Esta ley nombra la escuela elemental comunitaria "Morcelo" en Río Piedras, San Juan, como "Escuela Elemental Comunitaria Abelardo Díaz Alfaro" en reconocimiento a su destacada carrera como escritor puertorriqueño. La ley también establece que se realizará una actividad especial para conmemorar la designación y encarga al Comité Designador de Edificios y Carreteras Públicas tomar las medidas necesarias para cumplir con la ley.
(Approved October 28, 2002)
To name the "Morcelo" elementary community school, located at State Road No. 842, Km. 6.4, Morcelo sector of Barrio, Caimito Alto in Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico after Abelardo Díaz Alfaro, in recognition of his renowned and productive career as one of our most prestigious and valuable writers, a mainstay of the Puerto Rican literary art.
The illustrious figure of Abelardo Díaz Alfaro stands out among the greatest writers throughout the course of the history of Puerto Rico. This humble Puerto Rican managed, by his own merits, to get the affection and admiration of the Puerto Rican society through his outstanding deeds in the field of narrative literary art. Certainly, his knowledge and understanding of the unique nature of the Puerto Rican countryman made him recreate in his writings the typical images of our beloved countryside.
Don Abelardo, as he was fondly known, was born in Caguas on July 24, 1920, the son of Mr. Abelardo Díaz and Mrs. Asunción Alfaro. He studied Social Work at the University of Puerto Rico. Shortly after, he worked as a social worker in several towns, which provided him with valuable experiences that he would later use in his work.
We understand that the foundation of his passion to write began during his childhood within a family of educators and journalists. These circumstances inspired him to develop a unique narrative style that allowed
him to create the sharpest images of the social and political realities of his time. The adequate use of the resources of symbols and images in his typical narrations of our countrymen's everyday jobs and adventures witness, even today, his wisdom, effort and dedication to perpetuate this historic episode of the Puerto Rico of the early Twentieth Century. No doubt, we have been blessed with having countless fellow Puerto Ricans of this caliber.
His first text titled "Terrazo" was published in 1947, which gathered a beautiful collection of short stories and descriptions of the countryside. This text was so successful that several of his short stories have been translated into several languages, such as English, Czech, Polish, Russian, German, French and Italian, of which the short story "El Josco" is the most famous. He later published "Mi Isla Soñada", a selection of scripts written for the radio program called "Teyo Gracia y su Mundo".
His long legacy of images and short stories reached several newspapers, such as "Alma Latina" and "El Mundo"; and periodicals such as "Presente" and "Asomante". Precisely in 1956, "Asomante" published one of his most valuable literary gems, the short story "Los Perros", which is used in French universities and schools as a text for the study of said literary genre.
The relevant work of our illustrious Don Abelardo has transcended beyond the limits of our beautiful Island as one of the strongholds of the narrative worldwide. His art, molded and shaped by his inimitable capacity and talent, defined a time of great literary triumphs for Puerto Rico.
Very suitably, this Legislature approved Act No. 119 on July 11, 1988, which declares the $24^{ ext {th }}$ of July of each year as Abelardo Díaz Alfaro Day, in acknowledgement of a lifetime totally dedicated to making contributions to our society. Today, this Legislature deems it is pertinent to further perpetuate this legacy by naming the "Morcelo" elementary community
school, located at State Road No. 842, Km. 6.4, Morcelo sector, of Barrio Caimito Alto in Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico after him.
Precisely a school that, although located in the so-called San Juan metropolitan area, shows the natural beauty of the rural area that our dear Don Abelardo loved so much. We know that our humble writer and man of his country would feel very proud that an elementary school located in the mountains and the characteristic lush verdure of our Puerto Rico, be named after him in witness of his legacy. The "Morcelo" community also feels honored by this well-deserved designation.
Section 1.- The "Morcelo" elementary community school, located at State Road No. 842, Km. 6.4, Morcelo sector, of Barrio Caimito Alto in Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico is hereby named after Aberlardo Díaz Alfaro, in recognition of his renowned and productive career as one of our most prestigious and valuable writers, a mainstay of the Puerto Rican literary art.
Section 2.- On the day in which the Morcelo" elementary community school, located at State Road No. 842, Km. 6.4, Morcelo sector, of Barrio Caimito Alto in Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico is named after Aberlardo Díaz Alfaro, a Special Activity shall be held, coordinated by the Department of Education and the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in order to adequately disclose and communicate this designation.
Section 3.- The Buildings and Public Roads Designating Committee of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall take all the necessary steps to comply with the provisions of his Act, without being subject to the provisions of 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. 253 (H.B. 2780) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to name the "Morcelo" elementary community school, located at State Road No. 842, Km. 6.4, Morcelo sector, of Barrio Caimito Alto in Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico after Abelardo Díaz Alfaro, in recognition of his renowned and productive career as one of our most prestigious and valuable writers, a mainstay of the Puerto Rican literary art, 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