Manuel Fernández Juncos
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Manuel Fernández Juncos (December 11, 1846 - August 18, 1928) was a distinguished Puerto Rican journalist, poet, author and humanitarian who wrote the official lyrics to La Borinqueña, the country's national anthem.
Juncos was born in Tresmonte, a section of Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain. At an early age he emigrated to the island where he was to spend the rest of his life.
Fernandez Juncos first wrote for "El Progreso" (Progress), a newspaper founded by Jose Julian Acosta. He also wrote for the "Porvenir" and "El Clamor del País" newspapers. Fernández Juncos founded a newspaper with liberal tendencies called "El Buscapie". It promoted a socialist agenda, including the idea that every child should be entitled to a free education. It quickly became the most widely read Puerto Rican paper of its time. He also founded the "Revista Puertorriqueña" (The Puerto Rican Magazine).
As a writer, Juncos studied and wrote about the roots of the Puerto Ricans as a people. Among his most notable works were: "Tipos y Caracteres", "Libro Cuarto de Lectura", and "Canciones Escolares" (which he co-wrote with Virgilio Dávila and Braulio Dueño Colon).
Fernandez Juncos joined the Autonomist Party founded by Roman Baldorioty de Castro and became its secretary. Shortly after, when Puerto Rico was granted its autonomy from Spain, Juncos was elected and became the first Secretary of State. However, in less than a year Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States during the Spanish-American War and its government abolished.
He founded the Puerto Rican Red Cross, which continues today to give humanitarian help to those in need.
Fernández Juncos wrote the current lyrics to "La Borinqueña" which originally was a danza written by Francisco Ramirez in 1860 (sometimes credited to Felix Astol Artés in 1867). The original lyrics to the anthem, written by Lola Rodriguez de Tió in 1868, were deemed as too subversive for public use. A public contest to provide new lyrics to the tune was held in 1903, with Fernández Juncos as its winner (this explains why the Asturias native is credited for writing the lines "The land of Borinquen / where I was born"). "La Borinqueña" became the anthem of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1952.
Manuel Fernandez Juncos died on August 18, 1928 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Many schools and one of the most important commercial avenues in San Juan are named in his honor.
