of the mission group of the Velasco province, along with San Rafael, Santa Ana and San Ignacio de Velasco.
This population is recognized for their art of wood carvings, stained glass windows, paintings and columns turned with mestizo baroque motifs.
