Total remittances to Mexico hit US $41.46 billion from January to August this year. (Archive)
Remittances to Mexico continue to break records with US $5.56 billion sent in August — the highest ever figure for that month — but the strong peso means their purchasing power is falling.
August’s figure represented an annual increase of 8.6% and brought total remittances for January-August up to US $41.46 billion, a 9.3% increase from the same period in 2022, according to data from theBank of Mexico (Banxico).
Profeco head Ricardo Sheffield Padilla discusses the primary money transfer services used to send funds to Mexico at a morning press conference. (Cuartoscuro.com)
There were 105.46 million individual transfers in this period, up 8.29% from the year before, while the average amount of each transfer increased by 0.91%, to US $393.
Mexico has seen asteady upward trend in remittances received since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, with nearly 40 consecutive months of year-on-year increases.
The growth largely reflects the strength of the U.S. economy. The United States is the source of more than 95% of remittances to Mexico, according to 2021 statistics analyzed by the Wilson Center, and U.S. wages are up to ten times higher than equivalent wages in Mexico.
Economists estimate that remittances account for between 3.5% and 4% of Mexico’s GDP. President López Obrador has called the 38 million Mexican workers in the U.S. “living heroes” who support about 10 million poor families.
Though August set a record in remittances for the year’s eighth month, the amount sent fell 12.5% in real terms from August 2022. (Gobierno de México)
However, high inflation in the U.S. also affects Mexican workers there, leaving them with less disposable income. Although August’s remittances were the highest ever for that month, they were down 1.8% from the month before.
Furthermore, the appreciation of the Mexican peso this year has eroded the purchasing power of remittances sent in dollars. Valued in pesos, August’s remittances in fact showed a 12.5% fall from August 2022.
Several analysts who spoke to the newspaper El Financiero warned that a flagging U.S. economy could bring the total value of remittances to Mexico down further over the coming months.
“If there is a recession in the U.S., it is inevitable that it will negatively affect Mexico’s income from remittances,” said Jesús Cervantes, director of economic statistics at the Center for Latin American Monetary Studies (CEMLA). “Even if the peso depreciates and domestic inflation continues to fall in Mexico, the annual comparisons will register year-on-year falls measured in pesos.”
The peso was at 17.67 to the U.S. dollar at end of trading on Monday and on Tuesday, went to 18.07. (Shutterstock)
This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. to reflect a more recent USD:MXN exchange rate.
The Mexican peso depreciated to above 18 to the US dollar on Tuesday afternoon, sliding to its weakest level since late April.
One greenback was trading at 18.07 pesos at 3:30 p.m. Mexico City time, according to Bloomberg. The last time the US dollar was stronger against the peso was April 26.
This is the worst level for the peso against the U.S. dollar since April. (Cuartoscuro)
The USD:MXN exchange rate was 17.67 at the close of markets on Monday, meaning that the peso lost over 2% of its value against the greenback on Tuesday.
Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexican bank Banco Base, said on X that the dollar strengthened and the peso weakened after the publication on Tuesday morning of “positive” data on job vacancies in the United States.
The U.S. Labor Department reported Tuesday that there were 9.61 million job openings in August, up from 8.9 million in July. The figure was significantly higher than a 8.8 million consensus forecast of economists, according to financial data company Refinitiv.
Analysts with Mexican bank CI bank predicted before the release of the data that a U.S. job openings figure that exceeded expectations “would intensify” losses for the peso.
The U.S. Federal Reserve may increase rates in November. (Shutterstock)
Investors “balked at the fresh numbers,” according to a New York Times report. The Times said that investors were “fearful that [the numbers] would signal to the Fed that the economy was still running too quickly, necessitating even higher interest rates to slow it.”
A rise in interest rates in the United States would likely cause the US dollar to strengthen against the peso as it would narrow the gap between the U.S. Federal Reserve’s federal funds rate and the Bank of Mexico’s key rate.
Currently set at a record high of 11.25%, the Bank of Mexico’s key rate is well above the Fed’s 5.25-5.5% range. Analysts cite the broad gap between the two rates as one factor that has helped the peso appreciate this year after it started the year at about 19.5 to the greenback.
The newspaper El Financiero reported that the dollar got a boost after Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester said Tuesday that she was open to increasing rates again.
Positive job numbers in the U.S. strengthened the dollar. (Unsplash)
“If the economy looks the way it did at the next meeting, similar to the way it looked at our recent meeting, I would do the further rate increase,” she told reporters on a conference call.
The Fed’s next monetary policy meeting will be held on Nov. 1. Mester is not currently a member of the committee that sets interest rates in the United States.
Another factor that caused the peso to lose ground against the dollar was the increase in long-term U.S. treasury yields, El Economista reported. The 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields reached their highest level since 2007 on Tuesday.
The Financial Times reported that the 30-year yield reached 4.91% for the first time in 16 years “as markets adjusted to the prospect of a long period of high interest rates and governments’ vast borrowing needs.”
“… Expectations that U.S. interest rates will remain higher have boosted the dollar, heaping pressure on other currencies,” the newspaper said.
Creating your own little Mexican herb garden can spice up your food, bring color to your house and relax busy minds. (Shutterstock)
Fresh herbs provide a depth of flavor and nutritional value for cooking, teas, cocktails, and herbal remedies. Unfortunately, despite carefully picking the freshest at the store, they often wilt in the fridge before we get to use them. Growing your herb garden at home is not only an eco-friendly and affordable way to have fresh organic herbs available whenever you need and provides a beautiful scent for your home but also offers bees a safe place to rest and replenish on their pollinating journey.
So, are you ready to get your Mexican herb garden going? Here’s a basic guide:
The so called “Vicks plant” not only smells like its (unrelated) medicinal counterpart but is also a great remedy for colds. (Nickolay Kurzenko/Shutterstock)
Step 1: Select the right location
The first step in creating a herb garden is choosing the right location. Most herbs thrive in a spot that receives 4-8 hours of sunlight each day. Find a sunny area in your garden, on your balcony, or even on a windowsill that provides the necessary sunlight. If you have limited space, consider vertical gardening or hanging containers to make the most of your available area.
Step 2: Choose the right containers or beds
The choice of containers or beds for your herb garden depends on your space and preferences. You can use traditional garden beds, hanging baskets, or repurposed containers but your best choice would be, of course, Mexican terracotta pots. Ensure that your containers have adequate drainage. A good trick is to pile pebbles atop the pot’s drainage hole before adding the soil to prevent it from clogging.
Step 3: Prepare the soil
Herbs thrive in well-draining soil. Use a high-quality potting mix or prepare your garden soil by adding compost to improve its texture and fertility. Herbs generally don’t require heavy fertilization, so go easy on the nutrients.
Step 4: Selecting your herbs
You can buy ready-grown plants from your local “vivero” (plant nursery) and plant them into a dedicated herb garden or pot, or buy packets of seeds.
Herb selection is where the fun begins. Here are some traditional herbs well-suited to Mexico’s climate and cuisine, but you can try growing any herb you like.
Mentha spicata is the essential taste of a mojito, and easy to grow indoors. (Paul Maguire/Shutterstock)
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
Cilantro is a staple in Mexican cooking, is easy to grow and thrives in containers or garden beds. All you have to do is buy a packet of seeds, sprinkle on soil in a flower pot, and cover with half an inch of soil. Water the seeds just enough to make the soil moist but not flooded and continue lightly watering every day. The seeds will start sprouting about ten days later and continue growing. If you see the plants slanting diagonally, it means they are seeking sun, so move the flower pot to where it can receive more direct sunlight. You can start harvesting 40 days after planting by trimming the branches.
Vaporub (Plectranthus hadiensis)
This plant smells delightfully similar to Vicks Vaporub, hence the name, but is unrelated to the ingredients in the medicinal balm.It is widely used as an ornamental plant because it is easy to cultivate, propagate, and maintain, and its thick leaves on long branches provide a bright pop of color and fragrance. It can be grown in pots or outdoor gardens, grows quickly, and takes very simple care. It is popularly used for decongesting the respiratory tract in case of sinusitis or cough, just drop 12 leaves in a cooking pot with a quart of water, boil for 10 minutes, and then inhale the vapors.
Epazote is one of the most quintessentially Mexican herbs – and plays an important role in traditional cuisine. (Guajillo Studio/Shutterstock)
Epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides)
Epazote is a herb widely loved in Mexican cuisine. Traditionally added to black beans (for its anti-flatulence properties), it also contributes wonderful flavor to salsas, quesadillas and mushroom soup. This plant can be easily grown from a simple sprig. First, place the fresh epazote sprig in a glass of non-chlorinated water. Leave it there for about five days. If it stays green, it’s doing well; if it wilts, try another sprig. When it shows roots, transplant the epazote into the soil. Place it wherever it receives 4 hours of direct sunlight daily and water every three days.
Hoja Santa (Piper auritum)
Hoja Santa has a distinct anise flavor and adds a spectacular twist to many dishes. Designate its spot in an ample and shady spot, as it loves to spread out in warm and humid areas and does not like to share space with others. Sprinkle seeds in the soil and be patient. You will begin to notice growth in three months. Water it once daily, as it thrives in humidity and does not tolerate dryness.
Hoja Santa has an anise-like flavor. (Natalia Ec/Shutterstock)
Mint (Mentha spicata)
Mint is widely loved for its scent and is a very useful herb for making drinks, from tummy-soothing teas to mojitos. It is best to grow indoors year-round in a very bright location to prevent it from stretching for the light and becoming pale. Aim for a well-balanced soil by watering only when the soil feels dry to the touch and the pot feels light. A good trick is to move the pot to the sink, and let running water flush through and out the bottom drainage hole three times. Then let it drain fully and return it to its place. Regular trimmings are necessary to keep your mint plant bushy and encourage new growth. Cutting just above a set of leaves will prompt two new stems to sprout from the leaf nodes. Word of caution: mint is slightly toxic to dogs if eaten in large quantities, so keep this plant out of their reach.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
This plant is a real beauty to behold and is well loved in many dishes. Basil seeds are sown shallowly and covered with a thin layer of mulch. Keep the seedbed in the shade and constantly humid until the seeds germinate 10-15 days later. Then, water regularly and place the seedbed in the sun. Transplanting outdoors is usually done two months after sowing, leaving a space of 15 inches in all directions between plants. You can start harvesting 40 days after transplanting, cutting the ends of its stems before they grow any flowers.
Growing herbs is easier than it sounds, and helps pollinators, such as bees, to thrive. (Rawpixel/Shutterstock)
Step 5: Watering and maintenance
How can you tell when most plants need watering? When the leaves are looking “sad” and pointing to the ground. Consistent watering is essential for herb health. Herbs generally prefer slightly moist soil but be careful not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot. It’s a good idea to water your herbs in the morning to allow excess moisture to evaporate during the day.
Regular pruning and harvesting of your herbs promotes bushy growth and ensures you have a steady supply of fresh leaves. Remove yellowing or dead leaves to keep the plants healthy.
Creating an herb garden at home is a rewarding hobby that provides a relaxing green view, and a rich array of flavors and aromas. No matter your space or resources, there’s always room for a herb garden. So, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and watch as your herb garden flourishes. Happy gardening!
Sandra is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: [email protected]
Representatives from the U.S. and Mexico discussed regional integration in the semiconductor industry, as well as exports and the U.S. opioid crisis. From left to right: Economy Minister Raquel Buenrostro, Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. (Anthony Blinken/X)
Mexico and the United States have launched a joint “semiconductor action plan” that aims to make North America the world’s “most powerful” chip-producing region.
The announcement of the plan came after high-ranking Mexican and United States officials participated in the third meeting of the relaunched Mexico-U.S. High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) in Washington D.C. on Friday.
The summit was attended by top-level delegates from both the United States and Mexico. Seen here is Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena (center). (Alicia Bárcena/X)
“Today… we’re launching a joint semiconductor action plan to accelerate our integration, to scale our efforts to attract new investment,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a press conference.
“Under President Biden’s leadership, we’re building regional clean energy technologies and semiconductor supply chains through the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act that will drive our economies through this century,” he said.
Blinken said that “Mexico’s overhauled one-stop shop website” – the federal government’s “ventanilla única” – “is providing prospective investors the tax and regulatory information that they need to take advantage of this landmark legislation.”
At the same press conference, Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena and Economy Minister Raquel Buenrostro offered additional details on Mexico and the United States’ shared ambitions for the semiconductor industry.
The United States is seeking to establish localized supply chains in Mexico for a number of key industries. (Antony Blinken/X)
Bárcena, who succeeded Marcelo Ebrard as foreign minister earlier this year, said that “supply chains in our region and especially semiconductors and conductors” was “one of the most interesting topics” discussed at Friday’s bilateral meeting.
She said that Mexico and the United States have “a very clear strategy: for this region to become the most powerful region in production of semiconductors and conductors in the world.”
According to the international freight platform ShipHub, Taiwan is the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, accounting for 50% of total production. South Korea ranks second followed by Japan, China and the United States.
Buenrostro said Friday that Mexico and the U.S. are “working together to turn North America into the most important place for the integration of supply chains pertaining to several strategic sectors,” including semiconductors, electric vehicles and medical supplies.
With the advent of nearshoring, Mexico now harbors serious ambitions to manufacture semiconductors. (Vishnu Mohanan/Unsplash)
“Regarding semiconductors, Mexico, and the U.S. … are working to see how we can complement each other on this technology to have the strongest supply chain on semiconductors, taking advantage of different ICT markets,” she said.
“For Mexico, this is a significant opportunity. It allows us to have better paying jobs,” Buenrostro said.
At last year’s HLED, held shortly after the United States government released its implementation strategy for the US $50 billion “Chips for America” program, the U.S. invited Mexico to take advantage of massive investment in the sector.
“… What we have is an invitation that is received perhaps once in a lifetime, so we’re going to accept it, and thank you very much for thinking of Mexico,” Ebrard told U.S. officials at a press conference in September 2022.
Semiconductor manufacturing was also a major theme during last year’s talks. (Presidencia)
In a joint statement released on Friday, the Mexican and United States governments said that their officials had “discussed how to seize emerging opportunities through the HLED to promote manufacturing investment and generate employment and prosperity as the United States implements the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.”
Those two acts, the statement said, “together devote more than $400 billion to strengthening regional semiconductor supply chains, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and boosting demand for electric vehicles and clean energy technologies.”
“We discussed how to continue medical device and pharmaceutical regulatory collaboration, and advance other work. We also considered ways to address the climate crisis and strengthen regional energy security,” the statement added.
Mexico’s medical device manufacturing industry was also a subject of discussion at the talks. (Tetakawi)
Among other issues discussed at the HLED was cooperation at the Mexico-U.S. border, over which huge volumes of licit – and illicit – goods pass.
“We’re taking steps to improve and strengthen even more our border coordination, like piloting a model port to streamline inspections and finding ways to reduce wait times, making it easier for people and goods to cross legally while strengthening our capacity to deal with fentanyl and other illegal narcotics,” Blinken said.
Bárcena also noted that ways in which border infrastructure can be strengthened were discussed.
“When it comes to land trade between the U.S. and Mexico, we have lines of communications that are extremely important for the transportation of merchandise and people. … We have 60 ports of entry on our shared border. … We have shown progress and talked about the infrastructure on both sides [of the border], discussing how we can bring our infrastructure up to speed so that we have better outcomes,” she said.
Representatives from the two countries also discussed ways to modernize the U.S-Mexico border to improve crossing times and deter crime. (Josh Denmark/U.S. CBP)
The foreign minister noted that Mexico set aside 15 billion pesos (about US $860 million) to spend on the modernization of border infrastructure this year.
“Among other things, [the investment will] increase our capacity to detect weapons and synthetic drugs,” she said.
Bárcena also highlighted that Mexico is currently the United States’ largest trade partner, with close to $400 billion in two-way trade in the first half of the year.
“That means many things. It means that there are responsibilities, commitments, and I would also say that there is a shared vision to create one of the most powerful areas economically and socially speaking,” she said.
Fentanyl was also a key topic in the talks, as the U.S. and Mexico look to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, which is experiencing a surge in deaths, attributed to the trafficking of fentanyl. (CBP South Texas/Twitter)
The HLED was held ahead of this week’s Mexico-U.S. High-Level Security Dialogue, at which the fight against fentanyl is set to be a central issue. Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland are among the U.S. officials who will attend the meeting in Mexico City on Thursday.
Buenrostro said Friday that Mexico “is committed to supporting the fight against synthetic drugs,” a view that contrasts with that held by some Republican Party lawmakers in the U.S.
“This is something I want to convey. We want to cooperate. We want to help and do everything at our disposal to control the productive chain, the illicit productive chain of … fentanyl,” she said.
Part of the site of former Lake Texcoco has been designated a natural protected area. (Gobierno de México)
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador spent Friday and Saturday visiting four municipalities in México State where work is underway to create a 14,000-hectare natural reserve on the site of the former Lake Texcoco.
México state Governor Delfina Gómez accompanied AMLO on his tour of Tecámac, Ecatepec, Chimalhuacán and Texcoco, where he made a speech celebrating progress on the massive ecological project.
The new site will also host an array of sporting facilities and a new medical university for disadvantaged students in the region. (Screen Capture)
“Today we evaluated progress in the recovery of Lake Texcoco,” AMLO said in a statement on social media. “Wetlands, rivers, bird lagoons and lands comprising more than 14,000 hectares have already become natural protected areas.”
Information from the National Water Commission indicates that the park is now 77% complete, has cost 4.9 billion pesos (US $280 million) and generated 6,100 jobs. It is expected to open in 2024.
During the tour, AMLO announced another addition to the Lake Texcoco project – a new university for medical students –known as the Benito Juárez García Universities for Well-Being (UBBJ) – that will form part of his administration’s educational initiative.
The UBBJ are publichigher education institutes, generally located in marginalized areas where there are few tertiary education options. The new medical school will be the second university campus in Texcoco, alongside an existing civil engineering school
Lake Texcoco, which once dominated the valley, was largely drained off by the Spanish and is now a shadow of its former self. (Diego Simón Sanchez/Cuartoscuro)
Besides the new university, AMLO said that the park would include sports fields for soccer, American football, baseball, basketball and the pre-Columbian ball game “pelota”; a skatepark; recreation areas; walking circuits; sustainable gardens and agricultural spaces; a restaurant; offices and scientific research areas.
The main component of the project, however, is the restoration of four water bodies that once formed part of the enormous lake that filled the Valley of Mexico, but were drained or dried out over the centuries following the Spanish conquest: Lake Nabor Carrillo; the Xalapango and North Texcoco Lagoons; the San Juan Ciénaga and Lake Texcoco. Historic wetlands and forests will also be restored.
The government predicts that this will generate a range ofenvironmental benefits, including better regulation of water resources in the severely water-stressed Valley of Mexico, as well as health benefits for the local population.
The Lake Texcoco Ecological Park was originally designed by architect Iñaki Echeverría in 2010, but was sidelined four years later by former president Enrique Peña Nieto, who planned to build a new airport on the site at a projected cost of 169 billion pesos (US $9.6 billion) instead.
Iñaki Echeverría discusses the Texcoco project at a morning press conference in July. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro.com)
While running for office in 2018, AMLO claimed that the full cost of the airport could reach 285 billion pesos (US $16.2 billion) and campaigned to scrap the project and expand the existing Santa Lucía Military Air Base in nearby Zumpango.
In October of that year, a controversial referendum – in which less than 1% of eligible voters participated – backed AMLO plan. The Santa Lucía air base became the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), while the site of President Peña Nieto’s planned airport was given over to the “hydrological and social recovery of Lake Texcoco.”
The win allowed Álvarez to retain his WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles. (@shosports/instagram)
Mexican boxer Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez retained his undisputed super-middleweight championship with a unanimous decision over Jermell Charlo in Las Vegas on Saturday night, although some critics felt the fight was boring.
The 168-pounder from Guadalajara, Jalisco, became the first boxer in history to defend his titles at least three times during the era when four organizations have bestowed championship belts.
“Canelo” Álvarez from Guadalajara defends world titles in four weight classes, making him the undisputed super middleweight champion. (@shosports/instagram)
His dominant performance at T-Mobile Arena — two judges scored the fight 118-109, the other 119-108 — allowed him to retain his WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles.
His record of 60 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws includes 39 knockouts. Charlo, who fell to 35-2-1, was trying to move up two weight classes from junior middleweight (154 pounds), where he is the undisputed champ.
Álvarez became the king of the super-middleweight class in November 2021 when he knocked out Caleb Plant to grab the IBF title, adding it to his other three world titles.
Canelo then lost a non-title bout to light heavyweight Dmitry Bivol of Russia before defending all four belts in September 2022 and May 2023 bouts. All three were lukewarm efforts that left some people wondering if the 33-year-old’s best days were behind him.
Following the match, Canelo insists he is still at the top of his game, even though some critics call his performance “boring.” (@ShowtimeBoxing/X)
“I understand what people are saying, and I agree,” Álvarez said before the fight. “I didn’t look my best in my last few fights, but I also know why. You’re going to see something different this fight. It’s going to be good.”
Rather, the fight plodded along, and instead of notching a 40th knockout victory, Álvarez appeared frustrated as he looked for Charlo, also 33, to open up and give him some counterpunching opportunities. He did floor Charlo with an overhand right in Round 7, but that was it.
“I’m not disappointed for not knocking him out,” the right-hander said afterward. “I feel spectacular … That’s why there are 12 rounds, to show who is the best. No one is capable of beating this Canelo.”
In the broadcast on Mexican television networks, commentator and Boxing Hall of Famer Julio César Chávez lashed out at both boxers for turning in such a boring fight.
“Oh, sorry, sorry,” he said, after dropping an insult, “[it’s just that fans like us] are very angry. They aren’t throwing any punches.”
Still, Álvarez became the fourth Mexican boxer to reach 20 victories in world championship fights, joining Ricardo López, Marco Antonio Barrera and César Chávez himself, whose career record of 107-6-2 included 86 knockouts.
As for his next fight, Álvarez did not cite an opponent, just a date.
The stranger-than-fiction story of how a French pilot’s passion for music and Mexico brought a life-changing music school to a troubled town in Oaxaca. (Photos: Mirja Vogel)
Fifty children from Oaxaca have just landed at Mexico City International Airport on a flight from Paris. They each carry a musical instrument tightly in their hands as they wait to board a bus back home to the town of Vicente Guerrero.
Their three-week-long tour of France saw the group perform over 50 concerts to packed crowds at a European classical music festival. For nearly all of the children who study at the Santa Cecilia Music School in Vicente Guerrero, a small village 12 kilometers south of Oaxaca city, this was the first time they had left Mexico.
Air France pilot Isabelle de Boves.
Last year, the school’s orchestra and brass band gave a performance for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador during the opening ceremony for the country’s second-largest airport, the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA). Seven recent graduates are now studying music at the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and two recently began degrees at the National Music Conservatory in Mexico City.
This was far from the reality that the pupils and their families had imagined for themselves twelve years ago, when violence, gangs and drug abuse threatened to take control of the lives of many families in Vicente Guerrero. One resident tells me: “Before the Santa Cecilia Music School, the children had nothing to do. They would often be walking on the streets in gangs. There was a lot of trouble and a lot of pain.”
Before classical music came to town, the everyday beatwas dangerous and unpredictable. The town of 14,000 was known for being Oaxaca city’s municipal landfill site since the 1980s. To many, it was an abandoned outpost of the state.
Isabelle de Boves: A pilot with a passion for Mexico and music
Today, the Santa Cecilia Music School has five large rehearsal rooms, an open-air performance stage, several classrooms and a luthier workshop, alive with jovial chatter and the sound of musicians warming up their instruments.
Twelve years ago, a chance trip to the town by Air France pilot Isabelle de Boves, who was visiting her aunt, would alter the town’s future forever. “My aunt has always been a fearless heroine in my life. She has lived and helped communities in some of the most disadvantaged places in the world, and as a child growing up in France, I would always look forward to hearing her stories,” de Boves says of her aunt.
“When I arrived in Vicente Guerrero, [my aunt] took my arm, and we left her home and walked confidently through the town along several dirt tracks. The locals knew her face …she assured me we had nothing to worry about.”
“From a distance, I remember hearing major scales being sung in perfect harmony and a metronome-like rhythm being played in unison. We turned a corner and I saw a group of 21 singing children aged between 8-16 years old, using broken chairs and wooden sticks from the rubbish to keep the tempo. I’ll never forget their shining, lively faces as they played.”
The children told Isabelle and her aunt why they liked playing music and what their favorite instruments were. She was struck by their innocent, unwavering motivation to learn and equally saddened by their lack of musical instruments and resources.
Armando is charming and lively and always seems to be making his fellow students laugh.
On her return to Paris, Isabelle would begin her search for instruments. “In Europe, there are many families who have different instruments lying unused in dusty cases in attics or basements. It’s common that when children stop learning or playing music, many lovely instruments are left unused and unloved.”
Isabelle reached out to old friends and contacts, even adding the details of her hunt for instruments into her Christmas cards until enough had been secured to help build a small band.
Her next scheduled flight to Mexico City was planned for January 2012. Packing her maximum allowance for luggage with brass instruments and securing the support of her flight crew to do the same, 21 instruments donated by people across France were loaded into an Air France Boeing-737 destined for Mexico City.
“The cargo of instruments were stored safely in Mexico City for a couple of months until a bus could be organized to drive them for seven hours to Vicente Guerrero. When they arrived, I was sent photos of the children and hearing them play them made me so emotional.”
Isabelle de Boves would visit more and more in the coming years, bringing instruments and supplies and expanding the capabilities of the orchestra and band. She created a charity, La Banda de Música, to raise money for the school directly, and collaborated with European music teachers to organize for them to visit Vicente Guerrero for extended periods and teach masterclasses. Fundraising concerts took place across France to fund the construction of several new school buildings and the salaries of new music teachers.
Isabelle continues, “We are all so grateful for the continued generosity of people from around the world who helped us grow the school and take on more and more teachers and students, but none of this would have been possible without the backing and tireless work of the people in Vicente Guerrero.”
The close-knit community is deeply rooted in Zapotec culture, the largest Indigenous community in southern Mexico. Though the men and women in the town could not contribute large sums of money to support the school, they instead provided skills, hours of manual labor and often offered parts of their homes for rehearsal spaces. They gave a uniquely communal effort to help kids keep practicing while the building of the school progressed.
Outdoor Stage Rehearsal at the Santa Cecilia Music School in Vicente Guerrero.
How music repaired the reputation of an almost forgotten outpost of Oaxaca
Today, the Santa Cecilia Music School has five large rehearsal rooms, an open-air performance stage, several classrooms and a luthier workshop, alive with jovial chatter and the sound of musicians warming up their instruments. One student, Armando (20) who was part of the 50-strong ensemble that performed in France, tells me about his memories of the violence before the project began.
“There was always violence on the street. I remember kidnappings, robberies and seeing more and more people taking drugs. If you went out on the streets at night here, you’d expect to get into trouble.”
Armando is charming and lively and always seems to be making his fellow students laugh during my visit to the Santa Cecilia Music School. Music has irrevocably changed his life, and he’s better off for it.
Signs of unrest still haunt the streets of the town after dark, and residents still recommend caution when visiting. Music has by no means solved all of the issues in Vicente Guerrero, but it has become a symbol of pride and unity for the disadvantaged town, which was once lost to its reputation as a dangerous municipal landfill site.
Gordon Cole-Schmidt is a public relations specialist and freelance journalist, advising and writing on companies and issues across multi-national communication programs.
The airline will quintuple its capacity at AIFA by the summer of 2024. (Daniel Augusto/ Cuartoscuro)
Viva Aerobus has become the latest Mexican airline expanding its operations from Mexico City’s Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), with plans to open 17 new routes from the airport by next summer.
Besides the new routes, Viva Aerobus also plans to add more flights to the ten destinations it already offers from the airport.
Once the routes are operational, Viva Aerobus will be the airline with the most flights from AIFA. (Shutterstock)
“Viva will convert this new airport into a strategic hub in the center of the country by offering 4.5 million seats by 2024; this means that the airline will quintuple its capacity in AIFA in the summer of 2024 compared to 2023,” the company saidin a statement.
New routes to Tulum, Guadalajara, Ciudad Juárez and Mérida will open in December; to Huatulco, Chihuahua, Reynosa, Nuevo Laredo, Veracruz, Tampico and Villahermosa in January; to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Puerto Vallarta, Chetumal and Los Cabos in April; and to Ciudad Obregón and Durango in July.
Once the new routes are open, Viva will operate a total of 27 routes, 72 daily flights and have 12 aircraft based at AIFA.
“AIFA thanks Viva Aerobus for the confidence it has placed in this new airport,” said General Isidoro Pastor, director general of the airport. “This historic growth of Viva marks a before and after in the connectivity of Mexico City.”
New routes to Tulum, Guadalajara, Ciudad Juárez and Mérida will open in December ahead of the holidays. (aifa.aero)
Viva stressed that its expansion in AIFA was “backed by a solid preference and trust of passengers,” with airline passenger numbers surpassing 600,000 people from January and August 2023.
The low-cost carrier is the latest to significantly increase its services from AIFA, after Aeroméxico announcedplans last week to grow its total operations at the airport by 40%, mostly by moving flights from the older Mexico City International Airport (AICM).
The military-built AIFAopened in March 2022 and was intended to relieve pressure on the AICM. However, the transfer of flights to AIFA has been slower than hoped, partly due to problems with the new airport’s infrastructure.
Approximately 100 people were in the church on Sunday when the roof caved in. (CORTESÍA PROTECCIÓN CIVIL DE TAMAULIPASCUARTOSCURO.COM)
The roof of a church in Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, collapsed on Sunday, killing 10 people and injuring 60 others, authorities said. One of the hospitalized victims, an 18 year-old woman, died on Monday morning.
The tragedy occurred in the mid-afternoon during Mass at the Santa Cruz church in the Unidad Nacional neighborhood of Ciudad Madero, a city on the Gulf of Mexico in southern Tamaulipas.
The roof collapsed during Sunday mass, when approximately 100 people were inside. (CORTESÍA PROTECCIÓN CIVIL DE TAMAULIPASCUARTOSCURO.COM)
Three children were among those killed when the roof caved in, trapping some 30 parishioners beneath rubble. Tamaulipas police said that approximately 100 people were in the church, where baptisms were taking place.
A structural failure is believed to have caused the collapse of the roof, according to the office of the state security spokesperson. Footage from a nearby security camera showed the gabled roof and at least one wall of the brick church collapsing. The church was reportedly built about 50 years ago.
The injured were transferred to several local hospitals for treatment. Twenty-three people remained in hospital early Monday morning, two of whom had serious injuries, authorities said.
A four-month-old baby, three children aged five and two 9-year-olds were among the injured, according to a list posted online by the Ciudad Madero municipal government.
Rescue workers trying to help victims trapped in the rubble. (Protección Civil Tamaulipas/X)
Citizens, some armed with shovels and pickaxes, rushed to the aid of those trapped beneath rubble and emergency services personnel arrived at the church shortly after the roof collapsed. The newspaper Milenio reported an initial scene of “chaos” due to the large number of people trying to help.
Parts of the concrete roof slab came to a rest on top of pews, a situation that may have allowed spaces of air where some people were trapped.
Assisted by police dogs and infrared cameras, the search for victims and survivors continued into the night until all the missing were accounted for. The army, the navy, the National Guard, state police, the Red Cross and Civil Protection personnel all contributed to the efforts.
Tampico Bishop José Armando Álvarez Cano mourned “the painful loss” of parishioners celebrating the baptism of their children.
The governor of Tamaulipas has said experts will determine the cause of the roof collapse. (Protección Civil Tamaulipas/X)
“We pray to the Lord for their eternal rest and the comfort of their families. We remain in prayer for the quick recovery of the people who have been rescued,” the bishop said in a statement.
Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villareal arrived at the church on Sunday night and told reporters that he was shocked and saddened by the tragedy. He said the cause of the roof collapse would be determined by experts.
Villareal said he had spoken to the church’s priest and was informed that the roof was waterproofed some years ago, but no other work had been done.
The governor said that the families of the deceased could count on the “unconditional” support of the state government.
Ángel Vargas, the priest officiating the Mass, said that the tragedy was “unfathomable.”
“They came to seek heaven for the little ones and found eternity. What I want is for the families to be at peace,” he said.
The truck was carrying 27 people, of which 10 - nine women and one minor - were killed on impact. (@isain/X)
Ten Cuban migrants died and 17 more were injured when an overloaded truck overturned in Chiapas early Sunday morning.
The accident happened on the Pijijiapan-Tonalá highway, which is frequently used by migrants traveling north from the Guatemalan border towards the United States. The dead were all women, one of them a minor.
The driver of the overloaded vehicle was reportedly speeding before he lost control of the unit. He immediately fled the accident. (@INAMI_mx/X)
According toa statement by Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM), “the driver was speeding, lost control of the unit and overturned.” The driver then fled.
Photos of the accident scene show that the truck was a wooden-backed Ford model not designed to carry people, and was also missing license plates. The vehicle was almost entirely destroyed on impact.
Of the 27 Cuban migrants traveling in the truck, 17 survived but were seriously injured. They were transferred to hospitals in Pijijiapan and Huixtla for treatment, and Cuban authorities are being kept informed of their condition.
The newspaper El Universal reported that the migrants had spent several days in Tapachula trying to obtain Mexican humanitarian visas before boarding the truck north. The human smugglers who facilitated the journey have not been identified by authorities.
It was the second fatal accident in three days involving migrants being transported through Chiapas in overloaded trucks. On Thursday,two people died when a dump truck carrying 52 migrants of various nationalities also lost control and overturned in the municipality of Mezcalapa.
In December 2021,55 migrants were killed and more than 100 injured in similar circumstances when a tractor-trailer overturned in Chiapas. Investigations into the accident uncovered anetwork of human smugglers who allegedly charged migrants 60,000 pesos (US $2,860) each to transport them to the U.S. border.
