By RICARDO CASTILLO
Revolution Parade
After years during past administrations diminished — both in size and meaning — the commemoration of the 1910 Mexican Revolution, the event is being revived as of today, Nov. 20, with a huge parade, starting at Mexico City’s main square El Zócalo.
Personnel of the Mexican Army, Navy and Air Force will reenact a historical review of times from Mexico’s pre-Hispanic era through the participation of the 201 Squadron Air Force that fought along U.S. forces in the Philippines.
The themes will be staged through 20 floats, with actors disguised as historical characters. Also participating will be 2,500 men and women on horseback, representing different armies of the Revolution fray. The key performer will be a celebrity revamped and revived especially for the parade: an 1899 steam engine named Petra. Choo choo!
In the sky there will be three Stearnmen brand triplanes and, of course, 201 Flying Squadron planes made up of several P47s still in top shape.
The parade will kick off at 10 a.m. from the Zócalo, to be reviewed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), head down 5 de Mayo Street into Paseo de la Reforma to finish at the polo grounds Campo Marte on Chapultepec Park.
Pemex Still under Hacker Attack
It’s been 10 days since the Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) computer system at the company’s headquarters in Mexico City fell victim to a vicious ransomware hacker attack, and apparently, there’s no let up.
According to company sources, at least 3,000 of its 60,000 computers at the site have been sequestered, forcing company workers to be practically at a standstill, although still present in the facility. Many, however, have resorted to their iPhones and iPads to continue work.
A Pemex press release said: “People are doing their work however they can through cell phones, and those with important projects go to places with Wi-Fi to continue their work.”
The hackers have demanded $4.9 million in ransom to let go of the company computers, but Energy Secretary Rocio Mahler said the government will neither pay nor negotiate with the hackers.
Opponents Claim AMLO Is a Racist
After AMLO announced last week that the bimonthly pension for seniors age 65 and 68 was to be taken for granted, the National Action Party (PAN) leadership interpreted the move as discriminatory and even racist as that privilege should be equal for all.
The difference between getting the 2,550 pesos every two months is that indigenous Mexicans will be getting it at age 65, while non-indigenous Mexicans will not receive the benefit until age 68, given that the majority of indigenous people have no protection or insurance at all.
On Monday, Nov.18, AMLO said that the criticizing the distinction between indigenous Mexicans and mestizos by opponents was shameful, conservative and inhumane, totally contrary to common good and fraternity.
“And if for doing that, they consider me a racist, then sign me down on the list,” AMLO said.
No Hay, No Hay
Waving a white handkerchief to say goobye, AMLO said this is exactly what will happen to the farm worker organizations blocking the streets around Congress in Mexico City and stalling the signing and approval of the 2020 Federal Budget, which should have been inked last Nov. 15. The budget is expected to be approved today, Nov. 20.
“We are resisting the remains of those bad practices and there is pressure from the formerly almighty leaders who want their special money bags in the budget,” he said.
“To quote the great comedian Hector Suárez, I tell them: No hay, no hay, no hay” (There’s none, there’s none, there is none).
Funds for farmers will be funneled through new banking organizations especially designed for farming and subsidies, and loans will be made directly to individuals, the president said.
Farming organizers — mainly from the groups El Barzón and Antorcha Campesina — have claimed they will remain in front of the Congress building until they get their money.
Arellano: Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Federal police met Monday, Nov. 18, with a group of U.S. bailiffs to deliver in extradition one of the operation leaders of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel as well as close associate of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, Luis Arellano.
Arellano was one of the most wanted criminal sought by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on charges of transporting and distributing large amounts of cocaine and marijuana in operations carried out in the Ciudad Juárez-El Paso industrial corridor. He was also charged with gun-running, as well as money laundering.
The extradition was legally carried out between the two nations as Arellano was wanted by a Texas Federal Court.
The delivery of Arellano was conducted at the Toluca International Airport, for the prisoner to be transported to an unknown destination.
Morena Convention in 2020
After much ado about nothing, the leaders of political party National Regeneration Movement (Morena) decided to postpone the much-touted November convention until sometime in 2020.
Morena, the majority party in both houses of the Mexican Congress, opted to keep leadership contenders in their current posts, according to acting president Yeidckol Polevnsky.
The formal announcement of the postponement will be made on Nov. 30, one day before natural party leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador celebrates his first year as president of Mexico.
The only foreseeable thing in the course of politicking within Morena is that the haggling for the party’s presidency will continue for at least seven more months, until the convention is held, most likely next June. For now, the show at Morena goes on.
Sports: Chiefs are the Chiefs
The Monday Night Football spectacular on Monday, Nov. 18, at Mexico Coty’s Azteca Stadium was – as have been the three previously official league games – a resounding success.
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 24-17 in a give-and-take game that was thrilling down to the last plays. The game was over at the minute to the final when Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers delivered a long pass that was intercepted by safety Jordan Lucas. In the next play, the super star of the match, Patrick Mahones of the Chiefs, only had to place a knee on Azteca Stadium turf to call it a victory.
Over 76,000 paying customers attended the game, which finished well with 11 of play, leaving the Chargers now with a hopeless 4-7 futures, while the Chiefs still have hopes with their 7-4 record.
And yes, we Mexican football fans were delighted to have these gringos here.