Bulletin # 382 2015

JUAN RODRIGUEZ CABRILLO WAS BORN IN PALMA MICERGILIO, CORDOBA

Wendy Kramer, a Canadian researcher, seems to have solved the mystery of more than 500 years to find a document of 1532 in the Archive of the Indies. The document refers to a trial for the gold stolen from a ship anchored in Cuba in that according to witnesses, it was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who testifies under oath that he is a native of Palma de Micergilio (today with the name of Palma del Rio) a town of Córdoba, .

Historians Robert Munson, of Cabrillo National Monument, Dr. Iris Engstrand, historian and professor at the University of San Diego and Harry Kelsey, historian and researcher of the Huntington Library, through their studies agree that this discovery is a historic test about the place of birth of the first European to step on land in San Diego.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Finally, documents have been found from the year 1532 by the Canadian historian, Dr. Wendy Kramer, in which Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo swears under oath that he was born in Spain. With the permission of Mr. Consul General of Spain in Los Angeles, here is the electronic correspondences edited for you:

Sent: Tue, Sep 15, 2015 1:10 pm Subject: FW: San Diego Union Tribune- Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo native of Spain

Dear Ms. Kramer,

I appreciate so very much the copy that you sent me of the article on Rodríguez Cabrillo in the "San Diego Union-Tribune" that I had already received by means of the Honorary Consul of Spain in San Diego and by the President of the Casa de España in that same city.

I am glad to see that your research work, that I congratulate, in the General Archive of the Indies about the trial of 1532 in connection with a theft of gold on a Spanish vessel that you stumbled upon, in a surprising way, with the testimony of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who declares that he was a "native" of Palma de Micergilio (Córdoba). Bingo! Let us hope that this excellent news has the significance it deserves.

For your information, I just sent a copy of that article to the Spanish Embassy in Washington.

Cordial greetings,

Javier Vallaure Consul General Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles

Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2015 11:23 Subject: Los Angeles Times- Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo native of Spain http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-cabrillo-birthplace-20150917-story.html

Dear Consul General,

Thank you very much for your letter and I thought you might be interested that the data about the place of birth of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo has come out today in the Los Angeles Times.

I would be very grateful if you could get this news to the Embassy in Washington and also the Ambassador of the United States, James Costos. I see that he is a "neighbor" of Los Angeles.

I tell you that in total there are now three different documents of the General Archive of the Indies in Seville where Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo gives testimony and declares his full name and where he is a "native". "Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo native of Palma de Micergilio". He always presents himself as a neighbor of Santiago de Guatemala. And in this time is the only "Juan Rodríguez" of Santiago de Guatemala.

They are of the section "Justice" of the Archive. In addition there are 5 documents of the section of the same archive, Audiencia of Guatemala where the Royal Crown gives concessions, exemptions and licenses for their return to Santiago de Guatemala. In each instance they name him " Juan Rodriguez de Palma". The date of all these original documents are of the year 1532.

Gladly we will provide the numbers and descriptions of each document. Each one is accessible online through the site PARES from the Ministry of Culture. Attentively, Dr. Wendy Kramer Viva Ms. Kramer, Jesús

October 12: from to the National Holiday

ROBERTO PEREZ / / ABC For 40 years, the day of (la Virgen del Pilar) was officially celebrated as "Columbus Day". It was instituted in 1918

On Friday, October 12, 1492 steps for the first time on American lands

For 40 years, Spain coincided the day of our Lady of the Pillar (el Virgen del Pilar) with the "Spanish Columbus Day". It instituted this festive day by a law enacted during the reign of Alfonso XIII, being Antonio Maura president of the Government. By then, the meaning of race prevailed over that of Hispanic heritage to commemorate, each October 12, the union of worlds that came with the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. The navigator arrived to American lands on October 12, 1492. Friday, to be exact. But the concept of Hispanic heritage did not work in the official festive designation in Spain until well into the twentieth century. It is true that, colloquially -and actively defended by intellectuals such as Ramiro de Maeztu- it made headway the designation of Columbus Day to refer to the celebration of October 12. In the rest of the Spanish American countries October 12 was also widely instituted as a holiday. It is true, with the passage of time it led to its designation and in the official meaning that each country opted to give it.

In Spain, "Columbus Day" ("Día de la Raza") was celebrated as such, for the last time, on October 12, 1957. In 1958, the Franco regime issued a decree that changed the designation for another, that of "Fiesta de la " ("Feast of the Hispanic Heritage"). Franco had opted for years to maintain a sense of the law of 1918 that had instituted "Día de la Raza" ("Day of the Race"), a celebration that he celebrated for the first time as head of State on October 12, 1939. Just a few months after the Civil War had finished. Franco presided over the acts of that "Day of the Race" in Zaragoza, where the Basilica of the Virgen del Pilar (Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar) resides.

A few months later, the Franco regime endorsed this feast of October 12 as had been instituted, in essence, in 1918. The ministerial order was signed by then Minister of the Interior, Ramón Serrano Suñer, brother-in-law of Franco. In this decree includes the "Fiesta de la Raza" ("Feast of the Race"), each October 12, among the designated "absolute national holidays, treated as Sundays, but with recovery of lost hours". The same consideration is granted, in this decree, on April 19 ("Feast of Unification"), July 18 ("Feast of National Labor"), and October 1 ("Feast of the Leader"). That established in the ministerial order remained in force until 1958, when a decree changes the name of "Fiesta de la Raza" ("Feast of the Race") for "Fiesta de la Hispanidad" ("Feast of the Hispanic Heritage"). And as such was maintained until the Law 18/1987, of October 7, which establishes October 12 with a new designation: " of Spain". Neither race nor Hispanic heritage are mentioned, in contrast with the Royal Decree 3217/1981 that the Presidency of the Government issued on November 27 of that year, and in that October 12 was designated as "National Holiday of Spain and Columbus Day". However, the Law 18/1987 eliminates the festive character of Columbus Day and it is exclusively restricted to the area of Spain. This law justifies that the national holiday is October 12 because "it symbolizes the historical anniversaries in which Spain, about to complete a process of construction of the State from our cultural and political pluralism, and the integration of the Kingdoms of Spain in the same Monarchy, initiates a period of linguistic and cultural projection beyond European boundaries". ACTIVITIES OF SEPTEMBER

September 3: “Where is Balboa...and Our Spanish History”

Our President, Jesús Benayas has given a series of lectures about this topic. Here we have the acknowledgement of one of the places where he was received.

Thank you Jesus for all your effort in introducing our history and your impact in the world.

September 5: Victoria Olson and her paintings

The attendees spent a very pleasant afternoon at this exhibition of paintings by Victoria Olson, daughter of our dear friends Angelines and Quentin Olson. Victoria explained to us how she began painting, where she studied and what aspirations she has with her art. After her talk the attendees enjoyed a delicious meal. Thank you to her and to the organizers of this event.

Victoria giving us her chat… Receiving some flowers

OPENING OF THE CASITA Our thanks to Antonio Guerrero, Giancarlo Taylor, Dr. Bayardo De Murgia, Maruja and Bob Williams, who as "ambassadors" cared for the large audience that visited our Casita in September September 27: Cabrillo Festival

We had a day with plenty of sun that helped even more to have a very nice feast. With the assistance of Mr. Consul General of Spain in Los Angeles, Mr. Javier Vallaure, Angelines Olson, Honorary Consul of Spain in San Diego, dignitaries from Portugal, Spain and USA and military authorities of the Submarine Base, celebrating another year of the arrival of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to our city. The public could enjoy the typical food of the American Indians, of Mexico, Portugal and our delicious paella. The typical dances of these countries were also a success. Here we have some photos of Saturday: the ceremony at the Cabrillo monument, then dinner, and some of the feast on Sunday.

Mr. Consul, Angelines, and Jesus Captain Warner giving his speech Mr. Consul with our Queen and Princess

Cabrillo, stepping on land Volunteers ready to serve the public Our Queen, her mother, and Henry

An expedition documents the treasures left by Odyssey

Silverware in the wreck of 'The Mercedes'. / ARQVA The company Odyssey attempted to take in 2007 nearly 600,000 gold and silver coins of the wreck of the Spanish frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, sunk by the British in 1804 when it was trying to reach Spain with its valuable cargo. A long lawsuit in the US courts allowed Spain to recover in 2012, the treasure, illegally obtained by Odyssey, and expose it to the public. However, the pirates left behind a good part of the treasure: parts of high archaeological value that will allow to document the life aboard the frigate and shed light on the occupants and its era.

Part of that heritage is that which has been documented during the first underwater expedition organized by Spain to the wreck of the frigate Mercedes, carried out between August 18 and 23. The shipment has arrived to the port of Cartagena (Murcia) aboard the Navy ship 'Angeles Alvariño', where it has been received by the Minister of Culture, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo. Scientists have brought with them a cannon and 11 pieces of high archaeological value extracted from the first underwater excavation carried out to a depth of 1,138 meters with the aid of a robot equipped specifically for the occasion.

Mr Mendez de Vigo, the director of the National Museum of Underwater Archeology (ARQUA) and chief of the expedition, Ivan Negueruela, have advanced this afternoon the first results of the study completed on the wreck of the frigate Mercedes, sunk in 1804 in the Atlantic off the coast of Algarve and sacked by the company Odyssey.

The minister has highlighted that the archaeological operation places Spain "at the forefront of the protection of the underwater cultural heritage" and will transfer the experience to the European Union as an example of saving existing deposits under the sea. Negueruela, visibly pleased, explained that the surface on which it has operated (150 meters long by 140 wide) has led to the conclusion that Odyssey had abandoned all the objects that they believed would not obtain economic benefit and that "swept away, surely with iron shovels, the first layer" of the deposit to collect the coins of silver and gold deposited on the seafloor. The expedition has located dozens of objects, including anchors, cannons, ingots, tableware and cutlery of those that they have rescued a small sample: a bronze cannon of 80 centimeters and 11 other pieces which include a pestle of gold, a silver candlestick, three spoons, a fork and three silver plates and a coin. http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2015/08/26/actualidad/1440586773_247308.html

October 5th, Monday 10AM Who was Balboa? Presentation 11AM Spain and the American Independence. Presentation Noon Who was Balboa? Presentation October 6th, Tuesday 10AM Who was Balboa? Presentation 11AM Spain and the American Independence. Presentation Noon Who was Balboa? Presentation 1PM Alcalá de Henares: San Diego's Sister City in Spain 2PM Eduardo Chilida: Life and work of the contemporary Basque sculptor October 7th, Wednesday 10AM Who was Balboa? Presentation 11AM Spain and the American Independence Noon Who was Balboa? Presentation October 8th, Thursday 10AM Who was Balboa? Presentation 11AM Spain and the American Independence Noon Who was Balboa? Presentation 1PM Alcalá de Henares: San Diego's Sister City in Spain 2PM Eduardo Chilida: Life and work of the contemporary Basque sculptor October 9th, Friday 10AM Who was Balboa? Presentation 11AM Spain and the American Independence. Presentation Noon Who was Balboa? Presentation October 10th, Saturday 11AM-3PM Paella at Noon Fantastic dancing and guitar music at the HPR stage starting at Noon October 11th, Sunday 10AM-3PM Paella at Noon 2:00PM Flamenco Show on the HPR stage

Come and enjoy food and music from Spain

P.O. Box 33064, San Diego, Ca 92163 Phone (619) 615 3188 http://casadeespanasd.com (Spanish), http://houseofspainsd.com (English) Email: [email protected]

To read the Bulletin in English, visit the web page of House of Spain/Casa de España in San Diego: http://wwwcasadeespanasd.com

House of Spain, Casa de España in San Diego is a private non-profit organization, whose purpose is to preserve and disseminate the Spanish culture in the San Diego community. The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the thinking of House of Spain, Casa de España in San Diego.

Board of Directors President Jesus Benayas 619-462-7982 Vicepresident Nina Yguerabide 858-453-4158 Secretary Penélope Bledsoe 619-876-3248 Treasurer Bob Williams 619-565-2332 Advisors: Mary Goldbeck, Susi Lusti, Dr. Bayardo De Murgia, PhD, Puri Rodríguez, Angeles Leira Sergeant at Arms: Henry Herms. Web Page Master: Brittany Reed Editor: Cecilia Anguera Tel: 858-278-8664 Consulado Honorario de España en San Diego Consulate General of España in Los Angeles Telephone: 619-448-7282 http://www.maec.es/consulados/losangeles [email protected]