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David Ruiz | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Nicolas Ruiz Puga August 14, 1966 |
| Citizenship | Belizean |
| Occupations |
|
| Writing career | |
| Language | Spanish, English |
| Period | 1990-2026 |
| Genres | |
| Notable work | Old Benque |
David Nicolas Ruiz Puga MBE (born August 14, 1966) is a Belizean author and cultural activist from Benque Viejo del Carmen. He is known for his contributions to Belizean literature, particularly to Spanish-language and Mestizo cultural Belizean literature. His first and best known work, Old Benque, was published in 1990. He is also known for his cultural advocacy through founding the Community of Artists for Cultural and Historic Endeavors (CACHE) and his association with the Benque Viejo House of Culture.[1][2]
Writing career
[edit]Ruiz published his first book Old Benque: Érase una vez in Benque Viejo in 1990.[2] The work was an anthology collection of four short stories blending historical events with the traditional folklore characters of Western Belize, with each story focusing on an encounter with the supernatural in the context of a changing society. Old Benque included illustrations by Ruiz himself.[3]
Old Benque was followed by other short stories by Ruiz such as Got seif di cuin! in 1995 and La Visita in 2000 which similarly focused on Belizean folklore and history.[4] In 2010, Ruiz published Under the Yax'ché Tree, his first English-language work.[5] Ruiz also published the children's novel Jonas Matapalo in 2002.
In 2026, Ruiz published the novel The Lockdown a Countdown – En la tercera Ola del Covid y unos cuentos más, which focused on short stories from the time of Belize during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
Cultural activism
[edit]Ruiz founded the Community of Artists for Cultural & Historical Endeavors (CACHE) in 2000, a non-profit dedicated to promoting Mestizo and Maya culture in Benque Viejo.[6] The group spearheaded the establishment of the Centennial Memorial Park in 2000, the Benque Viejo House of Culture in 2001, and the Edison 'Seferino' Coleman House Project in 2017.[7][2] Ruiz currently serves as the Secretary-General of CACHE.[8]
Ruiz has further been involved in organizing workshops and conferences to promote culture, literacy, and education regionally, nationally, and internationally.[2]
Educational career
[edit]Ruiz is a teacher by profession. He currently serves as the dean of Jean Paul II Junior College in Benque Viejo.[9]
Bibliography
[edit]- Old Benque: Érase una vez en Benque Viejo (1990). Cubola Productions. ISBN 978-9-6862-3307-0
- Got seif di cuin! (1995). Editorial Nueva Narrativa. ISBN 978-2-2961-6067-5
- La Visita (2000). Ediciones Pleamar. ISBN 978-9-7681-1147-0
- Jonas Matapalo (2002). BRC Printing. ISBN 978-9-7681-1171-5
- Under the Yax'ché Tree: On legends, tales and apparitions in Western Belize (2010). ISBN 978-9-7681-9735-1
- The Lockdown a Countdown – En la tercera Ola del Covid y unos cuentos más (2026). Ti-Puj Publishers.
Honors and awards
[edit]In 2006, Ruiz was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his contributions to education, literature, and culture in Belize. In 2012, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award from the Government of Belize.[2][10]
References
[edit]- ↑ "David Nicolas Ruiz Puga". www.goodreads.com.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Nation Builders - 501academy". 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
- ↑ Ruiz Puga, David N. (1990). Old Benque: érase una vez en Benque Viejo-- [Old Benque: Once upon a time in Benque Viejo] (1st ed.). Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize: Cubola Productions. ISBN 978-968-6233-07-0.
- 1 2 BBNTEAM (2026-04-11). "Benque Viejo Author David Ruiz launches new book "The Lockdown: A Countdown"". Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com. Retrieved 2026-09-21.
- ↑ ""Under the Ya'axche Tree," a culturally inspired book by David Ruiz | News 5 Belize Archive". archive.channel5belize.com. Retrieved 2026-09-21.
- ↑ "CACHE". www.cachebelize.org. Retrieved 2026-09-21.
- ↑ "CACHE artists hold 20th AGM in Benque | Amandala Newspaper". amandala.com.bz. Retrieved 2026-09-21.
- ↑ "Benque Group Pushes to Declare Centennial Park a Heritage Site". Love FM Belize News & Music Power. Retrieved 2026-09-21.
- ↑ "CACHE artists hold 20th AGM in Benque | Amandala Newspaper". amandala.com.bz. Retrieved 2026-09-21.
- ↑ "7 News Belize". www.7newsbelize.com. Retrieved 2026-09-21.