Venezuela and The Basques Two Old Acquaintances

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Venezuela and the Basques two old acquaintances
Twentieth century
Compilation Edition and Publication

Xabier Inaki Amezaga Iribarren
INDEX
Introduction................................................. ........................................... 5
Chapter 1 - Basque Diaspora America 20th century (Venezuela) 1939............ 7
1-1 Venezuelan intellectuals and the Basque case.................................. 10 1-2

The report of Gonzalo Salas................................................ ............. 11 1-3 The
Basque reaction............................ .................................................. 13
1-4 A restricted agreement............................................... ............................ 13
1-5 the First Voyages.................. ................................................................ ............
15 1-6 The adventure of Donibane and Bigarrena............................. .............. 17
1-7 Emigration from Santo Domingo........................... .................. 19 1-8 First
jobs..................... ................................................................ .. 22 1-9 The Basque
Mutual Aid Association............................................. .... 24 1-10 Basque
Caribbean fisheries............................................ .................... 25 1 11 The visit of
the Basque president – Jose Antonio de Aguirre................... 26 1 12 Basque
unity............................................... .................................... 29 1 13 Euzko
Gaztedi......... ................................................................ ........................ 31 1 14
The Delegation of the Basque Government.................. .................................. 32
1 15 The Basque Center of Caracas, Inauguration and legalization..... ............
35 1-15-1 From Truco to Balconcito............................ .......................................
35 1 15 2 the guests:..... ................................................................ .............................
37 1 16 The post-war world.............. ................................................................ ..
38 1 17 A new immigration.................................................. ............................ 38
1 18 In Paradise............ ................................................................ ...................
39 1 19 Inauguration of the Basque Center Caracas El Paraiso..................... .....
39 1 19 1 Words Lendakari from Euzkadi José Antonio Aguírre..................... 41
1 19 2 Words from Jesús de Galíndez..... .................................................. 43 .
1 20 Basque Centers in the Interior............................................ .............. 45 1
20 1 Barcelona Puerto La Cruz............... .................................. 45 1 20 2
Valencia-Carabobo......... ................................................................ .............. 59
1 20 3 The Tiger............................ ................................................................ ............
59 1 20 4 Maracaibo'ko Euzko Alkartasuna..................... .......................... 60
1 20 5 Aragua-La Victoria........................................... ................................. 62 1
20 6 Cumaná............ ................................................................ ...........................
63 1 21 Other institutions.................. ................................................................ .........
64 1 22 Basque media.................................. ..................... 64 1 23 «Euzkadi»
Magazine of Caracas..................... .................................... 65 1 24 Community
press......... ................................................................ ................ 67 1 25
Publications of the Basque Government............................ ........................ 68 1
26 Euzko Gaztedi, point of reference.................. .................................. 68 1 26 1
Initial Act of Euzko Gaztedi....... .................................................. 69 1 26 2
Presidents Of Euzko Gaztedi Of Caracas.................................. 69 1 27 National
Front - in the press................................................ ......... 70 1 27 1 The ETA
press................................. ......................................... 70 1 27 2 Other
publications... ................................................................ .................. 71
1 27 3 Euzko-Deia.................................. ......................................... 71 1 27 4
Radio Euzkadi-La Txalupa ................................................................ ............ 73
1 28 A brief overview of the Basque Center of Caracas............................. .. 75
1 28 1 Ikastola of the Basque Center of Caracas,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,, 76
1 29 Simon Bolivar Institute................................... .................................. 79 1
30 The Biscayan Sailors........... ................................................................ ..........
82 1 31 Pablo Mandozen, known by the name of «Brother Ginés..... 86 1 32
Petroleum People............ ................................................................ ............ 90
1 33 The arduous path of Exile............................ .................................... 96 1
34 Contribution to Basque and universal culture Centro Vasco Caracas. ............
105 1 34 1 Lectures (60) given at the Basque Center in Caracas1961... 105 1
34 2 Press articles published in the National Press......... ............ 107 1 34 3
Publication in specialized magazines in Venezuela..................... 109 1 34 4
Books published in Venezuela - Vicente Amezaga Aresti............ 109 1 34 5
Translations into Basque directly from 6 languages............... 110 1 35 Basque
university students and intellectuals in Venezuela. ........................ 111 1 36
Artists and architects.................. ................................................................ ....
113 1 37 Basque sport in Venezuela........................................... ....................
115 1 37 1 Basque Sports..................... ................................................................
116 1 37 2 History of the XII International Jai Alai Series of Caracas.... 118 1 38
La Resistencia..................... ................................................................ ........ 120
1 39 Basque Center of Caracas - a review.................................. ....... 129 1 40
Validity of Basque Centers in Venezuela................................... 132, 1 40 1
Folklore.................................. ................................................. 135 1 40 2
Pizkunde, Txinpartak, Veneuska.......................................... .......... 138 1 41
Builders and captains.................................. ...................... 140 1 42 Basque
Priests in Venezuela............ ......................................... 140 1 42 1 Missionary
Diocese... ................................................................ ..................... 140 1 42 2
The Tuy Valleys............... ................................................................ ... 142 1 42-3
Religious issues in Venezuela........................................... ................. 144 1 42 4
The Church..................... ................................................................ .......... 146 1
42 5 The bad omens of Isaías Atxa............................. .................... 156 1 42 6
The work in favor of the Basque language of the Parents..................... .................
157 1 42 7 A change of approach.................................. .................................
158 1 42 8 Procedures in Caracas. Evidence................................................. 160
1 43 Basque Doctors in Venezuela.................................. ................. 161
1 43 1 Basque doctors who arrived in Venezuela in the years 1938-39-40... 163
1 44 Basque influence on Venezuelan architecture.......................... ............ 175
1 45 Basque Art in Venezuela................................. .................................... 177
1 46 Printing, literature, journalism....... ................................................................
179 1-47 An Anthropologist Called Barandiaran..................................... .... 181
1-48 Distinctions That Honor the Basque Center of Caracas..................... 189 1
49 How they see us Basques in Venezuela... .................................... 190 1 50
Appendix......... ................................................................ ..................................
196 1 51 Some Stories and personal experiences......... ..................................
202 1 51 1 1939-1940 Exiled on the ship - La Salle.. ............................. 202 1
51 2 To A Farmhouse In Aizarnazabal............ .......................................... 205 1
51 3 Arozena Gomendio Andoni ................................................................ ..........216
Chapter 2 - Basque surnames in the history of Venezuela.................................. 221
Chapter 3 - Venezuelan words regarding the Basques.................................. 225
Chapter 4 - Few words to the children of Vasconia................................................. 226
Bibliography................................................. ................................................................ ........ 227

Introduction
This compilation, based on various writings, only intends to show what the doing and doing of
the Basque Diaspora in Venezuela has been, in the second half of the 20th century, as two old
acquaintances said.
As a reference of the Basque presence in Venezuela, it can be defined in three migrations,

through 500 years
The Basques arrived on American soil centuries before its official discovery by Christopher
Columbus, although they limited themselves to fishing for cod and whales, without thinking of
planting flags to mark their conquest.
The incorporation of the Basque element to Venezuela can be studied in three moments that
we will call the Adventure, the Enterprise and the Exile and that correspond respectively to the
early days of the colonial institution, to the 18th century and to the present day.
The movement of the Adventure is one that is carried out under the sign of individual and
sporadic immigration of the 16th and 17th centuries, determined by the desire for wealth and
well-being, overcoming the barriers that the narrowness of the land, family fertility and the
restrictions of the civil legislation, zealous conservative of the manor house, they printed the
energetic men of a race that was born in front of the infinite paths of the sea.
Navarre perfidiously conquered at the beginning of the 16th century —although it is worth noting
that at first some jurists from the Indies denied the Navarrese the quality of Spaniards—, and
also united the regions of Alaba, Guipúzcoa and Vizcaya to Castile although in reality it was no
more that in the person of the common sovereign, this bond that according to the times had to
engender such denationalizing effects, for the moment offered the Basques a wide field for their
activities that, as is known, since the Discovery, they began to deploy throughout and the width
of all America.
The adventurous Basque materializes in Venezuela and, to be even more precise, in Caracas,
in individuals such as Diego de Henares Lezama (a native of Baracaldo, Vizcaya), the man who
designed the map of the first city of Caracas; in Sancho del Villar, one of its first mayors; in Juan
de Amezaga, notary public; in encomenderos such as Simón de Bolívar (el Viejo), Sancho de
Zuazo, captains Arteaga and Guevara and others that we could cite and whose names appear
in the repositories of old Caracas documents prior to the year 1600, without forgetting Don
Simón de Basauri, founder of the first school that existed in the city (year 1594).
With the first years of the 17th century (1606-1611) we have the governor Sancho de Alquiza
whose deformed name in Sanchorquiz still persists in the place names of Caracas. Before him
and later throughout the century, second-in-commands of the best-known families of Euzkadí
arrived and settled in the country, such as the proud offspring of the Muxi-ca and Butrón
—"Muxika arerioakaz agika; Butroe zelangoa dan oróle da-kie", reads his motto inscribed on the
stones of his old and powerful castle there in Gatika;— or of the Villela de Munguia, those of
"the five awake wolves of the house of Villela" that every reader of the precious "Libe" by Master
Arana Goiri. From that time are the Landaeta, one of the most prolific lineages among all the
Caracas families; the Arguinzoniz, the Arechederra and, to conclude with two well-known corners
of the city, the Ibarra and the Veroiz who now say
Veroes. The fruits of this immigration of the Adventure corresponded to their origins and could
not be other than individual and dispersed.
On September 4, 1730, with the arrival in Puerto Cabello of the first three ships of the "Real
Compañía Guipuzcoana de Caracas", the frigates "San Ignacio de Loyola" and "San Joaquín"
and the galley "Guipuzcoa-na". , the Company's immigration activities begin.
A company of a purely commercial nature, you must never lose sight of this. Nor can we forget
that if the Basque side offers the advantage of being a purely national organization in its
direction, in its men, in its instruments and even, to a large extent, in the destination of its profits,
it only represented the effort of a of the seven Basque regions or states which, if in the letter of
the laws they continued as independent as on the first day of their personal union to the crown
of Castile, had already been suffering centuries of adulteration in the most intimate part of their
national essence.
In any case, with all the limitations with which it was born and all the reservations and objections
that can be raised against it from different angles, there is no doubt that this company is looked
at from the point of view of the Basque effort, or from that of its influence in the destinies of
Venezuela which he found "...reduced to the situation of a province overwhelmed by poverty...
and left it prosperous, revalued for the Empire and rowing in the full current of foreign trade", as
Hussey says, revista a transcendence that only the voluntarily blind can deny. And together with
the commercial aspect of the company, "...it must not be forgotten" —as Gil Fortoul writes—
"that the Basques of the Compañía Guipuzcoana brought to the hitherto poor and uneducated
Venezuelan colony, something more important than the Spanish merchandise. They brought
books, ideas, a modern entrepreneurial spirit, men drawn mostly by the movement that was to
culminate in the Encyclopedia and the French Revolution. Guipúzcoa, a neighbor of France and
home to a noble race that always combined the energies of work With the spirit of independence,
he came to modernize as far as possible the antiquated regime of the conquerors". With which,
we added, Venezuela was not absent from the eighteenth century and until it was its auroral
century, without being able to say here what Ortega y Gasset wrote of Spain: "The more one
meditates on our history, the clearer one notices the disastrous absence of the eighteenth
century...
This has been the sad fate of Spain, the European nation that has skipped an irreplaceable
century."
What the books and ideas of that century brought by the Basques to Venezuela represented in
the incubation of the independence movement is easy to excite. But we must also point out
something as important as the natural predisposition of the Basque man for undertakings of
freedom. As our Ramón de Basterra wrote, whom "the brightness of Rome" and the Roman
heritage of Spain diverted from the paths of his homeland: "Alarm invades me in the presence
of the action of the Biscayans in America. The deaf awareness of having aborted their
spontaneous form of race prior to Rome by the imposition of Castile, seems to have prepared
them for understanding and even sympathy with the indigenous populations... I have had to
close my eyes to the plethora of surnames from the Pyrenees that swarm in the rebellions of the
civil wars of America". Without a doubt, I would close them when reading the list of those
involved in the uprising of Gual and Spain and later, with even more violent effort, seeing in the
glorious fight for Venezuelan Independence, together with the figure of Bolívar, so many others
of the first magnitude. like Urdaneta, Anzoategui, Aris-mendi, Sagarzazu, Aramendi, Mendiri,
etc, etc.
This company immigration was organized and, as far as possible, massive. We have collected
more than 2,500 records of Basques from the time of the Guipuzcoana, which means something,
given that most correspond to Caracas whose population did not exceed 20 to 30,000 inhabitants
at that time. The Olabarriaga, Aizpurua, Goizueta, Urroz, Zaran-dia, Uranga, Goicoechea,
Amenabar and Mintegui family, to mention only the main Factors of the company, lead a
relationship from general captains to cabin boys, going through sailors, merchants and
representatives of the more various activities. From these men come families so deeply rooted
in today's Venezuelan media as the Le-cuna, Zufoaga, Azpurua, Triarte and many others.
The dissolution of the Company in 1785 and the upheavals and wars that shook Venezuela in
the first decades of the 19th century cut through the rest of the century and almost the first half
of the 20th century the Basque emigration flow that was preferably channeled through this time
on the banks of the Plata. We have to get to the year 1939 to be able to bear witness to a third
emigration flow from Euzkadi to Venezuela.
It is what we have called Exile. Similar only to the previous one in which it also begins with the
arrival of three ships, the "Cuba", the "Flandre" and the "Bretagne" at the ports of Venezuela, but
very different from the two previous ones in its motivation and its spirit. They did not arrive as
adventurers to a conquered land or organized into a powerful mercantile company under the
auspices of a monarch. They came broken, with their lives cut short by the horrors of a war they
never wanted but had to accept, with heroic determination, in defense of themselves and their
national values.
Already in the San Sebastián Jurisdiction of the year 1150 there is talk of whaling by its sailors;
and there is documentary evidence of the presence of Basque fishermen in Newfoundland since
1413, they were probably going regularly to these places for one or two centuries before.
The pilot of the Columbian expedition in 1492 is a Basque, Juan de Lakotsa (La Cosa for the
Spanish), who at the same time owns the admiral ship, the "Mari Galante", renamed "Santa
María"; Most of the crew members of this ship are also Basques. Since then, the Basques have
not been missing in any of the discovering expeditions.
Sebastián de Elkano goes around the world for the first time in 1519-21. Urdaneta and Legazpi
colonize the Philippine Islands in 1564-5.
It is curious to observe that the Basques do not provide conquerors, but colonizers. That is, the
men who came to the New World not to conquer easy wealth, but to create new wealth, to join
the life of this continent, and over the centuries to establish the future American republics.
The first colonists of the New World are those left by Christopher Columbus at Fort Navidad;
When he returns on the next trip and finds the fortress destroyed and its men dead, the blame is
placed on the Bizkainos who fought among themselves "for the gold and the women."
Years later, Hernando de Cebara from Gipuzkoa is the first European to marry an Indian princess,
Higuemota, daughter of the Queen of Jaragua Anacaona.
Later, Irala founded Asunción de Paraguay in 1538, Legazpi founded Manila in 1571, Garai
founded Buenos Aires in 1580, Zabala founded Montevideo in 1724.
The three big problems caused by American colonization are struggles for freedom; and the Basques
always play a leading role in them.
The first problem is that of the slavery of the natives. Its great defender is the Basque Dominican
Francisco de Vitoria, who from his chair at the University of Salamanca pronounces the Relectio de
Indüs, which, while defending the freedom of the American Indians, lays the foundations for future
International Law.
The second problem is the revolt of the first colonists against the absolute powers of government that
the kings had granted to the discoverers and conquerors.
That revolt arose on the Spanish Island, where the Basque Adrián de Muxika seconded Roldan in his
protest against the Columbus brothers. And it culminates in Mexico, where Bishop Zumarraga
confronts conquerors and oidores, while defending the indigenous people.
The third problem will be the future independence of the American countries. Although it took place at
the beginning of the 19th century, its first outbreak was directed by the Basque Lope de Agírre in
1560, from the heart of the Amazon River. His figure has been denigrated by writers at the service of
Felipe II; but, despite the bloody overtones that halo his feat, we must recognize his gallantry for
having been the first to proclaim the independence of Peru and declare war against the king of Spain.
With this background, it is not surprising that the Basques fully join the independence campaign from
Mexico to Argentina.
This Basque participation reached its peak with the figure of the Venezuelan Simón Bolibar, through
whose veins ran Basque blood. His work is great as a liberator of nations, but perhaps it has even
more prophetic value in its spirit, when in full campaign he convenes the Congress of Panama.
With this introduction of the influence of the Basques in America, we will focus on the doing and doing
of the Basques in Venezuela, in the second half of the 20th century.
As I said; Venezuela and the Basques, two old acquaintances
.
CHAPTER 1
Basque Diaspora America 20th Century (Venezuela) 1939
When the Spanish civil war broke out in 1936, Venezuela was experiencing the dawn of the
presidency of General López Contreras, after twenty-seven years of the ferocious dictatorship of
General Juan Vicente Gómez. According to the Venezuelan historian Guillermo Morón, the regime
of General López Contreras: “was not one of enormous achievements and reforms, but of
humanization of politics, of balanced balance, legality and establishment of public morality, without
excessive injustices or criminal repression. His fight against communism was not exaggerated with
revenge or useless persecutions» (1). There are moments of euphoria as a result of the release of
political prisoners from jails and the establishment of freedom of the press
.
As is the case in most of the American countries, in the face of the civil war, public opinion is divided.
Most of the press -headed by La Esfera and La Religión- and majority sectors of the Catholic
hierarchy (especially those related to educational centers) are positioned in favor of the Francoists.
However, after the death of the dictator, a new, frankly democratic press was reborn in Venezuela,
whose greatest exponent was the newspaper Ahora, directed by Luis Barrios Luz, El Universal, by
Luis Teófilo Núñez, and El Heraldo, by Ramón David León. This last sector, together with the most
outstanding of the Venezuelan intelligentsia -which had suffered the wrath of Gómez- are, from the
first moment, with the legitimate Government of the Republic. And all this happened, as Arturo Uslar
Pietri points out, "while the political struggle was heating up and impatience was burning up"
For his part, journalist Alfredo Tarre "Sanín" affirms that "the armed conflict in the peninsula had an
enormous influence on Venezuelan politics (...): it contributed to make the situation in Venezuela
more tense and further divide the leftists and the rights in the country»
.
The worldwide controversy that followed the bombing of Guernica in 1937 also echoed in Venezuela.
Most of the newspapers reproduce the information that arrives through international press agencies
and services, especially United Press. Both El Heraldo, Ahora, El Universal, as well as La Esfera or
the magazine Élite give, at first, government information. In other words, Guernica -considered the
"holy city" of the Basques- had been destroyed by German and Italian planes at the service of the
Francoists.
It is true that such information does not have the same treatment.
Although La Esfera reported on April 29 that "rebel planes carried out two incursions that set fire to
the town of Guernica," two days later it echoed a dispatch dated Salamanca - headquarters of the
faction's headquarters -, stating that: "the rebels declare that the Basque fugitives report that the
loyalists set fire to Guernica while the insurgents were fifteen kilometers from the town" (5). However,
it is going to be La Religión that maintains these theses with more zeal. It must be remembered that
this newspaper offered, almost exclusively, the official notes provided by the Francoist propaganda
service, under the generic title «Official Communications of the Spanish Civil War». In the edition of
April 29, 1937, three dispatches were offered,
dated in Salamanca, which gave the following versions: «The nationalists (Francoists) deny an
infamy by Aguirre about an alleged bombing of the Sanctuary of Guernica» (...) «General Franco
demonstrates that the nationalist aviation (factional) has not flown due to bad weather neither on
the 26th, nor on the 27th, nor on the 28th of the current year» (...) «The reports of separatist origin
are criminally false, that our air forces have bombed Guernica» (6). As if this were not enough, on
May 1 he broadcast a "Chronicle of Germany", in which he spoke of the "outrage over the English
campaign on the destruction of Guernica"
Logically, the liberal newspapers maintain the version -which would prove to be the true one- that
Guernica was destroyed by Franco. Now, which also has special services from the Herald Tribune,
it keeps the issue on its front page for several days. He speaks of the "hellish effect of the bombs",
of the "Basque disaster caused by Germans and Italians", of "Franco's slander"
El Universal reports: "Guernica, place and symbol of Basque traditions, reduced to rubble by aerial
bombardment." It also offers the testimony of Canon Alberto de Onaindia, adviser to President José
Antonio de Aguirre on the bombing (9). For its part, the magazine Élite offers a graphic report,
speaking of "terrifying desolation in Guernica"
To highlight that struggle even more, in 1937 what some historians describe as a "Gomecista
reaction" took place.
That is to say, a return to some values that characterized the dictatorship of General Gómez,
especially in its anti-communist content. In this sense, it should not be forgotten that, for some
sectors, the Spanish civil war was considered a "crusade" against communism.
.
1-1 Venezuelan intellectuals and the Basque case
In the countries of the American Southern Cone (Uruguay, Chile and Argentina) there had been a
strong organized Basque minority since ancient times, both from the social, political and cultural
point of view. There are also Basque Centers in Cuba, Mexico and the United States. Not so - at
least, apparently - in Venezuela.
In such a way that, in 1874, the historian Arístides Rojas complained that in the 19th century there
had not been a significant Basque emigration to Venezuela, contrary to what happened with the
aforementioned countries. The Basques, as we have seen, on the one hand, had rationalized trade
through the Compañía de Caracas (“La Guipuzcoana”), and on the other hand, they had introduced
into the country the enlightened and liberal ideas that marked the liberation process of the XIX
century.
In 1936 there was a certain awareness of origin among some of these progressive intellectuals,
fueled, no doubt, by vacation periods in Biarritz, in the continental Basque Country. This would be
the case of Simón Gonzalo Salas, Carlos Enrique Aranguren, the Arraiz brothers, Aguerrevere,
Ibarra... Perhaps for this reason the Basque specificity of the Republican exile in Venezuela is not
surprising.
.
In those days Rafael Pizani was a young lawyer appointed as secretary of the Venezuelan Embassy in Belgium. In
1937 the first Basque refugee children arrived in that country (15). From the very beginning, his wife, Cecilia Uzcategui,
began to assist those children, especially with problems related to the French language.
Faced with that dramatic situation, Pizaní convinced the ambassador to take steps with his government, so that it would
agree to receive some of those children in Venezuela.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs transfers the request to the Ministry of Agriculture -on which the Immigration Technical
Directorate depends-, However, the head of the latter Ministry, Alfonso Mejía, was a very conservative man. The
response to Pizani's request will take two months to reach Belgium. In it, his minister, Esteban Gil Borges, echoing
Mejía's opinion, did not recommend the immigration of Basque children because they could introduce "communist
ideology" into the country. It goes without saying that, for example, those children had gone into exile accompanied by
priests and, in the specific case of Belgium, assisted by the Catholic Archbishop of Mechelen, Monsignor Van Roey.
.
In September 1938, after resigning from a position in the Berlin Legation, Rafael Pizani returned to Venezuela.
By then, a pressure group in favor of Basque immigration had been created in the country made up of intellectuals such
as Miguel Otero, Andrés Eloy Blanco, Jóvito Villalba or the aforementioned Arraiz, Gonzalo Salas and Pizaní. For
months they will carry out an intense campaign in the press and at the University
These will not be the only efforts. The Venezuelan ambassador in Cuba, Alberto Smith Zarraga, a personal friend of a
Basque exile, Dr. Luis de Aranguren, makes direct negotiations with General López Contreras for the same purposes
indicated above.
Within that campaign, on May 14, 1938, Dr. Simón Gonzalo Salas presented a report entitled Basque Immigration to
Venezuela. Part of this report will be published in the form of a brochure with a print run of 20,000 copies. Gonzalo
Salas's report will give rise to harsh criticism from the Falangist newspapers, in the case of the Bilbao newspaper Hierro.
1-2 The Gonzalo Salas report
In 1938 two events of singular importance took place. On the one hand, Venezuela recognized the Government of
Burgos (Franco). On the other, the Triennial Plan is approved, which will mark the activity of the López Contreras regime
in the coming years. In Point 7 of that plan it was said: «Our demography is stationary and therefore needs contributions
of new blood that promote its favorable growth. Venezuela will never be a great country without a harmonious parallelism
between its economic potential and the human factor.
With the implementation of this plan, the Technical Institute of Immigration and
Colonization
.
It is within this framework that the report by Dr. Gonzalo Salas is produced. This is based on the premise of the need
that Venezuela had for immigration, proclaimed in all the media.
communication and collection in the plan to which we alluded: «This -it is said in the report- is a
truth so clear and precise that it does not need to have been repeated so many times.
It is a truth that is tattooed on the national consciousness. And in reality, it cannot be otherwise if
one thinks that we only constitute -after a cold and even-tempered analysis- a small garrison of
men, the vast majority of whom are biologically and spiritually deranged, whose purpose has been
fulfilled since 1830 until now. , to sustain -even deficiently- the political and territorial integrity of the
Nation. Immigration is therefore a necessity that does not admit discussion; and it does not admit it,
because if we do not decide to face the problem and solve it - in a methodical and rationalized way
- perhaps we will be condemned to disappear from the concert of free peoples. I will be excused for
this harshness of expression.
I express myself like this because I think I'm acting in a country where if all its problems were
analyzed in the nude, its fate would be very different».
Simón Gonzalo Salas defended an ethnically homogeneous and politically moderate emigration
(which should, on the one hand, compensate for the early recognition of the Franco regime and, on
the other, not fuel the anger of the influential anti-community sectors). He realized that uncontrolled
immigration could mortgage the country and gave Argentina and Brazil as negative examples. On
the contrary, he was in favor of what he described as an Australian experiment, «When we populate
-he said- we must do it with the idea of nationalizing.
For this, there is nothing better than making the company with elements that are easily adaptable
to our language, religion and customs, and to our environment (...). The selection of the emigrant is
the key to success, especially in the case of nationalities like ours”. Uncontrolled immigration
(especially Scandinavian and German) had been a failure: 'most returned immediately or waited to
exploit us before doing so. Almost all open-door immigration is made up of merchants or other
undesirables who look down on the Indo-American" (
.
At one point in his report, Simón Gonzalo Salas wonders, where are these emigrants?: «Those
emigrants are now 80,000. They are Basques and are currently in France, eager to come. It could
be said that today they are orphans of their great Homeland and would welcome ours with muscle
and heart.
They are exempt from foreign tutelage and, therefore, with them the most serious inconvenience is
saved when the problem of immigration arises. As for the rest, in terms of its adaptability, its easy
and rapid assimilation into the national environment, let's listen: "History will always be fair in
granting the Basques established in Venezuela the glory of having been the first innovators and the
true creators of the agricultural industry" (Arístides Rojas, Orígenes de Venezuela). "The Gipuzkoan
Company, to which the progress and obstacles that have alternated in the political regeneration of
Venezuela could also be attributed, was the most memorable act of the reign of Felipe V in
Venezuela" (Andrés Bello, Memories of the History of Venezuela) »
Dr. Gonzalo Salas dedicates an important part of the repeated report to describing the history,
customs, economy and, paraphrasing Arístides Rojas, "the Basque element in Venezuela." In his
conclusions he affirms that "Basque immigration to Venezuela does not represent a danger, not
even a remote one", due "to the healthy ideology of the Basque people". For him
author, the organization that best reflected this "sound ideology" was the Nationalist Party
Vasco (PNV) who had fought alongside the Republic in defense of its fueros (sic) -referring to autonomy- and against
the totalitarianism that the Francoist uprising represented
.
«With this report -Simón Gonzalo Salas concluded- I think I have specified in detail the matter that I suppose is the
most transcendental for the effective revitalization of the national body: the increase in a strong current of Basque
immigration»
1-3 The Basque reaction
This campaign greatly surprised the exiled Basque Government. This had been constituted on October 7, 1936 after
approving the Cortes of the Spanish Republic a "statute of autonomy" for the Basque Country. Its agents soon mobilize
to find out the scope of it. Among the informants is a group of Basque Jesuits. Among these, Father Aranzadi, son of
Engracio Aranzadi, one of the historical leaders of the PNV.
But not all opinions are the same. On February 25, 1939 Ramón de la Sota Mac Mahon, one of the Basque Government
delegates in New York, wrote to President José Antonio Aguirre, exiled in Paris: «A few days ago an English friend of
mine came to visit me from Venezuela, Mr Dempster, who studied with me.
Before, he was a member of the English Colonial Corps, leaving it to come to work for Shell Mex on this Continent. Mr.
Dempster, who knows Euzkadi and our problem, having read almost everything published in Spanish about the Basque
national movement, told us very interesting things about Basque immigration to that country, which in his opinion would
be a disaster. He promised to send me a study to send it to the Government of Euzkadi. According to Mr.
Dempster, the last three immigrations, that of the Germans, the Canaries and the Swedes have been complete failures
and the newspapers are now clamoring for Basque immigration»
Despite all this, until the eve of the Nazi invasion, President Aguirre was not in favor of massive emigration, perhaps
with the distant hope that a quick victory for the allies would give a positive solution to the peninsular problem: «The
Government wants to set a criterion. In terms of emigration, he is against emigration in large numbers. It is not their
conviction, nor circumstances, beyond our control, advise or allow emigration to that extent (...). But the Government
respects the particular decision, and in this regard it supports the requests that are addressed to it by the interested
parties in this regard. Those who wish to do so can also contact the aid agencies dependent on the republican
institutions.
We make the warning that the Basque Government, as such, has no representation in the aforementioned bodies»
1-4 A restricted agreement
Until 1939 some Basque exiles had arrived in Venezuela, in some cases thanks to the efforts of Jesuits residing in the
country. Among these Ignacio de Rotaeche, ex-deputy to Cortes and president of the Euzkadi Buru Batzar (National
Council) of the Basque Nationalist Communion (name that the PNV had adopted between 1916 and 1930). With very
conservative ideas, when the civil war broke out he was opposed to Basque Nationalism supporting the Republic,
going into exile in 1936.
First in France, and later in Venezuela, where he worked for the Ministry of Public Works. In the
same situation was Manual Chalbaud Errazquin, brother of a prominent member of the Society of
Jesus who had been rector of the University of Deusto (Bilbao). Chalbaud will dedicate himself to
the construction
.
Dr. José María Bengoa Eekanda also arrived in Venezuela in April 1938. During the republican
period he had been a leader of the Federation of Basque Students in Valladolid. In 1936, shortly
before the outbreak of the civil war, he obtained a degree in Medicine from the University of the
aforementioned Castilian city. In the first days of the war he enlisted as a volunteer in a nationalist
battalion. After the formation of the Basque Government, he joined the Military Health of Euzkadi,
under the orders of Fernando Unzeta.
He left for exile in 1937 and, as we have pointed out, he arrived in Venezuela eight months later. In
July 1938 he was assigned by the Venezuelan Ministry of Health and Social Assistance to the town
of Sanare (Lara State). After going through a rag (Sucre State), he was appointed head of Nutrition
of the aforementioned Ministry.
At this stage, Dr. Bengoa created the School Canteens and the Popular Canteens, as well as the
National Institute of Nutrition, of which he was head of its technical direction (1945 -
1950). From there it is sent to the Department of Nutrition of the World Health Organization
.
In the spring of 1939 an important event occurred. Arturo Uslar Pietri is appointed director of the
Technical Institute for Immigration and Colonization, to which Simón Gonzalo Salas (31) joins as
deputy director. Faced with the existing demands and convinced that Basque immigration would be
useful for the country, Uslar agreed and immediately began the negotiations.
The negotiations in Paris are carried out at first, on the Venezuelan side, by the representative for
Europe of the Immigration Institute, Eduardo Monsanto, and the aforementioned Simón Gonzalo
Salas. On the Basque side, the Vice President of the Basque Government, Jesús María de Leizaola,
and the director of Immigration of the latter, Julio de Jauregui, will do so.
Subsequently, and to speed up the arrival of Basques in Venezuela, Abel Cifuentes Espinetti and
Carlos Enrique Aranguren participated in the negotiations. The latter had been Consul General of
his country before the Government of the Spanish Republic.
The agreement agrees on "the emigration of teams from different specialties, through the
acceptance of exceptionally convenient economic conditions and with guarantees that both
contracting parties are obliged to comply with". The exiles left France with an employment contract
for an indefinite period.
The Venezuelan Government anticipated the travel and installation expenses, the Basques
committing to repay the amount of these expenses in a reasonable time. On the other hand, the
agreements expressly stated that the Basque exiles would not be assigned to agricultural colonies
in the interior, where living conditions were especially harsh.
The implementation of the agreement was not without difficulties. On the one hand, the Venezuelan
consul in Bordeaux, Guzmán, whom the Basque refugees called "Guzmán el Malo", committed
such a number of arbitrariness that he was replaced by his government.
This incident caused many exiles to choose to move to other countries (36). On the other, some
Basque businessmen who, as we have seen, were already residing in the country, began to hire
exiles directly, outside the Immigration Institute. In this way the agreement was violated. The
intervention of the Basque and Venezuelan authorities would put an end to these practices. Uslar
Pietrí made it a condition that the Basques work for at least one day in the position for which they
had been hired. From then on they would have full freedom to do what they wanted.
Other difficulties will be political in nature. Some Basque political organizations, especially sectors
close to the Communist Party and the left wing of the Socialist Party, criticize the partisan nature
of Basque emigration to Venezuela. In his attacks, the socialist deputy to Cortes for Guipúzcoa
Miguel Amilibia (38) distinguished himself. This same problem, as we will see, will be presented
to the delegate of the Basque Government in the Dominican Republic, Ensebio María de Irujo
(39). In both cases, President Aguirre would be forced to specify the participation of his government
in said negotiations.
1-5 the First Voyages
At the beginning of the summer of 1939, the negotiations between the Basque nationalists and
the Venezuelan government concluded. At the same time the selection of emigrants began. After
signing the contracts and receiving the visas, the first group began the trip. Added to this is a
young officer from the Merchant Navy, Ricardo de Maguregui, exiled in France since the fall of
the north of the peninsula into the hands of the Francoists.
For some time he had been waiting for a contract to sail with a Philippine shipping company. In
view of the fact that he does not receive news from her, he decides to go to Venezuela. He was
the only one of the Basque group who had not yet received a visa. However, on the train that
takes him to Le Havre to embark, Jesús Iraragorri, a doctor hired by the Venezuelan government,
gave him a letter from the Euzkadi Buru Batzar (National Council of the PNV), naming him
responsible for that expedition.
In said letter it was stated: «The Basque Nationalist Party wants this first expedition of Basques
to Venezuela to be in good order, and at the same time it needs to be aware of all the incidents of
it, both during the trip and upon arrival in Venezuela and while our expeditionary compatriots are
placing themselves in the different positions ».
For this purpose, the PNV delegates to you the representation provisionally while a definitive
delegation is established there for this expeditionary group»
On June 24, 82 Basques -men, women and children- gathered in the French port of Le Havre.
They spend the day reviewing passports and visas. In the early morning of the 25th, the group,
accompanied by Julio de Jauregui, Miguel José Garmendia, Otalora and the journalist José
Olivares Larrondo "Tellagorri", listened to Mass, officiated by Monsignor Lemaire, who had
distinguished himself for his help to Basque children. refugees in France. At eight o'clock in the
morning the group is transferred to the bus port, embarking an hour later on board the packet boat
Cuba, of the Compagnie Generale Trasatlantique.
Given the curiosity of the other passengers -among whom are a group of
Jewish refugees - the txistu of Segundo de Achurra plays Agur Jaunak and the Basque National
Anthem. These are especially dramatic moments. Among the passengers there are some war
wounded. Many leave their wives and children in France on the eve of the other announced war.
After making a stopover in Southampton, on July 4, 1939, they touched the first American port:
Point de Pitre (Guadalajara). From there, Maguregui wrote to the PNV address detailing the
details of the trip up to then. On June 29, the Basque group celebrates the festival of San Pedro.
There is no lack of music and dances. Monsignor Víctor Sanabria, Bishop of Alajuela (Costa
Rica), celebrates Mass. The Costa Rican prelate establishes a friendly relationship with the group
and, upon arriving in La Guaira, he would deliver a letter of recommendation to the archbishop of
Caracas. On the other hand, in his report, Maguregui pointed out: "I observe that, as we get
closer to America, people feel more concerned, despite everything, the general atmosphere is
one of trust and encouragement"
In the early hours of July 9, 1939, the Cuba docked in the Venezuelan port of La Guaira. At 7 in
the morning, Arturo Uslar Pietri came on board, accompanied by Antonio Arraiz, Roberto Álamo
Ibarra and Vicente Fuentes. At 9 in the morning, Maguregui sent a telegram to Villa Endara (PNV
headquarters), announcing the arrival of the Basque group in Venezuela.
All the Venezuelan press echoes the arrival of the Basque refugees. The newspaper Ahora
devoted a page, with a great profusion of photographs, to this event. He highlighted that among
the new arrivals are doctors, engineers, accountants, farmers and specialized workers
On Sunday the 16th, the group attends a sung Mass in the parish of Santa Rosalía, officiated by
its priest, Father Tenreiro, a friend of Canon Alberto Onaindía, adviser to the President of the
Basque Government with whom he had studied in Rome.
At eleven in the morning, accompanied by Arturo Uslar Pietri and Simón Gonzalo Salas, the
Basques make a floral offering at the National Pantheon, where the remains of Simón Bolívar are
found. As agreed with the Venezuelan authorities, the Agur Jaunak and the Venezuelan Anthem
are sung.
However, one of the refugees, Esturo, on his own initiative, asked Uslar Pietri for permission to
interpret the Euzko Abendaren Efeserkija (Basque National Anthem). What apparently did not
cease to be an anecdotal fact, will give rise to a political controversy. La Esfera, a very reactionary
and pro-Franco newspaper, which maintained a permanent crusade against everything that
smacked of the left, published highly critical information, saying that "communist hymns" had
been sung in the National Pantheon, in the presence of a high government official and with his
consent.
For his part, José Antonio Sangroniz, Franco's representative in Venezuela, would present a note
of protest. The matter was not of major importance because General López Contreras did not
attach importance to it.
However, said incident was a reflection of the political situation in Venezuela on the eve of World
War II.
On July 28, 1939, the Flandre also left Le Havre, with 139 Basque refugees on board. Among
them Juan Olazabal Gómez, Comptroller General of Finance of the Basque Government, who
headed the official Delegation of the PNV. Responsible for the trip was Eusebio Barriola Irigoyen,
captain of the San Andrés Battalion (sappers), belonging to the nationalist union ELA-STV
(Solidarity of Basque Workers), sentenced to death in Santoña and exchanged in 1938. This trip
had especially emotional aspects.
In the aforementioned French port, after almost three years, parents with children of refugees in
Belgium met
The third voyage of these characteristics is that of the Bretagne, which left Bordeaux with 53
refugees on board, whose manager was Francisco Elórtegui Gambe, captain of the Naviera
Sota y Aznar, who had been commander of the Donostia armed bou. Elórtegui fought in the
battle of Cabo Machichaco and arrived at La Guaira on August 26.
1-6 The adventure of Donibane and Bigarrena
At the end of 1937 a Basque exile, José Manuel Orúezabala, in agreement with some riverside
carpenters, founded a shipyard for wooden boats at the mouth of the river Adour, in Bayonne.
After many hardships and financial sacrifices, the first ship was launched, followed shortly by
others.
The ships Donibane (San Juan, in the Basque language) —which at first was called Lendabizikoa
(La Primera)— and Bigarrena (La Segunda), both general, with a wooden hull, rod ribbing and
equipped with a diesel engine, left these shipyards. of 50 HP. Its characteristics: length 14
meters; beam 3.50 meters and two to three feet draft. The Donibane was launched in August
1938 and, three months later, her companion. In their first stage, these vessels were dedicated
to fishing in the continental Basque Country.
The two ships had been financed thanks to credits managed by the Basque Government's
Ministry of Finance
In June 1939 a project was closed to transfer arrantzales (fishermen) exiled in France to
Venezuela. The initial figure was around two hundred men. However, this figure is discarded as
excessive for a first expedition. At first, it was about probing possibilities to install a large fishery
in Venezuela. Even with the profits obtained by said company to finance the activities of the
Basque Government in exile, at a time when its coffers were running out. The author of the
project was Captain José María Burgaña, who had distinguished himself during the war as an
officer of the Euzkadi Auxiliary Navy. This one, a year before, had tried to carry out a similar
project for Argentina
The fate of the Donibane and the Bigarrena in their first months of sailing was marked by
accidents and sabotage.
The latter due to the opposition of the French unions to the Basque exiles working in their waters
They had become the "damned" of that little fleet. Despite advice to the contrary, Burgaña and
his men prepare for a journey never attempted before. By
On the other hand, not all crew members are sailors. Two of them, Azpiritxaga and Echegoien,
officers of the Basque Army taken prisoner and exchanged, who had fought as commanders with the
regular Republican troops in Catalonia, joined the adventure.
"Taking into account the low capacity of the fuel tanks - Burgaña writes -, trying to achieve the largest
radius of action, we loaded diesel-oil drums with which we filled the stern holds and part of the deck,
interspersing between the same barrels of drinking water and wine, all well secured, so that they
would make a block with the ship.
In the bow hold we store the nets and other fishing gear, the packages of luggage, food, etc., leaving
the space required for the accommodation of the men.
Each ship carried a small dinghy, upside down, on the deck, with life jackets covered by them. Oil
cooker. Tables of nautical instruments, chronometers and radio receivers. A fairly well-stocked first-
aid kit, permanganate solution against organic matter in the water and the obligation to take a lemon
per person,
On Sunday, August 6, 1939, the two small fishing boats prepare to set sail. The crew of the Bigarrena
was made up of José María de Burgaña, from Motriko, captain; Antonio López Altonaga, from
Mundaka; Emilio de la Hoz, from Guetaria; Cosme de Goitiz, from Lekeitio; José de Zabaleta, from
Ondárroa; Ricardo de Azpirichaga, from Durango and Joseba de Arriandiaga, from Elantxobe. The
Donibane team was made up of Pedro Ruiz de Loizaga, captain, from Mundaka; León
Aguirregómezcorta, from Motriko; Mosé Bedialauneta, from Ondárroa; Pedro de Bernedo, from
Ondarroa; Silvestre de Isasti. from Getaria; Francisco Valdivielso; Fernando de Echegoyen, from
Bedia, and Ramón Coscorrotza, from Lekeitio.
Before leaving the Des Alees Marines dock, in Bayonne, the exiled priest Policarpo de Larrañaga.
exiled chaplain of the Fishermen's Union (Euzko Tostarteko Bazkuna) gives them the blessing. At half
past six in the evening they crossed the bar of the river Adour. On the high seas they discover a
stowaway aboard the Bigarrena. His name was Miguel Marina Barredo, he was 24 years old and he
was from Bilbao
In his Burgaña project he wanted to make the crossing directly between Bayonne and La Guaira.
However, President Aguirre would impose a stopover in Dakar. This was done, not without difficulties.
The French authorities of that Senegalese port did not trust those two ships that made such an
infrequent crossing to the point of the outbreak of war. After stocking up and taking advantage of the
voyage to fish, on September 6, 1939 the Donibane and the Bigarrena sighted Venezuelan land. Two
days later they anchored in La Guaira. World war had started a week ago
The ships entered the Venezuelan port with the ikurriña (Basque flag) hoisted on their masts. Some
officials from the Spanish embassy tried to establish contacts with the sailors, but an exile, Eustasi
Sarasola, warned them in Basque and Franco's agents were unable to board. In La Guaira, Olazabal
awaits them, who instructs Magureguí to carry out the procedures for the registration of the two fishing
vessels and obtain the permits to fish.
1-7 Emigration from Santo Domingo
An important group of Basques will arrive in Venezuela through the Dominican Republic. Despite
the regime that prevailed in that country, many turned to him because it was very difficult to obtain
a visa^ for Mexico, Argentina or Chile. Trujillo. the Dominican dictator, did not put impediments. Of
course, each exile had to pay him 50 dollars (500 for Jewish refugees).
There are two batches of trips to the Dominican Republic. The first arrives in the fall of 1939 and
the second, in the first months of 1940. Living conditions there are extremely harsh and the
economic means of subsistence very scarce. This makes a group of Basque refugees -Urreztieta,
Urruchua. Orne, Ibargüen. Basterrechea, Uribarrena, Soto and Zabala - wrote to the Basque
president, José Antonio de Aguirre. They ask him to name Eusebio María de Irujo y Olio as a
government delegate in Santo Domingo (in those days. Ciudad Trujillo)
Until then Irujo had dealt spontaneously -and in his capacity as a former member of the Euzkadi
Buru Batzar of the PNV- to help the Basques to continue their journey to Venezuela. At the same
time, they requested that the SERÉ subsidies for the Basques be placed in his name (that of Irujo)
and that he manage them, preventing the corrupt agencies of the Dominican dictatorship from
intervening. In this way they believed that a faster exit from the country would be achieved.
.
Many exiles had arrived in the Dominican Republic without documentation. Some, after the fall of
Catalonia, had gone through French concentration camps, making it very difficult to keep their
belongings. This would add new difficulties for those who traveled to Venezuela. At this point, the
Venezuelan Consulate in Ciudad Trujillo would play a very important role, which, to expedite the
procedures, would recognize as valid the passport issued by the Basque Government, the igarobide
.
The first group, made up of sixteen people, embarked on December 24, 1939 aboard the Presidente
Trujillo, arriving at the port of Curaçao two days later. From there to La Guaira in the Ramoe. A
second group of Basques left Ciudad Trujillo on January 5, 1940, and after following the same
route, they arrived at the aforementioned Venezuelan port in Cónica. Most of these and others who
had arrived on this island aboard the steamer Lassalle had organized the trip in the Benedictine
convent of Belloc, in the south of France.
The representatives of SERÉ in the Dominican Republic, on the one hand, easily yielded to the
dictates of Trujillo's agents. On the other, they undoubtedly favored the communists. At the same
time, the dictator wanted to transfer a good number of exiles to colonies in the interior, on the border
with Haiti, to "whiten" the race. All of this made the non-communist Basque refugees (republicans,
nationalists, anarchists, socialists) put pressure on Irujo so that he could manage their trip to
Venezuela «In these circumstances -wrote Irujo- I have tried by all means at my disposal to send
to Venezuela the greatest number of baskos possible; but I run into Olazabal's criteria and with the
instructions he says he receives from Paris. It does not claim more than those controlled by the
Basko or Endara government (headquarters of the PNV); here people see that only nationalists go,
and some who are not with difficulties and sometimes using other people
residents there. I have written to Olazabal several times insisting that this measure seems hard
for our people, who even in the case of belonging to extremist parties are much more moral and
better people than their Spanish affinities (...).
We aspire to govern in Euzkadi; we need the collaboration of all the Basques, with their ideas
and ways; not all are from the Party (PNV), not even nationalists; it is convenient for us to have
republicans, socialists and other parties and make them feel baskos and represented by our
government; Looking to the future, we cannot abandon them in exile and make similar
distinctions. In addition, out of humanity, we are obliged to attend to the basko, think how they
think, who dies of hunger, and suffers the shame of living with a saber every day»
As we have pointed out, in his response to Irujo, José Antonio de Aguirre began by saying: «It
is not surprising, because I was convinced that, with exceptions such as the case of Venezuela,
the best of Basque emigration was in France. Not only for loyalty reasons, but also for practical
reasons. I read your generous statements regarding the duty to protect all Basques. You need
not tell me what our duty is, and mine very particularly in that respect. But we are not the ones
who dispose of things, it is the authorities of Venezuela, and if the authorities of that country say
that they do not want more than a certain fraction there, we have no choice but to abide by
those decisions, and for that reason From the very moment that this was the case, the Basque
Government disregarded emigration in that country, leaving the organization and responsibility
for the sending of its people to that or those factions that Venezuela wanted. It is convenient not
to confuse things, and instead of establishing doctrines, because there is every problem that
arises, because things are not done on a whim»
Some of those who would later enjoy great prestige in the Venezuelan Basque community
arrived in the country after suffering the harrowing odyssey of the Alsina ship - which has given
rise to literary works such as Antón Sukalde and José Olivares Larrondo's abandoned Paris
"Tellagorri", or Crónicas del Alsina, by Arantzazu Amézaga-, (published in Editorial Xamezaga)
taking more than ten months to cross the Atlantic. After a stopover in Veracruz and passing
through a concentration camp near Havana, they would board the Cuba in Santiago, arriving in
La Guaira on December 10, 1941. Among them, Dr. Luis Bilbao and Lucio de Aretxabaleta.
Others would come from Argentina or Colombia, the latter case of the writer Luis Ruiz de Aguirre
The arrival in Venezuela of the wives, girlfriends and children of the exiles deserves special
mention since, as we have pointed out, not all of them had accompanied the heads of the
family. At this point it is necessary to highlight, once again, the important work of Venezuelan
diplomats and officials posted in Spain. Some travel on Spanish ships. The best known "were
the Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope of the Basque-Andalusian Company Ibarra y Cía.
Those voyages were not exempt from dangers. They lived through the battle of the Atlantic and
on many occasions submarines torpedoed ships neutrals. A Basque exile lost his entire family
on one of those boats when they came to meet him. It is true that, on the positive side, when
the boats arrived, many weddings were celebrated, initiating a tradition of endogamy in a
significant sector of the Basque community in Venezuela, which continues to this day
While all this is happening, the Venezuelan press continued demanding the immigration of
Basques. In the editorial of El Heraldo, from Caracas, it was said: «Unquestionably, one of the
most desired emigrations for Venezuela is the Basque immigration. Understanding it this way,
the Government of Venezuela manages among the best refugee elements in France their
coming to our country, and enough of them have already arrived, giving the best and most
brilliant results in their respective specialties."
To speed up immigration, Miguel Cifuentes Espinetti -who will later occupy a diplomatic post in
Madrid-, delegate of the Technical Immigration Institute, moves to France, who meets with the
leaders of the Basque Nationalist Party
Despite the positive results of these negotiations, the means of transportation would fail.
President López Contreras had proposed making the Hotel Jardín de Maracay available to the
Basques, in case new groups arrived. In those days Ricardo de Maguregui was trying to charter
a Panamanian cargo ship, which was going to be accommodated for the transport of passengers,
so that it would go to Bordeaux and pick up as many Basque passengers as possible. However,
the worsening of the international war situation would prevent it.
According to Sanín, “when Juan Vicente Gómez died, oil began to change the economic and
social life of Venezuela. Until the beginning of the 1920s it had been a rural and pastoral country,
a land of poor men and farmers who lived on coffee, cocoa, corn, tobacco, sugar, cotton and
cattle within a framework social latifundio, misery and subhuman exploitation of labor. Oil came
to transform everything»
According to Uslar Pietri, everything began to be “conditioned, determined, directed, created by

oil. Everything in an apocalyptic, dependent and transitory degree» . López Contreras would
try, for his part, to rationalize the oil industry by cutting corruption and, above all, trying to ensure
that the wealth it produced reverted to the country. For his part, Germán Carrera Damas points
out that in the period 1936-1945 "the factors that were to lead to the upheaval first and then to
the transformation of the traditional structures of Venezuelan society began to take shape."
which Professor Ramón Aizpurúa qualifies as «the first emigration to "democratic" Venezuela
In 1936 the Venezuelan population was 3,364,347 inhabitants; thirty years later it exceeded
8,000,000. Likewise, when the Basque exiles arrive, the capital, Caracas, barely reaches
300,000 inhabitants. 65 percent of the population was rural, that is, they lived in nuclei of less
than 1,000 inhabitants. Since until then there was no immigration policy, the foreign population
did not reach 2 percent.
According to information signed by Genaro Egileor "Atxerre" in Euzko Deya in Buenos

Aires, at the end of 1939 «the Basques residing in Venezuelan lands are about three hundred
and half of them are in remote regions of the capital and the rest in Caracas»
A year later, in a chronicle by "Sancho de Beurko" (Luis Ruiz de Aguirre), in the same
newspaper, he raised the figure to 1,010. For his part, Fernando de Carranza, in a report
presented by the Venezuelan delegation at the First World Basque Congress, points out that,
until 1940, the figure was around 500. This number has increased considerably since the end
of the World War, between 1945 and 1947. , with the arrival of the Basque refugees in France and
the first exiled because of their activities in the underground Resistance. At the beginning of the
1950s, there was a strong migratory current for economic reasons (although, as we will see, not
without political roots). In this way, in 1956 Carranza fixed the number of Basque residents in
Venezuela between 8 and 10,000. This means that, in those years, one in every 800 Venezuelans
was Basque.
After the fall of the democratic government of Rómulo Gallegos, at the end of 1948, the Military
Junta that succeeded him suspended European immigration to Venezuela, measures that were
eliminated a year later with the establishment of new regulations. According to these, the immigration
of about 2,000 people per month was authorized. Farmers, technicians and specialized workers
had priority. It is then when the massive emigration of Basques takes place. A high percentage of
these belonged to the losing side in the civil war and their life in Euskadi unfolded in very precarious
conditions, overwhelmed not only by the economic crisis that was affecting the country as a whole.
On the other hand, a group of exiles lived in France who worked, either for the Basque Government
or for the Basque Nationalist Party.
After the recognition of the Franco military dictatorship by the Western powers, their living conditions
and their hopes of returning to the country are seriously affected. In this way, in 1953 the leadership
of the PNV went to the Basque Center of Caracas to collaborate in the corresponding efforts so that
50 Basques residing in France could enter the country. In the early 1960s, the first ETA exiles also
arrived in Venezuela.
In a letter from Maguregui dated 1939 it was said that "the reception has been good on the part of
the town in general". For their part, the authorities had recognized the igarobide (Basque passport)
as valid, and in 1940 many of those exiled had already obtained Venezuelan citizenship. In addition
to the authorities, intellectuals and the progressive Venezuelan press, as we have pointed out, the
exiles will have the significant help of some Basque Jesuits residing in the country. Maguregui
brought letters of recommendation from Father Pierre Lhande, director of the magazine Eludes
.
Despite the arrival of Olazabal, until the month of October 1939 -and then to the present day to a
different degree- Maguregui will continue in his post, either negotiating entry permits, or looking for
jobs for newcomers. From then on, a Commission took over, originally formed in France and chaired
by Juan de Olazabal, in which the Republican Luis de Aranguren also participated. With which,
apparently, the monopoly of the PNV was broken
1-8 The first jobs
As we have seen, when the first Basques subject to the aforementioned agreement arrived, other
exiles already resided in the country, some of whom had already achieved a certain economic
position, mainly in the construction sector (Chalbaud or Rousse), who were going to participate in
the recruitment of those who were arriving. According to the repeated agreement, before the arrival
of the different groups, the professions of those who came were advertised in the press and on the
radio, in order for the employers to request the personnel they needed, specifying the salary they
were willing to pay.
The Venezuelan authorities showed great flexibility. The Immigration Institute did not force
acceptance of the destination proposed by it. When a conflict arose, Uslar Pietri proposed the
following conclusion: Newcomers should accept the first job they were hired for through the Institute,
for at least twenty-four hours. Once this procedure was completed, the newcomers could dedicate
themselves to anything else in the place they chose
As agreed, the first refugees will soon start their jobs. The doctors travel to the states of Anzoátegui
(Iraragorri, Beh'n Mendikoa), Monagas (Unzueta, Aránsolo and Urrestarazu) or Táchira (Arrieta).
Later, other prestigious doctors such as Gonzalo de Aranguren or Luis Bilbao arrived, initiating a
tradition of Basque doctors of the highest professional level that has survived to this day in the new
generations of Basque-Venezuelan. But these are not the only ones who travel to the interior. They
moved to Ciudad Bolívar (Etxebarria, Iraola, Uría, Etxetxipia, Goiri), to Maracaibo. Watch, to La
Ceiba (Julián Etxebarria), to La Guaira (Santiago de Doxandabaraz)...
However, the majority would stay in Caracas or would tend to return to the capital. The only one
who has problems is Justo Ibarra, convalescing from his war wounds. Salaries ranged from simple
maintenance to 1,000 bolivars per month.
From the first moments, following instructions from the PNV, Maguregui established an intense
epistolary relationship with the Basques residing in the interior. This communication had a double
objective: "to establish control of our people in Venezuela" and, likewise, "to have reports in order
to communicate without loss of time to the Euzkadi Buru Batzar (National Council) since on the 10th
of the current About 80 Basques have arrived and I hope that another expedition will be
commissioned soon»
.
Almost immediately you begin to receive answers. In them, working conditions, salaries or
expectations are described, sometimes. In some cases, Basque emigrants offered part of their first
salary to help their most needy compatriots. On August 9, 1939, Juan de Etxetxipia wrote to Ricardo
de Maguregui: «You will do the favor of informing us if Justo Ibarra is still ill, because in the event
that he could not work we have decided to help him in whatever way we can.
In the event that you are not able to work and lack resources, reply by return mail so that we can
send you the money»
.
As can be seen, there is a high sense of solidarity among the Basque exiles in Venezuela. "Basque
helps the Basque" is a maxim that still holds true in that country. Those who were settling in and
earning a few bolivars helped those who arrived, lending them part of what they saved. Thanks to
this, many began a new life.
According to Martín de Ugalde “construction was the activity that brought together the greatest
number of Basques and the one that probably had the greatest echo of collective enterprise. Many
traces of the hand of the Basque builder remain in Caracas that will make us remember for a long
time his loyal collaboration in the company of building the great city that the Venezuelan capital has
become. From the effort in the construction there is still the testimony of the Basque style in the
buildings and the villas in the urbanizations of Las Mercedes, Altamira, La Castellana and El Rosal,
among others. The first apartment building on the outskirts of Caracas was built by Miguel Salvador
(who had arrived on board the Cuba): the Eguzki Building, in Los
Mahogany, in 1940 (..,). The first group of Basque constructions was organized at the end of 1939 by Manuel
Chalbaud, who undertook works such as the Palenque (Guárico) Bridge over the Orinoco River, the construction of
the enclosing walls of the Modelo Prison and the factory for the first houses of Banco Obrero in Pro-Patria». Later,
other important Basque construction companies were formed.
.
In addition to the builders, the Basque merchant mariners will make a definitive contribution to the consolidation of
the Venezuelan Navy. Well from teaching, well on ships, especially oil tankers. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was a rare
ship that did not have a Basque officer on board. Perhaps Venezuela's tribute to these professionals today is the
Simón Bolívar training ship, built, not by chance, in the Celaya workshops on the Nervión estuary (Vizcaya).
Another important sector is that of Graphic Arts. Basque printers have enjoyed and continue to enjoy enormous
prestige. The list is endless: Amenabar, Guruzeaga, Eizmendi, Miangolarra, Gaubeka, Retana, Morales, Ricardo
Leizaola...
Coinciding with this reopening of immigration, in 1950 a group of farmers arrived in the country, baserritarras
(homesteaders) in Vizcaya, who settled in the Chirgüa Valley -
dedicated mainly to the cultivation of potatoes. The veterinarian José María Jayo worked in this valley for many years.
There were also Basque farmers in Colonia Tovar, Tocuyito, Naguanagua, Zulia, Los Andes, Los Llanos... Three
generations live and work in those fields, from which they obtain up to three annual harvests. At the same time they
maintain customs and traditions of the rural world of the Basque Country
.
But in those first years of exile in Venezuela, many Basques dedicated themselves to one or several of the most
varied trades. This was the case of Triki Azpiritxaga, who alternated his profession as an electrician with playing
professional football in different teams (Layola or Deportivo Vasco), or singing as a tenor in various religious
ceremonies, accompanying the organist Alejandro Valdés Goikoetxea.
1-9 The Basque Mutual Aid Association
The Basque passengers from Cuba during the Atlantic crossing begin to debate a proposal by Ricardo de Maguregui
to guarantee a minimum assistance to the refugees.
A series of events will accelerate this process. As we had pointed out, Justo Ibarra's injuries would force his
hospitalization and a series of surgical interventions. The generosity of physicians would make clinical expenses
negligible. However, inactivity at work would leave him in a very precarious situation. To this must be added, on
August 20, 1939, the birth of a child, Gorka, son of Isidora Dorronsoro, which would entail the consequent expenses.
Gorka Dorronsoro is today a director of a prestigious architecture company. As if this were not enough, when the year
had not yet ended, the first death occurred, that of Francisco de Miangolarra
Thus, on August 6, 1939, when the Ftandre had not yet arrived, they met at the newly opened Hotel Zuriñe, a pension
owned by Andrés Átela, a group of Basque exiles. There is no place for everyone. Most sit on the floor, except for the
oldest, Manuel Chalbaud and Ignacio de Rotaeche, who occupy separate chairs. The Basque Association of Mutual
Aid is going to be born
.
With this act and perhaps without knowing it, the "Grupo del Zuriñe" reproduced a process that
dates back to the 17th century in Mexico and Lima when the "Brotherhoods of Our Lady of
Aránzazu" were founded, with the character of "Basque Mutual Aid Associations". . With the same
sign, the Laurak bat Basque centers in Montevideo and Buenos Aires were founded in 1876 and
1877, respectively.
At the end of 1943, the Basque Mutual Aid Association had 217 members (115 individuals and 102
family members -which gives us an approximate idea of the number of Basque exiles in that year-),
as well as delegations in La Guaira and Maracaibo.
The Basque Mutual Aid Association thus became the first specifically Basque institution founded in
Venezuela. The first Board of Directors (rather organizing committee) was chaired by Ignacio de
Rotaeche, being part of the same Félix Gaubeka and José Luis Ochoa de Chinchetru
Over time, it will have the services of several Basque doctors -such as Luis Bilbao, Joaquín
Aristimuño, José María Diez de Rekarte or Joseba Bilbao- and the Santa Ana Clinic.
On November 1, 1952, the Basque Pantheon was founded with 120 niches, an ossuary and a
chapel, in which the remains of many of those exiles rest.
1-10 Basque Caribbean fisheries
With the Donibane and the Bigarrena and capital provided by the Basque Government's Ministry of
Finance, the company Pesquerías Vascas del Caribe was created, directed by Juan de Olazabal. It
has its headquarters in the corners of
Salvador de Paúl and Rafael de León: "He had a home delivery service for grouper, snapper, squid
or lobster that were caught near La Orchila and Los Roques." According to Ugalde, "this task of
publicizing the diversity of fish that, like tuna, are a common dish in the Basque Country, has been
a pioneer in the supply and eating habits of Caracas, where Basque fishmongers -such as the
"Vizcaínas" of the Goitia brothers - still work with a diversity of denominations».
Basque Caribbean Fisheries, however, will fail. According to Martín Ugalde, "a market that had to
be done little by little was not exactly the field of work that was most needed by those who did not
have more capital for the development of their company than their work"
The crisis in the Basque Caribbean Fisheries gave rise to some small tensions among refugees
who asked to allocate the funds from the Basque Government -which they thought were fabulous-
to other needs, such as the Basque Center that was being projected. When José Antonio de Aguirre
arrived in America in 1941, Olazabal presented him with his defense and a detailed statement of all
the accounts. The Basque president would intervene to put an end to any reluctance, firmly
supporting the management of the director of the aforementioned company
Since the summer of 1940, the representation of the Basque community in Venezuela falls to an
Immigration Commission, whose visible heads are the nationalist Juan de Olazábal and the
republican Luis de Aranguren. Until 1941, this Commission was in charge of receiving the
exiles who, fundamentally, come from different American countries (Colombia, Argentina, the
Dominican Republic and the United States), and even directly from France, cases, for example, of
José María de Gárate or Ricardo de Leizaola. The main person in charge of the Commission is
Olazábal who, in addition to being manager of the Fisheries, maintains relations with the Basque
delegations in other countries, with the Basque Government in Paris, with the direction of the PNV
and, in addition, is a delegate of Euzko Deya , although the effective correspondent is occupied by
Genaro Egileor «Atxerre» and Luis Ruiz de Aguirre «Sancho de Beurko»
The fall of France and the disappearance of José Antonio de Aguirre behind the German lines (May-
June 1940) coincided with the economic crisis of Pesquerías Vascas del Caribe. This crisis also
affects the small capital that the Basque Government had placed in the country.
Many refugees, who had not yet achieved a stable means of subsistence, asked for the distribution
of those assets, which gave rise to not a few tensions, which were not overcome until the arrival in
America of the Basque president at the end of 1941. The latter, then , will fully support Olazabal's
management. It would then be shown that the Basque official had lost his own fortune in the
company
It is true that since February 23, 1940, José María de Gárate, former president of the Bizkai Buru
Batzar (Regional Council of Vizcaya) of the PNV, held the position of delegate of the Basque
Government in Venezuela (3). However, it would not be able to put an end to the aforementioned tensions
.
In October 1941, Aguirre arrived in Rio de Janeiro and, after visiting Uruguay and Argentina, settled
in New York City. As we pointed out, one of his first decisions was to support Olazabal's
administration, restore harmony in the Basque-Venezuelan community, and confirm Gárate as
delegate.
1 11 The visit of the Basque president – Jose Antonio de Aguirre
On October 5, 1942, as part of an extensive tour of Latin America, José Antonio de Aguirre arrived
at the Maiquetía airport. After being received by representatives of the Basque organizations
(Government Delegation, the Basque Center, Women's Action and the Basque Mutual Aid
Association), the lehendakari (president) visits the National Pantheon, where he lays a wreath at
the tomb of Simón Bolívar, The Liberator.
On his first trip to Venezuela, José Antonio de Aguirre dedicated a large part of his time to the
Basque community. Meetings, conferences, talks or acts such as dance exhibitions and the
presidency of the First Hand Ball Championship. In addition, meetings with journalists, intellectuals
and politicians. It should not be forgotten that, as with other Ibero-American colleagues, two
Venezuelan diplomats, Rómulo Araujo and Carlos Enrique Aranguren, had helped Aguirre in his
odyssey through occupied Europe, providing Venezuelan documentation to the president's wife,
who was listed as "the widow of Guerra, a landowner from Mérida"
One of the most important milestones of that first visit by José Antonio de Aguirre to Venezuela was
marked by two conferences. The first, entitled "A believer in the face of the crisis of charity", justifies
the position of Basque Catholics as an ally of republican legality in the face of the Francoist uprising.
In the second, "Liberty and human dignity in the Basque people", he condemns all kinds of
totalitarianism, at that time represented by Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia. In this way, he
repeated the message that he had transmitted during his tour and that, in the end, he intended to
seek support for the Allied cause of Catholics
Americans, among whom were not a few followers of Nazi-fascism

.
According to Guillermo Morón, the world war imposed special difficulties that were reflected in the
economy and foreign relations. President Medina gave international relations a character of
"continental cooperation and solidarity." As a consequence of the Japanese attack on the United
States on December 7, 1941 and the declaration of war on Germany and Italy, Venezuela applied
Declaration XV of the Havana meeting, approved by the Venezuelan Congress in the same year of
1941. According to that doctrine, the Government interrupted relations with the Axis powers on
December 31. It would not go to war, but it would not remain neutral either. It must be taken into
account that almost one hundred percent of the oil used by England in its fight against Germany
and the Axis came from Venezuelan wells. The same author highlights that some security measures
taken as a result of the war did not affect the regime of full freedom that Venezuelans enjoyed for
the only time since they created the independent State in 1810.
In the Gabán Message (Christmas) of 1941, President Aguirre recalled the obligation of the Basques
to support the allied cause, according to an appeal made in 1939: «As expected, the Axis powers
have declared war on the United States of America because respect for human dignity and public
liberties has its firmest foundation on that continent. And against them goes the attack. Those of us
who have suffered it know that it is so.
Our position of 1939 is now ratified and it is the duty of all Basques to lend their active support to
the cause of freedom wherever it needs our assistance. It will be one more way of thanking America
for the unforgettable and generous welcome that it has given us with special affection both to me
and to all the Basques».
For its part, the Board of Directors of the Caracas Basque Center, meeting in extraordinary session
on December 10, 1941, unanimously adopted the following agreement: «At the present time when
peace has been disturbed in America, due to Japan's aggression against state
United States of America, address the citizen president of Venezuela, the ambassadors of Great
Britain and the United States of America, on behalf of the associates and collecting the feelings of
the Basques residing in Venezuela to unconditionally offer them the services of the community»
José Antonio de Aguirre reiterated this appeal to the Basque community during his stay in Caracas.
Shortly before, upon learning of Aguirre's arrival in New York, three former officers of the Basque
Army (Azpiritxaga, Calvo and Etxegoien) wrote to the president requesting his opinion on the
possible incorporation of the latter into the Basque unit that, according to the Free French , had
been trained in London.
In his response, he told them: «It is not me but you who must decide. So far there is no mandatory
provision, being purely voluntary (...). Later, the circumstances will determine the attitude of the
Basque Government of Euzkadi towards its nationals. This is how much I can tell you at the
moment»
Commander Etxegoien, who had arrived in the country on the Bigarrena, after fighting in Euskadi
and Catalonia, traveled to Africa to enlist in the Free French Forces, participating in the liberation
of Paris. Later, he joined a group of Basque "commandos" trained by North American and British
officers until, when this unit was dissolved,
return to Venezuela.
Those who stay will soon have a chance to get into action. Weeks after this visit, Antón de Irala,
general secretary of the presidency of the Basque Government, arrived in Caracas. His mission
was to create a group of information and propaganda in favor of the Allies that would depend
organically on the delegate.
Information groups will function in Caracas and in the interior, and others dedicated specifically
to propaganda.
The Caracas information group, which collaborates with United States Military Intelligence, had
been organized by Juan de Olazabal and was made up of Calvo Goiri, Lucio Aretxabaleta,
Letamendi, Azpiritxaga... Among their missions was to extract documentation from the Spanish
embassy that, at the same time, represented the interests of the Germans in the country. One
of the Gárate brothers - who was also part of the group - was dedicated to taking the employees
of the Francoist Legation to a cabaret in Caracas to facilitate entry to the rest. An American
always worked with the Basque agents, specialized in opening safes. Once inside, all the
documentation was photographed. During the time that this activity lasted, they never had any
problems.
For their espionage work, the United States Government assigned an amount to the Basques.
That money was destined to finance the activities of the anti-Franco Resistance in the interior
of the Basque Country. The person in charge of transferring the funds was Txomin Letamendi,
a former officer of the Basque Army who, captured by the Francoists in Barcelona, died at his
brother's house in Madrid due to the torture to which he was subjected by the political police.
Links with Euzkadi were also established through the Basque crew members of the ships that
arrived in the country. Sometimes, to take out or put in the documentation, they used the driver
of the Francoist ambassador. One of these liaisons was the priest Luis de Petralanda, chaplain
of the Ibarra Company and a fervent nationalist whom the Bishop punished during two trips for
maintaining contacts with the exiles. Another was Captain Antón Camiruaga Astobiza, also
sanctioned for transporting "communist propaganda" (although on the aforementioned occasion
it was school textbooks sent by a community of nuns).
All of them, in addition to the Falangist policemen who were traveling on board, had to avoid the
British controls on the island of Trinidad.
There was also a group of liaisons in the Venezuelan interior. These were dedicated, in addition
to information, to control the smuggling of jewels -which the Americans were determined to
avoid- and the activities of the communists. It should not be forgotten that the Hitler-Stalin pact
was still alive, which had placed communists around the world in a difficult situation due to their
close dependence on the Soviet Union. Likewise, they controlled German and Italian citizens
who were expressly prohibited from approaching the coast, for which reason they used, in turn,
Spanish Falangist agents
As we pointed out before, along with espionage work, a group of Basques is dedicated to
making propaganda in favor of the Allies, especially the British. This consisted, above all, of film
screenings, distribution of pamphlets, talks, and conferences both in Caracas and in the interior.
In fact, this work had already been started at the beginning of 1942 by José Luis de Anasagasti
in relation to the Legation of Great Britain.
.
On the other hand, the Venezuelan government had seized some ships flying the German and Italian flags, some of
which will be sent to the United States. Others would form part of the incipient Venezuelan merchant marine
.
1 12 Basque unity
One of the main concerns of José Antonio de Aguirre during his time in America was the maintenance of Basque unity
in the face of the division of the Republican field and the attempts of Indalecio Prieto to withdraw the socialist
representation from the Basque Government. On December 12, 1943, representatives of the Basque organizations in
Mexico (CCSE-PSOE, PNV, ANV, CNT and ELA-STV) signed a document in support of the Basque Government in
Mexico
The Declaration of Mexico, as the aforementioned document is known, gives rise to the fact that the
On December 31 of that year, they met in Caracas, under the presidency of José María de Gáraíe, José María de
Barrenechea (PNV), José de Abasólo (PSOE), José María Díaz de Rekarte (ANV) and Emilio Chapartegui (Republican
Left). , which will constitute the Advisory Board of the Basque Government Delegation.
The Constitution Act stated: "Since this body is created to depend on the Basque Government, the undersigned
recognize and accept its legitimate authority and jurisdiction over the expatriate Basque people in Venezuela, and its
authorized representative, Mr. José María de Gárate, delegate of the same (...). The Advisory Board will intervene in
those matters that are the responsibility of the delegate. Likewise, the Board should promote the creation of Galeuzca
(Galicia-Catalonia-Euzkadi) in Venezuela.
The unity of the Basque countryside in Venezuela will be reinforced by the Bayonne Pact of 1945 and the Declaration
of the Government after its reorganization in 1946. From there, as in other American countries, the Interpartidos
Commission was established, in which In addition to the aforementioned forces, Basque Women's Action, the General
Union of Workers, CNT, the Communist Party and ELA-STV participate. But this unit will not last long.
On May 22, 1943, José María Díaz de Rekarte, an ANV militant, asked the general assembly of members of the Basque
Center that, in the candidacy presented to renew the Board of Directors, all sectors of opinion of the center be included. .
This occurs a year later, after the assembly of May 20, 1944, joining the board of members of the PNV, ANV and PSOE.
Not so the Republican Left, whose representative, Chapartegui, would send a letter of protest.
Tensions are intensified after the fall of General Medina Angarita. The new Government, chaired by Rómulo Betancourt,
states that it will not maintain relations with governments that emerged from force and withdraws the diplomats
accredited in Spain, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. While the Venezuelan representative at the UN began a
campaign against the Franco military dictatorship, at the same time that the Republican Government was recognized,
installing its representatives in the Spanish Embassy in Caracas; The consul general, for his part, was an Irunese who
had presided over the Manager of the Provincial Council of Guipúzcoa
.
At that time, the republican organizations, strengthened by government recognition -during the
governments of López Contreras and Medina Angarita they had not enjoyed the same esteem as
the Basque nationalists for the reasons already indicated-, tried that the Basque Center and the
political and Euskadi trade unions to integrate into broader institutions. For their part, the Republicans
demand that the Republican flag be raised, which the Nationalists refuse. The situation became
more tense throughout 1947, which led to many Republicans and Socialists leaving the center.
.
Most of the Basque militants from leftist parties who go into exile in America do so in countries like
Mexico, Argentina or Chile. Despite this, notable socialist leaders would reside in Venezuela, such
as former advisers to the Basque Government Santiago Aznar and Fermín Zarza, Commander José
Abasólo, Jon Víctor Etxebarria and others, as well as Republicans such as Chapartegui, Larrea or
De la Cal. However, During the last fifty years the Basque community will have a strong nationalist
component for obvious reasons.
As we have pointed out, the first immigration agreement was signed between the Venezuelan
authorities and representatives of the Basque Nationalist Party which, as we have seen, has had
delegates in the country since July 1939 (Maguregui and Olazabal). In 1942, the first Extraterritorial
Board of the PNV was created, and in 1946 the official affiliation to said party was opened, remaining
until today. There was also the circumstance that numerous nationalist leaders had gone into exile
in this country. Among others, the aforementioned Gárate (Bizkai Buru Batzar), Doxandabaratz and
the Irujo brothers (Ñapar Buru Batzar), Diez de Ibarrondo (Araba Buru Batzar), Lucio de Aretxabaleta
(Basque Youth of Bilbao)...
During all these years, the presidents of the PNV in Venezuela have included names such as José
María Echezarreta, José Ibargüen, Ricardo de Leizaola, José Ituarte, José Oñatibia, Salvador Urroz,
Pedro Olariaga, Xabier Leizaola, José María Anzola, Iñaki Aretxabaleta, Peli Irizar, Isaías Atxa,
Joseba Olabeaga, Fernando Carranza and Domeka Etxearte. Between April 1947 (the date the
affiliation was opened) and 1977, the average number of affiliates was three hundred and fifty,
reaching four hundred in the 1950s-60s: On the other hand, since 1948 they had delegates in Puerto
La Cruz, Barcelona, San Cristóbal, Maracaibo and Mérida, which gives an idea of the importance
and extent of this organization.
Especially after 1950, the PNV of Venezuela became one of the main supporters of this organization,
both in exile and within the Basque Country. From an economic point of view, the fees, which began
at $500 per month in 1946, would multiply by 10 thirty years later. In addition to this, they would
finance all kinds of events and publications, as well as the start-up of Radio Euskadi. In 1989 the
Venezuelan organization of the PNV maintained its right to vote in the National Assembly of this
party.
The second most important group is the Basque Nationalist Action (ANV). Among its most prominent
members: Bernardino Bilbao, Luis Ruiz de Aguirre, Vicente Amoriaga, Antón de Larrañaga, José
María Díaz de Rekarte, Ramón Laniella, Jesús Dolara or Josu Osteriz, among others. Also in 1942
its governing body was constituted in Venezuela which, until 1946, would depend on the Executive
exiled in Mexico. On many occasions since 1938 ANV would act as a bridge between the republican
organizations and the Basque nationalists. When the 1946 crisis to which we were referring occurred,
the then ANV secretary in
Venezuela, Bernardino Bilbao, tried to mediate, without success, in the conflict that arose.
In 1944, the Delegation of ELA-STV -later the Extraterritorial Board-, the main Basque union, was set up,
with the participation of militants from different nationalist organizations. The last act of this organization
was the delivery of its funds to the victims of the 1983 floods in Euskadi.
Another organization that was very active in Venezuela, despite its small number, was the Euzko
Mendigoizale Batza, better known as Jagi-Jagi, and later as the Basque National Front. Among its most
prominent militants: Fernández Etxeberria «Matxari», Andima Ibiñagabeitia, Triki Azpiritxaga, Calvo...
Originally, PNV militants from 1958 proposed the constitution of a Basque National Front of all the
nationalist forces outside obedience parties Spain, adopting a highly critical attitude towards the Basque
Government in exile. His strategy had some success as a result of the BAI (Batasuna, Askatasuna,
Indarra: Unity, Freedom and Strength) campaign launched by ETA, achieving, albeit ephemerally, the
integration of that EMB-ANV-ETA front.
In 1958 there was an intense relationship between Julen de Madariaga and the group of young
Venezuelans attached to EGI-Resistencia Vasca, one of whose most significant elements was Sabin
Solozabal. At the beginning of 1959 some of these (Iñaki Endaya, Txomin Letamendi, Koldo Azurza,
Pruden Arozena, Xabier Uzkanga and Antón Uzkanga) formed ETA in Venezuela. At the beginning of the
60s the first refugees arrived.
1 13 Euzko Gaztedi
On April 24, 1948, Euzko Gaztedi (Basque Youth) was founded in Caracas as an organization dependent
on the Basque Center, with the motto "For the conquest of Basque liberties." Its first provisional commission
was made up of Maite Leizaola, Begoña San Juan, Josebe Torrontegi, Martín Ugalde, Sabin
Zenarruzabeitia, Xabier Leizaola, Amadeo Gorostola, Joseba Emaldi and Karmel Ariño. Between 1948
and 1979 the presidents of Euzko Gaztedi have been Martín Ugalde, Sabin Zenarruzabeitia, Jon Urrezti,
Iñaki Elguezabal, Jon Aretxabaleta, Jesús Dolara, Joseba Leizaola, Rosalío Aristoy, Iñaki Aretxabaleta,
Joseba Bilbao, Joseba Iturralde, Txomin Bizkarret, Bingen Amézaga, Iñaki Anasagati, Jesús Azpiritxaga,
Iñaki Goikoetxea, Xabier Azpiritxaga, Adolfo Urrutia and Ander Amenabar
.
Euzko Gaztedi is not, as we have pointed out, a political organization in the strict sense, although for thirty
years its activities always had nationalist (patriotic) content. From the very beginning, this organization
was particularly active: theatre, hiking, courses of all kinds, teaching-learning Basque, Basque music and
dance, publishing magazines (Euzko Gaztedi, Aben or La Pulga)...
On the other hand, in June 1956 Jokin Intza arrived in Venezuela, who for almost twenty years had shown
himself to be one of the most active elements of the Resistance in the interior, both in the political and
union fields. In Caracas he will develop an intense organizational activity.
He manages to bring together a group of fifteen or twenty young people, whom he commits to different
activities from those of Euzko Gaztedi. Euzko Gaztedi del Interior-Resistencia Vasca will be born from this
group, already dependent on the leadership of the PNV and whose
The main activities would be for the interior, to the point that the name EGl will be adopted in
Euskadi. From our point of view, the most important achievement of EGI-Venezuela was the
magazine Gudari, animated by Alberto Elósegui, which between 1960-1974 would be distributed
clandestinely in the interior
1 14 The Basque Government Delegation
As we have pointed out, in 1940 the Delegation of the Basque Government in Venezuela was
established. Throughout four decades the delegates -José María de Gárate (1940-1948), Luis
Bilbao (1948-1951), Ricardo de Maguregui (1951-1955), Lucio de Aretxabaleta (1955-
1967), Fernando Carranza (1967-1980), Jon Aretxabaleta (1980-1984) - maintain the Basque
representation. Its mission was to maintain relations with the Venezuelan authorities and politicians,
support for and representation of the Basque community, and fundraising to support the Basque
Government in exile. The latter is done through two entities: the Collecting Board and Cultural
Action, which, from 1946 to 1979, collected an average of $5,000 per month.
In the 50s there were attempts to provide the Delegation with a greater organization through its
local representatives. Likewise, a project was prepared to create a cooperative and the elaboration
of a census of the Basques in Venezuela began (an attempt that was repeated in 1989 from the
Basque Center in Caracas).
The Delegation also served as a rallying point in the mobilizations in support of those retaliated
against by the Francoist military dictatorship in Euskadi (the strikes of 1947, 1951, 1956...), the
trials against Basques -regardless of their affiliation-, or the death sentences of ETA members
(Anizabalaga, Burgos, or the executions of Txiki and Otaegui of ETA political-military). All sectors
of the community and, of course, the centers always participated in these issues. As a result of the
Burgos trial, the Basque President Jesús María Leizaola traveled especially to Caracas to carry out
efforts in this regard, obtaining firm support from the Venezuelan Government and Parliament
Faced with the imminence of war, the Venezuelan government is going to dictate a series of norms,
tending, as we have seen, to guarantee the neutrality of the country. Many of these measures will
have a restrictive nature, and thus, on August 7, 1939, the Law on Activities of Foreigners in the
National Territory was promulgated. Precisely, the first Basque institution created in Venezuela, the
Asociación de Socorros Mutuos, was legalized under this norm. However, it put a stop to other
types of activities and, in fact, restricted the display of coats of arms and foreign political symbols.
For example, Nazi and Falangist insignia. Perhaps due to all these circumstances the definitive
legalization of the first Basque Center in Venezuela was delayed for almost two years.
.
The early days of the Basque exiles in Venezuela were dedicated to finding stable jobs and
organizing their lives. In many cases this happens quickly.
Barely a year after the arrival of Cuba, there was already a group, made up of Blas de Gárate, Triki
Azpiritxaga, Jon Oñatibia and Ángel Aznar, which was taking steps to found a Center. At the
beginning of 1941 this group constituted the Organizing Commission, chaired by Blas de Gárate.
The group begins to meet in the Santa Capilla bar, where the first statutes were drawn up.
According to Martín de Ugalde, «when the meetings became more numerous, they had to look for a larger location, and
(the Basques have always set up their organizations near a good table) they moved their meetings to Txoko, a restaurant!
property of Juan de Leniz»
.
The associative tradition of the Basques in the New World dates back to the 16th century. At the end of this century, the
first Basque mutual aid association emerged in Bolivian Potosí. Throughout the 17th century, the Basques founded the
"fraternity of Nuestra Señora de Aránzazu" which maintained its activity until well into the 19th century. In the 18th
century, the Colegio de San Ignacio de Loyola de México, better known as “de las Vizcaínas”, was founded.
During the colonial period, most merchant consulates had a "Basque party." From 1876-77, with the founding of the
Laurak bat Centers in Montevideo and Buenos Aires, the modern Basque center emerged, which in the first decade of
this century had spread to different countries in America and the Philippines.
.
In April 1941, the Commission published in the press the call for a Constituent Assembly. This is celebrated on May 10 in
some premises on Calle Palma a Miracielos No. 47. The Assembly is presided over by the four aforementioned. After
debating the articles of the Regulation and giving an account of the steps taken up to then, the new Board of Directors
was elected by majority. This would be formed by José María de Etxezarreta (president), José María de Barrenetxea
(secretary) and Ilari de Ariño (treasurer), and as members Ricardo de Leizaola, Ricardo de Goya, Silvino de Mugarra and
Salvador Urroz. This meeting was attended by 140 Basques On the 15th the Board of Directors met for the first time, also
attended by Blas de Gárate and Ángel Aznar. Efforts began to find a place
On October 7, 1941, the Board of Directors of the Basque Center agreed to rent a house in
Cipreses a Velázquez No. 9, with a monthly income of 400 bolivars, fixing its first headquarters there (6). Days later the
General Assembly met so that it was she who endorsed the choice of venue as well as to look for formulas for its financing.
On November 14, 1941, the Board agreed to grant Tomás Duralde the Conciergeship of the Center under the following
conditions: «Free room and 20% of the liquid profits from the bar, the cleaning nets, telephone, water, being paid by the
Center. light etc
The sale of tobacco, cigarettes, etc., will be paid by the concierge»
.
In this founding process, in accordance with Article 3 of the Statutes of the Center, Basque women were summoned to
constitute Feminine Action. On February 12, 1942, its Provisional Board was constituted, made up of Dolores de Rousse,
Concha de Gárate and Ane de Zalutregui. The first elected president was Agustina de Amunarriz. Likewise, in January of
that year the first mus championship was convened, organized by Siívino de Mugarra (
In a five-point document, it would define the activity of the Delegation from now on:
«1.—Continue at the side of the democratic peninsular groups in struggle in all orders against the Government of Franco,
the Spanish Falange and any dictatorial regime in the Spanish State and all those anti-democratic attempts that may
arise, maintaining our close union with Catalonia and with Galicia.
2.—To work for the union and fraternity of the Basques in expatriation, grouping them and
channeling their political and patriotic concerns in the most effective way, around the Basque
Government, trying to get for it the greatest support and collaboration for the transcendental mission
that is being developed.
3.—To encourage assistance to the Collection Board, called the Board of Relief for Basque Social
Assistance and efficient collaboration with the Basque Center of Caracas.
4.—Defense and guardianship of Basque citizens in Venezuela close to the authorities and
organizations of the Republic, as well as understanding professional, social, social assistance,
cultural and artistic aspects, sponsoring the creation of Labor Offices, Aid Offices and how many
others organisms are convenient to improve the well-being and development of the culture of the
expatriate Basque people.
5.—Preparation of pertinent studies, creating the corresponding papers for this purpose, for the
establishment of appropriate bases that can serve as such, in order to
to achieve the best future relations, both cultural and economic, between Venezuela and Euzkadi,
whatever the political form that it adopts in its future.
6.—Creation of papers for the study of problems in aspects of public and private hygiene and social
assistance in Euskadi in the postwar period.
7.—Maintain and promote relations with other anti-fascist groups, established in the United Nations.
8.—Development of the most efficient work of Basque propaganda, within the authorized legal
limits, to make the Basque problem, its solutions, as well as its history, folklore, customs, etc. known
in the Republic.
9. The delegate will inform the Advisory Board of the general guidelines received from the Basque
Government, as well as the information received from the different Delegations of said Government».
.
José María de Gárate will be succeeded as head of the Delegation by Luis Boilbao (1948-1951),
Ricardo de Maguregui (1951-1955), Lucio de Aretxabaleta (1955-1967) and Fernando de
Carranza (1967-1980)
1 15 The Basque Center of Caracas, Inauguration and legalization
There is a controversy surrounding the exact date on which the first Basque Center in Venezuela
was founded. Obviously, between the months of October and December 1941, the Center had a
board of directors, headquarters, employees and first activities. On March 10, 1942, the Board
agreed to set April 5 as its inauguration date. To organize the acts, a Commission is appointed made
up of Víctor de Elguezabal, Andoni de Arozena, José Luis Otxoa de Txintxetru, as well as some
members of the board of directors itself (11). Likewise, on the 27th, Santiago de Beristain was
appointed delegate of the Center in the state of Carabobo.
Between the corners of Cipreses to Velazquez April 5, 1942.
The organizers of the inauguration ceremonies reject the idea of holding a large banquet because
they cannot take care of the expenses that this would cause, substituting it for a "small refreshment".
According to Ugalde, "the situation of the Basques in 1942 was so precarious that, in addition to
having to paint the house, the partners and the members of the Board of Directors themselves found
it necessary to collect a few bolivars among themselves to buy the used sidewalks they they had as
their first furniture (...), then they had to borrow a few pieces of furniture from the Lombao Furniture
Store»
The guest list is especially significant. The presence of Creoles of Basque origin (Simón Gonzalo
Salas, Aguerrevere, Aranguren, Arraiz, Anzola, Iturbe) stands out, as well as diplomatic
representatives of the allied powers (United States, Great Britain and Free France), as well as
numerous Venezuelan personalities headed by the President of the Republic, General Medina
Angarita.
On May 22, 1942, a General Assembly of the Basque Center was held. In it, a new Board of Directors
was elected, made up of Aurelio de Artetxe (president), Santos de Gárate (treasurer) and José Luis
Martínez Bilbao and Andoni de Arozena as members, keeping the rest of the positions. Two important
proposals are also being studied.
On the one hand, edit a magazine; on the other, to create the League of Friends of the Basques
On the 28th, the Center's work commissions were set up: Basque-Venezuelan League (Artetxe),
Social Assistance (Goia), Education (Arozena), Interior (Mugarra), Treasury (Santos Gárate) and
Propaganda and Culture (16). Days later the registration was opened to start the Basque classes.
Barely two months after the inauguration of the Center's premises, the Board of Directors begins to
look for a new headquarters. On June 25 it is agreed to rent some premises in Truco a Balconcito.
Likewise, the contractor partners of the Center are summoned to build a pediment in the new
headquarters (17). The transfer began at the beginning of July.
On July 7, the Board of Directors presented the Statutes and list of members of the Basque Center
to the National Directorate for Security and Foreigners. Finally, on July 30, the Ministry of Internal
Affairs "authorized the operation of the aforementioned association" .
On August 6, the Board of Directors officially acknowledged receipt of said authorization. In this way
the Basque Center of Caracas acquired full legal personality
1-15-1 From Truco to Balconcito July 31, 1942.
Between the corners of Truco a Balconcito One day before the inauguration of the new headquarters, the Board of
Directors agreed to publish a magazine called Euzkadi. Dissemination body of the Caracas Basque Center, appointing
José María de Barrenetxea as director of the Culture and Propaganda Commission. However, due to legal impediments,
the illustrious Venezuelan scientist Juan de Iturbe will appear as editor in the first issue of the magazine.
.
Ugalde recounts: «The inauguration of the new premises took place on July 31, 1942, the feast of San Ignacio. They
worked day and night under the direction of Andoní de Borde to build the pediment, which was financed (20,000
bolivars) through repayable bonds of 25 bolivars each”.
One of the planned acts was a Mass to be celebrated in the church of Las Mercedes.
The Francoist representatives pressured so that the Basques could not celebrate a specific religious service, which
was finally prohibited by the Hierarchy. But the chosen day was Sunday and the Basques flocked to the temple,
including Brother Ginés dressed in their habits. Eight years later, the Archbishop of Caracas himself was in charge of
blessing the first stone of the new Center of El Paraíso.
As the aforementioned author points out, in the Balconcito Trick Center (or in its surroundings) a series of activities and
organizations are consolidated that will mark the future of the Basque-Venezuelan community to this day. Chancellor
Arístides Calvani recalled the number of times he had to return the ball from the fronton from his house next to the
Basque Center.
Likewise, many of them began their activities in that country at its offices, at a time when they had no other point of
reference.
.
In this way, while on August 6, 1942, the first Ball Commission formed by Fermín de Azkue, José de Elguezabal, José
María de Etxezarreta, Damián de Zalutregui and Miguel Pelay Orozco (23); On the 18th another Commission is formed
to organize the first visit of José Antonio de Aguirre to Venezuela. It is made up of José María de Gárate, Aurelio
Artetxe, José María Barrenetxea, Ilari Ariño and Víctor Elguezabal (24).
On October 28, the Pizkunde Basque Choir, directed by Antón de Gárate and accompanied by the txistulari Segundo
Atxurra made its public presentation. The concert must have been a success with the public since 1,000 bolivars of
benefits were obtained. Also in those days the Ekintzaleak group was founded, outside the discipline of the Center.
Among its directors, Jon de Oñatibia and Víctor Elguezabal. Its purpose is to disseminate Basque culture (language,
history, music, dance)
.
On May 22, 1943, the Ordinary General Assembly was held. In it, it was unanimously agreed to show "... Mr. Simón
Gonzalo Salas his gratitude for the efforts he made in 1938 for Basque emigration in Venezuela", naming him an
honorary member of the Basque Center.
But at that meeting some management positions had to be renewed. José María Diez de Rekarte, a member of the
Basque Nationalist Action (ANV) proposes, as we shall see, a
candidature in which all sectors of opinion of the Center were collected (26).
Also in those days, the Center, already consolidated, began to relate to other organizations. Along these lines, on May
30, the Board of Directors agreed to establish fraternal relations with the other Basque Centers in America. The
elaboration of a file of clippings of Basque tapeworms that appeared in the American press also began. Bernardino de
Mugarra, until then secretary, took over the presidency. It is ratified by the General Assembly
held on May 20, 1944. Likewise, and unanimously, the following Board of Directors is elected: José Miguel Gomendio
(vice president), Juan de Urbistazu (secretary), Vicente Arnoriaga (vice secretary), Adrián de Zalutregui ( treasurer) and
as members José de Abasólo, Blas de Gárate, Miguel Pelay and José Luis Aránsolo (28). The majority sectors of the
Basque exile in Venezuela (PNV, ANVE and PSOE) were represented on this Board. Not so the Republican Left, which
would send a protest letter (29). IR was part of the Advisory Board of the Basque Government Delegation
.
In July, the Board of Directors unanimously agreed to name Venezuelan diplomats Carlos Enrique Aranguren and
Rómulo Araujo honorary partners "in attention to their support for Basque immigration and help José Antonio de Aguirre
during his stay in territory occupied by the Nazis"
In the Assembly held on May 19, 1945, the Board of Directors was partially renewed: Francisco G. de Mardones
(president), Santiago Beristain (treasurer) and the members Juan Ignacio Trujo and Marcos Lekerika. On the other hand,
in those days the Basque School of Caracas-Caracas' ko Euzko Ikastetxea was created
.
Between 1945 and 1948, José María de Barrenetxea (XI. 1945), José María Solabarrieta (11.1946), José Amuritza (XI.
1946), Francisco Orúe (V. 1947) and José Elgezabal (XI. 1947) were presidents of the Center.
1 15 2 the guests:
General Isaías Medina Angarita, President of the Republic (appointed Honorary President of the Basque Center «in
testimony of gratitude from the Basques for the attention received from the Venezuelan authorities and people»), Dr.
Luis G. Pietri, Governor of the Federal District; F. de Giulio Sánchez, Prefect; HE the Ambassador of the United States
in Venezuela; Mr. Bret, Secretary of the United States Naval Attaché; HE the Ambassador of Great Britain; Mr. Anderson,
Secretary of the British Embassy; Mr.
Raymond Vis, representative of the Free French; Dr. Arturo Uslar Pietri, Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic;
Eleazar López Contreras, ex-pre-HII lens of the Republic; Ms.
María Edilia Valero, from the Hogar Ameri-i'iino; Dr. Enrique Aguerrevere, Minister of Public Works; Dr. Ángel Ague-
ri'cvere, legal advisor to the Ministry of Public Works; Dr. Rafael Vera, doctor from the Basque Association of Mutual Aid;
Dr. Jose Izquierdo; Messrs Long and Rixon, of the Victoria Club; Mr. Stanley Ross, American journalist; Dr. Juan Iturbe;
Mr. Alvarez de Lugo, president of the Boy Scouts; Mr. Antonio Arraiz; Mr. Napoleón Arraiz, from the Immigration Institute;
Dr. S. Gonzalo Salas, "proponent of Basque immigration", director of the Ministry of Agriculture; Dr. Gerardo Sansón,
director of the Immigration Institute; Mr.
Zozaya, consul ilc Mexico; directors of the newspapers "El Universal", "La Esfera" and "El Heraldo"; director of Radio
Caracas; Director of the La Salle School, Mr. Aureliano Huertas; Dr. Aranguren, ex-representative of Vene-/uela in
France; Mr John London; Mr JR White;
Mr Robert Bottome; Mr William Coles; Mr. FI Martin, and Mr. Manuel Maten. Former President
Kleazar López Contreras, Dr. Gerardo Sansón, Dr. Enrique Aguerrevere and Dr. Arturo Uslar Pietri
excused their attendance because they were absent. Also present were Mr. Luis Churión, president
of Hogar Americano; Mr. Faustino Moreno; Mr. Froilán Anzola, without counting on the large
attendance of guests for friendship and relationship.
1 16 The postwar world
The world resulting from the world war will have resonance both in Venezuela and within the
Basque-Venezuelan community. In October 1945, President Medina Angarita was overthrown,
setting up a Revolutionary Government Junta chaired by Rómulo Betancourt. One of its measures
is to expel the Francoist diplomatic representatives at the same time that it recognizes the
Republican Government, which will have an embassy and general consulate in Caracas.
The recognition of the Republic, as we said, has consequences for the Basque community. The
Spanish regional houses are reinforced with the creation of the Junta de Amigos de la República
Española, and the majority of non-nationalist Basques leave the Center to register in the House of
Spain, breaking a certain unity that has existed since 1943. At this point, we must remember that,
in order to be a member of the Caracas Basque Center, it was necessary to recognize the right of
self-determination for Euzkadi. Very few socialists and republicans remain in the institution
.
On the other hand, in those days of political instability, belonging to any type of solvent company
represented a guarantee before the authorities, especially when traveling within the country. In this
way, membership of the
The Basque Center came to assume a kind of political endorsement, with the consequent positive
influence on membership. In the same sense, the expulsion of a member from the Center for very
serious offenses made him undesirable before said authorities.
In 1945, as in other American countries, in Venezuela Committees to Aid Basque Refugees in

France, the Basque Brigade (which maintained operational groups in the border area of the
Pyrenees) and the Resistance were set up. In this sense, the Basque-Venezuelan community and
particularly the Basque Center mobilized in favor of the strikers on May 1, 1947 in Euzkadi. In all
these cases, the Center acts as a binder for the collections of the political forces, in those days
PNV, ANV, EMB and ELA-STV.
1 17 A new immigration
In January 1948, representatives of the Basque Center joined a commission made up of the Consul
of the Spanish Republic, president of the regional houses and the director of the National Immigration
Commission, to promote the entry into the country of anti-Franco refugees residing in France .
Despite this and following a trend that continues to this day, with the exception of Galeuzca (Galicia-
Euzkadi-Catalonia), the Basque Center remains outside the activities of the Spanish except in
specific cases such as this one
In those days, both the Center and the Basque Government Delegation carried out individual efforts
on behalf of resistance fighters persecuted by Franco's political police and some emigrants who
found themselves in difficulties in New York and Saint Thomas.
Faced with the immigration measures dictated by the Military Junta in 1949, the PNV of Venezuela
turned to the Basque Center for it to collaborate in the corresponding efforts so that 50 Basques
residing in France could enter the country.
1 18 In Paradise
Since 1945, incidents between the Basque Center and the owner of the property have multiplied,
preventing, for example, improvement works from being carried out. In December 1947, the latter
announced to the Board of Directors its intention to sell it, offering a priority purchase option of
300,000 bolívares. But for the Board of Directors the price was excessive, rejecting the offer
In the Ordinary General Assembly of May 29, 1948, the president of the Center, José de Elguezabal,
proposed the formation of a paper to find a new location. The first presentation will be made up of
José de Abasólo, Ander Aranbaltza, Manuel Altube, Francisco Badiola, Lorenzo Basagoiti, Joaquín
Carrandi, B. Goikoetxea, José Luis Otxoa, Miguel Salvador, Santos Ariño and Martín Gaubeka
(42). Days later the presentation was already considering various fields and studying specific
financing formulas. On June 23, the presentation proposed to the Board of Directors the acquisition
of a 10,000-square-meter lot in El Paraíso that had a price of about 300,000 bolivars (43). Four
days later, the financing plan was presented through the creation of the Euskalduna Real Estate
Company, which would have a share capital of 1,000,000 bolivars, divided into nominal shares of
500 bolivars.
.
On July 3, with massive attendance, a new Extraordinary General Assembly is held in which the
aforementioned efforts are reported. At the same time, a financial presentation was made up of
Gonzalo de Aranguren, Julián de Lizarralde, Miguel Pelay Orozco, Florentino Urarte, Adrián de
Zalutregui, Juan de Urbistazu, Ilari Ariño, José Estornés Lasa, Antxon Larrañaga and Juan de Iturri.
Miguel Salvador would take charge of the project.
On October 14, the first stone of the new Basque Center in Caracas was laid. It was blessed by
Archbishop Monsignor Lucas Castillo and, after the performance of the Pizkunde choir, the
speeches were given by José de Elguezabal, president of the Center; Luis Bilbao, delegate of the
Basque Government, and José Antonio Aguirre, who had sent a recording for this reason.
The capital's press covered the event. La Esfera pointed out: "None of the foreign colonies has
taken an initiative of the kind that the Basques are now taking." In El Universal it was said: "Because
of his way of acting among us, laborious, honest, decidedly useful, we must consider the presence
in Venezuela of a large group of Basques as a valuable contribution to our human activities."
1 19 Inauguration of the Basque Center Caracas El Paraiso March 5, 1950
The first arrived ten years ago. The ikurriña on the pole of the fishing boats, and the decision in
the heart of each one. They had lost everything in the fight for their homeland and were arriving in
an unknown land. The same one that Lakotsa and Lope de Aguirre saw centuries ago, the same
one where Bolibar was born. Today the fortune of several is estimated in millions; but the ikurriña
continues raised on the pole and in the heart.
A long line of gudaris and ezpatadantzaris nervously awaited the arrival of the traveler.
He had come from afar; far in space, and far in history. He came, not from Paris where he now
resides in exile, but from Gernika where Lendakari was elected fourteen years ago by the
representatives of the Basque towns. And the Basques of Venezuela wanted to welcome him to
their new home -Euzko-Etxea-, to link the present of good fortune with the past of struggle, to show
everyone that his decision remains the same.
Two days ago, someone had allowed himself to threaten them with reprisals. If they were "good
guys", the Francoist government was willing to send them none other than Ambassador Aznar -the
famous traitor to his people and to all the causes he espoused-, and even a handful of dancers
brought in by plane from Madrid; but if they were bad, if they were bad, if they invited their
Lendakari, they would lose all illusion of passports and visas to visit their families there in the
native Basque Country. Poor man!. The answer was being given by those true dantzaris, who had
come ten years ago or were born in the tropics, who escorted the electrified Lendakari Aguirre
down the Main Avenue of the Basque Center.
With him came another man. Almost everyone remembered him as he was one day: tall and
strong, energetic, with a commanding voice. He was taken prisoner at his command post, went to
jail with his gudaris and was sentenced to death; four times he was in the chapel to be executed
as were others from his same cell; later he led the clandestine resistance... That man, today with
a bent figure and tortured face, but always with an optimistic smile, symbolized the men who have
not stopped fighting.
And together the two of them, the Lendakari and the Head of the Resistance, walked to the door
of the Basque Center, where the txistu greeted them with the secular rhythms of "Agur Jaunak."
As before, as always.
"El Paraíso" is the most established residential neighborhood in Caracas. Someday it will be
surpassed by the new neighborhoods being built to the East, but it still retains the superiority that
tradition gives it. And in its heart, perched on the side of a hill, is where the Basques of Venezuela
have built their Euzko-Etxea. An immense farmhouse designed by Miguel Salvador -the man who
is changing the architecture of the future Caracas-, which overflows in superimposed terraces up
to the pediment and the gardens.
That morning of March 5, 1950, terraces and gardens were packed with more than two thousand
Basques and friends, some of whom had come from within the Republic and even from beyond its
borders. To attend the mass and the hoisting of the flags,
There they were all. From Dr. Gonzalo de Aranguren, the man whom everyone loves because he
has already successfully delved into his entrails or it is possible that one day he will have to; to
Commander Carmelo de Elorriaga, who had just arrived after a long journey that
led through the French maquis, the German concentration camps and the jungles of Indochina. The
Badiola, Aguirrezabala, Lizarralde and other construction magnates; along with the Olarso, Estornes,
Carranza and a few more "crazy" members of the "Gernika" group. The neskas by Euzko Gaztedi,
stirred up by the frenetic dynamism of Edurne Altuna.
The new generation that aims with Martín de Ugalde. Old and young, already rich and those who
are on their way to becoming so, spendetxus and emakumes. And perhaps more smiling than any,
the two men who made the execution of that house possible: José de Elguezábal, the President of
the Center who with tenacity and diplomacy eased the difficulties, encouraging the indecisive and
stopping the impulsive; and Dr. Luis de Bilbao, the Basque Delegate so identified with the
environment in which he moves, that he almost speaks native Venezuelan.
The festivities lasted eight days, one week with two Sundays. And the public continued to be faithful
to the call. The same in cultural conferences, that when they were called to squeeze the pockets.
His generosity was worthy of men who have known how to succeed. José Antonio de Aguirre spoke
to them about Basque history; and I told them about the Basques in America. The man from the
interior narrated life in prisons and in the resistance. Nicanor de Zabaleta caressed the harp for
them with his master hand. The dantzaris reproduced the ballet from the opera "Amaya" and the
figures of the Suletin masquerade. The Pizkunde choir of Antxon Gárate sang religious motets to
Jaungoikua, and sang the old melodies of the race in Basque.
The pelotaris inaugurated the fronton, without fear of the tropics or heights. The txistu played the
pilgrimage until well into the night. The bar did not lose its relevance for a moment. And the final
banquet was worthy of a Basque colony...
A week that passes soon, although it yielded to the strongest. A week that will remain engraved in
the memory of all those who lived. A week, above all, that moved the travelers who, on their patriotic
pilgrimage, get to know so many countries and so many Basques scattered throughout the world,
all similar, all upright, but nowhere with the patriotic fervor of the masses that we live at Euzko Etxea
de Caracas.
Aurrera, anaiak!
.
On December 5, 1949, the Board of Directors of the Basque Center agreed to invite José Antonio
de Aguirre to the inauguration of the new headquarters. On March 2, 1950, Aguirre and Jesús de
Galíndez, a Basque delegate in New York, arrived in Venezuela. At the Maiquetía airport they are
received by the delegate Luis Bilbao; the president of the Center, José de Elguezabal, and Gonzalo
de Aranguren.
On the 3rd, Aguirre offered a press conference. Finally, coinciding with the Aberri Eguna, the
inaugural acts began. In addition to Aguirre and Galíndez, Joseba de Rezóla, Andoni de Arozena
(in Basque) and the harpist Nicanor Zabaleta participate in these. On the 12th, coinciding with the
closing day, a sapling of the Tree of Gernika was planted.
1 19 1 Words of the first Lendakari of Euzkadi José Antonio Aguírre Inauguration

Basque Center Caracas (El Paraiso)
In lands subject to violence, I met the soul of America. Wandering and alone, I felt the anguish of
the one who lacks everything. I spent six and a half months in countries dominated by Nazism, of
which four and a half in Berlin. and in those hours of uncertainty, anxiety and
anguish, I asked the souls of America to instruct me. I carry in my heart not only gratitude and
admiration for the man who shaped the greatest enterprise of Libertad, but also a particular, exclusive
gratitude for the men of America and Venezuela who, in this time of insecurity and anxiety that I have
signed up helped me save what I love most: my wife and children. Thanks to a Venezuelan diplomat
and thanks to the Venezuelan Government and Authorities, my wife and my children were able to leave
Europe, like the widow of Guerra, a native of the city of Mérida, the Andean city of Venezuela.
This is not the subject of my conference. I only want to point out that within the soul of every Basque
there exists for Bolibar a fund of deep admiration, respect and affection. As a liberator of peoples, as
a founder of magnificent doctrines that will shine one day in all its splendor, because Bolíbar's doctrine
has not yet given its full performance. I speak to you with this emotion, as a Basque, towards the one
who, knowing how to liberate peoples, had thoughts that are inscribed in centuries of our history.
Bolibar. His era, that of encyclopedism, that of liberalism in conscience and in public laws, that of the
emancipation of subjugated peoples. His company, to free half of America from the Spanish yoke,
reconstituting free and prosperous towns.
An undertaking worthy of someone who had Basque blood in their veins, the continuation of a history
of Basque universality.
To say that Bolibar, in addition to being the Liberator of America, was a defender of the faith of those
natives, may seem to some to be a contradiction.
In this regard, a memory that, in addition to its actuality, has the force of proof:
The years of the American independence uprising against Spanish oppression were running.
As happens in such cases, the dominating power takes advantage of all kinds of resources and people
for its purpose of subjugation. Among others, the ecclesiastics who, far from being evangelizers of a
doctrine that belongs to everyone, were zealous propagandists of Spanish power, were taken
advantage of.
Bolibar addresses Pius VII, and, sometimes personally, other times through embassies, begs him with
all the warmth of a liberating ruler, that the Spanish and Spanishizing clergy of Venezuela be replaced
by indigenous clergy, better acquainted with the people and dearer to him; that the bishoprics were
occupied by Americans and, in any case, provided from Rome and not from Madrid, as was the case
under the royal patronage.
Pius VII quickly understands the magnitude of the fact exposed by Bolibar and crosses with him very
interesting, cordial and copious correspondence, receives some of his envoys and prepares to adopt
measures accordingly. But the domination that does not understand the high language of love that
begins to relate the Liberator of Middle America with the Father of all the faithful, threatens to break
with Rome, moves the European Chancelleries, manages the intrigue, without caring that with this it
puts imminent danger to the faith of the nascent South American Republics. Bolibar, for those
"magnanimous defenders of the faith", is a Freemason, heretic and enemy of religion. . .
However, Pius VII agrees with Bolibar, jumps over all the obstacles that oppose him and the priesthood
chosen from Rome begins to penetrate the people, whom he loves and understands because it is his
own.
It is the eternal struggle between despotic power and reason and law, regardless of its closeness.
I hope that from his iniquitous attitude entire towns lose faith. . . The case has been repeated
in many towns, without exception to Euzkadi.
Words by Jose Antonio Aguirre, at the new headquarters of the Basque Center (El Paraiso) in
Caracas
1 19 2 Lecture given at the Basque Center in Caracas on March 7, 1950 by Mr. Jesús de
Galíndez. Inauguration of the Basque Center.
A few years ago, in one of those meetings that North Americans love so much, the chairman of
the banquet was introducing the different speakers with their academic titles from Harvard
University, Columbia University, Yale University; When it was the turn of the patriarch of the
Basque colony in New York, he himself stepped forward to introduce himself as "Valentín Agirre,
from the Universidad del Monte Sollube."
In this phrase, apparently humorous, and which undoubtedly demonstrates the deep contempt
with which Valentín Agirre judges all intellectuals and even more so if they are teachers, is
contained, however, one of the reasons for our subsistence as a people. Because, deprived of a
University and of their own education, the Basque has had to react above the culture that has
been imposed on them in foreign educational centers, to maintain their culture, their way of life,
their spirit, their tradition. The Basque University has been in every hamlet, in every village, in
every valley, on Mount Sollube.
A people is characterized, even more than by its racial characteristics, by its culture, by its
tradition, by its spirit. Basque culture has a strong personality through the centuries and has
spread internationally.
One of the fields in which this influence is most intensely felt is in American colonization.
The Basques arrived on American soil centuries before its official discovery by Christopher
Columbus, although they limited themselves to fishing for cod and whales, without thinking of
planting flags to mark their conquest. Already in the San Sebastián Jurisdiction of the year 1150
there is talk of whaling by its sailors; and there is documentary evidence of the presence of
Basque fishermen in Newfoundland since 1413, they were probably going regularly to these
places for one or two centuries before.
The pilot of the Columbian expedition in 1492 is a Basque, Juan de Lakotsa (La Cosa for the
Spanish), who at the same time owns the admiral ship, the "Mari Galante", renamed "Santa
María"; Most of the crew members of this ship are also Basques. Since then, the Basques have
not been missing in any of the discovering expeditions.
Sebastián de Elkano goes around the world for the first time in 1519-21. Urdaneta and Legazpi
colonize the Philippine Islands in 1564-5.
It is curious to observe that the Basques do not provide conquerors, but colonizers. That is, the
men who came to the New World not to conquer easy wealth, but to create new wealth, to join
the life of this continent, and over the centuries to establish the future American republics.
The first colonists of the New World are those left by Christopher Columbus at Fort Navidad;
When he returns on the next trip and finds the fortress destroyed and its men dead, the blame
is placed on the Bizkainos who fought among themselves "for the gold and the women."
Years later, Hernando de Cebara from Gipuzkoa is the first European to marry an Indian
princess, Higuemota, daughter of the Queen of Jaragua Anacaona. Later, Irala founded
Asunción de Paraguay in 1538, Legazpi founded Manila in 1571, Garai founded Buenos Aires
in 1580, Zabala founded Montevideo in 1724.
The three big problems caused by American colonization are struggles for freedom; and the
Basques always play a leading role in them.
The first problem is that of the slavery of the natives. Its great defender is the Basque Dominican
Francisco de Vitoria, who from his chair at the University of Salamanca pronounces the Relectio
de Indiis, which, while defending the freedom of the American Indians, lays the foundations for
future International Law.
The second problem is the revolt of the first colonists against the absolute powers of government
that the kings had granted to the discoverers and conquerors. That revolt arose on the Spanish
Island, where the Basque Adrián de Muxika seconded Roldan in his protest against the
Columbus brothers. And it culminates in Mexico, where Bishop Zumarraga confronts conquerors
and oidores, while defending the indigenous people.
The third problem will be the future independence of the American countries. Although it took
place at the beginning of the 19th century, its first outbreak was directed by the Basque Lope
de Agirre in 1560, from the heart of the Amazon River. His figure has been denigrated by writers
at the service of Felipe II; but, despite the bloody overtones that halo his feat, we must recognize
his gallantry for having been the first to proclaim the independence of Peru and declare war
against the king of Spain.
With this background, it is not surprising that the Basques fully join the independence campaign
from Mexico to Argentina. This Basque participation reached its peak with the figure of the
Venezuelan Simón Bolibar, through whose veins ran Basque blood. His work is great as a
liberator of nations, but perhaps it has even more prophetic value in its Pan-American spirit,
when in the middle of the campaign he convenes the Congress of Panama. Faced with the
Monroe Doctrine, which is rather negative and egotistical, Bolibar's call supposes a positive and
altruistic impetus for international collaboration, which a century later will come to be reflected
in the international and Pan-American realities that we live today.
All this has a deep root in the way of being, in the tradition, in the Basque culture. The Basque
who runs around the world carries with him the same spirit of the Basques who remain in
Euzkadi. And that in those centuries they practiced an exemplary democracy through their
secular Boards.
The Basque Fueros, which today are a symbol, were in reality only historical expressions of the
struggle carried out by the Basques to maintain their traditional and customary institutions of
freedom. The first Jurisdiction, that of Nabarra of 1237, corresponds to the English Magna Carta
of 1215; both documents represent the democratic triumph against the royal absolutism that
prevails in the rest of Europe. And these Fueros, in addition to collecting part of the Basque
customary law, sometimes create new institutions to better defend it.
The institution of "babeas corpus" is drawn up in the Fuero de Bizkaya of 1452, two
centuries before the English "bill" of 1679. All the Basque Fueros declare that royal orders that have not been approved
by their Juntas, that is, their Parliament, "will be obeyed, but not fulfilled"; maximum guarantee of popular sovereignty.
The very provision that all Basques are nobles outside of Euzkadi is the proclamation of their absolute equality; because
it is a precept that was established at the end of the Middle Ages, when the Basques who did not recognize class
distinctions arrived in countries where the nobles had privileges over the commoners.
Today the Basques have lost their political institutions and are struggling to recover them. But they retain their culture,
and wherever they are they react as their ancestors did. That is the performance of the Basques in Venezuela and
throughout America.
Furthermore, despite oppression and exile, its representative institutions maintain an active international life. The
Basque Government and Basque organizations have been represented in international congresses, as the organizer of
the future European Union; In the United Nations itself, his actions have been made present. That almost always insists
on the cultural nuance. Thus, recently, the United Nations Department of Information has published a document in
Basque: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I am going to end as I began, reminding you of another phrase by Valentín Agirre. One day a certain political professional
boasted to him, boasting of his oratory faculties, and Don Valentin cut him off saying: "The canaries and goldfinches are
also singing to you all day and they say nothing to you."
Basques from Venezuela, Basques from the whole of America. Let's not be canaries or goldfinches. The Basques
demand it of us who, locked in the cage of Francoism, cannot even sing.
Extract from the lecture given at the Basque Center in Caracas on March 7, 1950 by Mr. Jesús de Galíndez.
Inauguration of the Basque Center. March, 1950.
1 20 Basque Centers in the Interior
For more than a decade, many Basques from the interior were members of both the Asociación Vasca de Socorros
Mutuos and the Centro Vasco de Caracas. Until the age of 50, Basque speakers meet in bars or private homes, and
even play ball in any building whose walls resemble those of a fronton. The more or less massive arrival of Basques
from 1950, both for political and economic reasons, led to the appearance of numerous centers. However, in 1989 there
were only three left: Caracas, Puerto La Cruz and Valencia.
1 20 1 Barcelona Puerto La Cruz
Barcelona (capital of the Anzoátegui State) and Puerto La Cruz are two towns separated by just four or five kilometers,
which in Venezuelan terms and proportions is equivalent to being together.
The first, which bears the name of the capital of Catalonia, is an old population, like Cumaná, and
rather in regression. The second, with an important oil port and a refinery, barely has thirty-odd
years of existence, which is almost like never leaving childhood, for a municipality. A creature in
strong expansion.
Juan de Etxearte, Pedro de Gárate (gb), Pedro de Urquidi, JL de Basterrechea, Antón Deusto
and their brothers arrived in the area of Anzoátegui State, from the same year thirty-nine, and
over time until almost yesterday; Ramón, Ángel and Isidoro Atxondo, doctor Gonzalo de
Aranguren, doctor Calle, Domingo Rola, Julián and Elias Etxebarría, Jaime de Arantzamendi,
Elías de Larrucea, León de Aguirregomezkorta, Kepa de Beaskoetxea, Francisco de Aresti,
Alejandro Alberro, Fernando and Juan de Etxegoyen, E. de Sagasti, F. de Uranga, Manuel and
Enrique de Azkune, Iñaki Irazábal, JM Bidegu-ren, among many other names.
The first parties used to be held, when the area was still very sparsely populated, in the houses
of Etxearte or Etxebarría, located wall to wall in "Los Cocos", an urbanization of Puerto La Cruz.
In front of them something similar to a pediment had been erected, and ball was played there,
sometimes against visitors from Caracas, with the consequent "pique" and waste of effort in the
fight.
From that first hour, there was always the desire to build the batzoki, or the euzko etxea, which
would serve as a physical framework for that firm union of the Basques above all differentiating
elements. This is how the “Inmobiliaria Anzoátegui” was constituted, with a capital of 125,000
bolivars, expanded shortly after to 150,000. The president of the Society was Francisco de Aresti;
Vice President, Alejandro de Uría; Secretary, Eusebio Ucar; Treasurer, Kepa cíe Beascoetxea;
vocals: Mariano Maguregui, Elías de Larrucea, Blas de Belzunegi, Julián de Etxebarría and
Umbelín de Garmendia.
The real estate company acquired extensive land in the Lecherías neighborhood, belonging to
the municipality of Barcelona, but located between the two urban centers, with a total of four
hectares.
The first board of directors of the Euzko Etxea was immediately established, provisionally, chaired
by Mariano de Maguregui, with Enrique de Azkune as Secretary, Umbelin de Garmendia as
treasurer, and Juan de Etxearte and Alejandro de Uría as members.
On June 4, 1959, the first stone of the building was laid by the Lendakari José Antonio de Aguirre,
taking advantage of one of his visits to Venezuela. The ceremony was blessed by Monsignor
Humberto Paparoni, the first bishop of Barcelona.
A little over a year later, Basque perseverance had already raised the entire building on that first
stone, and Euzko Etxea was inaugurated by the Lendakari Jesús María de Leizaola. For this
occasion there were changes in the board of directors, chaired by Juan Etxearte.
In 1961 the "Emakume abertzale batza" was founded, headed by María Jesús Rousse de
Beaskoetxea, with Karmele de Elordi as secretary and Miren Rubí de Belzunegui as a member.
A few years later the monument to the gudari was raised, through a popular subscription, in which
even the children contributed. It is a monolith, surmounted by a broken helmet, engraved on the
stone the first sentence of the hymn: «Eusko gudariak gera...».
But the Center is not only the beautiful house and the monument. There is a magnificent pediment,
cared for and repainted, at the bottom of which Mario was drawing the map of Euzkadi, with the
following denomination for the Cantabrian: "Euskadiko Itsasoa".
There is also a multi-sports court, made of cement. A kitchen-barbecue, covered, outdoors, very
spacious. And "green areas", wooded and pleasant, with benches to rest and chat, quietly and
peacefully.
Outside the enclosure that is used today, there is still a large amount of land belonging to the Real
Estate. Part of it is a rather deteriorated soccer field, because it stopped being used years ago.
There are eighty members, but some of them live in Maturín (Monagas State), in Puerto Ordaz, on
the Isla de Margarita, in Caracas itself, and there is even one in Valencia. However, they remain
registered and pay their fee for sentimental reasons. In reality, those who remain in the region and
'collaborate in more or less ordinary activities, are about fifty.
On working days, the attendance is nil or almost nil. On weekends and holidays, they register a
fairly large influx. The members —as in the Gastronomic Societies of Euzkadi, but without gender
discrimination—, do everything: drinks are served, stocks are controlled, the amounts of the drinks
are deposited...
Every Sunday, by rotating shift, it corresponds to one of the "etxekoandres", with the help of several
more, to prepare and serve the collective lunch, the amount of which is paid, proportionally divided
among the number of diners, to the desserts.
The "doñas" have their group to play cards, and the men play mus or dominoes. The pediment, in
the most propitious hours of those days, does not rest. And the youngest also have soccer,
"basketball" competitions... Tennis, not yet, "because we still don't have much practice," President
Mari Paz told us.
Sometimes those who compete are not so young. The same president "quarreled" a very serious
palette party, with three other emakumes.
It's not all sport, talk and play. Cultural activities also count.
There is a choir, and a group of children's "dantzaris", directed by Koikiye Irazábal from Bideguren
and Kepa from Beasko-etxea. "Talde", the theater group, puts on about three performances a year;
those of December and "Aberri Eguna" are fixed.
Maintaining this rate of participation, in addition to physically taking care of the facilities, and
worrying —still— about new improvement projects, when there are only fifty members, is not easy.
It constitutes a great merit of this community.
To a large extent, the effort corresponds to Mari Paz herself, whose house is less than a hundred
meters from the Euzko Etxea. She arrived in Venezuela accompanied by her parents, a sister and
an older brother, in the year 49. The parents left first, then the brother, and she
she married Mario, the Friuli nationalist, in Caracas. "We have not reached the fortune of having
children."
This is the only woman president of a Euzko Etxea in the entire American Continent; but there
were no doubts about his choice, after the work accomplished in the three and a half years that he
took on the treasury. Particularly, her activity is also that of a housewife and, in addition, she works
outside, helping Mario in the office of his company. A construction company normally hired by the
oil company, to carry out buildings, weld repairs...
More than in Caracas, where the number of attendees is much larger, here, in Barcelona-Puerto
La Cruz, the Basque Center is a family of families; the little ones play very close, and when they
are young they maintain the traditions, practice their sports, have fun. It is already much more
difficult for them to retain the language. They understand it, of course, but few speak it. The
ikastola is missing and there comes a time when Spanish harasses them everywhere: school,
street, friends, and even at home, if the parents are not Basque.
After the excursions to Cumaná and the El Tigre area, the journalist was "adopted" by the Irazábal-
Bideguren and Mario-Marí Paz families. The bulk of the time, in the weekend that we had left, we
spent in Euzko Etxea. But also, quite long periods, at the home of these Venezuelans from Euzkadi.
José Manu would continue to be the host and guide on tours of the town and its surroundings,
often accompanied by Koikiye, and sometimes by his two cute little girls.
Despite the rush of the visit, there was time for everything. And since this small community does
not miss the opportunity to find out and work on everything that is Euzkadi, we organized a
colloquium in which we tried to give the maximum number of data and the minimum of opinions,
always seeking to increase the cohesion of the community, and to avoid divisions or ideological
mistrust.
Dean and president on the day of the inauguration of this house, is Juan Etxearte. He was born in
Aulestia seventy-eight years ago. When he was six or seven, the first mayor he can remember in
his town was already a nationalist. The second would be his own father.
«And the postman strange to the party, enemy. In a conflict that arose between the Mayor and the
youth, the Mayor sent an official letter to the Governor and the boys another. A few days later a
letter from the Governor arrives at the City Council, saying that he had received a communication
from the youth of the town, but nothing from the authorities. Inquiries were made and it turned out
that the letter had been intercepted by the same postman. So they fired him and it was agreed to
put someone who lived near herriko-etxea. My father, who was already deputy mayor, had the
house almost next door, but he didn't want to, because he was a lifelong neighbor of the fired man.
They convinced him, above all because I could be the one to do the work in practice; In total, four
newspapers arrived—I don't know if there were six—and four or five letters. The salary was five
cents for each letter delivered.
Years and years passed. I did my military service, I was in Africa during the war in Morocco,
unfortunately, and when the Republic arrived, the Secretary of the Town Hall, who was a very
close friend of ours, helped us to reclaim the place we owned. Like my father, yes
He asked to be a regular, he was going to be left without the position, so he asked for me, alleging
that I had done military service in Africa. And they gave it to me, although the position was still in
fact for my father. Until the War came and then, at the age of sixty-eight, after having served forty,
they removed him because he was from the Party. I was the town organist, and at the same time
sacristan, everything went together. In the war I also took quite a part; I was in charge of distributing
pistols to the boys there, from public order. They say, my wife the first, that if they caught me there
the first day, they would have shot me.
April 23 arrived, and we saw the flames of Guernica. I left for Mundaca and, through the mountains,
many of the town's residents got together. Others had gone to Navarra.
We arrived at Mundaca, we had a drink and we all lay down in a hayloft, where the fern was kept
to make the "beds" for the cows. We asked to be woken up at five in the morning, to leave for
Bermeo before the planes came. But we hadn't even been in bed for half an hour, when the
innkeeper came shouting: "gizonak, altza denok!"; everybody up! The fascists are coming! No need
to call us twice. Everyone to go out, and again, from mount to mount, to Kanala, where there used
to be a kind of chavela to pass the estuary from one part to the other. But the mooring was cut.
There, in a house that was there, some on the porch and others below, we slept as best we could.
The next day we passed, and we reached Munguía, always on foot. And happy, because it was
drizzling, and the German planes couldn't come; we were saved.
Bermeo, Sollube, Munguía... finally in Munguía we ate, took the train and went to Bilbao. I had to
find a place to stay for many young people, who had never left the village and had no knowledge,
but we arranged them as best we could, and we stayed there for two
months.
From Bilbao, to Castro. From Castro, one night, with a terrible bombardment, to Santander, another
two months. That was the worst place I found for the gudaris. And from there, through the mediation
of the Basque Government, to Laburdi, where we stayed for two years. They didn't let us work
except in the pine trees, throwing down pine trees, and that was a bit hard for many of us. In
addition, we had to get out of there, because we saw that the other war was coming. I asked a
certain Carlos Olano, who was from Lekeitio, if we couldn't go to Mexico.
"To Mexico?" To what? Let the reds go to Mexico. What have you lost there?, he answered me
olan.
I told him that I hadn't lost anything there, nor could I lose anything anywhere anymore, because
the only thing I had was my wife and my son, who had stayed in Aulestia. "Well, we're going to go
to Venezuela," he said,
I didn't believe it, but they fixed my papers and I came without knowing if this was in Korea, or who
knows where.
With three others, I went to farm in Coro, on behalf of the Government. We were hired in Caracas
for there, with a salary of 7.50 bolivars a day. We arrived at President Tellería's house and he told
us that they couldn't pay us more than six fifty, because nobody earned that much; the highest
salary for a Creole was five bolivars. We were four months. But the land was useless, it had a lot of
saltpeter. Then they sent us elsewhere, as
agriculture professors, for another ten months, because those lands were no use either, and the proof
is that they were lost.
So, here in Puerto La Cruz they formed a fishing company, not to fish, but to bring fresh fish to El Tigre,
which had never been taken. The owner was a captain Azcona, from Lekeitiarra. And I was driving the
truck.
But that man died, he did not leave a will, or anything clear, and thousands and thousands of bolivars
were left behind. So we took charge of one who is now in Lekeitio, another who has already died, and
me. The other employees did not want to. The deceased patron owed a priest, who had owned the
newspaper "El Día" in San Sebastián, many dollars. We did not send all of them, but we did send what
we could. There were no papers, nothing. And we continue to bring fresh fish from Puerto La Cruz to El
Tigre.
Then I have been a distributor of "El Nacional" in Puerto La Cruz for many years. And now, that the
children have grown up, well, let's live. I don't have retirement; then those retirement things didn't exist
in the newspaper, they weren't as good as they are now. So I have what little I could save. But the six
children work and we don't need much to live. The only vice we have is coming here, to the Basque
Center, on Saturdays and Sundays».
This is the summary of a lifetime. A simple existence, of a simple person. But not without ideas.
"From time to time," he explained, "I have fights with these people. I am not saying that the only Party
is the Basque Nationalist Party; in my youth there were no more, until Acción Vasca was formed in
1929. Yes, there was some group within the Party, like the Yagi. And nothing more.
Then those of ETA have come, and others, and others. They will be right, or they will not be right, but
when I hear young people who want to destroy the Party, I confront them. Are you socialists? In what?
The only socialist I have known was José Antonio de Aguirre, who did what he did in his factory.
Indalecio Prieto preached a lot, he was smart. And what was he doing? Say one thing in Baracaldo and
another in Madrid. I tell them, and they get hot, and so do I, sometimes.
What do you want to be on the left? Ongi. I am from the left. What happened to the priests?
We have had a lot of respect for them. And already, how many leave the cassock? In my day you
couldn't do that. Nor could a young, unmarried girl have a child without marriage. They had to spend at
least two years without leaving home. Now, they are ordinary things. In my town I have observed that
almost no one gets married if they are not pregnant.
One of the things that I felt a lot, as an abertzale, is that many Basque mothers went to Rome, to ask
for a little help during the Burgos Process, and the Pope did not receive them. He did receive Evita
Perón, and such a half-naked artist, with a shawl over her, too. On the other hand, not those eleven
Basque mothers, whose lives were in danger.
Many tell me: those were from ETA, communists... I don't know if they were communists; mothers were
mothers. And a woman who goes from Euzkadi to Rome is because she has Faith and believes that
the Pope is the representative of God. If you do not receive them, I would say that everything is a lie.
That those boys have gone to the left? Well, to the left, but from Euzkadi. Let the right, the left, or
Barrabás rule in Euzkadi. But let the people say so, when they are free,
«And the postman, stranger to the party, enemy. In a conflict that democratically; and the
democratic are the elections. What does Euskadiko Ezkerra win? Well, well. What does the Party
win, and do we think it will win, or should win? Well too. The thing is that those from Madrid do
not win. But they don't want that. They say "Euskadi Askatuta eta Sozialista". We don't have the
house yet, just the land. Are we collecting the materials to build and are we going to fight among
the family to see what color we paint? We'll decide.
I don't like communism, because it's a dictatorship, and I don't know what would be better for us
either, Franco or communism. But the rest, left or right doesn't matter to me. In Aulestia, who will
be a socialist? Based on what? Some now work in Guernica, in Marquina, or in Durango, but the
four farmers in the town, the beserritarras, they cannot be socialists; It is impossible, logically.
I would have liked to go now, for the municipal elections. Nobody in the town dares to say that he
is from the Party, but he obtains a majority of three or four times that of all the others.
together. Those on the left have three or four votes, and the Party has one hundred eighty or two
hundred.
I came here with a "igarobide" from the Government of Euzkadi. I still have it at home, in pieces,
but I keep it. The ticket was paid for me, half by the Spanish Government, and the other half by
Venezuela, to which we are very grateful.
Anyway, what I have said: at the age of eighteen, or before, I joined the Basque Nationalist Party
and I would like God not to change me. It is not to say blasphemy, but I believe that, even if I
wanted to, God would not change me either, because that is what I have lived ».
If Juan Etxearte is the oldest Basque on the eastern coast, from Barcelona to Cumaná, Carlos
López, vice president of Euzko Etxea, is one of the youngest managers.
He arrived twenty-one years ago, and he spent the first two years in Guanta —he was sixteen—
washing cars and hunting big land crabs. Little by little, through a thousand occupations, he
reached his current position, in a food distribution company.
This man from San Sebastián was also a footballer, in the team of La Polar —one of the two great
breweries in the country, located precisely here, in the East—, and always selected to represent
the Anzoátegui State in competitions. Now his fifteen-year-old son took over.
The Maguregui brothers, builders, were linked to La Polar in a very different way. Mariano, José
Mari and, finally, Patxi, who was our interviewee. The three worked in Neguri, then the area of
residence of the economic aristocracy of the Spanish State, especially during the War. "Then we
got used to working well, as the architects and master builders demanded there."
Mariano, after spending long years in a labor battalion, in forced labor, was the first to emigrate,
in 1947. The other two, in order of age, followed him as soon as they
They were released from military service.
For La Polar they built almost everything with enormous success: the factory in general, the reforms, the
extensions... because they were growing day by day, with production, the facilities.
Thus, until the year 71, when there was a change in the direction of the brewery.
Since then they went on to build apartment blocks. On Paseo Colón, next to the hotel where we went to
sleep —little and late— during our stay in Puerto La Cruz, stands the Turimi-kire building which, at the time
of its completion by the Maguregui brothers, was the tallest from the area. They also built a church, that of
Our Lady of Lourdes, in the little square of San Felipe, in Barcelona.
«Here —explained Patxi— much less is demanded in construction. Anything goes. The materials are
practically the same as in Euzkadi, except for the wood. But the setting of the cement is much faster, due
to the climate. And drying, too. Work is done practically twice as fast as there for that reason.
Most of the Basques engaged in construction stayed in Caracas, which was growing at an enormous rate.
here there was no
so much demand.
In the second generation we are a few. My older brother is already married, the other two got married by
proxy. And, between the three of us, we have eleven children: four, four and three.
Leaving Puerto La Cruz towards Cumaná, a few kilometers from the first, is the company "Vencemos",
"Venezolana de Cementos". The natives of the area are somewhat against it, because of the pollution and
the degradation of the landscape. Especially the inhabitants of a very close fishermen's ranch.
With the refinery, it is the largest industry in this region. The head of the administration department, Ramón
Irazu, is from Laguardia, although he lived in San Sebastián from 1940 to 1957. For having stood out in
labor demands, he was relegated at the Municipal Savings Bank when it came to appointing a director for
the branch from Eibar. And he left.
He was in an important construction company, which grew in the time of Péez Jiménez, but found itself at
the fall of the dictatorship with the withdrawal of several orders. Then he went to "Vencemos", where Pedro
Solana, from Bilbao, is part of the Council as Alternate Director, and another Basque, now retired, Juan de
Olazábal, was a trusted man of Eugenio Mendoza, one of the "twelve apostles" of the Venezuelan economic
world.
"Vencemos" "takes out" approximately fifty-two percent of the country's production, to which imports are
added, to reach sales of seventy percent of the Venezuelan cement market.
Part of the import arrives from Euzkadi, in steamers such as the "Deusto", through the management of
"Expose". Ninety-five percent of the most important material for production, limestone, comes from quarries
located next to the plant itself, in the mountains.
Kepa de Beaskoetxea, participant from the first hour in the foundation of the Real Estate
Anzoátegui, of which he continues to be director, is the director of the Euzko Etxea choir.
He was imprisoned, at the end of the War, and then he lost his parents. He decided to emigrate; He got
married and arrived in Caracas in 1948. Within a fortnight he had had two jobs, one in "Cauchos
General" he gave it to his brother. The other, as a cashier at the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Oriente, he
kept. He became General Manager of the company, until he retired.
He is currently Treasurer by election of the Chamber of Merchants and Industrialists of the East and
also Secretary of the Chamber, paid, part-time. Ángel Mezo, from Erandio, occupies another important
position in the economic life of the East. He is the regional vice president of Banco Unión, possibly the
most powerful in the country, along with Banco de Venezuela.
Ángel "was brought" at the age of eleven: "My father was from Acción, and they made his life miserable,
because he did not raise his hand, so he had to emigrate." He studied accounting and later took
advanced specialization courses. Until reaching its current position, in this entity that manages six
billion bolivars in public deposits (ninety-six billion pesetas, more or less).
It is interesting to know, from its authoritative position, the economic peculiarities of the region:
«The East is underdevelopment within the general underdevelopment of the Country. Something is
beginning to be done, some demonstrations are being seen, some industrial zones, but very timorously.
This area of the northeast, of Anzoátegui, Sucre, the island and Monagas, without getting into Guayana,
does not even have a regional bank. We had it and we lost it, because the great capitals of the center
absorbed it, and even the name changed.
Guayana, or the Oriente Sur, has a small one, the Banco de Fomento Regional Guayana, which is
owned by the State.
Insurance companies, there were none until a little less than two years ago; I am a member of the
board. Financial companies have existed since that same time. Before there was absolutely nothing,
more than branches of the banks of the Center.
There is no agriculture. Some fishing, as regards the Sucre State —very little in the Anzoátegui State
—, and something more in Nueva Esparta. The economy here is tertiary, manufacturing, with small
industrial centers that are developing. The only factories, beer and soft drinks.
There is still the oil economy. Puerto La Cruz, apart from those of Zulia, is the largest shipper and
packer of oil among
Venezuelan ports. There is a refinery for the fields south of Anzoátegui and southeast of Monagas, and
all its production comes out here.
On the other hand, the highest cost of living indexes, together with Caracas, have always been those
of Puerto La Cruz-Barcelona and those of the nucleus of Ciudad Guayana, a place in
effervescence, everything to be done and everything being done.
This is a country of young people, of creatures. About seventy percent do not reach twenty-one
years. Puerto La Cruz does not meet forty years of existence; I have friends who came when
this was a fishermen's ranch on Paseo Colón, and nothing more. Everything is completely new.
On the other hand, Barcelona, no; It is an old city, full of heroes and history, but eaten by Puerto
La Cruz.
Something is being done in livestock, too, in the southern part of Anzoátegui and part of
Monagas. Banks, by law, have to place twenty percent of their investment portfolio in the
agricultural sector. That upset our approaches, we had to create departments, improvise people,
train them, look for them abroad... because we were bankers, we didn't understand anything
about cows, or sesame seeds, or potatoes. Today, any manager has a fair understanding of
that, because we had to learn.
That is roughly the aspect of the economy in the Orient. But I have very well-founded hopes for
the future, because the Government is taking it very seriously. It is a slow development, with the
problem of some labor laws that have had a very negative impact on the mentality of the worker
who, in education, is well below the average of other countries.
Here the middle class does not really exist; the middle class is an upper middle class, and it is
not well defined, it is not easy to classify it. The working, working middle class is the one that
lives on the shores, in the ranches, in the shacks around there. There is a lot of difference in
that sense. The manager of any bank does not compare in salary to what his second earns, the
inequality is astronomical; a country of managers
Unfortunately, and I am very sorry to say it, we have wasted a lot of money. In that aspect we
have not had very healthy governments; they have not known how to manage, apart from being
accused of
embezzlement. We have put a lot of effort and a lot of money into projects that have not worked
out, or that have stopped being done. Capital, by nature, is timorous.
Part of our problem is that we are under the influence of the dollar, and we have the United
States right around the corner, so what everyone does is send real money there. We have just
changed interest rates to curb capital outflows abroad. When we were paying the eight, or the
eight and a half here, in the United States they are already paying the eleven, and added to that
to the permanent distrust of the Venezuelan in his own country, everyone takes the money.
And so we arrived at this moment with a deficit balance of payments, a very serious case in a
state that the only thing that exports is oil, which produces nothing.
We live an extraordinary bonanza, of course; but fictional. With a rich government, in a very poor
country. Those are the inconsistencies that occur in Venezuela and are not believed abroad. It
is the cruel reality. We do not produce, we do not work at all and we import everything, absolutely
everything: black beans (beans), corn, which is supposed to be the basis of the Venezuelan
diet, rice, sugar, eggs, chickens; by December we had to bring millions of
tons of pork, and all this despite the billions that, by law, are being poured into the field. And it is
that the bolivar that we put into the fields, or into any industry, does not produce, does not rent
as it should.
It is a sociological problem that reveals another underlying one. There is something that drags
ancestrally. And there is also that the governments themselves, through demagogy, have
dictated labor laws that, in the short term, favor the worker, of course, but they distort the mind.
Everyone is thrown into a new richness, to a permanent waste.
I very seriously hope that this new government will change that mentality. This period, which is
ending now, was a great opportunity, but the hopes it aroused —the enthusiasm that Carlos
Andrés Pérez aroused I don't remember in any other period in the history of Venezuela— have
been disappointed. I don't remember another government with such a high share of power, with
an absolute majority in everything and, due to the rise in oil prices, with a multi-million dollar
budget like never before. I think much more could have been done.
But there is still time to rectify and I see it with optimism, if a serious government comes, with a
serious policy, and not demagogic. It's the only way this can be straightened out."
Mezo reiterated the opinion that the Basques have achieved good economic and social positions,
and great consideration within the country. And he points out that the fall of Pérez Jiménez was
the most delicate moment for them:
«Following the fall of the dictatorship, misunderstood nationalism accused foreigners of having
become millionaires with the regime, many left and it was a shame, because a number of very
valuable men were lost, who could give a lot to the country. It was a dangerous time; Venezuela
became guerrilla; Thousands of men and some women went to the mountains, imitating Fidel,
who gave them a lot of support. When Rómulo Betancourt won the elections, he spent some
very serious years and he himself was almost killed. And the Basques, you see, against all odds,
whatever, we managed to raise the Center and keep it open. This is what is important.
Efforts are made to preserve traditions and people like me, who had a very childish vision of
Euzkadí, remember it under the influence of their parents with great nostalgia and great affection.
On the first trip I made there, I did not leave those orchards where I had gone to steal apples...
I had a "car" prepared at the door, but I did not use it, because what I wanted was to see the
family, to the kids of my childhood.
I think I come here against my interests. I am president of the "Rotary Club" of Puerto La Cruz,
director of the Chamber of Commerce, I have not accepted applications for the board of directors
of the "Country Club", which I am also a member. By that I mean that I come here because it is
in my blood and it makes me want to come. And my children, too. Now you see a lot of tranquility
here, and it is because all the young people are in my house, celebrating the birthday of one of
my sons and another of Carlos; everyone from the Center and some other friends.
I have to alternate socially by obligation, in all those clubs and entities, but not here, here I am
from the heart.
With José Manu —above all— and with Koikiye we were talking during long nocturnal after-
dinches, in restaurants or in his own house, the last two nights of
our stay in Puerto La Cruz.
The professor from the Universidad de Oriente told us how, to satisfy all the large municipalities in the vast area, the
Faculties have been distributed between Barcelona, Puerto La Cruz, El Tigre, and even Puerto Ordaz. And how on
some occasion he had to combine classes in the two furthest away, which meant trips of three hundred kilometers, three
or four times a week.
Bideguren, as succinctly as is usual with Basques, gave us some clue about his anti-Franco activity in the sixties, his
militancy, and his exile in Italy, which is where he managed to study and graduate.
He gave us a thousand and one details about life in the New World, about the acclimatization process of those who
arrive from Europe, first with no appetite, then drinkers of large quantities of liquids, later capable of eating a bean in the
torrid midday of August ...
And it even had historical references to the creation of Puerto La Cruz, from the settlement of Pozuelos, at the foot of the
mountains, which gave its name to the Bay.
It was an Indian nod. Later they went down to the beach, and built their huts on it. Until the city began to rise, a few
decades ago. There is no tradition in it, nor practically any history, because everything is new, the social and economic
structures are newly released and hardly anyone has ancestors in the same city.
A project approved by the Government of Carlos Andrés tries to develop a large tourist area in "El Morro", located in
front of the island of La Borracha, with some fifty or sixty hotels, on the hill and below, which would create a calculated
total of sixty thousand jobs, when the last phase is finished, not counting the apartment buildings.
The plan includes a system of artificial canals, such as those in Florida, so that tourists, presumably rich, arrive at their
homes on boats and yachts, and even, in some cases, so that floating houses can be anchored on barges.
The cost of the infrastructure, just the infrastructure, is estimated at around three billion bolivars {forty-eight billion
pesetas). And the results are problematic, since tourists, assuming that they are attracted by the claim of the natural
beauties and the comforts of the area, will probably find great deficiencies in the service, due to a lack of professional
hospitality preparation; some deficiencies that go badly with the "luxury" prices.
That, apart from the social imbalance that such an economically strong mass of tourism would bring to the population.
On the other hand, for the Basque Center, the El Morro complex could be a great hope.
By selling part of the land unused by the Real Estate Agency, a "Jai alai" could be built like the one in Miami, with first-
rate puntista pelotaris, and with the same profitability as the one in Florida. It was the dream of the managers of Euzko
Etxea.
For many years, the Basques residing in the state of Anzoátegui met in the Chaure, a small oil
company club between Puerto La Cruz and Guanta.
Gatherings are held there and disputed ball games are played by hand. People from El Tigre,
Anaco, Cumaná, Barcelona and Puerto La Cruz attended. Other meeting places, even for those
who came from Caracas, were the homes of the Etxearte and Etxebama families in the Los Cocos
neighborhood. In the patio of a neighboring fisherman's house, these two families built a small
pediment
.
As we mentioned before, emigration in the 1950s brought numerous Basques to the eastern zone
of Venezuela. It is in 1956 when a commission was formed in charge of studying the possibility of
building a Basque Center. The first meeting is held at the Hotel Caraguan, in Puerto La Cruz. It is
agreed to establish a real estate company that will bear the name of Anzoategui, with a social
capital of 250,000 bolivars.
The first Promotion Board was formed by Francisco de Aresti, Mariano de Maguregui,
Alejandro de Uría, Bias de Belzunegui, Pedro de Gárate, Eusebio de Ucar, Juan de Eíxearte,
Julián de Etxebama, Elias de Larruzea, Umbelin de Garmendia and Pedro de Beaskoetxea
.
At the end of 1956 the first Provisional Board of Directors was formed, made up of Mariano de
Maguregui (president), Enrique de Azkune (secretary) and Juan de Etxearte and Alejandro de Uría
as members. The latter would request a new election very shortly after,
leaving the Board formed by Juan de Etxearte (president), Mariano de Maguregui (vice president),
Enrique de Azkune (secretary), Unbelin de Garmendia (treasurer) and as members Alejandro de
Uría, Julián de Etxebarría and Eusebio de Ucar
.
At the beginning of 1958, in one of the premises of the Hotel Guaraguao, the Ordinary General
Assembly of the Anzoategui Real Estate Company was held, in which its first Board of Directors
was elected. It is made up of Francisco Aresti (president), Alejandro Uría (vice-president),
Eusebio de Ucar (secretary), Pedro de Beascoechea (treasurer) and members Mariano de
Maguregui, Pedro de Gárate, Julián de Etxebarría, Elias de Larruzea and Blas de Belzunegui
.
In 1959, the Basque president José Antonio de Aguirre arrived at the Barcelona-Puerto La Cruz
airport. In addition to holding interviews with the local civil and religious authorities, he presides
over the ceremony for the laying of the Center's first stone, presided over by Monsignor Humberto
Paparoni, Bishop of Barcelona
.
Finally, on December 17, 1960, Jesús María de Leizaola, who shortly before had succeeded José
Antonio de Aguirre (who died in March of that year) as President of the Basque Government,
presided over the inauguration of the Center. Shortly after, on February 4, 1961, the first Board of
Directors of Emakume Abertzale Batza was constituted, which was made up of María Jesús de
Beaskoetxea (president), Carmela de Elordi (secretary) and Miren Buy de Belzunegui (treasurer).
.
The life of the Basque Colony in this part of eastern Venezuela, more than ten years ago, was
centered in the houses of our good friends Julián de Etxeberria and Juan de Etxearte and in
Barcelona that of Pedro de Garate. The free time of the Basques residing here at that time was
spent happily in any of these three meeting points. Also
we remember with pleasure the Club El Chaure with its beautiful pediment, where beautiful handball
games were held, of which we still retain the aftertaste of those impressive left-footed shots by
Martín Alsón. Also from that time were two good friends, Txomin de Rola and Dr. Calle (GB).
. . A fond memory for them. . .
Around the year 1956 the need for a Basque Center became clear; The first meetings began with
complete success, given the great spirit of collaboration that existed. From these meetings the
Basque Center (without premises) and the Anzoátegui CA Real Estate (INAZCA) were born; this last
company would be in charge of the construction of the building. The principles of Inazca were initially
governed by a Promotion Board made up of Messrs. Francisco de Aresti, Mariano de Maguregui,
Alejandro de Uria, Blas de Bel-zunegui, Juan de Etxearte, Julián de Etxeberria, Elias de Larrucea,
Umbelin de Garmendia and Pedro de Beaskoetxea.
In the first Shareholders' Meeting the Board of Directors was elected as follows: President, Francisco
Aresti; Vice President, A. Uria; Secretary, B. Belzuneguí; Treasurer, p.
Beaskoetxea; Members, J, Etxeberria, P. Gáfate, I. Landa, M. Maguregui and E. Ukar. The capital
of the company is Bs. 250,000. Currently the Board of Directors remains the same, with some
changes; these are: the Vice President, M. Maguregui; Secretary, E. Ukar, and members, J.
Etxeberria, E. Etxeberria, R. Sánchez, JM Maguregui and E. Larrucea.
Special collaborators, Messrs. Larra-mendi, A. Maguregui and Fernández.
President JA de Aguirre (GB) attended the laying of the first stone of the Basque Center in Puerto
La Cruz-Barcelona on June 4, 1959.
The first Etxea Provisional Board of Directors was chaired by M. Maguregui; Secretary, E.kune;
Treasurer, U. Garmendia; Members, J. Etxearte and A Uria. On June 4, 1959, the laying of the First
Stone took place by our Lendakari José Antom de Aguirre (GB) and blessed by Mons. Humberto
Pa paroni, first bishop of Barcelona (GB).
The Lendakari will be accompanied by Messrs. Lucio de Aretxabaleta and Ocarín On December 17,
1960 the inauguration took place» presiding over the acts the Lendakari José María accompanied
by Messrs. Paul de Leizaola, L. Aretxal F. Iritzar, JC Basterra, B Bilbao, Dolara, Amt Intza and
Elguezabal.
Outstanding visitors were Messrs. Manuel de Irujo, Xabier de Landaburu, Agustín de Alberro,
Monseñn Cisneros, Estornés Lasa and Juan María de Akarregui
In the first General Assembly, J. de Etxearte was elected President; Secretary, J. de Gerikaetxebema;
Treasurer, I. de Landa; Vocals, Julián Etxeberria. Francisco Maguregui, B.
Belzunegui, E. Ukar, G. Elordi and R. Sánchez.
Emakume Abertzale Batza was founded on February 4, 1961, with María Jesús de Beaskoetxea
being elected President; Secretary, Carmela de Elordi, and Treasurer, Miren Ruby de Belzunegui.
This year the Board of Directors is made up of Ms. Carmele de Elordi, Genoveve de Rrañaga and
Cecilia de Etxearte, respectively. We want to take the opportunity to give all the Ema-kumes a warm
round of applause for the good work they have done. We also have a round of applause for the
artistic group Sorkalde, for our good txistulari Hipólito de Gallastegoi
And for the undisputed champion of ball in hand, old Jaime de Arantzamendi.
Finally, the current Board of Directors: President, Alejandro Uria, Vice President, Garbi de Elordi;
Secretary, Blas Belzunegui; Treasurer, Juan Gerikaetxeberria; Members, Juan Etxearte, Domeka
Etxearte, Juan Sarria. EEa* Etxeberria and Andoni Larrañaga. On behalf of all the Basques of
Barcelona - Puerto La Cruz, they are pleased < to send a big hug to all the compatriots of
Venezuela
1 20 2 Valencia-Carabobo
At the end of 1948 the city of Valencia had 85,000 inhabitants. In those days its economy was
based on agriculture and some factories (looms, edible oil, soap...). On the other hand, then, both
in Valencia and in Puerto Cabello, numerous inhabitants had Basque surnames and were aware
of their origin. They were Aguirre, Albizu, Arceniega, Arismendi, Arocha, Ayala, Azunez, Azpurua,
Berrizbeitia, Ecarri, Echevarría, Etegui, Ibarra, Landaeta, Ledesma, Lizarraga, Loaiza, Iturriza,
Michelena, Olaizola, Orozco, Rotondaro, Salazar, Sagarzazu, Tellechea, Unda, Urdaneta,
Uzcategui, Vizcaya, Zarraga...
His ancestors had arrived in the country at the time of the Guipuzcoan Company. Likewise, the
only three Basques residing in the area were José Luis Unamuno from Durango, José Luis
Alegría, a doctor from Guerniqués, and José María Beotegui, an engineer from Berme, constituting
a group of friends.
In the 50s more Basques arrived: Lozano and Zabala, from Bilbao, Isidoro de Fagoaga (nephew
of the famous singer), settlers from the Chirgüa valley, Ángel Unamuno (brother of José Luis),
Xabier Biardeu, Julián Ertxebarria... A new group does it in the late 50s and early 60s: Imanol
Ibarra, León and Jesús Celeya. Ifíaki Usabel, Juan Miota, the Ruisánchez brothers, José Luis
Bilbao, José María Uzkanga, Fermín Gallurralde, Félix Gárate, Imanol Icaran and others. Those
were times in which numerous North American companies settled in the area, knowing the state
of Carabobo an unprecedented growth. In those days the Basque community was made up of
about 150 individuals.
Around 1964 the attempts to found a Basque Center began. About forty meet at the La Pilanca
restaurant, owned by Iñaki Usabel. Among the group of founders there were some who refused
to create a politicized entity, a difficult position in those days. So it will still take ten years to get
the project up and running. Finally, in December 1974, the first Board of Directors was formed,
made up of Kepa Derteano (president), Andoni Endemaño (vice president), José María Uzkanga
(treasurer), José Luis Unamuno (secretary) and members Jesús Asiia, Juan Villar and León
Celaya. , with 40 initial partners. Its first headquarters was in an old mansion near the Parish of
Nuestra Señora de Begoña (founded by a Basque priest in 1782) where they would build a 32-
meter pediment.
From there -and after numerous efforts-, during the presidency of Patxi Arrue, it was moved to a
beautiful colonial house located in a quiet and cool place, equipped with a covered pediment,
swimming pool, library, restaurant and other services for about 75 members; half of the Basque
population of Valencia. The last directive (89-90) is made up of Juan Sertutxa (president), Jaime
Burruchaga (vice president), José Manuel Jayo (treasurer) and members José Luís Unamuno
and Jesús Celaya.
1 20 3 The Tiger
At the beginning of the 1950s, twenty-five Basques residing in the town of El Tigre met to found a Center.
With a capital of 50,000 bolivars they built a building and the inevitable pediment. The first Board of Directors
was formed by Ramón de Atxondo (president), Valentín de Jaureguibeitia (secretary), Rafael de Quintana
(treasurer) and, as members, Todor Etxearte and Xabier de Urbina.
Eusko Etxea of El Tigre was inaugurated on May 1, 1957 by José Antonio de Aguirre who would repeat his
visit in 1959-
,
Euzko Etxea of El Tigre was inaugurated on May 1, 1957, with the assistance of the late Lendakari José
Antonio de Aguirre.
On that date the Board of Directors was made up of the following abertzales:
Ramón de Atxondo, President Valentín de Jaureguibeitia, Secretary Rafael de Quintana, Treasurer Todor
de Etxarte, Member X. de Urbina, Member
40,000 bolivars were spent on the construction of the building and the pediment, and the land.
—The number of partners on that date was 25, who covered the expenses.
We have had a visit from José Antonio de Aguirre, twice. Vicente de Amezaga has also come to give us a
lecture. Our good friend José María de Etxezarreta has done the same. The Pizkunde group has also visited
us. The Vice-President of the Basque Government, Landaburu, visited us on his recent trip to America.
Lucio de Aretxabaleta has been our visitor on several occasions, always very pleasantly received.
The current Directive is as follows:
Chairman: Ramón de Atxondo Secretary: Antonio de Zuinaga Treasurer: Higinio de Quintana Member:
Todor Etxarte Member: Iñaki de Urizar Member: José María de Aramburu
The number of partners is currently 60.
The union of the Basques in this area is good, but we still lack many things, including a good library. We
constantly organize ball, paddle, mus, domino championships and we faithfully commemorate national
dates. On the occasion of the anniversary of the death of José Antonio we celebrated a mass in the parish
of El Tigre, with our choir. On that same occasion we commemorate the death of Galíndez.
1 20 4 Maracaibo'ko Euzko Alkartasuna
It was during the years 1940-41 that, coming from Caracas, those who formed the first nucleus of the
Basque Colony in this city arrived in Maracaibo; There were barely more than half a dozen, who were
considered heroes due to the reputation of the unbearable climate that it had then.
Little by little, the group increased, mainly with the arrival of relatives of the former, counting by the year
1950 about fifty, in addition to several sailors who
they sailed in the oil tankers of this port; In those days, the first attempt to group the Colony was
made, which did not come to fruition, leaving only the first Basque choir of Maracaibo, whose
six members tried to keep it alive in order to give the prominence due to our festivities, but with
the transfer of vanos from them to other cities the choir fell apart.
When the unfortunate news of the death of Len-dakari Aguirre (GB) was known, a group of
nationals met in order to decide what should be done, organizing a Funeral Mass that was
celebrated on Sunday, March 27. The massive assistance to it convinced a group that they
should take advantage of the impact caused by the sad news, thus giving birth to
IZTINGA'KO ARGIA, the first Basque periodical bulletin in Zulia and which, by bringing the main
news related to Euzkadi to each Basque home y los vascos, through its editorials, prepared the
environment for the constitution of a Basque association in Maracaibo.
It was mainly the dynamism of Jon de Urresti, Kirní, who with the collaboration of Joseba de
Elorriaga, without thinking about the complications and the work that this would entail for those
who had never written four letters, which made the release of IZTINGA'KO ARGIA possible. .
Already in its second issue, significantly improved thanks to the subscription to OPE, the call for
the first General Assembly was published in which the aforementioned two, constituted in the
Organizing Committee, outlined the general idea that would serve as the basis for Maracaibo'ko
Eusko Alkartasuna.
The same, held at the Zulia Beer Carden, was attended by almost all the Basques residing in
the State of Zulia and a commission made up of Urresti and Elorriaga themselves and Mr.
Tomás de Uñarte was appointed. Paúl de Aguirre and JM de Atutxa, in charge of shaping the
idea presented by the organizers and drafting the statutes.
In the General Assembly held on September 30 at Club Bella Vista, the

Maracaibo'ko Eusko Alkartasuna, being elected to its first Board of Directors Isidoro G.
Zulaika, President; Joseba I. de Elorriaga, Secretary; Jon de Urresti, Treasurer, and Alejo de
Artaza, Juan Sanjuán and JL de Elguezabal as Members. Jon de Urresti remaining in charge of
the Choir and Joseba de Elorriaga of "Iztinga'ko Argia".
In the following General Assembly, the Board of Directors was re-elected, naming Alejo de
Artaza Treasurer to replace Jon de Urresti, who had traveled to Lima, and J. de Oñatibia as
Member, to complete it.
Since its founding, Maracaibo'ko Eusko Alkartasuna has been representing the Basque
community in Zulia State, organizing the events that have taken place both to celebrate our
festivities and to remember our dead, keeping everyone informed through "Iztinga'ko Argia", etc.
Undoubtedly the most important event was the visit made to Maracaibo by Lendakari Leizaola.
A mass was organized in his honor, which was solemnized by the Basque Choir, followed by a
banquet at the Hotel del Lago, attended by a large group of nationals.
Lately, and thanks to the collaboration of the recently arrived Basque priests, a monthly mass
has been organized, followed by an informal meeting. It's interesting to do
It should be noted that upon meeting the Bishop of Maracaibo of the monthly mass, he blessed the idea and gave his
most enthusiastic support to it.
At present, a commission appointed by the Board of Directors of Maracaibo'ko Euzko Alkartasuna is studying the
possibilities of creating a Basque Center, with which the seventy-something Basques residing in Zulia State and their
families would have a place where meet and that, although modest due to its limited possibilities, would bring together
everyone, thus fulfilling the aspirations of so many years.
It was in those days when the visit of Lendakari Don José Antonio de Aguirre was received, leaving a memorable
memory in the hearts of all nationals.
Later, thanks to the enthusiastic work of several nationalists, meetings were held, especially to celebrate the Aberri
Eguna.
The first modern Basque community in Maracaibo appeared around 1941 and was made up of about six individuals, all
exiled. The figure would multiply by ten a decade later.
In 1960 Jon de Urrezti began editing Itzinan' go Argia, the first Basque periodical bulletin to appear in Zulia State. The
announcement of what would later become Marakaiboko Euzko Alkartasuna will be published in it. This was officially
constituted on September 30, 1970. The first Board of Directors was formed by Isidoro Zulaika (president), Joseba I. de
Elorriaga (secretary), Jon de Urrezti (treasurer) and as members Alejo de Artaza, Juan San Juan and JL de Elgezabal
.
1 20 5 Aragua-La Victoria
On December 10, 1961, the Aragua Basque Center was inaugurated, with headquarters in La Victoria. He was visiting
the Francisco Javier de Landaburu Center. The Board of Directors was made up of José G. Zugazagoitia (president),
André Bardage (vice president), Iñaki Liona (secretary), Juan Pujana (treasurer) and as members Jesús María de
Oñatibia, Iñaki Endaya and Pablo Zubiaur.
Headquarters in La Victoria, groups the Basques of the It was inaugurated on December 10, 1961, with an inaugural
conference given by Dr. Vicene Amezaga Aresti, later, the festivities to which those from Caracas gave their full support.
At the end of that month we had the visit of the Vice President of the Basque Government, Dr. Francisco Javier de
Landaburu, we gathered around a dinner
This Center has large premises and a fronton pe-but sufficient for the practice of our sport and we harbor extensive
projects that have to go, through, becoming a reality. 3 current number of partners is 81 and the Directive is as follows:
President: Mr. José G. Zugazagoitia

Vice President: Mr. André Bordage
Secretary: Mr. Iñaki Liona
Treasurer: Mr. Juan Pujaría
First Member: Mr. Jesús María Oñatibia
Second Member: Mr. Iñaki Endaya

Third Member: Mr. Pablo Zubiaur
There are also delegates from Maracay and Valencia,

For Maracay: Mr. José Sustatxa For Valencia: Mr. José Garmendia
Aragua authorities and Basque personalities on the day of the inauguration of the Basque Center of
La Viciaría.
The "Euzko Gaztedi" groups from Caracas performed at the inauguration festivities.
1 20 6 Cumana
This city, capital of the Sucre state in eastern Venezuela, has always had a small community of
Basques. As Depons points out, already in the 16th century the Basques left their mark on the
toponymy of the place: "Cumanacoa" which in Basque means "from Cumana".
As a consequence of the civil war, exiles arrived who mainly dealt with the fishing sector, the CAIP
and construction.
Perhaps the Basques who arrived in Cumaná were pioneers in the regulation of fishing, in times
when fish were hardly consumed in Venezuela and there were no cold systems. Here we meet José
María Solabarrieta, Fernando Carranza and Ixidor Etxebenia. When the latter returned to Ondárroa,
he introduced the box system in the Bizkaian fishing port, which today is common in Basque ports
and which he learned in Cumaná.
In the construction, the Basque influence is noticeable in different villas (villas) built by Olaizola Real
Estate, where Ruiz de Aguirre, Oñatibia, Okiñena and José Luis de Anasagati worked. The latter's
house was a small batzoki where letters to the family were even written.
The Basques of Cumaná celebrated the festivities at the Colegio de los Padres Paules, where there
was a pediment. Ramón Muguruza, who was a member of the Basque Youth Board, had the Hotel
Comercio, as well as Paco Ibarretxea, the first supermarket. The work of Miss Arantza Olabeaga,
director of the Diocesan Student Residence, who trained generations of cumanesas, was highly
appreciated. It is also worth noting the work of the Pérez brothers. Amilibia had a turtle healer.
In 1968 the first Basque Center was inaugurated, which had a pediment. Its first president was José
M. Irazu, son of the patriarch of that community D. Sergio.
Finally, it should be noted that the majority of the Cuman bourgeoisie were descendants of Basques
who had arrived with the Guipuzcoana, such as the Berrizbeitia and the Aristiguietas, who welcomed
the group of exiles with interest.
Currently and eventually the port of Cumana usually has Basque trawls.
We still do not have what is called a Center in this area —as far as premises are concerned—,
although we are going to have it shortly, since the necessary land has already been purchased and
it is a matter of a short time before the start of the works, of the first pediment and other necessary
dependencies. The Center itself is going to be a modest thing, since currently, in Cumaná,
We are about twenty Basques who are going to carry out the work.
Although there has not been a place of its own in Cumaná to meet, the Basque Colony that resides in
it has always kept the Basque spirit alive, in all aspects.
For fifteen years or more, there has been a good Basque colony in this one, who have been meeting
with each other, fostering their spirit in various manifestations. One of the most put into practice is
playing ball. From the beginning, they met at the Colegio de los Padres Paules, where there were
several Basque priests, and taking advantage of a wall, they spent Sunday mornings happily playing
ball and chatting.
Subsequently, taking advantage of the left wall of the College chapel, they made another one without
a front, leaving a small front that is where the game has been played since time immemorial, every
Sunday morning.
In these years there have been many Basques who have lived in Cumaná, who currently reside in
other places, who always remember Cumaná. Thus, there have also been several who arrived in later
years.
As a result of one of the visits of our Aguirre, and at his suggestion, one of all the Basques residing in
it was summoned and the organization of the Center proceeded.
Basque of Cumana,
From this about five years. But, finally, as we noted • above, we will shortly have our Center, which
will once again be that of all the Basques.
The Basques of Cumaná have always been at the inaugurations of other sister Centers, parties!
commemorative of Euzkadi and, finally, in all the Basque character.
The background is the five Basque Centers that have emerged in the interior of Venezuela in the last
five years and which, together with the one in Caracas, have just formed the Federation of Venezuelan-
Basque Centers.
Others already point out: in Punto Fijo, in Ciudad Bolívar, in other parts of the republic, the respective
resident Basques are progressively gaining contact and cohesion and are preparing to open the
Center that will shelter their common patriotic concerns.
And when another five years pass, to today's list we will surely have to add new names revealing the
vigor of the Basque organizations that, outside their distant homeland, keep in their hearts the cult of
their freedom.
1 21 Other institutions
In addition to those already mentioned, in the 1950s a group of militants from the Euzko Mendigoizale
Batza (Jagi-jagi) left the Basque Center to found their own house. This is how the Bizkargi Society will
emerge. On the other hand, in the second half of the 1960s, Sabin Barrena, following the example of
the Federation of Basque-Argentine Entities, founded FEVE (Federation of Basque-Venezuelan
Entities), with representation from all non-political Basque institutions. from the country.
1 22 Basque media
Since 1940 and up to the present day, the Basque community in Venezuela has used the media like no other in the New
World. From an initial radio program to the current Euzko Deia and the Noticentro bulletin, there has always been a
Basque media outlet in that country. On the other hand, at many times some of the media promoted by the Basque-
Venezuelan community are directed specifically at Euskadi, where they are either distributed clandestinely, in the case of
the written press, or received, not without difficulties, through the waves.
According to the historian José Luis de la Granja: «the written press has been the propaganda medium most and most
used by Basque nationalism in its ninety years of existence. I don't think I'm wrong when I say that Basque nationalism
has generated the greatest amount of Basque political press in the 20th century, more than the different forces on the
right and infinitely more than those on the left. Nationalist publications add up to hundreds of titles, if one takes into
account not only those that appeared in Euskadi but also those of the Basque diaspora, especially in France and America,
especially during exile after the civil war» (1). At this point it should be noted that the Basque-Venezuelan media have,
without exception, a nationalist ("patriotic") content, even if it is not partisan.
1 23 «Euzkadi» Magazine of Caracas
In August 1942, the first issue of the magazine "Euzkadi" appeared, edited by the Centro Vasco de Caracas. Its first
person in charge was doctor Juan de Iturbe. That inaugural delivery was dedicated to the exiled Basques and the
Venezuelans who had welcomed them. "Euzkadi", from Venezuela, has its own characteristics that differentiate it from
other American exile publications. Contrary to what happens with the two “Euzko Deya” and “Basques”, organs,
respectively, of the Delegations of Buenos Aires, Mexico and New York; from «Euzkadi», from Chile, from the PNV, etc.,
the magazine from Caracas is, as we say, the organ of the Basque Center. This does not mean that there were substantial
differences in content. Also and for many years, a striking feature was its format and design. Reader's Digest type was
used.
In that first issue, in addition to the presentation, the following works were included: "Loyola, Bolívar y Arana" (losé
Antonio de Aguirre), a review of the act-tribute to losé Antonio de Aguirre, held in the Uruguayan Parliament on October
1941, news about the death of Ortiz, the festivities of San Ignacio, the visit of Lendakari Aguirre to Venezuela and an
essay entitled "Fishing and Diplomacy."
As of number 2, losé María de Barrenechea appears as director, who appears on the mancheta until number 6. From
then on, and until December 1945, Blas de Gárate occupies the position. He is succeeded by Eusebio Barriola (1946),
(José María de Bengoa (1946-
1948), Genaro Egileor «Atxerre» (1948-1949) and Martín Ugalde (1949-1950).
Starting with «Euzkadi», a long tradition of Basque publications began in Venezuela.

Between 1951 and 1956 "Euzko Gaztedi" appeared, "at the service of the Homeland and Youth".
Later, an extraordinary number would appear in 1976. Between 1957 and 1961, Manuel
Fernández Etxebarria, "Matxari", edits "Irrintzi", considered an unofficial organ of the Basque
National Front. Between 1969 and 1970 «Azkatuta» and «Sabindarra» were published.
However, the most important publication in this period is undoubtedly "Gudari", which with the motto
"For a free Euzkadi in a united Europe" published "Euzko Gastedi del Interior" between April 1961
and January 1972. During those years «Gudari», in its different formats, was clandestinely distributed
in the Basque Country. Its main animator was Alberto Elosegui, who popularized the pseudonym
"Paul de Garat". ElQsegui, a professional journalist, was editor-in-chief of the magazine "Momento",
in which Gabriel García Márquez also worked, "Gudari" edited some books, such as "El árbol de
Guernica", by Steer; "The cause of the Basque People", by Landáburu, or "Seven months and seven
days in Franco's Spain", by Iñaki de Azpiazu.
In 1968 «Euzkadi» reappeared, «Informative Bulletin of the Basque Nationalist Party». And from
1977 another magazine of the same title, organ of the Basque Center of Caracas.
Deya”, organ of ELA-STV, directed by José de Abasólo; «The Basques in Venezuela», «Euzkadi
Erriak», directed by «Matxari», or one of the issues of the ETA organ, «Zutik».
As of December 9, 1959, a radio program for the Basque community, "Euzko Deya", was broadcast.
In ^1965, and from the jungle, "Radio Euzkadi" began its activity, which would maintain its broadcasts
until 1977. Jokin Intza, Iñaki Zubi-zarreta, Félix Berríozábal, Iñaki Anasagasti, José de Abasólo, fon
Mikel Olabarrieta were part of this initiative , Guillermo Ramos or the inevitable Alberto Elosegui
On the other hand, in 1970 the film "The Children of Gernika" was released, subtitled "The struggle
of the Basque people for their freedom." It was a twenty-seven-minute documentary, made by the
Cuban of Basque origin Segundo Cazalis and under the cover of the production company "Avila
Films." This documentary, which included a commentary written by Alberto Elosegui, music by Iñaki
Irureta, and photography by Jorge Solé and Gastone Vinsi, was presented as the "story of the
gudaris, their children, and their love for freedom."
Between 1942 and 1989 in Venezuela, at least 30 different newspaper headlines were published
and many others were financed in America, France and the Basque Country. Although the editors
and the contents are diverse and even conflicting, they have in common, as we have pointed out,
their patriotic character (Abertzalé).
There is also a fact that partly explains this journalistic flourishing. In Venezuela, not a few
professional Basque journalists are exiled (Genaro Egileor «Atxerre», Luis Ibarra Enciendo «Harko»,
Bernabé Orbegozo «Otarbe», Andoni de Astigarraga, Manuel Fernández Etxebarria «Matxari»,
José de Abasólo Mendibil). Others are trained or reach their professional peak in the country. This
is the case of Martín Ugalde, Alberto Elósegui, Xabier de Leizaola, José Félix Azurmendi, Joseba
Lazkano, María del Carmen Matxain, Laurentzi Odriozola, Iñaki Anasagasti, Txomin Las Heras,
María Isabel Arriaga... Along with the journalists there is also a long list of designers and illustrators.
A group of Basque-Venezuelan journalists like Estepan Aldamiz-Etxebarria and Sorne Ortuondo
also work in Euskadi.
What functions does the Basque-Venezuelan press perform? From our point of view, first of all
maintaining the cohesion of the community. In this case, at least there is an ideological community
due to the specificity of the Basque exile in Venezuela. It also fulfills functions of ideological
indoctrination, information and organization, and even doctrinal debate and political controversy
within the nationalist camp, which is predominant.
It is also true that from 1977 the ideologization of the Basque-Venezuelan media is much less, after
the political changes that took place in the Basque Country as a result of the disappearance of the
Francoist military dictatorship.
1 24 Community press
For us, the community press is that published by the different Basque centers and other types of
cultural or sports entities. In addition, it should be noted that the first Basque magazine published
in Venezuela, Euzkadi, was published by the Basque Center in the capital, and the only Basque
magazine that is maintained in the country today, Noticentro, belongs to said institution.
Euskadi. The informative organ of the Caracas Basque Center appears in the summer of 1942,
shortly after its foundation. It came out with some regularity between 1942 and 1950. The magazine
was directed by the Venezuelan scientist Juan Iturbe (1942), José María de Barrenetxea (1942),
Blas Gárate (1943-1945), Eusebio Barriola (1945-1946), José Estornés Lasa (1946), José María
Bengoa (1947-1948), Genaro Egileor «Atxerre» (1949) and Martín Ugalde (1949-1950). Among
his collaborators, Eduardo González de Mendoza, Vernabé Orbegozo,
José Olivares Larrondo "Tellagorri", Jesús de Galíndez, Manuel de Irujo, Julio de Jauregui,
Francisco Javier de Landaburu, Manu de la Sota, Piarres Laffite, Andoni de Arozena, Miguel Pelay,
Iñaki Urreztieta... The last issue appeared in 1950. , in the midst of a strong economic crisis. In a
first stage, it reproduced numerous articles by exiled Basques in different countries of the world
and news limited to the community sphere. Starting in 1946, they reproduce the news broadcast by
the OPE agency, organized in Paris by the Basque Government.
The second Basque-Venezuelan community magazine, Itzinga' ko Argia, has been published in
Maracaibo since 1961. Its directors were Jon de Urrezti -the first great animator of the Basque
community in said oil city- and Joseba de Elorriaga. From the second installment, information from
the OPE agency in Paris has been included. Eleven numbers appeared.
Almost twenty years will pass until, again in Caracas, Noticentro is published, which is shortly
replaced by Notimes, of which fifteen issues are published between 1975 and 1977. Its directors
were, successively, Iñaki Anasagasti and José Abasólo Mendibil.
In 1977 the organ of the Caracas Basque Center recovered its original name, Euzkadi, of which
nine issues appeared until 1979. Its manager was José Abasólo Mendibil. Among his collaborators,
Segundo Cazalis, Martín de Ugalde, Luis Bilbao, Jesús Basáñez, Juan M.
Polo, José María Bengoa, María Antonia Aramendia, PM Urrutikoetxea, Jesús María Sasía, Miren
Etxezarreta, Koldo Ruiz de Aguirre... During this period, the Gasteak newsletter was published at
the Basque-Venezuelan Center in Valencia.
New silence and in 1987 Noticentro reappeared, also published in Caracas. With the collaboration
of María Isabel Arriaga, Odón Ulibarrena, Ramón Ruiz Marticorena, Andoni Arozena, Xabier
Odriozola... With the same title appears a monthly sheet of internal information.
Also in 1957, 1962 and 1967, the Caracas Basque Center published albums on the occasion of the different anniversaries
of said institution. They contain a series of different historical and literary works on the presence of the Basques in
Venezuela since the fifteenth century.
1 25 Publications of the Basque Government
In the summer of 1940 the Delegation of the Basque Government in Venezuela was created. However, it did not have
an influential press, contrary to what happens, for example, in Argentina and Mexico with the respective editions of
Euzko Deya. It is true that, both in content and orientation, the publications that appear in the 40-50s have the same
orientation, and even reproduce the same articles.
The first of its publications was the Basque Information Bulletin, which appeared in Caracas between 1948 and 1949. It
was actually a reproduction of the OPE Bulletin published in Paris. It was published fortnightly and came to throw 3,000
copies.
Later, during the mandate of Ricardo de Maguregui (1951-1955) at the head of the Delegation, the brochure Acción
Cultural Vasca was published.
Almost 20 years will pass until GV-OPE appears, led by Fernando de Carranza. Between October 1972 and January
1978, fifteen numbers and one extraordinary one appeared. Its editors were Joseba Olabeaga, José de Abasólo
Mendibil and Iñaki Anasagasti.
1 26 Euzko Gaztedi, landmark
Without a doubt, Euzko Gaztedi (in its two aspects) is the Basque-Venezuelan organization that published the largest
number of publications, with the most diverse themes. For example, one of the most popular magazines of the anti-
Franco underground belongs to this organization: Gudari.
In 1949 the publication of Euzko Gaztedi began with the motto "At the service of the homeland and youth". Until 1956,
56 numbers appear, and then it will appear irregularly until 1976.
Its directors were Andoni Arozena, Martín de Ugalde, Joseba Leizaola, Alberto Elósegui and Iñaki Anasagasti. Among
his collaborators, Jesús Dolara, Joseba Urruzuno, Txomin Bizkarret, Bingen Amézaga, Koldo Ruiz de Aguirre, Vicente
de Amézaga, José Joaquín Azurza, Javier Uzkanga, Joseba Bilbao, Joseba Olabarrieta, Josu Osteriz, Silverio Zabala...
In 1958, Abefi appeared as a newsletter of the Euzko Gaztedi Commission for Patriotic Organization and Training. The
director of cultural content was Lander Quintana. He published 20 issues between 1958 and 1962 and counted among
his collaborators Nik Quintana, Xabier Uzkanga, Arantza Basáñez, V. Korostola, Miren Berecfbar, Pello Irujo, Martín
Ugalde, Jesús Dolara...
EGI-lnforma came out in 1967, edited by the Basque Resistance. Its editors are Alberto
Elósegui, Iñaki Aretxabaleta and Iñaki Anasagasti.
Between 1969 and 1970 Euzko Gaztedi edited the satirical monthly La Pulga, whose motto
«The newspaper that keeps the Basque Center uneasy».
It published 16 issues and was directed by Iñaki Anasagasti. Its editors were JI Zuazo, Zuriñe
Zubillaga, Koldo Ruiz de Aguirre, Gotzon Lakatza and Miren and María Esther Solabarrieta.
The magazine Gudari deserves special mention, which was created in 1961 with the motto "for a
free Euzkadi in a united Europe". It was directed mainly to the Interior. Its founder, director and "soul"
was Alberto Elósegui, who held relevant positions in different Caracas media. Elósegui is present in
many other initiatives in the field of communication; Euzko Gaztedi, EGI-lnforma, Radio Euzkadi or
in the production of the film Los hijos de Gernika. When Alberto Elósegui moved to Europe, Iñaki
Anasagasti succeeded him. Jokin Ynchausti, for his part, was in charge of the extraordinary numbers
dedicated to the Burgos trial, and to Joseba Elósegui as a result of his action "a la bonzo" before
Franco.
Between 1961 and 1974, 67 issues were published, and among its collaborators and editors were
Luis Ibarra Enciondo, José de Abasólo Mendibil, Mauro Elizondo, Manuel de Irujo, Jesús Insausti,
Jesús María de Leizaola, Paul Doutournier, José de Artetxea, Iñaki Azpiazu ...
Gudari published various monographs, books and pamphlets such as La causa del pueblo vasco (JF
Landaburu), The Tree of Guernica (GL Steer), 7 months and 7 days in Franco's Spain (1.
Azpiazu,), Speeches by Lendakari (JA Aguirre) or The PNV in the practical life of a quarter of a
century and The Basque Economy (IM Leizaola), The Basque farmhouse (Francisco de Abrisketa),
The Basques are not Spanish (Pantaleón Ramírez de Olano) or Mugarra begiraria (Francisco Atutxa).
1 25 1 Initial Act of Euzko Gaztedi

"For the conquest of Basque liberties"
On April 24, 1948, the assembly of Euzko Gaztedi met to name the board of directors.
The vote was secret and by means of plates, the following commission being elected on a provisional
basis until the drafting of the regulations:
FEMALES: Leizaola'tar Maite, San Juan'tar Begoña, Torrontegi'tar Josebe.
BOYS: Ugalde'tar Martin Andoni, Zenarruzabeitia'tar Sabin, Leizaola'tar Xabier, Gorostola'tar
Amadeo, Emaldi'tar Joseba, Ariño'tar Karmel.
The fee that had to be paid was also agreed upon, agreeing that it would be 2 Bs. for females and 4
Bs. for males.
The assembly lasted an hour and a half, namely from 7 pm to 8:30 pm

Act of mixed foundation of Euzko Gaztedi in Caracas on April 24, 1948.
I put "mixed foundation" for having existed before a male Euzko Gaztedi.
1 25 2 Presidents Of Euzko Gaztedi Of Caracas

(1948-1978)
Martín Ugalde Sabin Zenarruzabeitia Xabier Leizaola Karmel Ariño Patxi Badiola July
Zubizarreta Jon Urresti Iñakí Elguezabal Jon Aretxabaleta Jesús Dolara Joseba Leizaola
Rosalio Aristoy Iñaki Aretxabaleta Joseba Bilbao Joseba Iturralde Txomin Biskarret Bingen
Amezaga Iñaki Anasagasti Jesús Azpirítxaga Iñaki Goikoetxea Xabier Azpirítxaga Adolfo
urrutia
1 27 National Front in the press
In Venezuela, a group of militants from the Euzko Mendigoizale Batza (Jagi-jagi) is going into exile,
who, despite their small number, will prove especially active in the field of the press. Above all, the
figure of Manuel Fernández Etxebarria (“Matxari” and “Eibarko betikoa”) stands out, a professional
journalist who had been editor of the Bilbao newspaper Excelsius and who had directed Euzkadi Roja
during the war, then signing his articles with the pseudonym “Un diplomat with beret'; then in Caracas
he ran a printing press. The EMB was the great defender of a "Basque national front" made up of all
the nationalist forces.
The press and the articles of "Matxari" were the reflection of this strategy.
In February 1957 Irintzi appeared with the slogan Erri azke batean Euzkadiko askatasunaren alde (In
a free country for the freedom of Euzkadi). Directed by "Matxari" it published 15 issues until 1961.
Among its collaborators Andima Ibiñagabeitia, Andoni Arozena, Mikel Ayerdi, Agustín Zumalabe and
Balendin Aguerre.
Almost immediately Irintzi is replaced by the Basque National Front with the same content as its
predecessor. It published 40 issues between 1960 and 1968. A year later, BAI (Batasuna. Askatasuna.
Indarra: Unity. Freedom. Force) appears, jointly edited by ANV, EMB and ETA. BAI, which corresponds
to what some call the second stage of the "national front", will have an ephemeral life. In this case, the
"frontist" strategy had been designed by ETA and failed due to the non-adherence of the PÑV to the
project. Between 1970 and 1971 "Matxari" edited Sabindara, a highly controversial magazine under
the slogan laungoikoa eta Lagi Zarra (God and Old Law).
1 27 1 The ETA press
An active group of ETA has been in operation in Caracas since 1958 -formed by residents of the
country-, which since March 1960 will have its own press. As a result of the death of José Antonio de
Aguirre, the first number of Zutik appeared on American soil, which maintained this denomination until
number 11. From 12 it was called only Zutik. Up to number 22, the Zutik is printed, to be copied from
then on. After the V Assembly of ETA Zutik includes the motto "Organ of the Basque National Liberation
Movement". Until 1970, 94 numbers appear. During the first years of the Venezuelan Zutik, for
example, the services of OPE, the Basque Government's press office based in Paris, are used.
Between 1970 and 1971 a Zutik published by the splinters of the VI Assembly (Trotskyists) appeared.
Also in that period some numbers of Berriak were published in Venezuela.
ETA newsletter, officially published in the continental Basque Country.
Between 1978 and 1984 Iritzi was published. Dissemination body of the Support Committee for Basque
prisoners and refugees in Venezuela, close to the proposals of the military ETA.
In 1968 Euzkadi appeared, edited by the Extraterritorial Board of Venezuela of the PNV. Until
1970 publishes 23 numbers. It reappeared in 1972 with irregular regularity until 1981.
Numbers also appeared -generally printed in duplicator- for specific issues, from assemblies to funerals.
There are some magazines that, due to their contents, can be considered close to the PNV. This is the case of Ernán.
Cuadernos vasco-americanos, directed by Francisco G. Mardones, who published five issues in 1967. Participating,
among others, Andima Ibiñagabeitia, Martín de Ugalde, Manuel de Irujo, Jon Mirande... The other is Azkatuta, which
with the motto Euzkadi da euzkotarren aberria published five issues between 1969 and 1970. His collaborators included
Sandalio de Tejada, Andoni de Arozena, Andoni de Astigarraga and Pedro de Olariaga.
1 27 2 Other publications
For two years (1965-1966) the youth organization Acción Nacionalista published Acción, with the motto "national
solidarity and social justice". Among its editors Jesús Dolara, Josu Ostériz or Vicente Arnoriaga.
The nationalist union ELA-STV also publishes Lan Deya through its Delegation in Venezuela. Between 1971 and 1973,
13 issues were published. Its director was José de Abasólo Mendibil. They have collaborations with, among others,
Bernardino Bilbao, Ramón Agesta or Jesús Insausti «Uzturre».
Argia is the only magazine published entirely in Basque. It had the motto Euskaldunak euskaraz and its directors were
Andoni de Arozena and Jon Oñatibia. When the latter moved his residence to New York, Argia was published in that
North American city. Between 1946 and 1948, 14 numbers were published (table of them in Venezuela). Among his
collaborators Juan de Adarraga, Pierre Lafitte, Jokin Zaitegi or Isaac López de Mendizabal.
Pilota-zale is also the only Basque sports magazine published in Venezuela, and together with Cancha de México they
are the pelota magazine that has maintained significant continuity in America. Its main animator is Ángel Bustinduy
Azpiri. Until 1983, 84 numbers had appeared. With the same theme, some albums are published on the occasion of the
international series of Jai Alai that are held in Caracas (2).
radio broadcasts
The first means of communication used by the Basques a few months after their arrival in Venezuela is the radio. In
1940, a fundamentally musical program began to be broadcast, in which Txomín Letamendi, Antón Gárate, José Velasco
and Paulin Urresti (3) participated, among others. Also in the 40s there was a radio broadcast called La Hora Vasca. But
without a doubt the most important and persistent will be Euzko Deia. The Voice of the Basques in Venezuela.
1 27 3 Euzko-Deia
The Voice of the Basques in Venezuela
October and November 1959: a group of active people met almost daily at a table in the great hall of the Basque Center.
They seemed to have a secret. Something was up.
Then they started asking for collaborations. But most of the partners were still locked in the secret. .
.
On December 9, 1959, three months after the "unique idea," the preliminary meeting, the secret opened
doors with voices, music, news, songs on a local radio station. "Euzko Deia", The Voice of the Basques
in Venezuela, was born, a radio program that for one hour —from one to two in the afternoon of the
domain— brought the soul of Euzkadi to the Basque Colony, with external and intimate projection. The
1,300 kilocycles of Eadio Crono Radar were tuned in on Sundays and there they heard the txistus, the
polyphonic masses, the singers, officiates, the commentaries, the accordion and the dulzaina; all »
Basque was expanded by the hertzian waves.
"Ma'am, ma'am, to please those beans . . ."
Ads that help the economy of the program have been and continue to be cute.
There are female announcers and enitores in Basque and Spanish, with the Creole flavor: propaganda.
But. . .
There are no buts in "Euzko Deia". For two and a half years this program has been released on time by
the same nsora and improved every day. It is the uniform act of the Vasco club, it is the impersonal and
team work of the Radio mission. There are no lapses, no omissions, and even
forgive the tiny "blunders". Euzko Deia" is the pride of the Basques of Venezuela "Euzko Deia" deserves
all the contribution and moral support with our congratulations.
"And then, the genius of the txistu, Polentzi tezala..."
"Euzko Deia", pleasant and entertaining, brings us music in b the folkloric and cultural extension of
Euzkadi. We offer programs of great value in this sense: Actions by the Pizkunde Choir, by Ochotes
del Interior y Exterior, singing concerts, accordion, anthologies mime them. deferred programs from
Bilbao or Bia-r. etc... And every Sunday a selection of backmes in well-made programs.
"And now, our editorial . . ."
Every Sunday, in the democratic freedom of Vene-b_ the official voice of "Euzko Deia", which freely
and ar]ally welcomes the concepts of all Basque ideologies-, launches its nationalist opinion or its inter-
ional commentary in a universalist projection , within our ancestral canons of human freedom and
justice. d clear concept of our democratic entity and our characteristic of cause and search for freedoms,
of rights of the
peoples and men.
"Euzko Deia Newscast"

And the txistu sounds in his "kalejira" to announce the information of his informative bulletin, prepared
with plausible and informative work. They are our news, or those of the fighters for freedom, they are
news of joy as in the declaration of the 339 priests who demand freedom from Franco, they are acts of
resistance like on July 18, 1961, they are voices of protest as in the recent strikes in Asturias, Euzkadi,
Catalonia, etc... . But they are also interesting quirks like the price of potatoes, the last victory of Ataño
X, the performance of theater groups in the homeland, the hispanicization of our farmhouses. . .
And in Caracas, the Basques of Venezuela feel the second homeland, we integrate the march of the
republic. And so the music of the harp, cuatro and maracas comes out to offer us a passage or an
orchid rhythm on occasions, and always as a tune to our activities within the
The Paradise.
"Euzkadi is the homeland of the Basques"
This is "Euzko Deia", the most outstanding activity, the strongest impact that the Basque Colony and its Center
have given abroad in these twenty years. It is a program that spreads and bears fruit. It is a fact that we
highlight without hindrance, out of reasoned pride in its existence and its continuous improvement. And here
we must point out the collaboration of everyone, of the components of the Radio Commission, of the
collaborators, of the entities, of the advertisers, of Crono Radar, of those who help financially, and of those
who joined in that act on February 18 of this year, when "Euzko Deia" organized a Sunday of festivities to
raise funds for their recording equipment.
And "Euzko Deia" progresses. Today it has a modern recording facility, with enthusiastic people who will
broaden its cultural activities, which will expand to others such as Cinematology Theatre, Records, etc.
Forward, then, that all the Basques of Venezuela support the work of those who make and maintain "Euzko
Deia". May we continue listening to the irrintzi and the march of San Juan. And our sincere and warm
congratulations.
Euzko Deia arises as an initiative of a group of members of the Basque Center of Caracas. The first broadcast
took place on December 9, 1959. The program was based on information and music and, in the early days, it
was broadcast on Radio Crono Radar every Sunday. It has evolved from "live", with performances in the
studio by the famous Pizkunde choir, ocotes from the interior or txistularis such as Plentzi Cuezala, to
programs carried out in the studio.
In 1989 Euzko Deia, which maintains the broadcast day, has its own recording studio in a dependency of the
Center. Information, interviews, commentaries in Basque, music and fragments of programs prepared by
Eusko Irratía-Radio Euskadi in the Basque Country are broadcast, maintaining a high degree of professionalism.
In its last stage, the animators of Euzko Deia -which is broadcast on Radio Libertador- are José de Abasólo,
Guillermo Ramos, Elixabete Urcelay, Xabier Azpiritxaga, Jon Mikel Olabarrieta, Jon Olabeaga, Txomin
Bizkarret, Xabier Odriozola and Andoni de Arozena ( Basque).
1 27 4 Radio Euzkadi-La Txalupa
For twelve years and seven days a week "from a place in the Venezuelan jungle" Radio Euzkadi, popularly
known as "La Txalupa", would broadcast for the occupied Basque Country. And despite the fact that almost a
hundred people participated in this undertaking, members of the PNV (4), it was a closely guarded secret
while it lasted. It is true that in its origin, through the efforts of the architect Iñaki Zubizarreta, the collaboration
-even economic- and the coverage of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Reinaldo Leandro Mora, was achieved.
The precedents would have to be found in Radio Euzkadi which, between 1946 and 1953, broadcast from
Mougerre in the continental Basque Country and which was closed down by the French Government.
At the beginning of 1965 the project began to be prepared. Through the priest Bonifacio Urquizu, at the time
parish priest of the city of Santa Lucía, the Basque group would rent a piece of land,
in the middle of the jungle, to Luis José García. The station, which was designed by José Joaquín
Azurza and Iñaki Elguezabal, will be installed there. Two old transmitters -one manufactured in
1932- modified with power of one and a half and two and a half kilowatts, respectively, were used.
Also, in addition to a power group, a directional antenna was used.
Three transmission bands were used, 19, 23, and 25 meters, respectively. In turn, four additional
frequencies close to the main one were used in each band, in order to broadcast on one of them
randomly, chosen by the operator in each transmission in order to avoid interference. At this point
it should be noted that, although tolerated, "La Txalupa" was not legalized by the Venezuelan
authorities, which on occasions would mean that the operator ended up in a police station.
Jokin Intza, Isaías Atxa, Iñaki Elguezabal, José Joaquín Azurza, Peio Irujo, Alberto Elósegui,
Feliciano Aranguren, Xabier Leizaola, Iñaki Zubizarreta, Guillermo Ramos, José María
Zugarramurdi, Rafael Mendizabal, Félix Berriozabal, Kepa Lekue, Jon Mikel Olabarrieta, Josu
Urresti , Pauliri Urresti, Iñaki Landa, Isaac Atucha, Joseba de Rezóla, Peru Ajuria, Garbiñe
Urresti, Julián Achurra, Joseba Amaga, Iñaki Arechavaíeta, Paul Aguirre, Juan María López
Izaguirre, Jon Garaigordobil, Txomin Llanos, Iñaki Anasagasti, Jone de Elósegui, Antonio
Mendiluce, Jesús María Gallastegui, Juan Ortiz, Ricardo Líbano, Patxi Albízu, Bonifacio Urquizu,
José Eleizalde, Luis José García, Julián Achurra Garate, Tomás Andonegui, José Ignacio Zuazo,
Joseba Urresti, Iñaki Ercoreca, Domeka Echearte, Andoni Olabarri, Miguel Briceño, Joseba
Iturralde, Julián Amezcoa, José Abasólo, Maite Leizaola, José Luis Acha, Santiago Guruceaga,
Mikel Olasagasti, Maite Garitaonaindia, Jon Gómez, Mikel Isasi, Miren Solabarrieta Aznar, 1.
Ugalde, Lander Quintana, Julene Urzelai, Joseba Olabarrieta, Jesus Irazabal and Ventura Chico.
All of them were active members of the Basque Nationalist Party.
1 28 A brief overview of the Caracas Basque Center
The first thing one finds is ample parking, • essential in this city.
You go up some steep ramps, surrounded by massifs with grass and flowers. On the right, among the green, stands out
a small monolith, the size and shape of a classical stele, with an "eguzki lore" and the legend: "To Bilbao, 43 kilometers".
It is the indelible memory of the stabilized fronts, in the war of 36-37.
Facing us we come across the covered fronton, the best in Venezuela, equipped with fairly wide stands. To the right,
the huge farmhouse that is the headquarters itself. In front of the façade, a wide space, at different levels, with a
promenade, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a cement sports court, where soccer or foosball is practiced as the
most common activity. Beyond, behind the large pediment, another smaller and uncovered one.
On the other side of the house, the monument to the gudari.
In the secretariat, located behind the spacious hall on the ground floor, you can listen to a pleasant and well-chosen
classical music. If this happens, it is an unequivocal sign of the presence of José de Elizalde, whom we have already
introduced in his adventure in Euzkadi Norte. He explains that there are currently 625 members. Active members, which
according to the statutes can only be Basques over 21 years of age. There are also youth members, who are over 18,
but have not yet reached twenty-one. And it is also allowed, in a determined number, to feel affinity with the following
and participate in all social activities, with the express exclusion of voting in public and holding a management position.
The monthly fee for a "senior" partner is one hundred bolivars (about one thousand six hundred pesetas) per month. To
which are added, normally, other smaller amounts such as contributions to the Mutual Aid Society, to the "Women's
Action", "Sports", "Basque Ball", "Library and Theatre" and "Music and Choreography". Except for the first, these are
euphemisms, channels to help
the political or union organizations of Euzkadi, without officially appearing anywhere. It is proof of that "prudence in
political activities" that several of our interviewees have referred to before.
In the corner closest to the Secretariat and Meeting Room, a long, large table has newspapers and magazines from
Euskalherría on it. Due to the mail, they are usually quite late numbers.
The room is decorated with oil paintings representing Basque characters. The preferred places are for Sabino Arana
and Simón de Bolívar. Large circular tables, with their chairs, complete the furniture in this area on the ground floor.
To the right, in a wing, are the other square tables of the dining room, surrounded by large windows through which a
pleasant breeze enters, relieving the heat. In the middle of the two large spaces, a bar and, behind it, the large kitchen.
José Mari, a Biscayan from Meñaca, is the tenant of these services, and he is always busy, but always —also— in an
excellent mood. Weekdays from
eat all the kids from the ikastola, andereños and some visitors. On weekends there is a much higher attendance and
then not only the restaurant, but also the bars (the one in the house, and the one that occupies the part located under
the stands of the pediment), are especially requested.
The second floor of the building has another large room for political and cultural events and where, when there is no
collective activity, domino players or
mus.
There are also other dependencies: warehouses, pantry, services, and rooms.
Together with Elízalde, two other officials are concerned and take care of the proper functioning of the Center, and
manage the agreements of the directors.
José de Abasólo Mendívil is a journalist from Bilbao who has not stopped practicing his profession throughout his life,
although he has often had to "help" himself with other jobs, because his professional practice was clandestine, or was
linked to the position he now occupies: secretary of minutes and public relations. He is wanting to return, and scrambling
through documents and friends for recognition of his journalistic professionalism.
Virtually recent arrivals, in the very latest immigration —almost fled— from the Spanish State, are the Administrator of
Euzko Etxea, Keles Aldama, who was the youngest boxing promoter in the Peninsula, and his wife Itzal.
The four of them went out of their way to help this journalist, who was also able to verify the efficiency and dedication
with which they meet not only the obligations of their positions, but any need or aspiration of the Basque community in
which they could be useful.
The community has diminished in number, and in attendance at the Center. Some activities have been lost: thus, it is
difficult to find a dantzari who dances the aurresku on solemnities; the theater group disappeared and, for a long time,
the Pizkunde choir ceased to exist, which achieved renown and success in the new homeland. There was also a long
period without the magazine Euzkadi being published. And Deportivo Vasco, the soccer team, languishes in the veteran
category due to a lack of young replacements, who prefer to dedicate themselves to soccer, perhaps because they
have the facility closer at hand.
1 26 1 Ikastola of the Basque Center of Caracas
The most surprising of the activities of the Basque community in Caracas —and this is growing— is undoubtedly the
ikastola, which has one hundred and twelve students. The (bilingual) studies that are carried out in it have the official
recognition of the Venezuelan Government. State director is Graciela Bravo, a Creole teacher who holds the position
since two years ago. She meets the requirements demanded by the Administration: she is a university graduate and
Venezuelan.
The educational system is mixed (boys and girls together), as in all schools in the Republic. And also mixed in terms of
the subjects taught: all of the local compulsory education, plus Basque history and language.
The studies have two levels: preschool ("kindergarten" and preparatory) and primary, with the
six full degrees.
«Here we have children up to twelve years old, but that does not mean that there cannot be older
children. What happens is that, since they come to kindergarten from a very young age, they
manage to overcome all the levels when they are still small, and they reach the sixth grade of
primary school between the ages of ten and twelve; tiny
The sixth grade is equivalent to entering the baccalaureate. And from here they leave already requested in the
different high schools.
Basque teachings are given in all primary grades and there is a very special condition: that the
kindergarten and preparatory teachers speak Basque. They are all Basque.
We monitor the children; In other words, we are awaiting the results in the high schools, and they
are wonderful. They are very well taken care of, in the health aspect they have no problems and,
therefore, they attract. If you compare them, for example, with malnourished children... This school
cannot be compared with the type of centers I worked in, you know, schools in marginal areas,
with student problems, sometimes abandoned by their parents...
On the other hand, if the parents are on top, and they check the report card, and the notebooks,
the child gives a lot. Some of those who left here last year are the first in their course.
We received a very great satisfaction, now when they did the evaluation of December.
Being so small...».
The regulations of the Ministry of Education establish that the maximum number of class hours, in
these grades, is five. But, since the ikastola has its dining room, that time is diluted into a much
longer schedule: from nine in the morning to three-thirty in the afternoon, with very long spaces
for recreation. The hours that the Ministry establishes for any of the other subjects are dedicated
to Basque, and "the time that is necessary to prepare events such as the Aberr Eguna, those in
December, and all the others that are organized here, which serve as a a lot of practice. The
teacher does not have strict measured time. In addition, he has opportunities outside of class
hours, he calls them during a break, and they do dialogues...».
The eldest daughter of Koldo Garmendia, the painter —and wife of_ pelotari Bilbao— is one of the
two “ándetenos” who take care of the little ones. She explained to us that, along with another
classmate, they attend to the two “kindergarten” sections. And added:
«We speak almost everything in Basque to the little ones, and they learn it, of course they do.
From one day to the next, no, but little by little they get it, they are taught songs... Now, as much
as speaking and writing it... it depends on what they do at home, if their parents speak Basque or
not».
Every morning, at nine o'clock, two children take the flags of Venezuela and Euzkadi in their
hands, at the top of the entrance stairs to the Euzko Etxea building.
The others, lined up below with their teachers, sing the "Gloria al bravo pueblo" and the "Eusko
abendaren". Immediately afterwards, in line, they go very formally to the second floor, to start
classes.
The Center had many activities, but the aspirations of this community were not limited to seeing what
has been done, but, on the contrary, what can be done.
There have always been people interested in giving eukera classes, but wanting to make, as has been
said at the beginning, a corner of our Euzkadí in Caracas, the idea of an Ikastola arose; yes, an ikastola
where children speak, play and sing in Basque. Ideas are born and by the very fact of being born they
have a mother, in this case Santa Arantxa Mugi-ca, who did not limit herself to exposing the idea, but
fought until she saw it come true. On October 10, 1965, the most laudable work began, IKASTOLA
EUZKADÍ. It began with kindergarten, with the assistance of 11 Basque children. At this beginning, the
teaching was in charge of the Andereño Itziar Bastarretxea. But, the aspiration was, not of a kindergarten,
but of a regulated Ikastola and registered with the Ministry of Education.
In January 1966, another stage was completed, that of incorporating preparatory and reading. Grado,
counting on the annexation of the Andereño Josebe de Zubizarreta. And so, as the grades have
increased, there has been the incorporation of the Andereños Libe Bilbao and Carmenxu de Gainzarain.
In the course of 1965 to 1907, there are Kindergarten, Preparatory, 1st, 29th, 39th and 49th Grade,
registered with the Ministry of Education.
The Ikastola Euzkadi currently has more than 80 children, distributed in different grades.
As the Ikastola Euzkadi can be seen, it was an idea that came to fruition, but with the commitment of all
the compatriots who wanted their children born in these lands to get to know the homeland of their
parents and learn to love it just like them, and likewise that they played and spoke in the ancient
euzkeldun language.
The children of the Ikastola Euzkadi frequently give us performances, in our language, which, although
performed by little ones, have the greatness of their hearts.
Every day, at noon, if someone passes by the Center, they will be able to hear the voices of those
children who sing songs capable of sweetening the saddest moment. The idea that arose one day has
had the expected effect, and this is the greatest reward that Santa Arantxa de Mugica can have for her
idea and for her perseverance in making it a reality.
1 29 Simon Bolivar Institute
At the Autonomous University of Bilbao

The "Simón Bolibar" Institute is inaugurated
Dr. Salcedo-bastardo and Ambassador Mr. Santander, honorary professors. An idea embodied in beautiful reality
It is already a fact, that superficial project that one fine day was the subject of one of the gatherings that the Gernika
Group, which has been held for many years, in the atmosphere of the Basque Center in Caracas, holds its periodic
meetings.
From this group of compatriots who always think about looking for some perspective that results in improvement of
relations at any level, between Venezuela and Euzkadi, came the idea. Later, other esteemed compatriots, acting at
levels outside the home, promoted and disseminated in the country's political media, receiving the definitive and
triumphant impulse, what began as a simple approach, a long-cherished dream.
Today, it is a tangible reality: within the Autonomous University of Bilbao, the "Simón Bolibar" Institute has just been
inaugurated.
The work that this newly inaugurated Institute has ahead of us will fulfill its goals and will further strengthen the existing
ties between our adopted homeland and the one that saw us.
be born.
The "Simón Bolibar" Institute, which has just been inaugurated, will have among other objectives: to establish courses
and seminars on Venezuelan and Latin American topics, to facilitate the incorporation of Venezuelan students in Basque
Universities, to organize postgraduate courses of interest to Venezuelans, and to organize postgraduates on Venezuelan
and Latin American historical, economic and social issues. The Venezuelan administration will arrange the appointment
of the Director, selection of scholarship holders, proposal of professors and economic assignments that are stipulated.
For its part, the Autonomous University of Bilbao will provide premises, administration staff, its own professors and
researchers, granting "venía docendi" to Venezuelan professors, organization of courses and seminars, and creation of
a bibliographic and documentary collection.
The Venezuelan Minister of Culture, Dr. Luis Salcedo-Bastardo in the foreground, with the rector of the University of
Bilbao, Martín Mateo in the center, and the Venezuelan ambassador to Spain, Ernesto Santander, presided over the
inauguration of the Simón Bolívar Institute.
The solemn inaugural act took place in the Aula Magna of the Autonomous University of Bilbao, with the assistance of
prominent personalities from the Basque cultural, political, economic, social world, teachers, students, diplomatic corps,
etc. Dr. José Luis Salcedo Bastardo, accompanied by the Venezuelan Ambassador, Mr. Ernesto Santander, was
received in full by the teaching staff, with the University Rector, Dr. Martín Mateo, at the fore.
This academic act began with a magisterial performance by the University Choir, under the baton of
Professor Julen Ezkurra, from Agur ]aunak, respectful salutation of the Basque people.
The plenary session began with exalted words pronounced by the Venezuelan Ambassador, Mr.
Santander, highlighting the investigative work of Dr. Salcedo-Bastardo, today Minister of Culture of the
national government, tireless writer and great Bolivarian. He recalled the existing ties between the
personalities of the Bolibars and Bizkaia, the birthplace of their ancestors.
Immediately after, it was Dr. Salcedo-Bastardo who gave his inaugural lecture.
He turned around the figure of the Liberator, pointing out "Bolibar is not a man, but a figure of the
present and the future, a flag of humanity."
Recalling the Basque descent of the Libertador family, he said "it takes a lot of courage to venture into
those lands and abandon these beautiful landscapes."
He highlighted the extraordinary importance of the Royal Company of Guipúzcoa "which was the one
that articulated and gave way to the formation of my country. Before 1728 there were many isolated
towns and municipalities. With its commercial relations it articulated a series of relations that culminated
in the unification accomplished later."
He pointed out the indisputable importance of the Institute, a bridge to reach the goal and further
strengthen the ties between both countries, Venezuela and Euzkadi.
Dr. Salcedo-Bastardo, who has dedicated a large part of his life to teaching and research, referred to
Bolibar in this sense as the person who conceived culture and morality as the first obligation of a
Government.
He ended by saying: "Today is a true festival for the spirit because the University of Bilbao opens up
the possibility of an exchange and rapprochement that already began a few centuries ago."
"We are in the phase of the open heart and the illumination to all nations, I send you the greetings of
my homeland".
He transmitted a personal message from the President of the Republic of Venezuela Carlos Andrés
Pérez.
Immediately afterwards, the Rector of the University of Bilbao, Dr. Martín Mateo presented diplomas
naming Dr. José Luís Salcedo-Bastardo and Mr. Ernesto Santander as honorary professors of the
House of Studies.
Once again, the University Choir stood out with its masterful voices when offering a recital of Basque
and Venezuelan songs, with perfection of voices that clearly marked the effort made in the short life of
this artistic ensemble.
At the end of the last song, dedicated to Venezuela, the entire audience stood up and applauded the
performers for a long time,
The closure of this solemn act was carried out by Dr. Martín Mateo as Rector of the
University of Bilbao.
Said; "The University Institute that we have just installed can in the future profoundly influence the life of our University
and that of its surroundings, introducing a cosmopolitan and overseas component and serving as a channel for exchanges,
complementarities and better knowledge between the communities of both sides of the Atlantic that come together in this
work".
He referred to the initiation or origin of the idea embodied in this realization, pointing out that it came from the Caracas
Basque Center, the Gernika Group and a coincidence of feeling at the level of the meetings that prominent professionals
hold.
He made reference to the possibility of deepening the strengthening of economic and cultural ties with peoples who have
so much in common.
He ended by thanking the Venezuelan Minister of Culture and the ambassador who accompanied him, for having come
here as messengers of goodwill.
He highlighted the presence of Basque characters in the history of Venezuela, adding: "Venezuelan independence is also
enameled with Basque names, distinguishedly preceded by the Liberator Simón Bolibar himself, who anticipated, as is
known, in time, in his supraco understanding -munist of the political organization".
He ended his speech by wishing for an increase in relations between the two countries, Venezuela and Euzkadi: "Aside
from, of course, outdated imperial nostalgia, we should meditate more seriously on deepening the strengthening of
economic and cultural ties with peoples who have so much in common".
He thanked the Venezuelan Minister of Culture and the ambassador who accompanied him, for having come here, as
messengers of goodwill, to cut the inaugural ribbon for which we want people, ideas and mutual affection to circulate
profusely in both directions.
The University Choir, after its brilliant songs performed previously, closed the act by performing the Ama begira zazu, by
maestro Víctor Zubizarreta and Alma llanera by maestro Gutiérrez.
Farewell, the Gaudeamus Igitur.

1 30 The Biscayan Marines
In the Spanish State there were 10,000 sailors, 4,000 of them from Biscay. The reason is very simple: there were five
nautical schools in Vizcaya; in Lekeitio, Bermeo, Plencia, Santurce and Bilbao. Children of fishermen without high
school, what was our salvation? However, there were no Guipuzcoans, because there was no school in Guipuzcoa.
Nor, naturally, in Álava or Navarra.
There are few left in Venezuela: Iñaki Olazábal, who was my officer; a nephew of mine, chief engineer; Zapiain, chief
engineer ttimhién...».
Captain Pedro Sesma, the lekeitiarra who believes he has his position in the captaincy of the port where he was born
(and to which he would like to return as a new "igarobide" from the Government of Euskadi), remembers these incidents.
And also the times of his arrival in exile:
«From Newcastle we came a captain and two engineers. One here and the other, a certain Marcaida, returned there,
to Euzkadi. We came on a passenger ship. Someday we had to ride as passengers!
Our life here, like everyone else's. There was a competition riiti't1 lawyers and sailors, to see who we were more. In
total, we would be twenty-something IIIIDS , from both sides.
We started working to eat. I was a house painter,-for fourteen months.

He earned six bolivars, he paid six bolivars of; hotel, and on Sundays I didn't win, so I pointed a stick: one day; what
should i
And overnight, they tell me: «Look, Sesma, do you want to become a teacher at a school?
Me? As a teacher? I was painting a fence there and kept thinking. Well, I already went to the Nautical School. It was
the year 41 and I was until 45.
In 1945, as I had also taken anti-submarine courses in England, I joined the Dutch oil navy here. And they appointed
me official gunner of an artillery ship. Thus began my maritime life again.
Because in 1943 I had revalidated my degree with an American court, the curious thing is that the exam, quite tough —
more than in Bilbao—, was with problems prepared by me at the School for my students. That's how I got the notes.
I was sailing continuously until the year 56, and in 1956, after a few months, they immediately gave me a ship, in
Creóle. Then they left me ashore, in 1960, due to injustices with a Pole.
There is a record from that time: the sailors who arrived here, Basques, were the most outstanding in all aspects. For
every ten captains there was a Spaniard, generally an islander. The rest, Basques. And in Colombia, too.
My mind is to truly unite Venezuela with Euzkadi. I want to do an exchange

schools, even with teachers, and bring all the "pensum" of studies from there.
Starting in 1960, I had to open an administrative office, and I lost ten years in my seniority for the
Navy. Then I came back, and they welcomed me with open arms, and they helped me; although
not so much, because we have not yet passed the law of the Social Security and Welfare Institute
for the merchant marine. I keep fighting, because I have to be active.
I'm still active, more or less. My students, in the first nautical school in Venezuela, of which I was
the founder, are now managers and great personalities.
About three years ago I was invited to an event at the School, and «I saw him speaking with the
Minister of Communications, Suárez Figarela. I r announced that, in gratitude to Venezuela, and
remembering the wide-rli'tn of the port of Bilbao, I was going to write a brochure with a project juini
La Guaira.
In that brochure I talk about my experience of fifty years nave-NHiulo, and I do that work with some
drawings... that lit a fuse. the Minister, and an Admiral who was the director of the Navy,
.
It was a simple idea. But whoever makes a design based on a book, and not on experience, in
reality,
When we arrived there was only a pier. But, as the population grew, the highway was built, and
everything, |nirs is getting smaller. The only thing was that, due to its location, La Guaira could be
prolonged and make a marvelous port.
But, what would you do with building a large port, and with putting in ships, instead of thirty, if you
can't communicate with the capital, which is where consumption is? So, my idea, I always go down
the highway and I see the Tacagua ravine, is to make a track parallel to the highway, combining
rail, with a branch for the interior, and double highway.
Everything is embodied. They even sent me an official brochure with the project, putting my name
there where they are working. I have also written another merchant marine brochure, like Hiifa for
the boy who does not know and, like many, confuses the Nautical school with the Navy school...».
This is still the hope and effort of a man who has already exceeded seventy years of age. They will
have had a high level of occupation, the Basques, but not even the most veteran feel smudged.
Only those who rest forever, without reaching that desire that everyone has, in common with
salmon: to return at the end] to the point where they were born.
Captain José María de Burgañaf of the “Donibane” and the “Biga-; rrena», was later the leader of
the Basque Caribbean Fisheries, because he had the order of the Lendakari to continue as the
person in charge of those two vessels. However, due to a discrepancy with< part of the
Administration Council, he would leave the company in the year 41.
He then re-examined himself to revalidate his title in Caracas, and from that date
Until 1963 he was sailing as a captain on ships of different companies and flags: Venezuelan,
Colombian, Dutch...
The last stage, in the ships that go down the Orinoco, taking the mineral from the Puerto Ordaz
area to the sea. The company was still American, the "Iron Mines."
Subsequently, after the navigation conditions of this river-sea, which is the second in flow in the
subcontinent (after the Amazon), improved, the American company wanted to deliver a new ship,
with a crew entirely from Biscay.
However, the new, much larger vessel rarely visited Venezuelan ports. And he resigned, in favor
of a family life, always difficult and irregular for sailors.
When the heroic journey of the year 39, Burgaña had just been born, as they say, his eldest
daughter, María Trinidad, who today is an engineer. When his family had not yet been able to
meet him again, in the new homeland, his second daughter, Goizane, an architect, came. And the
third, Joaquín María, is from Caracas by birth, and a commercial engineer.
María Trinidad, as a civil engineer, has a position in the works of the Caracas metro.
Goizane, married, lives in the United States. And Joaquín María also occupies a position of
responsibility in a private company.
Captain Burgaña gave his name to a bank that appears today in the official marine charts of
Venezuela and the United States. Only the "ñ", non-existent in English, has been replaced by the
"n",
The times of the Basque fisheries are still long, and the descu-liililnr explains it like this:
«It was a very simple thing. For us, there came a time when we had to serve the clientele of
several hotels. For that, they used us not only from our boats, but also from a group that settled on
the islands of Los Roques, La Orchilla, etc.
We made advances to those fishermen so that they would be clear of the debts they had and they
began to act on their own. Hymns twice a week to collect the fish, at an agreed price, without the
obligation of giving it to us. If someone else paid better, they could sell it to him. But the fact is that,
in a year, they pay all the arrears they had, and they have prospered.
Holy Week arrived and they retired to their town. In an i|iic way I had to go fishing, who was the
exploitation manager of the (ininpany. We went over that bank, and a beak grabbed us, uiiii
Iiarracuda. How strange!, we thought, if this is a species ilr shallow waters.
Back again. We turned around and a horse mackerel came out. I asked for a probe and we did not
find that where the charts said there were...more than rim fathoms deep, which is close to a
kilometer, because the first taste we made turned out that there were thirty-six, and then we even
started a needle that went up to fourteen, which knew-iiln yn a danger to navigation.
I had to take account, because the current boats out there do not piulfun pass. So was the discovery.
When we went to the island that night, there was a man from Margarita there and we asked him:
What is that bank called?
"There's no bank there, captain." He is going to tell us, we were born here,
They didn't believe it. The next day I said to myself: "Well, I'm going to go." Because there were tuna,
albacore, marlin, kingfish, and always fifty-kilo fish, we went back home, because we had a sufficient
supply to meet our customers. The skipper of that group of boats, who was in the ranchería, came to
ask me if I would invite him to join us. Well, we went there, and the first tuna that caught us, while we
slowed down, maneuvered and so on, to be able to hunt it, he had a rig and he launched a bottom
rig with six hooks.
While we were distracted, he came up, and six beautiful snappers floated to him, like six roses, as
they say.
He was astonished: "How is it possible that you have to come to tell us that this is here?"
So, I participated in the Immigration Institute. And then! Some Americans asked a man from Margarita
what was the name of that mess. And the man from Margarita answered them: "The pleasure of
Burgaña." This is how it began to appear in North American charts, and later also in those of
Venezuela, under the name "Burgaña Bank."
We found it by intuition, with those same wooden boats. Imagine, what could those poor boats have
for such investigative work».
Kirwin, the North American journalist, emphasized that in all the long years of active exercise in
command of so many different boats, Burgaña did not suffer a. just accident.
It did reach, however, another Basque captain of the Venezuelan navy, now deceased.
They say in the Basque Centers of Caracas and Puerto La Cruz that it was not his fault, nor was he
blamed for the mishap. On the contrary, they ended up awarding him, for having avoided greater
evils.
This captain in question had complained several times to the shipping company about the poor
condition of the ship, which was on its way to Maracaibo. One of the engineering works of which they
are justly proud in that Republic is the bridge over the lake, several kilometers long. Well then, the
ship's controls failed, and it was going across, against the bridge supports. The captain's maneuver
avoided all of them... except one. So he knocked over a part of that engineering marvel, with the
misfortune that several cars that were passing over it went into the water, and that there were a few
deaths.
Another of the captains, José Landazábal is a commander in oil fields; controls the shipment of
"black gold" in La Guaira to the most diverse destinations.
One more, Captain Maguregui, is in charge of the Venezuelan delegation of the very same
«Lloyds» of London, in the Phelps» building, on Avenida Urdaneta.
And we would still find references to another prominent Basque sailor or Puerto Ordaz. One of the
captains of the Orinoco, who after a long experience in the river was in charge of bringing Chritóforo
Colombo from Italy, to turn it into a luxury hotel for the arrivals of the new and large industries in the
area, where irniilt¡i difficult to find accommodation.
Moored at the pier, the same i stack continued to command the boat.
Returning to Burgaña, a man of inexhaustible conversation in his villti "Beltxarena", upon leaving the
American company for which Muyelo for the last time, around the year sixty-three, became a professor,
and later continued as an adviser, at the La Salle Institute of Natural Sciences.
This Institute, the work of the religious congregation that gives it its name, is chaired by another
Basque: Pablo Mandozen, who is more widely known as "Hermano Ginés."
1 31 Pablo Mandozen, who is known by the name of “Hermano Ginés”.
Brother Ginés had just had a brother die in Caracas,

upon our arrival. And he left so quickly for the United States, to fulfill one of his innumerable scientific
commitments in Morir, that it was impossible for us to speak with him on our trip.
However, months before we had had an interview in Pasajes de San Pedro, where the best ship for
oceanographic research in Venezuela, the "La Salle", was repaired. Aunts the repair, brother Ginés
did not go alone. He took with him, his skipper, a Sistiaga from Pasaitarra, well known to fans of the
traditional boat regattas. It was said lately that rl «La Salle» was going to be rented by the famous
French oceanographer |uu|ues Cousteau, for one of his informative scientific expeditions.
The vessel is forty meters long, nine meters wide, v csid equipped with an echo sounder with
integrator, sonar, radar, "boomer" for geophysical work, and a two-seater mini-submarine. The
laboratories and interior facilities are exemplary.
The helmet is painted green, with two wide stripes, red and white; the three colors of the Foundation,
created in 1957 by this Navarrese from Amezua, who was catapulted to the other side of the Ocean
with the hangover of the War, in 1939, when he was finishing his Baccalaureate, from the War, in
1939, when he was finished in High School.
Pablo, in the New World, finished his university studies. He began scientific research as early as 1940.
In the twenty years that followed he led twenty-eight expeditions to the most remote and inaccessible
corners of the vast Venezuelan geography. He would be director of the Foundation for ten years, and
then President, from 1967 to today.
The Order of the Liberator, the highest civil decoration of his new homeland, was awarded in November
1975 (only one other Basque is known to have held it: Monsignor Zabaleta, from Puerto Ordaz). He
also holds the orders of Andrés Bello and Miranda.
He is a member of various North American, British and South American academies and scientific
entities. And Doctor of Science since 1952.
Fishermen, farmers and Indians, three marginalized social groups in the Republic, are the
recipients and beneficiaries of the initiatives of Brother Ginés. As for the fields of research of the
«FLASA» they include oceanography, agriculture and the iron and steel industry.
On the occasion of the Foundation's twentieth anniversary, and in a brochure published to

commemorate it, Pablo Mandozen wrote:
«In 1957 the act of constitution of the La Salle Foundation of Natural Sciences was drawn up,
which had already been trial and error for more than two years. He did not yet have any capital
to start his task. Barely three people —two of them full-time and with little pay, but with a great
flow of enthusiasm— manage to associate a small group of personalities who offer them their
determined moral support. When it is being born is when that support is worth the most, which
means faith in people, in their ideals, and in the projects that have to materialize it.
In 1958, the Creóle Foundation contributed Bs. 91,000, and a little later contributed again with
the appreciable amount of 151,000 bolivars, destined to start our work in Margarita.
Our offices are installed in the premises that housed the La Salle Natural Sciences Society at
that time, in Tienda Honda. Later, in 1960, the Foundation settled in Quinta Lucrecia, in San
Bernardino, to later build its own building.
nor a piece of land donated by SA Stella, which legally represents the Christian Brothers in
Venezuela, and with a contribution in the form of a credit of Bs. 1,700,000 from the Venezuelan
Development Corporation.
The Government of Admiral Wolfgang Larrazábal helps us by providing us with part of the
workforce. The building project was carried out by the architect Carlos R. Villanueva, who
donated it to the foundation.
Simultaneously, in Punta de Piedras, State of Nueva Esparta, the headquarters building of the
Margarita Maritime Research Station, the house for the resident scientists and the Administrator,
are being built, all of which were inaugurated by the President of the Republic, Rómulo
Betancourt, in 1960.
In 1962, the Department of Anthropology and Sociology of the S, CN La Salle joined the
Foundation as the Caribbean Institute of Anthropology and Sociology, relations were established
with the fraternity of the Little Brothers of Foucauld and an agreement was made for the
indigenous promotion of the Makiritares on the border with Brazil. By neither side, in collaboration
with the INCE, we created in Punta de Piedras a Vocational Training Center for the preparation
of personnel in the fishing sector.
In 1964 it was decided to purchase an Oceanographic Boat and Fishing School, specially
designed in Norway for the I .a Salle Foundation, and with the economic collaboration of
Misereor, which contributed three quarters of the total price. Is he
The first CNII class ship to arrive in Latin America and arrive in Venezuela in 1966, «year in
which it was blessed by Bishop Lizardi, Auxiliary Bishop of (¡(iracas, and in whose act we had
the presence of Dr. Raúl Leoni, then President of Venezuela This ship is incorporated into
Margarita.
Subsequently, in 1969, the Foundation continued its activities by creating the Guayana Industrial
Technical High School in facilities that were built by the Venezuelan Guayana Corporation and,
on the other hand, the Punta de Piedras Professional Center was transformed into the Nautical
Fishing High School when, for causes that are not relevant to point out, INCE leaves us. In
1971, President Rafael Caldera the facilities that house the marine and fishing training
workshops on land.
In 1973 and at the express wish of the then President-Elect of the Republic, Mr. Carlos Andrés
Pérez, the Foundation expanded its activities to Cojedes to dedicate itself to research work on
Nature in that region of the Llano and to the agricultural training of its youth. that it can do so
much in the promotion of that region, the Cinderella of the Central States.
During the year 1975, the activities of the Guayana Campus were expanded towards research
in the area of bioecology and fish farming through the Hydrobiological Research Station, one of
whose most important projects currently is the study of living conditions, reproduction and
breeding of the Sapoara, for its eventual subsequent commercial cultivation.
Coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of FLASA, our institution expands its commitment and
work in the educational field, to a higher level, with the creation of the University Institute of
Marine Technology on the island of Margarita. With the determined moral and economic support
of the National Government, it was officially inaugurated by President Carlos Andrés Pérez on
April 1, 1978.
Without going into too much detail about the series of scientific work carried out by FLASA
during its twenty years of existence, we simply want to mention those corresponding to: the
Fishing Chart, where bathymetry is studied, the type of funds of the Caribbean and Atlantic
platform Venezuelans and the possibilities of fishing capture of their waters; oyster, mussel and
shrimp farming; the geological and geophysical study of the platform between the mainland and
Margarita for the installation of the CADAFE submarine cable; the study carried out for INOS in
relation to the submarine aqueduct in the same region; In the area of Social Sciences, the study
of various aboriginal tribes has always been carried out respecting their ethnic peculiarities, in
order to truly understand their lifestyle, their customs and their beliefs.
The results of these works make up a vast range of titles of monographs, 27 in total, without
counting the publications of magazines that extend from «Marine Ecology» and «Marine Fishes
of Venezuela» to «Sukuaítpa wayuu», the word and the live guajiro, «Dancers», «Birds of
Game of Venezuela» and the «Dictionary (marao-Spanish, Spanish Guarao»).
If 20 years ago the Foundation did not reach half a million bolivars per year in its budget,
currently it exceeds 35 million, which is not enough to cover the costs of the
programs to be accomplished. Nothing strange will be revealed by stating that there have
always been deficits in our budgets; There were always red figures in our annual balance sheet,
but the commitment, tenacity, faith of the members and the great man of friendly people that
FLASA has always counted on, thank God, made the miracle of recovery, which It was almost
always annual. Without fear or shame, it can be said that FLASA was born the other way around
from other foundations, it was born with nothing. Little by little it has been becoming an institution,
and creating a patrimony.
Among the companies that have emerged in this period and have collaborated with this purpose,
it is worth noting some: Editorial Natura publishes books especially for secondary education,
with more than seventy titles in the area of natural sciences: Distribuidora Maytex, a thriving
company that has sold more of 15 million bolivars in 1977.
Today our texts are highly appreciated, they introduced the examples of native fauna and flora
in teaching, promoting an aspect of what can be called the Venezuelanization of teaching. It
should also be noted that the prices are not only competitive, but are also below those of the
competition and their presentation is of the highest quality. Other companies operate in Guyana:
Guri Furniture Industries, Machines and Tools and the Foundry Workshop; in (lojcdes, the La
Leona farm is being implemented, etc. It is also necessary to indicate that these last companies
have the purpose of training our young people, especially in their last stages, since for us there
can be no true technical training without production.
As will be understood, this deployment is also due to the conviction that we at FLASA that our
institution must be managed with business criteria and not charity; otherwise, he would lose his
targets and had better disappear. In other words, little by little, through its companies and work
contracts, the Foundation must cover its entire operating budget. Hopefully one day we will
make it! This is the challenge for our administrators, who are certainly determined to achieve it.
The cold enumeration of the quantity, diversity and cultural and social significance of the works
of Brother Ginés, always at the helm of his Foundation, avoids any comment on the importance
of the work of this Basque, who has obtained a social and scientific prestige in accordance with
the effort made over so many years.
1 32 Oil People
Venezuela and oil are inseparable words. Neither agriculture, nor industry, nor mining —although they are also very
high potential wealth in the country— would have been enough to pay for the public investments that this Republic has
reached, including the development of those same three economic sectors —mining , agriculture, industry—, spectacular
in recent times.
The Venezuelan economic system is fundamentally based on >s income from the export of «black gold», nationalized
on January 1, 1976, when it went from the subsidiaries of large North American companies to the state «holding»
«Petróleos de Venezuela» . The Venezuelan idea was the promotion of the "Organization of oil-carrying
countries" (OPEC), united to demand the payment of satisfactory prices to the super-industrialized states, which are the
candes buyers.
The "well number 1" gave birth in the Oriente area, in El Tigre, after an epic of internal migrations that Miguel Otero
Silva has narrated so well, the same novelist who has just published the book about the proto-liberator Lope de Aguirre.
But the country's true oil "boom" began with the "blowout" of the "Los Barrosos number 2" well, located on the mental
coast of Lake Maracaibo, on December 14, 1922, with a production of around one hundred. thousand barrels per day.
However, "the loin" of the *aís hydrocarbon deposits is under the water of the lake itself. Lucky to exploit the area ;
corresponded to "Creóle", a branch of Esso, which transferred its effects to the most important of the nationalized local
companies: "Lagoven", producer of forty-five percent of the total of Venezuela, which today is two million two hundred
thousand barrels per day.
In high positions in the oil companies there have been and are Basques. Eduardo Arechavaleta (Lucio's brother, who
was president of Euzko Gaztedi in Bilbao), became the administrative director of one of them.
Another, a regular on weekends at the Basque Center in Caracas, is Ricardo Líbano Bilbao, from Lejona
"from when Lejona was still a village." He did not know Spanish until he was eight years old, although
today he has lost his fluency in the use of the language, which He tries to keep up with the Basque-
speakers of the Center, and even taking classes.
He had some resistance activity, such as the distribution of clandestine nationalist propaganda, in the years of the
harshest repression, and he was also in charge of some fundraising for the Party, in contact with Eusebio Uriarte.
He escaped to Venezuela in 1951, in the second wave of emigrants, who moved for economic reasons, as well as
political ones. In the New World, one of his first jobs was to tour the most remote haciendas, in a truck bought on credit,
and with merchandise also acquired by the same procedure, to try to sell them. He lived with the Guajiro Indians, a
highly traditional town that preserves its own laws, respected by the State of Venezuela. And with the piaroas, in the
south of the Amazon, who live in a much more
primitive.
But later it had a better evolution, precisely since it entered the oil industry.
«I lived in an oil field for ten years, and now I work at the main house of the company, as a
marketing planning manager ("marketing", in the Spanish State). In fact, I have been with the
company for twenty-four years, which until '76 was La Creole».
The first year was spent in the Monagas area, in Caripito; the other nine, in the "Tia Juana" field,
to the east of Lake Maracaibo* where the activity was very intense. «One of the largest production
fields in the world, at that time. It continues at the same level, only that much higher ones have
appeared later ».
Ricardo Líbano explained to us that there are other countries that have developed their oil
industry much more, and that the current purpose of the Administration is conservationist: “to
extend as much as possible the current reserves, already controlled, although it is known that
there are other very large ones that They could maintain production for a long time. Oil production,
limited to the current level, is enough to earn revenues that support most of the national budget.
This policy is closely linked to that of prices, and to the participation of OPEC. From the very
beginning of the formation of OPEC, Venezuela was the main defender of limiting production, so
that the excess supply in the markets did not cause a deterioration in prices. It has been a very
good policy. And if today, due to its lower production compared to other countries, it does not
influence so much, Venezuela retains a great influence, let's say moral, for being precisely the
one that promoted the formation of OPEC and for being the one who has always proposed the
healthiest policies in pro of the producers.
Their union is rather an element of defense, because we must not forget that the future economic
power of the countries is closely linked to technological development, promotion or research
laboratories and, in this, there is much to be done here, to reach a satisfactory level. If
development were measured by the technological level, it must be recognized that we have a lot
to develop.
As soon as the industry was nationalized, on January 1, 1976, the structure of the companies
remained exactly the same, although they changed hands. In those three years, and still, an
ordering process is carried out, with the idea of grouping them all into four large companies.
Lagoven encompasses the old Creole, Phillips and Amoco. Maraven picks up the Shell.
Meneven, à la Gulf. And Corpoven, the last consolidated consortium, what until now was
"Corporación Venezolana de Petróleo", plus Bariven, heir to "Texas".
The apparent slowness of this transformation has made it possible to adequately establish the
structures, the personnel, the production, technical, and economic activities. All this has been
carried out by the "holding" that is "Petróleos de Venezuela".
And yet, the nationalization aroused some fears among the Creoles themselves:
«There were fears, because this meant losing a large part, if not all, of the international
personnel who dominated the knowledge of the technical management of the industry. However,
those fears are now overcome, and trained Venezuelan personnel are capable of directing it
properly. This adaptation of the staff has been extremely fast.”
Speed, and mutality, in this business is something natural. From El Tigre the center of
Venezuelan oil operations was transferred to Maracaibo. And now there is a tendency to
increase activities in the South of Monagas State, in the East again. The exploration is
discovering other fields that are economically more profitable than the previous ones. The old
ones are not abandoned, but a special boost is applied to the new ones, which are more
productive...
The period of oil exploitation is already long in the country. Some wells have been depleted. In
other cases, even without exhaustion and due to these better opportunities for new discoveries,
transfers take place. It is interesting to see how people move from one field to another, and to
what level of improvement the oil industry has reached in settling these human masses with
their families, with all the help and elements they need to maintain a normal social activity,
education , entertainment, etc.
In the new settlement, which was perhaps an inhospitable jungle, populations are quickly
created, with all the services, and sometimes with more efficient services than in the big cities.
Abandoned the oil field, unless it was small, the population remains, because other economic
opportunities have been created. This is what happened in the Lake area, in Cabimas, with
agriculture and commercial activities, which were initially linked to an oil activity, but now live on
their own.
The “marketing” expert, when we raise the possibility of an end because the deposits have been
liquidated, is not as catastrophic as the defenders of nuclear energy:
“We are aware that hydrocarbons are perishable wealth. But the fears of the world, regarding
the imminence of this event, are a bit exaggerated.
There is still oil for time. The problem is not one of the immediate future, but rather, recognizing
the perishability of this wealth, nations must prepare to use another means of energy production.
At this time the most viable are nuclear energy, solar, and who knows if one from the use of sea
water. The countries that most rapidly develop this technology will surely be the most
economically developed.
At the moment we agree that there is oil for a while. And Basque oil tankers. Another senior
manager at Lagoven is Eduardo Santamaría, General Engineering Manager.
He received us in his vast office in the Caracas building of the Company, which is entered after
a rigorous identity control, and a preventive search of our shoulder bag, with all the professional
equipment: tape recorder, camera, folder of notes. , batteries, "cassettes"... good entertainment
for the security man.
The most coveted oil, light in density, occurs mainly, and still does, in the Maracaibo area. But it
is already declining. On the other hand, there are enormous reserves of extra-heavy crude in the
Orinoco delta, where the exploitations have been distributed among the four Venezuelan
companies.
Lagoven has a big part in that future. In order to investigate the forms of extraction and
exploitation of this type of hydrocarbons, which are more difficult to convert into gasoline, it has
established a ten-year program of study and experiments, with an investment of three billion
bolivars.
Eduardo Santamaría is responsible for the program.
But not only in senior management there are Basques. They are also in the same plants and
fields, as de la Meneven, in San Tomé.
Iñaki Urízar, that "Basque boy" who was an interpreter in the nationalist battalion formed in
Euzkadi Norte to fight against Franco, now lives in the settlement attached to the plant.
He was a distributor of Heinneken beer, with Juanito Echegoyen (brother of the famous
commander). Later, his knowledge of English opened the doors of the Company, then American,
in which he has been with for twenty-three years. Unlike Lebanon, he thinks that nationalization
has been for the worse, especially because there is much more bureaucracy.
Urízar's specific task is the construction of roads and "locations", that is, fixing the land where
drilling will be carried out later.
«Theodolites go, as I call them, they already perforate a small trunk, and there you have to do
the location. Throw him in there with the Caterpillar machines, with the tractors, the 6-31s, and
with the heavy machinery. We make the location, we fill in, the levels are taken, and ready for
the drill to come to extract the oil, which is what Venezuela lives on. Without oil this would be a
ruin. The rest, fine; one gets used to the sun, and also gets used to the environment.
The only thing we miss is Euzkadi. Always. Thank God we have a house there, in Algorta. We
went in 1960, to see the parents who were sick at that time, I went in 1970, and in 1974. We
thought about going last year, but there was something about Edurne's father, who died in
Donosti, and we couldn't. Nor can we this year, because we have the graduation of the big boy,
in the United States, who is there with a scholarship from the Government. It will be the next,
God willing.
Jesús Landa is head of a maintenance mechanics section at the same plant in San Tomé. He
arrived in Venezuela in November 1950,/ after a long experience: the War, exile in Euzkadi, the
return to the South "let Franco kill me, but I won't make another war"—, a new concentration
camp in Irún, leaving through intercession of his sister and brother-in-law, who lived in San
Sebastián, called the "late fifth of 41", and new field, now in Miranda de Ebro, go to a car
company, complaint, thirty months in prison, again military service...
«One day I was talking with a friend there, who was a blacksmith, and another came to us saying that he was going
to go to Venezuela, which was beginning to arrange the papers. He convinced us both, because he
brought a list of what things cost here: potatoes, corn... I was encouraged. An agency of those "pirates"
looked for a "uncle" to claim me. A certain Lucio Landa. I don't know who it is. But at that time he was
my uncle, and a good uncle.
Born in Ispáster, Jesús was a naval motorist in his town, and also a truck driver.
When he arrived in his new homeland, he went to work at the “Canteras Vasconia”. He spent eight
years there, near Caracas. There was no way to improve the salary, and he tried with a brother-in-law
to obtain an exclusive for Oriente of automatic cigarette machines. The attempt failed, but he already
stayed in a contract. And then, to the oil company. This is how he describes §,u work:
“There are a number of engines that are working throughout the area, where there will be about two
hundred plants. Some are extraction motors, and others gas injection, to remove the oil. When
someone goes bad, they let me know, and I send the crew. I have been doing this for more than ten
years, and in total in the Company, seventeen.
The working day is eight hours —from seven to eleven thirty, and from twelve thirty to four—, five days
a week. There are places where, although the sun hits, there is a breeze. But there are others where
the breeze does not hit, and there it is hard. Now, I like the heat; I think that there you suffer more from
the cold, the tool becomes so that you can't hold it in your hands. I remember having frozen hands
there, unable to do anything. Here one does not get annoyed by the heat because with the humidity
you sweat a lot. The only thing that bothers you is sweat, because you're always half soaked. But, the
rest, no; This is one of the best climates in Venezuela, except for Caracas, which is better. It's hot in
Guyana. Here, in San Tomé, at night, it's even cold."
A "cold" of twenty degrees. But they consider it so. They've gotten used to a lot more.
A third Basque, from Mundaka, works in the same area. It is Pedro Onaindía —Mario's uncle, the
Secretary General of EIA—. Pedro has reached sixty «and at the end of this month they already
liquidate me. I am going back to Euzkadi. I have asked for a one-year extension and they have given
it to me, but I'm going to go anyway. If there is no obstacle, I will spend a month there, I will return for
another year, and we will see, because they say that this winter is so cold... and already, loaded with
years, well, if the cold scares me, I will come back to this ».
«I thought that America was, like when we were young and we saw those who came from the United
States, with gold teeth. I thought we were going to fill ourselves with gold. And it turns out that, well, I
have already reached the goal in age, but for what I came, that is not what I have reached. I came in
'55, and then I went there, and also to Argentina, because I have a married daughter in Argentina.
I have worked in two more workshops... One was called "Suca", in Anaco, and it went bankrupt. Later
I was in "Petróleo Machimboro", by a certain Potts, who had a fatality: when they diverted a plane to
Cuba, one "misiú" already had a heart attack... well that was it. The workshop, from there, has passed
through several hands, they closed it, they reopened it to do small-time jobs...
At Meneven, here I am, in this workshop. I'll take care of it, then. Sometimes I'm inside
office, others there, among the irons and coworkers, to receive, deliver, place orders; construction
and maintenance. We build rods and pistons and stuff, and sometimes we fix the ones that are
broken."
About this oil thing circulated a species in the Basque Center. They said that a technician, calculator
in hand, had shown that a liter of gasoline, in the Spanish State, should not cost much more than in
Venezuela itself. At most, two or three pesetas. The rest would be taxes. We tried to confirm the
thesis at the Lagoven headquarters itself. Eduardo Santamaría was kind enough to accompany us to
the right person to talk about it.
Whenever confirmation of an idea is sought, and it is not obtained, there remains the remote suspicion
that they have not wanted to give us the data frankly.
However, it is more complex than it seems that the oil costs.

The United States has established fixed "domestic" prices for crude oil. In Europe, each state is
different. Germany offers a free market. France tends to liberalization. In others, including the Spanish
State, monopolies remain.
The export contracts are signed here by the CVP and its subsidiaries, and in each one they are
obliged to notify the prices before carrying out the shipment in "tankers" of two hundred to three
hundred thousand barrels; that is to say, in oil tankers of twenty thousand to fifty thousand tons.
OPEC sets prices on the basis of a certain type of product, "marker crude," which is usually "light
Arab oil."
This Arab crude is 34 degrees API. The Venezuelan is usually denser, although there are differences
between 8 and 50 degrees. The mean is 25, and the "typical" is 24.
The heavier the natural hydrocarbon, the lower the price, depending on its greater difficulty in
reconversion in refineries, and the lower proportion of use. But the costs of freight and transport also
have an influence. Thus, for the United States —for example— Venezuelan crude supposes a lower
proportion of gasoline and diesel oil, but also an infinitely more favorable freight rate than that of the
Arab countries.
Add to these variables the differences that also exist between refineries. Some take more advantage
of the raw material; there are those that carry out the process with lower or higher costs, depending
on the investment, labor, amount and type of energy used...
The result of refining depends on the procedure. With simple distillation, 22 percent of naphtha is
obtained from the 100 percent of crude used. Through a conversion, "cracking", and different
operations, up to fifty percent can be redeemed.
After all these possible variations, and taking into account that transportation can cost 0.60 dollars
per barrel, we will limit ourselves to translating the measurements, in case any curious reader wants
to entertain himself in making his calculations.
A barrel of oil is equal to 42 gallons; a gallon, to 3,785 liters. In other words, the barrel contains
approximately 158.97 liters.
1 33 The arduous path of Exile
All these men, all these stories, and many other men, with their lives, their battles, and their wars on top of them,
continue in that Republic of the Caribbean. The Venezuelans of Euzkadi do not usually boast of their past, even if it is
heroic. They like to remain silent, for the most part, like the motrikoarra Aguirregomezkorta, from whom we snatched his
secret.
Other Venezuelans from Euzkadi cannot narrate experiences from the thirties. The most, because they had not yet
been born. In reality, the first waves of immigrants from the Basque Country —brought along by political persecution
between 1939 and 1947— were later joined by other generations, in the 1950s, driven by a classic desire to improve
economically, to "make the Americas."
But those who arrived first at this time of the 20th century were the ones who laid the foundations of the Euskara
community in Creole land.
His coming was not easy. We have already seen that it took a lot to convince the local authorities to open the doors for
them. His effort was also great, and the choice between staying in danger, but close to home, the Country and family,
or embarking on other risks and adventures no less certain and unpleasant, such as the long pilgrimage in search of the
documents, was tremendous. , of the passages on a ship —including waiting for the quota—, and of the trip that, in the
middle of the world war, had nothing of a pleasure cruise.
Almost all of them were preceded, in the year thirty-eight, by a young doctor named José María
Bengoa, who would soon become the international conflict and did not have too much problem,
Martín de Ugalde, another of the Venezuelans from Euzkadi, recounts: «Venezuela's word and helping hand came
through the providence of Mr. Eduardo Monsanto, representative of the European Immigration Institute, and Simón
Gonzalo Salas, another excellent friend of ours. -to whom we owe much more than we can explain in written lines. Thus,
Venezuela received this first contingent of Basques through the mediation of the Basque Government in exile in Paris,
with travel documentation from the still recent Republic of Euzkadi, and so prematurely in exile.
This first contingent of soldiers, who had just lost a patriotic war in the midst of an intentional confusion of ideas spread
abroad, adjusted to the anguishing situation of being uprooted with the optimism that the idea of a new beginning
awakens»...
«First there were three ships, as in the miracle of Faith of the Discovery: the «Cuba», which left Le Havre with a hundred
and a half Basques for Venezuela and arrived at La Guaira on July 14, 1939; the "Flandre", with about two hundred,
which made the same route to arrive exactly one month later, and the "Bretagne", which left Bordeaux to enter La Guaira
with another group of seventy-five. They were received with sympathy that the Basques will always remember by Dr.
Otto Antillano, Napoleón Arraiz and Abel Cifuentes Espinetti, officials of the Immigration Institute, directed at the time by
the well-known intellectual and writer, Dr. Arturo Uslar Pietri, whom we Basques who arrived We owe so much attention
to Venezuela."
Also these four hundred or so exiles had relative good luck. Because there were many others
who went through more stages and hardships.
Jon Víctor Etxebarría, the socialist stenographer of the Bilbao City Council, came from Marseilles
on the La Salle, one of those ships from the previous chapter. Let him remember;
«At that time, when the arrival of the Basques here was managed, due to a matter of natural
mechanics (the Basque Government was made up mostly of nationalists), most of the
immigration was from nationalists. That came from the agreement with the Venezuelan
authorities. But we also arrived, a few of the rest, by our own means, without the intervention of
the Government of Euzkadi. I discussed this with Juanito Olazábal, who represented a
commission from the first government to bring in Basques, and later I learned that a Republican
was also on that commission, Don Luis Aranguren, Dr. Gonzalo's father.
I embarked on the La Salle, paid for by the Government of the Republic. The Spanish Republic
made a deposit of fifty dollars per head of the family, and there were about a thousand of us on
the boat. The World War had already started. In Santo Domingo, which is where the Transatlantic
had made the deposit, they kept the money. Our fifty dollars a head, and the Jews' five hundred
dollars a head.
So we had to get where we could. I asked: whose hotel is it?

It was from "Short". Well here we go. You have to keep in mind that fifty dollars was a large
sum. Renting a villa, or a little cottage by the sea, cost eleven dollars a month. A lobster, five
cents. What happens is that there was no one who had a dollar to buy anything.
Until the hotel that belonged to Rafael Leónidas Trujillo himself, the absolute boss of the
Dominican Republic at that time, Etxebarría arrived through the War in Euzkadi and in Catalonia,
in the latter as a police officer. In Barcelona, and in the Corps transport headquarters, he was
under the orders of Tomás Rementería, from Bilbao, and with his brother, Alberto.
After the conflict ended, and from France, he obtained the visa —the only one possible now—
with some difficulties. Mexico had been closed, after receiving large numbers of Spanish
republicans. There were no boats left, nor quota. In Chile there were also limitations. Only for
Santo Domingo there were certain facilities. "You can see that" Chapita "wanted to ingratiate
himself with the United States," Jon Víctor continues, "who never tires of narrating his
experiences.
«A curious guy was Gurruchaga, mayor of a town in La Rio-ja. Farmer, son and grandson of
farmers, they hired him in Santo Domingo to do a study of the border with Haiti, with the idea of
getting immigrants there. He was an agronomist and had a salary of eighty dollars. He went to
the area, examined it, studied it, and when he returned he made a report of what he had seen.
A report of about six lines and I remember that it concluded by saying that that area was only
inhabitable by donkeys, and that it did not guarantee the life of anyone, that they would surely
die. We told him to sweeten that a bit, because it was going to cost him his salary of eighty
dollars and, with his flute voice, he replied: Well, isn't it true? As
I'm going to sweeten the thing?
He spent some time there, and then he came to Venezuela, where he was placed in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Once they sent him to evaluate some farms, which were stony. It turns out that they belonged to a colonel, and
the colonel went to pressure him to say that they were worth a lot, and thus the Ministry would compensate him.
But he said what they were really worth: nothing.
Two or three things like that happened to him, and he published a small story in “El Universal”, saying: “I had
been informed that farmers were needed in Venezuela, but I have seen on the ground that this is not true. So,
fellow Venezuelans, I'm going to Panama." And he left for Panama, this Gurruchaga, and disappeared.
Another curious fellow was coming on the boat. It's not that we all looked very normal, because we were a bunch
of criminals, demoralized, with a hell of a bad mood, and very afraid, because at that time they knocked down
twenty or twenty-five ships in the canal. You had to hide the press from the ladies, so they wouldn't see that.
Well, we're out now. A string of anarchists came, quite scandalous and unruly, who beat each other and
organized fights. But there was an old gentleman, Aragonese, with a beard, and he drew attention because of
his blouse, which reached his ankle. I think he had one of those stores in a small town where everything is sold.
And he was the object of the jokes of the entire passage.
This man went to San Pedro Macorís. And one day he gave us the big surprise, when he showed up at the hotel,
to the group of those who had given him a place at the table. He had pawned the typewriter so that he could get
to Santo Domingo to tell us that he had
order from "Chapita" to take us all to the border with Haiti. I was very moved, because that typewriter that he
pawned, to come and give us the notice, was all he had.
«Later, the arrival of Santo Domingo in Caracas also had its own. Because a commission was created, and
there was a certain Bosch (who had been a Colonel, in Catalonia during the War he was accused of a dispute
with the Basque Government, that he had promoted an uprising...). Total, that this Bosch came to have a certain
value in the Dominican Republic, to the extent that he got to marry a niece of the Dictator. And they told me that
he was already married before in Barcelona.
This was part of the Commission, with Eusebio Irujo and I think the brother of "Lezo", Urreztieta. Irujo told us
that there was no money to pay for the ticket from Santo Domingo to Venezuela. The most we achieved, after
shouting, threatening, and exhausting ourselves, was that they facilitated the passage to Curacao. We take a
risk.
Because Segurajáuregui had made a trip around the Island, together with a merchant, Beascoechea, to inform
us of the economic situation. And the report was very short: "if you turn the Dominicans around, you turn them
all upside down,
five dollars do not fall ». So, the decision was immediate; leave. So we went to apply for admission here in
Venezuela.
Since there was no job to be found there, there was no money, nothing like that, we were a thousand, those who
we wanted to come To the Venezuelan Ambassador, since they knew it was easy for farmers to enter,
everyone told him that he was a farmer. This Rementería and I arrived, and they asked me:
"Are you a farmer?"

-I? No!
-So what is it?
-Stenographer.
The man liked the thing, and said:

—Then, for my c..., you go there.
For having told the truth, because he must have already been fed up with so many farmers. And they
gave us the visa.
Then, in order to get from Curacao, twelve or fourteen Basque families were here.
Unemployed. We had no money... We raised half a dollar each, and they played a radiogram for
Juanito Olazábal, who was the representative of the Basque Fisheries. Then Uslar Pietri gave the
order that the Immigration Institute take charge of our tickets.
That's how we arrived. The Institute paid us fifteen days to stay in Caracas and then, free skill.
Through the intervention of the poet Andrés Eloy Blanco, I found a job in the Caracas City Hall. Later
they summoned a position of stenographer in the Senate. But, although I won it, I was only able to
occupy it until the year 1948, when the Pérez Jiménez government overthrew the government, and I
had to dedicate myself to selling insurance.
Until 1963, when I returned to the Chamber of Deputies. And in 1976, when the chief stenographer
retired, they appointed me. For a year and a bit, nothing more, because what I wanted was to retire,
and I did so ».
Even more difficult was Captain Burgaña's way of "crossing the pond", whom we have already
mentioned on two other occasions. After fulfilling his mission to maintain maritime traffic in the port of
Bilbao, this Motrikoarra captain went to Euzkadi Norte, and was commissioned to lead a new
Government maritime company.
We have already said that the Basque exiles, to the north of the Bidasoa, were having a very bad
time, due to the absolute prohibition of paid work that weighed on them.
Those who did not have a personal or family fortune found themselves penalized, or condemned to
truly forced labor, such as felling pine trees in the Landes.
However, there was another possibility: foreign subjects could enroll as crew members in a high
proportion of the fishing boats.
With credits managed by the Minister of Finance, Helio-doro de la Torre, two small-sized fishing boats
began to be built in Bayonne, which could both alleviate the situation of a handful of exiles, and
constitute a source of income for the Government . However, the CFDT, a trade union center, was
opposed from the beginning. Even during the shipyard work, there were two important sabotages
against what would be the "Donibane" and the "Bigarrena".
When the year 39 arrived, the «dróle de guerra», and before the beginning of the world war, which was
not going to have anything «dróle», the danger of expropriation was coming, and the delivery to Franco
of those two boats . At the same time, the agreement for emigration to Venezuela had been established,
for the same reasons of insecurity.
The Government of Euzkadi then sought the formula to ensure ownership of the two ships. And it was
decided that the best system was to send them to America.
The next dilemma arose as to the way in which the transfer could be carried out. Burgaña insisted that a
crossing could be made on the same boats, in the face of skepticism, or opposition, from two experts,
who consider such a feat impossible.
The ships in question were smaller than the inshore fishing boats that are dedicated in Fuenterrabía to
the almost sportive capture of hake with rod and hook. Each measured fourteen meters in length. It had
two forty-horsepower engines, truck engines, whose propeller shaft was not diagonal (it could not be,
due to the characteristics of the engines), but was driven by a set of ball joints. They had no masts, nor
the possibility of sails.
In a direct conversation with the Lendakari, the captain managed to convince him. Especially when he
used the following argument: one of those technicians who opposed was embarking his own son on the
expedition.
The fundamental technical problem, for the one who was going to be the leader of the crossing, was
calculating the fuel. According to the books, the power-speed ratio of their boats corresponded to a
consumption of 0.75 liters per mile. Calculating four thousand for the trip, he loaded four tons on each
ship. He still had something left over.
The provisioning was carried out by Estornés Lasa, who was in charge of the quartermaster for the
Basque Government. It would have been enough, according to the captain, for the entire trip. But, in
addition, along the way they found abundant fish, and even on the few days when a storm hit them,
squid and flying fish fell on the deck in abundance, to spare, there was even lemons left over, which had
to be consumed one per head, as a preventive hygiene measure against scurvy.
The condition that Aguirre had set as mandatory, in order to accept the risk of the adventure, was that
the two ships make a mandatory stopover in Dakar, just halfway through the journey. The captain had
objected, for reasons of military security. But those of technical security prevailed.
And, indeed, they entered. There, as was to be expected, the papers were not very convincing to the
authorities of the French colony —France already occupied. The captain kept two logbooks. One, to
teach the authorities, where the purpose of the trip was to test the boats and, as the cause of the arrival
in Dakar, the loss on the high seas, after a storm, seasoned the pretext with sufficient technical data to
do the thing plausible.
In the other, the newspaper "de verdad", for the Government of Euzkadi, it was said that the object of the
voyage was to prove that those ships were capable of reaching America, with only one stopover in
between.
As the matter of the office was delayed, the Basques decided to leave clandestinely, in the middle of
the night. They had invested fourteen days in the first half of the voyage, and two waiting in port.
Another fourteen, and they arrived at Isla Caribe.
In Isla Caribe they docked, with the excuse of watering down. From there, a telegraph operator was
commissioned to notify the delegate of the Ilu Euzkadi Government in Venezuela of his arrival. But
lo and behold, upon arriving at La Guaira, a Basque who was on the dock, watching the arrival
operations, and a delegation of local authorities, warned the commander of the ILC I expedition in
Basque: "Watch out for that one!"
That was none other than Franco's Ambassador. Because the tele-ftrufista of the Island, by simple
confusion or intentionally, instead of giving the notice to the representative of the Basque Government,
had passed it not even in Spain. The first person responsible for that nautical feat, that Iwbííi left
Bayonne with the French flag and entered America, without inris teaching that the ikurriña, rejected
the presence of the Dictator's diplomat.
On that same trip they arrived Triki Azpiritxaga, the giularis commander whom we have already
mentioned; the also commander of Kiiilaris Echegoyen, who entered Paris with the troops allied to
De Gaulle. And León Aguirregomezkorta, the one who "smuggled" the remains ilc Sabino.
Triki told us in Caracas that he traveled, specifically, on the "Bigarrena."
—"I had never embarked before. But I knew a captain, from Catalonia, and I told him: if you go, I'll
go. That's how we decided, Echegoyen, Bedia —another commander— and me.
I think most of the expedition members have died. I also remember Bernedo, Ruiz de Loizaga...
Some did not believe that it was possible to get here with i al boats. And we, without realizing it.
Because, the rest, we would not have come either. Going out, we went out without authorization. I
think they let us escape."
Harry A. Kirwin, an American journalist, writes some other details about this trip, in an article about
Burgaña. He tells that the night of the departure, gathered in a tavern, all the expedition members
turned their pockets and asked for wine for the value of the coins they could collect; everything they
owned.
That they left in the dark, with those boats with a draft of barely three feet, fleeing from any light or
ship, because Franco kept a strong watch to prevent arms trafficking,
or the escape of political refugees, like the men who were on board.
The World War had broken out and the ships that sighted them during the voyage altered their
course; they feared underwater traps. No one managed to communicate with them during the entire
journey.
Aguirregomezkorta also complemented the story:

«We left Bayonne on August 7, and on September 8 we entered La Guaira. They had come looking for me where I
was working, in the pines. In total, we came seventeen; eight on the "Doni-bane" and nine on the "Bigarrena", among
them a stowaway, who came on deck. Our captain, the Bigarrena, was from Mundaca, I came as a driver. I had a
skipper's title there, but I came as a machinist. The engines were from trucks, but good ones. And we came very well.
There was a repair, but it wasn't a bad thing; only the breaking of the spring of the Bigarrena pump. And in the
"Donibane", a ro-binera that broke.
It was also easy to change.
Temporary? Yes, we had one in the Bay of Biscay, when we arrived at Cabo de Peñas, in Asturias, a rather strong
storm, and we were quite loaded with food and fuel- We weathered it for twenty-four hours, and advancing little by little,
almost to the coast of Bilbao . But it passed and we didn't have any more, except for a small cyclone off Cape Verde.
This did not fall with the wind, but with heavy rain, lightning, and some gusts.
When we got to Dakar they asked us how we could have come with that cyclone, and how we had been saved. The
truth is that we had a wonderful time, because it did not affect us so much. The Cantabrian storm affected us more...».
This maritime epic could be written at length, and perhaps the commander of the expedition will do so, fond as he is of
the pen and essay.
There was no shortage of anecdotes, and one of the most "famous", without a doubt, is the "stowaway" that a group of
crew members of the "Bigarrena" put into the boss. It was Captain Marina, a republican among nationalists,
"camouflaged" until it was impossible to send him back.
Marina stayed in Santo Domingo and there, according to Etxebarría, “an American writer, who found out about some
phases of her life, wanted to take advantage of them to write a book. With this initiative from the Americans, he offered
him five dollars an hour to tell him his biography. And Marina got a terrible horny. He insulted her... what did you think,
that I'm going to tell you my life for money! I count a drunk for two whiskeys; but at a fixed time, and at a fixed rate, I
won't tell you anything, damn it!
But look, sir, it's my profession; I live from that. I want you to tell me a part of your life, and I narrate it and...
"I'm not telling you shit!" I don't tell you anything!
They say that Marina left here, that she went out in a boat with two others, they were shipwrecked, the others drowned,
but he was saved. And they also say that he had landed in the United States, and that lately he had been shooting
films in Spanish ».
Despite all the difficulties that we have been recounting, we believe that none of the groups of exiles from this first
wave had as bad a time as that of the “Alsina”. Those lived a true "journey of the damned", comparable to that
described in the novel-testimony of the same title about a group of Belgian Jews.
Editorial Xamezaga has edited and published the book -Cronicas de el Alsina- whose author
Arantzazu Amezaga de Irujo, recounts the experiences of those passengers among them my Aitas, from whom and
from their stories he was nourished for the elaboration of said book, also, of him
Alsina related it, also with the air of a novel (it would be better to say, novels) by our exiled writer
Tellagorri, (goian bego) himself the protagonist of the experience. We recommend the reader
"Antton Sukalde" and "París Abandonada", as a complement to the brief summary collected in
Caracas from two witnesses: Dr. Bilbao and the engineer Jon Aretxabaleta.
In short, the expedition members left on January 15, 1941 from Marseille. The "Alsina" only took
them as far as Casablanca. There they were disembarked and taken to a concentration camp in
the desert, where they spent several months, and where there was a significant mortality of
travelers. From Casablanca they were embarked again, in a Portuguese merchant ship, to Dakar,
where they were detained again, this time without disembarking. From there, he returned to
French Morocco and finally headed for America. ten months had passed
horrible. Brief stopover in Veracruz, and arrival in Havana, another concentration camp, another
road trip and a new ship that would transport them to La Guaira, where they arrived on December
10. What a year! Doctor Bilbao, from whom we have already collected testimonies about the War
and exile, had the opportunity to come into contact with the medical institutions of the French
colonial system, both in Dakar and in Morocco, and the experience served him well for later. But,
above all, it was an important relief and help for the health problems of all the expedition members.
In addition, a daughter was born to him on the way. A girl who could have been of Spanish
nationality (by the laws of the Spanish State), Portuguese (because she was born on a Portuguese
ship), Mexican (the ship first touched the port of Veracruz), and Venezuelan (for arriving a few
months later). of born girl). Her parents opted for the latter alternative and today, a Basque
among Basques, she is married to Lander Quintana, architect and General Director of Housing
for the Government of Luis Herrera Campíns.
Jon Arechavaleta, ex-president of the Basque Center of Caracas, not only preserves memories,
but has been concerned with reconstructing with other witnesses what that tragedy was.
The tape recorder returns his story to us:
«Many years later, through a man of Jewish origin who has a business here, I found out things
that my own father had not told me. I turned seven years old on that trip.
It seems that the passage was divided into two parts; one was for Basque refugees, and another
for Jews. The ship sailed under the French flag. The reason why, since everything was already
occupied by the Germans, a safe-conduct for the passage had been given, is something that I
still do not understand. Apparently, before the allies, the pretext for letting him go is that he was
carrying war refugees. But apparently he was also involved with some fuel supply for the Nazis.
There was a tremendous mess with Alsina.
That's why there was no way to cross the Atlantic. They took us to Casablanca, they made us
disembark, and they put us in a concentration camp.
As an adult, I have seen our trunks and suitcases still with the labels, pink with black letters: "Rio
de Janeiro." The planned route was Marseille-Rio de Janeiro. We left Marseilles on January 15,
1941.
Our father, who had been Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, closely linked to all the
movements of the Government of Euzkadi, was constantly
escaping, and hiding. We were in Paris, in a small outlying town, where one of our brothers was
born, who died a few days later. Later we arrive at Capbreton as the last point. But the Nazi
forces had already made their presence there. So we fled to Marseille. Always that memory: aita
running from one place to another, fleeing... I also remember that in Marseille we saw Petain.
In short, in that concentration camp died —as they say here—, God and Holy Mary. That was a
disaster. They were barracks where there was hay for the horses. They must have been the
stables of some Arab cavalry battalion. I remember perfectly, even though I was only six years
old, the things that had to be invented there: the oil lamps... and all the tricks that the doctors
improvised. A boy who is now a doctor, Joseba Bilbao, suffered from phenomenal gastroenteritis.
And, since there was no serum, I think it was with urine that they were able to rehydrate him.
(Joseba is also the son of Dr. Luis Bilbao, and today he has become one of the most prestigious
surgeons in Venezuela).
After five months we left, they put us on another Portuguese ship, and on to Dakar. In Dakar they
didn't let us disembark. We were in the port for four months. Confined, unable to leave. When
one is older, one realizes that that situation was a ball that there was nowhere to grab it. Nobody
knew what that was. Run here, run there...
They returned us to Casablanca, and gave us possibilities to stay in some houses for a very
short period, until everything was arranged to take another ship. And we went out again after ten
months, I think around October or so, heading to America.
We pass in front of Miami. I don't know if contacts were made to enter the United States, but I
think not. And we got to Mexico. Some landed in Veracruz. From there they sent us to Havana,
where they put us in a barracks for immigrants.
Actually it must have been a school-farm, or something like that, where they set up some
dormitories, some pavilions, where we spent a few days, or a few weeks.
In some buses they sent us to Santiago de Cuba, a thousand kilometers from Havana. Three
days of travel, and what a trip. In Santiago they embarked us again, it seems to me that in the
"Cuba", a small freighter, and in it we arrived at La Guaira on December 10,
A barbaric expedition, that one. I am the eldest of the brothers, and the others also remember. I
do not keep the image, but I imagine the tremendous tragedy that our parents had. That's enough
to kill anyone. After what they went through in the War...
We left Bilbao in 1937 and my mother had just given birth to the third of her children, the first girl.
He was born precisely on the day of the bombing of Guernica, April 26. And nine days later we
left Bilbao. The pilgrimage was horrible.
The tragedy, however, was not over for the Aretxabaleta. The Caracas earthquake, the last
major earthquake in Caracas, killed Jon's parents. He and his brothers were not at home. They
were in the Basque Center. That saved their lives when the building where the family lived
collapsed.
1 34 Presence and contribution to Basque and universal culture at the Centro Vasco Caracas
We are talking about Dr Vicente Amezaga Arestique- with his wide and extensive work in the areas of Basque
culture, literature, translations into Euskera, Conferences, press articles, and specialized magazines.
Being Euskaldunberri, I became a Member of the Academy of Basque Language,
Brief review of his literary work
ÿ Translations into Basque from 6 languages -25 works

ÿ Books published 6
ÿ His works published in Basque publishers and in Venezuela –
ÿ Press Articles in four Countries – 163
ÿ Poems in Basque - 63 ÿ Poems
in Spanish – 44
ÿ Bibliographic Reviews – 37
ÿ Organizer and creator Montevideo Basque Week press articles – 31
ÿ Conferences in three countries 91
ÿ Publications in Magazines in three countries – 31
Total Works that cultivation – 491
1 34 1 Basque Culture Lectures given at the Basque Center in Caracas1961
The Basque pro-university association offered an interesting series of classes on Basque culture or
position of Dr. Vicente de Amezaga Aresti Lawyer and Full Member of the Academy of the Basque
Language
The purpose of these courses organized by the Basque Pro-University Association was to give all Basques
the opportunity to acquire a solid knowledge of being a Basque national.
L—THE EARTH. Primitive territory and current Basque soil. Zones and landscapes. The mountain
and the sea.
2.—PRIMITIVE BASQUE MAN. The Basque in prehistory. Franco-Cantabrian civilization: its
scope and characteristics, its survival in Euzkadi today.
3-—THE HISTORICAL BASQUE MAN. Concept of the Basque through the Greeks and Romans,
the French and Spanish literature of the Golden Age; foreign travelers; characterological study.
4.—THE AGRICULTURAL, PASTORAL AND MARITIME COMPLEX. Miners and Ferrones.

5.—OLD RELIGION. Basque calendar. Mythology.
6.—CHRISTIANITY; its introduction into the country. Sorcery. heterodox. Sense of Basque religiosity.
7.—THE BASQUE LANGUAGE: general characteristics; primitive area of the same; retreat
of its borders through the various historical vicissitudes. influences.
8.—THE BASQUE HOUSE; its ethnic and social role. Legal institutions derived from it: the
trunk; the heir; flower communication.
9.—THE FAMILY is the basis of Basque political democracy. The bonfire vote!. Other family-
based institutions.
10.—EMIGRATION; roots and scope of this problem.
11.—THE SURNAME; its origin, classes and significance; Basque surnames in Venezuela.
12.—ANCIENT GUILDS AND FELLOWSHIPS; neighbor relations.

13.—THE autonomous and democratic MUNICIPALITY; its aspects in the different regions of the
Basque Country from the origins to the present day.
14.—SOCIAL ORGANIZATION. Content of Basque democracy; sense of equality; reaction against
the feudal attempts of the Elder Kin. universal nobility.
15.—THE DISSOCIATIVE ELEMENTS: Oñacinos and gamboinos, agramonteses and beaumonteses,

sabeltzuris and sabelgorris.
16.—THE PEOPLE in the Roman, Visigothic and Arab periods: struggles and vicissitudes; unit.
Sancho the Greater.
17.—STATE INSTITUTIONS. The Duchy of Vasconia; origins and historical trajectory.
18.—KINGDOM OF NAVARRE; historical synthesis of its greatness and misery.

••. fu.uu jjJJ IUJL.J1.LH, liSLULUJU \ltí UUlp'IJzc'oa and Álava; • i their characteristics;
separation and mutual relations.
20.—, LABURDI, ZUBEROA AND GENABARRA; own development; its links with France and England
and its relations with the southern Basque states.
21.—BASQUE LEGISLATION: Its written appearance in the different regions of Euzkadi; their
fundamental character.
22.—BASQUE LAW: Basic institutions thereof; their origin, meaning and value.
23.—REGIONAL BODIES.—The General Meetings; organization and functions; other government

agencies. The Regiment and the General Council.
24.—INTERNATIONAL LIFE; the treaties with England and the Basque maritime and commercial
expansion.
25.—THE MEIDA AGE. The so-called unions with Castilla; its meaning and scope. Absorption attempts;
four homeland glories.
26.—THE RENAISSANCE. The conquest of Navarre; story of a perfidy
27.—THE BASQUES IN THE COMPANIES OF THE CROWN OF CASTILLA; precedents
and development.
28.—THE BASQUES IN CASTILIAN LITERATURE; from Gonzalo de Berceo to the present day.
29.—THE BASQUE LANGUAGE; Bernardo Dechepare, the first poet in the Basque language; study of
his work.
30.—PEDRO DE AXULAR, the greatest Basque prose writer. Study of his "GERO".
31.—THE PRINCE OF VIANA; image of his homeland and man of the Renaissance.
32.—THE COUNTER-REFORM. Ignatius of Loyola and Francisco de Xabier.
33.—DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. The Basques in the sea; whalers and cod boats. Basque
boats and maritime inventions.
34.—THE GREAT NAVIGATORS. Juan de Lacosa, Sebastian de Elcano.
35.—THE RIGHT OF RECENTLY DISCOVERED PEOPLES; Francisco de Vitoria and his doctrine
of International Law.
36.—THE MISSIONARIES. Antxieta, Azpilikuetas, etc.
37.—THE CIVILIANS. Juan de Zumarraga.
38.—THE FOUNDERS. Irala, Caray, Zabala.

39.^THE COLONIZERS. Urdaneta y Legazpi and the company from the Philippines.
40.—THE FIRST VOICES OF LIBERTY; Alonso de Er-cilla and Lope de Aguirre.
41.—THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. maritime development; The Consulate of Bilbao.
International projection of its ORDINANCES.
42.—OVERSEAS COMMERCIAL COMPANIES; The Royal Guipuzcoan Company of Caracas.
Synthesis of its activities and achievements.
43.—CULTURAL COMPANIES: The Basque Society of Friends of the Country; Peñaflorida
and his collaborators. Scope of the work carried out.
44.—XIX CENTURY. The French Revolution and its impact on continental Euzkadi.
Loss of freedoms of these regions.
45.—THE NAPOLEONIC DEED. Results of the same in the north and south of the country.
46.—THE SPANISH DYNASTIC QUESTION. The first Carlist war; sense of Basque intervention.
Zumalacarregui, the Basque genius of war.
47.—THE SECOND CARLIST WAR. Her CARACTERISTICS; loss of liberties, per
vivences.
48.—Jose Maria de IPARRAGUIRRE; the wandering bard
49.—THE REACTION IN THE COUNTRY; fueristas and "euskalerriakos". Cultural and political
attempts at renaissance: Arturo Campion.
50.—SABINO DE ARANA GOIRI; roots, life, work and doctrine.
51.—BASQUE RENAISSANCE. Cultural aspect. Congress of Basque Studies. The Basque
Studies Society. The Language Academy.
52.—EPIC POETRY. precedents The poem "EUSKALDU-NAK" by Nicolás de Ormaetxea.
53.—POPULAR POETRY. The bertsolaris. The bard Pierre de Echahun.

54.—THE LYRIC. precedents and contemporaries. Xabier de Lizardi and his work.
55.—THEATRE. The "PASTORAL". Modern attempts at creation.
56.—THE BASQUE BOOK in Basque and Spanish; history, present and future.
57.—JOURNALISM, THE STORY, THE NOVEL; the translations.
58.—CULTURAL MAGAZINES; Work done and to be done.
59.—PLASTIC ARTS: music and dances;'sports.
60.—THE FUTURE OF BASQUE CULTURE. From primary school to university. Basque language
of culture.
1 34 2 Press articles published in the national press (El Universal and El Nacional), as well as in
Venezuelan magazines
1. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Aberri Eguna-1958
2. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Aramburu-El Universal-02-1960
3. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Cultural aspects of Cia Guipuzcoana
4. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Begoña de Naguanagua-Euzko Gastedi October 1956
5. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Letter to the Director of the newspaper La Religion
6. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Letter of thanks
7. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Letter Caracas, Gloria Bravo Pueblo-Euzko Gastedi 1958
8. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Letter from Caracas
9. Articles-Press-Venezuela-From Bolivar to Zaldivar-1961
10. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Of our lineage Jose de Cadalso
11.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Dialogue of emigrants-Euzko Gastedi February 1958
12.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Dialogues presence and absence-Euzko Gastedi-July 1956 13.Articles-Press-

Venezuela-The Vasco case-El Nacional 1962 14.Articles-Press-Venezuela-The
Basque National Anthem-Aberri 1959 15. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Basque Humorism-El
Nacional 1963 16.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Elcano Juan Sebastian 17.Articles-Press-
Venezuela-The-Basque-Character-by-Vicente-Amezaga-Aresti
18.Articles-Press -Venezuela-The-Basque-Hymn-by-Vicente-Amezaga-Aresti 19.Articles-Press-
Venezuela-Bury a Basque 20.Articles-Press-Venezuela-This is Pizkunde 21.Articles-Press-
Venezuela-Etymology-Basque -XVIII-Century-Venezuelan 22.Articles-
Press-Venezuela-Export of cocoa 23.Articles-Press-Venezuela-
Foundation-of-the-real-Company-Guipuzcoan-Company 24.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Towards
Freedom- Gudari 1969 25.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Tribute to Father
Zabala 26.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Simple Ideas-Euzko Gastedi 1959 27.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Inedito-
Guillermo Humboldt.
28. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Unpublished-Problems in the translation into Basque 29. Articles-Press-

Venezuela-Jesus de Galindez-El Universal 1959.
30. Articles-Press-Venezuela-The Basque House-Vicente-Amezaga-Aresti.
31.Articles-Press-Venezuela-The Culture of the Basque Exile by Vicente Amezaga Aresti.
32.Articles-Press-Venezuela-La Vigerie El Universal 01- June 1965- 33.Articles-Press-
Venezuela-Basque Language and Nationality-El Nacional May 1958.
34.Press-Articles-Venezuela-What we cannot forget– Euzko Gastedi 1957- 35.Press-Articles-Venezuela-
The-Basques-in-The-Venezuelan-Xviii-Century.
36.Venezuelan-Press-Articles-The-Basques-at-The-Caracas-Foundation 37.Venezuelan-Press-
Articles-Lucio de Aretxabaleta-08-09-1967
38.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Madariaga Bolivar and the Basques-1961- 39.Articles-Press-
Venezuela-Don Pio the Tremendous died – El Nacional 29-22-1959 40.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Our Don
Pio Baroja and Nessi-The National 1956-.
41.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Orixe-Nicolas Ormaetxea-Eusko Gastedi-09-1961- 42.Articles-Press-
Venezuela-Words of Defense – El Universal March 1959-
43.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Few words to the children of Vasconia 44.Articles-Press-
Venezuela-Youth Problems-Euzko Gastedi October 1956.
45. Articles-Press-Venezuela-Aberri Eguna Program Basque Center Caracas 1959-.
46. Articles-Press-Venezuela-San Miguel Bridge – El Universal-.
47.Articles-Press-Venezuela-Resist and Persist-Euzko Gastedi 1962- 48.Articles-Press-
Venezuela-Sabino de Arana Goiri-.
49.Venezuelan-Press-Articles-Symphony of Getxo-Euzko gastedi 1959 50.Venezuelan-
Press-Articles-About-Venezuelan-surnames 51.Venezuelan-Press-Articles-Our
Land – Eusko Gaztedi – February 1962-.
52. Articles-Press-Venezuela-A Reflection of the Basque Country-El Universal 2 July 1968.
53.Venezuelan-Press-Articles-Basques-in-The-Independence-of-Venezuela 54.Venezuelan-Press-
Articles-Yunque y Martillo-Euzko Gastedi 1956.
1 34 3 Publication in specialized magazines in Venezuela
1. Magazines Venezuela Cuatricentennial Commission Caracas-RNC-N 162.

2. Magazines Venezuela-To a Basque Woman-Basque Center Caracas 1962-.
3. Venezuela-Aberri Eguna Magazines.
4. Magazines Venezuela-a-Bolivar.
5. Magazines Venezuela-Basque Artists in Venezuela Magazine Centro Vasco 1957 6. Magazines
Venezuela-Belford Hinton Wilson- Magazine SBde V. July 1961.
7. Venezuela-Bidasoa Magazines.
8. Magazines Venezuela-Bolivar and the Basques-SBV Magazine 1964.
9. Magazines Venezuela-Two men and a People.
10. Magazines Venezuela-Basque Art-Basque Center Caracas 1957-.
11.Revistas Venezuela-El Bilbao de Bolivar-RSBV 24-July 1966.
12.Revistas Venezuela-The Renaissance Don Carlos, Prince of Viana (1421-1461)- 13.Revistas Venezuela-
Etymologies of euzkaros surnames-Basque Center Caracas 1957-.
14.Venezuela-Hombres Magazines Compañía Guipuzcoana-ANH Bulletin April 1958.
15.Venezuelan Magazines-Bibliographic Information Mario Briceño Perozo-AGN Magazine.
16.Revistas Venezuela-Basque House-Bolivarian Society Venezuela- Caracas, July 1961 17.Revistas Venezuela-
La Gens de los Landaeta-FundacionJohn.Boulton May 20, 1969 18.Revistas Venezuela-Basque Literature-Basque
Center Caracas 1957- 19.Revistas Venezuela- What an Old Inventory tells us.
20.Venezuela-Lope de Aguirre magazines. The Pilgrim-Euzkadiko Eriak Caracas 1957-21.Venezuela Magazines-

The Books of Colonial Caracas-El Farol-1969.
22.Revistas Venezuela-The Basques at the Caracas Foundation.
23.Revistas Venezuela-Cuatricentenario-Caracas-National Magazine Culture N 182.
24.Revistas Venezuela-About-Venezuelan-surnames.
25. Magazines Venezuela-Tierra Nuestra-Eusko Gaztedi- February 1962.
26. Magazines Venezuela-Three Emigrations-Basque Center-1966.
27.Venezuelan-Basque Magazines on the Independence of Venezuela.
28.Revistas Venezuela-XXX Anniversary arrival of Basques-Basque Center Caracas 1957-.
29.Revistas Venezuela-I-am-the-Bidasoa-The-bad-man-of-Itzea.
1 34 4 Books published in Venezuela - Vicente Amezaga Aresti
1) Jesus Munoz Tebar. 1847-1909. By Edgar Pardo Stolk and Vicente de Amezaga.
Caracas, Editions of the Eugenio Mendoza Foundation, 1959. 63 p.
2) Men of the Guipuzcoan Company. Prologue Pedro Grases. Caracas, Central Bank of Venezuela.
1963. 395 p. (Venezuelan Historical-Economic Collection).
3) Vicente Antonio de Juza. Corsair Commander. Caracas, Illustrious Municipal Council of Caracas;
Government of the Federal District; and of the Banking Council, 1966. 265 p. (Editions of the
Cuatricentenario de Caracas).
4) The Basque element in e! Venezuelan eighteenth century. Caracas, Illustrious Municipal

Council of Caracas; Government of the Federal District and National Banking Council, 1966. 372 p.
(Editions of the Cuatricentenario de Caracas).
5) General Juan Uslar. Caracas, Italgraphic, 1966
6) Origins of the boundary conflict between Venezuela and Guyana...

1 34 5 Translations into Basque directly from 6 languages - Vicente

Threat Arest
a-Al Euskera directly from:
1-Greek:
"Prometheus Chained", Aeschylus.
2-Latin:
"De Senectute" (Old Age) Cicero.

"De Amicitia", (Friendship), Cicero.
"Epistolarum" (Letters), Pliny the Younger.
3-French.
"Discours de le Methode" (Discourse on the Method), Descartes.
4-Italian
"Three Rings of the Decameron", Bocaccio.
5-Castilian.
"The Bachelor Stained Glass", Cervantes.

"The Nightingale of Errotazuri", Iturralde Suit.
"Platero and I", Juan R. Jimenez.
"Letter from Jamaica", Simon Bolivar.
6-English:
"The Enamored Shepperd", (The Enamored Shepherd), C. Marlowe.

"Good Bye", (Goodbye), RW Emerson.
"Loneliness" (Loneliness), A. Pope.
"Trees", (Arboles), J. Kilmer.
"My Heart Leaps Up when I Behold", (My heart beats when I contemplate, W.
Wordworth.
"The Ballad of Reading Gaol", (Ballad of Reading Gaol), Oscar Wilde.
"Hamlet", W. Shakespeare.
"Macbeth" W. Shakespeare. Unpublished.
"Julius Caesar", W. Shakespeare. Unpublished.
"A Midsumer- Nights Dream", (Dream of a Summer Night), W. Shakespeare.
Unpublished.
"Rubaiat", Omar Kayam, Unpublished.
7-German:
"Heimweh", JW Goethe.
b-Al Castilian. directly from:
"Soferino Koixua" (Soferino's blind man), A. Salaberri.

"Euskaldunak", (the Basques), N. Ormaetxea, Orixe, Unpublished.
2-English:
"Slaves in the Republican legislation of Venezuela" (The slaves in the republican legislation of Venezuela),
J. Lombardi.
"The Boundary dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela 1840 to 1850", (Origins of the
boundary conflict between Venezuela and British Guiana), G. Carl.
"Venezuela and the United States", (Venezuela and the United States), B. Frankel, Unpublished work.
Dr Vicente Amezaga Aresti, worked as Secretary of the Caracas Basque Center, after his arrival in Venezuela, in
1956 convinced by Jose Maria Lasarte, to promote cultural work, the same as the one he developed in Uruguay, where
both coincided,
Exceeding its functions, I cover, develop and carry out extensive work in favor of Basque Culture, in favor of Basque
patriotism, in favor of the Basque University
Later in 2015, the Editorial Xamezaga was founded in Venezuela, with a catalog of Works (865) the Complete Works of
Vicente Amezaga Aresti was published, its editor and publisher being his youngest son Xabier Iñaki Amezaga Iribarren.
1 35 Basque university students and intellectuals in Venezuela,
Professor José Luis Abellán on the republican exile of 1939, the mention of Basque university students and intellectuals
in Venezuela, with few exceptions, is non-existent. For the researcher, this fact can be misleading, diverting attention to
other activities of the Basque community in Venezuela. It is not surprising that Professor Rafael Pizani, former rector of
the Central University of Caracas and former Minister of Education, pointed out that one of the main contributions of the
Basques to Venezuela during this half century is precisely in this field.
In 1940 two outstanding university students arrived in Venezuela: Eugenio Imaz Echeverría and, shortly after, Juan
David García Bacca. The philosopher Eugenio Imaz Echevarria (San Sebastián, 1900-Veracruz, 1950), translator of
Dilthey and promoter of the rationalist school in America, although he spent a short time in Caracas, left his mark on the
country's academic circles. This is not the case of García Bacca from Navarra, a secularized priest, professor of
Philosophy and Mathematical Logic at the University of Barcelona (Catalonia). After passing through the Faculty of
Pedagogy of the University of Quito and, later, in Mexico, he settled in Venezuela occupying a chair at the Central
University of Caracas. Also belonging to this generation are Félix Gaubeka, who teaches at the Universidad de los Andes
(Mérida), or Captain Ricardo de Maguregui, founder and director of the Venezuelan Nautical School (Merchant Navy).
In the field of historical research, the figure of the polygraph Vicente de Amézaga stands out, who
divided his exile between Argentina and Uruguay until his arrival in Venezuela, where he died in
1969. In addition to his translations, he is the author of works such as Hombres de la Compañía
Guipuzcoana ( Caracas, 19631. Jesús Muñoz Tetar (Caracas, 1965, in collaboration with Dr. Edgar
Pardo Stolk), Vicente Antonio de Jcuza, Commander of Corsairs (Caracas, 1966) or The Basque
Man (Buenos Aires, 1968)
.
Likewise, in the field of scientific research, the most relevant figure is that of the Lasallian Pablo
Mandazain (Brother Ginés), professor of Zoology, Biology, Mineralogy, Geology, Chemistry and
Anatomy in different teaching centers. Founder of the La Salle Society of Natural Sciences, he
maintains relationships with scientific institutions around the world such as the Smithsonian
Institution (Washington) or the American Museum of Natural History (New York) and others from
France, Germany, the Netherlands or Great Britain.
The list of Basque teachers is endless. In Medicine (Miguel Layrisse or José María Bengoa);
Journalism (Laurentzi Odriozola, José Félix AzurmendL Vicente Cuezala); Architecture (Iñaki
Zubizarreta -currently a professor at the University of Raleigh, in the United States- or Lander
Quintana, or Illari Mirena Egiarte); Biology (Usue Díaz de Rekarte and María Esther Solabarrieta);
History (Dorronsoro and Ramón Aizpúrua); Psychology (Carlos Otaño), Anthropology (Daniel
Barandiarán), Technical Vocational Training (Aguirregomezcorta), Engineering (Aizpúrua, Kepa
Lekue, Jon Ander Badiola and Zubizarreta), Mathematics (Javier Maguregui)... Another Basque,
Miren Calvo, is secretary of the National Library.
As we mentioned before, in the field of translation (into Basque and Spanish) the works of Vicente
de Amézaga and Andima de Ibiñagabeitia stand out. The first made the Basque versions of Goethe,
Baroja, Descartes, Bocaccio and the Persian poet Omar Khayan. For his part, Ibiñagabeitia is a
translator of Virgil and Ovid.
Gotzon Egaña «Aníxeta» wrote a work on children's pedagogy: Muxugorri. In 1969 the magazine
Gudari published the poem by the Carmelite Francisco Atutxa "Bizkarregi", Mugarra begiraria
(Mugarra el vigía). Also in Venezuela, the Jesuit Luis María de Arrizabalaga writes his plays: Ator
eta jarri akit, Bazaren Zipriano Mixiolari eta Altarle and Xabier izpiaK). Another Basque religious
residing in Venezuela, the Benedictine Jesús María Sasía, has published important essays on
Basque toponymy.
Another relevant personality is that of the Eibar socialist Toribio Echeverría (1887-1968), with a vast
body of work in Basque and Spanish, cultivating different genres.
But probably the most relevant figure in the field of Basque is Andima de
Ibiñagabeitia, translator, educator, writer and, as Ugalde points out, one of the supporters of the
Euzko Gogoa magazine, published by Jokin Zaitegi in Guatemala
On the other hand, from 1942 to the present day there has been an effort in Venezuela, sometimes
collective, sometimes individual, to promote the teaching and dissemination of Basque. In teaching
adults, men like Jon Oñatibia, Andoni Arozena, Andima Ibiñagabeitia, Jon Gómez, Jon de Urresti
«Kirru» (founder and first director of the magazine ftzinga' ko Argia )... stand out...
Organizations such as Ekintzaleak (formed among others by Jon Oñatibia, Andoni Arocena, Bíttor
Elguezabal, Iñaki Urreztieta, José Estomés Lasa and Miguel Palay Orozco), Gernika or
Euskera Lagunen Elkartea (creator of the Andima Ibiñagabeitia Award). Likewise, around these
groups of people a series of plays were presented whose first promoter was Lucio de Aretxabaleta.
In teaching children, the fundamental figure is that of Arantza Mugika, who fought for years to
create an ikastola. Thus, on October 10, 1965, the Ikastola Euzkadi began its activities, with
eleven children under the care of Itziar Basterretxea. After being legalized by the Ministry of
Education, in January 1966, the preparatory and first grade were incorporated. As the number of
children increased, new teachers (andereños) would be incorporated: Josebe de Zubizarreta, Libe
Bilbao, Karmentxu de Gainzarain, Lore Goimendi...
With regard to Basque writers in the Spanish language, Miguel Pelay Orozko, Luis Ruiz de Aguirre
"Sancho de Beurko" stands out without a doubt: Huellas, Vascos por el mundo, Gudaris..., Iñaki
Urreztieta: Tales, País Vasco and Jaque constant or Martin de Ugalde. With them José María de
Burgaña: The Basque, singular people; Jesus Basañez; Luis de Aranguren: Memoirs of a Basque
exile, and Pedro María de Urrutikoetxea: The hour of outrage, in the last two cases memoir books).
1 36 Artists and architects
Three generations of high-level Basque artists coincide in Venezuela, many of whom, precisely,
consolidate their careers in the new country. Some began their activity before 1936 (Luciano
Quintana «Nik» , Isaac Díaz de Ibarrondo, Andoni de Arozena, Eusebio
Azpiazu, Ricardo Arrue, Celes Otaño...). The second generation, as we have pointed out, reaches
its maturity in Venezuela. Perhaps the three greatest exponents are Vicente Amoriaga, José
Ulibarrena and Eloi Erentxun. A new generation born and raised in Venezuela is already appearing,
in the case of the ceramic artist Unai Azpiritxaga or the cartoonist Eneko Lasheras.
In addition, we must highlight the incursion of some Basque-Venezuelan architects into the Plastic
Arts, in the case of Lander Quintana, Koldo Ruiz de Aguirre or Ilari Egiarte. With them the art
editor Xabier Aizpurua.
The fact that a group of poster artists who had popularized their work in the Basque press until the
end of the civil war is striking. This is the case of «Nik» Quintana, Díaz Ibarrondo, Otaño or
Arozena: «A-Bi».
Luciano Quintana «Nik» (Bilbao, 1904-Caracas, 1976) deserves special mention. After spending
time in Paris, he settled in Venezuela, where he worked as a poster artist, illustrator, model
maker... The 1967 earthquake destroyed his house and with it his important archive, which was a
huge moral blow from which he never recovered.
The agreement signed in 1939 by the Venezuelan authorities and the Basque representatives
included the emigration to the country of builders, an activity in which many members of the
community excelled for many years. It was logical that architects and civil engineers arose who,
as occurred in the 18th century with La Guipuzcoana, left physical evidence of their activity with
specifically Basque constructions (the case of Las Mercedes).
In addition to builders such as Miguel Salvador, Marcelino Aguirrezabala, Francisco Badiola,
Ángel Rousse or Manuel Mugika, the architects Isidro de Monzón, Lander Quintana, Iñaki
Zubizarreta, Ilari Egiarte, Koldo Ruiz de Aguirre... or the engineer Jon stand out in this field.
de Aretxabaleta, director of the works of the Teresa Carreño Cultural Center in Caracas.
Dance, music and theater
The first group of Basque dances in the history of contemporary Venezuela is formed aboard the Cuba, in which
one of the best Basque txistularis of his time, Segundo de Atxurra, also travels. The first performance in Caracas
takes place on Saint Ignatius Day (July 31) in 1939. Since then the dantzaris (Basque dancers) have not stopped
performing to this day, even in the most adverse conditions. As a result of the founding of the Centro Vasco de
Caracas, the first dance group was constituted, followed by others such as Ekintzaleak or Euzko Gaztedi. In
1989, four Basque dance groups continued their activities, those from the centers of Caracas, Puerto La Cruz
and Valencia, or the Aldazka from the capital.
The list of txistularis is endless: the Atxurra, the Iriarte, the Oñatibia, Polentzi Cuezala, Sabin Zenarruzabeitia,
Joseba Mirena Badiola... Or a new generation of very young musicians like Sertutxa (Valencia) or García (La
Victoria). In 1966 the band Basterretxea was formed, made up of Alberto Iriarte (ttistu L°), Joseba Mirena Badiola
(txistu 2nd), Sabin Zenarruzabeitia and Julián Atxurra (whistles) and José Iriarte (atabal).
In the field of Basque folklore research, the contributions of Jon Oñatibia, animator of the Ekintzaleak group until
he left for the United States, or the works of Juan Liscano on the Basque heritage in Venezuelan folklore are
very important.
Choral music, so deeply rooted in the Basque Country, had a notable presence in Venezuela until the 1970s. In
1942 the group Pizkunde was born, directed by Antón de Gárate, which lavishes its performances throughout
the Republic. Occasionally otxotes (groups of eight deep voices) are formed, which bear names such as Bizkaia,
Gipuzkoa, «Nafarroa...
Later Euzko Gaztedi will have its own choir. The last Basque choir of a certain entity was the Venezeuzca,
directed by Koldo Garmendia. On the other hand, in 1970 the musical-vocal group Gaur was created, formed by
Miren and María Esther Solabarrieta and Maite and Jajone Garitaonaindia.
The theater in Basque also had a presence in Venezuela. As we have pointed out, its first promoter was Lucio
de Aretxabaleta, who already in the 1930s had formed part of the Basque Youth team in Bilbao. In Venezuela,
works such as Negarrez igaro zan atsua (The old woman who spent crying), by Manu de la Sota, or Ama gaxo
dago (The mother is sick), by Martín Ugalde, were performed.
In other musical fields, the organist Alejandro Valdés Goikoetxea, the trumpeter Txomin Letamendi, the singer
Koldo Garmendia and the pianist Jesús Gallastegui, who is currently a pianist with the New York ballet and who,
for years, was in charge of the musical part of Radio Euzkadi and interpreting the accompaniments of the Basque
masses in Caracas on the organ. More recently, a very young Venezuelan Basque musician, Aitor Garrayola,
stands out.
1 37 Basque sport in Venezuela
The adaptability of the Basque to other environments is a fact of curious nuances, as he manages to coexist
with absolute dedication of his effort, while maintaining his personality unalterable. It is a balanced parallelism
between universality and intimacy that, far from being
antagonistic, merge and complement each other,
And there is a certain logic in his position; because the Basque has a measure of his idiosyncrasy,
percentage of his delivery, control of his influence, affection for his occupations, integrity for concepts,
sincere emotion.
I don't know if sport, as a cultural factor of the Basque people, can serve to exemplify these affirmations, of
a broader and more transcendent order. But it contains a version, a facet, that partially draws this application.
In Venezuela, as in other parts of the world, the Basque arrived impelled by the route of exile or by the
pressing exodus of emigration. In his baggage he brought hopes of economic improvement, horizons of a
more generous life and that truth of a stateless person that harasses his soul.
From that landscape that has sunk into his retina, the Basque modeled his decoration in the new
headquarters and combined the invulnerable force of his way, with the distribution of objects, murals,
sensations, longings, present and future in a harmonious amalgam that allows him to live in their new home
with the ideal conditions of the environment and the moderate factor of their own experiences.
As a sports writer I see being born next to the Basque houses of Venezuela, two walls at right angles that
are the frontons to practice their legendary Basque ball. Behind, far behind such constructions and also their
Chimeras, there remain the distant "segalaris", "palankaris", "aizkolaris", whose presence is not coordinated
in the current situations.
The sports history of the Basques in Venezuela focuses mainly on the ball on the fronton, and soccer, in
whose activities it has stood out for many years.
By both ways the list of athletes would be innumerable. Many dates have passed to determine values and
championships. From the professional pelotaris who have turned their illusion of unemployed, to the fans
and youth, the history of each fronton
The same thing happens in football work. Teams in various categories, champion trophies, periods of
professionalism and other variants, have produced a club with roots in Caracas, which is taken into account
by all the Creole fans.
That is the most important summary of sports work. The creation of the fact and survival of Basque pelota,
and the use of the universal football spectacle, with a name of tone in the country. Mentioning the drinks,
for example, is part of another review, which we now cede as inappropriate.
Perhaps we are more attracted to the comment on the current situation of such sporting practices, pointing
out the existence of a Basque Sport that today (year 1962) competes in the professional Major League of
Caracas, with a group of amateurs, that competes between professional teams with better I will be right The
injuries of some players and the absence of other starters from the country, has forced him to do a more
discreet job than expected, remarkable, leading, fearsome, as he did in previous tournaments.
In any case, this current mention of Deportivo Vasco, although not very brilliant, preserves the nuance of
transition that all traditional clubs support. And the Basque of today, one of the
weaker teams in the Caracas Major League, will once again hold battles at the top of Venezuelan
soccer, as befits their career and future. In the ball, an expectation awoke in immediate dates for
the possible participation of the local pelotaris, Elordi, Erentxun, Iriberri, Gómez Ugalde, in the
world championships in Pamplona. The illusion was undermined by the official indifference
towards the trip and the precarious finances of the organization, which saw its desire to compete
in the international event cut short, willing to capture the quality of the Caracas pelotaris.
The attempt was born and strengthened on the occasion of the stay at Euzko Etxea of the ratchet
champion Simón Harán, who held several exhibition matches and declared that 'there was
human and technical material to intervene in the World Cup, with decorum and possibilities'.
But the intention was bowed before the imponderables, and the Basque sport par excellence,
continues its march of evolution, mainly, among the courts that were born and are born in the
shadow of Basque homes.
The future is promising, and hope has borders of logic, when the leaders think that both Deportivo
Vasco and the pelotari will have a chance of glory and will aspire to the award of victory, for
being the product of the collective spirit that urges and supports an important development sports
in the Creole field.
Basque sport in Venezuela is a reality, with wide resonances, apart from permanent leadership
and the absorbing work of victories. Basque sport competes, works, sounds, and that is,
ultimately, the ultimate goal of its aspirations.
1 37 1 Basque Sports
It emerged to become a historic Venezuelan soccer club
Football, in its universal dispersion, and due to its virile, harmonious and athletic characteristics,
was quickly accepted by the Basque people since the beginning of the century and the history of
its clubs proclaims with its conquests the excellent physical and mental condition of the euzkaro
for the practice soccer.
That is why it is not surprising that once the Basques residing in Caracas under the tutelage of a
Center that was founded 25 years ago, the creation of Deportivo Vasco de Fútbol arose in that
same headquarters, ready to compete in the official tournaments of Venezuela. They were men
who arrived in the country driven by exile or emigration, who were determined to join all the
cultural orders of the nation that welcomed them. The autochthonous Basque sports, fronton ball,
the rural exhibitions of aizkolaris, arrijasotzalles, etc., were sporting expressions of intimacy, of
commemorative family festivities, which would not be broadcast abroad due to a natural
discrepancy with the new environment. Thus, in September 1944, the enthusiasm of some and
the organization of others focused on the reality of Deportivo Vasco.
The first board of directors was chaired by Julián de Lizarralde, with Juan de Olasagasti being
treasurer, Juan de Urbistazu secretary and members Marquet, Ricardo de Azpiritxaga and
Domingo de Irure.
As a delegate to the Venezuelan Football Federation, José de Elgezábal was appointed.

In that eleventh that in September 23 years ago was accepted in the first division of the contest
that was usually held in Caracas, many men whose names have made history in the country lined
up: Triki Azpiritxaga, Gerardo Bilbao, Joaquín Yarritu,
Iñaki Irure, Imanol Valdés, Joseba Badiola, Solaba-rrieta brothers, Eugenio Olabarrieta,
Second
Eizmendi, Jesús Zubeldia, Juan Bilbao, brothers Jorge and Félix García (who came from the
OSP Coast), José Miguel "Terremoto" Diez, Kepa de Areso and others that escape memory.
Over the course of the tournaments, Deportivo Vasco grew in performance and links to the
national soccer scene, achieving its first championship title in the Federal District in 1949,
renewing its laurels the following season. Later, in 1953, he won the National Sports Institute Cup
as a prelude to the 1954 campaign where he would achieve his greatest victory, by proclaiming
himself champion of the Federal District first and champion of Venezuela later. The players who
won that award deserve to be mentioned, including Aitor Uribeetxebarria, Juan Luis Elgezabal,
Joseba Laskurain, Mantxobitas, Bingen Guruceaga, José Ángel Fano, Daniel Akerreta, Joseba
Mandaluniz, Jon Leizaola, Caballero, Douglas, Gárate, Noel Díaz, Kiki Arria-ga, Aso, Azpurua,
etc.
Deportivo Vasco actively participated in all the chapters of the football process in Venezuela and
thus, in 1956, it was part of the currency bloc that founded the Major League Soccer. From those
years and especially from 1961, Deportivo Vasco began a stage of relegation. Made up of players
from Loyola, a group that plays in the Caracas Cup is brought together, where it is awarded the
Disciplinary Cup, but it is noted that the number of purely
Basque soccer players is decreasing when the period in which immigration and the causes of
exile come to a halt They were already far away and deadly.
The last youngsters incorporated into the team are Feliciano Aranguren, Kepa Lekue, Rodolfo
Rivas, Atutxa, Sesma, Txomin Letamendi, Aitor, Otaño, Vargas and several others, who have
partial successes, some are called up to the Venezuelan National Team, others with servan the
cooperative spirit for the currency, but ground is being lost and as we approach the 1966 season,
Deportivo Vasco disappears from the first category to the military in the fourth with the title of
champion. The veterans are still active and victorious in their special division, but the time has
come for Deportivo Vasco to recover, to alter the rules of action and link Creole values to the
group, the Venezuelan children of those unrepentant Basques who were the promoters of a
currency that today is historic for soccer in Venezuela.
Apart from the footballers who were identified as mainstays of Deportivo Vasco, we cannot forget
the contribution of enthusiastic directors such as Kepa de Amutxategi and José Koskojuela, as
well as the godmothers Jaione Etxezarre-ta and Edurne Etxetxipia, whose moral support was vital
for the operation general.
1949 Federal District Champion

1954 Champion of D. Federal and Venezuela.
1961 "Caracas Cup" Discipline Cup. Category "Veterans"
1954 Runner-up
1955 Champion
1957 Champion
1958 Runner-up
1960 Champion
1963 Runner-up
1964 Champion
1966 Runner-up
1950 Champion 2? Ascent 1960 Children's Champion "C"
Deportivo Vasco of the fourth category of veterans that started the 1967 championship.
They appear in it, (above, from left to right), Dejected, V. Ibáñez, Barrondo. (the godmother Edurne
Etxetxipia, Amezkua, Etxabe, Akerreta and José Mari Aranguren. In the bottom row, in the same order,
Mezquita, Alex Drizar, A. Mantxobas, Gárate, Arrizabalaga and Gabasa
1 37 2 History of the XII International Jai Alai Series of Caracas

The Caracas Jai Alai International Series began in 1963.
In three games developed during the days

April 7, 13 and 14, competed:
EGURBIDE I, ONDARRU, RETOLAZA and ALTUNA.
The attendance was over one thousand six hundred
fans.
Later they came in this order of succession: Year 1964 - Days 18, 19, 25 and 26 of April.
ARANBURU, ELEJABARRIETA, ESTANCA, CORONO and BERISTAIN.

Four games for an attendance of one thousand four hundred spectators.
Year of 1965 - Days 10, 11, 17 and 18 of April. GARITAONAINDIA, RETOLAZA, URKIDI,
REKALDE, GOROSTIZA and SOROZABAL. Four games and an attendance of one thousand four
hundred spectators.
Year of 1966 - Days 16, 17, 23 and 24 of April. URKIDI, SOROZABAL, REKALDE, ARRILLAGA and
AZPIRI,
Four games and jjn thousand one hundred and fifty fans in attendance.
Year of 1967 - Days 15, 16, 19, 22 and 23 of April. BARRENETXEA,.EGURBIDE IV, AIZPURUA,
LEJARZEGUI and BIKANDI. Five games with an attendance of one thousand five hundred fans.
Year of 1968 - Days 6, 7, 13 and 14 of April. BEREIKUA, GOITIA, MUXICA, SOLOZABAL (Alex) and
OLAZAR.
Four games with a total attendance of one thousand eight hundred fans.
Year 1969 - March 29 and 30 and 2, 11. 12

and April 13.
URIZAR, EGURBIDE IV, BARRENETXEA,
OLABERRI and AREITIO.
Six parties and about one thousand nine hundred and fifty
attendees.
Year 1970 - March 28 and 29 and 1, 4 and 5

of April.
ANDRADE, ARRIOLA, URIZAR, ARANBERRI,
IZAGUIRRE and OLABERRI.
Five parties and some thousand eight hundred people
concurrent.
Year of 1972 - Days 18, 19, 25 and 26 of March and

April 1 and 2.
ELU, LUNCH, AREITIO, EGURBIDE IV and
IZAGUIRRE.
Six games with attendance of about two thousand
four hundred people.
Year of 1973 - Days 24, 25, 30 and 31 of March and 1? of April.

DEL RIO, ELGEA, BARRENETXEA, MUGUERZA and GUERECA.
5 parties and a concurrence of one thousand eight hundred and sixty people.
Year of 1974 - Days 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24 of March.
IÑAKI, ROBERTO, PÁGATE, ATAÑO and
LASARTE.
Five parties with an attendance of one thousand
five hundred and seventy people.
Year of 1975 - Days 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 of March.

DEL RIO, ROBERTO, SAEZ, ATAÑO and
MUGUERZA.
Five parties and two thousand six hundred people
assistants.
THE "JAI ALAI" FRONTON OF CARACAS A memory of past times.

Today any Venezuelan, especially from Caracas over 52 years of age and even "a little less", can
remember that there was a Fronton where Basque Pelota de Cesta Punta was played, called the Jai Alai
Fronton. It was 60 meters long and was played every day. after 9 pm except on Fridays It was located in
Los Caobos in front of the Parque Carabobo tram terminus, today Avenida México on the land currently
occupied by the Caracas Hilton, in front of the Venezuela Experimental School.
Billo Prometa reminds us of this in one of his songs: "the Jai Alai Fronton no longer exists..." Also Abelardo
Raidi, in one of his Thursday Screens and some other journalist from that time.
YES, the memory of friends that I have consulted and mine is good: it was built and inaugurated in 1933
or 34, by Messrs. Sergio Hernández and Mr. Andrés Veíutini, later the Architect Santi Tañí modified the
front, making it more "alive". ' When they closed it in 1937 or early 1938 during the presidential term of
General Eleazar López Contreras, the Administrator was Mr. Modesto de Aisa and the owner was a son-
in-law of General Gómez,
There are many conjectures about its closure; I have never known the real reason, nor
neither is not allowing the construction of another where betting is allowed, since Venezuelans have
always liked the game. But as Billo's song says, . . "doesn't exist anymore..."
Among the players I want to remember first

those who lived and died in our land: Julián Onaindía, Patxi Iturzaeta and Cándido Irízar. Among those
who suffered accidents: Guruceaga who received Allende's ball on the forehead due to a rebound hit
and could not play anymore. Ignacio Ulacia who, shooting a shot, hit his eye and lost his sight. The
Pelotaris stars: Onaindía and Irigoyen.
Mendizabal and Astigarraga for their safety, Garmendia and Elizondo for better style. José Onaindía
the best pool player. The ones with the most punch: Juaristi, whose ball traveled more than 260 km/h,
Echeverría Saguero, Allende, who came to be among the best players in the world.
Among the Venezuelans there were many fans: Dr. Pedro Antonio Yánez, Dr.
Paquito Banchs, Fernando Iranzo, Germán Baez, Oscar Alvarez de Lemos, the Rivero brothers, Pepe,
Jorge and Gustavo, the Perdomo Padrón brothers, among them Pablo who, if he had continued
playing, would have become a pelotari buffoon for having magnificent conditions, my brother Dr. Miguel
Layrisse, Rafael Eduardo Arnal and I who came to play among the professionals with good success,
especially Arnaí for his conditions and punch.
All of this has remained as one more page in the history of Sports in Venezuela, which thanks to the
Caracas Basque Center reminds us of it every year since 1963 with the Jai Alai Series at its Frontón
del Paraíso.
1 38 The Resistance
From Caracas the Basque community makes and has made a homeland. Aid to the different parties
and trade union organizations in the country has arrived punctually, throughout all the years, from the
first and most difficult moments.
Every year, a special dinner is held at the Euzko Etxea with the sole purpose of raising funds for the
Government in Exile. On this occasion, at the end of January 1979, the guests who had come from the
original homeland to "warm up" the atmosphere were Arzalluz and Garaikoetxea. The previous year,
the president of the EBB was accompanied by Juan de Ajuriaguerra.
Direct donations, made to the desserts, touched the amount of two million pesetas. There were no
more than two hundred diners and there were abundant marriages.
We leave it to the reader to establish the "per capita" ratio of donations.
And it hasn't all been money. Iñaki Zubizarreta told us about the genesis of Radio Euzkadi Libre,
«Euzko Deia»:
«One day an advertisement came out in the newspaper, selling a radio station, for eight or ten thousand
bolivars; a monster that occupied four meters. It was necessary to take a piece of land of several
hectares; make an antenna that was more than four hundred meters in circumference, rhomboid in
shape; He also built a house, then another and now, finally, he started walking.
The day it went on the air seemed like a miracle, so oblique about everything. In order for it to
arrive, with a single kilowatt of power, the technical question seemed like a compendium of
"basket ball": the waves arrived by pure rebound: they had to hit the sea at one point, the
stratosphere at another, and from there, finally, to Bilbao or Donosti.
I have heard it in North Carolina, in Idaho, in New York, in London, in San Sebastian, in Madrid,
in Bilbao».
It was a low-power, short-wave transmitter, and very old. The communications engineer who
worked the miracle is José Joaquíi Azurza, today a resident on Avenida de Sancho el Sabio, in
San Sebastián. At first, in complete secrecy, the promoters of the project thought that this could
last a week. In addition, it got into the "dial" at the exact limit of the frequencies used by 1
aviation. All the planes began to protest and the location had to be slightly modified...
The "fourth wheel of the resistance," said Iñaki Anasagasti, what this powerful instrument of
propaganda was called.
Félix Berriozábal, "Elorrio", born in this town in Vizcay: he is known, among other things, for the
aggression of a thug from Caracas, who stabbed him one bad day, breaking four ribs, a pancreas
and a lung. Félix had emigrated after resistance activities in the interior of Euskalerría, and in the
difficult years: distribution of propaganda, "graffiti"...
Now, in the Candelaria neighborhood, he has his house and his office. representation of a
machinery company from Beasain. There he lived, both single, with Joaquín Inza, founder of
Eusko Gaztedi in the Venezuelan capital. That is the refuge of the last to arrive and also the
venue for numerous meetings of the extraterritorial board of the PNV
There is a "telex" there that facilitated the journalist's daily transmission to the newspaper, during
the stay of the Burukides.
Well then, “Elorrio” also remembered aspects of the creation of Radio Euzkadi: “every Sunday
we went on the road. They all got screwed there, engineers, architects... everyone. We had to
make the road ourselves, because otherwise everything was uncovered. That was jungle, but
jungle-jungle, with lots of snakes. Everyone has passed through there afterwards, except José
Antonio de Aguirre, because he had already died: Leizaola, Rezóla, Irujo, Juanito, Isasi,
Garaikoetxea, Olábarri... ».
Radio Euzkadi broadcast three daily programs, from 1965 to 1977, without interruption.
One of the key dates was "Aberri Eguna". On that occasion, after the main act of the party, you
had to go up at full speed, through those little roads, to broadcast the recordings.
No one was killed by a miracle.
Achurra stayed next to the transmitter, living there permanently, with two exceptions: Christmas
Eve and Gabon Zar. On those two great festivities, Félix Berriozábal replaced him, so that the
other could have dinner with his friends from Galdácano.
On those occasions he stayed in the open, outside the booth, wrapped in a blanket, so they
couldn't be caught by surprise. Three watchdogs surrounded him, and he always left the
within reach of a weapon, "to be able to change lead" in the event of a shooting assault.
«When the earthquake in Caracas, I was the first to go up. I had a «Wolsky», and there I went,
removing the stones that had fallen to the road. The antenna had moved a little, but the station house
was standing.
José Abasólo was one of those who participated daily in the elaboration of «Euzko Deia». From early
in the morning, with headphones, he dedicated himself to listening to the BBC in London, Radio Paris...
With the freshest news that he obtained from the less "censored" European newscasts, and those of
the Spanish State itself, he prepared his newscasts. So, day after day. He recounted that the morning
after the station closed, he got up automatically at around six, took his headphones, tuned in to the
BBC and began to write down
News. His wife had to wake up and warn him that it was no longer necessary, that the job was over.
Iñaki Anasagasti and Jon Mikel Olabarrieta, along with Guillermc Ramos, the announcer, were among
the youngest participants in the adventure. the studies. So there were, of the fifty apartments, forty-
seven occupied by "masseurs" and two by "queers." When we came to record, they looked at us with
a complicit face...».
The true engine, the most active in all this and the other propaganda efforts, was Alberto Elósegui,
according to Zubizarreta, who explains: «In many cases, we could not say anything about what we
did, we were going to ask for money and then they thought: those drones , what do they want the real
one for?, what is the activity they carry out? You had to talk so much that you thought it wasn't worth
putting what they were going to give you out of your pocket, rather than expend so much saliva to get
it. But it was part of the exercise; Although it was sometimes more comfortable to say "I'll put it", you
had to keep people in a position to collaborate".
It is hard to believe that the Venezuelan authorities really ignored the existence of that station.
Sometimes the national guard passed by nearby. But he did not "saw" her.
The fact is that it was there, and that everyone who wanted to could hear it. In Donosti, an ordinary
receiver and a minimum of antenna were enough: a cable taken out of the window.
A "enteradillo", who arrived through Venezuela from Euzkadi, put the radio group in trouble, when he
stated:
—I know that Euzko Deia is in France...

-You're sure?
-Absolutely sure. I know it very well". and the men who made it
daily they had to swallow the immediate reflex of claiming their own work.
When one of those who were "in the game" wanted to tell their colleagues that they were addressing
the issuer, they used the password: "I'm going to Macuto." (Macuto is a beach near Caracas)
Venezuela was also a refuge for writers on Basque themes: the Amézaga, Acarregui, Bilbao, Bengoa, the
Ugalde and Pelay who have already returned, Jesús Basáñez and Captain Burgaña himself.
Basáñez came to Caracas in 1954, for reasons of an economic nature. He is the father-in-law of Joseba
Bilbao, the surgeon. And he has published six works: «Arlotadas», «Lejona, anteiglesia vizcaína», «El
Proceso de Martín Sertucha», «El humorismo vasco», «Try this pill» and «What do they say about the
Basques?».
Half are humorous, and the other half, for historical disclosure. The monograph on Lejona was given to
each family in the town that requested it, with the sponsorship of the exiles from Lejona in Venezuela, who
number almost a dozen.
«What do they say about the Basques?» It is a compilation of testimonials from former vascologists,
generally European (German, French, Italian, Belgian, Swedish, Norwegian, some Russian...) and also
North American; two volumes of other people's opinions on the peculiarities, well differentiated, of the
Euskaros of other times.
But perhaps the most attractive and lively subject at present is that of his play «El
Proceso de Martín Sertucha», which is now in the process of being reissued:
«I did a play because the processes, the trials, I think it is in the theater where they have a better place,
with the intervention of the defense attorney, the intervention of the prosecutor, etc. This Sertucha was a
man who went to Valladolid in the 17th century, shortly before Cervantes published the first volume of Don
Quixote. He went to live in the town of Portillo, it seems that he set up a little shop, and they registered him
as a pechero. But, of course, since the law that we had in Vizcaya said that we were all equal and free; that
is to say that there were no pecheros, nor aristocrats, then Sertucha claimed his condition as a Biscayan.
They forced him to pay little, sixteen maravedis, but it wasn't that, he defended the principle; the fuero and
not the egg. And he litigated for three years in the Court of Valladolid, until he managed to be exempted
from the tax.
I understood that it was a message for the youth, and that is why I edited it, more than anything with a view
to the Basque Center, because back then in the Peninsula it could not be published».
Basáñez is a regular participant in the two stages of the magazine "Euzkadi" of Venezuela.
He started at the age of sixteen, in the magazine "Amayur", which was published in Pamplona, in the year
thirty-one. That first article of his later appeared in "Euzkadi" in Bilbao, with a curious footnote: "taken from
the Acción Vasca magazine, from Buenos Aires." Before himself, his first literary creation came and went
across the Atlantic.
Years later, he would win a short story contest from the publishing house "Rumbos" in Madrid, and the
story, staged on SER, would be broadcast on Radio Bilbao.
Now he has just finished a monograph, a comparative study of Unamuno and Baroja, and their opinions on
the Basque, through their respective works.
The inexhaustible Captain Burgaña has not only launched the thesis of the Venezuelan discovery by
Biscayan “txalupas”. He is a constant researcher, with surprising results, based
in his nautical knowledge and in his careful reading of ancient texts, among which the Bible
occupies a preferential place.
Already in the first year of stay in the Republic, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries published
a work entitled "Contribution to the study of Oceanography in the seas of Venezuela, in its
relations with fishing."
In the magazine of the "La Salle Foundation", Fernando Cervigón affirms that he was "the first
to contribute oceanographic works to Venezuela, followed by other scholars".
The Congress of Basque Studies, held in Biarritz, featured a presentation by Burgaña, in which
he claimed the memory of Juan de la Cosa, the Biscayan sailor and cosmographer, mistreated
by Columbus, and by Bartolomé de las Casas, who called him a traitor, among other things.
The Motrikoarra researcher affirms that the fault of the grounding and the loss of the Santa María
lay with the Admiral himself, that Juan de la Cosa acted sensibly that night and, furthermore, he
could have little interest in the loss of a boat of which he was owner.
The "Editorial Sucre", of Caracas, published a book for this researcher last year entitled "El
Vasco, singular people", where no less revolutionary conclusions and theses appear. Burgaña
affirms that the differences in criteria between Biscayans and Gipuzkoans, on the one hand, and
Alaveses and Navarrese, on the other, would be due to the very remote origins of one and the
other, coming from different branches of the common ethnic trunk, Aramaic. He assures, after a
detailed reading of the biblical texts, that Paradise was in the Canary Islands. And it also refers
to “The lands of Atlandi”, “The Basques in the West”, “The Basques with Columbus” and “The
Basques around the World”.
A curious, broad and diversified essay that may be published soon in Euzkadi.
In any case, the most popularized book in the world, among those launched by the Venezuelans
of Euzkadi as a defensive weapon against Francoism, was "The Children of Guernica", by Steer.
It was translated by the journalist Alberto Elósegui. And that group of young enthusiasts managed
the master move of selling the entire edition to a Ministry of the Government of Venezuela and
later recovering it, almost complete, as a gift from the Minister himself.
Lighter and easier to distribute was "Gudari", made in Caracas for years and years, in a typeface
that still exists, in front of the "La Cita" restaurant and a "block" from "Elorrio's" office. It was the
first bulletin of the post-war Basque resistance, and it was able to be published with absolute
regularity, thanks to a titanic effort by that practically financially ruined community. It was printed
on bible paper, and in a small format, so that it could be easily carried in a pocket, and the person
in charge of smuggling it had to support less weight.
And with "Gudari", the first stage of the Venezuelan "Euzkadi", and the youth magazine of Euzko
Gaztedi...
First it was smuggled to France, and from France to the Basque Country, also smuggled. All
this, without more than a few, very few people finding out.
There were so many things to do!"
Even a feature film, which is not nonsense. First of all, because of the cost. Quite a few thousand bolivars
are needed more than to pay the radio station.
Then, the work of creation and research, the collection of scattered informative materials, the writing of the
script, the writing of the "off" comments, the music, specially composed for the soundtrack, the sound
design, the editing...
The script was written by the team of Inza, Elósegui, etc. The assembly was entrusted to a technician.
The musical composition was carried out by Iñaki Irureta, a former member of the musical ensemble "Los
Contrapuntos", from Azcoitia, who in January 1979 entertained the dance following the tamborrada with
an electronic organ.
And the interpreter of the scores was the guitarist Federico Reina. (Speaking of music, the international
piano soloist Jesús Gallastegui, another member of this Basque community, has always collaborated with
the activities of the Euzko Etxea).
Zubizarreta, the member of that team of resistance fighters, who presided over the Basque Center and
now spends his life in the air, between Caracas and Donostia, continued with his revelations:
«I am sure that it was the activity carried out in Venezuela that saved the life of Aguirrezábal, the first ETA
people sentenced to death. On the one hand, we were getting everyone to act, and by everyone we mean
the President of the Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the other ministers, His Holiness's Nuncio...
and, on the other hand, we were demonstrating .
This was in the year 1969. Aguirrezábal had had a priest uncle in the group of priests from Tuy, who did
so much good here, including the founding of a cooperative by Hormaechea, today director of the
Mondragón Professional School.
A whole collection of Euzkadi stamps was also published, which were used, and they arrived there in
Franco's time from all parts of the world, stamps with the name of Euzkadi and with the Ikurriña, which
were delivered within the country.
And the great engine of that team was Alberto Elósegui, together with Jokin Intza, who is now in Donosti.
Even the international question was cultivated. I was teaching in North Carolina at the time of the Burgos
Process. The deputy corresponding to my municipality was a Greek, Galliataniakis. I called the Greek so
that, as my representative, he would protest before Congress. And he did it, too.
Without anyone giving me orders, we organized a tour, with Perico Beitia, who is also in Donosti today,
Javier Unzummzaga, now director of the Department of Urbanism at the General Basque Council for
Guipúzcoa, and who was studying in North Carolina. The three of us went to Boysse, in Idaho, where the
immigrants had severed political relations with the Basque world more than twenty-five years ago.
But it was still a Basque community. In the archive of each one of the States, and in the
The archive of the United States Congress contains all the expressions that those assemblies in
Idaho had, with the extraordinary collaboration of Pete Cenarruza, who gave himself totally, to the
surprise of many.
There we managed to bring together Congress and the House of Representatives of Idaho, so that
they produced a document in favor of the condemned of Burgos, a strict repudiation of Franco's
policy, and I think we managed to raise some awareness in that Basque community that, for
reasons of their economic activity, is different from this one.
From there he went to Oregon, from Oregon to Nevada, from Nevada he continued on to
California... That was the beginning of the magnificent relationship we have today with Senator
Franck Church, cultivated by Perico Beitia. Church was later here, in Caracas, on the occasion of
an international conference, and it was here that he had his first interview with Don Manuel de Irujo».
The Burgos process, after the experience of the previous year with Aguirrezábal, brought with it
great activity on the part of the Basque community in Venezuela. Of the young, and of the not so
young. Caldera reminded us in his statements how, in his capacity as President, he sent a telegram
to Franco in favor of the condemned.
Again, parallel to the activity of Venezuelan politicians, through diplomatic channels, activism
developed, the demonstration in the street.
Patxí Álava, the former Osasuna player and former Nevada pastor, was a bit involved with the
analysis of the Basque current situation (“I was there in October, I am a friend of Gorka Knórr and
in my family I have, for example, to my brothers-in-law who are from the Party, other nephews are
from HASI, and others from this, and from the other. Totally I make a mess of the reed. Because if
I speak well of some, the others tell me no, that they are such and which ones. I don't understand it»).
Well, Patxi says that in those days, in the year 70, there was a fairly large group of people from
"ETA" in Caracas, "burned" in Euzkadi. But not only them, the Nationalist Party, and the Basques
as such, of any tendency, got involved in the activities.
«So much so, that they took me to jail; In the demonstration they grabbed forty-odd prisoners, there
were sticks...
The demonstration was not authorized in any way. It was the time of COPEI and they told us; "We
cannot authorize it, but you do it." It was a tremendous demonstration, with "bombs-molo-tov" in
the Consulate of Spain, in the offices of "Iberia", with passive violence. Without any injuries, or
anything like that, but with a lot of noise.
So, at the last moment, I think there was some complaint from the Spanish Embassy, and they had
to show their faces a little. They brought out the police, beat us up, put us in vans and took us to
jail. We were a day and a half. My wife, who was also caught, was released earlier. After a day and
a half they left us.
"Here we did all that with a certain degree of comfort," Iñaki told us.
Comfort, because the police were not chasing us, nor was anyone else. But all this has been done
and has been maintained, many times, by people who have carried out an exercise in
purely mental patriotism, because tell me, I left there at the age of seven in thirty-seven, and
returned for the first time/ in sixty-two...».
No, there were no persecutions, and often there were more or less personal favors from the
highest heights of power. But there was also hatred and physical attacks from the "uncontrolled",
reprisals from Francoists. The painter Azpiazu was referring to those produced shortly after that
well-known demonstration against the Burgos process:
.
1 39 Basque Center of Caracas - a review
June 1976
Once again, fans of the noble sport of Basque pelota, in its form of basket-punta, are delighted.
The XIII International Jai Alai Series is ready to start.

The stands are going to be insufficient to gather the lovers of this virile game and the voices of
enthusiasm for the athletic effort and honor of the contestants are going to sound in endless echo.
On this occasion, we are visited by six outstanding punta players who have been performing with
extraordinary success on pitches in the North, and in demonstration that this sport, imported from the
old Euzkalerria, has made a very deep impression, alternating with pelotaris from the Basque Country,
a Cuban will intervene and an American.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and on my own behalf, I want to express my most expressive thanks
to all those who have made the celebration of this XIII Jai Alai International Series possible; in the
organization and promotion, to the collaborators and advertisers who have sponsored the edition of the
Magazine, to all those who, in one way or another, have contributed their valuable grain of sand.
To the pelotaris who visit us, and in a very special way to our local values, who, date after date, have
been cultivating our genuine game of Ja Pelota Vasca in handball and half-blade modalities.
To this public that every year, with its massive attendance, encourages us and obliges us to continue
presenting events of this category, which start waves of emotion and enthusiasm.
And finally, to the sports authorities who have always provided their support and collaboration in
promoting Basque Pelota in Venezuela. To all, a cordial eskerrikasko and a wide Zorionak.
Sincerely,
Paul de Aguirre Larrañaga
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Jon de Aretxabaleta General Coordinator.
Iñaki batch Adj. to Coord. General
Second Cazalis Director of the Magazine
Joseba de Olabartieta
Alexander of Markaida
Ricardo Romagosa
Eduardo Santamaria
Martín García Alkorta Int. and Field Judge.
GROUP PELOTA ZALE

Angel from Bustindul
Juan Antonio Ormaetxea
Josu de Arozana
Julian Ruiz de Sabando Josu Bilbao
OFFICIAL PROGRAM
OF THE XIII INTERNATIONAL SERIES OF JAI ALAI
June 4, Friday, at 8:00 pm: Half a shovel -

NAVARRO - F. ESEBERRI against IRIBAR II - IBARRA.
Pool of Jai Alai.
Match to basket-point - GARCÍA - AYERDI against KIRBY - SANTANA.
June 5, Saturday, at 8:00 pm: By hand -
BILBAO I - BILBAO III against MUGUETA - KORTAZAR.
Pool of Jai Alai.
Basket-point match - MANUEL - ARRIOLA against GARCÍA - AYERDI, June 6,
Sunday, at 5:30 pm: By hand - IRISAR I -
LEKUE against ELORDI - IKAZURIAGA.
Pool of Jai Alai.
Match to basket-point - KIRBY - Santana against MANUEL - ARRIOLA.
June 11, Friday, at 8:00 pm: Half a shovel -
ETXABE - A. GURUCEAGA against ARISTOI - KORTA.
Pool of Jai Alai.
Match to basket-tip - KIRBY - ARRIOLA against MANUEL - SANTANA.
June 12, Saturday, at 8:00 pm: Half-shovel
final - between the winning couples of the two games played.
Pools of Jai Alai.
Match to basket-point - MANUEL - AYERDI against GARCÍA - ARRIOLA.
June 13, Sunday, at 5:30 pm: Final hand -
between the winning couples of the two games played.
Pool of Jai Alai.
Match to basket - striker - GARCÍA - SANTANA against KIRBY - ALERDI.
Distribution of Trophies and prizes.
Basket raffle.
The Pelotaris of the XIII Series

Ramón Suarez Ayerdi - AYERDI He
was born in Tolosa (Gipuzkoa), on March 7, 1945.
At the age of 17 he made his debut in the professional field, fronton in Barcelona (Catalonia), on March 6,
1962.
Since then he has belonged to the squads of the frontons of Barcelona, Zaragoza, Tampa Jai Alai, Dania
Jai Alai, Daytona Jai Alai.
In the summer seasons he plays in Donostia (Euzkadi), returning to the United States for the winter campaign.
He played one season in Tampa, six in Daytona and eight in Dania.
Rene Antonio Garcia-GARCIA

He was born in Havana (Cuba), on January 7, 1950.

He lived with his relatives on the island, until the age of eleven.
Residing in Miami, he began his studies in Merchandising and Accounting, graduating at the age of twenty-
three.
Feeling an inclination for the basket-tip, he practiced from a very young age and thus at the age of 18 he
performed in the pediment of Dania Jai - Alai Palace, where he continues to be part of the list.
Jesús Arrióla Barinagarrementería -ARRIÓLA He was born in Berriatua (Bizkaia), on April 2, 1943.
He started playing at the age of 13 and at 16 he made his debut at the Frontón de Barcelona, where he
performed for eight months.
Later he played in Marquina and Durango (Bizkaia).
Later he was hired to perform in the Mexican pediment, to perform for four seasons, and move to Miami Jai
Alai in the winter of 1965-1966.
In the following summer he played in Marquina and Durango (Bizkaia), returning to the Orlando (Florida)
fronton, to later move to Mexico where he stayed until 1972.
Since then he has been playing in Dania (Florida).
Manuel Tellería Arbaízagoitía -MANUEL He was born in Orduña (Bizkaia), on 1? August 1945.
In the year 1962 he made his debut in the fronton of Barcelona (Catalonia), later moving to Palma de
Mallorca,
After three seasons he returned to Guernica.
He then moved to Italy where he stayed for 1 year, to return to Zaragoza, where he remained in pools and
games for three seasons.
He made the jump to Daytona (Florida) for one season and from there to Dania, where he has been for six
seasons.
Kirby Prater - KIRBY

He was born in Miami (Florida-USA), on June 9, 1948.
He began playing, in practice, on small courts in Miami, at the age of seventeen.
Later he continued in the Dania pediment, where in view of his conditions and quality of play he was hired.
Since the winter season of 1971, he has been part of the Dania Jai Alai Palace squad.
Jose A. Arrizabalaga - SANTANA

He was born in Ondarroa (Bizkaia) on April 14, 1946. At the age of 14 he began to play at the College.
He was eighteen years old when he made his professional debut in the Zaragoza pediment, where he
remained for the time of his military service.
Upon being graduated, he was hired to act in Italy, staying for three years.
In the summer seasons he returned home playing in Durango, Marquina, Gernika and Donostia.
In 1970 he was hired for the Daytona Jai Alai pediment, and from there he went to the Dania Jai Alai
Palace, where he has been performing in recent years.
1 40 Validity of the Basque Centers in Venezuela, their doing and chores
President Aguirre often reminded us that the legitimacy of the Basque Government, that
"immortal Basque Government" that Aldasoro once referred to, rested above all on that (daily
plebiscite held by Basques who can express themselves freely. And this house of Basques in
Caracas, such as the one in Puerto La Cruz, El Tigre, Cumaná or La Victoria, is a full projection
of that national vocation, because who forces a Basque who arrives in Venezuela to enroll in a
Basque Center? Passports are not issued here, nor are import permits granted, nor are public
positions given away. On the contrary, those who adhere to the spirit of this house are exposed
to setbacks. So, what do we offer in it that does not have a club? social anyone?
It is not cheaper, but much more expensive, to belong to this Basque Center without weekly
dances, and without a swimming pool, and without beauty contests, and sm- bewlmg, and
without large society receptions, than to belong to a social club that offers all that. Here the
member is exposed to more expenses than the quota, because there are many patriotic
urgencies to cover and very few pieces of free land where to request help. So, what does this
house that asks a lot and gives little have for it to have the solid life of partners that it has, to
have the capacity for enthusiasm and organization and work that it has, and why not say it also,
to have the moral prestige you have?
What this house has, besides those cement bones, is a strong soul. And for this reason, due to
the strength of its simple spirit of common people, without poses, due to the spontaneous
character of the organization, and because it fulfills elementary functions of deep social and
political content, this Basque Center of Caracas is something more than walls. and cement
floors.
The Basque Center of Caracas is that house and that pediment that appear in the photographs,
but it is also the nostalgic homeland song that one hears when arriving on rehearsal night, and
the hit of the ball against the pediment on Sunday afternoons, and the energy that the
ezpatadantza still preserves in the tropics, and the joy of the Aberrí Eguna pilgrimage.
The Basque Center is also the nervous telephone call that announces the death of a compatriot;
and it is the chill that shakes our souls when we hear the Pizktmde 's Requiem at a funeral; and
it is the company of the people that one feels in the slow steps of driving; and the Basque
Center is also the chapel of the General Cemetery of the South, which gathers the remains of
those who were born in the same land.
The Basque Center is also, and why not, social dancing. and it is the noisy movie night of the
young people; and it is the theater rehearsal, with more ambitions than resources; and it is also
the Eusko Gaztedi excursion ; and it is the irrinfzi of Eusko Deia, the radio broadcast on
Sundays; and it is the Deportivo Vasco game on Saturday afternoon; and it is also the ikurriña
on the flap or on the bumper or attached to the glass. for someone to say in passing: "What flag
is that?" and for another to answer: "Those are the Basques"; so that they recognize us for who
we are.
These are some of the little things that would not exist if we lacked the heat of a common home.
That is the Basque Center, and even more than that; because our wife's devotion to teaching
children the language and songs of her people is also the Basque Center; It is also, of course, the
gossip of the town, small town inconveniences; but it is also, of course, a house where parents can
release their children from three to twenty years old as if the games, or the dance, were, and are,
in the serious and respectable privacy of their own home; small town advantages.
The Basque Center is the conference on Friday night and it is also the collection, the tombola and
the raffle, and it is the quota for Cultural Action, or for the Resistance, or for the dissemination of
the Basque language, or for the publication of a book, or for the help of a Basque in need; and it is also
Basque Center the Basque class offered for adults, youth and children, in that anguishing transition
from the national fire of the language of the lips of one Basque to another
The Basque Center is the General Assembly that lasts, sometimes heatedly, until dawn; and they
are the meetings of the parties; and it is the Eusko Gaztedi board election , in which our young
people have the opportunity to exercise the daily lesson of civility and democratic respect and
service that they receive in this house; and the Basque Center is Euskera Day or Aberri Egana Day
or Iñaki Deuna Day, our traditional celebrations; and it is the commemorative act of the bombing of
Gernika or the swearing in of the Basque Government, our national anniversaries.
The Basque Center is the solemn communion of hundreds of Basques for Easter, the promise of a
Free Homeland; it is the confirmation of hundreds of children in the Cathedral; The caravan that
goes down to Maiquetía to receive the Lendakarí Aguírre or the Lendakari Leizaola is also a Basque
Center, and the conference of any of them, or that of Irujo, or that of Landaburu, or that of Jesús de
Galíndez, or that of Jesús de Galíndez, or that of Simón Harán, the brother of the Euzkadi
continental, or that of Venezuelan friends like that of Don Ramón Díaz Sánchez, or that of Don
José Antonio de Armas Chitty.
And the Basque Center is the only silent, unnoticed, but vibrant presence of a Resistance envoy.
And Centro Vasco is the floral offering of the Basques to the Liberator in the National Pantheon,
and it is the laborious edition of each one of the numbers of the newspaper "Eusko Gaztedi", it is
the sharp whistle of the txistu on rehearsal nights . Centro Vasco is also, of course, the beer or the
coffee in the noisy social gathering in the room full of children, and it is the sharp thump of the
dominoes on the table already in the almost empty room of the high night. Even some interjection
from time to time is the Basque Center. And the visit to the Basque who is in the clinic is also the
Basque Center, and the job offer for the unemployed; and the phone call remembering the
conference or rehearsal is the Basque Center. and it is the painting exhibition or the book exhibition.
All this, and much more that we do not see and much more that we cannot express, is the soul of
the Basque Center of Caracas, that something that is above and on the sides and even in the
foundations of this house, of this pediment and this parking lot that appears in the photographs and
that those who look at the Basque Center only see from the outside doors.
I would like to pay a tribute of admiration, respect and personal gratitude to all those who, from the
initial moments, with the sacrifice of many personal impatience and many small resignations, and
with the offering of many small sacrifices and many great efforts, and even sometimes with ©1
tribute of whole years of
life, they dedicated their loyalty and their strength to this village company that has been able to
give a strong soul to the accident of four cement walls.
Because the Center is a large building on a beautiful farm, but the greatest success of the
Center is that at those hours of the tropical night or at any time of the day it brings together what
is now called "human material" which is highly valued there. It is strange that in my travels I
have not passed through a place with which I have not felt linked. The walks bind one for very
different reasons that become unforgettable: a perspective, a monument, the corner of a square,
the animation or the stillness, the environment, etc. I have spent twenty days in Venezuela and
when making the sentimental balance of my trip, I felt nestled in that country by a bond that took
me a long time to define. The phenomenon had been repeated in Caracas, in El Tigre, in Puerto
La Cruz, in La Victoria, in Ocumare. That is to say, it persisted changing the landscape. Then I
came up with the solution: it is the people who create and sustain my affinity with Venezuela
and, to be more specific, since I have hardly seen Venezuelans, it is our people in Venezuela
who provoke and promote the spell. Something also has, without a given, the country that, at
least, provides a friendly framework for the development of that feeling.
The Basque Center has something - and a lot - as far as Caracas is concerned. When you have
spent twenty-five years of patriotic work abroad —in Paris the sphere of Basque relations is
reduced and almost invariable and everything else is good or bad, but strange—, being in the!
The Basque Center in Caracas is arriving at a Basque oasis, it is like not having left home, like
suddenly erasing five decades of exile. It is to have continued living, without being absent for a
day, in any Basque center of Euskadi at that time, in those premises belonging to Juventud
Vasca de Gasteiz —the one I have known the most— as if the people, the events, the aspirations
of each mo and Of all, the problems would not have changed. With the same reasons for
conversation and even discrepancies.
As if in a retrospective film, I am watching the nights of k>s days that I spent recently in the
Basque Center in Caracas. Many things pass through my memory, still without a blur of
distance, still in great detail: lively and extremely friendly meetings with that youth made up of
girls and boys whom the dynamism, the overflowing joy, the plethora of life, only distract that
excite the patriotic desire. What a good time the young people from the Center of Caracas gave
me, even those who wanted to give me not so good ones with the machine-gunning of their
questions translating concerns and non-conformism!
Jaungoikoa increases them. And the other meetings, those of the parties, those of the
emakumes, those in solidarity, those of those who have the legitimate pride of orthodoxy, those
of those who promote the no less honorable itch for innovation, the prudent and the audacious,
the impetuous and the thoughtful, the arlottes and the cautious, all patriots, all with a sense of
responsibility, all with "errimina" and all composing something like a micro-nation, with all the
advantages and all the disadvantages of a nation of good size.
It is that in the Basque Center of Caracas national life is lived, the life of an entire people. It is,
saving all proportions, a prefiguration of Euzkadi, as I see it. I congratulated the Caracas Basque
Center, that is, its directors now and before and all its partners, because after twenty years and
seven thousand kilometers from the homeland they have built and maintain this work with that
spirit. Now I repeat here that no one can prevent a people that does that —and it is not only
done in Venezuela— from resurrecting. These facts and that moral are a magnificent remedy to
combat discouragement. The founders of the Center and those who have supported them may
not be aware of the patriotic work they have done. Here they
What remains, for what it's worth, is the testimony of a man who has seen it, who has lived inside
it and who, among titles and honors in more than thirty years of political life, highly esteems
having deserved to be named an honorary member. of that Center. Appointment that —
I said it there too—creates obligations that today I begin to comply with these lines.
It has gotten dark on this very cold winter day in Paris. The day in this Delegation headquarters
of the Government of Euzkadi has not been lazy. The shortlists are more diverse every day and
the years do not yield but rather increase work and worries. Night fell more slowly, but with much
colder than in Venezuela, indicates fatigue; Outside, attention is tormented by impatience: the
Algerian government is expected tonight to accept the bases for the suspension of hostilities.
Another town that is reborn.
Ours is still a slave. Which is the reason? Where is the difficulty? Reason for daily reflection,
insistently repeated for a long time. You can't, you shouldn't desert the topic. It is Basque life or
death. What could I give to return tonight with my meditations 3 the terrace where the main
staircase of the Basque Center of Caracas begins and, looking at the Avila above the lights of
the city, ask on High when this cruel paradox is going to stop? ?
While that arrives, the Caracas Basque Center is a piece of homeland built seven thousand
kilometers away and that has lasted and progressed for twenty years. It is a glorious page of
Basque history.
1 40 1 Folklore
After the path of music, folklore has always held a preponderant place and since the arrival of
the first exiles, with the few children that the incipient colony had, a performance was held at the
then San Agustín Stadium, guided by the the expertise of Joseba Badiola, who had just offered
his young experience on the roads of England, among the groups of exiled Basque children who
had arrived in that country. In addition to Joseba, the Isasti txistularis and the Oñatibia brothers,
plus Mr. Atxurra, pioneer of the txistularis in Venezuela, made himself felt since then as soon as
the celebration was organized. That representation of the Basques occupied the attention of
several Caracas newspapers and since then the dantzaris of Caracas have never lowered their
guard: from group to group, from date to date, from age to age and recently they have surprised
us on the day of the Dantzari eguna. with a nice display of children, young people, less young,
excuse me, “still young”, who put their energies to work, putting effort and affection into it, rooted
in that great will to maintain the validity of our folkloric manifestations.
These group of dantzaris, txistularis, accordionists and directors-teachers of the various groups
deserve a separate chapter for their special dedication that, among other things and outside of
their exhibitions in the Eusko-Etxea and other points of the Caracas geography, provide us with
the joy of contemplating our "national" representation with its authentic name and ikurriña for
many years, attending the Festival of International Folkloric Dances that is held annually in
Caracas, where different colonies from foreign countries attend. In these fights the Aldaska has
obtained the ler. Awarded in 1984, and as is customary, they had to organize the next festival in
1985 at the premises of the Basque Center, which was a success with the public, this year the
award went to the colony
Croatian and the two years in a row, 1988 and 1989, Aldaska obtained the 2nd Prize, presenting the youngest group
of the Festival.
Basque presence in Venezuelan folklore
Almost a century, from 1728 to 1785, of the Gipuzkoan company, as well as the missions of priests or the presence of
people from the Basque Country before or after it, profoundly influenced our country, not only in external aspects but
also in its own collective psychology, in their soul, in their customs. This influence or presence in the field of Venezuelan
folklore can be seen in some manifestations that are particularly similar to others that exist in the Basque Country.
We are going to enumerate some of them, without delving into the sources or the symbioses to which they could give
rise and without trying to limit the Basque survivals in our traditional popular culture to this superficial enumeration.
It is impossible not to relate our traditional and already somewhat extinct carnivalesque burriquita with the zamalzain
or horseman of the souletino processions evocative of warrior episodes. We refer our readers for more information on
the origin, character and varieties of these Souletine masquerades, to the work Los Vascos by Julio Caro Baro-jaa'
where the following can be read: "The processions, in Lower Soule, are much more numerous than in Upper Soule:
they are always divided into two factions: the first is formed by the so-called red masquerade , made up today of a
series of fixed characters, who are, in any case, fewer than those who made it up in the middle of the 18th century. last
century; the Txerrero is in the lead , armed with a stick from which hangs a large clump of horsehair. Behind were the
lambs and the bear, now disappeared, thus leaving in second place the cat (Gathia, Gathusain), whom It is
distinguished by the kind of wooden scissors with which it bothers the spectators.They come next and in this order the
bartender (a boy dressed femininely), Zamalzain, that is, the horse or the man mounted on a horse, represented in a
very schematic way and who seems to be the most important character of all. . ."
The Venezuelan Burriqwita has many aspects in common with the Zamalzain, not only because of the fact that in both
cases it is the imitation of a man mounted on a soliped, but also because of the very spirit of the movements and
representation of the animal. ridered. But if in the Basque Country it is a horse, in Venezuela it becomes a humble
donkey, habitual companion of the man of the town. 22 It should be noted that the 3rd date on which this mask appears
is more
or less the same in the Basque Country and in Venezuela, that is, Christmas Easter and Carnival.
No other characters passed into our folklore from the souletmo courtship itself, and it would be up to a scholar in this
field to specify whether the presence of the bwrriquita is actually due to the Basques or if it is from another origin, or if
we are dealing with a phenomenon of analogy , so prevalent in traditional popular culture.
In Venezuela there was a game of canes called Paloteo, now disappeared, of which there is a version thanks to Rosa
Cesteri who wrote something about it. in the parish,
Mérida State, on February 2, the day of the Virgin of Candelaria, a danced and sung ceremony
is celebrated by the so-called (Candelaria lancers1'*' in which they, when performing certain
figures, clash the sticks or clubs they carry There are other parts in which these clubs play an
important role.Finally, the Tamunangue of Lara State, made up of seven sones and whose
execution takes place on the day of San Antonio, according to traditions, June 13, begins with
a Sort of duel with clubs between two participants.Here it is not a question of hitting the sticks
but of hitting each other in the manner of saber blows, with the consequent stops and sprains.
Is it possible to relate these paloteos or the Battle, tamunanguera with the Basque Makil-
dantza ? We don't know for sure, especially when these paloteos are derived from the old
peninsular dances called Moors and Christians. Perhaps Makil-dantza herself was originally
enrolled in those demonstrations with which the Iberians celebrated the memory of their wars
and triumph over the Moors. But what cannot be denied is that in the game of Basque sticks a
paloteo predominates, as happens in similar Venezuelan demonstrations. Nothing is so similar
to the Fire Bull of the Basque Country as the Candela Bull that Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera and
Isabel Aretz, directors of our Folklore Institute, studied in the town of Pregonero (Táchíra State),
during Christmas. Despite the differences in the very making of the object and in the
incandescent materials that, in the Basque Country are fireworks and in Pregonero, simple tows
soaked in kerosene, it is the same representation. It is appropriate here, before concluding, to
formulate the questions that we already asked ourselves: analogies?, heritage?, Basque
influence?
Isabel Aretz in the book Panorama del Floklore Venezolano^' points out that the root of many of
our customs must be found in "the Missions, where the religious supplanted with European or
Spanish dances some indigenous dances that they performed in honor of the Patron Saints".
And he adds: "In 1947, during a study trip that we made to Falcón, a parish priest offered us
some old handwritten notebooks that show how music and descriptions of dances circulated in
Venezuela such as those of the Espatadantzaris, the Baile de las Cintas and the Baile Zortztko
"to dance alone", among others".
In this case, we can be sure that they are manifestations belonging to Basque folklore, since
even the names appear in the corresponding language. The Dance of the Swords may constitute
another factor of influence in the Battle of El Tamifrtangue, although in truth, nothing similar to it
is known in Venezuela. The Zortziko Dance must be the zorzico detached from the amresku
whose four movements, in truth, do not notice any presence in Venezuelan dances. On the
other hand, the Dance of the Ribbons, inexplicably called Sebucán in many parts of Venezuela,
is a deep-rooted and still current tradition. But it is a universal manifestation, and it would be
rash to say that it was the Basques who implanted the Sebucán , or weaving of the stick of
ribbons, in our country.
On the other hand, the existence of the Dance of the Bottle that appears in the classification of
the dances by its form, of the painting elaborated by Isabel Aretz14' inevitably leads us to think
of the gobelet-dantza, especially when we read the description that Miguel made of it. Cardona:
"The singer dances barely raising his feet and with his arms hanging, he evolves from right to
left. Then crossing and jumping over the bottle:
"To Saint Benedict

because he has the power
Of the True God
I raise the bottle
And I give him a drink.
Be very careful
Don't break it."0"
Indeed, that of crossing over the borella and jumping over it without breaking it resembles the
acrobatics of the Basque dancers over the glass full of wine. It's just that the Basques come to
stand on the glass while in the Venezuelan dance, now probably extinct, it's a bottle. It should be
noted that when Cardona collects the information mentioned about the Bottle Dance, it has almost
disappeared.
In other respects there are vague similarities between the Cult of María Lionza and that of Mari
from Basque mythology, such as the fact that María Lionza travels through the forests mounted
on a tapir and followed by her court of Don Juans and many other fighting characters, while that
Mari appears seated on a chariot that crosses the air drawn by four horses or mounted on a ram,
since in a certain way she is a coven divinity, a symbiosis between the earth and the goat, fire
and hell. Lionza died at the bottom of the waters and Mari in the bowels of the earth. But both
have richly decorated rooms abounding with precious stones and often spend part of their time
arranging their hair. Mari also has her court of geniuses, but in her case, demonic attributes and
personifications predominate. It may be that some features of the cult of Mari, brought by Basque
peasants, have flowed into the Cult of María Lionza.
In the same way, when reading the descriptions of bertsolariak or versolañs improvisations, held
on the occasion of patron saint festivities, one thinks of the wakes in Bar Lovento with their
decimistas who argue and get entangled in endless arguments, in the midst of the approval or
disapproval of others. an attentive and knowledgeable audience. What is exposed here is no
more than a note referring to a subject of undoubted importance, since the contribution of the
Basque people to the Venezuelan people has not yet been studied, from a cultural point of view.
This failure is unacceptable, all the more so when we know the transformation it underwent
Venezuela, after the arrival of the Guipuzcoan Company, whose influence was not only economic
but also social. The Gipuzkoan ships brought along with European marketing products and
merchandise of all kinds, seeds of new plants, ideas, enlightenment, folklore, and healthy and
robust people who knew how to plant themselves in this country, up to the present day.
1 40 2 Pizkunde, Txinpartak, Veneuska
As we mentioned previously, the Pizkunde began to work from Truco to

Balconcito, under the direction of Maestro Antón Gárate
And his presentation "away from home" was held at the Municipal Theater, invited by the
Association of Concerts under the Presidency of Maestro Plaza, achieving such success that
from that moment the Caracas public began to capture the musical quality of the Basque people,
and their singing was making itself felt in different acts and theaters that for those
dates, the Orfeón Lamas hardly stood out, directed by the distinguished Maestro Vicente Emilio
Sojo, which was made up of top quality performers.
That "Pizkunde" had no qualms about going to the Algodonal (Antituberculosis Sanatorium)
motivated by his spirit of solidarity, to offer his music to the sick or to the prisoners of the Modelo
Prison, etc. He also achieved, in his second stage, a great triumph from the interpretation of
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, under the baton of Maestro Galarza, who was heard for the first
time in the capital, lively or when he sang Handel's Hallelujah. , then directed by Paulin Urresti,
in a theatrical production that was performed at the Nuevo Circo, about the Passion of Christ.
Among the notable interpretations of Pizkunde, we note the collaboration that the great maestro
Antonio Estévez requested in order to premiere his Cantata Criolla and we received the honor of
beginning rehearsals under his direction in this very house whose anniversary date we are
celebrating. The Pizkunde, in this case was accompanied by the Orfeón Universitario and some
individuals.
The premiere of the Cantata Criolla was a milestone in the Musical History of Venezuela.
There is a very nice anecdote, which happened when Caracas already had a considerable
proliferation of choirs (some from foreign colonies) and a contest was held, whose base was the
National Anthem. The «Pizkunde» obtained the 2nd Prize, despite the great confrontation of
Maestro Estévez with the rest of the Jury, since from his point of view the ler. Prize deserved the
"Pizkunde". Nice memories!
It was the time when mysticism filtered through all corners of the Basque soul and in addition to
some otxotes and even quartets that emerged, both female and male, a group of enthusiastic
girls, under the direction of Sorne Uzkanga, formed a choir called «Txinpartak» whose premiere
was made in the memorable program that was broadcast annually by television stations for the
benefit of the Anticancer Society.
It was also sung at the National Library, etc. etc
The story of the Basque choirs in Venezuela is not over yet and we hope that it will be so; The
last one to emerge was the "Veneuska" who continued to reap triumphs, then under the baton of
Koldo Garmendía, a musician and painter who had been lavishing his beautiful voice in the
different temples of the capital, in the company of the inevitable presence of Jontxu Bilbao.
This choir «Veneuska», after performances, in theaters, television, etc. He earned an article in
the literary magazine Imagen, with the title "Three Basques... a choir" at that time under the
direction of the illustrious Venezuelan intellectual and poet Pedro Francisco Lizardo. Said
Magazine is still maintained in the editorial market.
We do not resign ourselves to closing the chapter of the Basque choirs in Venezuela, without
throwing a seed of hope, which we already dream of germinating, aware that there is a fertile
field, both for young people, adults and... «children», as It has been happening at different times
of this little one that is already becoming a long history and drilling into it we approach the
memories until witnessing the beginning of those "Coritos de Gabon" imbued with the mystique
that in its beginnings meant collecting funds for our brothers that in Euskadi they suffered from
the Franco dictatorship and that as time went on they diversified, both the contributions and the
appreciable and varied number of youthful faces that twinned their joy to the beat of the notes of
the Olentzero and the Tum...Tum... who
is?... PEOPLE OF PEACE
1 41 Builders and captains
Those groups of exiles from the industrious and hard-working Basque people were diversifying their achievements
within different fields, among which construction stood out, planting the urbanizations of El Rosal, Alta-mira, La
Castellana, Las Mercedes, etc., with names of flavor. homeland: Izarra, Mondragón, Toki Eder... many beautiful
buildings whose facades, with touches of stone, recalled the farmhouses of the homeland, made by the enterprising
and efficient spirit of Don Miguel Salvador, who also has to his credit the first apartment building "Eguzki" in Los
Caobos, considered then -1941- the outskirts of Caracas.
As a memory and inheritance of the intense work he carried out, rooted in his nostalgia and wisdom, he bequeathed
to us this beautiful “tropicalized” farmhouse, like a brilliant beacon of the “Euskadi
pilgrim»
Other well-known buildings also came out of the work of the exile, such as the Coromoto Church, in El Paraíso, the
La Guadalupe School and the Campo Claro Church, thanks to the fertile imagination of the Urban Architect
Mantxobas. Likewise, companies such as \a Concreto de Abasólo y Lizarralde, the construction company Olaizola,
etc. They raised several buildings in different parts of the city.
We also note that at the end of 1939 a group of Basque builders undertook works such as the Palenque -Guaneo-
Bridge over the Orítuco River, the construction of the enclosing walls of the Modelo Prison and the first houses of the
workers' Bank in Pro Patria . Their determination led them to participate in other important buildings such as the
Colegio La Salle de La Colina and the Blocks of El Silencio.
1 42 Basque priests in Venezuela
It would be necessary to write a lot about the Basque priests who have worked in Venezuela. Those who strive today
are also numerous. In almost every Diocese there is one. Ciudad Bolívar, Cumaná, Los Teques, Caracas, San
Cristóbal, Maracaibo, Calabozo, Maracay, Barquisimeto are many other points of the Homeland Geography that feel
the action of Basque priests. If we count the religious born in Navarra, Vizcaya, Guipúzcos or Álava, there are for all
tastes and colors. In each house of Jesuit Fathers there are a few. So that nothing is missing until the first Little
Brother of Jesus in Venezuela is Father Barandiarán who has camped there by the Erebato among the Yekuana and
Shírisana; Mons.
Aurrecoechea preaches through Machiques and the Sierra de Perijá to the Motilones; Bishop Zabaleta met San Félix
de Guayana with 7,000 inhabitants, and Brother Ginés has the whole set up of La Salle natural and underwater
sciences. Fortunately I don't have to write about so many interesting characters. It would take a good tome to talk
about all of them. Fortunately, I have also been commissioned to say something about one of the most recent
contributions of the Basque clergy, the best of the Basque Dioceses, to the Church of Venezuela.
1 42 1 Missionary Diocese
In the 1940s, the Diocese of Vitoria, which included the three provinces of Vizcaya, Guipúzcoa and Álava, felt a strong
missionary heat running through its veins. In this vision, this missionaryism had a very special nuance. There have
always been Basque priests who have preached everywhere, just as there have been Basque sailors who have sailed
all the seas. There were priests who entered various Missionary Institutes with the praiseworthy purpose of dedicating
themselves to Evangelization. What is particular about the case is that on this occasion the Basque priests wanted to
continue being diocesan priests and at the same time they wanted to be missionaries. This desire was maturing. In
1948 everything was ready for a first group of eight priests to leave for the lands of the Mission. Mons.
Carmelo Ballester, Bishop of Vitoria, took the project before Pope Pius XII. The Pope must have welcomed with pleasure
and emotion the idea that a Diocese of strong spiritual vitality, with an abundance of Clergy, would take charge of a
Mission territory. The Pope took the Bishop by the hand, took him before a map of South America and, showing him a
point on the map, hinted that rather than a territory in India or in another country with a non-Christian majority, the
"Diocese of Vitoria could adopting a territory in South America..Specifically the Province of Los Ríos in Ecuador.
That was the beginning. Then came El Oro, Manabí, the Ambaro Seminary in Ecuador. The year 1959 a territory in
Angola and Los Valles del Tuy in Venezuela. The following year the Car Parish in Caracas. Later more territories in
Africa and the Iron Zone in Venezuela, Caicaíra de! Orinoco and the Parish of Carmen de Los Teques. Overall, in this
work between America, Europe and Africa, a hundred and a half priests are occupied. Several Women's Secular
Institutes born in Vitoria and Bilbao, some fifty Secular Missionaries and two Missionary Couples. The system has been
adopted by other Dioceses. Specifically, Navarra has a group similar to ours in Cabimas. I do not think it is pretentious
to affirm that the Basque dioceses brought a new idea of mission that was very old in the Church, but certainly forgotten.
Pope Pius XII recalled it in Fidei Donum when he spoke of the collegial responsibility of the Bishops in the Evangelization
of the whole world. The Bishops must bear not only the pastoral care of their Diocese, but as successors of the apostles,
they are responsible for the missionary problem. It would be highly recommended to read N^ 38 of the Decree on the
missionary activity of the Church of the Second Vatican Council.
We have been in these hot lands for seven years. Very little time. I don't mean to raise my voice. Simply affirm our
existence as a priestly group. The fundamental characteristic of this group is team life. Each geographic natural unit
forms a unit of apostolic work. Thus Coche forms a team. Yours another, etc.
The apostolic work thus conceived entails the need to meet constantly. One day a week the members of the team meet.
This meeting could be defined as a planning and review meeting. It ends with a brotherly meal. Each month one of
these meetings becomes a Spiritual Retreat. Above all, we are interested in maintaining our priestly spirit, which is a
spirit of offering, victimization and service to the faithful. Live intensely the pastoral dimension of the priesthood.
This requires adapting to the environment. We strive to capture the cadence, the rhythm, the feelings, the heartbeat,
the yearnings and sufferings of the land in which we live and of its people, until we understand the inner vibration of the
faithful and vibrate like them. That
it's hard. It is the climate, the language, the customs. Our Basque may be from Mondragón,
Marquina or Ataun, but the Castilian learned in Don Quixote has passed through the sieve of
the tropics to the point of feeling strange when faced with a jota, rhymes that or an ec with a
Vallesolitana cadence. As an anecdote, I could tell what happened to one of my colleagues. A
little boy said to him after a year in Tuy, "Father, how quickly you learned Spanish!"
Yes, Father José María still speaks musiú. That was six years ago. I will not load the inks. I
think that in Venezuela the priests should not insist too much on their origin. I think it is
absolutely important to be a Jew with the Jews, a Chinese with the Chinese and a Venezuelan
with the Venezuelans. However, I will not deny my origin. This can be a guarantee of adaptability,
due to that degree of freedom and independence of the Aitz-Gorri Shepherd that we carry
within, that sense of equality of the "Danok Jainkoak iñak gire" for which no man is inferior to
me, and that capacity for coexistence and tolerance that characterizes us and makes us
citizens of the world.
Another point that you could consider interesting within the priestly spirit would be the spirit of
poverty. If someone contemplates the group with an average of 1.75 in height and 80 kg. of
weight can doubt our sobriety or can think about the beauty of the race. I believe I am correct if
I express our poverty criteria in the following terms: "The goods that we can create or produce
do not belong to the community, since we are not a community, nor personal, but rather belong
to the parishes, and ultimately to the Diocese. We live honestly We serve the people with what
the people give us. We invest in Venezuela what we receive in Venezuela."
1 42 2 The Tuy Valleys
It was the first. For me the most dear. The same day we touched Venezuela we arrived in
Ocumare del Tuy, at the end of October 1959. We have been filling ourselves with essences of
yours for seven years. It's what I know best. The same spirit is realized or concreted in different
shades according to the range of colors of the different circumstances in which one lives. Let's
say that each team maintains its own personality, its own character. The accelerated dynamism
in terms of development of La Guayana is not the same as the relative village peace of Valles
del Tuy.
El Tuy is an ideal area for the absorption of a priestly team. Certain characteristics common to
all the towns that unite them, the good communications, the relatively high population density,
make Tuy even desirable for a team of priests who want to develop their apostolic action
together-Not without reason was one of the promising valleys of Tuy We have witnessed with
emotion the slow evolution that is taking place in them. New roads, dams, industries that are
being born little by little. Schools, high schools, electrification, aqueducts, radio station. A
constant throbbing of the earth that opens its bowels and lets itself work. We have been happy
with each new human achievement. The transformation continues. Given the situation and
conditions of the Valles del Tuy, it is not difficult to conclude that it will be the natural area of
expansion of the four-hundred-year-old capital.
We view with concern the upward curve of the demographic explosion that creates social,
economic and evidently pastoral problems. El Tuy is a challenge to our imagination, audacity
and nerve. Extending the sentence a little more, it would be necessary to say that Venezuela is a
challenge for the Church and for Christianity There is the Valley. Half an hour from Caracas.
Beautiful, green, fertile. With their names of ancestral sound like Ocumare, Charallave or Yare
and their names of saints like Santa Lucía or Santa Teresa. With its simple, noble, good people.
The time that we have been in Tuy y Coche, which would deserve a separate chapter due to the
beautiful reality of Christian renewal created in that parish, has allowed some ideas to materialize.
The balance of construction shows five new parsonages, three pre-artisan schools, five home
schools, five sheds for breeding in peasant settlements for 5-V Boys Clubs, a central shed for
Chantas, a cultural center in Car, a hall Parish in Charallave, two new churches and one chapel,
and three of the existing churches have been repaired and improved. So that nothing is missing,
one of the Fathers built a bridge over a ravine. Several ministries have intervened in all of this,
the State Government, the municipal councils, the Foundation for Community Development, etc.,
and the faithful of the parishes.
All this has its merit if one considers that our parishes are not very rich. All of this is perhaps the
most attractive, but not the most important. Our apostolate wants to be duration, presence,
reflection and incarnation. Living immersed in the movements that rage among the restless men
of Valles del Tuy, to give them a Christian dimension of eternity. Constant individual and team
reflection has marked out a few fundamental lines of action.
El Tuy is a developing region. A human development that presents multiple aspects: economic,
moral, intellectual, technical, etc. The salvation of Tuy will depend on the harmonious conjunction
of all these aspects. Like priests, surely some of them do not concern us directly, but we are
interested in all of them. We encourage a technical or economic advance, we bless it and if
necessary we promote it. Without a doubt, above all we are interested in moral progress, which
is not always parallel to intellectual evolution or economic development. Our effort has recently
been directed towards the technical preparation of the young tuyeros, both in the field and in the
industrial arts, and the formation of strong Christian minorities in the various apostolic movements
established in the Church.
The first part is in charge of the team of lay Basques advised by one of the priests. They carry
out the 5-V Clubs for the rural environment, the home schools and the movement of craft schools
that have to lead to the creation of technical schools in Valles del Tuy. We maintain contact with
the Mondragón and Marquina Technical Schools and with the cooperative movement in those
towns.
Keep in mind that our presence is understood as a mission of a Diocese. This explains why two
farmers work with us, a master industrialist, a company technician, laymen who study, probe,
experiment and report to find the path to follow in the evolution of Tuy. The approval of a certain
amount of money from German Catholics has recently been obtained for one of our programs,
and four scholarships from the Mondragón Labor Fund for some boys from Tuy to study five
years of Industrial Mastery at the Mondragón School. Accounting in money can never give an
idea of the efforts made.
Along with this, the other constant is the formation of minorities that understand Christianity as a
donation to others and as human development. Going from a Christian experience
eighteenth-century and pietistic in many respects to a Christianity in tune with the cosmic age.
Going from Christianity in the temple and in the salvation of my soul to Christianity in life and in the
perdition of my soul, an evangelical paradox that saves men in their totality and integrity and saves the
soul. The preaching, the catechism, the liturgy, the meetings, the short courses, the exercises, the
anguish, the reflection, the study that all this demands are not accountable either.
Everything can be done. We have to put our share of effort and concern. Success, however flattering it
may be, will come or it will not come. One thing is certain; The short years of experience have given us
a strong dose of faith in ourselves, confidence in the message we carry, Christianity through the tolerant
and free filter of the Basque soul, and great faith in the environment in which we live, in its ability to
evolution and transformation.
1 42-3 Religious issues in Venezuela
It has been said that this magazine neither can nor intends to cover the different historical aspects, men
and names of the Basque nomenclature that have intervened in Venezuelan history in a public and
transcendental way, but rather that it did not even come close to what stands out the most. There remain,
then, notable episodes and names without even having been cited. But by way of how the Basque is
prodigal in the Venezuelan, here is a sample in that it is one of the many news items that frequently
appear in the newspapers and that usually refer to notable Basque names who acted here, there, in
another city in this beautiful country.
We collect what refers to Fr. Daniel Bizkaya from the important newspaper "El Nacional". We read:
The Presbyter doctor Daniel Vizcaya, was born in Cabudare on October 26, 1848. He was the legitimate
son of Don Estanislao Vizcaya, and Doña Petronila Cortez. Of humble origin, he was born on the eastern
bank of the Quebrada Tabure which, in another time, divided Cabudare into two sectors. From an early
age he wore the talar habit until he was ordained by the latter. Mr.
Dr. Víctor José Diez, First Bishop of Barquisimeto,
El Podre Vizcaya, is one of the figures among the lawyers of the last century. In 1877 he was appointed
parish priest of a neighboring town, of great importance, but which, due to the fratricidal wars of those
days, many notable men had abandoned. Podre Vizcaya was constrained, having no one to deal with,
so he was forced to leave at noon on the dot, on a beast, leaving that place with these words: "I'm leaving
this town because I suffocated in it." . And the few who heard him, without understanding that metaphor,
said: "But it's not hot here for the Father to say that!"
From that population he went to Carocas where he met notable friends, counting among them a! last.
Mr. Dr. José Antonio Ponte — also from Cabudar — who was Archbishop of Caracas and Venezuela.
Father Vizcaya, as a leading figure in the literary field, was an Exegete, Historian, Journalist, Polyglot
and Strong Verb Orator.
Father Vizcaya had no attachment to material goods, he died young and full of life when his patent brain
began to bear the fruits of his powerful intellect. And as a diligent historian from Lara rightly says:
"Vizcaya was a man of superior intelligence and imagination. Endowed with a prodigious memory, from
a very early age, he gave signs of what the future would hold for him. Humble and studious, his cabinet
of work enclosed a copious library that was frequently visited by the most
Pomegranate of the intellect! Give Caracas.
Preacher of a great verse and a robust and convincing verb, he continued the glorious tradition of
brilliant sacred orators who during the last century honored the Venezuelan and perhaps the American
rostrum. Educito in philology and linguistics, he was taken to the Venezuelan Academy of Language
at the time when the Calcanos, the Saluzzos, the Fombonas, the Tejeras, the Blancos, the Seijas...
drove the helm of our intellectuality". Father Vizcaya had been decorated with the Bust of the Liberator
and other honorary distinctions; he died in Caracas on February 23, 1892. However, to bury him, some
friends had to do it as alms, since he did not own property of fortune.
Francisco Antonio Uzcátegui y Dávila was born in Merida in 1748. He belonged, both through his
paternal and maternal lines, to notable and wealthy families.
He studied in Bogotá, where he received his doctorate. Right there he was ordained a priest.
By 1781 he was listed as Vicario Ecclesiastical Judge of Mérida.
In 1782, he founded a free public school, for whose support he assigned a capital of four thousand
pesos, insured in his personal assets.
This was the first school of this kind that existed in Mérida. Years later, he founded another free school
in Kjido, to which he assigned a capital of three thousand pesos, also insured on his personal assets.
That Ejido school was intended for learning arts and crafts.
After Mérida had become the capital of the Diocese, the first Bishop, Fr. Juan Ramos de Lora, arrived
in Maracaibo in 1784. There the maracaiberos detained him while they begged the King to
establish the seat of the Bishopric in that city and frightened the Bishop with the difficulties of the roads
to get to Mérida and with the "mumps" disease that reportedly abounded in it. The Bishop was
hesitating, when the Fr.
Dr. Uzcátegui. who dispelled those fears and informed the Prelate that he had left a litter with enough
peons in the port for him to move to Mérida. saddle mules and everything necessary for the trip. Moved
by all this, the Bishop decided to undertake this trip, in the company of Father Uzcátegui. Arriving in
Mérida, he hastened to write to the King so that he would consider the pleas that he had directed from
Maracaibo not made.
Therefore, it was due to Father Uzcátegui that Mérida was not deprived of its dignity as Episcopal See.
The canons Irastorza and Mateo Más y Rubí, enemies of Mérida and supporters of Maracaibo as the
capital of the Bishopric, adduced as a reason that fresh meat was never eaten in Mérida, only aired.
Father Uzcátegui then offers a house of his property to the City Council to establish a Public
Slaughterhouse and he commits himself, in the absence of shepherds, to annually benefit two hundred
steers for the consumption of the city.
On May 6, 1800, Father Uzcáíegtii became part of the Cathedral Chapter as Canon Racionero.
In 1804 he contributed a good sum to the work of providing Mérida with clean water,
taken by Antonio Ignacio Rodríguez Picón in his capacity as Major Justice.
In 1807, the Milanese Bishop founded a Lazareto in Mérida. Canon Uzcátegui was appointed Economic
Director of that charitable institution.
In 1810 he was part of the Patriotic Board of Mérida. When they had just signed the famous act of
September 16 of that year, someone observed that, if independence was declared, the difficult part was
what was still missing, that is, sustaining it. Canon Uzcátegui immediately raised his cassock and replied:
"For what is missing, there are pants under these habits!".
He turned his country house near the city into a foundry, from which came out sixteen cannons for the
Homeland and other weapons.
He was the first Constitutional President of Mérida, in 1811. A position then without pay, in which "the
Canon was well, according to Don Tulio, because in the case of the Homeland, he never came to serve it
for pay, but rather paid for serve it".
He worked tirelessly in the reconstruction of Mérida, after the earthquake of the year 1812, and paid half
of the salaries of the employees of the Cathedral out of his pocket, in order to re-establish the sacred
offices.
In 1814, fleeing from the royalist armies, he emigrated to New Granada. In the middle of 1815 he died in
Bogotá.
1 42 4 The Church
Of the private universities, perhaps the most prestigious is the “Universidad Católica Andrés Bello”. It
belongs to the Society of Jesus, with the address exceptions that one of its professors will explain to us
later.
In October of last year, the "Andrés Bello", located at the western end of Caracas, turned twenty-five.
In the Society of Jesus, Venezuela was a Basque dependency for many years. Specifically, of the so-
called "province of Eastern Castilla", which included Guipúzcoa, Álava, Navarra and Aragón. Later the
"Loyola province" was founded, which corresponded to Euzkadi. Burgos was incorporated, Aragon broke
off to join Catalonia... and always, despite the divisions and redistributions, "Eastern Castilla" first, and
then Loyola, also received the circumscription of Venezuela.
Brother Vicente Cuezala, from Rentería, explained to us how, for this reason, most of the Jesuits in
Caracas come from Guipúzcoa and Navarra, along with some from Burgos and Zaragoza, which have
remained from the old divisions. The rest are Creoles. For about ten years, Venezuela has already
established itself as its own province, within the Society, in an independence that consists in not receiving
more religious from Euzkadi. It is assumed that it already has a sufficient number of vocations to maintain
the works that exist there.
UCAB currently admits some seven thousand students, divided into five faculties.
The most numerous in terms of students is Economics, with its schools of Administration and Accounting.
Then there is the Faculty of Humanities, with a number of schools in all the humanistic branches, among
them those of Social Education, and Philosophy and Letters, such as
main. The Faculty of Engineering encompasses branches of civil engineering and industrial engineering. The
Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Pharmacy remain, which at the moment is in a "stand by", in an "impasse",
due to a lack of students.
The professors are about three hundred, of them approximately ten percent, Jesuits.
Although it is a private center, its qualifications have official validity and, in some international homologations,
with an advantage over the Central. It is financed by the payment of the students, which constitutes 70% of
the income. The remaining thirty percent is obtained through donations, or through public relations promotion.
Antonio Aguirre, PhD in Economics, from Azpeitia; Luis Aza-j>ra from Pamplona; Olza, also from Pamplona;
Salegui, from Azpeitia... are some of the Basque Jesuits from UCAB.
Father Pernau, who was from Tafalla, was also here, but is now dead, and Father Urquijo, from San Sebastián,
continues.
In addition to the UCAB, one of the Company's first projects in Venezuela was the installation of primary and
secondary schools. Currently they are San Ignacio, from Caracas; the Gonzaga, from Maracaibo; the Loyola,
from Puerto Ordaz; the Javier, in Barquisimeto.
Even without counting the “Fe y Alegría” educational centers, or the San Fernando de Apure agricultural
school, in the middle of the plain, whose director is Father Sierra from San Sebastián, who lived for many
years in Deva...
Another order implanted in Caracas, which had a large Vusca presence, is that of the Benedictines, dependent
on the central house of La/cano. But they informed us that there are hardly any Basques left in the convent.
And we must also take into account the brothers of La Salle, Brother Ginés is always quoted from the i|Lic.
But in Latin America, the Church —and the religious orders are no exception—, has abundant “conscious”
members, ionio would say there, active in the fight against social imbalances, against injustices, against
massive underdevelopment. They are religious with a strong influence in the intellectual circles and in the
political life of the country.
Although in the specific case of this Republic they do not reach the extreme of the Spaniard Camilo Torres, of
alternating the missal with the rifle. At least not for now.
Father José Ignacio Rey, SJ, met us in the pleasant little square of Madaríaga, very close to "El Paraíso",
where couples meet, retirees sunbathe, and children play among gardens and fountains.
There, sitting on a bench and with the recorder in the middle, we had to contrast sharply with the usual human
landscape, because everyone was staring at us. With surprise, and with the remote hope, perhaps, that we
were doing something for the radio, and we would ask them. They do not have nailed to their core the distrust
that is felt in Euzkadi before a question, before a tape recorder.
José Ignacio is wearing his shirt sleeves, but that is not due to his status as a progressive.
Also brother Cuezala, brother Ginés, and almost all the other priests —
Except for one that we saw, already old, at the UCAB—they dress like that. Furthermore, Monsignor Ugarte, in
his "ranchitho" from a marginal neighborhood, received us in a T-shirt, because he was watering his
garden. It was not a matter of working the orchard dressed as a pontifical.
Father Rey told us about other Jesuit activities in Venezuela —many of them Basque Jesuits who have
little to do with teaching in the most conservative —some would say “class-oriented”— schools and
universities in the country,
«The Gumilla center —he explained— predates the Catholic University. The magazine "Sic" is forty-five
years old, one of the oldest in Venezuela.
It was made by Jesuits and, fundamentally, by Basque Jesuits. Now, until 1968, the Center and the
magazine were run with a rather traditional mentality, by quite old people.
The entire decade of the 60s, in Latin America, is fundamental. 1959 is the Cuban revolution, and the
guerrillas spread throughout the continent. It is believed that, with the guerrillas, the people are going to
take power; there is a kind of libertarian euphoria in the sociopolitical world around us.
It coincides in the year 62, until 65, the Second Vatican Council, which opens the doors of the Church to
other dimensions. And in the year 1968, the II General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate
was held in Medellín (Colombia), which assumed frankly unexpected and surprising positions: it spoke
of the liberation of the oppressed, of the fact that the Church has no meaning if it is not together with the
masses. popular who seek their freedom, etc.
Around those years, the Gumilla Center took a definitive turn, initially along the lines of Vatican U, in
Medellín, and later on it bordered on more defined socialist positions. At that time, Laz-iiino, Ugalde,
Ayestarán (from Tolosa) and I, from Bilbao, joined.
I had arrived in Venezuela in 1967; They will be, before. We had the initiative to found an Institute of
Theological Studies at the Catholic University. And that Institute incorporated the new vision that the
Church has of social and political problems. We immediately entered into conflict within the same
University. The thought of the mii'vo Institute and that of the Gumilla group coincide; Fundamentally, it is
the same group of people.
Here a series of events occur in the churches at that time; young people begin to occupy some buildings.
The year 70, r! Social Christian government expels a Belgian priest who worked on a hill, Father
Wuitaclc; we priests took to the streets in a nmiiifcstation... The end of the sixties are of enough-Hi
This is because Venezuela is a country that, due to its basic conditions, and despite the great social
imbalances, has alleviated its problems, because something always reaches everyone, other than the
great economic differences.
In 1972 the conflict broke out at the Catholic University. That year, a socialist movement, recently created
in the country, wins the elections: the MAS (Movement to Socialism), made up of ex-guerrillas, who, with
the failure of the guerrillas, accept the pacification policy offered by the government. Social Christian,
and form a movement
Socialist-Marxist who says he wants to seek power through political means.
The fact is that these young people win the elections at the UCAB, which since its foundation
was the classic institution for the upper class, to which students from the schools of nuns and
priests arrived. A very conservative institution, which does not at all incorporate the thinking of
the Vatican, nor that of Medellín, into its own structures.
In the Institute of Theology the exception occurs. And that is creating a conflict, which then
breaks out because the authorities, taking advantage of the socialist victory in the student
elections, decide to cut their losses and expel thirty-five students, who are the leaders of the
center, and five teachers. One of them is me, at that time director of the Institute of Theology.
Being a Jesuit institution, two Jesuits are
expelled from us.
That does not seem very easy to understand, but the real power is not held by the Company in
the University. The vast majority of teachers are secular and, on the other hand, since they do
not have state funding, they cover their deficits with contributions from private companies, such
as the large North American oil companies.
The classes of October 1972 began with a student hunger strike, asking for the reinstatement
of the expelled teachers and students. That, which at first seemed like it was not going to go
any further, leads the institution to a crisis. Classes are suspended, the hunger strike continues,
the news from the front page of the newspapers transcends public opinion for a month, and
then the differences between Jesuits, between bishops and Jesuits, come to light...
It is the moment, in a way, not of rupture, but of the public verification that within the clergy,
within the Church, and within the Society of Jesus, there are different conceptions of the role of
the Church in an underdeveloped continent. The conflict ends because the university authorities
are forced to resign, an agreement is reached between the students, the ultimate managers of
the university, and with the Cardinal of Caracas. The agreement consists of the promise of
progressive reinstatement of students and teachers.
Of these, which were five, three belonged to the Faculty of Social Sciences and one —me—
He was also director of the Institute of Theology. The students rejoined; the professors were
one hand away and they readmitted us in 1973. But the Theological Institute has not been
reopened since then. The University has once again been controlled by conservative and right-
wing forces, and those of us who still continue to teach there do so with considerable displeasure
from the authorities.
It is interesting to note that, of those five expelled teachers, two belonged to the Gumilla center.
I still do not. The "Gumilla" imitated an attitude of public defense of the expelled, and since then
he has been identified as part of an intellectual leadership within the Venezuelan Catholic
Church, in a very progressive line. We have been, yes, described as communists, Marxists...
well, the usual.
I forgot to tell you, and it is very important, perhaps as important as the "Gumilla Center", that
there is a team of Jesuits who, since the year 1968, became worker priests. Ignacio Castillo,
José Ignacio Angoso and Sabino Izaguirre. Two of the three are still in the parish of La Vega,
which is a very poor marginal urbanization, of almost
hundred thousand inhabitants.
It is from this parish that Wuitack was expelled. Today, the Society of Jesus has already assumed,
for the most part, the progressive and left-wing role. The conservative element has been
practically reduced to the Catholic University and some parishes.
The objectives of this group, the "Gumilla" are twofold: social research and the promotion and
training of laymen who are mentalized and educated in a line of social action. On the one hand
they investigate; IHH- will hear they give talks, conferences, promoting groups of lay people. l.ii
research is shown through different channels, but the best known is the magazine "Sic", which
must go around seven thousand copies (which for Venezuela is much and more in a publication
of this type). It has great prestige, and it is a very solid magazine.
"Gumilla" has a branch in Barquísimeto, which is dedicated to the promotion of savings, credit,
and agricultural cooperative groups. The cooperative movement in Venezuela has its center
there, in that city of second importance.
Today there are also other experiences of Jesuits. In Puerto Ordaz, some are working in the
neighborhoods: one from Durango, Alejandro Bilbao, and one from Barandiarán. In Cumaná is
Juan Olave, although that is more linked to the person than to a structure.
Unfortunately, other religious congregations do not appear in the vanguard of the progressive
movements of the Church; they are little known, and have no impact on public opinion.
Unlike other Latin American countries, where the progressive clergy have grouped together in
some way (VOLCONDA, in Colombia, ONIS in Peru, "Priests of the Third World" in Argentina),
here there is no equivalent entity. And it is that this is a country a bit apart, due to its exceptional
economic conditions.
In any case, we must not let ourselves be carried away from abroad by the mirage of oil.
Inquiring into the reality of the Country, there are more than a million abandoned children. There
is a very serious problem of education, especially in primary education levels. You have to go
into the marginal neighborhoods of Caracas to know what misery is. Almost half of the population
lives on the ranches, in the hills. Nationwide, approximately 35 to 40 percent of homes do not
have running water or sewer for toilets. And the electric light is missing by 25 or 30 percent.
For twenty-five years, a formally democratic regime has been in force in Venezuela, there is a
fairly broad freedom of expression; although not absolutely, of course. And with all this the
problems remain very hidden. Venezuelan society has a series of drainage systems for virtual
social conflicts: a very strong ideological propaganda, showing that this country is a democratic
oasis on the Continent, of great progress. But I'm telling you, you have to see the two faces of
Venezuela: this Caracas with its highways and its luxury cars, and the marginal; especially that
of the Interior ».
José Ignacio Rey also explained to us the existence, within the nucleus of progressive thought of
the Venezuelan Jesuits, of the Center for Social Communication, which works right there, in El
Paraíso, so close to Euzko Etxea.
«In the year 72, when we had doubts about whether or not they were going to reinstate us to the
University, it occurred to us to create a Social Communication Center, which has been operating
since then. Ideologically, he is part of the same Gumilla group, but dedicated to social communication,
cinema, press, radio and television. It is directed by Jesús María Aguirre, from Azpeitia, with a
degree in Social Communication and Journalism. And we are made up of five Jesuits together with
a group of laymen, journalists.
We have a research magazine called «Comunicación», and which is fundamentally critical of the big
media, (back in «Gumilla», the objectives here are also double: research and publication in the
magazine, and production of material affordable education for the marginal classes.
We work a lot with "cassettes" and photographs. We prepare audiovisual programs, and I think that
over twenty or twenty-five thousand recordings of educational programs have been distributed in
Venezuela, in the line of promotion and popular education. This is roughly the Social Communication
Center. It does not issue titles, because it does not properly teach. It issues some certificates of
attendance to some courses but, of course, without a university academic level. We maintain
contacts with other research centers in Peru, Chile, and Panama, always regarding the use of
alternative, simple and cheap means that promote communication between people, with a view to
popular organization.
Our work is very delicate, because as a Company of ((.•sus we have no official or direct connection
with any party or political movement. But, obviously, we have established informal contacts with
young leftist politicians, from a moderate left to a radical left.
It is convenient for us to be well informed of other actions of political groups, to eventually give them
support, always unofficial. We believe that these countries will only manage to consolidate a system
of justice the day the people are educated.
The revolution has to be made by the people, when they are aware of their rights, of the abuse they
suffer, because these peoples are not aware.
Any parallelism with the left of Euzkadí is purely coincidental. People here are very conformist.
Very intelligent, but very little prepared. If you tour the country you will realize that only very conscious
minorities are capable of a negative diagnosis regarding what is happening in the Republic. The
people in general live calm and happy, eating poorly, misdressing... with a great sense of humor.
We are in the tropics, the climate is not rigorous, and you live eating anything. In this way, any
organized revolutionary theory is very difficult».
The basic problem persists, and at a religious level it translates into the division of the Latin American
Church into two parts: the traditional, conservative, as opposed to the young, progressive and in
some cases revolutionary. What is going to happen? According to José Ignacio, this is the scenario:
«In Latin America there are virtually two churches. I personally believe that they are differentiated,
not so much by two different theologies, but by two different ways of positioning themselves in the
face of social reality. The traditional church that blesses, that acts inside the temples, that still lives
off the income, that knows that in these countries there are still ninety or
ninety-five percent Catholics, or Christians; that it is somehow allied with the «status», political and
economic. And the other church, which is that of the poor, that of the marginalized.
So far a formal unity has been managed. For example, in Venezuela, outside of Wuitack and the Catholic
University, at no time has the double conception of the Church that exists come to light.
You know that the meeting in Puebla is coming up, of great importance for all of us, in the sense of whether
it will confirm what the one in Medellín said, in 1968, or rather, as some would like, it will be a reversal and
a brake on the renewal promoted in that other.
Our entire position, which I have explained to you before, is inspired by Medellín. So, the Puebla meeting
is awaited with great expectation. There are those who do not expect any important document and we
believe that this is the case, that no revolutionary declaration should be expected. We would settle for the
Medeilín Conference not being invalidated, because it would discredit the Church to go back. There have
been clerics who have tried it, I see a movement to channel Puebla as a brake on Medellín. It remains to
be seen, but in any case, the popular Christian movement in Latin America is irreversible. There is a
church of the poor and—I dare say—a church of the rich.
Does that amount to a public break between the two churches?
I couldn't predict. You know that the Church has many mechanisms to alleviate this conflict, soften it, hide
it. In reality, and from a subjective point of view, both have the best wishes to serve the Church of Jesus
Christ. We are not interested in breaking with the Church; We are deeply believers in the message of
Jesus, in some way represented by the official church, although many times violated, or impurified, by that
same institution. In short, it is the mystery of our Faith, and it is not easy for us to attempt a separation.
Apart from the fact that the Latin American people would never understand that rupture. This people,
although MY faith is not very conscious, nor very cultivated, continues to see in the bishops an image of
God. And to separate from the bishops, really, is to lose our entry as a priest in the popular media.
Category:Venezuelan Jesuits
Arturo Marcelino Sosa Abascal (November 12, 1948) is a Venezuelan Catholic priest. On October 14,
2016, the 36th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, the largest religious order in the Catholic
Church, elected him the thirty-first General Superior of the Society of Jesus.1? He is the first non-European
to hold that position, succeeding Adolfo Nicolás Pachón, who resigned after serving in it for eight years. It
is considered one of the most important cultural and social references in Venezuela.2?
Biography
Arturo Marcelino Sosa Abascal was born in Caracas (Venezuela) on November 12, 1948.
He has a degree in Philosophy from the Andrés Bello Catholic University (1972) and a PhD in Political
Science from the Central University of Venezuela.
In the 35th General Congregation held in 2008, he was elected by Father General Adolfo Nicolás
Pachón as General Councilor. And in 2014 he joined the Curia of the Society of Jesus in Rome
as delegate for the Curia and the houses and interprovincial works of the Society of Jesus in
Rome. These are institutions that depend directly on the Father General of the Jesuits and for
which he appoints a delegate. Among them are, in addition to the General Curia, the Pontifical
Gregorian University, the Pontifical Biblical Institute, the Pontifical Oriental Institute, the Vatican
Observatory, as well as various International Colleges and Residences.
Between 1996 and 2004 he was Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Venezuela. Previously, he
had been coordinator of the social apostolate in this country and director of the Gumilla Center,
a center for research and social action of the Jesuits in Venezuela.2? Along with this, he was in
charge of the SIC magazine, which obtained under his direction in 1979 the National Journalism
Award.
Fr. Arturo Sosa has a long history of dedication to teaching and research. He has held various
positions and functions in the university environment. He has been a professor and member of
the Foundational Council of the Andrés Bello Catholic University and Rector of the Catholic
University of Táchira. He has especially carried out research and teaching in the field of political
science, in different centers and institutions, such as the Chair of Contemporary Political Theory
and the Chair of Social Change in Venezuela at the School of Social Sciences. He has been a
researcher at the Institute of Political Studies of the Faculty of Political Sciences of the Central
University of Venezuela and, at the same university, a professor at the School of Political Studies
in the Chair of History of Political Ideas of Venezuela. In 2004 he was visiting professor at the
Center for Latin American Studies at Georgetown University, in the United States and was
professor of the Chair of
Venezuelan Political Thought from the Catholic University of Táchira.

He has published different works, especially on Venezuelan history and politics.
References
Europa Press, ed. (October 14, 2016). «The Venezuelan Arturo Sosa Abascal, new superior
general of the Jesuits». Consulted on October 14, 2016.
Luis María Ugalde Olalde (Vergara, Guipúzcoa, December 23, 1938) is a Spanish-born
Venezuelan Jesuit theologian and historian. He was rector of the Universidad Católica Andrés
Bello between 1990 and 2010. In 1997 he obtained the National Prize for Journalism and since
2008 he has been a Number Individual of the Academy of Political and Social Sciences. His
books include The Theological-Political Thought of Juan Germán Roscio (1992), El gomecismo
y la política panamericana de Estados Unidos (2005) and Political Utopia: Between Hope and
Oppression (2010).
Personal information
Other names Luis Ugalde sj
Birth December 23, 1938 (80 years old)
Vergara, Guipuzcoa
Nationalities Spanish, Venezuelan
Religion catholic
Education
Educated at Andrés Bello Catholic University
Professional information
Occupation Rector (1990-2010) See and modify the data in Wikidata
Francisco José Virtuoso A. (Caracas, September 16, 1959) is a Venezuelan priest, belonging to the
Society of Jesus. Rector of the Andrés Bello Catholic University (UCAB) since 2010.
Index
1 Biography
2 Performance as rector
3 Published works
4 See also
5 References
Biography
Francisco José Virtuoso Arrieta was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1977
and in 1990 he was ordained as a priest of the congregation. He is a doctor in History of Political Ideas of
Venezuela from the Andrés Bello Catholic University (2003).
Since October 2010 he has held the position of Rector of that university.
He began his teaching career in 1994 at UCAB, teaching classes in the school of philosophy, social
communication, postgraduate history and the Institute of Theology for religious (ITER).
He has also participated since 2007 in the postgraduate course in political science at the Central University
of Venezuela.3?
In 1994, he assumed the direction of the Centro Gumillas Foundation, a position he held until the year
2000 and which he repeated for a second term from 2006 to 2010. He participated in the National
Commission for Police Reform convened by the Ministry of the Interior and Justice, which sought to
generate recommendations to be able to reform the police model. 3? 4?
He was director of the NGO Ojo Electoral (2004-2008), an organization that sought to promote electoral
participation and transparency through non-partisan activities.5? Since 2017, he has participated in the
Frente Amplio Venezuela, a platform that brings together various political and civil groups, which Virtuoso
considers a method of supporting political parties and participation for citizens.6?
Performance as rector
It has promoted changes in the university model. During his selection, UCAB's motto became "From UCAB
to the country we want", something that for him implies translating university excellence into political and
social commitment to the country7?. In 2018 he was ratified as rector of the university for the period
2018-2022. During his time as rector, he has lived through moments such as the death of Hugo Chávez,
the rise to power of Maduro and the expansion of the political, economic and social crisis that Venezuela
is experiencing. The crisis has been one of its main problems, since it puts the sustainability of the
university at risk. In 2018, it indicated that UCAB was doing everything possible to sustain itself, "using its
savings and borrowing more as far as it is reasonable to do so” that it will be a sacrifice for the
university.8?
In his role as rector, he has issued various statements on social and political issues.
In 2017, he criticized the government of Nicolás Maduro for not recognizing the National Assembly
(Legislative), since he indicated that it is a "political meeting space" and should have full powers.9?
According to Virtuoso, the crisis is the responsibility of an economic collapse and an
incomprehensible political action, which he classifies as a "humanitarian disaster." Faced with the
current situation, he has declared that "at UCAB we declare ourselves in active and collective resistance"10?
In 2018, he showed the support of the Catholic Church and the university for the project of the
European Union to open a dialogue between the political forces of the country, with the condition
that the ideal conditions will be sought, which according to him did not exist at that time.2? After
Juan Guaidó proclaimed himself interim president in January 2019, the Andrés Bello Catholic
University recognized his legitimacy as interim president of Venezuela and Jose Virtuoso has
shown his support on several occasions; This was indicated in a visit by the politician to the
university in February 2019: ÿThis university is committed to change and that change means well-
being, progress, dignity, freedom and democracy. The presence of Juan Guaidó here is very
proud for us. In the first place, he is our graduate and is the demonstration of that deep pride in
what UCAB does at the service of the country.
published works
Own works:
The crisis of catholicity in the republican beginnings of Venezuela 1810-1813 (2001).1?

ISBN: 980-244-263-1
The social concern of the Society of Jesus in Venezuela, 1968-1992. Caracas,
UCAB. (2004). ISBN: 980-244-380-8
Contributions and challenges of the social commitment of the Church in Venezuela Today (Coord.)
Caracas, UCAB (2005)3?. ISBN: 980-244-428-6
Collective works with the participation of José Virtuoso1?:
Venezuela analysis and project, Venezuela challenges and proposals (1998).

A
look at Venezuela: reflections to build a shared vision (2006). ISBN: 980-244-4561
Good local governments (2011).

Poverty and inequality, New left in Latin America, Valuations of democracy
in Venezuela and Latin America (2012).
Politics and its plots (2013).ISBN: 978-980-244-740-4
Staff
birth name Francisco José Virtuoso Arrieta View and modify the data in
Wikidata
Birth September 16, 1959 View and modify the data in Wikidata (59 years old)
Caracas (Venezuela) See and modify the data in Wikidata

Residence Caracas
NationalityVenezuelan See and modify the data in Wikidata
Religion Catholicism See and modify the data in Wikidata
Education
Education Bachelor of Political Science
Educated at Rafael Urdaneta University
Postgraduate Doctor in History of Political Ideas of Venezuela
Professional information
Occupation Rector of the Andrés Bello Cartólica University
Venezuela and the beggar Francisco María de Iraola (May 1956 / January 1957)
Decision and contact
In mid-1956, the Provincial Superior of Cantabria (Benito Mendía) decided to take the plunge and try
to extend the collection field to Venezuela. For this, he would use the infrastructure that his province
had in the Antilles, and especially a priest who, due to his position, had the double specialization of
being a "professional" beggar and having experience in moving, for his needs, through the various
countries of the region.
It was Father Francisco María de Iraola Aizarna21, a Gipuzkoan who had been assigned to Cuba in
1937 to occupy the post of “almoner of the Holy Land police station” in the Caribbean area. This
institution of the "Holy Land" responds to the fact that the Franciscan order is in charge, by the
Catholic Church, of the custody of the Holy Places of Palestine, in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. For
the economic support of a continued presence, the collection of funds for this purpose was carried
out in all countries with the presence of Catholics.
The other piece that the Franciscans have to enter the atmosphere of the Basque Center in Caracas,
the oldest and most powerful in the country, is a former student from the Arantzazu school, who hung
up his habits before being ordained, and who, according to the information received in San Sebastián,
he had to occupy a managerial position. Isaías Atxa, born in Gordejuela (Vizcaya) on February 16,
1915, had come to study philosophy and theology at the Franciscan seminary, in the decade of the
3022. Already in civil life, he was imprisoned around 1940, in Pamplona, to because of his Basque
nationalist ideas (he was a member of the PNV), before marrying and emigrating to Caracas, where
he worked as an insurance agent23. Atxa's relations with the Franciscans, in any case, had not
stopped being good; at all times he will adopt towards the provincial superior an attitude and language
typical of religious obedience and Franciscanism ("Peace and Good", "his son in NSP", etc...),
perhaps because his departure from the order was motivated by causes beyond his control, as
pointed out by —9? Francisco Iraola himself24.
The contacts were made simultaneously, through obedience with the first, and by epistolary contact
with the second. The objective was that, with the information provided by Atxa, and with her help, an
action program could be established to successfully carry out the collection. Iraola, in principle, would
wait for the answer.
1 42 5 The bad omens of Isaías Atxa

Atxa transmitted the answer, by letter and personally. In May I was traveling by boat from Caracas to Bilbao; and
already installed in the house of his relatives in Las Arenas, he expresses his opinion without ambiguity to Benito
Mendía. After reaffirming his willingness to help Father Iraola as much as possible, "as I already lent him to Father
Bastarrica for the same purpose"25, he points out how his vision is, however, totally pessimistic about the results that
can be obtained from the collection. To do this, it is based on three arguments: firstly, the inappropriateness of the
moment chosen, in which the members of the center were already involved in five other collections; secondly, the
declared indifference, if not deaf hostility towards religion and the Church among many Basque residents; and thirdly,
and linked to this, the ignorance of the work that was being carried out from the Franciscan order, and from the physical
framework of Arantzazu, in favor of the Basque culture and language, the only way by which it was possible to connect
quickly and effectively with the wills and pockets of the exiles. In particular, he assigned fundamental importance to
this argument: "if Venezuela has to do something of what it intends to do, it must be basically about the work done or
to be done in Aránzazu of Basque irradiation."
Atxa ends her letter (she cannot meet with the provincial, because he is absent, on a canonical visit in Cuba)
announcing that, after spending the summer in Vizcaya, she will return to Caracas in September or October. Iraola,
informed of the news, will write to you from Santo Domingo, to specify the most appropriate moment and the other
details of your stay in Venezuela. By mid-September, he already announced to the provincial that "my trip to Venezuela
will be this year, (in) November and part of December until the 20th"27, although he has not yet received a reply from
Atxa28.
In the first half of October 1956, all contacts were finally settled (with Isaías Atxa and, through him, with another former
Franciscan residing in Caracas, Damián Gaubeka), and on November 16 he arrived in Venezuela29. At the meeting of
the board of directors of the Basque Center, on the 5th, Atxa had begun the knowledge offensive, by presenting the
center with views of Arantzazu, for the decoration of the various rooms30; He was trying to alleviate the ignorance of
years, which he himself denounced as the most powerful reason for his pessimism.
1 42 6 The Fathers' work in favor of Basque...»
As soon as he arrived in Caracas, installed in the "Perpetuo Socorro" parish in the Paguita neighborhood, Francisco
Iraola contacted the Basque Center and, through Atxa, got to know various elements among the most active, including
people of the board of directors.
The first disappointment comes very quickly: neither Gaubeka belongs to said board, nor is Atxa any longer, who has
just finished her mandate; At least, after difficulties to "make those of the Board of Directors understand that I spoke
(to the partners) on one of the days of my stay", the member José Joaquín de Azurza agrees to bring to the meeting
the offer that Iraola organize a conference on «Religion and Sacred Art in the new Basilica of Aránzazu», on December
14. A date very close to the limit of his time, because at Christmas he marches with a group of pilgrims to Jerusalem;
In addition, it has preferred to avoid the Christmas holidays, full of expenses that make it unpropitious for extraordinary
donations32.
Finally, due to those same time problems, his announced exhibition will be cancelled; in its place
and as a lesser evil, the events of «Euskera Day», on December 8, one of the speakers will
highlight the Euskaltzale work of the Fathers of Arantzazu33.
This is very good news for Iraola's projects, which has already clearly seen how "for now (...)
what is most convenient (is) to create an Aránzazu environment in the Center", an environment
without which "we cannot I could have done much more»34. The way is Euskera, Basqueism in
its broadest sense; thus recommends sending Atxa 200 copies of Arantzazuko Andre Mariaren
Egutegia, to distribute among Basque families, and various works by Fr. Luis Villasante, one of
whose articles dedicated to Arantzazu will be adapted by Atxa, for publication in the newsletter
of the Basque Center , Euzko Gaztedi35.
Still from the Holy Land, Iraola sends a congratulations to the Basque Center36, to remember
the collection still in progress. By March 1957, once this was concluded, the pecuniary results
are much closer to Atxa's pessimism than to Iraola's initial optimism: 1070 bolivars, which
represented the change. Atxa, however, cites as the cause of the relative failure, not the lack of
setting, "easily" defeated, but "other causes" that "accumulated surprisingly and this is the
moment that instead of decreasing they have increased", and about which "I must not be more
explicit by letter."
We find ourselves, as this veiled precautionary allusion to postal censorship very possibly seems
to indicate, at the first signs of the reluctance that, without a doubt, any contact with the most
active nucleus of Basque separatists visibly located at that time would create in official Spanish
circles38.
1 42 7 A change of approach
However, even then the interest in keeping the figure of Arantzazu present among the Basques
of Venezuela continued. In the same March letter already mentioned, Atxa advises the Franciscan
Provincial of how:
In order to foster love for Aránzazu among the Basques here, I have asked Father Villasante to
send me some short stories in Basque about the choristers (students for the priesthood) for a
contest to be held soon
The key to this renewed interest was "to continue heating up the atmosphere with a view to the
other projects he was talking about (the provincial) and of which I am without any news." Soon
he will receive, not only specific information about such projects, but also the task of becoming
their manager in Venezuela, since Francisco Iraola, father of the idea, had been reassigned to
his normal tasks at the Holy Land police station in Cuba.
The first mention of what was intended as a qualitative leap in the relationship of the Franciscan
religious with the Basque colony in Venezuela, takes the form of a proposal, still formless, that
Francisco Iraola blurts out, shortly before his departure from
Caracas at the end of December, weighing pros and cons:
Another thing that would be convenient would be to found here. There are those from Galicia, but
they would like us to found here too, since we have plenty of staff. As there is this campaign by
the Government to intensify teaching to the maximum, it would be based on establishing
schools or parochial schools. This is growing to an incredible train. That is to say, there is need,
environment, means and... it is convenient. Those from the Center (Basque) would send their
children to our school.
The land can be paid for in the not too distant future. What we have to do is be in contact with this
Center. They have seen me a lot and they have liked my presence and my Basque, that is, my
speech in Basque
Everything seems to indicate that the provincial of Cantabria was greatly interested, more than
the foundation itself, the nuance that it could acquire by being dedicated to the care of the
Christian faith of the Basques residing there. In this way, it was linked to a traditional concern of
sectors of the Basque Church for the problems caused by emigration in the religious field,
initiatives that had crystallized in some initiatives that were still ongoing in 1956: the "Euskal-
Echea" assistance complex — in Argentina, led by Capuchins from Navarra and Servants of
María de Anglet (Labourd); the "College of the Basques" of Montevideo, of the Bayonnese
religious; or the institution of the "Chaplain of the Basques", sent by the Bishop of Bayonne to the
Basque colonies in the western United States.
However, the secrecy with which most of the efforts of the projected foundation were carried out,
has resulted in the practical impossibility of having complete oral sources, which would report on
all those obscure aspects, not recorded on paper.
On the part of the Franciscans, both the provincial Benito Mendía, as well as the contact that
maintained the province of Cantabria in the Roman curia of the order (the Basque Bernardo de
Madariaga, who held the position of general definitor at that time), have already died; and the
others familiar with the matter (especially Francisco Iraola and Luis Villasante) did so in a
tangential way. Likewise, on the part of Isaías Atxa, also deceased, his closest family declares
that he deliberately avoided involving even his wife in certain political matters that could pose
added difficulties for her on her trips to the Basque Country: a much-needed security measure ,
since the children of the couple were sent to study at various schools in the Basque Country,
which increased the frequency of overseas trips by Miren Oñate.
For this reason, we will not be able to know, for example, if the clear shift toward care for emigrant
Basques that the foundation acquired was due to personal or collective convictions of the
Franciscan officials in Cantabria, or was simply a strategy, following the recommendations of the
Definitor Madariaga, who on February 18, 1957 pointed out that, «although the General Definitory
is not very easy to grant the nihil obstat for these foundations in the territories of another Province
or Commissariat, I believe that it will grant it in this case in attention to the spiritual needs of the
Basques in Caracas»
The fact is that the provincial curia of Cantabria, meeting in San Sebastián on February 6 and 7,
1957, agrees to accept in principle the possible foundation in Caracas, "according to Father
Francisco M. Iraola"
But the biggest problem with the foundation in Caracas was none other than the presence in the
city of Franciscan religious from another religious province, specifically Galicians from the
"province of Santiago de Compostela." By 1957, newly installed occupying the place
left behind by Croatian Franciscans, who had been unable to keep their Venezuelan houses open, had only spread
through the dioceses of Caracas, Barcelona and
Bolivar City
In this same letter, Madariaga also reports how he has already reported the project to the Superior General of the Order,
who had decided to include it on the agenda of the next meeting of the General Definitory. In any case, remember that
before taking any step, permission will be required, both from the Archbishop of Caracas and from the Franciscan
province of Santiago de Compostela, which should be requested before doing any other procedure, for psychological tact
1 42 8 Procedures in Caracas. Evidence
On February 21, the General Definitory in Rome decides to allow the Basques to manage their foundation:
Ex parte Revmi. Definitorii generalis nihil obstat quominus Provinciae Cantabriae pro Vascorum assistentia spirituali in
Caracas Fundacionem incipiat.47
The decision, as expected, required hearing opinionem Provinciae Compostellanae. Likewise, Madariaga recommends
that, in order to obtain the permission of the Archbishop of Caracas, pertinent steps be taken before sending any
Franciscan priest there, to avoid useless expenses. The trick of Isaías Atxa came into play here, who was immediately
notified so that he could secretly initiate negotiations with the archdiocese.
At that time, the Basques in Caracas had a precise contact at the highest level of the archdiocesan ecclesiastical
organization for this need. The treasurer and secretary of the new archbishop was a Basque named Ugarte, exiled while
still a seminarian with his family as a result of the civil war, settling in Caracas. He had finished his studies there, received
priestly ordination, and developed an ascending career up to the position he held in 1957. He was, therefore, the most
indicated person and to whom Atxa turned; "with (him) we Basques generally have a lot of confidence"
But the official channel, although slow and sometimes ineffective, is always required, so on April 10, 1957, he left San
Sebastián with the letterhead, signature and seal of the provincial of
Cantabria the formal request for permission, to the Archbishop of Caracas for the projected foundation:
We have learned from some of the Spanish elements residing in Caracas that many of them, especially those from the
Basque colony, would be very pleased that the Franciscan religious of this Province of Cantabria establish a Foundation
there to attend to their spiritual needs and to those of the other faithful (...) for our part we have no problem in acceding
to the request addressed to us from that city.
The language of this letter made it clear, even under the cover of "Spanish", the nature of assistance to the Basque
exiles that the requested foundation was going to have, although to win the favor of the archbishop, they reiterate their
desire not to be closed in the ghetto Basque, but to extend their action in favor of a Church with a chronic lack of clergy,
just as they did
nearly two hundred Basque Franciscans in various American countries51.
This letter, due to various mail problems, did not reach its destination, or at least had not yet done so in September
1957. Meanwhile, Isaías Atxa expanded his range of letters, with Luis Villasante (in Arantzazu) and Bernardo
Madariaga ( in Rome, where he remains at the request of the superior general despite having finished his term as
definitor).
With Luis Villasante, the contact is centered on the sending of Basque material to Caracas, and on the favorable
reception that the cultural work carried out by Arantzazu in favor of the Basque has had among the members of the
Basque Center, "although unfortunately the concerns here they concentrate on politics, almost exclusively, with
abandonment of the cultural”.
In passing, there are references to the Euskaltzale movement that was developing in exile, especially the figure of
Andima Ibiñagabeitia53, a resident of Caracas and a friend of
Atxa, who is united by discouragement due to the lack of cultural motivation of the Basque Center; of the jesuit
Mancisidor, also stationed in Venezuela; or even the "Guatemalan" Jokin Zaitegi, without missing allusions to Europe,
well inland (the controversy over the Basque language used by the magazine
Anaitasuna)
At the same time, Atxa matures two approaches about the possible foundation, which she almost sees underway. In
the first place, the convenience of sending a Franciscan with prestige in the colony (and he suggests Salbatore
Mitxelena, at that time stationed in Uruguay56), to attract wills and carry out the project.
Secondly, it proposes the formation of a pressure group made up of elements of the Basque community, «all of them
people of great personal prestige (...). (We are), among dozens, the colony with the most moral, civic and even labor
prestige»57; this pressure group, however, will never be formed.
It is not until September, when Atxa does not notify San Sebastián of the steps taken on its part. The secretary of the
archbishopric, Ugarte, had dissuaded him from the idea of making support efforts with lay people, because "even if
they were collectively they would be null."
For the rest, the archbishopric of Caracas would not put up any obstacles, although it recommended accompanying
the request with the offer to take charge of two parishes in the interior of the country, as compensation and a way of
reaching a quick agreement58. The possible locations of such parishes were even considered, in Valencia,
Barquisimeto, Coro, Maracaibo or San Cristóbal de Táchira. One of the tracks was open.
1 43 Basque doctors in Venezuela
It did not take long for his footprints to open the way to work and several doctors began to travel along the routes of
Venezuela, leaving behind them trails of recognition and affection in various parts of the country. In the first group that
arrived in the "Cuba" came: Jesús Iraragorri Alegría, José Luis Aransolo Bilbao, Juan Ramón Belín Alzaga, Miguel
Nieto Caicedo, Tomás Mendikoa Lanzagorta, Arrieta Larrañaga, José de La Torre, José Antonio Urrestarazu Bergara,
etc.
A little later they arrived: Don Gonzalo Aranguren, who worked in Barcelona, as
surgeon, earning the love and appreciation of the population, later managed to found a clinic in Caracas,
a forced refuge from the Basque colony. We also add the names of the doctors who did not stop
providing their services to compatriots: Drs.
Santiago Ibargüen, Jesús Lartitegui, Pablo Urigüen, Joaquín Aristimuño, José Antonio Zamakona,
Fernando Úncela, from 1939 to 1942, rural doctor in Barrancas de Maturín, later Director of the Tucupita
Hospital. José Mari Bengoa, rural doctor in Sanare and Cubiro, Edo. Lara, then in Irapa. The Nutrition
Section of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance is due to the efficient work of Dr. Bengoa, who
was its founder and in 1950 co-founder of the National Institute of Nutrition. Long years as representative
of Venezuela in the World Health Organization. Finally, the Bengoa Foundation exists in Caracas,
created in his honor.
We do not want to fail to mention the contribution of Dr. Bengoa, to the Euskadi Magazine, since it was
a fundamental pillar in the realization of the first stage of that magazine.
And closing the chapter on doctors, we want to settle our gratitude, we suppose on behalf of the rest of
the colony, to two illustrious doctors, who offered a large part of their lives and their complete dedication,
both rendering their services to the Government of Venezuela and to the Basque community: Dr. Luis
Bilbao Líbano and Dr. José María Díaz de Rekarte:
Dr. Luis Bilbao Líbano, at the service, for many years, of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance.
In addition to his extensive work as a first-rate sanitarian, attached to his clinical analysis laboratory, he
remained at the foot of the canyon, ready to give his encouragement and wisdom to any member of the
colony that required it. Dr. José María Díaz de Retarte, also at the El Algodonal Tuberculosis Sanatorium
and at the Central University of Venezuela, working as a university professor and as a Pediatrician
through whose office a whole generation of Basque-Venezuelan children passed. Both earned a
multitude of recognitions and decorations from the Venezuelan Government.
We consider it important to mention, in broad strokes, the immense list of experiences and achievements
that they carried to their credit when they arrived in their new homeland and that start from a member of
the Organizing Commission of the Basque University, in the case of Don Euis Bilbao whose project was
organized in 41 days and with innovations that were not included in the curricula of Spanish universities,
such as medical Basque and the breakdown of children's diseases in childcare and paediatrics.
It fell to them, in the anguishing moments of the exit, escaping from the fascist hosts, dragging 650
children from the Gorliz Sanatorium whose director was Dr. Rekarte. They were creating medical
services with nurses for all the shelters where there were more than 30 refugees. They managed to
adapt an old fortress in Donibane GarazL for more than 500 children. The list of services for wounded
refugees would be too long and as a culmination was the hospital of La Roseraie where more than 400
wounded gudaris from Santoña gathered by decision of the Basque Government, which made the
luxurious hotel, then empty and through the payment of the agreed rent, it became a true hospital in 48
hours , thanks to these illustrious doctors that we have been mentioning, without forgetting the
performance of Dr.
Gonzalo Aranguren at the forefront of this titanic task.
Within the specialty of cardiology, Dr. Joseba Bingen Amezaga Iribarren stands out, with a long history
in public hospitals (Perez Carreño), and specialized private clinics
They were, as we expressed, very loved, since in addition to their professionalism, they never
denied their helping hand and remained within the community as part of the cultural and political
work of the Basque Center.
1 43 1 Records of Basque doctors who arrived in Venezuela in the years 1938-39-40*
1.- Claudio Alegría Mendialdua. (Gernika, Bizkaia 1899-1959 Valencia, Venezuela) had obtained
his doctorate in medicine in Madrid, precisely in 1936, and after participating in (a civil war in the
Basque Country, he arrived in Venezuela in 1939. He worked for a few years as a rural doctor in
Carabobo State and upon reaching his retirement he went to reside in Valencia, Carabobo State,
the city where he died.
2.- Gonzalo Aranguren Sabas. (Bilbao 1904-1975 Ondarribia, Gipuzkoa) studied medicine in
Valladolid, but graduated in Madrid in 1928. He trained as a general surgeon in some European
hospitals, mainly in Paris, and during the civil war he was chief of surgery at the Amorebieta
Hospital, where his professional ability had the confidence of the authorities of the Basque
Country. Exiled in France after the fall of the Northern Front, he was a surgeon at the Basque
hospital in La Rosarie, France, where the sick and wounded from the evacuation were
concentrated. When France was invaded by German troops at the beginning of World War II, he
went into exile, to Venezuela in 1940 and first worked as a surgeon at the General Hospital of
Barcelona, Anzoáíegui State, where he achieved great prestige. In 1945 he founded in the
urbanization "El Conde" of Caracas the Clínica
Aranguren for hospitalization and private surgery. He returned to Bilbao in 1958 and established
the Aranguren Clinic, which he ran until his death.
3.- José Luis Aránsolo Bilbao. (Bilbao 1905-1974) was an orphan when he began his medical
degree studies in Madrid; in 1927 he transferred his academic record to Salamanca and
graduated in Valladolid in 1929. He left Spain and emigrated to Venezuela, where he worked as
a rural doctor in San Antonio de Maturm, Monagas State. He returned to Bilbao and died in his
hometown.
4.- Jesus of Arrese and Axpe. (Otxandio, Bizkaia 1879-1943 Bilbao) graduated in medicine from
the University of Barcelona in 1902, arrived in Venezuela in 1939, after the civil war and from
that date until 1943 he practiced in the coal mines of Naricual, Anzoátegui State. . However, he
soon returned to the Basque Country, where he died.
5.- Antonio Arríela Larrañaga. (Zarautz, Gipuzkoa 1896-1983 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa) obtained
a degree in medicine from the University of Zaragoza and specialized in otorhinolaryngology; He
arrived in Venezuela at the end of the civil war and worked between 1939 and 1943 as a rural
doctor in San Cristóbal, Táchira state; He returned to San Sebastián in 1948.
6.- Juan Cayo Basterra Saenz de Olamendi. (Vitoria-Gasteiz Araba 1906-19(7) Valencia,
Venezuela) After completing his medical
degree, he studied dentistry in Madrid, which he concluded in 1938. He arrived in Venezuela in
1939 and worked as a doctor in Aragua de Maturin and in other rural medicines of the Monagas
State until 1946. Later he revalidated his professional title of dentist at the Universidad de los
Andes, Mérida and ? From then on he had extensive private practice in Valencia, Carabobo
State.
7.- José María Bengoa Lecanda. (Bilbaol913) studied medicine in Valladolid and after graduating
in 1936 he specialized in nutritional diseases. At the beginning of the civil war he was appointed
Secretary of Military Health of the Ministry of Health of the Basque Government; In 1938, with
the fall of the Northern Front, he emigrated to Venezuela and from 1938 to 1941 he was a rural
doctor in Sanare and Cubiro, Lara State, then in Irapa. In 1942 he organized the Nutrition
Section of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance in Caracas, and in 1950 he co-founded
the National Institute of Nutrition. From 1955 to 1974 he worked at the WHO, as Head of the
Department of Nutrition. In 1974 he returned to Venezuela, and from 1979 to 1983 he acted as
Advisor to the Health Department of the Basque Government.
8.- Juan Ramón Belín Alzaga. (Algorta, Bizkaia 1902-1249 Bilbao) had graduated in medicine
from the University of Vallado-lid in 1930 and emigrated to Venezuela at the end of the civil war;
He worked until 1948 as a rural doctor in El Chaparro, Anzoátegui State and returned that year
to Bilbao, where he died shortly after.
9.- Luis Bilbao Lebanon. (Leioa, Bizkaia 1902-1985 Caracas) studied medicine at the faculties
of Zaragoza and Madrid, where he graduated in 1926; he specialized in clinical analysis and
from 1927 he was head of the Basurto Hospital laboratory. He did specialized studies in Paris
and Strasbourg, distinguished himself as founder of the Association of Basque Doctors of
Solidarity of Workers in 1932, was General Inspector of Rural Health in 1936 and in May 1937
directed health care during the evacuation to France. Upon arriving in Venezuela, he worked
from 1941 to 1975 in the laboratories of the health units of the Ministry of Health; in 1946 he
revalidated his medical studies at the Universidad de los Andes, Mérida. Although he died in
Caracas, his hometown did not forget him, as a street in Leioa bears his name; his son Joseba
Bilbao has continued his work at the Caracas Medical Center.
10.- Julio de la Calle and Cavieces. (Bilbao, Bizkaia 1891-19** Bilbao) studied medicine, first in
Santiago de Compostela and then in Valladolid, where he graduated in 1915. During the civil
war he worked as a doctor in the military units of the Basque Country . Upon arriving in
Venezuela, he worked between 1942 and 1948 as a rural doctor in Clarines and San Antonio,
Anzoátegui State. He returned to Bilbao in 1948 and died in his hometown.
11.- Fernando Chacartegui Barbier. (Liverpool, Great Britain, 1914) began studying medicine at
the University of Santiago de Compostela in 1932 and finished his degree in 1949, after working
as a health worker in the Basque Country between 1936 and 1937; Arriving in Venezuela in
1940, he worked in the sanitary campaigns of the Ministry of Health, and distinguished himself
in the yellow fever campaigns in 1945.
12.- José Ignacio Chacartegui Saenz de Tejada. (Guernica, Bizkaia 1906) studied medicine
first at the Central University of Madrid, from the second year of the degree in Santiago de
Compostela and finished his studies in dentistry in Madrid; participated in the war in the Basque
Country and upon arriving in Venezuela after the
contention initially worked in the Ministry of Health^: a • malaria and yellow fever campaigns.
13.-José María Díaz de Rekarte. (Bermeo, Bizkaia 1906-19**-Caracas) had studied medicine in
Va]laóc>_i; ^K completed his doctorate in Madrid in 1930.
From the beginning, his professional practice was dedicated to pediatrics in Bizkaia and ec 1*6*
he was a professor of his specialty at the Basque University: on the ^er d Northern Front in 1937
he was in charge of the evacuation of lo* - uam Basques from the Gorliz Sanatorium. He arrived
in Venezuela in 1939 \¿r-iá» his activity between the pediatric clinic of the hospitals «José Grej?m»
Hernández” and the “Rísquez” of Cotiza and later in the El Algodonal hospital; he also had a
private practice. Eue author text on chest radiology. He died in Caracas.
14.- Luis Gualberto Erquicia Tellería. (San Sebastián obtained his medical degree in Valladolid
in I-51. During the civil war he served in the army of Country V>s¿r and arrived in Venezuela at
the end of the war. He worked between I939 » 1945 as a rural doctor in Santa Inés, Anzoátegui
State, from 1946 he worked in the Epidemiology Division of the Ministry of Health and Assistance
in Caracas.
15.- José Luis Gallano Gondra. (Bilbao 1905-1991 Bilbao) studied medicine in Madrid where he
obtained his medical degree in 1932 and specialized in dermatology; during the civil war he was
a medical captain in the basque army. He arrived in Venezuela. in 1939 and since his arrival he
worked as a rural doctor in Guanara Portuguesa State. He soon returned to Bilbao.
16.- Galo de Gerrika-Echebarría and Bilbao. (Bilbao 1897-19' ? Bilbao) began his medical studies
in Madrid and in 1920 he moved to Zaragoza where he graduated in 1921. He was the brother of
Commander Casiano Gerrika-Echebarría, chief of artillery in the Basque army. He arrived in
Venezuela at the end of the civil war and worked as a rural doctor in the Anzoátegui State from
1939 to 1941, but soon returned to the Basque Country.
17.- Santiago Ibargüen Beitia. (Elantxobe, Bizkaia 1912-1977 Bilbao) studied medicine at the
University of Santiago de Compostela. where he graduated in 1934; he specialized in
gastroenterology and was an internal doctor at the Basurto Hospital. At the beginning of the civil
war he was a professor of physiology at the University of the Basque Country and a doctor at the
Durango Hospital; after the evacuation of the North he was in Paris perfecting himself in
gastroenterology between 1938 and 1940. This year he arrived in Venezuela, where until 1943
he was a resident of the dispensary in Bergantín, Anzoátegui State, doctor of the Shell Company
in Curaçao until 1946 and doctor of the Social Security until 1948; on that date he revalidated his
studies and worked at the Aranguren Clinic in Caracas. He returned to Europe, in 1959 he worked
in Leyden and in 1960 he moved to Bilbao. He died of a heart attack during a soccer match at
Campo de San Mames.
18.- Jesus of Irarragorri Joy. (Arrieta, Bizkaia 1899-1985 Bilbao) completed his undergraduate
studies in medicine at the University of Valladolid in 1924 and specialized in accidents at work:
during the civil war he was a medical captain in the Basque Army and emigrated to Venezuela
at the finish the fight. He was a rural doctor in Soledad, Anzoátegui State between 1939 and
1942; returned to Bilbao.
19.- Jesus Latirtegui de Arenaza. (Gernika, Bizkaia 1893-1956 Caracas) studied medicine in
Valladolid and obtained his degree in 1919, then did his doctorate in Madrid. He had extensive
clinical experience abroad and was a resident of the Hamburg hospitals. from the Matemité
Baudelocque and the Broca Hospital in Paris, Madrid and Bilbao, beginning his studies on
occupational diseases in the Basque Country: he practiced in Barakaldo.
During the civil war he was assigned to the general staff of the Basque Army, but was taken
prisoner and sentenced to death. In 1940 he was exchanged, managed to leave Spain and
arrived in Venezuela in 1943; He was first a doctor for the Red Cross in La Guaira, Federal
District, in 1946 director of the "Pérez de León" Hospital in Petare, Miranda State and from 1948
he practiced freely in Caracas, as a surgeon at the Aranguren Clinic.
20.- José Luis Lartítegui de Arenaza. (Bilbao 1898-19(7)) brother of the former, studied medicine
in Valladolid, where he graduated in 1919, but did not practice the profession in Caracas; was
engaged in construction.
21.- Luis López Abadía. (Madrid 1910-1983 Barakaldo, Bizkaia) studied medicine in Valladolid.
where he graduated in 1932. He practiced his profession in Bilbao with his father and was an
intern at the Bilbao Provincial Hospital. During the civil war he was exercising in the Basque
Country until the end of the northern front; He went to Barcelona and continued in the fight as a
medical captain until the end of the war. He arrived in Venezuela in 1940 and worked as a rural
doctor in Úrica and Santa Inés, Anzoátegui state; later he went to the direction of Malariology and
worked among the indigenous tribes of the Orinoco River. He returned to Spain in 1949 and died
in Barakaldo.
22.-Tomas Mendicoa Lanzagorta. (Mexico DF 1907-1984 Caracas) lived in the Basque Country
from a young age and obtained a bachelor's degree in Vitoria: he studied medicine in Zaragoza
and Salamanca, graduating in 1932, and then did his doctorate in Madrid, obtaining his degree in
1934. He was an internal doctor at the Civil Hospital of Bilbao until the beginning of the civil war
in which he was assimilated into the army from 1936 to 1938. He managed to reach Venezuela in
1939 and worked as a rural doctor in Santa Rosa, Anzoátegui State. Later he was a doctor at the
Central Sugar Company, he followed the international malariology course in Maracay in 1944 and
later worked in the Malariology Division of the Ministry of Health as area manager in San Cristóbal,
Táchira State.
23.- Fernando Unceta Iza. (Bilbao 1897-1980 Bilbao) studied medicine in Zaragoza, from which
university he graduated in 1924. From the beginning of his professional practice he was oriented
towards traumatology and was a doctor at the Euzkalduna Shipbuilding and Repair Company in
Bilbao. During the civil war he was head of Military Health. He arrived in Venezuela in 1939 and
was assigned as a rural doctor in Barrancas de Maturín until 1942; then he was director of the
Tucupita Hospital in the Delta Amacuro Territory between 1942 and 1946, finally he was a rural
doctor in various places in the State of Yaracuy. From 1948 he was Administrator of the Aranguren
Clinic in Caracas.
24.- Pablo Uriguen Retes. (Durango, Bizkaia 1909-1984 Algorta, Bizkaia} he graduated in
medicine at the Universities of Valladolid and Madrid in 1934; he arrived in Venezuela in 1939 as
a result of the civil war and practiced his profession in Caracas, after having revalidated his
degree in 1974. He returned to Bizkaia and died in Algorta in 1984.
25.- José Antonio Urrestarazu Bergara. (San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa 1912-1995 Caripe, Monagas,
Venezuela) completed his medical degree at the University of Valladolid in 1936, but he was not
awarded the degree until 1947; He was a medical captain in the Basque Army during the civil
war. He arrived in Venezuela in 1939 and was a rural doctor in Caripe, Monagas State from the
date of his arrival until his death; the Caripe hospital bears his name. 26.- Juan Lorenzo Zarranz
Arteaga. (San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa 1916) began his medical degree in Madrid in 1932 and
worked as a health worker in the Basque Country during the civil war. He arrived in Venezuela in
1939 and completed his medical studies at the Uni-
Central University of Caracas in 1945. He was a rural doctor in several rural medicines in Trujillo
State, in camps of the Shell oil company in Lagunillas, Zulia State and later worked in Social Security;
finally he moved to Caracas where he specialized in anesthesia.
Dr. Luis Bilbao Líbano has already reminded us of his long experience in Euzkadi. In Venezuela, as
an analyst, he has been at the service of the Ministry of Health for more than thirty-three years. The
same time, more or less, as Dr. José Ma. Díaz de Re-kalde, his companion in the episodes of exile in
Euzkadi Norte.
In rural medicine, according to Martín de Ugalde, other doctors distinguished themselves, such as
Don Fernando de Unceta, "who attended a part of the Orinoco basin from Barrancas", or Don Gonzalo
de Aranguren, in Anzoátegui.
The Basque doctors were highly appreciated in their new field of action, and they always attended
their exodus brothers when their help was necessary.
Among the most notable personalities of Basque medicine in Venezuela is Dr. José María Bengoa, a
pioneer in exile.
Dr. Bengoa arrived in Caracas in 1938. He had finished his degree in Valladolid just two years before,
and the Movement at the University almost surprised him. Finished the exams he left immediately for
Bilbao. A few days later, v had not been able to return.
In Valladolid he was president of Estudiantes Vascos, and in the Vizcaya capital he was linked to
"Euzkadi", although he had not joined any Party.
In a new and luxurious building, in eastern Caracas, he now has his home. And there he told us:
«Since I have mentioned the Federation of Basque Students, I want to dedicate a very fond memory
to a Basque student who was given asylum, a great collaborator of the page that those of the
Federation published in «Euzkadi». It was Azkárraga, from Aramayona, who signed with the
pseudonym “Urkorri”. He was President of "Estudiantes Vascos" in Madrid and had no other
participation in the War than to continue writing. That's why Franco's troops shot him.
In short, I had a performance like everyone else, jumping from one place to another, visiting the war
health posts in Orozco... and then I went with a company called the Elguezábal lompañía, for Deva,
Motríco and Ondárroa That was for the months of September and October.
The Basque Government was formed in November, and for the nationalists I was more or less in
charge of the health organization of Vizcaya. For the Socialists was José Luís Arenillas, also shot.
The Lendakari thought of appointing a head of military health, to organize the hospital and relief
services of the front. A group of doctors from the Solidarity of Basque Workers was asked to make an
election, and from there the name of Fernando Unceta arose. iVro, as the performance of Arenillas
had also been very outstanding-<ln, with the title
As the front's health inspector general, he had the mission of setting up the aid stations in all
the battalions. Unceta called me to collaborate with him, in a modest position, of private private
secrecy, and the three of us settled in the Garitón, with a General Secretary who was Pedro de
Basaldúa, a well-known nationalist, author of one of the most interesting biographies of Sabino
Arana tíoiri.
Even looking at it from the perspective of now, and not being trained for military health, I think
that an acceptable management was carried out.
After the war we had to escape. Those who were shot unjustly. I was single and from France I
came to Venezuela. After three months of wandering around, I managed to get appointed as a
rural doctor for a town in the Interior called Sanare, in Lara State. In addition to Sanare, it had
to cover another municipality with five thousand inhabitants, and half Tibor, which is a large
population. In total, almost forty thousand people for me alone.
Despite this apparent difficulty, I think after such a long time that it was my most satisfying
professional period. Because I managed to organize a health system that today is considered
modern, in the sense of community participation, and thanks to that participation, it seems to
me that I was able to do useful work. This period of three years helped me to capture a series
of aspects of developing countries, something that I could not learn at the University, because
they taught us hospital ward medicine, for an urban environment.
Perhaps my war experiences had something to do with my activities in that rural town. They
created in me an organizational spirit, without which I would not have been able to develop the
task that I carried out in Sanare and that allowed me not only to attend to the population, but
also to write a book entitled "Social Medicine in the Venezuelan rural environment." », and that
it will be republished now, forty years later, because what it said then is still valid to a large
extent.
Later I had difficulties for the validation, because they did not send me the papers. Through my
family in Bilbao, the title and documentation I needed was obtained in Valladolid, but it took me
longer than normal to do the revalidation: until the year 53. Meanwhile, I worked in the Ministry
of Health. I organized the Department of Nutrition, which was created under the name of the
National Institute of Nutrition and still exists.
—What are the differences between the diet of a developing country like Venezuela, and that of
Europe?
—Even though in the South of Europe there are still developing areas, in general, the problem
there is to stop the consumption of many things; combat degenerative diseases such as
arteriosclerosis, diabetes, obesity... that is, there is an excess of food, which leads to damage
to health.
On the other hand, here, as in other developing countries, but especially those that are in
transition, we have both problems. The same, although not with as much magnitude as in
Europe or the US and fundamentally, that of malnutrition.
Venezuela has a serious malnutrition problem, but despite that, I think the official figures have
been exaggerated. What is observed, more than malnourished children —which there are in a
percentage of ten to fifteen percent, perhaps—, is a number of children adapted to
an underconsumption of food. And this situation has not been given enough interest.
The adaptation develops in the organism, on the one hand, preventing the speed of growth, with
which the child is smaller, but his weight is consistent with his height. They are not malnourished
in the sense that if they are fed they can improve. They show signs of having been.
In short, they are vulnerable survivors, who have survived adverse contingencies: infectious
diseases and food underconsumption. The solution to these cases is not easy, because by
increasing the amount of food we only achieve obesity. What we can do is work so that children,
from early childhood, or even from fetal development, have a better biological progress, with a
size that corresponds to their genetic potential.
You will have observed a typical phenomenon in developing countries: biological heterogeneity.
Very disparate population. Tall people, short people, intermediate people, fat people, skinny
people... something that is not observed in Sweden, Norway, the United States.
In those places it seems that all have a practically the same conformation. So if one part of the
population is larger than another, it's possibly due to environmental factors, not genetics.
I have just finished a study, which has been presented to the First National Environmental
Congress, where I analyze the situation. Here, in these forty years, the development in the
health field has been fabulous. The mortality rate has been reduced, in some cases, to figures
five or six times lower. And in some diseases, such as tuberculosis, up to twelve. In terms of
mortality, what has been achieved is extraordinary.
But I don't think this improvement has been due so much to progress in living conditions, as to
health action. The appearance of DDT allowed to a great extent the eradication of malaria, of
malaria. The appearance of sulfonamides and antibiotics reduced mortality in infectious
diseases. But the tendency of the morbidity of the patients has not
followed parallel, nor the quality of life.
Much has been done in education, but there are considerable gaps. We still have twenty percent
illiteracy. A large proportion of the population begins the first grades of school and abandons
them, it does not reach the sixth grade.
In the field of housing we have lagged behind. Urban marginality in terms of housing is much
higher than forty years ago. In 1942 I did a study on the neighborhood of Guarataro, in Caracas,
and the living conditions of that population, especially in terms of housing, were better than now.
As for the number, it has increased considerably. It is considered that there are more than a
million inhabitants in Caracas who live on the margins.
On the other hand, this urban marginality, due to the population explosion in the city, has created
another problem in the Interior: A number of municipalities are becoming empty, and they are
reaching a worse situation than they had before. So, the problems of underdevelopment in
Venezuela are still great, despite the health progress, and the enormous effort in the field of
education. Despite these two successes, the problem of
marginality, of poverty, subsists”.
Dr. Bengoa is married to Amaia Rentería, from Elancho-ve, another member of the 1939 political
emigration. They have four sons and two daughters. The two oldest of the men are, of course,
doctors. The first practices in Geneva {Switzerland); the second, in Mondragón. The third is studying
Architecture at the Central University of Venezuela, and the fourth is about to start Economics. Of
the two girls, one studied decoration and the other Secretarial.
But let us continue with the chronological account of the professional activities of this eminent
Venezuelan from Euzkadi:
«In the year 55 I was sent to the United Nations, to work in the World Health Organization,
specifically, to organize the Department of Nutrition on a global scale.
We went to Geneva, the couple and four children, and there another was born to us. From Geneva
I was called to Washington, as regional adviser for Latin America, and there our sixth was born, but
they are all Venezuelan subjects.
During this stage in Geneva I had to visit practically all the countries in the world, not as a tourist,
which I wish I could have. I have worked in India, Indonesia, and Africa, and it was very satisfying
to be able to help these countries alleviate the nutritional situation that in some of them, Asian or
African, is very serious; much more than in those of Latin America, in several aspects.
We thought it was an activity for a few years, but a series of state and government commitments
forced me to focus more and more on work, to organize nutrition departments in different countries...
He was head of the World Nutrition Department and when I went I was practically alone; when I
returned, he had placed approximately eighty technicians. Here I have also been technical director
of the National Institute of Nutrition, apart from representing Venezuela in different international
conferences. Those have been the most important positions I have ever held.
In short, our stay in Geneva lasted nineteen years. We have returned four years ago, to rejoin my
activities in the Ministry, although at the moment I do not work in it, but in the National Council for
Scientific and Technological Research, where I am in charge of research programs in the field of
social development health, nutrition, housing and education. That is my role right now.
In addition, Dr. Bengoa is a professor of a postgraduate course on food planning and nutrition. The
cycle lasts two years and university graduates from Peru, Nicaragua, Chile and Venezuela itself
attend. It is a program that addresses the social issue of food in the most diverse aspects:
production, industrialization, prices,
consumption...
We raise the issue of his nationalization, and he explains:

«The reason is the same as that of other Basques. On the one hand, a feeling of loyalty towards
the country that had welcomed us so extraordinarily; on the other, to give certain facilities to the
Government itself so that it could take care of us, because being permanent foreigners it was very difficult
go to work in government activities in a field MK: al, as was my case.
I hope, with the new Spanish Constitution, where dual nationality is spoken, we will be able to
maintain a dual situation.
I find feeling very Venezuelan and very Basque perfectly compatible. There are people who
perhaps do not fully understand it that way. I do. I feel closely linked to what is happening in the
Basque Country, willing to collaborate with the people who have political responsibilities of a
certain nature there, and at the same time, I am very loyal to Venezuela and I also collaborate
with the Government and politicians to improve the living conditions of the population.
However, from a legal point of view —although sentimentally and ethically I feel totally compatible
— we and our children find it difficult to be accepted in the country of origin, to be allowed to
vote, for example. You have to stay as a simple observer, as if you were a foreigner. I believe
that some solution will have to be found for us, who emigrate for political reasons and acquire
another nationality such as Venezuela, Mexico or Argentina, so that the two nationalities are
perfectly compatible. I don't feel like a foreigner there, but legally I am. And here I do not want to
stop being Venezuelan.
Politically I have no problem. I have never been a member, but I sympathize with the people of
the Basque Nationalist Party, I agree with their policy, I have worked with them before and now,
and my identification is total.
For the politics of Venezuela I have a deep respect. For generational reasons, because the
people who rule COPEI are closer to my age than Acción Democrática, I have a certain sympathy
for the Social Christian Party, for its leaders, without going to the extreme of being a copeyano,
as they say here. I have friends on both sides, and deep respect for both. I feel very good with
the two democratic parties and even with those on the left, the MAS, the MIR, where I also have
friends, and some of whose approaches
They seem perfectly legitimate to me.
On the other hand, I have always been far above politics, and I have never participated in a
public event, with either one or the other.
—Have you never done a study of your specialty on Euzkadi?
—I was the director of a magazine that we Basques published here, "Euzkadi", in the forties and
forties. And at that time he was publishing —under different pseudonyms; «Eguizale», «Ibarra»,
and some with my own name—, articles in which I talked about food in the Basque Country, but
I have not done any serious work.
Just a project that I presented to the University of Bilbao, to organize a Health Development
Institute, so that, through this chair, health aspects could be studied; not only under strictly
medical criteria, but also social and economic, That the cost of health, illness, medical care
could be investigated, planned, with another department of social behavior and a third party that
would be that of the food and nutrition problems. In the Basque Country these three issues
they need an in-depth study, and there is no institution that cares about them.
The Rector himself, Dr. Martín Mateo, asked me to write a project, and I had hopes of getting
funds from different entities to organize this Institute, which I promised to set up, in Huzkadi, in
Bilbao, but everything is subject to existence or not funds. I can't stand there idly by, hoping that
there are means — an amount that can be between ten and twenty million pesetas a year — to
start working.
I believe that the relationship at the university level between Venezuela and Euzkadi is going to
extend to other fields —besides the Simón Bolívar Institute, which was inaugurated by Dr. Salcedo
Bastardo—. It seems to me that Dr. Martín Mateo has already established contact with the
University of Metida (Mérida de Venezuela), in order to link it, together with its forestry research,
to Euskalerría.
I also understand that Brother Ginés is in talks to extend the oceanography and marine biology
research he is developing here to the Basque University. All of this seems very positive to me, and
the fact is that those who come from there, like you, Dr. Caldera, or Dr. Salcedo Bastardo, return
extraordinarily surprised and enthusiastic. When Minister Tarré, Caldera's Minister of Labor, went
to visit the Mondra-KÚn cooperatives, he also came enthusiastically. Thus, those links that did not
even exist before, are getting stronger».
Workers like Bengoa, who recently received the "Order of Merit for First Class Work" and who has
been decorated by various governments on various occasions, contribute to strengthening them.
A Basque nutrition expert had to tell us about our Basque cuisine, and he did it in a very humane
way: first confessing his) weakness for it, to then dedicate a colder, more analysis to it; professional:
In the specialty of cardiology, pacemaker area, we must highlight Dr. Joseba Bingen Amezaga
Iribarren, son of Dr. Vicente Amezaga Aresti, who created the Pacemaker Department working at
the Perez Carreño Social Security Hospital, as well as his internship in varisos hospitals such as
Perez de Leon, in more than 40 years of professional dedication,
Today universities have high costs, they have to dedicate most of their budgets to teaching needs,
and for research they have a very meager amount, totally insufficient for what a country like the
Basque Country requires where, for For example, the absence of research institutions is one of
the causes of great deterioration of the environment. Those institutions, had they existed, would
have drawn attention to the disaster that has unfolded.
There is talk of quality of life, but what there is in Euzkadi is a high ••standard» of life; quality
implies other things than the simple level of income or cultural knowledge.
The Basque people have been extremely generous in giving and helping, but not in anticipating
problems and preventing them from occurring. We solve the situation of the lame, but we do
nothing to prevent the lameness from occurring. We have a heart center and
we make every effort to save the sick at the last moment, but we make very little effort in preventive medicine.
I think there has been a lack of imagination.
In England and the United States, many research institutions are privately funded. In Euzkadi, except in
recent years, the encouragement for researchers has not existed.
We asked Dr. Bengoa about his return, about a possible return to Bilbao, and a possible professional
contribution to his native town:
—"I am about to be retired. But what I do not resign myself to is walking through the Arenal, or through the
Parque de Bilbao, with my arms behind my back, to sunbathe. If it's for that, I'm not going to Euzkadi. Now,
if it is to help, to collaborate, to train the people that the development of the
country demands, so I go. Without prejudice to the fact that he can also return to Venezuela, of course. I
have said before that being Basque and being Venezuelan are compatible, and now I would add that it is
physically compatible as well. Today, the distances are really very small».
Finally, we asked our interlocutor to remember other of his colleagues, Basques, who practice in Venezuela.
Quickly, the men of Luis Bilbao "an authentic institution" and José María Díaz de Rekarte, "phthnilogist and
pediatrician of recognized merits", both belonging to the Ministry of Health, came out.
«The other doctors who arrived in the years 38-40 were in rural areas, and many of them have stayed there.
Mendikoa is still in San Cristóbal. Urrestarazu, in Monagas State...
Others returned to Euzkadi. And others came to Caracas, where they worked in private medicine. Now we
have to count on the new generation of Basque doctors, children of those emigrants, who are also numerous
and are having success, most of them in private medicine”.
One of these renowned doctors in private medicine, one of the most prestigious surgeons, is Joseba Bilbao,
the boy with the improvised serums in the Casablanca concentration camp, whose life was saved almost
miraculously. The son of Dr. Luis Bilbao.
He presents us with another aspect, that of the Basques of Venezuela;
“We are not from here, nor are we from there. It is the problem of the generation of which we came with a
year. We were raised according to the rules of Euzkadi, but of the Euzkadi of 39, and completely isolated
from the environment. The Basque Center back then was not the monster it is now; It had a family atmosphere
and formed a kind of town in the midst of other towns.
They still consider you a foreigner here, even though I've been here for thirty-seven years. They ask your
nationality first, and you say: Venezuelan. Next, the place of birth, and then the obstacles begin, immediately
».
Joseba studied at the Jesuit College in Caracas, and at the Faculty of Medicine of the Central University of
Venezuela. Now he was determined that he should return to the country
Basque:
«I am looking forward to going to work there, because I have a moral debt with Euzkadi. And I
think medicine is impractical there. Two years ago I noticed a big difference between the level of
Barcelona and the rest of the Spanish State. On the other hand, the doctors that are sent to the
Basque Country from Madrid are not the best, and those from there have not had many
opportunities to perfect themselves; they have not bothered, for example, to go to England,
which is so advanced and so close to them. We had to organize a kind of visits from foreign
doctors of a certain category, and have them there for fifteen days or a month, working and teaching».
Another doctor, although dedicated to research and teaching, and not to healthcare practice, is
Dr. Miguel Layrisse, who is also proud of his Basque ancestry. Coming from his family from
Euzkadi Norte, he brought the habit of playing punta basket.
He was one of the few members of the community —along with his brother— practical in this
pelotazale specialty, which he cultivated during his youth. At that time, in Caracas, and specifically
in Los Caobos, there was a long fronton. But with the arrival of the dictatorship of General Pérez
Jiménez, the sports venue acquired a sinister reputation; It came to become the headquarters of
"National Security", a detainee warehouse and a place of torture.
With the restoration of democracy, it ended up being demolished, and never rose again.
Dr. Layrisse is today Rector of the Central University of Venezuela, although he is not political at
all, and this is usually a position for which professors of certain political conditions are appointed.
He was exactly sixty years old in 1979, and his "curriculum" is endless.
Holder of endless research awards, participant in editorial boards of specialized publications,
member of scientific institutions from half the world, his greatest effort has been directed towards
the search for antibodies that identify new blood group antigens and determine their importance
in anthropology.
In 1955 he discovered the "Diego factor", the first exclusively Mongoloid "marker gene", which
made it possible to genetically separate the Mongoloid populations from the Negroids and
Caucasoids, and clearly establish the link between the Asian Mongoloids and the American
Indians.
The study of this system, and other works, have led him to carry out thirty-three expeditions
among indigenous populations of Venezuela and other neighboring countries. He has published
more than forty articles and two books.
Another field in which he has obtained notable results is that of nutritional anemia, he measured
the net absorption of iron ingested in the daily diet and the quantitative use of different diets.
Thirty other publications have resulted from these studies. He has been decorated with the
orders of Miranda, Andrés Bello and "June 27".
At the Central University, as in almost all Venezuelan universities, there has always been a
Basque faculty. Bengoa, Iñaki Zubizarreta passed through here...
Upon our arrival, the director of the information department and professor of audiovisual
journalism was Laurentzi Odriozola, shortly after appointed General Director of Press at the
Government of Luis Herrera Campíns, We will talk about him, and with him.
Layrisse was also referring to his trusted man, the "controller" (administrator) Juaristi, son of a Basque
speaker.
And he explained to us how the center he runs has grown. It was planned for fifteen thousand students
and there are already more than sixty thousand this semester. (Here, in the state universities, the courses
do not work according to the Spanish calendar, but two semesters per calendar year). The teachers are
five thousand. "And some days, at five in the afternoon, you can see seventy thousand people gathered
here including students, teachers, employees and people who come to consult the different libraries."
Statistics make it clear to us: of the thirteen million Venezuelans officially registered, twenty percent are
illiterate, but more than 15% of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 are university students. This,
taking into account that the absolute majority of the inhabitants of that republic have not yet reached the
age of twenty-one. It is a country of young people; even more so as children.
So the students of the Venezuelan universities, as a whole, exceed three hundred thousand. A not
insignificant figure for the level of development of the State, especially if one takes into account that
education, even in higher public centers, is absolutely free. Moreover, it is relatively easy to obtain
scholarships to ensure the economic maintenance of the student, his trips for expansion or improvement
abroad (Dr. Layrisse himself has been one of the scholarship recipients), etc. Such an index is only
exceeded by ultradeveloped countries. It is equaled in southern Europe, and the levels of the American
subcontinent are well below. All this, starting from the situation of forty years ago, when there were only
1,500 university students in Venezuela.
1 44 Basque influence in Venezuelan architecture
Venezuelan colonial architecture received influences from Andalusia and the Canary Islands, with little
Basque contribution to its constructions, since the characteristics of the Basque People and its climate
define an architecture of great severity of lines, use of materials in a noble manner. , proportions of
enclosures and eaves, etc. that cannot be transplanted to other environments without falling into an
architectural formalism of little value.
We can find some Navarrese influence in the construction of the external stairs of some churches, as can
be seen in the one in Naguanagua.
The Basque contribution in the use of iron in construction is of interest, as can be seen in numerous
houses of the time, such as the Casa de las Ventanas de Hierro in Coro, with iron brought by the ships of
the Cía. Guipuzcoa-na in bars or sheets that were worked in the country
.
But the Basque contribution that deserves to be studied is the reference to the constructions carried out
by the Cía. Guipuzcoana from 1728, in the period of more than half a century in which the Basques
controlled the economy of the country and for this reason they found themselves required to build a set of
valuable works of a different nature, such as forts for the defense of ports, docks for loading and unloading
ships, warehouses for the conservation of industrial works such as those for making barrels, ovens in
bread and biscuit factories
Eduardo Arcila Farias describes his History of Engineering in V zuela. In Caracas the offices of
Cía. that did not require special instructions, there were three houses on the corner of Mauricio,
today the corner of Santa Pilla, towards the corner of Card. In the port of La Guaira, Guipuzcoana
had three buildings: the Factory, the Bakery and the Cooperage, the latter located near Macuto.
La Factoría, today Customs, continues to be one of the most important buildings in La Guaira.
Its two-story façade, with a higher central body, has a large balcony in the center and others in
the corners with balustrades throughout the height of the parapet, a wooden model of this building
is kept in the £e San Telmo museum in San Sebastian. The Bakery consisted of a main body with
two floors covered with a gabled roof and another attached body, with a sloped roof, where the
ovens were located. The Cooperage was also a two-story house with a porch at the entrance and
a large room covered with
aspect presented today by the headquarters of the Compañía Guíptizcoana in La Guaira, the
current headquarters of the Customs of this port. A pitched roof, this building was used for the
construction of barrels and their storage.
In Puerto Cabello he established the Cía. its main warehouses and the base of operations for the
coast guard ships that defended the coast in case of war and pursued smuggling. Among the
facilities was a long wooden pier. The Factory House with its warehouses, whose location was
defined by documents located by the chronicler of Puerto Cabello, Mr. Ramón Díaz Sánchez, in
the building that served as the headquarters of the Puerto Cabello Customs, which is in front of
El Águila square between the Bolívar and Uslar streets, it lacked architectural beauty, it was a
two-story building with a padded stone doorway, a large wooden cantilevered balcony above the
entrance opening and another on one of the side facades.
Behind the slopes of the roof rose a viewpoint with a small opening in its front from which a great
expanse of sea was dominated. In the center there is a wide patio with columns and wooden
lintels that supported the beams of the upper floor destined to house the factor.
The building that appears in the engraving was also built by the Guipuzcoana, although its use
has not been well defined, it may be that it corresponded to a place for shelter, in the opinion of
Don Ramón Díaz Sánchez.
It is a building of pleasant proportions with wide side corridors, which disappeared before other
buildings of the Guipuzcoana in Puerto Cabello. The Hospital, the Bakery and the Smithy,
occupied a single ground-floor building. The house and the stores for navy supplies had two floors
with a balcony overhanging the front, part of the upper floor being used for housing and the rest
for storage. A long bay, which occupied the entire side of the ground floor, in the opinion of
Enrique Marco Dorta, seemed to be the warehouse for the spare masts of the ships. Of the House
of San Felipe, only the floor plan remains, according to the same author, which gives an idea of
28 what a factory in the interior was like,
The Puerto Cabello Reservation built by the Guipuzcoan Company.

the large enclosure had a single floor, but the right bay had a high floor probably intended for housing. The building
had several rooms distributed around a large courtyard with porticoes on three sides: warehouses for storing cocoa,
brandy, wine, oil, iron, and various goods; premises that were used as shops, rooms for the bookkeeper and servants,
kitchen and stables. The house in Maracaibo was a building of greater architectural importance, it consisted of two
floors with overhanging balconies at the corners of the façade and over the main door and a cloistered patio with
galleries on wooden studs. The lower part, illuminated by small rectangular openings, was used for warehouses and
offices and the upper part for the factor's housing.
Towards the end and one of the sides, forming an angle on a single floor, was the cistern, the bakery and a shed with
direct access from the street.
The Guipuzcoana's house in Barcelona was a large one-story building with great architectural modesty. These were
the main architectural achievements of the Guipuzcoan Company in Venezuela.
Subsequently, a large group of Basque architects and builders have developed a large number of constructions in the
country, some with a marked formalist tendency, others within international styles, whose value must be established in
the contribution that the Basque element can provide to correspond to the country with works , the cordial welcome
that he has been able to give us.
1 45 Basque Art in Venezuela
From that land they have been coming to this welcoming Venezuela in recent times, confused with other brothers from
the town, industrialists, merchants, workers... some of those men to whom God granted the marvelous grace of feeling
and making our profane eyes the hidden miracles of line and color.
And here we have, among others, Enrique Albizu, the man from Iruna who holds an impressive record of awards, from
the beginning of his career in which he has preferably cultivated the figure with a vigorous hand in which a special
predilection for dark backgrounds and the light of a lot of light and dark, according to what the master Kaperotxipi
observes.
We have Cuezala, whom the influence of his father's fame leads to a constant effort to excel, manifested here in
Venezuela by an almost exclusive treatment of indigenous issues.
We have Eloy Erentxun who, likewise, the shadow of his uncle, the bohemian Teodoro, seems to push his passion for
painting at the service of which he has put his fine palette with his distinguished way of interpreting the landscape.
We have, and we will not go further into details that would make this review too long, Larramendi from Beratar, Otaño,
a virtuoso of caricature: Ricardo de Arrúe, both a notable painter and an excellent ceramics artist, already well known
in Venezuela; Galparsoro (Josél. Juan Vizcarret, Saturnino Canales, Isaac Díaz de Ibarrondo. José Luis Echebarría. .
.
And —"the last but not the least"— with us is José Ulibarrena, the young Navarrese sculptor, a solid reality of whom it
is unnecessary to speak in this country where his fame is growing day by day and will continue to grow. Ulibarrena
firmly follows the path of his glorious countryman Miguel de
Ancheta, and with Mogrobejo, Higinio Basterra, Iñurria. Leunda, Fernández de Viana and others
equally notable, is willing to demonstrate that, as has been said, the Basque people lend
themselves like few others to being interpreted in this plastic specialty, our sculptors, in the near
future, will have to compensate with the glory of what masterful productions the penury of a past
that. as in painting, he did not know how to hear the creative voices of national blood.
Arturo Mitxelena
In terms of spiritual concerns, it can be said very loudly that Venezuela has occupied a pre-
eminent place in the entire world for many years now, which will be necessary, however, to
repeat and certify it to stun the Boeotians who, we do not know why They have another idea of
this beautiful and sensitive Venezuela, the birthplace of Andrés Bello, Lisandro Alvarado, Blanco
Fambona, Rom u lo Gallegos and other glories of beauty and spirit. lands of South America
penetrated deeply. naturally, Venezuela included
Seeing that in the cities of Venezuela there were no skyscrapers - because today there are even
skyscrapers - some immigrants put their retinas in the tall houses, but that showed that the
ancestors knew how to live and surrounded themselves with patios to enjoy! cool and comfort;
and since this aspect cannot be appreciated until settling here, they figured that the country to
which they emigrated was a poor, backward country, with a low standard of living.
However, a Basque philosopher, Miguel de Unomuno, repeatedly said that these lands
What, then, abide by? What do those who come from cities with houses or multi-storey buildings
"see" or the statement of the wise man from Biscay?
Miguel de Unamuno hit the target with his darts. Men, like apples, cannot be judged by their
exterior. And so it happens that inside the colonial house, what was deprived in Venezuela, was
that there was a patio for family evenings, comfort, spaciousness of compartments and
everything, in short, that makes a house a home.
But that is not all; The spiritual life of Venezuela was not, and has never been, related to the
"stature" of the houses, the mirror of those who allow themselves to be deceived by appearances.
Miguel de Unamuno was right. What not today, in the past there were printers, typographers;
and while the current Venezuela can barely offer a printing press where you can publish
something of a shaft, in the past, a Basque by roots, Irjgo-yen, edited "El Cojo Ilustrado", a
publication that had absolutely nothing inferior to "Ilustración Ibero-Americana", for example,
from Madrid, a pride then and today of the Spanish typography. At the same time as in Madrid,
Enrique Gómez Carrillo was a family member in Caracas; and Venezuela gave Fermín Toro,
Lisandro Alvarado, Arístides Rojas, Rufino Blanco Fombona, etc.
Wherever the spirit has come into play, Venezuela has always had a qualified champion; and
we Basques are pleased to remember the said Irigoyen, Landaeta, Iriarte, Santos Michelena,
César Zumeta, Martín de Aguinagalde, Pedro Ant. Aguirre, José V. de Iribarren, Santiago
Izaguirre, etc. ; but it is not about writers or philosophers that we came to speak with the natural
pride of beings of the same root. We care here about Arturo de Mitxelena, whose ashes, like
those of so many other Basques of origin, rest today in the National Pantheon.
That is, Mitxelena, a Basque surname; Arturo Micheleno, when a manifestation of art as delicate
as painting had one of its most glorious moments — in the world — with Manet, Degas, Delacroix
and other Frenchmen, stood up to them. First — it is the first, indeclinable condition of the art of
painting — he drew as required to delineate the formidable picture of the hero of La Libertad,
Miranda, in the Spanish jail of La Carraca; then he blurred and gave himself to color, like Regoyos,
like Monet...
Where the impressionists put an egregious note, Michelena, son of a period of transition in painting,
painted without detracting from the masters.
It was a Mitchelena.
It is what we are proud to be able to say.
1 46 Printing, literature, journalism
The printing press also learned of the arrival of the Basques and it did not take long for the names
of Cromoíip to appear, under the direction of Segundo Eizmendi, whose quality in his work occupied
a good part of the publishing market or that of the Miangolarra brothers; Several followed, such as
Editorial Color, Tipografía Venezuela, Tipografía ízarra, Editorial Excel-sior, without forgetting
Tipografía Vargas, whose owner, Don Juan de Guruceaga, soon associated with Don Ricardo
Leizaola, who arrived loaded with experience, which he turned into the aforementioned company.
Thus, with the well-known seal of Editorial Élite, since 1945 books by authors such as Urreíztieta,
Ofarso, etc. began to be published.
This company, a pioneer in the publishing world, welcomed a respectable group of Basques who
carried out their different functions with great efficiency. Among others, Mr. Santiago Aznar, who
arrived after having shared moments of struggle with Lendakari Agirre, in his capacity as Minister
of the Basque Government.
We cannot forget the Momento Magazine, printed in the same typeface, under the direction of Dr.
Simón Alberto Consalví, who maintained a small anti-Franco front. The tree of Gernika by George
L. Steer was printed in the same vein in the aforementioned Vargas Typography and, as the
introduction to the book says: «In memory of the journalist George Lowter Steer, author of this
book, correspondent for The Times newspaper in Euskadi , died in the fulfillment of his mission in
Burma during World War II, after a life dedicated to his determined vocation of serving Freedom
with the Truth. Another publication was The Case of Basque Catholics- 7 Days and 7 Nights in
Franco's Spain, by Father Iñaki Aspiazu, whom we had the pleasure of receiving in this house, and
The Basques are not Spanish by Pantaleón Ramírez Olano.
Literature and journalism had a distinguished representation in the person of Martín de Ugalde,
who in addition to obtaining the ler. Awarded in the El Nacional short story contest, with Un real de
sueño sobre un scaffolding and his work in different newspapers in Caracas, he earned other
recognitions, counting to his credit with the direction of some magazines, including Elite , The
Lantern, etc. In 1961 tttzaleak (Murderers) came out, which turned out to be the first book in Basque
published in Venezuela. In 1965, by the same author Ama gaixo dago (theatre piece) fruit of his
tireless work as a novelist and short story writer.
It is also worth acknowledging the work of Jon Oñatibia and Andoni Arozena in the magazine
Argia, plus a large number of texts in Basque, published in America and Europe. Present in the
memory is the gudari Luis Ruiz de Aguirre Urkijo, Captain of the Battalion N° 1 of ANV, long
years in Venezuela collaborating with Tierra Vasca and other exile publications. In
to his credit there are several works, among others Gudaris, Basques around the World, I ask
for a Monument, The Basque Army, Seeds of my furrows and Wind and Water on the Roads etc.
Continuing in the vein of literature and entering into translation, they deserve a separate chapter.
Vicente de Amezaga versions Goethe, Baraja, Descartes, Shakespeare, Boccacio and the
Persian poet Omar Khayan into Basque.
1-47 An Anthropologist Named Barandiaran
Barandiarán, and anthropologist. Like his namesake, Aita Joxemiel, Daniel does not need to look
for remains forgotten for millennia to reconstruct, laboriously and intelligently, the original man,
lost in the nebula of an unknown past.
The Venezuelan from Euzkadi has had, and still has, this "primitive" man within reach of his
activity, in the jungle of the new homeland.
His job has been, as much as studying it, to help it survive, against all the adverse elements of
nature itself that nullify it, and of "civilization" that tries to absorb it, assimilate it, steal its personality.
The pure condition of being human is the discovery, the reason for living and the "bridge" that has
linked Daniel with his past in Euzkadi and NI and present in this Republic.
«The only men I had seen were the Euskaldu-nrs shepherds of Urbasa, memories of my childhood.
Later I had discovered peoples, nations, cultures, puppets, military and civilian heroes, terro-
islands... But in the Alto Orinoco is where I rediscovered the Hom-lnr openly, without any medals,
without pants, without papers, without iMiH|uinas, without pretensions, without violence. It was my
big surprise. Since then I stayed in Venezuela and became a Venezuelan."
«Prior to my insertion in the Amazonian tribes —he continues— I had the previous experience of
notable experiences that had prepared me for that wonderful surprise.
The first home, the native home of my childhood, in a strange world of colonizing officials, who
despised us because we were not like them. At school, from the age of seven, we were punished
on Saturday afternoon with an iron ring, who the Spanish teacher caught speaking his mother
tongue. The holder of such a trophy should be locked up in school all Sunday. As solidarity,
without saying anything to our families, we organized a "punished" shift for Sunday. We knew who
would be the last to speak Basque on Saturday afternoon. And we were seven years old!
The second experience was a year of insertion among the nomadic tribes of the Algerian Sahara.
And then, five years of coexistence in the Middle East with Arab-Israeli cultures."
Between one and the other there is a long road of preparation. Daniel continued his studies. He
completed high school and went to the University of Zaragoza, where he graduated in History,
"with the old and venerable professor from Navarre Lacarra." Already graduated, when he began
to teach at the same center, he had to flee for reasons of political repression, whose realization he
reserves for conversation between friends.
He went to Euzkadi Norte and entered the Fraternities of Foucauld. Already religious, he went to
the Middle East. To the Algerian Sahara and then, towards the mid-fifties, to fight for brotherhood
between Jews and Arabs.
"The difficulties," he recalls, "had been very great. The hatreds were infinite.
More in Arabic than in Jewish. The noble Israeli people never created any hatred towards the
Arab. The opposite, except in the Arab Christians of Lebanon, is the absolute brake for the simple
march of History and of Humanity. I got personal confirmation that the birth of Israel was the most
glorious chapter in Universal History. The future History of Humanity will revolve around Israel,
whether the "big ones" of the world want it or not.
Obviously, Spain cannot see this, because of its Arab-Andalusian arrogance. I hope that, one day,
Euzkadi will recognize Israel."
Fraternity, as subsequent events have shown, was impossible in that area. By the year fifty-seven,
Barandiarán had not given up, however.
Instead, he was ordained a priest of the Byzantine Oriental Church. Pope.
Along with this personal decision, another circumstance affected his life: the first of the exotic
diseases that he suffered for the benefit of the peoples of the world. He contracted a terrible
malaria, in Jordan, and the Brotherhood of Foucauld returned him to the French State, so that he
could recover.
He was convalescing in Britain, eager to return to the Middle East to exercise his new ministry and
his profound vocation, when in November of that year a formal proposal reached the Fraternity for
a member to participate in an expedition to the springs. of the Orinoco, through the La Salle
Foundation, in Caracas.
The French officials chose Daniel because American History had been part of his university
education, and because of his experience with the Bedouins.
This is how his story continues:
«I made an affective parenthesis for the Middle East and in March 1958 I went to Venezuela, to
join the scientific expedition and then be able to report to the Venezuelan State and the Church of
Rome on the state of the Orinoco tribes, because the missions of the Amazonas could not
consolidate, except in the Creole milieus of Puerto Ayacucho and San Fernando de Atabapo, with
rare indigenous rum tacts.
The expedition was successful. There is a book published on clin in the La Salle Foundation.»
In the Basque circles of Caracas they say that Barandiarán ran into the hierarchy, which tried to
measure the effectiveness of his work with the Indians in conversions and baptisms. And that he,
on the other hand, dedicated himself to attending to the primary needs, for the survival of many
people, before anything else. Apparently, this is a wrong view of the facts, since the protagonist
denies it:
"Everything else is legend. I was never part of the Komana church, nor of the Venezuelan one.
By leaving my reverie, first as a young graduate, and then as an adult oriental priest for the Jewish-
Arab confrater-nldiid, I also left all personal connection with the Foucauld commandos, who
intended to run their Fraternities by remote control from France, subject to submission. to
everything French.
Since 1960, the year of my break with Europe, I have devoted myself entirely to rescuing
two decimated tribes of the Upper Caura. With them I founded a new indigenous town, which today
appears on all maps: Santa María de Erebato. I tried to found another in the same area and next to
the Brazilian border: Kanarakuni. But one fine day the planes stopped coming, and the only entrance
to that part was and still is the plane.
In that marginal border isolation, without the means to face a new population and foundation policy,
I had to live very difficult times: diseases, malaria, tuberculosis, radioactivity...»
Daniel suffered seriously in his health, throughout the ten years that, initially and uninterruptedly,
he dedicated to the Indians since his arrival in the New World.
But about his own dangers, and about the emergency conditions in which he had to help these
peoples, the man is reluctant to speak. "It would take too long to answer.
I would have to go into anecdotal details that are not relevant. But one thing is certain: you can
never understand a people without entering into it, and living within it, with great respect for
everything that belongs to it, for all its values.
intelligent, because any other authority would have terrified those Indians by sending police forces.
But let's not anticipate events; In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the tribe our founder-anthropologist
originally contacted was "a large people of Carib ni origin called the Makiritares. They are called
«Ye'kuana; that is to say: "peoples of the canoes".
«The Ye'kuana Caribs —Barandiarán explains to us— have a technically advanced level: they are
navigators of all rivers (Ir Guayana and Amazonia, they trade their products, mainly canoes, wooden
utensils, blowguns, derivatives of agriculture,
.
Its leadership is very pronounced, both politically and in social and economic ID . They live in
groups of one hundred to one hundred and fifty individuals, along the banks of the great rivers of
the jungle. They are proficient hunters and fishermen, but agriculture is their forte. (I founded the
town of Santa María de Erebato with them, where they themselves are the only inhabitants,
authorities and those responsible for the imlio, the hospital, the school, the cooperative, the
cattle, coffee...».
Another of the Venezuelans from Euzkadi told us, with great observation, how the makiritares are
originally semi-nomadic. (They moved to a place every six or seven years, when the hunting and
fishing of the chosen territory was exhausted. And also, at the death of each chief, because it was
a religious tradition to burn his possessions, and move everyone to another place.
Agriculture, today is the strength of the "Ye'kuana", the same authoritative voice told us, it had not
been their continuous activity until the arrival of Daniel, and he spent a long time thinking about how
to create the conditions for them, how to teach them the tasks agriculture and livestock, to achieve
their settlement, their fixation in Santa Maria de Erebato.
the same witness affirming that the Indians of the tribe are lovers of mechanics. and that, in
their skill as sailors, perfectly accepted the help of "outboard" motors, they could afford it,
Taking advantage of this curiosity-devotion for the machine, Daniel got a tractor. And this is how
he made the makiritars modern farmers, skipping all the intermediate scales, of more than two
thousand years of learning for the so-called «civilization».
"Today," the anthropologist continues, "the Ye'kuana are proud of their culture, their language, and
of their practical autonomy in all the vital lines of their tradition and their experience. Several more
notable young people are formed in the cities of Venezuela for the immediate technical and social
leadership of the tribe. There are already official nurses, teachers, official bilinguals, and all the
order and the police are carried out by themselves, within themselves».
No, there are not many people, in this 20th century, who have in their biography the founding, we
would almost say the creation, of a town. Less, in the conditions in which this Basque did it. We
still ask ourselves, and we ask him, how was it possible, how was the difficulty of communication
overcome, of supplies in the middle of the jungle...
«From the beginning, as they were marginalized areas where there was no possibility of
communication by land, and by river it was very difficult, given the navigation problems of those
rivers, I tried to open short tracks in the jungle, with an incredible job .
From that first moment, I had the honor of being part of; Ministry of Defence, as a civilian member.
A nomination came to me as an inspector of the meteorological stations that the Ministry had; in
that Amazon area and, through that collaboration as a member! of the armed forces, participated
with the Government in the opening of; airstrips, clinics, schools, to which we took civilians, and
even people from the Administration. During those ten years, little by little, I was introducing the
presence of Venezuela, in such areas, through the members of the local communities.
For example: in the Ministry of Health he was trying to train an indigenous boy in simplified
medicine; he was given the title of assistant nurse and, then, with a bonus from the Government,
he entered his own tribe and worked in dispensaries, caring for his brothers.
In the schools I did the same, train indigenous teachers, who were seen again in their town and
acted as a continuation of the functions of the Government, but with complete freedom in their
bilingual teaching, in which the link, the eyes and the ears on I u performance of these people was
me, always in my role as inspector of weather stations.
That was the first stage. After the foundation of Santa Maria de l'.robato, I left it to the responsibility
of the chiefs of the tribe, with the help of the brotherhood of Foucauld, which continues there, as
friends of experience, only as some more members of the community ».
The second tribe with which Daniel contacted was that of “the wonderful waikas, shirishanas or
Ya'noama. They are the poets of the virgin Amazon jungle. They live free like birds, only hunting
and gathering wild fruits. For only a few years
they have an incipient agriculture of bananas and pineapples”.
«Their technology, and all the material they carry - our interlocutor continues to describe without hiding his
affection at all -, to their long bow and hunting arrows, fit inside a ball.
That's all. And they are dressed in the sun, and they are children of the moon, according to an old mythology
of their tribe. There are twenty thousand individuals repar-liilns between Brazil and Venezuela. They straddle
the political borders of both states, but their homeland is the jungle, where they eat and live, in an Amazonian
geography of almost two hundred thousand square kilometers. They are owners of the virgin forest and its
minimal changes and mudan-/iipi. smooth jungle that, for us, our minitros and our poli-i fus would be a tomb
and a grave, for them it is life, and the homeland vrnlc ».
“These marvelous waikas have a man-hunting-ilnr-gathering technology, exactly as in the Paleolithic age,
and, as a complement, an extraordinarily rich culture. The language, prein-iliK'iiropea, is similar by
comparison to the most primitive in the world, even to Euskera. Its mythology is of an impressive religious
and poetic wealth. As an example I can cite that his iiHurption of the world is quite similar to the myth of the
cave, of l'ltiion, with its shadows and its otherworldly realities: The essences of UN pits of the world have a
divine life in heaven and are like
little divinities, or demiurges. When they come down to earth, they lose their invisible essence and materialize
in things and beings, which are very poor, in their reproduction of the authentic truth and essence that they
have in heaven.
On the waikas I have published a book entitled "The Children of the Moon", and I had the honor of having
the National Congress of Venezuela publish it for me".
The work, beautiful in content and presentation, was out of print during our visit, and a new edition was being
prepared. It narrates, by Aushi Walalam, which is the Ya'noama name of Daniel, the life and stories of the
tribe, assumed from a "shiris-hana" mentality. To illustrate them, the Swiss photographer Bárbara Brandl has
done an excellent documentary job.
There you can see the feeling that was strengthened in this Euskaldun, by contact with unsophisticated
humanity. He tells us that the knowledge of the "Ya'noama" brought him an "unusual and pure enrichment
of the most fundamental essences of man's being", which he summarizes in the following points:
«Man's balance with himself, beyond the dispersion of consumerism and the superfine, beyond the
neuropathic tendencies of the uprooted and violated individual, beyond internal and external tensions, etc.
Balance of man with nature; deep insertion into the natural elements, permanent communion with the beings
of Creation, knowledge of them, of the telluric forces that can be explained by the harmony of myths and the
experience of oneself and one's society. Perfect self-control in the face of natural trances, peace with the
elements and, at the same time, deep knowledge and use of those elements: wood,
minerals, water, sap, flowers, lianas, animals, insects, seasonal changes...
And balance of man with society; vital insertion and existence! with the environment in which one
lives, harmonic rhythms of alternation of the ego with the "alter ego", or with the elites of the group,
who are born artists, creators, doctors, shamans, healers, spiritual helpers, old-libraries street vendors,
etc.
Plenary rapport and equivalence between the individual and his society, individual maturation within
a welcoming social group like a warm womb. This triple balance, so fundamental to the very essence
of being a man, has been distorted or annulled in technological civilizations, or in growing
developmentalism, where the individual is marginalized by the overwhelming and blind march of
something, which at first could be for the service of the same man, but that later turned against him,
harassing him as well as nature itself, and the very harmony of society. All this nonsense running
brings only frustration, environmental and psychic contamination, of loose madmen made authorities,
executives... "civilized" citizens.
We cannot go back to Ghandi's spinning wheel, nor to the stone axe. There is no room for returns to
the material sources of capturing man by man. I am only stating that these experiences, tic cultures
and peoples like the Waikas, place Man above everything, in nature, in society and in politics. And
that, for this reason, they are the only living example today of the existence of Man, as Man, on earth.
When they disintegrate, I estimate that the rest of the so-called humanity has no more reason to live.
MY atomic holocaust will bring us back, on the frontispiece of the I ribbon, to Man as Man, and not as
a victim of the blind and overwhelming machine of his own disintegrated family and society.
A high Ye'kuana or Ya'noama authority is not obeyed because it brings power, weapons or soldiers.
He is authority because everything he has, and everything he obtains, is for his own, rather than for
him, who is the poorest of the people. He is an authority because, first of all, he is a moral and
responsible person, and he does not order under pressure, but rather by the heartfelt persuasion of
all the people. The victimizing, torturing, or violating power does not exist in these tribes. The
indigenous would like to find a white inferiority that does not lie to them as much as it breathes, with
the same inability. A single lie, on the part of a natural authority of his various peoples, would force
the cacique to voluntary ostracism, a tisiracism that many times means lonely death, in the middle of
the jungle.
This is Daniel's way of thinking about the cultures of peoples. Some cultures and ways of life that he
tries to defend, above all else. And, sometimes, contrary to deep-rooted conceptions that "using
hypocritical motivations of" civilization ", or the sacrosanct unity of a single homeland, they tend to
eliminate the peculiarities of those communities that are not the imprint and decal of the majority
people or nation." ».
After that decade of constant dedication in the Amazon, Barandarián —as his colleagues from the
"yellow house" called him in a difficult exchange of syllables—, was called upon by Foreign Minister
Arístides Calvani, Minister of the Government of Rafael Caldera, as adviser to the Border Directorate
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He had previously collaborated with COPEI in the elaboration of the indigenist program of the Cabinet
Social Christian and began as coordinator of the National Border Council, an inter-ministerial body, to which
he contributed his research on Israeli and Canadian border experiences.
Once this task was completed, he became head of the Department of International Rivers, within the same
Border Directorate. And during the Government of Carlos Andrés Pérez he was part of two presidential
commissions abroad, one for the issue of the Guayana Esequiba and another to discuss in Bogotá, with the
Colombian government, issues related to the Arauca river-border. He also participated, as adviser-historian,
in the Venezuelan commission for the UN Sea conferences, held in Geneva and New York.
These public positions, however, did not mean the end of his work on behalf of the Indians.
From the "command booth" of the Administration itself, it has continued the task of training members of the
different tribes, preparing them to help their own brothers, and has extended, at a general level throughout
the Republic, the management that, personally and from within, he did with the makiritares and with the
waikas.
Moreover, he has made numerous visits and has spent new seasons with them, throughout all that time.
For his enormous task he has received important decorations, although he wants to refer only to the Order
of Miranda, "because he preferred captivity and death in a Spanish prison to the comfort of his positions
and his social position, in defense of the freedom of your contry".
Daniel is fluent in Arabic, Slavonic, and ancient Greek, and often remembers as a joke the concern that
some well-thinking people felt when they came to tell them that
"There was a man over there, who said a strange Mass in a very strange language."
It has been many years. Intense years in which the Basque anthropologist has been leaving youth,
experience, jobs, and shreds of health. For a long time he had
He had to take sick leave and take refuge with his wife, Raquel Cohén, in a small farm in Guayana, which
produces three hundred liters of milk a day.
But he has not surrendered, he does not abandon. And after the electoral triumph tic* COPEI, stimulated by
the desire to continue being useful, at the beginning of 1979 he had returned to his official office, with
renewed spirit, with all his passion, to continue contributing his energy and knowledge for the good of the
Republic.
Without this implying forgetting Euzkadi. "Don't call In mio absence," he protests. I am Venezuelan and I am
Basque. Everything about l'luskadi touches me in the most intimate fiber of my person, as well as everything
about Israel. I am married to a daughter from Israel, daughter of a Russian Jew from Buckhara, from
Turkestan. I am not, nor am I, absent from Euskadi or the entire world. I vibrate with the living womb of the
earth and I can almost tell myself that I am a citizen of the world.
Sometimes, in the incommunicable solitude of the struggle for my adoptive homeland, I am tempted to
return to Euzkadi. And then I hear the cry of the shepherds of Urbía, and the chiming of their sheep, and
the chiming of their guard dogs. I also see the sea and its brave miirinos heading towards the blue. I see
my brother workers, as I was myself, and was my
father. I also see the new Basque elite, the |K'iis¡idores, the artists, the writers, the union and
political leaders. All of them are my brothers by race and language, by children and by
anthropological conformation.
And where is my duty? Tell me, brothers from Euzkadi; tell me, brothers from Venezuela. Fear
is a sign of duty, and I fear for both countries.
1-48 Distinctions That Honor the Basque Center of Caracas
José Antonio De Armas Chitty National Prize for Literature 1961
Vicente De Arnoriaga First Prize for Painting at the Salón D'empaire, Maracaibo
Luis Bilbao Order of Francisco de Miranda (Second Degree)
Ramón Díaz Sánchez Prize 'Novel "Arístides Rojas"
Andima De Ibinagabeitia Corresponding Academician of the Language Academy

Basque
Martín De Ugalde Prizes In Short Story Contests In Venezuela And Recently The
"Sesame"
Vicente Amezaga Aresti Corresponding member of the Academy of Language

Basque
"The BASQUES IN VENEZUELA", an extraordinary number on the XX anniversary of the Foundation of the
Basque Center of Caracas
Artistic direction and graphic supervision: MARCOS PORCADA ODRIOZOLA Historical and literary consultancy: DR.
VICENTE DE AMEZAGA Cover: ARNORIAGA Printed in Venezuela by CROMOTIP CA -A- Number of copies: 2,000 -
June, 1962
1 49 How they see us Basques in Venezuela
On the occasion, Mr. Rojas said to Mr. Rodríguez: "If when speaking in that (work) of the Basques who distinguished
themselves in America, you have forgotten the influence they had in Venezuela, and how much it owes to their
descendants of the Basque people, here are these lines that may perhaps serve as an appendix to your book".
This paragraph by Mr. Rojas reveals that for the first time it was written about the performance of the Basque family in
the colonization enterprise of the recently discovered land of the continent, in the area bordering the Caribbean Sea.
Mr. Rojas proceeded to review the history of the Basque people from its Caucasian cradle to the ancient Iberians of
Asia and the very remote antiquity in which, to the boast of Montmorency: "You must know that we date back a
thousand years," the Basque answered: "And we don't date." The memorable passage of the "pilgrim" Lope de
Aguirre; the foundation in Caracas of the Guipuzcoana Company, its monopoly, its influence, its triumphs, the decline
and end of the famous Company; the beginning in Caracas of the revolution of 1810; the Heritage
Bolívar, from the first Bolívar in 1588; the eos sites that carry it in both worlds; the last Simón and the mention of the
Venezuelan families of Basque origin.
When Mr. Rodríguez Ferrer gave birth to his Vascongados, he was already known for his works related to the Island
of Cuba. The, aforementioned book reviews, necessarily summarized, of the life of the Karo in ancient times and in
modern times: country and its language, archaeology, literature, names, social organization and Fueros.
While the Venezuelan Mr. Rojas found that the obscurity was due to the defect of silencing the influence that the
Basques had in Venezuela, the Basque writer Ladislao y Fernández de la Cuesta thinks that his prologue or
introduction, the work of the eminent Don Ant Cánovas del Castillo, whose opinions — erroneous in Velasco's concept
— belong to the school of those who mix the Basques with the Basques. Thus, the writer from Vitoria mainly contests
the statesman's observations on the 1795 campaign in the Congadas Provinces, better known by the name of Guerra
de la pública. That lack or error "is — says Velasco — a barely perceptible parenthesis in the long life of the people,
which is lost at the dawn of our first Iberian; it is a grain of sand on the great beach of history, which should be
appreciated as such and be judged."
The first news that was formalized in Venezuela regarding the Basque family was obtained by Rojas from Don Antooi
Trueba, who supplied it to him in a study published in the Spanish and American Illustration, in 1876, under the title of
Venezuela and the Basques. From him the writer took the data referring to the origin and genealogy of the Liberator,
who came from the Solar de la Rentería, in the place or town of Bolívar, in the Señorío de Vizcaya; Hence the
surname, made up of Bol, the Basque radical of bolú, bo-lu-a, mill, the mill, from ibar, ibarr-a, prairie, the prairie.
Only very late, and perhaps only because of the aforementioned Rojas, did works and writings about the Basque
people and language begin to arrive in the country, such as the Diccionarí
Trilingual of Spanish, Basque and Latin, by Larramend However, this and the Notifia
Ultriusque Vasconiae, by Henardo, printed in Paris in 1638, as well as the Investiga nes
Históricas de las Antigüedades de Navarra, by Fr. Mol, published in Pamplona in 1665, were
known in Germany before any other country in Europe, and by 1784 Fr. Herder had already
studied in Weimar, for which reason he was able to write from then, in his Philosophy of the
History of Humanity: "The very peoples that we know by the name of Basques and Cantabrians,
are presented to us in the history of antiquity as alive, active, brave, passionate about freedom.
They accompanied Hannibal in Italy, and his mere name is an object of terror to Roman poets.
Allied to the Celts of Spain, it was they who made it so difficult for the Romans to sustain that
country. Augustus was the first to achieve it, and only in appearance, since all those who did not
want to bow down under the yoke of serfdom fled to the mountains. When the Vandals, the Alans,
the Suevi, the Goths and other Teutonic nations began their savage incursions into the Pyrenees,
hastily founding some kingdoms in their vicinity, the Basques knew how to show that they were
the same courageous and rebellious people who had not been able to tame the Roman might;
Later, when Carlo the Great, after defeating the Saracens of Spain, crossed his country, he found
them just as their fathers had been: and it was they who, by an unexpected attack, consummated
the Roncesvalles rota, so famous in the romances of the Middle Ages, and in which the great
Roldan perished. They fought against the Franks in Spain and in Aquitaine as bitter as they had
before against the Suevi and Goths; They gave the Saracens no rest until they had wrested their
country from their hands; and his character remained the same, in the centuries of the deepest
barbarism, and still under the yoke of the monks. Finally, when, after a long night, the dawn of
science was seen rising over Europe, the poetry of Provence projected its most brilliant splendors
over its country, to which France owes more than one beautiful genius.
Men of a unique culture in Venezuela began to gain interest in the history and study of the Basque
peoples and acquired works such as Humboldt's, which included those of Astarloa (Apology for
the Basque Language), Erro and Azpíroz ( Alphabet of the 'Primitive Language of Spain'), and of
Hervás (Catalog of Languages
Known). More or less, around the years 1880-1881, the data and notes of Mr. Ladislao Velasco
and Fernández de la Cuesta were known, on the origins, history, language, laws, customs and
traditions of the Basques in Álava, Guipúzcoa and Vizcaya; and this work aroused interest in
learning about Blade's, on the origin of the Basques, published in Paris in 1869; that of M. Garat,
on the Basques of France and Spain, of the same year; the previous date (1857), by M. Michel,
as well as the Primitive History of the Euskaros-Basques, by M. Agustín Chao, from 1847; of
course counting the works of Landázuri and Romarate, from 1797 to 1800, on the province of
Álava, and the Historical Compendium of doctor Lope Martínez de Isastí, in 1625, added in 1781
by D. Rafael Floranes y Encinas, Lord of Taberneros .
In days closer to these, the Guipúzcoa Provincial Council commissioned D. Carmelo de Echegaray
to carry out historical research in the literary depositories of Madrid and El Escorial, in January
1892, and in them he was able to consult the Bascófilo Library , of Allende Salazar, the Bifolio
Graphic-Historical Dictionary of the Ancient Kingdoms, Provinces, Cities, Villas, Churches and
Sanctuaries of Spain, by D. Tomás Muñoz y Romero, and, especially, the manuscripts in the
Vargas Ponce collection, which is kept by the History Academy. Mr. Echegaray's report was
published in San Sebastián in 1893.
Another very modern work is the one published in Bilbao in 1916 by D. Luis de Salazar, on the
Origin of 300 Castilian and Basque surnames. But the most recent studies that have come to deal
with the presence, action and influence of the Basques in America, and particularly in Venezuela,
have been: that of M. Jules Humbert, on the Spanish Colonization in Venezuela, and which is the
volume XI of the Library of the Universities of Midi, published in 1905; and the last 3 volumes of
D. Segundo de Ispizua, Los Vascos en América, IV, V and VI of the History of America, and
which refer, respectively, to the trip of Juan de la Cosa and Alonso de Ojeda, in which they
discovered Brazil, the Guianas, the entire Venezuelan coast and Colombia, Lope de Águirre's
journey through the Marañón, Amazonas, Negro, Casiquiare and Orinoco rivers, and the Basque
ancestry of Simón Bolívar, liberator of America. Certainly, the Lord of Ispizua laments the
abandonment in which he finds himself and the indifference with which the study of his own
personality is viewed among the Basques today over time.
The review, still very condensed, of the Basque families that founded solar in Venezuela would
be too extensive for this space. One hundred and forty-eight families from the three provinces of
Álava, Guipúzcoa and Vizcaya left their surname and descendants here, from the 16th, 17th and
18th centuries and the first half of the 19th; and faith that even few globules of the old blood that
still run through the veins of the grandchildren, maintain with any trait of character and conduct
the honor of the strong grandfather.
In the country's history the imprint of Hannibal's secular companions is strongly etched and the
personalities of the Basque patronymic are in stark relief. I would begin the review with the
tenacious work of the Reverend Capuchins, founders and directors of Missions, particularly, a
reference to the value, merit and holiness of Fr. Catatantes and Fray Francisco de Pamplona,
who on another occasion and with greater space and slowly will be separate monograph subject.
Bolívar was of Basque origin, grandson of the Bolívar de Vizcaya and the Villegas de Burgos: D.
Luis de Bolívar y Villegas was the founder of the town of San Luis de Cura, in the plains of
Caracas, in 1772, and his ancestors with Alfinger and Spira, warring in El Tocuyo and Nirgua.
Maracaibo, Borbura-ta, Tacarigua Lagoon, Nueva Segovia and Coro.
One of those grandparents was D. Diego de Osorio y Villegas, who took charge of the
Governorship of Caracas in 1588, together with the first D. Simón de Bolívar, and both founded
ports and villages, distributed lands, appointed égidos, established the first archives, facilitated
trade, assigned their own and reduced indigenous populations.
Father Juan Félix de Aristeguieta was of Basque origin, who had the Liberator in the baptismal
font and founded for him and his descendants the estate of La Concepción, which was disputed
in 1823 by José Ignacio Lecumberri, also of Basque descent.
The Squad Leader Don Julián de Arriaga y Rivero was also Basque, appointed Governor of
Venezuela in substitution of Castellanos, when the spirits were most exalted against the monopoly
of the Gipuzkoan Company, and he managed to calm them down with his tact and prudent
measures and would have achieved extinguish them, unless later elevated to the rank of Minister
of the Monarchy.
Vasco was Don Juan de Arteaga, appointed, the first, professor of grammar by virtue of
Royal disposition of Felipe II, in 1592, twenty-six years after it was founded
Caracas.
From the same origin was Don José Felipe de Arteaga, Dean Councilor of the Caracas City
Council, in 1749, when Captain Don Juan Francisco de León, founder of the Panaquire Valley,
came in arms to the capital.
And the Berroteráns, the Master of Field Don Francisco, Governor of Caracas in 1690 and in 1704,
first Marquis of Valle de Santiago, excellent Magistrate, author of the census of Caracas when it
was left with only 6,000 inhabitants, after the smallpox epidemic of 1693, defender of La Guaira
when the French expeditioned over it, in 1696. His last descendant, Doña Socorro Berroterán,
married Don Francisco Rodríguez, Marqués del Toro. The second Marqués del Valle figured
among the Notables of the Guipuzcoan Company and belonged in 1770 to the Company of Noble
Adventurers.
Don Martín de Echeverría, who gave rise to the revolutionary movement against the Guipuzcoana
Company, for having gone to take charge of the functions of Lieutenant Justice of the towns of
the Caucagua Valley, which was exercised, to the general satisfaction, by Captain Don Juan
Francisco de León . A high-ranking factor in Guipuzcoana was Don Nicolás de Francia, whose
descendants today form one of the oldest and most significant families in Caracas.
Don Agustín and Don Pedro Manuel de Herrera, notables of Caracas in 1749 and founders of the
extensive family of Caracas and San Carlos de Austria that for the space of two centuries has
given Venezuela illustrious men in the Church, in arms, in the Forum, in the arts, in agriculture,
etc. The Ibarras, Gabriel, Juan, Tomás, Diego Francisco, José: the latter Brigadier of the Company
of Noble Adventurers; Tomás, Alderman of Caracas in the days of the Guipuzcoana, and Francisco,
the first Archbishop of Venezuela in 1804. From this Basque family came Andrés and Diego, first-
rank aides-de-camp to the Liberator and the latter, moreover, a notable General of the Cavalry.
Don Bartolomé de Iturralde, who commissioned his executor Don Fernando de Echeverría to
impose the amount of two thousand pesos on the census, to pay with his income for the teaching
of first letters at the Tridentino Seminary.
Blas, Antonio and Gabriel Landaeta, Notables of Caracas in the course of the 18th century,
founders of the families that bear their patronymic in Caracas and in Valencia del Rey.
Bernardo de Quiróz, deputy for the province of Nueva Segovia (Barquísimeto) to represent before
Felipe II, and descendant of Gonzalo Bernaldo de Quizós, of the settlers in Ayergas, near Oviedo.
Don Gabriel de Rada, Notable of Caracas in the 18th century and Brigadier of the Company of
Noble Adventurers, from the lineage of Martín Velas de Rada, builder of the main tower of Limpias,
inherited by the Álbarado family.
Alonso de Rivas, Notable of Caracas during the Governors Ricardos, Ramírez de Estenos and
Solano, descendants of the house of Zamudio and Sancho Fernández, heir to the Rivas estate.
From Don Alonso come the Venezuelan families Rivas Pacheco, Rivas Tovar, etc.
Doña Beatriz de Rojas, of this Castilian lineage, married Don Simón de Bolívar, second of his
name, called the Younger; and with Doña Juana de Rojas married Don Juan de Guevara.
Andrés and Miguel de Urbina, Notables of Caracas in the 18th century, and D. Miguel, first
Marquis of Torrecasa, one of the seven graduates of that century, in Venezuela. Mr. Jose
Ignacio de Ustáriz, Notable of the aforementioned century, founder of the family of his name and
to which D. Gerónimo de Ustáriz belonged, who wrote and published in Madrid, in 1753, the work
entitled Theory and Practice of Commerce and Navigation , the which was rendered into French.
At the beginning of the 19th century, D. Francisco Javier de Ustáriz, Marquis of his name,
Jurisconsult, deputy to the Constituent Congress of Venezuela in 1811, author of the Martial Law
of 1812, along with doctors Espejo and Róscio, was very notable in the same family. as members
of the Executive Branch and author of the Republican Statute of 1813.
He was also of Basque descent, by maternal lineage, D. Miguel Blanco y Uribe (contraction of
Urigabe), Ordinary Mayor of Caracas and President of the Assembly of Notables, who heard the
accusations against the Guipuzcoan Company. Descended from the vast Basque family in
Venezuela, the most significant heroes —in the war, in the Magistracy and in the assemblies—,
of the Emancipation period. Hence Anzoátegui, the young General Chief of the General Staff in
the battle of San Félix, against Mariscal La Torre, and liberator (the second) of New Granada, in
the battle of Boyacá, against the Spanish chief Barreyro; —Colonel Aramendi, squadron leader in
the army of Páez and who had for his General, in the battle of Carabobo, a warning that does not
detract from the famous We do not date, the Basque's reply to Motmorency: General, ahead of
me , the head of my horse Arguíndegui or Árgiendegui, brother-in-law of Anzoátegui and head of
the battalion that bore his name; Arismendi, the indomitable combatant on the Isla de Margarita,
who for his tenacity of resistance deserved to be called by his own Spanish opponents, the
American Sparta; Iribarren or Uribarren, Chief of the General Staff of the Venezuelan Army;
Lecuna (Vicente), Army Commissioner during the war, Treasurer of Venezuela, Customs
Administrator, Minister of Finance, Senator and President of the High Court of Accounts; The p.
Madariaga,
Canon of the Cathedral of Caracas, one of the main factors in the revolutionary movement of
1810; Santos Michele-na, parliamentarian, financier and diplomat, to whose family have belonged
doctors, surgeons, journalists, famous writers in Venezuela and abroad; Manrique, related to a
Basque family, in San Carlos de Austria, liberator of Zulía, with Padilla; Mujica or Mújica, squadron
chief in the Apure army, from a family from Fortun García de Ávendaño; Sagarzazu, colonel,
ancestor of a family of lawyers; Salaverría, from the ancient settlers of Coro; Sarria (contraction
of Suarría), reputed in arms; Sístiaga, to whose family the military, doctors, professors, poets,
journalists, etc. have belonged with brilliant note; Priest Dr. José Vicente de Unda, member of the
Constituent Congress of 1811 and later bishop of Mérida; Urdaneta, the first strategist in the
campaigns in Venezuela and New Granada, as was Mariscal Sucre in those in Ecuador, Peru
and Bolivia; after the Liberator, the first President Dictator of Gran Colombia, and the first
Plenipotentiary of Venezuela to sign the Treaty of Recognition of Independence, for Spain, who
died in Paris on a trip to his mission; father and founder of a long succession of notable public
men, soldiers, engineers, landowners, writers; Urrutia (Wenceslao), lawyer and statesman;
Zárraga, famous personalities in the Militia, in the Forum and in the Firm: Dr. D. Nicolás de Anzola
or Ánzuela, professor at the Royal and Pontifical University of Caracas, ascendant of politicians,
lawyers and writers; Juan Pablo Ayala, descendant of López Díaz, lord of Vizcaya, captain of the
regiment in 1810, officer of Generalissimo Miranda, prisoner in Cádiz and Ceuta, and later general
of the Republic; General Jose Felix
Ribas, the first of the warriors in the history of the early years of the 19th century, from the
Biscayan lineage of Ordoño de Zamudio; José Agustín Loínáz, Senator of the Congress of Gran
Colombia, candidate at the same time for the Presidency of that republic; D. Cristóbal Hurtado
de Mendoza, first triumvir of the Republic of Venezuela, member of the Constituent Congress,
eminent jurist, writer, mayor of Venezuela, founder of an enlightened family of men from the
Forum, the Tribune and the Press; Manuel, Antonio, Miguel, Ramón, Luis and Agustín Palacios,
from the old Solar de los Murgas, descendants of Martín Sánchez de Palacio, bastard legitimized
by Lope Sánchez: Manuel, the eldest son, was the outstanding figure, Doctor of both Laws and
Medicine , writer, deputy to the first Congress of 1811, collaborator of the Patriotic Society,
officer of Miranda, plenipotentiary in the United States and in Europe,
Prime Minister of Finance in 1819, translator into English of Bolívar's speech at the Congress
of Angostura, member of this Congress, author of the Sketch of the Revolution in Spanish
America (in English), which was published in London and reprinted in New -York, in 1817;
Antonio was a high-ranking magistrate in Tunja, shot in the back by General Morillo in Nueva
Granada; Miguel was a legislator in Colombia and Venezuela; Ramón was a soldier and Agustín
embraced an ecclesiastical career and was named priest of souls in the city of Valera, in the
province of Trujillo; Emparan, the last Captain General of Venezuela, came from the heir to the
Murguía estate; Francisco de Adarraga, colonel in the armies of Chile, Peru and Colombia;
Miguel Zárraga y Arístíguieta, General in Chief of Venezuela in 1863; José Escolástico Andrade,
Assistant to the Marshal of Ayacucho and General Commander of Cauca; Presbyter Dr.
Francisco Antonio Uzcátegui, Canon of the Cathedral of Mérida, in 1811; Most Illustrious Mr.
Dr. Críspulo Uzcátegui, Archbishop of Caracas and Venezuela.
The Basques founded the first factories in Caracas, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Barquisimeto
and Coro, in 1730; they cut down impenetrable forests in the valleys to replace them with crops;
They founded the first agricultural farms with larger crops, multiplying cocoa products a
hundredfold and being able to export coffee, indigo and tobacco to Europe, establishing the first
herds of cattle on the plains; they cleaned the coast of Puerto Cabello of pirates and transformed
the fishermen's huts into beautiful houses and spacious warehouses, making it the first port of
Venezuela; the towns of the Aragua valleys prospered to the point of reaching the category of
villas, and the hamlets on the banks of the Portuguesa and Apure became villages; they were
the introducers of indigo, the first planters of cotton and sugar cane; In twenty years they took
over commerce and agriculture, ridding the country of the tributes to Holland, and transformed
the appearance of the land, and only in fifty years did they perpetually and indestructibly take
root in the valleys of Aragua, on the shores of Lake from Valencia, on the plains of Cojedes,
Portuguesa and Orinoco, and on the coasts of Caracas.
And as the historian Rojas rightly points out, they left behind something more than the bell
tower: they left the family, in the ultimate sense; that is, the cult of the home, the love of the
country and the demonstrative notion of work.
1 50 Appendix
Appendix of Paquebote Cuba Passengers-with Name, Surname, and profession arrived in La Guaira
July 14, 1939
1. Jesús Iraragorri Alegría (doctor)

2. José Luis Aránsolo Bilbao (physician)
3. Fernando Unzeta Iza (physician)
4. Juan Ramón Belín Alzaga (physician)
5. Miguel Nieto Caicedo (physician)
6. Tomás Mendicoa Lanzagorta (physician)
7. Arrieta Larrañaga (doctor)
8. José de la Torre (physician)
9. José Antonio Urrestarazu Bergara (physician)
10. Roque Zaldua ligarte (road engineer)
11. Enrique Iza Gil (draftsman)
12. Francisco Mugica Echaide (cook)
13. Tomás Urruzuno Bulukua (cook)
14. Antonio Urruzuno Bulukua (mechanic)
15. Julián Zubigaray Yurrebaso (mechanic)
16. Gotzon Arambarri Eriz (assembly mechanic)
17. José Barreda Ugarte (mechanic)
18. Francisco Ugalde Ibarluzea (mechanic)
19. Andrés Villar Urquiza (mechanic)
20. Pedro María Muguel Uriarte (carpenter)
21. Juan Echechipia Navarro (carpenter)
22. Martín Trizar Oregui
23. Pedro Velar Erdozia (baker)
24. Francisco Garay Berasategui (captain of the Merchant Navy)
25. Jesús Caldos Mondragón 26.
Juan Berecibar Espilla (precision mechanic)
27. Julián Echeberria Urizar (bricklayer)
28. Juan Goiri Liona (mason)
29. Aurelio Blanco Aizpurua (driver)
30. Anastasio Iraola Muruaga (carpenter)
31. Isidoro Dorronsoro Molinero (boilermaker)
32. César Urbieta González (cartoonist)
33. Francisco Arestí Una (mechanic)
34. José Miguel Uría Amilibia (carpenter)
35. Miguel Salvador Cordón (architectural designer)
36. Eugenio Fernández Sáin (electrician)
37. Julián Echeverría Mallavia (boilermaker)
38. Inocencio Echave Roleta (cabinet maker)
39. Eugenio Berasategui Cendoya (mechanic)
40. Ignacio Larrea Gorostizaga (mason)
41. Beloved Garitaonaindía (driver)
42. Francisco Goicoechea Garamendi (mechanical technician)
43. Domingo Ondiz Ugarte (contractor)
44. Justo Ibarra Urabeganokoa (mason)

46. Jesús Bilbao Sáinz (chemical expert)
47. Busturia Lanbarri (draftsman)
48. Ceferino Bilbao Echederra (carpenter carpenter)
49. Emilio Obregón Pérez (mechanical driver)
50. Mateo Amaga Eguren (farmer)
51. Isidoro Ibáñez Uribe (shoemaker)
52. José María Velasco Domínguez (shoemaker)
53. Arturo Esturo Mañero (steel technician)
54. Cristóbal A. Bilbao Ormaeche (engineer)
55. Juan Matxain Erzilla (mechanic)
56. Manuel Egileor Goñi (boiler specialist mechanic)
57. Lorenzo Arríela Araunabeña (farmer)
58. José Luis Otxoa de Txintxetru (accountant)
59. Lorenzo Basagoiti Calzada (industrial engineer)
60. Second Achurra Azpiazu (master mason)
61. Santiago Doxandabaratz Muruzabal (industrial)
62. Serafín Lakalza Zulaika (metal industrialist)
63. Julio Zubizarreta Pagóla (carpenter)
64. José Luis Martínez Bilbao (dentistry)
65. José Antonio Zabala Zufiaurre (metal industry)
66. Ricardo de Maguregui (captain of the Merchant Navy)
The rest of the group was made up of relatives of those mentioned.
flandre
1. Juan José Aberastauri Leguina (sailor cook)

2. Modesto Albert Albizu (mechanical adjuster)
3. Javier Albizu Daboriena (adjuster)
4. Francisco Altuna Guerra (commercial agent) + wife and daughters
5. Luis Amezqueta Pamaute (typographer)
6. Raimundo Amilibia Plaza (motorist fisherman)
7. Kepa Amuchategui Celaya (boiler maker)
8. Vicente Arteaga Lartategui (mason)
9. Juan Arraiza Elizalde (farmer)
10. Estanislao Arribalzaga Zuazo (farmer)
11. Ramón Achondo Pérez (mason)
12. Fermín Azkue Uñarte (linotypist)
13. Basilio Badiola Arroitia (Merchant Navy captain)
14. Eusebio Barriola Irigoyen (construction technician)
15. Paul Barriola Irigoyen (chemist)
16. Pedro Bilbao Ibarluzea (fisherman)
17. Bernaidino Bilbao García (adjuster) + wife and children 18.
Gonzalo Viota Gómez (labrador)
19. Ignacio Basca Gabilondo (forestry technician and public works)
20. Sixto Bustos Pérez (master mason)
21. Juan Etxearte Atxurra (farmer) 22.
Ángel Egaña Aperribay (bank carpenter)
23. Luis Eiguren Navarro (bank carpenter)
24. Fernando Elguezabal Maguregui (mechanic) + sisters and girl 25.

Trinidad Echevarrieta San Juan 26.
Alejandro Fournier Lamarlera (adjuster mechanic)
27. Unbelin Garmendia Arambarri (sailor)
28. Luciano Cinto Sempere (pastry chef)
29. Avelino González Zulaika (marine)
30. Alberto Guruzeaga Armabarrena (farmer)
31. Florencio Iriarte Bernaola (mechanic)
32. Jesus Iriarte Bernaola (mechanic)
33. José María Ispizua Fernández (sailor)
34. Prudencia Ituarte Goitia (patron) + son
35. Silvestre Izaguirre Arrospide (cook)
36. Julián Izaguirre Iturbe (fisherman)
37. Francisco Jauregui Azpiazu (mason)
38. Jesús Jaureguibeitia Olaskoaga (adjuster)
39. Antonio Larrañaga Artola (contractor) + wife and daughter
40. Pedro Larrañaga Zabala (electrician)
41. Celestino Larrinaga (farmer)
42. Juan Larrinaga Velo (farmer)
42. Eugenio Laskurain O. (bank carpenter) + wife and children 43.
Vicente Lege Zubikarai (fishing skipper)
44. Juan Leniz Anasagasti (cook)
45. Mateo Linaza Erechederra (mechanic)
46. Simón Linaza Urién (farmer)
47. Julián Lizarralde Aguirre (in charge of works)
48. Elisa Maguregui Gorrochategi
49. Fernando Maruri Lauda (marine)
50. Fernando Maruri Zurikaldai (draftsman)
51. Hilario Mendiolaragay (adjuster) + wife and daughter
52. Jesús Meistraitua Ormaechea (mechanical adjuster)
53. Lorenzo Odriozola Echevarría (cook) + wife and children 54.
Andrés Olivares Lizaso (electrician) + wife and daughter 55.
Juan Ondarroa Garitaonaindia (contractor) + wife and children 56.
Eusebio Oregui Eidaguiren (master builder)
57. Andrés Peña Camuesas (baker)
58. Julián Pérez Borricón (mechanic)
59. Paulino Sáinz Franco (adjuster)
60. Fidel Salegui Uribeechevarria (mechanic) + wife and children
61. José Saldfas Carrera (textile mechanic)
62. Nemesio Sanjuán Garai (mechanic driver)
63. Carlos Soria Larrinaga (driver) + wife and daughter
64. Ángel Telíería García (veterinarian)
65. Santiago de la Torre Acha (founder) + wife and son 66.
Gerardo Urquijo Jauregui (adjuster)
67. José Urquijo Lamiquiz (typographer)
68. Amadeo Uribe Asteinza (marine)
69. Ramón Urrestilla Zufía (moulder) + wife 70. Juan
Vizcarret Navas (draftsman)
71. Javier Yarnoz Larrosa (architect) + wife and daughter
72. Juan de Olazabal Gómez (businessman)

73. Genaro Egileor Arosíegui (journalist)
74. Ramón Maruri Orue-Echevarria 75.
Joaquín Núñez Trincado (electrician) + wife 76. José Luis
Rousse Alberdi (mechanic)
77. Eustasio Sarasola Landa (sailor)
78. José María Juaristi Arrillaga (mechanic)
79. Jesús Zubeldia Anzola (cabinet maker)
80. Cipriano Muguruza Bardales (carpenter)
81. Santiago Beristain Echave (cheese maker)
82. Constancio Arruti Mugica (cheese maker)
83. Carmelo Recondo Torregaray (forestry expert) + wife 84. Pedro
Juansoro Arruti (farmer) 85. Ángel Bilbao
Inunciaga (merchant)
86. Vicente Zuazo Echevarría (mechanic)
87. Eduardo Radiola Mendiola (mechanic)
88. Pedro Corostola Iturriza (rodero)
89. Vicente Orbea Aramburu (carpenter)
90. Cuezala Murua Sled (hardware manufacturer) + wife 91. Pedro
Abando Beascoechea (fitter mechanic)
92. Lucas Basterrechea Elorrieta (veterinarian)
93. Amalio Ucar Arteche (electrical mechanic)
94. Purificación Portillo Miramón (dressmaker)
95. Isidoro Echevarría (canner manufacturer)
96. Paulin Urresti Sajarrieta (cons. boats) + wife 97. Cecilia Peña (high
school teacher)
98. Valeriano Bere Toní (mechanic)
99. Felix Bere Toni (mechanic)
100. Eugenio Eizaguirre Etxebarria (mechanic)
101. Raúl Ayo Olea (marine)
102. Pedro Gárate Garay (insurance technician)
Bretagne arrived in La Guaira on August 26, 1939
1. Leoncio Echenique Arburua 2.

Agustín Galarregui Echenique 3.
Francisco Elortegui Cambe 4.
Francisco Zabaleta Beraza 5.
Francisco Coya Mendiola 6. José
María Garmendia Aldatz de Echavacoiz 7. José Badiola
Úncela 8. Enrique Echeria
Elizalde 9. Enrique Ibaibarriaga
Badiola 10. Luis Urquijo González 11.
Pedro Urresti Ibarloza 12.
Cipriano Leza Sanjuán 13.
Andrés Arrizabalaga Inda 14.
José María Endeiza Bilbao 15.
Jesús Trajaola Zarandona
16. Cirilo Zautua Lekuona

17. Cosme Goitia Urquiri
18. Ramón Coscorrotza Arrásate
19. Gregorio Ganchegui Eizaguirre
20. José Miguel Saizarvitoria Icaran
21. Ángel Goñi Echeverría
22. Segundo Eizmendi Manterola
23. Jacinto Urberuaga Guerricaechevarria
24. José Guisasola Amaga
25 Juan Iturri Bilbao
26. Silvino Mugarra Goyenechea
27. Lorenzo Arnaut Lerga
28. Víctor Goicoechea Garitaonaindia
29. José Ibarra Aldaiturriaga
30. Ramón Bedialauneta Aipiri
31. Antonio Ugarle Ladara
32. Domeka Aranzamendi Arrizabalaga
33. Florentino Pontesa Sarria
34. Teo Doro Franco Aresti
35. Francisco Lejonagoitia Aguirrechu
36. Julián Babarias Izpizua
37. Gregorio Aranzamendi Barainka
38. Diodoro Goñi Ugarte
39. Marcos Lequerica Legarreta
40. Elias Basterrechea Aurresechea
41. Miguel Aurrecoechea Aurrecoechea
42. Francisco Lakatza Zulaika
43. Crestencio Pérez Olano
44. Domingo írure Aguirre
45. José Gurtubay Cafranga
46. Antonio Mugarra Ruiz
47. Faustino Aramburu Mujica
48. Pedro Ugalde Belokj
49. Félix Orcajo Gómez
50. Mary Atino Rojo
51. Bernardino Mugarra Goyeneche
52. Vicente Orbea Aramburu
53. Francisco Ugartechea Zabala
Fishing boats-Donibane and Bigarrena -List of names Passengers who arrived in the two
fishing boats-Donibane and Bigarrena with the Ikurriña on the mast
Sunday, August 6, 1939, the two small fishing boats prepare to set sail. The crew of the
Bigarrena was made up of
1 José María de Burgaña, from Motriko, captain;

2 Antonio López Altonaga, from Mundaka;
3 Emilio de la Hoz, from Guetaria;
4 Cosme de Goitiz, from Lekeitio;
5 José de Zabaleta, from Ondárroa;

6 Ricardo de Azpirichaga, from Durango and
7 Joseba de Arriandiaga, from Elantxobe.
Donibane fishing boat: List was made up of 1 Pedro

Ruiz de Loizaga, captain, from Mundaka; 2 León
Aguirregómezcorta, from Motriko; 3 Mosé
Bedialauneta, from Ondárroa; 4 Pedro
de Bernedo, from Ondarroa; 5 Silvestre
de Isasti. from Getaria; 6 Francisco
Valdivielso; 7 Fernando
de Echegoyen, from Bedia, and 8 Ramón
Coscorrotza, from Lekeitio.-
They anchored in Puerto de La Guaira on September 8, 1939

1 51 Some Stories and personal experiences
1 51. 1 1939-1940 Exile on the ship - LA SALLE - .
Juan Victor Echevarria Querejeta.

Valentina Rodriguez de Echevarria. Garbine Echevarria Rodriguez.
Juan Victor Echevarria Querejeta.

He was born in Bilbao on May 16, 1909. He died in Caracas on November 26, 1989.
Valentina Rodriguez de Echevarria.

He was born in Bilbao on June 6, 1910. He died in Caracas on December 28, 1996.
Garbine Echevarria Rodriguez.

He was born in Saint Celoni, Catalonia on May 20, 1938.
Juan Victor, my father, worked in the Bilbao City Council until the Spanish Civil War broke
out. He was also a musician (trumpeter) of the Bilbao Municipal Band. In that city he met
my mother, Valentina, who was a seamstress, and worked in a workshop located
on Buenos Aires street, in that city.
When Bilbao was lost, they had to leave for Barcelona, where my father was a Carabineros
Delegate in battalion No. 10 of the Army of the Republic, until the war was lost, when
he had to flee to France, without mom and Garbiñe, my sister.
In Saint Celoni, very close to Barcelona, my mother was with her sister María
(married to Luciano Jaúregui) and my sister Garbiñe and my cousin Iñaki were
born there. They went to France crossing the Pyrenees on foot, along with many other
refugees. They were very well received by the inhabitants of a small town, who helped
them with food, lodging and great affection.
Later, my parents and sister met again in Paris.
There, the Republican Government in exile, through different entities, began to organize
the departure of refugees to America.
On December 1, 1939, they left the port of Bordeaux on the ship La Salle. They arrived in
Santo Domingo that same month and stayed for a short time. From there they left for
Venezuela, arriving in La Guaira and later in Caracas, on February 23, 1940.
On that trip, among many other exiles, several Basques came: José
Abásolo and his wife Virtu (both from Bilbao) Isabel and Feli Echevarría
(from Eibar, and daughters of Don Toribio and Claudia, who later also arrived
in Venezuela with their young daughter, Leti)). Isabel and Feli with their husbands
José Espín (from Murcia) and Bernardo Ferrán (Polish)
The latter fought

, as a volunteer in the International Brigades.
In this beautiful and beloved country they were very well received. They
arrived at the pension of a Cedeño family, I think in La Pastora, where they were
treated with great affection. So much so, that Mrs. Cedeño lent my mother
money to buy a sewing machine, with which she was able to earn her first
money by sewing, to order, for a factory.
In December 1940 I came into the world at the Concepción Palacios

Maternity Hospital, Caracas.
At that time we lived in various places in the El Conde Urbanization, where

many other exiled families were also located. Among them the Arnoriaga,
Espín, Ferrán, Elguezabal.
My father integrated quite well into this new country, where a good part of its
citizens felt great sympathy for the Spanish republicans. He made very good
friends, among others José Antonio Marturet, Pedro Juliac, Jesus González
Cabrera.
He worked as a stenographer in the sessions of the Municipal Council of the

Dto. Federal (1940-42), in the Commission appointed by the President of the
Republic Isaías Medina Angarita for the creation of the Caracas aqueduct
(1942-43).
Later (!945-48) he was secretary of the Minister of Public Works, Eng. Luis
Lander, during the presidency of Don Rómulo Gallegos, until the coup
d'état of Pérez Jiménez.
He then had to dedicate himself to selling insurance. By that time, he
already knew a lot of people and with his sympathy, good humor and good talk
he did very well in this new activity.
With the advent of democracy, he worked from 1963 to 1978 as Chief

Stenographer of the Chamber of Deputies, from where he retired at 69 years of
age.
Since his arrival in the country, he was closely linked to the Caracas
Basque Center. First from Balconcito to Truco and then when the new
headquarters were built in El Paraiso, where we were regulars. My
father playing mus, my mother chatting and playing cards and my sister and I
running around and enjoying whatever was presented to us.
From that time I remember several of my parents' friends, among others

Juanito Olazábal, José Mari Barrenechea, Perico Corostola,
Machain, Echechipía, Dr Bilbao and family, Javier and Mari Carmen
Yarnoz.
Over the years we continue to attend the Center with the whole family (parents,
daughters and granddaughters). On Sundays we went to the pool and then
went up to the dining room for lunch.
They always longed for their homeland, but they were also very happy in this country
that they made their own and where they formed a beautiful family.
Both my sister and I married Venezuelans (Pedro Mijares Savino and Octavio
Guardia Machado, respectively) and we gave them 4 granddaughters: Garbiñe,
Maite and Laura Mijares Echevarría and Carlota Guardia Echevarría.
Today they would have 10 great-grandchildren all over the world, in this
new diaspora.
Fortunately, after democracy was restored in Spain, they were able to return
almost every year, until they were no longer able to continue traveling.
Araceli Echevarria
----------------------------
1 51. 2 To A Farmhouse In Aizarnazabal
The exile of the Basque Nationalist Party was directed mainly to Venezuela. More than sixty-five
years have passed and it would not be bad at all to tell the hundreds of stories that were interwoven
in that tropical country and the reaction of defeated Basques forced to leave everything, staying
with the sky above and the earth below, to those who stole what they had except their illusion and
their youth.
They were victims of terrorism even though no one has acknowledged anything to them, let alone
told them a magic word: "sorry." Quite the opposite. Fraga who continues to boast of having been
a minister of a dictatorship and Aznar, Rato and Rajoy nomenclature of a regime, have not yet
condemned the civil war.
For this reason we are going to tell the story of a couple. One of the many who had to live that
odyssey not even knowing where Venezuela was when, just, they had just left their house.
Itziar, was the eldest of 5 siblings. His father (father) was Director of Banco Gipuzcoano de Zarautz.
It had been in Deba and in Zumaia. I was ascending. His mother took care of the house, the family,
and went to church. Devoted to the Virgen del Carmen, we can imagine her in masses, processions
and via crucis.
It was a Basque nationalist family. The older brother, Joseba, a PNV activist, one of those who
wrote and organized things. The rest, the classic: the batzoki, the Basque dances, the "Aberri
Eguna", the excursions.
One bad day the war broke out. It was July 18, 1936.
The military uprising broke out on July 18, 1936. In Gipuzkoa the battle of Irún was bloody. In
Donosti, the uprising at the Loyola Barracks could be warded off, but shortly after, the rebel troops
entered with blood and fire. Moors, requetés, Falangists, military. It was a false bloodthirsty crusade.
We had to put an end to red-separatism. They entered Zarautz on September 20. The Madrid
aristocracy used to spend their summers there, the same as in Donosti and Hondarribi. Zarautz
was not just any town. Over time, and in the midst of the Franco regime, the director of the La Salle
San José School in this town was transferred for teaching Basque at said school. It was Brother
Ignacio, Txotx", the brother of the former director of Banco Gipuzkoano, my aitona (grandfather)
Patxi.
Begoña was the youngest of the brothers. Iñaki, the fourth. He told them that the war had broken
out. The little girl asked: "what is that?" I would soon know. Iñaki collected compromising books and
papers and went to Motriko where he took a small boat and, like many others, went by sea to
Donibane Lohitzun (San Juan de Luz). The other brother, Joseba, a nationalist activist, before the
advance of the rebels, first of all, went to Itziar (Deba) and then to Bilbao.
When they saw things wrong, they decided to go to a farmhouse in Aizarnazabal. Itziar returned
with her father to Zarautz to pack her suitcase. The Basque authorities called him to Bilbao and
there he went with two guard cars.
They returned to the farmhouse. They saw how the rebel troops arrived. The women were scared.
The mother told them not to leave the house. They came against the nationalists and decided to
change their names so as not to sow suspicion. They had the three names of Basque virgins: Itziar,
Arantzazu, Begoña. Itziar was named Isabel. That's how far you had to go to save your skin. This
was serious.
The soldiers arrived. They bathed in the river. They wanted to have dinner. They prepared dinner for them.
One of them asked to pray the rosary. They were laden with medals and crosses. Itziar had her own rosary.
A requeté, he noticed him. He asked for it in exchange for a cross that he had made with two twigs.
His name was José Luis Larumbe and he was from Pamplona.
The next day they went to the field mass. Mass of exaltation of victory.
Someone came to warn them that their house was being ransacked. The requeté reflected: "I don't know
what happens but wherever we go we only bring destruction, hatred while we exercise revenge."
Larumbe got them a vehicle to return to Zarautz. With the father and the two brothers fled, the three women
had to appear before an arbitrary court that demanded why they had taken white clothes to the farmhouse.
They said it had been stolen.
"How are we going to steal it if it's ours? Don't you see the initials?"
They had left, for greater security, clothes and some things in the village, but the miseries of such a brutal
situation made the villagers denounce them and take everything.
Larumbe told them worried. "I have to leave you, but I get the impression that you are going to suffer a lot.
We have to get to Bilbao" -. And there he left the frightened women. Alone in the face of danger.
They were told that they were going to organize a campaign mass in Zarautz and that, since they lived in the
Plaza del Ayuntamiento, they had to hang the Spanish flag on the balcony.
In a hurry and running they bought fabric and made what was colloquially known as the "piper-poto". They
had only had the ikurriña at home, but the victors had outlawed it.
Zero Hair
Itziar's mother was arrested. Her crime was being the wife of a nationalist who had obeyed the Basque
Government as well as being the mother of a nationalist activist. They confined her in the Santa Clara
Convent, set up as a prison, along with nine other women. The little sister was taken to the Yeregi family's
house and she was at home with her sister Arantza who had been forced to wash, iron and clean, in the
house of the Falangists acting as interim.
At night they went up to the third floor to sleep at the house of Nicolás Ugarte, father of the painter Julián
Ugarte. Little Begoña was taken to the aforementioned Yeregi family house because she went to the public
schools that were close to her house since the other one, to which the girl attended, had been closed because
it belonged to nuns.
The sisters were going to bring food to their imprisoned mother who was in the convent, giving the
circumstance that she was left alone since the imprisoned nationalist women were gradually being released.
Itziar was forced to sew shirts for the rebels. Every time they entered a town, with a spirit of conquest, they
organized parties in the town square. They lived all this without news of their father and brothers and in total
defenselessness.
However, Itziar, my mother, did not think that the so-called liberators would be as merciless with them as in
the end they did and, for this reason, with her friends, Yeregi, Lide Arostegi, and Areizaga decided to leave.
Total, if something was going to happen to them, it would happen to them the same at home as on the street.
And they went to the main street.
He went to the hairdresser's and there they reproached him for being a nationalist, accusing him that his
father and brothers were away. That didn't look good.
Passing in front of a bar, where the Falangists were, they told her that they were looking for her.
They ordered him to go up to the first floor. "Sit there". They did an interrogation. "Where is your
father? Where are your brothers? What did you say at the hairdresser's?
One of them told two Falangists: "comply with the order."
They took the scissors and cut her hair to zero. Itziar was crying uncontrollably. It was September
29, 1936. Saint Michael's Day.
"If you keep crying," they told him, "we'll give you castor oil."
Seeing himself in such a state, with his hair on the ground, and with his velvet jacket full of his
abundant hair, he asked someone to accompany him home. One did but didn't make it, despite
being close to where I lived, a parallel street in the back.
When he got home, his sister Arantza, seeing that barbarity, gave him a nervous breakdown,
although it was worse when they visited them again to tell them that they wanted to take him to the
Campaign Mass. Like a pet.
They called the doctor Arozena. He gave her a sedative, which had no effect, and recommended
that she go to bed and not get up. They went to a friar, Father Garmendia. This achieved that she
was not humiliated again with such an aberration made in the name of religion.
But youth can do everything. With a beret on and overcoming that humiliation it occurred to them to
look for a wig. They didn't get one. The nuns had finished them off when they had fled without their
headdresses.
But two young girls couldn't be home alone. A cousin of her father and the Ugarte family, the one
who lived upstairs and whose grandson is now a great painter, told them to sleep at her house while
little Begoña stayed with the Yeregi family. Within the tragedy they were living they were not alone,
although the panorama had changed, in the blink of an eye, like from night to day.
However, the sieges began.

One bad day they knocked on the door. They lived in a beautiful house that overlooked the main
square. He was a Civil Guard of a certain age. Itziar was wearing a beret to cover her shaved head.
The Civil Guard asked him to come in because he had to ask him some things. Inside he said: "They
tell me you are the prettiest in town and I want to see how your head has turned out. Take off your
beret."
Itziar said no. The Civil Guard went towards her. They began to circle around the table. That's when
his sister Arantza arrived. The Civil Guard left.
The next day others came. They liked an ashtray. They took him. They saw the complete collection
of Jules Verne. They said they were dangerous books. They took them away.
Another day they called him to the Barracks. A grumpy guy told her that he knew her mother was
sick and in poor condition at the convent. They knew that they brought food from home, but that
could be arranged. "It is in your hands that your mother returns home. Come tonight to have dinner
with me a good plate of eels from Aguinaga" said that disgusting guy.
"At that price, no," he replied. And he left.

He turned to the Arozena family. They were right-wing people. "Before, in the Republic, we have
suffered. Now it's your turn" they answered.
in pamplona
Living for nine months in such precarious circumstances, one day the colonel called them at
barracks to tell them that they had been expelled from their own town. Just because. It was the law of
strength of the victors in a war. "You are dispatched, choose where you are going. And besides, you are
going to pay for your expulsion trip."
They answered that they could go to Etxarri Aranaz, since a relative lived there.
"That is what you would like. Etxarri Aranaz is next to the border and what you are looking for is to escape.
No way," replied that despot.
"And to Pamplona?". "There yes, it is a national zone" -he replied.
With that desolation they went to talk to Ángel Azkue. In Zarautz, as in all towns, there was envy and, as a
result of it, complaints. This Azkue wanted to be the Director of the Bank, having stayed as a cashier. In all
that trance he behaved badly. Like a scoundrel.
Given that the large apartment belonged to the bank, they told him that they would leave his things. Azkue
agreed to let them occupy a room with a dressing room. And they spent the night with the help of a
temporary girl and the Ugarte family collecting the furniture from a house that had belonged to them. A
family made up of seven people. It had been so little time. It seemed a lie.
Once this work was done, they were notified at ten in the morning that they would be expelled to Pamplona.
Since the mother was still incarcerated, the sisters told them that they would not leave Zarautz without their
mother. Arantza went to see Echeverría, who had taken his father's position at the bank. This one who had
already helped them on other occasions intervened to achieve the freedom of the mother who was taken
from the convent of Santa Clara. It arrived destroyed. They had taken her out of captivity for her direct
expulsion from the train station. As can be seen, those of the Holy Crusade acted with great charity.
Immediately afterwards, they ransacked the flat. They took everything. The only thing that was saved was
the piano that Arantza had been asked for by Father Garmendia, who had been her music teacher. Later it
was returned to them to be sold.
With the Ugarte family and some cousins, the trip already paid for and two Falangists in custody, they went
to the station. This is how they left Zarautz in an old steamer from a commuter train known as the Plazaola.
From Lasarte, to arrive at night in the gray and subdued Pamplona.
Thanks to Nicolás Ugarte who gave them a letter of introduction to a cousin of his who lived in Pamplona
on Calle San Antón, in the old part of Iruña, and whose name was Luis Sarasua. He worked in a bar called
"El Espejo", where you could eat good banderillas. So they were able to take the first steps.
That arrival in Pamplona at night must have been dramatic, without knowing anyone, persecuted, with little
money, accompanied by secret police and after having admonished the mother because she had spoken
Basque to her daughter Arantza: "please speak in Christian "said that henchman.
In Iruña they were received with surprise by Don Luis and Doña María Sarasua. Four women, at night and
in that manner. Tired from the trip, with their mother, after nine months in captivity.
Itziar with a scarf on her head, Sister Arantza with a grim face because of her suffering, and the little girl
talking like a parrot in bad Spanish and saying that they had been expelled for being nationalists. They,
from Navarra, did not understand it, but they put them up in their house saying: "tomorrow, God will say".
They spent a few days in this house, but since they did not have money for a pension, it cost 14.50 pesetas.
per person, the mother rented a room with the right to a kitchen on Mercaderes street.
In Pamplona José Luis Larumbe, the good requeté, whom they had met in Aizarnazabal,
he had achieved this solution with two beds and a cot. It had a terrace from which you could see
the fort of San Cristóbal, a sinister prison for republicans and nationalists.
With time conditions improved. They established a relationship with the battered clandestine
nationalist world, which with due discretion, in a situation of war and iron dictatorship, despite
everything, helped them. One of these was the Cunchillos family.
As there were even pichis (Guards) on the floor, they couldn't speak Basque. Little Begoña was
put in the public schools where one of the teachers took an interest in the baby, when she told
her her story and the family situation in which they lived.
Petra Menaya was one of the nationalist "emakumes" who spoke up. From then on they lacked
nothing. Food baskets and assistance. A ray of good sunshine that night. Little Begoña used to
go with the Cunchillos family to their house and on Sundays she spent the day with them going
from town to town, walking and coming home with vegetables, things from the drugstore, money
and, above all, support.
In the pension there were two assault guards who had been in the days of the Republic.
There were also diverse and pleasant people, which allowed them to start sewing in those harsh
circumstances and thus survive with dignity the nightmare they were living as if they, a mother
and three daughters, were guilty of something. Itziar sewed but also got sick. A victim of
rheumatism, he had been unable to move. That was not an obstacle one day when the alarm
sounded before the possible bombardment of the city by the republican aviation. He did not know
how, the fact is that he went down the stairs from a fifth floor in a breath, forgetting all the evils.
To get them up again, one of the assault guards had to carry him up to the sixth floor. Placed in
the hands of the doctor Ángel Irigaray, he prescribed morphine that he had to interrupt to avoid
addiction.
One of those days and while they rushed down the stairs, her sister Arantza stayed on the terrace
to watch the show while the neighbors ran over each other. In that a man appeared with a letter.
They were his father's letters demanding that they go "to the other side." The smuggler arrived
shortly after the death of General Mola. The funeral that they had seen and that had been quite a
convulsion in the Pamplona of the crusade, had impressed them.
That note, taken with all the reservations of the case, caused them a discussion. The mother
wanted to venture out, but Itziar did not. That could go wrong and make things worse, and also,
in Pamplona they were gradually rebuilding their lives, they went out with Larumbe, the city was
quiet, although with Carlist and therefore Francoist dominance, since the requeté had ended up
in the war with any dissidence to blood and fire. The thing, then, was not easy.
However the family was divided. The father in Barcelona would end up leaving this city, and they
knew nothing about his brothers. "They will be at war", with what this meant.
The Pass Through Monte
The sculptor Oteiza used to say that in Basque society there are two representative characters.
One is the Municipal Secretary, the man who makes the country. The other is the smuggler, the
one who presents it abroad.
Well, in those circumstances, with that border and in the middle of the world war, the smugglers
worked at their best. The same thing happened to an English aviator, that tobacco, although the
usual thing was not a mother with three daughters. To do this, the father, from San Juan de Luz,
had spoken with the Basque Government and with the border crossing network, and had made
arrangements for them to pass to his family. And the effort did not come free. For each one he
had to pay 8,000 ptas of the time. A fortune.
The fact is that Itziar spoke with José Luis Larumbe. He asked for help to get out of Pamplona. The
controls worked and you couldn't do that if you didn't have a pass.
Larumbe got it.
This is how they arrived in Elizondo praying to all the saints and on a movie break. By car and lined with
all the clothes they had since they could not carry any suitcase. They spent the night there. It was an inn
owned by a very nice nationalist who clandestinely listened to the radio at night. They received them
with great affection. Elizondo's priest went to them that night to pray the rosary with them. The next
morning they went out with Manuel. They brought a loaf and a potato omelette so they could pass the
controls and tell the civil guards that they were going to a farmhouse to spend the day with the family.
Itziar's mother was afraid. What was she painting there, beginning that uncertain adventure that could
also end fatally, in that dark night, of noises and uncertainties!
She got very nervous.

They left at dawn. The driver had a boy dressed in a fancy dress next to him. Thus they reached Urdax
and a border lined with guards, but without reaching them, he turned left onto a local road saying that
they were going on an excursion. A little further on, a young woman appeared. The driver told them:
"Follow her quietly and quickly because you have to take advantage of the fact that the Civil Guard is
eating to cross the border."
They walked for two hours, through the mountains, with all their clothes on and on a hot day. It was the
day of San Antonio, June 13, 1937. Suddenly, the guide told them: "Run, the Civil Guard is there." They
did it. There was a stream. The mother fell. they followed. He hurt his arm. But they continued in those
conditions and with their shoes full of water, but armed with courage because they were told that it would
not be long. That's when a boy appeared. "Follow me." It was a chain.
Itziar, a lady from the city, was not up for those trots. "I can't take it anymore. I'm not going on. This is
crazy. They're going to catch us." Please continue, it's almost there. If they catch us we will have a very
bad time. Do not do this".
Drawing strength from weakness, they continued exhausted and scared. Suddenly a 14-year-old boy
appeared. They went up a field. The boy asked them if they were afraid of the French, "because you
are already in France." The mother was overjoyed.
The boy took them to a farmhouse near Sara. The husband and father of the four women was not there.
He had been there on the appointed day, but his women arrived three days late.
By car, they arrived in Saint Jean de Luz. His mother had a brother, Ramón, who had a house full of
refugees. They did not swim in abundance, but they received them quite a welcome.
The father had a sister living on a farm, very close to Dax, in the Landes where there was everything,
cows, pigs, vegetables. At least they had plenty of food. The father was walking the pig they called
Braulio. From Director of a Bank to walking a pig. Sister Arantza, restless, went to work at a hotel. But it
wasn't a plan either.
The fact is that the Basque Government in exile attended to the thousands of refugees, paying them
five francs. It was an enormous task and, above all, uncertain because it was a government without
jurisdiction and without territory, but despite this, it was a responsible government that took care of its
own. That is why they left Bordeaux and settled in Saint Jean de Luz in a small apartment on rue
Tourasse. However, the father was not satisfied with doing nothing and went to Tarbes, with a group, to
work.
He specifically in the Commissary, with which he did not lack food, although under extreme cold in the
middle of the Pyrenees. Following this family accommodation in those circumstances, his sister Arantza
went to Ghetary to work in a hotel and from there to the consulate in the house of the
Sainz de Vicuña family as Miss Coki's maid. She, a teacher in Deva, a restless woman, had to get
ahead no matter what. The little brother Iñaki went to Alger taking wine and driving some tanker
trucks full of wine, but, what would not be his bad luck, that he went to Spanish territory, thinking
of serving in the military, and they took him to a concentration camp in Algeciras .
Little Begoña with her cousins Antoni and Ramuntxo were going to wait on the pier for her uncle
Ramón to return from the sea so that, with a basket of sardines, they would distribute it among
those refugees in the worst condition, since the financial distribution of the Basque Government
Delegation did not it came to everyone.
One day a priest from Motriko arrived, D. José Antonio Usobiaga. He had been in Belgium and
came with the mission of taking the children of the refugees to that country, since Belgian and
Flemish Catholics were willing to welcome the Basque children.
For this reason they took her with three other girls, sisters of the priest. In Paris they changed
trains to Brussels where they stayed until the next day in a convent school until they came to pick
them up. Little Begoña had the good fortune to fall in favor with Hermán Frateur, canon of the
Mechelen cathedral, as well as secretary of Cardinal Van Roey's "L'Oeuvre des Enfants Basques",
who took him to a town near Mechelen .
The youngster spoke broken French, Spanish, and knew Basque but oncle Hermán was a Flemish
and he took him to a town with a large family of Flemings. They said that the girl was very thin and
as a mission of that Flemish peasant family their goal was to make her gain weight. The baby was
his pride and they took him everywhere to encourage people to welcome Basque children. In this
way she spent some time with that wonderful family going to school and riding a bicycle, which
everyone did, until one day when Hermán Frateur took her home to Manilas to go to a good school.
Begoña could not live better until a new tragedy was suspected. Hitler invaded Poland and World
War II began. The canon took the girl and took her to Donibane Lohitzun (San Juan de Luz) loaded
with new clothes and gifts, committing to pay for her paying school and the uniform, a school that
worked next to the one she had previously gone to for free. It is noteworthy that when he returned
from Belgium he only spoke Flemish.
Thus, the little girl, a Catholic organization took her to Belgium. In times of war, Basque children
had left by ship from besieged Bilbao to England, Russia and Belgium. But it was not only on that
occasion. The help also continued, Bilbao fallen.
Itziar my mother remembers with emotion when she saw her little sister leaving on the train towards
the unknown. And it is that everything had been separations, bitterness and difficulties, although in
that case it was thought that it was the best for the girl.
Itziar and her mother began to sew. It was the only thing that could be done. In this way they
returned to rebuild their lives.
By chance they found out what his father was working at then after the commissary.
Together with other nationalist leaders, directors, businessmen and others: they cleaned the coal
that fell on the train tracks. They weren't old enough for anything else, there was no work in France,
the world war was incubating, and you had to work on what came out. When they found out, they
went looking for him and brought him home.
But time passed and that seemed to have no way out. They had been in a precarious situation for
three years, with a brother on the Republican front in Lleida, another almost disappeared, the little
girl in Belgium, another in a consulate and mother and daughter sewing until Itziar told her
parents that you had to try to return. "We are not going to be worse," he told them.
The return home
It was the year 40. France was about to fall. They had been going around for three years and Itziar went to
the Spanish consulate to fix the papers. He did it. Once achieved, he wrote to José Luis Larumbe telling him
that he would cross the border on that day. And he did. A confusion caused that no one was there. What a
ballot. With them, the police took her to a concentration camp they had in Fuenterrabia.
In those dramatic circumstances he managed to be allowed to make a phone call. It had occurred to the
German vice-consul, Ernesto Pieloff, whom his father knew a lot about Zarautz since he had a factory and
was a very nice person.
He told her who he was and where he was. "Don't worry. I'm going right now" answered Pieloff.
But the Mendiola and Larumbe also arrived. Pieloff wanted to take him and attend to him but he preferred to
go with the Mendiolas. With Larumbe, who lived in Pamplona, he arranged to see each other on Sunday.
New era, new landscape.
His father had received an astronomical fine of one hundred and fifty thousand pesetas. of the time. To his
brother, three hundred thousand. That was priceless. However, he rented a house on Calle Guetaria in San
Sebastián. He remembered the Zarautz furniture. He went to court. They gave him permission to pick them
up, but they had been taken out of the house and taken to the place where, when the villagers came from the
hamlets with vegetables, they put their donkeys there. It was a block.
Got something. An art-deco style room, some tables, some chairs, but mattresses, cabinets, etc. were
missing. "Perhaps they will be in San Pelayo" they told him. There it was. He did not find them. "Take these"
they told him. "No. They're not mine."
People looked at her like a weirdo. He was the tough Zarautz of the post-war period. The Zarautz frightened
by the regime. And there appeared the daughter of the Bank Director, with hair and determined to rebuild her
life. He rented a truck for the furniture. She did it on the train. In this way he was able to organize the house.
After some time, they managed to prevent the father from paying the fine in full, but the Banco Gipuzkoano
did not admit him. He was a nationalist and it was dangerous to accept a person who was retaliated against.
Banco Gipuzkoano did not live up to it. This was the moment that was lived. So that now they talk to us about
reprisals.
However, Francisco Olabeaga, my grandfather, who was an optimistic and cheerful man, a Gaztelupe partner
from Campanario street in San Sebastián, was able to rebuild his life by working. It had been pretty bad. He
had been home without work for quite some time, until he was placed in Hernani at the Montes leather factory
and on behalf of various companies.
They could not with him or with his joy.
And what did the rest of the family do?
Iñaki, the brother, was released, but sick, in Algeciras. It was placed in Añorga, in Rezóla cements. Joseba
stayed in Bordeaux. Arantza was placed in Hernani. The mother, who had an apartment in Motriko that she
had inherited, had rented another apartment on Pedro Egaña street, until an aunt appeared and gave them
the apartment she had on Guetaria street, beautiful and central, which allowed her to rent beds to the hotels
that were around a Donostia that after the war was once again a summer resort. Finally, little Begoña went to
the French school.
And what was Itziar doing?

She was Miss Olabeaga. She sewed with her mother, yes, but she had her vacations, her first glass stockings, and her
boyfriends, after having gone out with José Luis Larumbe who one fine day went to Loyola for Spiritual Exercises and
after them, they left him. They never saw each other again. But that's not why he was left without suitors. She got a
requeté in Ondarroa, a Bilbao, and some others, but she preferred to go out on Sundays with her parents. He had his
explanation. Something had happened on July 31, 1939.
The Day of San Ignacio The

day of San Ignacio is important for the nationalists. It is a kind of "Aberri Eguna". That day, in 1895, the PNV had been
founded, and that day, in 1939, was a day of partying and celebration.
That is why it was not surprising that in pilgrimages and excursions, those refugees tried to celebrate it despite the
circumstances they were experiencing. Expelled from their homes, penniless, but hoping that this nightmare would end.
Itziar went with her friends to Ghetary. I was with Maritxu Okiñena when a very nice boy from Bilbao appeared who told
them that his sisters had not prepared food for him and asked them to invite him. So they did. They had a good day.
Shortly after Itziar saw him again. He knew everything about her. Where he was from. Who was his family.
Age. It turns out that the young man was called José Luis and worked at Villa Endara, in Anglet, which was the
headquarters of the PNV and had read Itziar's file. His family lived between San Juan de Luz and Cambó and his father,
a retired merchant marine captain, gathered chestnuts and distributed them to the refugees. That young man looked
good.
Heading To Venezuela
He had a French girlfriend he was leaving and that's why they started dating. But Europe roared, Nazism was preparing
war and the Basques who left its jurisdiction were interned in the Campo de Gurs. Despite this, José Luis wanted to say
goodbye, but he did not find anyone, except for a storm on the Bayonne highway and he wrote her letters, but she was
already in Donosti. In the end, they established an epistolary relationship that lasted until 1944.
That was not easy. The mail took forever. The letters were lost. The Atlantic was at war. The young Basques began to
despair. Some brides dared to travel and Itziar, like so many young women of that time in those circumstances, did not
have all of them with her. The wait was so desperate that he turned over a painting of San José in protest. He broke off
that epistolary courtship. One day a telegram arrived from the United States of Venezuela: "With the permission of our
parents, prepare a trip to come. José Luis."
The ticket would be paid for by his family in Bilbao and he had to go there to process it.
This was going to be an adventure again. His parents encouraged him, although the family that had managed to rebuild
was breaking up. He went to his confessor. It was the time. "Don't hesitate," he told her.
The mother of José Luis was missing. He had been in Fitero, taking the waters, and was passing through San Sebastián,
where he had gone to visit some relatives, the Irustas. received him. She was an elegant lady, with a bandage on her
neck. She looked him up and down. "How dare you go to an unknown country with what is said about men?" "It's that I'm
going to marry your son José Luis," he replied. - His countenance changed. "All my children are very good, but José Luis
is the best," he replied. That's how he gave it the go-ahead. In a month they prepared the trip. Suits, harness, sheets,
suitcases. All. And the day came. His brother Iñaki accompanied him to the house of the José Luis family. There they all
said goodbye to him, and went to Santurce. The "Cape of Good Hope" left that port. Her future sisters-in-law introduced
her to the captain and first mate.
They were known Basques. His brother Iñaki got on the boat. He dined with her and secretly put
down the fantastic white bread that was served in first class. It was the post-war era and rationing
and that was unusual. The captain told him: "The departure from Santurce is sad, but beautiful. Go
on deck." So he did. So it was. The crossing was calm despite the World War and the fact that a
section of the navigation was patrolled. They were showing movies, the food was good, and the ship
was full of people, priests and nuns, and all kinds of people.
Every night there was a dance and every night they tried to ask her to dance but she took care of her
absence. Upon arriving in Trinidad, the captain told him: "today you dance with me, I am a friend of
the family." And danced. In Trinidad, an English colony, the ship had to refuel and undergo an
inspection. Concha Piquer, her daughter and her Company were traveling on the ship, bound for Argentina.
The police checked everything, removing even the sink from the cabin. They believed that one of the
artists, Amelia Isaura, was a spy. In fact, at the table that he had to share during the journey were
two Spanish secret policemen. The ship arrived in Venezuela. It was not going to dock in the port of
La Guaira, but in Puerto Cabello, so called because due to the calm of its waters, ships could be tied
with a hair. Always the hair. It had also been the headquarters of the Real Compañía Gipuzkoana de
Caracas. And there, in its port, there was a Basque-style mansion. The ship was getting closer. The
entire passage knew that her boyfriend was waiting for her there. one told him. "If it's not here, I'll
take you to Uruguay." The captain let him go to the bridge. He lent her the binoculars. I was so
nervous that I couldn't see anything. One of the policemen told him that he had them backwards. He
put them right and there he saw José Luis, with a beautiful bouquet of flowers in his hand, his tropical
hat and his best clothes. The Bilbao family, as always, sent them photos with a hat, they asked him
if he had it screwed on. They had been five years without
see.
As in a movie and after going up the health and the police, he went down the scale. He was wearing
a hat. He was wearing a blue and white patterned suit. On the deck the entire passage awaited the
reception. José Luis was tired of waiting. And on top of that it was cordoned off. He couldn't take it
anymore, he jumped over the fence, and handed her the bouquet of flowers with a loud kiss.
Everyone on deck applauded, and shouted Long live the Bride and Groom! José Luis ordered the
chichero to get on the boat. He invited. Chicha is a rice drink. And in the tropics it is an excellent
refreshment.
Cumana
Cumana is the capital of the Sucre state in eastern Venezuela. It is called like this because there was
an Indian settlement there called the "cumanagotos". When Christopher Columbus arrived, he
founded the city and named it Nueva Cádiz and, historically, it is the first town founded by the Spanish
on the mainland. The Manzanares River crosses the city where Antonio José de Sucre, the great
Marshal of Ayacucho, was born, one of Simón Bolívar's trusted men and the one destined to succeed
him.
Also the poet and politician Andrés Eloy Blanco, the one with the poem dedicated to the little black
angels that Machín made fashionable.
The fact is that this young couple arrived in this city because José Luis was a partner and manager
of a construction company. If someone visits that tropical city today and sees a Basque farmhouse,
it will be one of the many buildings of those exiles who, among other varied activities, dedicated
themselves to construction with considerable success. And there I was born, five meters from the
Caribbean Sea, in a large house with airy columned corridors surrounded by palm and coconut trees.
The area was called Caigüire and the doctor, who was a good midwife but somewhat drunk, spent
the night in a hammock drinking rum.
Like in a Bogart movie. As soon as she was born, my aita sent all her relatives a
telegram with this message: "a gudari has been born". The man was very aware of what he had
experienced ten years before. As a child, like almost all children, I must have been, like my
father, a white and blond child that my mother took out in the sun until an Indian woman who
passed by said to her: "Misia, Isidra, put the child in home, otherwise they will give you the evil
eye". I don't know if they threw it at me but they called my mother "misia Isidra" because Iciar
didn't ring a bell and "misia" was a treatment given to foreigners. The men were "musiús",
deformation of "monsieur", and the women, "misias". Something like Mrs. I was then the son of
"misia Isidra". I was named Iñaki after my mother's brother who had just died as a result of a
fever acquired in Algeciras in the work camps and because my parents had met on Saint
Ignatius's day in Saint Jean de Luz. Pure militancy. In Cumaná the four brothers, Maitena, Jon
and Koldo, were born and there we went to kindergarten and kindergarten with our dungarees
uniforms.
Going to the beach, to the Colegio de los Padres Paules where the Basques played by hand on
the pediment, very intense experiences with the small exiled Basque community, among which
were relatives of Joseba Egibar, to see how the Cumaná-Puerto La Cruz highway progressed in
the days when my father was the Administrator of the State Public Works, observing the letters
that my aita wrote to the girlfriends of some Basque Basques who did not know how to do it in
Spanish so that they would go to live in Cumaná, social work in the diocese, visit a crocodile that
the Bishop had in the patio of his house, play diabolo, listen to my mother and her sister speak
in Basque and my father attentive so that I could learn it in that tropic of incandescent sun and
receive at home how much Basque passed by there.
All of this told me that I was a strange Venezuelan because those exiles also longed to return to
a land that was theirs and from which they had been expelled in a bad way. Until one day my
father made the decision: "or Basques, or Venezuelans." And he decided that we should be
Basques and in 1955 on the "Marqués de Comillas" of the Compañía Trasatlántica Española he
set us on a course for Santurce. He could not accompany us because they had told him that he
had a file with a search warrant: "dangerous separatist, pursue him abroad." Almost nothing.
The Marqués de Comillas was the pride of the Spanish Transatlantic Line and since my mother
came loaded with trunks, children and a girl from Astigarraga that my parents had brought so
that she could speak Basque to us, it was best to travel quietly by boat making stops. It was the
way "crossed the pond" in those years although I had done it by plane in the fifties on a trip that
had lasted twenty-four hours. I had crushed my finger with the garage door and the first cure at
the Cumaná Hospital had not been very happy.
But that peace of mind was what my mother thought. He did not know what to expect. My father,
who liked photography, came from one of his trips to the United States with a film camera and a
film projector. In those days there was no television, no videos and what was new was filming in
16 mm. family movies. Along with this, he would play and rerun movies from "Woody Bird" to
"Tom and Jerry", "Donald Duck", "Abbot and Costello" which was our delight because it brought
a magical world home, in such a way that with We shipped that projector and those films in La
Guaira so that in Euzkadi they could see that new and fantastic world.
Given that the voyage was long and there were lots of kids everywhere, my mother came up
with the happy idea of proposing to the bosun the possibility of seeing those movies in the main
lounge of the ship. The officer thought that was a good idea.
They looked for the device and one afternoon they began to project those rolls to reassure the
kids, although those funny images called many adults who were there.
They were, among them the Count of Vallellano who had been mayor of Madrid and was the Minister of Public
Works on an official trip. But what would not be our surprise when among those films one slipped in, filmed by
my aita (father) in which the inauguration of the Basque Center of Puerto La Cruz appeared with the Lehendakari
Agirre, the ikurriña, the txistu and the tamboril.
Suddenly a loud noise was heard: "Out, Out, Out" and the projection ended there. Shortly after, the captain
called my mother. "You don't know what you've done? Disrespecting the minister in that way. But who do you
think you are? You don't know what awaits you, because this can't stay like this. You have to purge this crime".
With the usual scare, my mother told him to throw the film into the sea if that was the crime and Santas Pascuas
since she had only wanted to entertain the kids. "No, no. You have to pay for what you've done" the imbecile
replied. The fact is that when the minister arrived in A Coruña he was received with all the military honors of his
rank, although what I remember is that they bought me a trench coat with lapels that in those years were called
trench coats. I also remember the arrival in Santander and especially the arrival in Santurce with relatives
everywhere and the police going up the ramp and requesting the presence of my mistress (mother). - "You are
under arrest" they told her. With great difficulty and alluding to the fact that the children did not know anyone, that
she was a woman and that there had been no intention of offending the minister, they did not arrest her, but they
did detain her, preventing her from leaving San Sebastián and taking her passport. It was at that moment that I
became aware that I was going to a place where something was happening and that something was not good.
So that was a glorious entrance for a boy who watched what was happening without really understanding what
his mother's crime had been. After a year, my mother found out that the Count of Vallellano drank his hot springs
at the Cestona Spa. And neither short nor lazy, there he presented himself.
In the distance he saw the aforementioned count with his friends and glasses full of hot springs in the garden.
They asked him to wait. Did. And there came the famous count. "I don't know if you remember me but I am that
lady who lent some movies for the kids to see and an ikurriña appeared. They have taken my passport, I have
Venezuelan nationality and I need that documentation to be able to travel. Would you be so kind as to help me?.
The count remembered the event, but perhaps impressed by the integrity of that woman, he downplayed the
incident, something the captain had not done, who perhaps, to give the minister a kick, had organized such an
outrage. "Go to the police tomorrow and they will return it to you," the minister told him. So it was. They returned
his passport and all the films except the body of the great crime: that of the ikurriña.
Iñaki Anasagasti
----------------------
1 51. 3 Arozena Gomendio Andoni
(Lasarte, 1907 – Caracas, 1989)
Andoni Arozena was one of those thousands of Basques risked by the tragedy of 1936, who had to start their
lives over again —and those of their families, of course— in distant and unknown countries. He was one of those
Basques from the diaspora. Of those who will no longer return to the father's house.
Andoni was, throughout his prolific existence, a true apostle of the Basque language. From the time I met him, in
the early 1940s until his recent death, his life has been entirely devoted to cultivating, teaching, exalting, and
expanding our language.
Cases of these there have been, naturally. But here, in Euzkadi, where there were more means, more reasons
and more possibilities to work and carry out an effective project. Does
Fifty years old, not well arrived in Caracas, just installed as they say and with all the problems
involved in that first phase of immigrant settlement —which are not few or slight, by the way—
our man was already present in that old place in Balconcito a Truco, initiating adults and children
in the first rudiments of our national language. And it has continued like this for fifty years, for
half a century!, teaching Basque to many Erdaldun compatriots, in a land separated from the
mainland headquarters by an entire ocean and where the rhythm of life was extraordinarily
urgent and pressing.
And so it has continued until the end.
Andoni was also an excellent writer. In the Basque language, naturally. He signed "A-Bi" and
became known at a very young age, at the age of sixteen, collaborating in the magazine Argia.
Later, between 1930 and 1933, he published various works, including the monologue Txilibitxu,
the poem Lorea ta neskatilla, Andregaia nai ta..., Urteurrena, and in 1934, his work Lujan won
an important prize on the Day of the Basque Theatre. A very short time later, on the eve of our
war, he was awarded another prize for his dialogue entitled Xanko ta Pasko. A good number of
his poems also appeared in different Basque publications, such as Euskal Esnaola, Euzko
Gogoa, Egan, etc. And it goes without saying that he collaborated in several Basque exile
magazines. He did not stop, then, working in one way or another in favor of Basque, to the point
that it can be said of him that he died "with his boots on", since, practically until the last minute,
he also covered the Basque part of various Basque radio programs on Venezuelan broadcasts.
A journalist and writer interested above all in the world of theater, Andoni Arozena's career was
radically interrupted by the outbreak of the civil war. Born in Lasarte, on May 30, 1907, his
interest in drawing soon stood out, which led him to study first in Donostia and, later, in Paris.
At the same time, he felt attracted to the world of letters: in 1923 his collaborations began in the
recently published magazine Argia. Soon he also began to write in Euskal Esnalea, Euzkadi, El
Día... But the theater was the activity that particularly attracted the writer, collaborating in the
magazine Antzerti (1932-1936) where he published several plays: Andregaia nai ta... (Desiring
a woman and...) in 1933, Balujan in 1935, Mox, Miss, Xapi also in 1935, Urteurrena (The
Anniversary) in 1933 -a monologue with which he won the first Antzerti prize-, Xanko ta Paxko
(Xanko and Paxko) in January 1936.
Like many other intellectuals, Andoni Arozena considered that theater was the best way to reach
a population that had difficulties accessing literature written in Basque. When, after the
dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, the PNV was reorganized, Andoni Arozena is a prominent
member of it, participating in the creation of the Batzoki (headquarters of the PNV) in Lasarte,
as treasurer. Around 1935 he stood out in the work to segregate the Lasarte-Oria City Council,
divided into three different municipalities. When the civil war began, Andoni Arozena actively
collaborated with the Basque-language newspaper Eguna (El Día). Faced with the Francoist
advance, he moved to San Juan de Luz (Lapurdi) where he collaborated in teaching refugee
boys and girls there as a Basque language teacher while collaborating at Euzko Deya in Paris.
After the defeat of the democratic forces, Andoni Arozena went into exile in Caracas (Venezuela)
where he worked as a draftsman for an advertising agency while participating in the development
of the Euskal Etxea (Basque House) in that city. in bliss
The entity collaborated for many years with Martín de Ugalde in teaching Euskara classes,
preparing abundant materials for this purpose. In exile he continued to write numerous drawings,
articles and works in the exile press: Euzkadi, Azkatuta, Euzko Gogoa, Irrintzi, Euzko Gaztedi.
Also in Caracas, together with Miguel Pelay Orozco, Iñaki de Urreiztieta, Yon Oñatibia, José
Estornés, Bitor Elguezabal, among others, he promoted a cultural group called Ekin. In 1980 he
returned to Lasarte although he returned to Caracas where he died in 1989.
His journalistic and literary work has not been compiled; However, in recent years there has
been some recognition of his theatrical work, recovered in the reissue of the Antzerti magazine,
but, in general, it can be said that Andoni Arozena is one of the great forgotten people of our
exile.
Creation
ÿ ÿAndregaia Nai Taÿ, Antzerti, nº19, 1933, collected in Gereñu, Idoia: Antzerti. 75
Urteondoren, Tolosa: Gipuzkoa City Council and Provincial Council, 2007, pp.429-433.
ÿ ÿUrteurrenaÿ, Antzerti, nº23-24, 1933, collected in Gereñu, Idoia: Antzerti. 75 urteondoren,

Tolosa: Gipuzkoa City Council and Provincial Council, 2007, pp.509-515.
ÿ ÿBalujanÿ, Antzerti, nº37, 1935, collected in Gereñu, Idoia: Antzerti. 75 urte ondoren,
Tolosa: Gipuzkoa City Council and Provincial Council, 2007, pp.845-850.
ÿ ÿMox, Miss, Xapiÿ, Antzerti, nº37, 1935, collected in Gereñu, Idoia: Antzerti. 75
urteondoren, Tolosa: Gipuzkoa City Council and Provincial Council, 2007, pp.835-843.
ÿ ÿXanko ta Paxkoÿ, Antzerti, nº49, 1936, collected in Gereñu, Idoia: Antzerti. 75

urteondoren, Tolosa: Gipuzkoa City Council and Provincial Council, 2007, pp.1127-1135.
ÿ ÿAterrene-ri agurÿ, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº187, 26-XI-1939, p.3.
ÿ “Xelataka”, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº190, 17-XII-1939, p.3.
ÿ “Gabon”, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº191, 24-XII-1939, p.3.
ÿ ÿUrteberriÿ, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº192, 31-XII-1939, p.3.
ÿ “Xelataka”, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº193, 10-I-1940, p.1.
ÿ “Xelataka”, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº196, 10-II-1940, p.8.
ÿ “Xelataka”, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº198, 29-II-1940, p.1.

ÿ “Xelataka”, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº199, 10-III-1940, p.1.
ÿ ÿGure arteanÿ, Euzko Enda, nº14, April 1940.
ÿ ÿAberri egunaÿ, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº200, 20-III-1940, p.1.
ÿ “Xelataka”, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº201, 30-III-1940, p.1.
ÿ “Xelataka”, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº203, 20-IV-1940, p.1.
ÿ “Xelataka”, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº204, 30-IV-1940, p.1.
ÿ “Xelataka”, Euzko Deya. La Voix des Basques, nº205, 10-V-1940, p.1.
ÿ ÿXelatakaÿ, Euzko Gogoa, I, nº7-8, December 1949, p.22.
ÿ ÿAralarko artzaiaÿ, Euzko Gogoa, VIII, July-August 1957, pp.53-57.
ÿ ÿConfusionÿ, Azkatuta, nº1, September 1949, pp.10-11.
ÿ ÿ…justiceÿ, Azkatuta, nº2, November 1949, pp.15-16.
ÿ ÿEuskal elertiaÿ, Euzko Gaztedi, nº9, January 1949, p.2.
ÿ ÿEuskal elertiaÿ, Euzko Gaztedi, nº10, February 1949, p.4.
ÿ ÿEuskal elertiaÿ, Euzko Gaztedi, nº11, March 1949, p.4.
ÿ ÿEuskal elertiaÿ, Euzko Gaztedi, nº12, April 1949, p.7.
ÿ ÿEuskal elertiaÿ, Euzko Gaztedi, nº13, May 1949, p.3.
ÿ ÿEuskal elertiaÿ, Euzko Gaztedi, nº14, June 1949, p.9.
ÿ ÿXelataka Caracas zearÿ, Euzko Gaztedi, nº15, November 1949, p.9.
ÿ ÿEuskeraren edertasunaÿ, Euzkadi Centro Vasco Caracas, VII, nº66, February 1950, pp.7-
9.
ÿ ÿGu, geran bezelaxeÿ, Euzkadi Centro Vasco Caracas, VII, nº68, March 1950, pp.11-12.
ÿ ÿErri jaiakÿ, Euzkadi Centro Vasco Caracas, VII, nº68, March 1950, pp.31-32.
ÿ ÿBanoaÿ, Egan, 1960. Republished in Erbesteko Euskal Literaturaren Antologia, Gorka

Aulestia (ed.). Donostia, JA Ascunce, Euskal Kultura Erbestean Collection, 1992, pp.255-261.
ÿ ÿEgun batÿ, 1930. Republished in Mila euskal olerki eder, Aita Onaindia (ed.). Bilbao, The
Great Basque Encyclopedia, volume II, 1975, pp.1015-1016. Also in Erbesteko Euskal
Literaturaren Antologia, Gorka Aulestia (ed.). Donostia, JA Ascunce, Euskal Kultura
Erbestean Collection, 1992, pp.254-255.
TRANSLATIONS
ÿ Agirre, JA: ÿAgirre Lendakari Jaunaren Gezna Euskotar Guziaiÿ, Euzkadi Centro Vasco
Caracas, I, nº5, February 1943, pp.4-6.
STUDIES
ÿ Aulestia, Gorka: Stigmatized by the war. Bilbao: Euskaltzaindia, 2009, pp.88-89.
ÿ Gereñu, Idoia (edition of): Antzerti. 75 urte ondoren, facsimile edition of the magazine,
Lasarte: Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa-Tolosako Udala, 2008 (1360 pp.).
ÿ Onaindia, Santiago, Euskal Literature (VI). Donostia-San Sebastián, Etor, 1990, pp.57-58.
EPISODE 2
Basque surnames in the history of Venezuela
Talking about the presence of the Basques in Venezuela is like talking, that is, looking through our
entire history. It is not with the arrival of the Guipuzcoan Company, as has been said there, when the
Basques actively intervene among us. No. In Cubagua, the Venezuelan island that looks like a
shroud of earth, for 1500, Basques appear in the company. An Ochandiano, a López de Arechuleta,
appear next to Pedro de Barrionuevo, the first to build a house there with eagerness and effort in that
New Cádiz that slowly erases greed. Juan de la Cosa, called Juan el Vizcaíno, corresponds to draw
the map of the world that is incorporated.
In the middle of the 16th century, when El Tocuyo was restructured, it was a Basque, or the son of
Basques, Juan Pérez de Tolosa, who with a sense of integration launched the impulse that
materialized in Borburata and made possible the foundation of Barquisimeto and Valencia, years
later, and this same Tolosa sends his brother poy el Llano towards the high valleys, today the seat of
San Cristóbal. Tolosa was the one who signed the death of Governor Juan de Carvajal, in the historic
ceiba tree of Tocuyana. With Tolosa, a different concept of colonizing action began in the old province
of Venezuela, since new routes were opened, the government was organized, towns were founded,
and trade was stimulated.
But it seems that there is no truce in this that the Basques are action and even madness: Lope de
Aguirre, an adventurer marked by despair, carved with many serpents, arrives in Margarita, Valencia,
Barquisimeto. from the Andean Marañón. There are many necks that he mows and many also the
urgent words of justice and truth that he says to Felipe II in his letter written next to Lake Tacarigua.
Vasco is the first Bolívar, notary public in Santo Domingo, treasurer in Caracas, representative of
Venezuela before the king; This Bolívar obtains the first privileges for Caracas, which he considers
as his land, since it is a virtue in all Basques not to forget their place of origin and to want as their
own the land they step on with faith. Vasco is that Diego de Henares "commonly known as el
vizcaíno" —perhaps by Henares Lezama—, Losada's partner in the founding of Caracas, to whom
he entrusted the layout of the streets, leveling of land; work that the governor Diego de Osorio will
also place at the end of the century under the responsibility of Henares. And when the governor of
the province of Guayana, Fernando Berrío Oruña, becomes interested in livestock, it will be Diego de
Henares who will take cows, mares, pigs and horses to the Orinoco plains, from San Sebastián de
los Reyes. These were the first cattle that arrived in the land of Guyana, and to this tenacious, modest
and forgotten Basque, such an effort is due.
Many children from Guipúzcoa, Navarra, Vizcaya, and Álava go there. Vera Ibargoyen goes to El
Dorado and leaves an account of her feat; Berrío y Oruña came down from the New Kingdom and
also looked for the city of Manoa along the Orinoco. Everything is a dream because the century is a dream.
Then the action of the Basques and their descendants thrives in the plain, in the numerous herds
and towns that raise June to the rivers. On the banks of the Orinoco and the Apurito, Juan Ochoa
Gresala y Aguirre, from Caracas, descendant of Basques, founded Nueva Cantabria and created
wealth. Others arise, grow and pass.
The Colony groups enthusiasms, sets bases. Ola-varriaga studies the Venezuelan economy, and
his report - still unpublished -. It's a safe source. La Guipuzcoana intervenes later and the cocoa,
coffee and beef hides travel abroad. With the influx of Basque people, starting in 1730, the economy
gains momentum and books arrive secretly. Uprisings arise against the monopoly imposed by the
Guipuzcoana. the town was agitated, a canary raised the blacks of Panaquire, the governor Zuloaga
defended La Guaira from the assault of the English pirates, and half a century later, the mayor José
de Abalos, demolished the Company by creating free trade.
Around this time there are people of Basque and Creole descent, such as the Bolívars, the y tantos,
who eagerly look forward to the arrival of the 19th century, within the universal concern of being free.
During the War of Independence, confused with gentlemen and mulattoes, the new heroes go. A
Francisco Iturbe frees Bolívar from death; a Mendoza reaches the first Presidency of Venezuela.
Urdaneta leaves a lesson in integrity; Arrioja is the one who closes from Ca-bruta the pincer with
which Marino was going to shake the Boves llanera horde. And it is not only in this test stage that
the Basques often appear. Fused to people from the middle, the Colony reflects the merits and errors
of numerous Basques who have government responsibilities such as Alquiza (today Sanchorquiz, a
place on the old road from Caracas to La Guaira); Bastides. Arguinzones, Alberro, Lardizabal,
Arriaga, Zubillaga, Unzaga and Amezaga. The latter is the captain general who puts the Captaincy
General of Venezuela into operation by complying with the royal decree of 1777. the full starting point
of our physiognomy as a political entity.
And names do not go extinct because they are animated by a sure fire. While a descendant of
Basques, an Urdaneta, falls dead when he was fighting with popular encouragement in the
tremendous social struggle that characterizes the Federation, an Aurrecoechea Irigoyen, after
protesting when General José Antonio Páez, already ¿eniL begins his dictatorship, gives up his life
in Holguin. in 1861. defending the freedom of Cuba.
Between Ochandiano, a worker in Cubagua in 1500, and the Basque who is arriving in Venezuela at
this moment, there has been no solution of continuity. Like others who come to give their best in
structuring the future ^enezaela, perhaps the Basques and their descendants are the ones who have
launched the most profound nationalist efforts and hopes among us. One spoke from the Spanish
point of view and the other from the Basque perspective. Both referred to different governments, to
different historical plans, to conflicting expectations for the future, etc.
The Basque exile with a republican ideology first felt like a Spaniard, although he never denied his
Basque status. In some cases there was a lack of knowledge or a marked indifference between one
and the other. Two of the greatest intellectuals that gave rise to the culture of the Basque exile in
that country were García Bacca from Navarre and Eugenio Imaz from San Sebastian, both with
commendable intellectual and pedagogical work at the Venezuelan University of Caracas. Both were
perfect strangers in the Basque nationalist exile sphere. The latter, the nationalist Basques, had such
a strong sense of ethnicity and culture that despite the distance and time elapsed, they remained
faithful to the history that led to their exile or that of their parents. It can be said, without forgetting or
degrading their love and commitment to Venezuelan society, that they felt and lived in
Basque and by Euskalerria. A clear example was the Basque Center in Caracas.
While the regional centers were places for meeting and entertainment for very diverse people, the
Basque Center, -(In Venezuela we only knew the one in Caracas)-, was a living space of national
affirmation. It was a kind of miniature replica of any town in the Basque Country.
The fundamental elements of any Basque town are present in this center: a chapel that functions as
a church, some gardens that represent the square, a pediment, a tavern that today we would
pompously call a "restaurant" and one or a few meeting rooms that function as a place of debate and
decisions, a symbol of the mayor's office. In this lively but allegorical space, folkloric festivals and
religious celebrations stood out.
Undoubtedly, these collective acts served - I think they continue to serve - to create bonds of unity
and to strengthen the spirit of nationality. The masses for the deceased of the Basque community or
the celebration of the day of Saint Ignatius with their songs and dances are acts of national
affirmation. At gastronomic gatherings, the same themes are returned to again and again, which are
basically not only obsessions of the community but also signs of identity. We also observe small
misgivings, more or less marked rivalries, eagerness for leadership, although never too prominent,
but above all and above all we experience the desire to live, the need for joy and the affirmation of a
collectivity as a national group. We cannot find these behaviors anywhere outside the Basque Center.
Another aspect that strongly caught our attention was the ideological evolution of the descendants
of the Basque exile. We observed that the children and grandchildren of the Republican exile
gradually lost their relationship with and interest in the Basque Country. The parents were able to
experience the trauma of the break with their land of origin but that feeling was disappearing in the
children and now clearly in the grandchildren. Children and grandchildren, in a more or less
pronounced way, viewed the Basque Country with curiosity, as the land of their elders. They really
wanted to get to know her but there was no identification based on responsibility.
They were Venezuelans with a certain degree of interest in Basque issues. In the case of the
nationalist exile, we observe a very different phenomenon. Without being able to defend degrees of
full coincidence, it is possible to speak of manifest tendencies. Many of the children and grandchildren
continued to maintain a spirit of commitment to the Basque reality, centered above all on culture and
folklore. Who is capable of spending many hours of the year learning Basque, rehearsing songs or
dances, reading books and even newspapers as a means of information or acculturation, etc.,
reveals a serious commitment to the place of origin of that language, of those songs, and of that
culture.
It can be said that the children and grandchildren of the nationalist exile maintain the living flame of
love and the presence of the country of their elders. In a certain sense, they continue to experience
the trauma of exile as a rupture and dispossession. In the case of that country, without denying at
any time their being and their commitment to Venezuela, they feel the absence of that other land that
constitutes the country of their elders but also their own.
Another group of the Venezuelan Basque community was formed by the clerical element. How
difficult was it to distinguish in these groups what was vocational service or obligatory service? The vote of
Obedience hides many realities, clearly perceptible in some cases and diffuse in others. We
spoke with priests and religious who had been assigned to that country for the reason of
defending the Basque language or culture. When I was a boy, all these men who left their
parishes or their schools to go abroad to do priestly work were called missionaries. But within
the missionary reality, real cases of exile flared up. I remember, among others, the case of the
Jesuit Aguirre, creator of various schools throughout the vast Venezuelan geography.
Other cases were more doubtful, difficult to evaluate due to the imprecision in the statements of
their protagonists. Others, without a doubt, were men with vocations, concerned about man and
willing to give their lives for Venezuelans as well as for Ecuadorians, if their destiny had been
this. The fact of the Basque priests and religious, -
communities of Jesuits, Franciscans, Capuchins, etc., etc.-, in the different Latin American
countries, especially in Venezuela, should be studied in depth.
We would find strong surprises, among these bloody cases of exile.
Philosophical and literary culture or especially painting in the field of arts are being studied more
or less systematically. There is serious concern for his recovery and for his analysis. However,
up to now no one has dedicated himself to studying in an orderly manner the contribution of the
exiled Basques to the world of science and technology.
I remember with true admiration figures of great scientific importance such as Hermano Ginés,
José María Bengoa, etc. There were doctors, architects, researchers, etc., who would deserve
a long gloss on their activity and their contributions, among other things, so that their worth and
dedication would be remembered. It could be a task organized from both shores to delve into
the real and true memory of our people.
When I write these lines, aware that I have to put an end to this "miscellany of evocations", I
think again, as I did in its day, about the historical reality that made us a divided people, with a
sector of the community in the Basque Country and another scattered throughout the vast
geography of the world, but partly gathered in the various Basque centers around the world. I
do not forget that those who had to leave for reasons of the war formed the central and best
core of our society. I have always admired the human dignity and moral integrity of the conduct
of almost all of them. How can we not remember figures like Toribio Echevarría, Vicente de
Amezaga, Iñaki de Urreiztieta, Pelay Orozco, etc.? If we are part of the same community and of
the same people, even though we find ourselves scattered in so many parts of the world, it
would be worth devising a work plan that would bring us closer together, because cultural
brotherhood is the greatest force for unity and progress that exists. If there is such a dynamic
human potential in the youth of those places and of all the Basque centers, it would be illogical
and inadmissible for this strength of culture and union to be lost due to a lack of resources and
projects.
I sincerely believe that governments and relevant public entities, -why not also private ones?-,
should make a serious and continuous effort to attract and be in tune with these young people
and with said communities with work and cultural plans that unite in as possible the different
groups of the Basque diaspora.
It would be the best way to always keep alive the flame of Basque feeling that the representatives
of our exile so effectively ignited and preserved.
CHAPTER 3
Venezuelan words regarding the Basques
The Real Compañía Guipuzcoana de Caracas had its origins in the flourishing Basque nation of
1723. An illustrious son of Guipúzcoa, the Count of Peñaflorida, conceived the idea of creating a
shipping company that would take to Spain the fruits of the General Captaincy of Venezuela,
bringing the necessary goods for the consumption of Venezuelan lands. Felipe V granted the
privilege giving the Company the monopoly of cocoa and the powers to pursue and capture
contraband and take advantage of privateering.
The systematic detractors of Spain have attacked at all times and! establishment of what was
considered an onerous exploitation and a hateful monopoly, when it is true that this was the most
appropriate step taken by the Government of Spain in favor of the development, not only
commercial and agricultural, but cultural and political of Venezuela.
The establishment of the Company of Caracas came to root out the smuggling of the Dutch
privateers, the looting of the English galleons and all the consequences of these acts d? vandalajfc
demoralizing the spirit of a developing nation. The promotion of agriculture with the guaranteed
purchase of (the fruits of the country; the introduction of new crops; the urban improvement of
ports and cities, with the establishment of warehouses, warehouses, streets, etc. came to change
the face of the Captaincy , turned night or morning into an active center of vitality.The means of
communication with Spain, reduced to one ship annually, increased with the intense maritime
traffic
The main ports, and especially La Guaira, changed their tropical drowsiness and deadly stillness
into a feverish movement translated into work and well-being for their inhabitants.
But there was something more valuable than the material benefit achieved by these peoples,
thanks to the Basque Company, and this was the moral benefit, the ballast of civilization, culture
and civility that the Basques brought to Venezuela, aboard the "San Ignacio". , the "San Joaquín"
and "La Guipuzcoana", the first ships that dropped anchor in the port of La Guaira in August 1730.
The Basque is industrious, honest, sober. Anyone who has traveled through Spanish lands
immediately notices the difference in life and customs that distinguish Vizcaya, Álava, Navarra
and Guipúzcoa from the other Iberian provinces. The Basque Country is like a purified Spain, the
Hispanic archetype with all its racial virtues: work, correctness, independence, religion, art, And
that is what the ships of San Sebastián brought to America; and that's what the boats left in La
Guaira
And they also left a libertarian cry entangled in the almond trees of Macuto and in the jobillos of
Río Arribo. Among the bundles of silks and velvets, in the crates of raisins and plums, and among
the boxes of essences and trinkets, were filled with the revolutionary ideas of the encyclopedists,
the lofty thoughts of the Little Knights of Azcoitía, and the citizen demands that pointed out in the
"Royal Society of Friends of the Country" with the promotion of industries, agriculture and crio.
The independent and cultural spirit of the Basque, prepared in La Guaira the climate that was to
support the libertarian movement in America, with the rebellion of José María España from Guaire,
fertilizer and seed of continental independence carried out by the Other, Basque by blood and
bids.
CHAPTER 4
Few words to the children of Vasconia
From the initial hour of that terrible forge, already entered the 16th century. Around 1515 or 20, Pedro de
Archuleta appears erecting his house in Nueva Cádiz, in sunny and rough Cubagua. And as the work of
action seems the way to follow for the children of Vasconia, the conquest is full of hard and stubborn men.
Children of Basques, Basques themselves, merge into the heroic amalgamation, into the terrible struggle.
Diego de Escorcha intervenes in the assault on Real de Minas de Buría and throws King Miguel to the
ground. Tolosa is the first governor to leave a sense of measure, after the daily crime of Carvajal, the notary
public doubled as a bandit who founded El Tocuyo.
The first Bolivar. Also called Simón, he arrived in Venezuela at the end of the 16th century and represented
the country in the first congress of the cities and exposed before Felipe II the needs of the nascent province
and the king granted some thanks to Santiago de León.
Then he will die blind and poor. Diego de Henares levels the streets of Caracas on the occasion that Diego
de Losada lays the final foundations of the city and afterwards. During the administration in Guayana of
Fernando de Berrío, son of Berrío who founded Santo Tomé de Guayana in 1595 or 96, he will take three
hundred cattle from San Sebastián de los Reyes to the capital of the Orinoco. Over there, through San
Sebastián de los Reyes, this time in his second seat, he will leave his name high and his descendants will
be perpetuated in the Lezama, a Guayanese family.
But the Basque who acts during the conquest, that is, during the 16th and 17th centuries, does so stimulated
by adventure, by chance, by economic hardship. Like a terrible shadow crosses from Margarita to
Barquisimeto, followed by his cashews, a son of Oñate, Lope de Aguirre, a man carved in many hatreds.
The letter that he addressed to Felipe II from Valencia is perhaps the most resounding and realistic page of
the century.
After the Guipuzcoana Company was established, starting in 1730, the Basque influx into the country was
large. And if the monopoly of the company really clashes, a monopoly that has been appreciated as a
stimulus towards the creation of nationalist sentiments, a Basque governor of Venezuela, Unzaga y
Amezaga, presides over the creation of the General Captaincy, the starting point of unity. homeland. The
mutiny of 1742 and later years is disputed among several Basques in San Felipe, because the earth has
already taken man and has given him warmth and is teaching him to rebel. After the Guipuzcoana became
extinct, the Basques have already integrated into the country, as evidenced by the boost they give to trade
in Puerto Cabello, Cumaná, and La Guaira. And when Venezuela is preparing to free itself politically, it is
Bolívar, Mendoza, Ustáriz, Arrioja, Urdaneta, Soublette, Arísmendi, Aramendi, Zaraza, among others, who
shoulder the unparalleled task.
There will always be a Basque or a descendant, yesterday and always, associated with the business of
making Venezuela.
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Basque Exile in Venezuela – Basque Government Culture Department ANNIVERSARY
MAGAZINES OF THE BASQUE CENTER OF CARACAS 1942
1957 15TH ANNIVERSARY
1942-1962 20TH ANNIVERSARY
1942 1967 25TH ANNIVERSARY
1942 1992 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Cited authors
ARISTIDES ROJAS
JA ARMAS CHITTY
JESUS DE GALINDEZ
JESUS J. ALONSO CARBALLES
JOSÉ DOMINGO LAYRISSE
JOSE MARIA BURGAÑA
JESUS MARIA SASIA
JOSE DE ARANO
JOSE MARIA DE BURGAÑA
JOSE RAFAEL LOVERA
JUAN LISCABO
KOLDO SAN SEBASTIAN
LANDER QUINTANA
MANUEL LUCENA GIRAL DO
PEDRO GRASES
PERU AJURIA
RAMON AIZPURUA AGUIRRE
VICENTE THREAT ARESTI

Venezuela and The Basques Two Old Acquaintances

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Venezuela and The Basques Two Old Acquaintances

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Venezuela and the Basques two old acquaintances

Compilation Edition and Publication

Chapter 1 - Basque Diaspora America 20th century (Venezuela) 1939............ 7

1-1 Venezuelan intellectuals and the Basque case.................................. 10 1-2

Chapter 2 - Basque surnames in the history of Venezuela.................................. 221

Chapter 3 - Venezuelan words regarding the Basques.................................. 225

Chapter 4 - Few words to the children of Vasconia................................................. 226

Bibliography................................................. ................................................................ ........ 227

As a reference of the Basque presence in Venezuela, it can be defined in three migrations,

As I said; Venezuela and the Basques, two old acquaintances

Basque Diaspora America 20th Century (Venezuela) 1939

1-2 The Gonzalo Salas report

1-3 The Basque reaction

1-4 A restricted agreement

1-5 the First Voyages

1-6 The adventure of Donibane and Bigarrena

1-7 Emigration from Santo Domingo

According to Uslar Pietri, everything began to be “conditioned, determined, directed, created by

According to information signed by Genaro Egileor "Atxerre" in Euzko Deya in Buenos

1-8 The first jobs

1-9 The Basque Mutual Aid Association

1-10 Basque Caribbean fisheries

1 11 The visit of the Basque president – Jose Antonio de Aguirre

Americans, among whom were not a few followers of Nazi-fascism

1 14 The Basque Government Delegation

1 15 The Basque Center of Caracas, Inauguration and legalization

Between the corners of Cipreses to Velazquez April 5, 1942.

1-15-1 From Truco to Balconcito July 31, 1942.

1 16 The postwar world

In 1945, as in other American countries, in Venezuela Committees to Aid Basque Refugees in

1 19 Inauguration of the Basque Center Caracas El Paraiso March 5, 1950

1 19 1 Words of the first Lendakari of Euzkadi José Antonio Aguírre Inauguration

Inauguration of the Basque Center. March, 1950.

1 20 Basque Centers in the Interior

1 20 1 Barcelona Puerto La Cruz

stone the first sentence of the hymn: «Eusko gudariak gera...».

They were released from military service.

effervescence, everything to be done and everything being done.

our stay in Puerto La Cruz.

The current Directive is as follows:

1 20 4 Maracaibo'ko Euzko Alkartasuna

In the General Assembly held on September 30 at Club Bella Vista, the

President: Mr. José G. Zugazagoitia

Second Member: Mr. Iñaki Endaya

There are also delegates from Maracay and Valencia,

1 23 «Euzkadi» Magazine of Caracas

Starting with «Euzkadi», a long tradition of Basque publications began in Venezuela.

1 25 Publications of the Basque Government

1 26 Euzko Gaztedi, landmark

«The newspaper that keeps the Basque Center uneasy».

1 25 1 Initial Act of Euzko Gaztedi

The assembly lasted an hour and a half, namely from 7 pm to 8:30 pm

1 25 2 Presidents Of Euzko Gaztedi Of Caracas

1 27 National Front in the press

1 27 1 The ETA press

The Voice of the Basques in Venezuela

"Ma'am, ma'am, to please those beans . . ."

"And now, our editorial . . ."

"Euzko Deia Newscast"

"Euzkadi is the homeland of the Basques"

1 27 4 Radio Euzkadi-La Txalupa

1 28 A brief overview of the Caracas Basque Center