Esta ley nombra la Escuela de la Comunidad Parcelas Canjas en Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico, como "Doña Felisa Rincón, Viuda de Gautier" en reconocimiento a su destacada carrera como servidora pública y ejemplo de honestidad en la Administración Pública. La ley detalla la trayectoria de Doña Felisa Rincón, destacando su labor como alcaldesa de San Juan y su contribución a programas como las Escuelas Maternales. También establece que el Departamento de Educación y el Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña coordinarán una actividad especial para publicitar la designación y que el Comité Designador de Edificios y Carreteras Públicas tomará las medidas necesarias para cumplir con la ley.
(Approved on October 28, 2002)
To name the School of the Parcelas Canjas Community, located on State Highway No. 842 of Barrio Caimito Bajo, in Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico, after "Doña Felisa Rincón, Widow of Gautier," in recognition of her distinguished and productive career as a consummate public servant, and an example of honesty in Public Administration.
The people of Puerto Rico know how to recognize those who have given luster and prestige to the positions they have occupied in the service of their country. We feel true pride and satisfaction in the gift of those who have been an example of what is required and of what it means to have the vocation for service to others. Doubtlessly, we have been blessed in having innumerable countrymen of this caliber.
Doña Felisa Rincón, Widow of Gautier, was prominent, through her own merit, among those who served the country well. Doña Fela, as we fondly knew her, was born in the picturesque town of Ceiba, the daughter of Doña Rita Moreno, a teacher by profession, and Don Enrique Rincón, a prominent attorney in said town. Because of her distinguished career, we understand that her parents raised her in an environment of love and of genuine preoccupation for others.
A sense of responsibility and a desire for personal and collective improvement marked Doña Fela's actions; from an early age she showed
great interest in fashion design. Her image of elegance, which she always strove to project in her public life, attests to her professed knowledge of and interest in the art of dressing well.
This great Puerto Rican's contribution to the country's public life dates back to 1932, when she was an active militant and collaborator of the defunct Liberal Party, led by the also illustrious Don Antonio R. Barceló. Precisely, in that year, Puerto Rican women obtained full participation in our democratic process with the very deserved right to vote. Doña Felisa, of course was essential and instrumental in the massive participation in said historic election.
Later, due to her disagreements with the leadership of said Liberal Party, Doña Felisa joined, body and soul, the group of Puerto Ricans whose ideals of social justice for the classes in need marked an unmatched era of social progress, in the country. Lead by the patriot, Luis Muñoz Marín, that same group of Puerto Ricans joined their vision and desire under the banner of the Popular Democratic Party in the year 1938. Felisa gladly accepted the challenge of assuming the Presidency of the Municipal Committee of said Party in the Capital City, San Juan, which she occupied for thirty (30) years. Even today, San Juan residents speak of the great work that Doña Fela performed for everyone.
In the year 1946, she assumed the position of San Juan Mayor, being reelected by direct vote in 1948, 1952, 1960 and 1964. Having finished her fourth decade as Mayor, in January 1969, she went into a deserved retirement, although her experience, knowledge and wisdom were always present for the benefit of the people. Up to the very end of her earthly existence, all Puerto Ricans attentively heard the advice and recommendations of our dear Doña Fela.
Her work as head of the San Juan Municipal Government is known by all, distinguished by the development of an adequate infrastructure for our Capital, obtaining services of excellence for our fellow citizens and providing public service with the necessary sensitivity to help regardless of political coloring. Her activities, imbued with social justice, never tired or diminished when it was time to serve.
Specifically, her dedication to the creation of a Special Program for Maternal Schools, to care for small children, is an important legacy which resulted in establishing the vital "Head Start" Program. Officers from Latin America, South and Central America and from the Caribbean visited the facilities at the San Juan Municipality to ascertain the great and advantageous changes made in our Capital City under Doña Felisa's leadership. Indeed, her work transcended the seas of our beautiful island.
Quite justly, on August 12, 1995, this Legislature approved Act No. 206, declaring each year's January 9 as the "Commemorative Day of Felisa Rincón, Widow of Gautier's Birthday" as an acknowledgement of a full life dedicated to service. Today, this Legislature also considers it appropriate to perpetuate this legacy by identifying Parcelas Canejas' Community School with this exemplary character's name.
We know that, although Doña Felisa was not exactly a teacher, her preoccupation and care for our children's welfare was always present in her work as San Juan Mayor and was always with her in her prayers for our country. May she receive today this distinction for her fondness and special attention toward the youngest ones, who really are the most important ones.
Section 1.- The School of Parcelas Canjas Community, located in State Highway No. 842 of Barrio Caimito Bajo, in Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto
Rico, is hereby designated after "Doña Felisa Rincón, Widow of Gautier," in recognition of her distinguished and productive career as a consummate public servant, an example of honesty in Public Administration.
Section 2.- The day that the Parcelas Canjas Community School, located in State Highway No. 842 of Barrio Caimito Bajo, Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico, is effectively given the name of "Doña Felisa Rincón, Widow of Gautier," a Special Activity shall take place, coordinated by the Department of Education and the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, for the purpose of adequately publicizing and providing notice of this designation.
Section 3.- The Buildings and Public Roads Designating Committee of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall take the necessary measures for compliance with the provisions of this Act, without regard to what is established in Act No. 99, of June 22, 1961, as amended.
Section 4.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 252 (H.B. 2769) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
ANACT to name the School of the Parcelas Canjas Community, located on State Highway No. 842 of Barrio Caimito Bajo, in Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico, after "Doña Felisa Rincón, Widow of Gautier", in recognition of her distinguished and productive career as a consummate public servant, and an example of honesty in Public Administration, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $6^{ ext {th }}$ of August of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director