The story that motivates me to write has been saved for more than half a century and has cost me several days of wanderings. With her I want to pay tribute to all educators and especially to my dear teacher Oria Cid Cid, who led me by the hand in my first steps for my determination to learn.

On the way

When we walk along Teniente Cañón Street, in La Vigía neighborhood we can find a building similar to a neo-Gothic church. This place has been the Jesús Suárez Gayol Elementary School since 1970.

Its striking appearance shows signs of deterioration and for two years, due to an electric discharge during a downpour, the cross that crowns the bell tower threatens to fall. Some pieces have already scared the passerby and despite the management of the doctor from that community, teachers, parents and neighbors, the restoration is not even in sight.

As I passed by, after many years, I remembered my first year of studies at that school and a conversation with my teacher.

A story

I was in fourth grade and in my classroom, one of the original ones in the building next to the main office that had a wooden bookcase mounted outdoors.

I was helping the teacher to organize some books and when I took them away, I could see a sign stamped with Gothic calligraphy that said: María Montejo Tan. It seems that at that age my interest in life stories started to awake and at that moment I asked who she was.

Maria Montejo Tan

In search of information about this kind woman, I went to visit some churches and the neighborhood where people with gray hair remember her as a noble soul, of religious beliefs who used her fortune and the funds that she managed to raise funds, to build an orphanage for girls, it was the first use of the building, which was inaugurated in 1926.

“El Amparo de la Niñez”, the association she created, was made up of a large number of residents of Camagüey, partners in this noble purpose, who contributed monthly with whatever they had: pesos, pesetas and even with reales, thus this place was growing.

On May 17th, 1931, the chapel was inaugurated, which was given the name of “La Milagrosa”, in which the fifty girls that by then already lived there prayed.

Generous and concerned for her daughters of the heart, she is also remembered by the person in charge of the christening file of Our Lady of Solitude church, Arístides Palacio Caraballo, who participated in meetings with María’s pupils on Sundays and at the end shared sweets and gifts with them.

The construction work continued. Other plots were added to the initial one and, finally, the entire land of the block. The second floor was built for the girls’ dormitory, a task in which the Consolidated Railway Company was an important contributor, months later the chapel tower was completed.

María Montejo was happy for this building, but her spiritual work gave her more satisfaction, because in addition to giving instruction and shelter to poor girls, she trained them in trades that integrated them into society.

She passed away on September 6th, 1943. She was then in her early eighties. Until 1960 her remains rested in the hospice chapel, today they are in the cemetery, near the tomb of Father Olallo.

Her marks

In my search for information about the life of this generous woman, I was able to verify that there is very little about her work, which was undoubtedly admirable and of great selflessness.

All good human work always leaves traces. That is why those of María Montejo Tan penetrated the heart of a neighborhood, which still remembers her as a very old lady, full of love and surrounded by the girls, for whom she worked so hard.

Today her beautiful work is perpetuated in many teachers, that without knowing her history, walk in her footsteps and bring the light of knowledge to many corners.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García