Making a Difference in Puerto Vallarta
by Vallarta Online Staff | published: 6/28/2007
While the mayor of Puerto Vallarta cannot boast of having much free time; he enjoys "common" hobbies, as he calls them: movies and music. "The Godfather"; is his favorite movie and Akira Kurasawa his favorite director. His musical tastes vary from Pink Floyd and Peter Gabriel, to José Alfredo Jiménez, and Silvio Rodríguez. Javier Bravo shares with Bay Vallarta his hobbies, his concerns, and words to live by. What concerns me most about Vallarta is the attack on the mountains. I myself - like many Vallartans - grew up in a Vallarta where there was not even a television signal and I grew up in contact with nature; swimming in the river, in my case in the Rio Cuale, going to the beach, and going to the mountains. Today, seeing the Rio Cuale without water is something that hits me hard; I also very much regret seeing how everyday more of the mountain is built upon. "These days I have very little free time. The truth is that at these days, free time is something I crave, there is so little, if I have any at all. The truth is that even I never imagined that the grind of Mayor’s job would be so demanding-however, in addition to catching up on my rest, I like see movies. I like go to the movies, but if I can’t make it to the cinema, I watch them at home and listen to music. I also try to spend time with friends and family. That is important to me and what I am able to fit in." "I really need to be near the ocean. When I left Vallarta to study- I studied in Guadalajara for a career as a lawyer-, I suddenly missed the ocean and I had to come back to Vallarta just to see it; I also very much like to go to restaurants where I can see the ocean. Fortunately I now have an office where I can see it daily. The ocean is something that I like very much and it relaxes me a lot to be near it; to see it, to enjoy it, and as I mentioned, it is the way I grew up. " "There are two historical characters I have always admired: Ricardo Flores and Benito Juárez. Flores, I believe, embodies the most pure ideals of the Mexican Revolution; giving everything without asking for anything, he even died in prison. Juárez is without doubt, the great Mexican statesman and can say that he was the great builder of the Mexican State. With unequaled nerve, and during a very difficult time in Mexico’s history, he managed to leave the Republic moving ahead with honesty and with an impressive intellectual clarity. I also really admire my father because he was my teacher. We talked a lot, we were great friends. I owe, pardon me for repeating my self, but I owe him my education." "I am not pretentious. I do not have aspirations to be remembered. My ambition is always do my best in any situation. The only thing that I hope is to do my best in every sense, for example now as a leader. But when you extend your hand and give me the opportunity to be a friend, I also would like to do my best at that. I am very concerned about doing my best; I learned in my house, I learned very well and exercised daily. The important thing is to give and when you give, you realize that it is the source the most wonderful happiness; to the extent that the more you do, the happier you are in return. That is why we should always be positive and give good things if we hope to receive the same." "There is no greater privilege than to have the opportunity to help and intervene directly in the development and improvement of our society; so that those who are privileged will also carry a commitment and a responsibility. Welcome are all those working for Puerto Vallarta and I wish them every success, because the measure of their efforts is the success of Puerto Vallarta." |
Other spotlights |