My Puerto Rican Town – Juana Díaz

I have been writing lately about the history of Puerto Rico, the political issues, and everything else that is happening on my beautiful island. Today, I want to do something different and introduce the town I grew up in, Juana Díaz.

Juana Díaz was founded in 1798, and the civil government of this territory was established on April 25, 1798. Juana Díaz is a town in Puerto Rico located on the southern coast of the island, east of Ponce (one of the biggest cities on the island). Its population is a little over 45,000, and the town has 13 barrios (neighborhoods). I grew up in the barrio “Jacaguas.” Jacaguas comes from the Taíno Indian name “Jacaguax,” who was the Taíno Cacique (chieftain) of the area.1

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juana_Díaz,_Puerto_Rico_locator_map.png#file

Juana Díaz is known as “La Ciudad del Maví” (Maví City). Maví is a fermented Taíno beverage made from the bark of the mavi tree. I love this beverage and remember the time when my now-wife, while we were in college, brought me a cup of Maví that she bought during the celebration of Agriculture Week on campus. It was delicious, and we still talk about that day.

The town is also known for its Three Kings Festival, celebrated every year on January 6.

My son celebrating with the Three Kings in Juana Díaz (a long time ago)

Here is a video of our plaza (public square) during Christmas. 

One of the notable people from Juana Díaz is Luis Lloréns Torres, a famous Puerto Rican poet, and in his honor, I decided to finish this post with one of his famous poems dedicated to his barrio, Collores (Jacaguas’ neighboring barrio to the north).

The poem was written in 1940. I found an English translation, but I made some changes because I didn’t like some of the word choices made by the translator. 

Valley of Collores
By Luis Lloréns Torres

When I left Collores, 
it was on a little bay mare 
through a path between the fences 
wrapped in cundeamors. 
Farewell, weeds and flowers 
of the river gorge, 
and my nights in the bohío, 
and that peaceful calm, 
and the elders of my soul, 
and my little siblings.

What a sorrow I felt, 
when I looked back, 
and a house was receding, 
and that house was mine. 
The last time I turned my eyes, 
I saw the white flight 
of that maternal handkerchief 
soaked with the juice of pain. 
Beyond, smoke vanishing into the sky.

The rural bloom 
was sad, dull, withered. 
And everything, like anguish, 
tightened my heart. 
The mare, at her own pace, 
went slowly. 
The wind buzzed, fragrant 
with honeysuckles and pines. 
And the ceibas on the path 
looked like weeping willows.

I don’t remember how it was 
(here my memory fails). 
But in my treasure of memories, 
I recall that I finally arrived: 
the city, the theater, the café, 
the plaza, the park, the sidewalk… 
And in a bewitching bride, 
I found the fiery foliage, 
where I hung the first nest 
of my first chimera.

Later, in pursuit of ideals. 
Then, envy wounded me. 
And slander and treachery 
and the hatred of mortals. 
And weaving triumphal dreams, 
I saw again the white flight 
of that maternal handkerchief 
soaked with the juice 
of pain. The rest, smoke 
vanishing into the sky.

Oh, glory is a vain dream. 
And pleasure, just wind. 
And wealth, torment. 
And power, a gloomy worm. 
Oh, if it were in my hands 
to erase my greatest triumphs, 
and return to my bohío in Collores 
on the little bay mare 
through the path between the fences 
wrapped in cundeamors.

Note: A bohío is a Taíno Indian hut.
  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juana_Díaz,_Puerto_Rico ↩︎

44 thoughts on “My Puerto Rican Town – Juana Díaz”

  3. Its nice to document and introduce us to the Taino history of your home town. My home town in Trinidad, Arima, was also the home of a Cacique, Hyarima. Currently working s series about it.
    Nice share as well of the poem Edward

    “Oh, glory is a vain dream.
    And pleasure, just wind.”

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      1. I started it last year in my typical storytelling narrative… But research pulled me down that rabbit hole. So I’m rewriting parts of it. I’ll be sure to post it. Probably after the series with Melissa Lemay. Thanks Ed.

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  10. Love the history of this wonderful town, Edward and the video with the lights and music are incredible. I could feel the color and energy of this electric place! The picture of you son is soooo precious and the poem was wonderful and truly depict the foundation on which this beautiful island was born. 💕🫶🏽❣️

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  14. 🇵🇷❤🤗 Brother, thank you so much for sharing this fascinating tidbit about Juana Díaz. To be honest, I’d never heard of this town before, even though it’s not far from my hometowns of Sabana Grande and Yauco. The festival you showcased in the video was incredible! It’s a funny coincidence that I’m seeing this now because my third book, which I’m almost finished with and hope to release soon (ideally by Christmas), is about The Three Kings. It delves into Puerto Rican history, our celebrations, and how The Three Kings’ festivities are often overlooked or overshadowed. Your post is a great reminder of the importance of sharing our history, culture, food, and our deep love for God, family, and homeland. Thank you again for being so open and bold in sharing this with the world. Que Dios te Bendiga hoy y siempre. 🇵🇷❤🤗

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    1. That’s pretty cool that you’re going to write about them. As you know, they are an important part of our extended Christmas celebration. Las octavitas y el octavón, as I remember it. It’s important to keep highlighting our culture so our kids can learn our traditions. Gracias y que Dios te bendiga siempre.

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