Rafael Cordero Santiago
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| Rafael Cordero Santiago | |
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| In office 1989 – January 17, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | José Dapena Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Delis Castillo (interim) |
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| Born | October 24, 1942 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Died | January 17, 2004 (aged 61) Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | Popular Democratic Party (PPD) |
| Spouse | Madeline Velasco |
Rafael Cordero Santiago (October 24, 1942 – January 17, 2004) —better known as Churumba— was the Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1989 to 2004. Cordero was a respected politician among Puerto Ricans, including those who didn't follow his ideology. Many of them considered him as a synonym of Ponce, being baptized as the Greatest Lion (or El León Mayor in Spanish) in reference to the city's nickname of The Lion City of Ponce.
“Churumba” —a nickname given in reference to Cordero's height— is a Puerto Rican Spanish name given to small spinning tops. It is probably derived from the Andalusian Spanish term "churumbel", used to describe a small child.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Cordero was born in the township of La Playa in Ponce, Puerto Rico. From 1960 to 1964 he studied in the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, receiving a bachelor's degree in Arts with a concentration in Political Sciences, Economy, and Social Sciences.
As a student Cordero became a member of the Nu Sigma Beta Fraternity Delta Chapter.
Cordero was involved in Puerto Rican politics since 1969, when he began working as a special aide to the former Governor of Puerto Rico Rafael Hernández Colón; then president of the Puerto Rican senate.
A member of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) Cordero went on to work in the Departments of Finance and Workers' Rights.
[edit] Mayor of Ponce
In 1988, Cordero received the support of then governor Rafael Hernández Colón for the position of Mayor of Ponce and won the elections for the PPD by 1,617 votes against his opponent Helcías Bermúdez of the New Progressive Party that same year. He continued on to win in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 elections.
Cordero was pivotal for the celebration of the XVII Central American and Caribbean Games held in Ponce on 1993.
In 2001, Cordero was arrested and imprisoned for 30 days after practicing civil disobedience during the Navy-Vieques protests by illegally trespassing the restricted grounds of the United States Navy on Vieques.
In late 2003, Cordero signed and initiated the construction of a multi-million dollar mega port complex in Ponce named Port of the Americas, a project he fought for through several years. The project is expected to generate much needed jobs for Ponce residents, improve the local Mercedita Airport and the hotel industry in Ponce. Upon his death, the project was still under construction, and was recently renamed the Port of the Americas Rafael Cordero Santiago, in his honor.
[edit] Death and Funeral
The former Mayor of Ponce died at the age of 61 on January 17, 2004 at 9:00 AM AST in the Medical Center of Río Piedras after slipping into a coma and suffering a brain hemorrhage. His posthumous wish of donating his organs was fulfilled.
The funeral guard was held in the Juan Pachín Vicéns Auditorium with a rotatory guard of politicians, public servicemen and the different sport teams of Ponce. Many visitors cheered “Long live Churumba!” and “We love you!” The electronic board of the auditorium held the message “The Greatest Lion rests in peace”.
The coffin was later returned to a local funeral for a familiar veil guard. The day after, on Monday, January 19, a prayer was given in Ponce's Cathedral Nuestra Señora de la Guadalupe Cathedral after exposing the mortal remains in the Mayor's House.
Cordero's burial was held in the La Piedad Cemetery in Ponce. Former Governor Rafael Hernández Colón and his brother were in charge of the oratory mourning.
[edit] Personal life
Cordero was married to Madeline Velasco. They had two daughters, fraternal twin sisters Solange Marie and Maria Bianca.
[edit] Homages
After game seven of the Puerto Rico National Basketball League 2004 Finals, when the Ponce Lions won their twelfth championship, player Antonio Colón raised Cordero's usual courtside seat igniting Ponce fans into celebration. The championship was officially dedicated to Cordero. Cordero's seat was reserved open during every Ponce Lions home game in 2004, in his memory.
In March 2006 there was a Taekwondo and Jujutsu team from “Caribbean World Of Martial Arts Family Inc. Prof. Steven Rodriguez (owner of the CWOMAF TEAM) and Prof. Isabel Rivera With the bless of Mr. Cordero Wife decide to dedicate this tournament to the memorie of Rafael Cordero Santiago. This team show a big banner in the NAGA World Jujutsu Championship in New Jersey with the message, “WE CAME TO FIGHT IN MEMORIAM OF RAFAEL “CHURUMBA” CORDERO SANTIAGO”. This team won the trophy for been the best team of the world, the competitor’s of the team CWOMAF dedicate the triumph to Rafael Cordero Santiago.
[edit] Quotes
| “ | Ponce is Ponce, everything else is parking | ” |
- — Rafael 'Churumba' Cordero
This phrase has become a common catchphrase among ponceños, who are usually regarded for the pride they show for the city. Cordero's widow, Madeline Velasco, even used it at the end of the funeral on his honor.
[edit] References
- Santana, Mario. Sublime muestra de agradecimiento. San Juan, Puerto Rico: El Nuevo Día. January 19, 2004.
- El Nuevo Dia. Muere 'Churumba' Cordero. San Juan, Puerto Rico. January 17, 2004.
