Teachers’ Day in Nicaragua (Día del Maestro) is on the 29th of June and commemorates the patriotic deed of the Teacher and National Hero Enmanuel Mongalo y Rubio.
Enmanuel Mongalo was born in Rivas on the 21st of June 1834. His parents were Bruno Mongalo and Francisca Rubio, both upstanding members of the Rivas society. Enmanuel grew up in Rivas and as a young man was drawn to the idea of travel. The influence for this idea were the travelers from Europe and the United States using the Rio San Juan and then the thin strip of land known as Rivas as a crossing point between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In addition, he had a thirst for knowledge and had outgrown the colleges of Rivas.
Travel and Teaching
Mongalo left Nicaragua for San Francisco where he became somewhat lost in the big city and was homesick for the romance and ideals of his homeland. As a result, he soon returned to his beloved country and Rivas, his birthplace. There he dedicated more of his time to studies and teaching as well as writing geography and history text books. He had a deep patriotic passion for Nicaragua and carried a strong urge to improve the education of its children. He chose the career of teaching as a way of best serving his country.
William Walker
However, Mongalo’s work as a teacher was soon interrupted by the arrival of William Walker’s filibusters (see note below) at the Port of San Juan del Sur and threatening Rivas. The irony was that having studied in California (where the filibusters came from) Mongalo knew their mindset well. Many were violent miners, good horsemen and experts with a rifle. Mongalo wasted no time in gathering his people and explaining the imminent danger. His patriotism, passion and knowledge of the enemy were instrumental in convincing the quickly formed Nicaraguan troops that they had a “fight for Nicaragua” on their hands.
Meanwhile, the filibusters were quickly advancing on Rivas and were gathering in strength. The leaders of the local army (knowing that the filibusters would be a difficult enemy in regular combat) came up with a plan to set fire to the building with the invading army inside.
Mongalo the Hero
Enmanuel Mongalo volunteered for the task of setting the fires that would destroy most of the enemy and cause the remainder to retreat through the streets of Rivas. The first battle had been won; the day was the 29th of June of 1855.
Mongalo died on the 1st of February 1874 at the relatively young age of 38. His remains laid for many years in the Iglesia La Merced de Granada but were exhumed and transferred to the City of Rivas on the 29th of June of 1970 and reburied at the foot of a monument erected in his memory in Calle Mongalo.
The 29th of June was declared Teachers’ Day in Nicaragua as a tribute to the local teacher and hero Enmanuel Mongalo y Rubio.
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