Tulum, Quintana Roo — Rafael Marin participated as a special guest in a Maya ceremony held on the Caribbean coast to commemorate the 18th anniversary of Tulum’s creation as a municipality. The event reflected on the town’s journey and the challenges ahead for achieving balanced, sustainable development that benefits all residents.
Before the official proceedings, Maya priest Higinio Dzul led a ritual dedicated to the four cardinal directions at the water’s edge, offering prayers and gratitude for Tulum’s past, present, and future. The ceremony evoked the town’s deep ancestral ties to Maya culture, emphasizing that its growth is rooted in a history far older than its 18 years as a municipality.
Teacher Noemí Esquivel Calderón then delivered an emotional account of the men and women who made the municipality’s creation possible. Drawing on her seven decades of life experience, she recalled the early days when the community began forging its identity. Esquivel, who attended Tulum’s first school, the Julio Ruelas elementary school, wove a narrative filled with memories, names, and anecdotes that transported attendees to the time when pioneers carved a path through the jungle, dreaming of a better future. Her speech became one of the ceremony’s most significant moments, reminding everyone that behind Tulum’s international fame lies a story built by families, teachers, workers, and visionaries who believed in this land long before it became a world-renowned destination.
Official chronicler Hugo Villagómez Villalobos then narrated the territory’s ancestral history, recalling the legacy of the first Maya families settled in the region and the evolution of a community that, without losing its roots, became one of Mexico’s most emblematic destinations. His address offered a journey through the events, figures, and traditions that have shaped Tulum’s identity, underscoring the importance of preserving historical memory as a guide for facing present challenges and building the municipality’s future.
Speaking before founders, pioneers, business leaders, social leaders, and representatives from various sectors, Marin highlighted that Tulum’s history is the result of the collective vision and effort of generations who bet on turning this land of deep Maya roots into one of the world’s most recognized destinations. “Tulum comes of age. The ninth municipality of Quintana Roo turns 18 years of history, growth, and transformation,” he said, while acknowledging the contribution of those who drove the municipality’s creation and laid the foundations for its development.
In his message, Marin argued that Tulum’s new phase must be built under a vision that combines economic growth, social justice, and community well-being. “I share the same dream that inspired those who imagined the Tulum of today: a future where development and social justice go hand in hand and benefit everyone,” he stated.
He also noted that the municipality has the opportunity to regain its direction through social participation, citizen trust, and the strengthening of community values. “No one should be happy when Tulum is doing poorly. On the contrary, we all have the responsibility to contribute so that this destination regains the path of prosperity, well-being, and trust,” he emphasized.
The reflections shared during the commemoration aligned with the transformation agenda promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum, aimed at ensuring development reaches all sectors of the population and generates opportunities from the grassroots. In that regard, Marin called for joining efforts so that Tulum’s growth continues to be accompanied by inclusion, order, security, and shared prosperity, as part of consolidating a new era of well-being for Quintana Roo and Mexico.
With the Caribbean Sea as a backdrop and the memory of founding families as inspiration, Marin closed his participation with a message that resonated among attendees: “Here is my hand. As one of you, I want to join the task of building the best possible future for Tulum.” The call, on the municipality’s 18th anniversary, focused not only on what Tulum has achieved but on everything it can still accomplish to remain a benchmark of development, identity, and hope for new generations.
