Today is Jose de Diego day in Puerto Rico. My day started off busy in the office and talking to Luis about some kitchen cabinet work he is finishing up. Around 12:30 I started calling the Departmento de Hacienda to try to get information on getting my employees covered by workers compensation…which is another story in itself. Anywho, after about 10 phone calls and an hour on hold, I finally hung up and decided I would attack this again tomorrow.

I signed into face book, updated my status:
Departmento de Hacienda; Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico: Press 2 for English……..CLICK…ah, hello?

One of my friends saw this and informed me that it was Jose de Diego day and that EVERYTHING is going to be closed. Curious to learn more about why everything is closed, I googled Jose de Diego and read about this Puerto Rican public icon.

Jose de Diego was a founder of the Unionist party, a poet, advocate for the independence of Puerto Rico and known as the Father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement. He was born on this side of the island in Aguadilla in 1866. If you visit Puerto Rico you will see his name everywhere; street names, highways, schools and municipal buildings. Jose de Diego is celebrated on the third Monday of April every year.

Ya know, this Jose guy sure did do a lot of great stuff. He reminds me of the founding fathers of the United States and I instantly liked him. Next year, I’m closing my office for Jose de Diego day too.