Manuel Fernández Juncos
Encyclopedia
Manuel Fernández Juncos (December 11, 1846 – August 18, 1928) was a Spanish journalist, poet, author and humanitarian who wrote the official lyrics to La Borinqueña
, Puerto Rico
's official anthem.
, Asturias
, Spain. At an early age he emigrated to the island where he was to spend the rest of his life.
Fernández Juncos first wrote for El Progreso (Progress), a newspaper founded by José Julián Acosta
. He also wrote for the Porvenir and El Clamor del País newspapers. Fernández Juncos founded many newspapers with liberal tendencies. Among them, one was called El Buscapie. It promoted a socialist agenda, including the idea that every child should be entitled to a free education. It quickly became the most widely read Puerto Rican paper of its time. He also founded the Revista Puertorriqueña (The Puerto Rican Magazine).
As a writer, Fernández Juncos studied and wrote about the roots of the Puerto Ricans as a people. Among his most notable works were: Tipos y Characteres, Libro Cuarto de Lectura, and Canciones Escolares (which he co-wrote with Virgilio Dávila
and Braulio Dueño Colon
).
founded by Román Baldorioty de Castro and became its secretary. Shortly after, when Puerto Rico was granted its autonomy from Spain, Fernández Juncos was elected and became the first Secretary of State. However, in less than a year Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States during the Spanish-American War and its government abolished. He founded the Puerto Rican Red Cross, which continues today to give humanitarian help to those in need.
" which originally was a danza written by Francisco Ramírez in 1860 (sometimes credited to Félix Astol Artés in 1867). The original lyrics to the anthem, written by Lola Rodríguez de Tio
in 1868, were deemed as too subversive for public use. A public contest to provide new lyrics to the tune was held in 1903, with Fernández Juncos as its winner (this explains why the Asturias
native is credited for writing the lines "The land of Borinquen / where I was born"). "La Borinqueña" became the official anthem of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1952.
Official Anthem of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
. The government of Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming a school city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
and one of its most important commercial avenues in San Juan after him.
La Borinqueña
La Borinqueña is the official anthem of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. After Puerto Rico became the "The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" in 1952, the first elected governor, Luis Muñoz Marín, signed law #2 of July 24, 1952 that stated that the musical composition known as "La Borinqueña" was to...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
's official anthem.
Early years
Fernández Juncos was born in Tresmonte, a section of RibadesellaRibadesella
Ribadesella Ribadesella is a small municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. Known for its location on the Cantabrian Sea, as well as for the outlet of the River Sella, Ribadesella is a town that forms part of the Picos de Europa...
, Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, Spain. At an early age he emigrated to the island where he was to spend the rest of his life.
Fernández Juncos first wrote for El Progreso (Progress), a newspaper founded by José Julián Acosta
José Julián Acosta
José Julián Acosta Calbo , born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a distinguished journalist and a fervent advocate of the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico.-Early years:...
. He also wrote for the Porvenir and El Clamor del País newspapers. Fernández Juncos founded many newspapers with liberal tendencies. Among them, one was called El Buscapie. It promoted a socialist agenda, including the idea that every child should be entitled to a free education. It quickly became the most widely read Puerto Rican paper of its time. He also founded the Revista Puertorriqueña (The Puerto Rican Magazine).
As a writer, Fernández Juncos studied and wrote about the roots of the Puerto Ricans as a people. Among his most notable works were: Tipos y Characteres, Libro Cuarto de Lectura, and Canciones Escolares (which he co-wrote with Virgilio Dávila
Virgilio Dávila
Virgilio Dávila , was a Puerto Rican poet, educator, politician and businessman. He is considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest representatives of the modern literary era.-Early years:...
and Braulio Dueño Colon
Braulio Dueño Colon
Braulio Dueño Colón was a Puerto Rican musician and composer.-Early years:Dueño was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. At a young age Dueño's father, who also loved music, taught him the basics of music and served as his inspiration. Dueño took music classes with the "Maestro" Aruti, with whom he...
).
Political activist
Fernández Juncos joined the Autonomist PartyAutonomist Party
The Autonomist Party was a political party in the Dalmatian political scene, that existed for around 70 years of the nineteenth century and until World War I. Its goal was to maintain the autonomy of the Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as opposed to the unification with the...
founded by Román Baldorioty de Castro and became its secretary. Shortly after, when Puerto Rico was granted its autonomy from Spain, Fernández Juncos was elected and became the first Secretary of State. However, in less than a year Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States during the Spanish-American War and its government abolished. He founded the Puerto Rican Red Cross, which continues today to give humanitarian help to those in need.
"La Borinqueña"
Fernández Juncos wrote the current lyrics to "La BorinqueñaLa Borinqueña
La Borinqueña is the official anthem of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. After Puerto Rico became the "The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" in 1952, the first elected governor, Luis Muñoz Marín, signed law #2 of July 24, 1952 that stated that the musical composition known as "La Borinqueña" was to...
" which originally was a danza written by Francisco Ramírez in 1860 (sometimes credited to Félix Astol Artés in 1867). The original lyrics to the anthem, written by Lola Rodríguez de Tio
Lola Rodríguez de Tio
Lola Rodríguez de TióThis name uses Spanish marriage naming customs; the first is the maiden family name " Rodríguez" and the second or matrimonial family name is "Tió"., , was the first Puerto Rican born poetess to establish herself a reputation as a great poet throughout all of Latin America...
in 1868, were deemed as too subversive for public use. A public contest to provide new lyrics to the tune was held in 1903, with Fernández Juncos as its winner (this explains why the Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
native is credited for writing the lines "The land of Borinquen / where I was born"). "La Borinqueña" became the official anthem of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1952.
| Spanish (original version) |
translation |
|---|---|
donde he nacido yo es un jardín florido de mágico primor. |
where I have been born is a flowery garden of magical beauty. |
le sirve de dosel y dan arrullos plácidos las olas a sus pies. |
serves as its canopy and placid lullabies are sung by the waves at its [Borinquen's] feet. |
Exclamó lleno de admiración: "Oh!, oh!, oh!, esta es la linda tierra que busco yo". |
full of awe he exclaimed, "Oh!, oh!, oh!, this is the lovely land that I seek" |
la hija del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol, del mar y el sol. |
the daughter of the sea and the sun. Of the sea and the sun, of the sea and the sun, of the sea and the sun, of the sea and the sun. |
Postscript
Manuel Fernández Juncos died on August 18, 1928 in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. The government of Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming a school city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
and one of its most important commercial avenues in San Juan after him.