Espaillat Province

Espaillat is one of the 32 provinces of the Dominican Republic. The Espaillat province is located in the North-Central region (Cibao) of the country and borders to the north, with the Atlantic Ocean: to the south, with the province of La Vega; to the east with the Hermanas Mirabal Province; and to the west, with the provinces of Santiago and Puerto Plata.

The Espaillat province was originally constituted by the communes of San Francisco de Macorís, San Antonio del Yuna, Matanzas (Nagua), Juana Núñez (Salcedo) and Moca, as common head, on May 28, 1885, by resolution of the National Congress and in the government chaired by Don Alejandro Woss y Gil. All this territory was part of the province of La Vega and was designated with the name of Espaillat to honor the memory of one of the great Dominican civilians, the President of the Republic Don Ulises Francisco Espaillat (1823–1878).

The Espaillat Province, whose name honors the memory of President Ulises Francisco Espaillat, is located in the north-central region, belonging to Cibao. Its extension is 839 km². Due to its dimension, it is the 28th province of the country, its size is equivalent to 1.7 percent of the national territory, its coordinates are: 16o 30' north latitude and 70o 27' west longitude.

In the eighth census of 2002, the national census office reports the province of Espaillat with 225,000 inhabitants, among whom men have 65,531 and women 66,202.

The population density is 268.4 inhabitants per km².

Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Municipalities of the Province

• José Contreras
• San Víctor
• Cayetano Germosén
• Gaspar Hernández
• Jamao to the North
• Moca

Municipal districts

• Ortega
• The Higüerito
• Las Lagunas
• Juan López
• Canca the Queen
• Monte de la Jagua

History

Moca, the common head of the Espaillat province, was a province of the Chiefdom of Maguá. The municipality, at the time of its colonization by the Spanish, was part of a nitainato belonging to the chiefdom of Maguá, which according to the findings by the writer and historian Eng. Franklin de Jesús Torres, was located at the foot of the mountain, that today bears the name of El Mogote, in José Contreras. Other inquiries by the also historian José Gabriel García, are found in his "Memories for the History of Quisqueya". It is believed that the year 1700 was when the first settlement took place in what is now called the city of Moca. This settlement was in the "La Ermita" section, of which not much is known. This city also has the distinction of having been the political capital of the country 4 times to date.

Along with the recognition rendered to the illustrious civil servant Ulises Francisco Espaillat, with the founding of this province, the role played by the community of Moca in the predominant political and economic scenario in the country since the early days of the Republic is also recognized.

Its leading role is a series of events that has led it to ostentation which the historian Julio Jaime Julia affirmed the condition of political capital of the country several times. A province of fertile land and illustrious sons, in Espaillat we have a beacon of light always ready to illuminate the path that the best causes of the country must travel...

Geography

The geography of the Espaillat province is very varied, becoming quite mountainous in the north due to a section of the northern mountain range that passes under its jurisdiction. Its highest peak is the mogote with 996 meters of height, in the south it is quite flat due to Since it occupies part of the northern portion of the Cibao Valley, the Espaillat province has innumerable rivers, one of the most prominent being the Jamao River. Ecotourism has recently been implemented in this river. It also has several beaches, which are of great taste. tourist.

Demographics

The province has an area of 843.00 km² and a population of 231,938.

• 30% (White)
• 58% (Mestizos, mulatos, castizos, moriscos and pardos)
• 12% (Black)

Economy

The Mocan population lives mainly from agriculture. They grow coffee, cassava and other crops in large quantities; they are national leaders in production of eggs, pigs and chickens.

The economic activity of the Espaillat province has agriculture as its central axis, and other lines of importance are livestock, industry and commerce in general.

Agriculture

Its culture is privileged and enjoys fertility like few others in the world, with a thick vegetation layer that makes it suitable for any type of crop.

Coffee, which is grown in large quantities in the upper part of the province, is one of the most important crops. Coffee has generated substantial income for producers, who have mobilized the Mocana economy, in addition to generating jobs, also thanks to its exports the country obtains foreign currency. Other agricultural items of great production in the province is the banana, which has played an important role in the economy of the province.

Without a doubt, the most popular agricultural item that most identifies Moca in all corners is the "Yuca Mocana", which, like bananas, is widely cultivated in the area and is an export product.

Other crops are also grown in the province, such as sweet potatoes, yautía, bananas, beans and vegetables such as cabbage, tomatoes, lettuce, beets, etc. As for livestock, although there is cattle raising, the one that occupies the first place is pig production, which is well strengthened in the province, producing meat and fat. The fats are used to make sausages.

Poultry farming

It also plays an important role in animal production in the province; this activity, apart from meat production as such, is accompanied by the sale and distribution of eggs and chicks. The production of large quantities of eggs is a source of work and livelihood for an important part of the population.

Statue Don Juan Bosco.

Arts and culture

Culture

The city of Moca has its own culture and customs; It is characterized by announcements to the dead through street audio-speaking means, the Moca viaduct and railway, our scoop of having a Botanical Zoo, as well as the phrase of being "Dry, Shaked and Medium by Buen Cajón", are appropriate elements. of the culture and folklore of Moca. The sayings that "the mocanos walk in the middle of the street" and that when it is going to rain "be like the mocanos who let it fall." These main characteristics belong to the culture of the Mocanos.

Patron Saint and Christian Festivities

Moca is a population with strong Christian beliefs, forming religiously under the sacred mantle of the Virgen del Rosario, and in honor of her the patron saint festivals of the town are celebrated. This cult is due to a revelation from the Virgin Mary to Santo Domingo de Guzmán, who is recognized as the founder of the Rosary prayer.

A landscape full of colors and autumnal silhouettes is a tremendously striking landscape with a natural polychromy that closely resembles a medieval painting. With the ripening coffee harvest filling the air with a peculiar sweet smell, with the framboyanes from the Andean zone in bloom to give the mocana forest a daring nuance, there is no doubt that we were in the presence of the clearest indication that we should prepare for celebrate patron saint festivities. The festivities of a town began with all the splendor and bustle of a town, sprouting almost spontaneously presenting a popular kaleidoscope in the annual celebration of the Rosario festivities, the patron saint festivities of Moca. You could already hear the calamitous aspergios and the hoarseness of the aged voice of the unforgettable “Fuache”, who with his old accordion tried to sing the rhythms and melodies of his endless repertoire. That was the imminent notice of what would come next, it was the beginning of the festivities expected by all. The holidays were approaching. These festive days constitute an emotional escape for the mocanos where the immense capacity of a people to laugh and enjoy to the rhythm of their tasty music and their endless vocation to be happy is put to the test, even if it is to excuse the bad moments that the troubles of life they lavish on every human being. The Rosario festivities in Moca are a joyful call to temper the spirit of the Mocanos, which on this occasion vibrates and is filled with an unusual color that transforms the daily routine of Villa del Viaducto into an episode of immeasurable experiences that each year tries to exceed those of the previous year. In the time of our memories, the traditional fiestas del Rosario were festive celebrations where the ingenuity and enthusiasm of the Mocanos were put to the test when the Organizing Committee presented a program with ambitious achievements to surpass all previous celebrations.

It seemed like a titanic struggle between men and women who let their imaginations float to offer the mocanos a spectacle worthy of the collective enthusiasm that overflowed the hearts of the inhabitants of our beloved town. It was the time when the liquor and cigarette houses had not yet given the blow to our popular traditions, which had not yet degenerated into the corrupt bacchanalia that is exhibited many times precisely because of that propaganda overflow that reduces the party to a fight of brands of rum and cigarettes. In the festivities of Nuestra Señora del Rosario in the past, the streets of Moca were adorned with garlands and arrangements of multicolored paper around banana plants that were transported from the shady banana plantations to serve as decorations in the central streets of the city and thus offering a decorative environment that recovers the symbol of mocaneidad and is expressed with colorful ornaments to look like a miniature of the great world walks, be it the Bosque de Bolonia or the Chapultepec Gardens. It must be remembered that these patron saint festivities had a deep religious meaning and for that reason, they responded to a parochial criterion powerfully influenced by the principles of Christian morality. In these celebrations everything was done, but without excesses or scandals, since if it was outside the norm, there was the risk of receiving like a volley of thunder the reprimand, from the Sunday pulpit, from a stentorous and melodious voice of Father Bobadilla. that condemned any slip or excess committed. In the days prior to the celebration, Moca lived an unusual hustle and activity. The beautiful girls of the community were preparing to attend the queen's coronation party that year. Young people worried about wearing new finery and commissioned their suits to those artisan tailors who with their prodigious hands, with scissors and needles, made jewels that made their owners feel proud. They were true masters in the sartorial art. The muchachada anticipated with great emotion the arrival of Miguel Monclús and his “horses” and the flying chair, the great circus show available to all the boys. Miguel Monclús with his elongated figure of an "ebony bonzo" instilled a prolonged admiration that he returned very smiling with an "oh, son". He was a connoisseur of his people and their customs.

Moca, in its folkloric and cultural expression, is characterized by having a historical culture according to the events presented and the traditional elements that identify this community as a Folkloric entity of its region. Over time, Moca has experienced changes and new trends in their customs as a people. Costumes, and with them the lack of inhibition that allows us to allegory to things, situations, characters, legends, stories and events. Although a town begins in carnival activities, the experience of other towns is very important and even references are taken from their costumes, characters, masks, it is necessary for that town to identify things, situations, characters, legends, stories, events and their own traditions. It is a way for the carnival to be an expression of its people, of its idiosyncrasy, of what belongs to that town and what it aspires to be. These criteria are what make carnival a cultural, educational and constructive party. Moca, a city that was founded in 1885, despite its solid cultural roots, this community did not have a consolidated tradition of celebrating carnival, despite the fact that in 1928 a majestic celebration was held, which concentrated the most important sectors of the Mocana community. In this first carnival that was celebrated in 1928, collected by the Moca anthologist Julio Jaime Julia, in the book "Notes for the History of Moca" it is established that it was a memorable celebration, a beautiful young woman named Macana was proclaimed as dictator of the festivities. Virita Guzman. Virita Guzmán was a young woman from the small clan of the social elite of Villa del Viaducto, at that time, who came from one of the most distinguished families in this community. This was the first Reyna that the Mocano carnival had.

This first carnival held in Moca was sponsored by El Club Recreativo. In 1988 from the city council what the CENSODE does today was tried. Investigations were made around what could characterize this carnival. The investigation yielded the results that "El Jinchaíto de Moca" was the "surreal" character with a cultural, ancestral and own character. He is also known throughout the country and outside of it. Other cultural and carnival allegories can also be "Los puercos de pitico" "El thunder de Machepa" the different "cucos" and popular characters from our neighborhoods and communities. The patriotic fervor of Moca, the heroic action of our men could be carnival themes. The viaduct and the history of the railway, our scoop in having a zoo-botanical as a province, the saying of being "dry, shook and half for good drawer" as the characteristic of announcing the dead through street loudspeakers, are appropriate elements of the culture and folklore of Moca. The sayings that "The mocanos walk in the middle of the street" and that when it is about to rain "Do like the mocanos that let it fall", are also other elements. To give more specific details about the folkloric elements of this community in general, we could write a brief review of their origin, in the links above.

Theater

On March 29, 2007, the Grupo Cosecha Teatro was founded, with the purpose of strengthening the theater movement of Moca and the entire Cibao region. It arises from the concern of Alexander Jerez, to rescue the traditional value that has characterized this municipality in the development of the theater, in order to elevate art and culture, in order to awaken interest in artistic development.

Constituted by a group of young theater professionals, with clear objectives and goals regarding theatrical aesthetics.

In a constant desire to show their work and with that thirst to project and expand the theatrical art, Cosecha Teatro has made several presentations in different places in the Dominican Republic and the Espaillat province.

In 2007 it obtained 3.er place at the VII Emilio Aparicio Festival in the city of Santo Domingo, with the play "El Rey Clinejas" by the playwright Manuel Rueda, under the direction of Víctor Checo. In that same year he carried out his "1st Student Theater Season" in the city of Moca, with said work.

Cosecha Teatro performed for the second time at said festival in March 2008, with the play “Hay Locos” by Lenín Comprés, directed by Rossy Torres, awarded 1.er award.

Cosecha Teatro has also produced other productions: “La Farsa y Justicia del Señor Corregidor” by Alejandro Casona, under the direction of Belkys Pineda; "Laura" by José Adolfo Pichardo, directed by Alexander Jerez, among others.

In 2008 he was invited to the XXVIII Caribbean Festival, in Santiago de Cuba, which is held from July 4 to 11 of each year, presenting “El Rey Clinejas” there.

For their uninterrupted work, this group has earned recognition from the Mocana community and from public and private institutions.