Calexico and Mexican Consulate host a book presentation on Juan Bautista de Anza
CALEXICO — The life and achievements of commander Juan Bautista de Anza were shared during the “Juan Bautista de Anza: Épica de las Californias” book presentation by author Manuel Pérez Rojas on Tuesday, January 31, as hosted by the City of Calexico and the Mexican Consulate in Calexico at city hall.
In a round table style, Calexico Councilmember Gloria Romo and Mexican Consulate Tarcisio Navarrete Montes de Oca joined Pérez Rojas in a presentation of his book and description of the historical figure.
Community Affairs Consul for the Mexican Consulate, Mario Beltrán Mainero, said that the goal of this event was to share with the public this book during the celebrations of 200 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States that started on December 12, 2022.
“For the Consulate, it is always important to deliver Mexican and binational culture topics for our community,” Mainero said. “We had the opportunity to bring this writer, who has recognized titles in Mexico and other countries, to present his vision on this particular region.”
According to the National Park Service ( NPS) website, in 1773, Juan Bautista de Anza, captain of the Tubac Presidio in Sonora (now southern Arizona) was commissioned by the Viceroy of New Spain to find an overland route from Sonora to California. This land route would be a more reliable means for supplying the Spanish outposts in California than the then current method of resupplying by ship. An overland trail would also help the Viceroy fulfill the king’s order to begin colonizing Alta California in answer to recent explorations along the West Coast of North America by Russia and England.
In 1775-76, De Anza led some 240 men, women, and children on an epic journey to establish the first non- Native settlement at San Francisco Bay. Today, the 1,200- mile Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail connects history, culture, and outdoor recreation from Nogales, Arizona, to the San Francisco Bay Area, according to the NPS website.
Romo said that due to the extensive investigation experience of Pérez Rojas, he documented De Anza’s history and how he founded both California cities of San Francisco and Monterey.
She said that despite many books locating De Anza’s birthplace in the United States, Pérez Rojas stated he was born in Sonora, Mexico.
“The message from Pérez Rojas was about the importance of Mexican pride,” Romo said. “He is inviting us to have that love for our (home) country (Mexico).”
“Great figures are native to Mexico,” Romo said. “Let’s have this pride of our Mexican roots and share that with our children.”
During the presentation, Pérez Rojas said that due to the lineage of notable Mexicans in history, he foresees a Mexican-descent governor or president.
Besides sharing his book on De Anza,
Romo said Pérez Rojas has also published 12 other titles. Among his works, he has a project on the history of Calexico and the Imperial Valley, as Pérez Rojas has documented the region for around 14 years.
Romo invited the community to support Pérez Rojas.
“I am going to keep working with Pérez Rojas to see the opportunity of publishing this investigation book of Imperial Valley’s roots,” Romo said.
“History always serves to lead a present and future,” she said.