Centenarian Don Donato Chan Moo, a Pillar of Tihosuco

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo — One of the first repopulators of Tihosuco is about to turn 100 years old. Don Donato Chan Moo has been a muleteer, beekeeper, rancher, merchant, and at his age, he still cultivates the land.

In February of this year, the grandfather, the friend, the repopulator of Tihosuco, will celebrate 100 years of age. Don Donato Chan Moo is one of the repopulators of the historic town of Tihosuco, recognized by the people for his contributions to ranching, beekeeping, as a muleteer on the ancient Maya roads, and as a farmer.

Don Donato could spend hours talking about his anecdotes as a muleteer, such as when he took products from the countryside like honey and corn to Tixcacalcupul, Yucatán, on the old road where night often surprised him and he had to camp, and where sometimes the “bad winds” frightened him in the dark night.

On one occasion, his horse woke him among the trees where he was camping. He mentioned in the Maya language that the horse began to stomp the ground and bray, as if it were seeing something he could not see, trembling with fear, but staying in his hammock, he never knew what it was, maybe it was a bad wind, he said.

“Don Donato lived the boom of ranching in that time of abundance in Tihosuco, and the crisis when a plague caused the total loss of hundreds of cattle,” said one of his sons.

Don Donato Chan Moo is still a member of the Regional Cattle Union of Quintana Roo and the local cattle association of Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

At his age, he continues to care for his bees, cultivate the land, and feed the few cattle he still has.

Don Donato Chan Moo arrived in Tihosuco from Dzitnup, Yucatán, to work the land. Over the years, he would become one of the most important repopulators for his contribution to this town, which is now a site of historical monuments.

“Honor to whom honor is due: Don Donato Chan Moo, founder of the Tihosuco ejido, from that lineage of first repopulators from Dzitnup, the Yucatecan town from which most of the founding families of Tihosuco came,” said Gilberto Avilez.

“I am fortunate to know his son, Don Manuel, affectionately and respectfully called ‘Turco,’ a good neighbor since I arrived in the spirited town of Tihosuco in 1988. An example to follow is Don Donato, congratulations and blessings to his entire family,” said Juan Cahum, a teacher from the town.

Age does not matter; what matters is how one lives and with whom, for Don Donato.