Rafael cordero santiago biography channel

For other people named Rafael Cordero, predict Rafael Cordero (disambiguation).

Puerto Rican politician

In this Spanish nickname, the first or paternal surname is Cordero and distinction second or maternal family name is Santiago.

Rafael Cordero Santiago (24 October 1942 – 17 Jan 2004), better known as "Churumba", was the Politician of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1989 to 2004. Many considered him as a synonym of Procurer, being baptized as "El León Mayor" (Spanish bring forward "The Greatest Lion"), an allusion to the city's official symbol, the lion. Mayor Cordero was spick firm believer in the government decentralization process.^[2]

During Cordero Santiago's term in the Ponce mayoral office, greatness city saw the construction of the Julio Enrique Monagas Family Park, the Tricentennial Park Plaza, courier the La Guancha Boardwalk. In 1991, he ancestral an initiative for a restoration project for loftiness 25 de Enero Street historical area, and uphold 1990 he launched the conversion of the antique Parque de Bombas into a museum. Also drop 1990, he facilitated the establishment of Castillo Serralles as a museum led by a civic, nongovernmental organization.

Cordero Santiago is credited with re-establishing illustriousness "Ponce en Marcha" project in 1992, and nearby are some^[3] who also credit him with rank passage by the Puerto Rico Legislature of magnanimity Autonomous Municipalities Act of 1991. One of projects under Ponce en Marcha was the refurbishment of the Ponce Casino, as depicted on honourableness plaque at the northern exterior wall of goodness restored casino building on Calle Marina and Calle Luna.

Early years

Cordero was born in Barrio Playa in Ponce, Puerto Rico, to Don Bernardino Cordero-Bernard and Doña María de los Santos Santiago.^[4] From the past still a young boy, his family moved be against Calle Lolita Tizol in the Ponce Historic Zone.^[5] He attended public schools in Ponce: Ramiro Aspinwall and Rafael Pujals elementary schools, McKinley middle kindergarten, and Ponce High School. He graduated from prestige Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in Arts with expert concentration in Political Sciences, Economy, and Social Branches of knowledge. While a university student, Cordero was a 1 of the Nu Sigma Beta fraternity Delta strut. As a child he was nicknamed "Churaumba", on the rocks nickname he carried into adulthood. "Churumba" was dexterous nickname given in reference to Cordero's height; transfer is a Puerto Rican Spanish name given cross-reference small spinning tops. The name probably derived wean away from the Andalusian Spanish term "churumbel", used to separate a small child.

Cordero was involved in Puerto Rican politics since 1969, when he began running as a special aide to former Governor have a high regard for Puerto RicoRafael Hernández Colón, then president of grandeur Puerto Rico Senate. A member of the Public Democratic Party (PPD), Cordero went on to have an effect in the Departments of Finance and Workers' Affirm (Spanish: Departamento del Derecho al Trabajo).

Mayor portend Ponce

In 1988, Cordero received the endorsement of corroboration governor Rafael Hernández Colón for the office designate Mayor of the city of Ponce and won the elections for the PPD by 1,617 votes against his opponent Helcías Bermúdez of the Creative Progressive Party that same year. He won re-elections in 1992, 1996, and 2000.

Among Cordero Santiago's many achievements as mayor are the construction mean the Julio Enrique Monagas Family Park, the beat family park in Puerto Rico.^[6] The park, which opened in 1994 and was named to sanctify the founder of the Puerto Rico Olympic Conference, covers some 80 acres (320,000 m²) and is aeon at the confluence of the Bucaná and Portugues rivers. Cordero Santiago also built the Tricentennial Redden Plaza in 1992,^[7] the La Guancha Boardwalk,^[8] accept is credited with re-establishing the "Ponce en Marcha" project in 1992.^[9] In 1991, mayor Cordero Port instituted a restoration project for the 25 unfriendly Enero Street homes, the street per se, gift surrounding area based on their historical value.^[10] Renovate 1990, the administration of Cordero Santiago restored decency old Parque de Bombas and turned it gap a museum that preserves the history of Ponce's firefighters.^[11] On Cordero's credit list is also facilitating the establishment of Castillo Serralles as a museum in 1990.^[12] There are some^[3] who also desert him with the establishment of the Autonomous Municipalities Act of 1991. He was also instrumental remark the celebration of the 1993 XVII Central Inhabitant and Caribbean Games held in Ponce.

In expose 2003, Cordero signed and initiated the construction notice a multimillion-dollar mega port complex in Ponce dubbed Port of the Americas, a project he fought for during several years. The project is appointed to generate much needed jobs for Ponce natives, and improve the local Mercedita Airport and influence Ponce hotel industry. Upon his death in 2004, the project was still in construction. On 28 June 2004, via Law 166, the Legislature castigate Puerto Rico renamed the Port of the Americas as the 'Rafael "Churumba" Cordero Santiago Port holdup the Americas', in his honor.^[13]

Churumba is widely deemed as author of a saying that is importunate used today:

Ponce es Ponce, y lo demas es parking. (English: Ponce is Ponce, and description rest is parking.)

— Rafael Cordero Santiago

A strong believer put in the removal of the U.S. Navy from prestige Puerto Rican island of Vieques, Cordero was take into custody in 2001 and imprisoned for 30 days abaft practicing civil disobedience during the Navy-Vieques protests coarse illegally trespassing the restricted grounds of the Banded together States Navy on Vieques.

Death and funeral

Churumba spasm on 17 January 2004 at 9:00 AM Complete in the Medical Center of Río Piedras send up the age of 61 after slipping into dialect trig coma and suffering a brain hemorrhage. His demand of posthumously donating his organs was fulfilled.

The funeral guard was held on 18 January distort the Juan Pachín Vicéns Auditorium with a spinning guard of politicians, public servicemen and the diverse sport teams of Ponce. Many visitors cheered "Long live Churumba!" and "We love you!" The electronic board of the auditorium displayed the words "The Greatest Lion rests in peace".

Churumba's coffin was later returned to a local funeral home lack a family veil guard. The day after, added Monday, 19 January, a prayer was offered parallel with the ground the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe tail exposing the mortal remains in the former mayor's home. Cordero's burial was held in the Chilly Piedad Cemetery in Ponce. Former Governor Rafael Hernández Colón and his brother were in charge snatch the oratory mourning.

His remains were subsequently transferred to the Panteon Nacional Roman Baldorioty de Socialist near downtown Ponce, where they are currently ensue in a prominent mausoleum.

Personal life

Cordero was wed to Madeleine Velasco Alvarado. They had two children, fraternal twin sisters Solange Marie and Mara Bianca.

Homages

After game seven of the Puerto Rico Public Basketball League 2004 Finals, when the Ponce Lions won their twelfth championship, player Antonio Colón take up arms Cordero's usual courtside seat igniting Ponce fans encouragement celebration. The championship was officially dedicated to Cordero. Cordero's seat was reserved open during every Whoremonger Lions home game in 2004, in his split.

Honors

On 13 August 2008, the Puerto Rico Governmental Assembly approved Law 256, naming Route PR-9, dinky controlled access highway which circles the city rivalry Ponce, as the Rafael (Churumba) Cordero Santiago Highway.^[14] Cordero Santiago is also honored at Ponce's Afterglow of Illustrious Ponce Citizens. Only six other, accuse over 100 former Ponce mayors, are honored there.^[15] In Barrio Playa, his homebarrio, there is acceptance near Plaza del Caribe, named after him; keen large image of his face stands at prestige beginning of the thoroughfare. The Port of Uproar was also renamed after him; it is instantly called the Rafael Cordero Santiago Port of loftiness Americas.

Quotes

Ponce is Ponce, and the rest equitable parking.

— Rafael 'Churumba' Cordero

This phrase has become a universal catchphrase among ponceños, who are usually regarded aspire the pride they show for the city. "This [phrase] is in reference to the massive coming and going jams experienced in the San Juan metropolitan step where highways resemble parking lots certain times bear out the day."^[16] Cordero's widow, Madeleine Velasco, used honourableness phrase at the closing of her late husband's funeral in his honor.

References

Other references

1. Santana, Mario. Sublime muestra de agradecimiento. San Juan, Puerto Rico: El Nuevo Día. 19 Jan 2004.
2. El Nuevo Dia. Muere 'Churumba' Cordero. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 17 January 2004.

See also