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On January 21, Under the name of Subida por la vida, there were over 8,000 people climbing Volcán de Agua (Water Volcano) to form the largest heart in the world at 12,335 feet as part of campaign to bring awareness and to reduce domestic violence. The event will also be a party with music and foot ball matches (the real McCoy) in different venues in Antigua Guatemala. Subida por la vida also stands as manifestation for Peace where Guatemalans want to demonstrate and let the world know that we want peace and we will not tolerate violence any longer. (more…)

I often report on the Club Fotográfico de Antigua Guatemala because I am of the funding members and because many people visiting Antigua Guatemala have interest in photography and many want to connect with other passionate photographers. Also, I report often because I am still amazed how an idea that formed back in 2009 with my dear friend Nelo and I have become such and impressive and important association. We talked about forming a club of photo enthusiasts here in Antigua Guatemala so we didn’t have to go to Guatemala City to meet with other people interested in photography. We decided that we wanted a club where novice and experienced photographers could share the knowledge, experience, anecdote and passion for this art. We felt the same way and simply declared:

Let’s do it pues!

This year Antigua’s Photo Club begins with so much energy, good vibes and passion at a new meeting location, at one of my favorite buildings in Antigua Guatemala, the former Compañía de Jesús building, where the Cooperación Española has open its door to host our monthly meetings; the first Thursday of the month for those who don’t know. If you’re interested in meeting a bunch of cool people who want to share a good laugh and their knowledge about photography and all things Antigua Guatemala, make sure you pay a visit. Below I share with you a slide show of some of the photos from the most recent meeting on Thursday 5 and if you want to see even more pictures of from this meeting you can visit the album made in Facebook.

Here’s a little background information I posted back in 2009 about the photo club:

Back in June, a few photography enthusiasts from La Antigua Guatemala, myself included, funded the Club Fotográfico de Antigua (Antigua’s Photo Club). With each passing month the Club Fotográfico de Antigua (CFA) receives new members and visitors interested in sharing a good time while admiring the photographs taken by the members, participating in the monthly competition, exchanging photography tips and workshops.

Today’s theme for The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 in Antigua Guatemala will be photographic backdrops and photo stages. In the slide show below you can find find examples of the Guatemalan kitsch at its best.

As I have shared with you in previous years, in La Antigua Guatemala, religious celebrations draw together all kinds of heterogeneous people and the Feast of Our Lady of Virgen de Guadalupe is no exception. On December 12 celebrations of La Virgen de Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe, you can find gringa moms, indigenous mamás, ladino madres and white mamás all taking their children dressed with indigenous clothes to visit the altar of La Virgen Morena.

According to Efraín Enrique Recinos Valenzuela biography at his official website and at Wikipedia, he was born in 1928 in Xela, the informal name of Quetzaltenango City, Guatemala’s second largest city. Later on, he moved to Guatemala City to continue his studies and pretty much stayed for the remainder of his life. Efraín Recinos also worked extensively in Antigua Guatemala where you can find some his work at Santo Domingo del Cerro and at Casa Santo Domingo.

On Sunday, October 2, 2011, we said our goodbyes to Efraín Recinos, Guatemala’s most extraordinary and prolific artist. A Google search throws so much about Efraín Recinos that one may need a few days to get a glimpse of this prolific Guatemalan Picasso as described in the quoted text below.

Efrain Recinos, Guatemalan muralist, sculptor, engineer and architect, who among many other buildings designed the National Theatre in Guatemala City. On one of my first trips into the city, I saw, experienced and fell in love with his work, as it proudly embellished the many of the national buildings in Guatemala City. This was my first exposure to his work, but after much exploration throughout the city, I was surprise every time my friend Juan Pablo said, “that’s designed by Efrain Recinos too”.

To take a look at some of Efraín Recinos work and colorful anecdote, continue reading at Raising Mimo.

Here I share with you a slide show of some of his works found in Santo Domingo del Cerro. Click the four departing arrows icon inside the presentation to get a full screen slide show.

Below there’s a guided tour through the history of art in 89 portraits by Efraín Recinos who explains why he decided to realized such portraits. This tour goes by the name of Difusores Acústicos. (more…)

Even Google celebrated Guatemala’s Independence 2011 with a Doodle.

Also, President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent their congratulatory remarks to the people of Guatemala:

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Guatemala on the 190th anniversary of your independence this September 15.

As Guatemalans the world over celebrate this special day and honor the heroes of Guatemala’s independence, we stand with you in celebration. Americans have long enjoyed the beauty of Guatemala – from the ancient ruins of Tikal to the stunning volcanoes that surround Lake Atitlan – as well as the warmth and hospitality of the Guatemalan people. Your rich culture, diversity of languages, and traditions steeped in history are a special part of our region.

During my visit last June for the Central American security conference, President Colom and I renewed our commitment to building strong democratic institutions, promoting the rule of law, and expanding economic growth and opportunity to our nations’ citizens.

On this historic day, I send best wishes to all Guatemalans – in Guatemala, the United States, and around the globe. We look forward to deepening the ties between our two countries as we work to build a safer, more prosperous and democratic future for our peoples.

In La Antigua Guatemala, it was students parades all day as usual.

As every year, on September 14, people from all over the Guatemala begin a marathon to go to another part of the country to get the flame for the Independence Torch back in their communities. There are many places the have a torch where other people from other towns can light their torch to bring back to their own communities. Of course, there are favorite destinations to get the Independence Flame and La Antigua Guatemala is one of them. All the different torches in different locations throughout Guatemala and their respective marathons build a web of people running in all different directions at the same time. It is traffic nightmare and it is better to stay home on that date, unless you are running for your community to fetch the light for your torch.

I was at Centro Histórico (Downtown) Guatemala City last night, past midnight with some friends and colleagues doing a tour through all the photo exhibit inaugurations when we saw people still running with the torches.

As in previous years, I have prepared a slide show of the things I saw around the torch set at the Municipalidad building. This time I also recorded a video clip of the beginning of some of the marathons.

I hope you enjoy them and let me know your thoughts.

I don’t know if it was my imagination, but I saw a lot more people in this election than in the elections four years ago.

A finger marked with indelible ink is the proof you have voted in the Guatemalan General Elections. Above a marked finger in front of one of the voting centers in La Antigua Guatemala where elections progressed in a calm and quiet family atmosphere. It almost felt like a civic party.

The voting process was very similar to the General Elections of 2007, except for the fact that most people voted with the new counterfeit-proof new national identification card known as DPI and a few variations in the procedure. People were pointed to their voting centers by slips the were mailed a few weeks ago with the voting information or by visiting one of citizens’ registration booths made available by the Tribunal Supremo Electoral (Electoral Supreme Tribunal). At the voting centers, people were oriented by the posters with table numbers and voting registration number (número de empadronamiento in Spanish). Once the voters had the right table, they walked to the queue and waited for their voting turn. At their turn, they approached the table where they had to show their DPI or cédulas (old identification booklet). Their voting registration number was checked against the voting lists provided by Tribunal Supremo Electoral. If all checked correctly, voters were given five ballots: One for municipal mayorships, another for regional congress seats, another national congress seats, one more for Central American parliament and the last one for president and vice-president. With the five ballots and a crayon, voters walked to the voting booth and marked their election and walked back to the voting table to deposit their ballots in the urnas (ballot transparent bags). After that, DPI or cédula IDs were given back and their index finger marked with indelible ink. Basically, this was the voting process in Guatemala for 2011.

Children were also given the opportunity to simulate the election process by voting for president and vice-president. The children’s election process mimicked the adult voting process with similar ballot and erasable purple ink. Children between 5 and 17 years of age could participate. Children voting centers were located at different locations throughout La Antigua Guatemala.

I prepared a Flickr Slideshow of the Guatemalan Elections 2011 with keyframes showing the election process described above.

Please, let me know what you think of it and if you believe I have done my job at giving you a feeling for the election process in La Antigua Guatemala. I will be waiting for your feedback.

One more thing; I also grabbed a Storify chronicle of the elections prepared by selecting from the vast amounts of Twitter updates using one of the following hash tags: #EleccionesGT and #eVoto. Enjoy! (more…)

Once again Leonel “Nelo” Mijangos is sharing his photographs with us. Yesterday Nelo showed us some his photos for the student parades serpentining around La Antigua Guatemala on September 14. Today he continues with another slide show of the vistas for the 189th Independence Day. Let’s thank Nelo for getting early and chasing down the parades for our benefit.

Here’s Guatemala’s National Anthem in English and Español (more…)

Today I am happy to present my very good friend Leonel “Nelo” Mijangos photographs. Even though he has appeared twice in AntiguaDailyPhoto, this is the first time we get a chance to appreciate his photography. Nelo was kind enough to share with us some his photos to help us understand the Independence school parades.

Most people in Guatemala often say that Guatemalans are not very “patriotic” and immediately mention how patriotic the Mexicans really are: “that’s really patriotism!” Heck I even heard an hour long radio show today discussing it.

Having said that, one can see the first glances of the Independence Day preparations back in July, or earlier, with student bands practices (#1). Of course, there is plenty of Independence Day bunting everywhere since the first days of September and a lot of street vendors selling flags in all shades of blue, even though only one blue is the official (#2). One week before September 15, there are student parades from pre-primary to high school on the streets of every town in the country (#3). Don’t forget the marathons with their patriotic torches(#4). In every school, government building and town’s main plaza there are Pledges of Alliance to the Flag, although here we call it Juramiento a la bandera, and the singing of Guatemala’s National Anthem recitals; check out last year’s Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera to read Guatemala’s National Anthem in English (#5). In some towns, there are enactments of the Signing of Independence Act (#6). On September 15th, at 6 p.m. all over main squares and central parks of Guatemala there is a civic act known as La arriada de la bandera, Haul down of the flag (#7). There are, of course, speeches remembering the signing of the Independence Act and how many years has been thus far (188) since 1821 (#8). Last but not least, the burning of firecracker bombs, firecrackers and fireworks, which may include Torito firecracker burnings (#9).

That’s what Guatemalans, who are not very “patriotic”, do to celebrate their Independence.

All photos by Leonel [Nelo] Mijangos (more…)

Guatemala’s largest photo festival Foto▸30 was inaugurated tonight in La Antigua Guatemala with two photo exhibits: Tribu and Que los muertos hablan.

Foto▸30 is celebrating its 8th anniversary with 30 photo exhibits held through out Guatemala. If you like photography, this is your opportunity to indulge in the universe of the Guatemalan imagery. Don’t miss it, all the events are free!

Here’s a slide show to give you an overview of the Inauguration at espacioce! in the Compañía de Jesús building in La Antigua Guatemala.
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La Antigua Guatemala sí es Guatemala after all. I hate to admit it, but Manolo was right!

Just when I think Antigua Guatemala is not the real world I come across a true Guatemalan-style manifestation with flags, slogans, chants and the works.

In short, the protesters, most of them vendors from the municipal marker, were demanding to throw away the plans to move the bus terminal away from el mercado, market. They were also demanding fair and just treatment towards the poor and the worker from the mayor and municipal council. I recorded several videos which I will link below in case you want a watch the clips of a Guatemala manifestation. Further down, there’s a slideshow with enough photos to give you taste of it all.

As I was about to turn right on 3a calle oriente, on my way to Parque Central, I noticed a large colorful crowd and before anybody knew it, the protesters had canceled out the entrance and exit of La Antigua Guatemala be their sheer numbers. I parked, grabbed the camera and iPhone and decided I was going to do my best to document this manifestation. I shot about a hundred photographs and a few videos. Some of the photos and updates when online in real time to Twitter, Facebook and videos to Qik. Believe it or not, I am getting good at this.

Without further ado, here are the videos recorded and uploaded in real time.

1. El pueblo se manifiesta en contra de la Municipalidad de Antigua in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
2. El pueblo se manifiesta en contra de mover la terminal de autobuses.
3. Ya llegó la manifestación al Palacio del Ayuntamiento.

Please, let me know your feedback and thoughts regarding this event coverage!
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The Antigua Guatemala’s Half Marathon Las Rosas consists of a route of 21 kilometers through La Antigua Guatemala, Jocotenango, Ciudad Vieja and back to Antigua Guatemala. The half marathon Las Rosas begins and ends at the Plaza Mayor, Main Square of La Antigua Guatemala. The half marathon Las Rosas is held one Sunday before the Santiago (St James) festivities which are celebrated on July 25. The half marathon Las Rosas is among the most popular long distances running competitions in Guatemala. The winners were Elisha Korir with a lapsed time of 1:02:52 for the men category and Judy Jesire with a lapsed of 1:13:20 for the women category.

Here’s my slide show of the half marathon Las Rosas 2010 in La Antigua Guatemala. I hope you like it!
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Here’s a lesson to be learned. Even though San Pedro Las Huertas was one of the villages that was hit the hardest in La Antigua Guatemala by Nature’s tropical storm Agatha, here they are building Nature-inspired floats for their annual beauty pageant. The people of San Pedro Las Huertas decided to show their appreciation for Nature and the environment by building most of their carrozas with green foliage plants, flowers, water, planet Earth, moon and the stars themes. They are not the least resentful about Nature’s recent catastrophes.

Below, I am sharing with you the rest of the photos I took; I hope you can get a feel for their beauty pageant, the atmosphere and the happy Guatemala smiles. Let me know what do your own feeling about it!
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Who said New York is the only city that never sleeps?

The New Year celebrations is one of the occasions in which Antigua Guatemala does not sleep! I didn’t get much opportunity to take many photographs of the crowds, as it was indeed crowded. It was fun, activities all over, lights all over, people all over, every one having a great time, even the sky (check out the moon while the sun was rising).

Enjoy the starting of the New Year!

text and photos by Arturo Godoy

In La Antigua Guatemala, religious celebrations draw together all kinds of heterogeneous people and the feast day of Virgen de Guadalupe is no exception. On December 12 celebrations of La Virgen de Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe, you can find gringa moms, indigenous mamás, ladino madres and white mamás all taking their children dressed with indigenous clothes to visit the altar of La Virgen Morena. In many cases you have grandmas and the whole family taking part of the visit to Virgin of Guadalupe inside Iglesia de La Merced.

Also, while taking the shots that you can see below in the slide show, as I was bombarded with the scents of pine needles, firecracker’s polvora (powder), tropical fruits, traditional Guatemalan Christmas foods, copal incense, candles, on and on. My sense of smell received a jolt and my memories were flowing nonstop. I believe that only for Semana Santa and Navidad I can experience life with a totally awaken sense of smell that brings on a hurricane of memories. Do you know what I mean?

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