PEñUELAS, PUERTO RICO

'Peñuelas' (PAIN-wai-lahs) is a municipality in Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Adjuntas, east of Guayanilla, west of Ponce and north of the Caribbean Sea. Peñuelas is spread over 12 wards and Peñuelas Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). Peñuelas is known as "La Capital del Güiro" (The Güiro Capital) and "El Valle de los Flamboyanes" (The Valley of the Flamboyant Trees). Penuelas has about 20,000 inhabitants.

Contents

History

Flag

Coat of Arms

Demographics

'Barrios' (Districts/Wards)

Geo/Topography

Anthem

Economic

Business

Industrial

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

Festivals and events

Transportation

Education

Sports

Notable "Peñolanos"

History

Peñuelas was founded in 1793 by Diego de Alvarado.

Flag

It has a rectangular bottom in canary yellow and stands for the sun, symbol of the physical life. In the center it has a purple or violet cross: symbol of Christianity and its ecclesiastical order; it represents the spiritual life. The cross purple extends to all the points of the yellow rectangle.

Coat of Arms

The adornment above the shield, a stone wall, represents the perpetuity. The cross represents Santo Cristo de la Salud that stopped the sea that flooded Peñuelas. The purple arm represents the priesthood and the town of Peñuelas. The canary yellow represents the sun. The blue and white symbolize the choppy sea and the regal ensign represents the faith in Christianity, "In God We Trust".

Demographics

'Barrios' (Districts/Wards)

★ Barreal ★ Coto ★ Cuevas ★ Encarnación

★ Jaguas ★ Macaná ★ Quebrada Ceiba ★ Rucio

★ Santo Domingo ★ Tallaboa Alta ★ Tallaboa Poniente ★ Tallaboa Saliente

Geo/Topography

Rivers are: Guayanés, Macaná and Tallaboa.

Anthem

By José Tony Santos
El valle de Guyaboa te ha legado,

firmeza de sus peñas, del indio su valor,

del mar enfurecido tu Cristo te ha salvado,

tus hijos han frustrado, con sangre, al agresor.

Tus Aguas, las lágrimas de indígenas mejillas,

son fuentes de engría, frescura y flacidez,

tejiendo tus montañas, feraces maravillas,

susurran sus dolencias al Río Guayanés.

Viva Peñuelas, deportes, tradiciones,

viva su güiro, instrumento vegetal,

artesanos, poetas, trovadores,

que viva su talento musical.

De tu grandeza, humilde peñolano,

desde el cerrote al mundo le diré,

que así es mi pueblo, que a todos da la mano,

hospitalario, de paz, amor y fe.

Economic

Business

Customer service.

Industrial

Manufacturing

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

★ Charco de Soplaera (water pool)

★ Convento Caverns

★ Don Angel Pacheco Monument

★ Guilarte Forest

★ Unknown Soldier Monument

Festivals and events

★ Güiro National Fiesta - May

★ Patron Celebrations - March

★ Vuelta cyclista - Bicycle tour

Transportation

Public bus service which connects you to Ponce city(east) and guayanilla(west)

Education

6 Elementary schools, 4 Intermediate Schools,
1 High School

Sports

Peñuelas AA Amateur Baseball team is called Los Petroleros de Peñuelas (The Peñuelas' Oilers.) The origin of this name dates back to the days when Peñuelas was home to a major petro-chemical complex known as Corco. Although Corco closed operations in 1980, the name stuck throughout the years.
Also known as Luis "Tite" Arroyo's hometown, a baseball hero.

Notable "Peñolanos"

★ Alfonso Santiago - Catholic University History Director

★ Lorenzo A. Balazquiede - Writer

★ Luis Díaz Hernández - Writer

★ Francisco Martinez - distinguished leader of the Partido Popular Democratico in Peñuelas

★ Raquel Caliz - beloved teacher for the Tallaboa Elementary School

★ Germán Martínez-Ortiz - Chemist at CORCO Petrochemical on the 1970's