





“KING EL NEGRO”
Through he words to express what we feel about a desperate situation which you have been compelled to pass, come with some difficulty; such as you do, seem futile and inadequate. What could one say that would in any way lessen your burden?
In a way of illustration and the fact of knowing the deceased young man personally, at least since we both were five years old, Joaquín Sánchez, “King el Negro”, never fell to our lot, but we realize the extent of the loss we all were sustained, especially in our sector of “La Marina”. Just few months before his death, we were part of a basketball team, “Los Rápidos”, and in unusually way at that time, one of the two “first category” teams representing our beloved town of Isabela in the nationally tournament of the year 1959. The other team was sponsored by the Isabela Lions Club.
It was a sad day for the whole town when the body of my best friend, Joaquín Sánchez, “King el Negro”, arrived from New York City. Sadly is to say that he was brutally murdered while trying to defend the honor of his fiancé at that time. They were surprisingly attacked while walking back to their homes that evening.
Four men with no reasonable motive attacked them, hence, in this hopeless situation
he reacted and immediately instructed her to run and search for help; and even though
for a few minutes and by himself, he fought them bravely and successfully, according
to witnesses, but suddenly one of them stabbed him in the abdomen with a dagger-
At a time like this, mere words are empty and shallow, but ours is a suffering which is universal, which belongs to every human being in every corner of the world. Unfortunately, a deep anguish which, sooner or later, cuts into every human heart, strong and weak. In no other way can a few words or short messages go further than the spiritual act of one who offers sympathy and undivided love.
While this instance, increasing that bond or link that last long after the unexpected terror attack and the shock of an event that causes an unfortunate and distressing result, which lasts long after misfortune has eased.
My best friend was a black child; we were the same age, also same dreams, interests
and goals. We shared our lives as tenders five years old friends, enjoyed mutually
faithful and loyal friendship until his exist to the Kingdom of our Heavenly Father.
Historically on those days, ninety-
Mrs. Juana Sánchez, his mother and his father Lalá, while I was entering the portal of their house, asked everybody toawait outside for a moment, and then she called my name and invited me to come in by myself, and closed the doors after me. For about a half of an hour we were inside together, and in the left side front of the coffin. I witnessed that day, one of the most dramatic moments and experiences of my life, as we sat together, prayed together, asking our Father in Heaven for spiritual guidance.
Suddenly, Mrs. Juana asked us to stand up, and we calmly stood up, then she asked me to reach the head of “King el Negro”, and instructed me the using of both hands, as usually she saw us playing as children. She stated, Papy remember, the same way both of you used to interact when playing one of your favorites games, the game of “the priest and the sinner”.
We were all crying and trembling, a very emotional moment indeed. With my both hands I was supporting his head to accommodate it back straight like Juana was instructing me. While supporting his head, in my hands coming unexpectedly my friend slumped back, and I lowered his head gently onto the tiny pillow. I told Juana and Lalá, be known that it’s aver, “King el Negro is gone”.
We experienced a sudden mild shock, that startled all of us and Juana immensely surprised me, when her first words to me, after the simulated ceremony, “Oh my God, he was so proud of you, he loved you so much”. Somehow I knew that these words were saying something very significant to me. Those are teaching words to be carried along the rest of my present time and eternal life.
Those words were like a spear…like a lance…like sudden shaft of light… like a revival alarm… like a startling message. I never ever before absorbed totally that moment, as I am doing now. However, the edge of physical suffering associated with the immense loss of “King el Negro”, as though I was going to know my friend better in death than I had ever known him in life, simply, a spiritual lesson.
Black is beautiful, thus that painful life experience enhanced my love, respect,
appreciation and consideration to all the African-
Later that evening, as I was crying while leaning against one of the walls of their living room, when “El Cáno”, his brother, came over to me and extended a comforting arm around me, hence, I couldn’t talk anymore through my tears. I wanted to tell them all, “I am not crying because he is dead, I am crying because he never told me that he was proud of me.
I remember very clear my last day in Isabela, before I left my beloved hometown of Isabela, my family and friends to go overseas as a soldier as an infantry man of the US Army during the time of the Korean War. He stood besides me all day and night while we went around town several times until 3:00 AM, that’s when I took the bus to go back to Fort Buchanan in San Juan to be embarked off overseas. And you know, my beloved readers of El Sol de Isabela, when I returned back two years later, he was the first to be there to greeting me back.
If and when at that time during my youth we were more attentive, then my spiritual feelings should have been probably nurtured enough, for the understanding of such a spiritual things. I should had experienced, anticipated and expected to know the great part I played in his wonderful life, and the undeserved part I was engaged with his attention, brotherhood, love and wisdom.
Death is the inevitable goal, and there may be some small degree of consolation in the thought that death is but a narrow starlit strip between the companionship of yesterday and the happy reunion of tomorrow. . .


Hummingbirds
are found only in the western hemisphere; they are the signature group
of birds for the new world tropics and form the second largest of all bird families.
As many as 340 species exist, but in most of the United States and Canada just a
single species can be found. Colombia, by comparison, reports 154 species. Here in
Puerto Rico there are five nesting species. In the following paragraphs I will describe
some special characteristics of hummingbirds, and then I will discuss hummingbirds
in Isabela.
Hummingbirds are exceptional physiologically and behaviorally. Their freely rotating
shoulder joints allow the wings to generate lift in any direction. Rapid wing beats,
typically 60-
Hummingbirds acquire the food energy needed to power their performance from flower
nectar (sugary solutions plants produce to attract pollinators) and the occasional
insect. One study on free-
Five species of hummingbird breed in Puerto Rico. Two, the Antillean Crested Hummingbird and the Green Throated Carib are limited to the eastern end of the island; they are species typical of the Virgin Islands and Lesser Antilles. The other three species may be found in Isabela.
Two of the species in Isabela, the Antillean Mango (Zumbador Dorado) and the closely
related Green Mango (Zumbador verde) are relatively large hummingbirds. The Antillean
Mango also occurs in Hispaniola and the Virgin Islands; the Green Mango occurs almost
exclusively in the mountainous areas of western Puerto Rico. Both species can be
found in the Guajataca State Forest. However, if you have the right flowers in your
yard, you may find Antillean Mangos close to home. They visit long-

The Puerto Rican Emerald is third species found in western PR. Closely related species occur in Hispaniola and Cuba and South and Central America. The emerald is much smaller than the mangos and has a short straight beak. The males are bright green with a black forked tail. The females are green on the back and gray below. The small size and short beak make this species easy to distinguish from the mangos. Unless you live well out in the country in a forested area, you are unlikely to see Puerto Rican Emeralds around your home.
Hummingbirds are endlessly fascinating to watch because of their unequaled flying ability and dramatic social interactions. Fortunately hummingbirds are easy to observe closely once they have been trained to come to nectar feeders. After the bird discovers the feeder, the bird will visit many times a day assuming that the feeder is kept clean and stocked with fresh sugar water. I use a highly concentrated sugar solution: one measure of sugar to four measures of water and no food coloring. I haven’t seen many hummingbird feeders for sale in Puerto Rico, but they can be ordered online or made at home. Enter the words “homemade hummingbird feeder” in Google for simple instructions. The real trick is being patient while the hummingbirds discover the feeder. If the birds do not already know about feeders, this can take many weeks. While waiting for the birds to make the discovery, it is essential to keep the sugar solution fresh. In Puerto Rico it should be changed three times a week to avoid fungus contamination that will train the hummingbirds to ignore the feeder.
Antillean Mango juvenile male
Green Mango
NATUARTE©
NATUARTE©

