Xilitla

Jaripeo

Jaripeo, Xilitla, SLP

 

 

Primera Comunión

First Comunion

Every year on August 28th, Xilitla celebrates their patron saint San Agustín

with a variety of events and marches. The following photos are from a special first 

comunion held for roughly 50 children in the days leading up to August 28th. 

At the bottom is a group of portraits of some of the children after

their first comunion at the San Agustín church. I normally don't pose portraits, 

but here I thought it was important to show the children as individuals.

Primera Comunión

Cada año en el 28 de Agosto, Xilitla celebra el día de San Agustín, el Santo Patrón 

del pueblo, con varios eventos y procesiones. Estas fotos son de la primera 

comunión para más de 50 niños en los días antes del 28 de Agosto.

Al fínal, hay un grupo de retratos de algunos de los niños después de la primera comunión

enfrente del Ex-Convento de San Agustín. Normalmente, no hago retratos posados,

pero en este caso, pensé que era importante mostrar a los niños como individuos.

  

 

 

Curious

As I continue taking photos, my curiosity about the world grows stronger.

I want to know more about other people's lives and why certain relationships exist.

I am learning more about economic disparities and corruption in Mexico, and 

through this experience I have seen so much wealth and waste of resources.

Witnessing this contrast between extreme poverty and wealth is like stepping 

in and out of Disneyland - a place with fake props, costumes and quick rides. On the 

outside lies a whole world of desperation. People in true need, but without anyone 

who can really understand or help. Problems that have existed for so long, and that 

continue to exist without any real solution.

I take photos of the things I am curious about - 

things that I cannot understand, and things that may explain an emotion or thought.

A boy reads in a small classroom after a school graduation 

ceremony in Chalahuite, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

A worker sorts through garbage to find recyclable goods in 

San Bernal, Querétaro for a government waste program.

Rooftop of San Augustin church in Xilitla, San Luis Potosi.

Wedding decoration at the Hyatt in Austin, Texas

Tourists walk through San Sebastian Bernal, Querétaro. 

The world's 3rd largest monolith sits on the edge of San Bernal, a town 

whose economy is based primarily on tourism.

Xilitla, San Luis Potosi

Construction in Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon.

              

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

One of the first cries for Mexican independence, "Grito de Dolores," was made in San 

Miguel de Allende in 1810. Today over 8,000 Americans live in the town, many 

of which are retired and have taken advantage of low priced real estate.

Potrerillos, SLP

Election Day and Pre-Election Fight

After two long months of campaigning, PAN failed to win the mayoral elections in Xilitla, SLP this Sunday July 1st. Hundreds of people from Xilitla dedicated every day to the campaign, with hopes of ending a corrupt system and finally aiding those who are in desperate need. "Unfortunately, our work wasn't enough to fight against the corruption that exists," Moran remarked in his final speech before PAN supporters. These individuals fought hard - they gave everything they could offer without asking for anything in return. In the end, it wasn't enough to win over the power of money and the corruption that exists in Mexico. Residents have evidence of people buying votes for PRI and distributing resources to voters before elections. The resources given to residents was very little, but nevertheless guarantees PRI another 3 years in office. PAN supporters in need of medical and financial help will most likely remain in need throughout this 3-year term because they did not initially support PRI during the campaign. Residents are now organizing their evidence in hopes of finding support, but the odds are not in their favor.

After Moran's final speech on election day with PAN supporters.

Moran's wife Erica Piedfort-Moran with Xilitla residents after the elections.

Results toward the end of the PAN mayoral elections.

Residents talked about continuing to fight against the corruption by organizing their evidence.

Before elections, residents searched for cars containing despensas and money from PRI.

   

Road blocks were set up across the county to search cars before the elections. Despensas, money and PRI propaganda were found each day and removed from the vehicles.

PAN supporters chase cars suspected to contain despensas and other resources from PRI.

  

Residents used bats, knives and other household weapons for protection against inter-party conflict during overnight raids of "mapaches."

Bystander watches as the police search cars at a voting site.

This resident was attacked by a group of PRI supporters with rocks and machetes after the elections. He suffered from head trauma and is unable to remember the incident.

At this voting site, police officers searched PAN supporters' cars, but failed to search PRI supporters' cars.

Residents carried weapons to protect themselves for conflict between the two opposing parties.

Residents in search of "mapaches" overnight rest on the ground.

Election Day - Xilitla, SLP.

Voters' thumbs are marked so they cannot vote more than once.

Mexican ID's are marked after voting with "12" for the year 2012.

Workers tally number of voters in Xilitla.