This Saturday marks a very important date in the calendar of the Dominican Republic. This Saturday will complete the bicentennial anniversary of Juan Pablo Duarte, the national liberator of the Dominican Republic.
In the Dominican Republic, the birth of Duarte is celebrated every year on Jan. 26. Although at times there are not too many large celebrations, Duarte is a historical figure that holds a lot of respect in the hearts of Dominicans.
“I mean, to me, Juan Pablo Duarte is a national hero that thanks to him we were able to start a movement towards freedom; he’s a symbol of freedom to me,” said Moises Figueroa-Contreras, an engineering student born in Santo Domingo de Gúzman, Dominican Republic.
“I guess, a hero also, because he never gave up on his dream of seeing his country being free from the Haitian government. He’s a symbol of just strength to me and my family pretty much,” said Figueroa.
Juan Pablo Duarte was born in the town of Santo Domingo de Gúzman, Hispaniola, on Jan. 26, 1813. After many years studying abroad during his adolescence, in Europe and in New York City, he returned to the island and formed a secret society in 1838 that he called La Trinitaria. La Trinitaria devoted itself to promoting democratic ideals, ideals that were influenced by those of the United States, with an ultimate goal that the Haitian government would be overthrown. Even though his revolt failed in 1843, and Duarte was exiled from the country, it was an important step along the path to freedom for the Dominican people.
Today, there are many buildings, museums, streets, and parks that bear his name due to his valor and heroism that has served as inspiration for Dominicans. The city of New York even has monuments erected in his honor; in the Avenue of the Americas that approaches Juan Pablo Duarte Square there is a sculpture by Nicola Arreghini that was donated from the Dominican Republic for the 165th anniversary of Duarte’s birth.
As important as Duarte is regarded in other countries like Spain and the U.S., he is much more important in his natal country.
“Because he’s such a big national hero, people are always, constantly, talking about him, just in everyday language, like saying “oh, you’re gonna be the next Duarte,” like, just in the language of the people of the country, people use that,” said Figueroa.
“Everybody that is from the Dominican Republic, that had any type of education over there, knows about them. I myself didn’t grow up in the Dominican Republic—I studied in Puerto Rico, but that name is so ingrained in Dominican culture that my mom brought it with her and she just taught me it.”
Figueroa said that on Juan Pablo Duarte Day, his family usually attends mass, and the government organizes an event, at the cemetery where he’s buried to pay tribute to him and his courageous acts.
This year several events will be held in honor of the 200th anniversary of the father of the country.
In order that the Dominican people learn about his life and the role that Duarte played in the independence of the country, various groups have organized multiple events designed to educate the general public.
A recently formed group called La Juventud Duartiana del Siglo 21 [The Duartian Youth of the 21st Century] has put on various walks, conferences, panels, and information sessions about Duarte in the week leading up to Juan Pablo Duarte Day. On the 18th of January, educational panels and conferences were held in many parts of the country, according to ElCaribe.com.do., a newspaper from Santo Domingo.
This Friday the 25th, a candlewalk vigil will pass through Santo Domingo, beginning at Duarte’s house and going until the Parque Duarte, where a cultural piece will be presented in his honor. On the 26th, La Juventud Duartiana del Siglo 21 will celebrate their first year in existence.
The celebrations don’t stop this week. Every Monday of this year, different public and private institutions will lead tours along La Ruta de Duarte y de la Independencia Nacional [Route of Duarte and National Independence] in Colonial Santo Domingo so that students can learn more about the history of their country.
