Playa del Carmen’s 123 Years of Unity and Roots

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — During a ceremony celebrating the 123rd anniversary of the founding of Playa del Carmen, Municipal President Estefanía Mercado recognized the Mayan legacy, the contribution of the founding families, and the strength of the community that has given the city its identity.

"We are a land founded with dignity, with Mayan roots, and with the strength of its people," the President stated, emphasizing that long before there were streets or buildings, this territory already had a soul and a profound spiritual meaning for the native peoples.

The event, held at the Parque Fundadores, saw the Mayor recall that surnames such as Quiam, Dzib, Puc, and Aguilar are part of the city's historical memory, along with the vision of the first families who imagined a future for what was then a small fishing village.

She also underscored the importance of the recent officialization of the name Playa del Carmen for the municipality, describing it as an act of historical justice driven by the citizenry.

In her address, Estefanía Mercado called for unity and collective work. "Playa del Carmen has great challenges, but we are going to face them with work, commitment, and the strength of our people. Here, no one gives up and no one is left behind," she expressed, reiterating her gratitude to all the people of Playa del Carmen for their dedication and love for the city.

Honoring Foundational Roots

In his speech, José Luis Acosta, president of Unidos por Playa A.C., highlighted the importance of strengthening the identity and memory of the founding families. He stressed that the true greatness of Playa del Carmen lies in its people and in the union that allowed for the construction of the first homes, temples, and community spaces.

"Playa del Carmen was born from a love of work, family, and the land. As long as we continue to honor our roots, this city will continue to be a home and a hope," he said.

Uncovering Historical Origins

For his part, Raymundo Tineo Celaya, the city's chronicler, recalled the historical origin of the name Playa del Carmen, a fact unknown for decades until a specialized commission promoted its investigation in 2002.

The key discovery was located in the Archivo General de la Nación: a letter dated November 14, 1902, in which the Compañía Colonizadora de Oriente Peninsular reported that chicle products were being shipped from "the beach to which we had given the name del Carmen."

From that point, he explained, the first permanent settlement emerged, formed by families. Over time, the village grew slowly until the tourist boom of the seventies and eighties transformed the place into a city in full development and, since 1993, into a municipality.

Recognitions and Ceremonies

During the ceremony, Estefanía Mercado presented recognitions to Benjamín Arias for his outstanding work in historical research to locate the document with the founding date and name of the city, and a Post Mortem recognition to Narciso Dzay, who was a driving force behind the construction of the first church, which is now the Capilla de la Virgen del Carmen in the Parque Fundadores.

Furthermore, she laid a floral wreath, toured the stands where artistic exhibitions were mounted, and unveiled a plaque at the Capilla de la Virgen del Carmen.

The event was attended by Eduardo Asencio, honorary president of the municipal DIF system; deputies María José Osorio and Lili Mis; members of the City Council and the municipal cabinet, as well as founding families.