Historical journey through San German and Hormigueros

The two towns from the southeast of Puerto Rico, San Germán and Hormigueros, are brother municipalities considering their geographic location. Ever since precolonial age (indigenous era), passing through the evangelize process, their illustrious Puerto Ricans and rebellion movements contributed to the Puerto Rican history and culture.

Both towns raised an intriguing curiosity. With this in mind, we invite the reader to discover six historical facts that may not be known about San German and Hormigueros.

San Germán a nomad village

The village of San German had several settlements in different parts of Puerto Rico before settling in the place that is today. The reason for the ceaseless changes was due to several issues, including multiple attacks by Caribbean Indians, French Corsair attacks, and mosquito plagues.
There are some versions about where it was and who was the founder of this first village. One of theories mentions that it was in the year 1506 when Juan Ponce de León established it near the mouth of Guaurabo River, today known as the Añasco River.

There’s another version that states that the founder was Cristóbal de Sotomayor in the year 1510 who establish the village near the settlement of the cacique Agüeybana. Immediately the colony was moved to the region of Añasco and Aguada, renaming it as Villa de Sotomayor, place that was destroyed in 1511 during the Taino Revolution.

In 1512, the town was reconstructed near the mouth of Guaurabo River, but due to numerous attacks, the village was transferred to the Guadianilla port during the years 1554 or 1556, where the Villa de Santa Maria de Guadianilla was established.

Unfortunately, San Germán had its third “strike”since it was assaulted by the Caribbean Indians, plundered by the French Corsairs and infected by mosquito plagues. This is why in 1565 the Sangermenos transferred to their current location, to the place known as Lomas de Santa Marta; this changed being approved by the King Philip II in 1571 and became official in 1573.

Presence of Natives in San German

There were several of laws for the natives (“Indians”) of Puerto Rico, in order for them to be able to live in the towns with the Spaniards. The fundamental objective was to group them close to the parties of San Juan and San German.

However, many of the natives chose to live in the mountains. Nevertheless, some of these
also called “Indians” ended up establishing in San German. Fernando Pico, in his book “Historia General de Puerto Rico”, indicated that through a census done in the XVIII century the presence of Indians was identified in the party of San German. The last time a census was done and showed a presence of “Indians” was carried out in the year 1802 with a total of 2300.

Sesame Street in San German

In November 26 of 1979, Sesame Street, the legendary American television program, aired an episode recorded in Puerto Rico. The plot of the episode was focus on Maria’s birthday, a character played by the Boricua Sonia Monzano. A detail that called the attention was that part of the episode was filmed in the public plaza of San German, where Maria is reunited with her family.
The main reason of Michael Cozell, the producer of Sesame Street, for choosing San German was the contrast between the old and the new. Another reason was the proximity of the hills of Santa Marta and the Caribbean Sea in Lajas.

Hormigueros the “barrios” of two towns

Hormigueros, also known as The Town of Miracles, formed part of the jurisdiction of San German and later on Mayagüez. Since 1513, Hormigueros was in the jurisdiction of the village of San German due to a geographic division from Camuy River up to Jacaguas River. The Hormigueros citizen were part of the commercial businesses and protests that occurred in the village of San German. Since the eighteenth century, the citizen of Hormigueros, made multiple petitions to establish Hormiguero as an autonomous town, but it wasn’t until April 1st of 1874 that it officially became a municipality.
A curious fact is that in the year 1899 and under the order of the American military governor of Puerto Rico, Guy V. Henry, Hormigueros became part of Mayagüez. Nevertheless, it went back to be an independent municipality in 1912 thanks to the Union Party of Puerto Rico.

The Miracle of the Monserrate Virgin

The devotion of the Monserrate Virgin, patron of Hormigueros, which is celebrated on September 8, is the vital torch of the town and of many pilgrimages. There are two stories that suggest the birth of the great devotion toward this Virgin. One story tells that in the year 1599, Don Gerardo Gonzalez was attacked by a bull. Seeing himself in danger, Don Gerardo prayed to the Monserrate Virgin, and immediately, the bull fell on its knees with broken legs and his front touching the ground as though he was praying.

Another story narrates how the daughter of Don Gerardo got lost in the forests of Hormigueros. After 15 days, the young daughter appeared and narrated how she was taken care by a woman. When the neighbors heard the story, they identified the woman as the Monserrate Virgin.

This is why at the end of the sixteenth century, the citizens of Hormigueros and Don Gerard erected a sanctuary dedicated to the Monserrate Virgin, which later reached the rank of Parish in 1880. Then, in 1998, it was elevated to the rank of a Minor Basilica Sanctuary by Pope John Paul II.

Pedro Albus Campos and The Virgin of Monserrate

Mario Cancel Sepulveda, in his book “Horomicos a Hormigueros: 400 años de Resistencia” exposes that the Ponce lawyer, Pedro Albus Campos, in union with other nationalist Catholics, identified the Virgin of Monserrate like the National Virgin of Puerto Rico. It all came from a speech given on the eve of Monserrate Day, September 7, 1930, by Albizu Campos.

Don Pedro motivated the Nationalist Party to enlist in the proclamation of the Puerto Rican clergy and supported the foundation of the National Catholic Association and to a group called Nacional Clergy. All this due to the small presence of a Puerto Rican ecclesiastical hierarchy in 1930. Mostly this hierarchy was made up of Spanish and American priests.

To explore, to walk, and to get to know much more about the fascinating history of San German and Hormigueros, Isla Caribe organizes tours to both municipalities. For more information, and to reserve your space, you may call (939) 265–5691 or you may visit Isla Caribe at @islacaribepr or www.islacaribepr.com.