Guanajuato, Gto., September 26, 2016.- In a ceremony that commemorates 160 years of the death of Rev. Marcelino Mangas de la Rabia, the university community made an homage to the ex-Rector of the House of Studies, insurgent and defender of the secular education, who constitutes an emblematic figure in the history of the University of Guanajuato (UG).

The event had the purpose to acknowledge the transcendental work of the thinker who dedicated almost 60 years of his life to lead the destiny of the Real College of the Purisima Concepción, for which the video "Marcelino Mangas de la Rabia, servant of the education in Guanajuato" was projected.

The Rev. Mangas de la Rabia was a disciple of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and close friend of José Maria Morelos y Pavón, who he knew in the College of San Nicolas in Valladolid. These characters were together by the liberty spirit and an ideal of equality, although they chose different trenches, since Don Marcelino took his principles to the area of education, in what today is the University of Guanajuato.

Rev. Mangas was an exemplary man, that despite the adverse circumstances he had to face, he defended the educational project in a situation of extreme violence and close-to-none resources, held UG's General Rector, Dr. Luis Felipe Guerrero Agripino, who led the ceremony organized by the Division of Law, Politics and Government (DDPG).

The best way to honor such illustrious predecessor –considered Dr. Guerrero—is to give our maximum effort so this institution continues being what Don Marcelino Mangas always wanted, an example of educational fortress and high spirituality, a place open to all ideological currents and where every voice fits.

The Rector of Campus Guanajuato, Dr. Teresita de Jesús Rendón Huerta Barrera, remembered that Rev. Mangas was who established the Forum studies (Law) and Mining in the House of Studies, where he taught Latin grammar. He was rector for almost two decades, time where he faced the armed independent fight and political conflicts that weakened education.

Nevertheless, he always defended the House of Studies as a pillar of education, institution to which he bequest values such as patriotism, wisdom, prudence, humbleness, respect and dedication. For all that, Dr. Rendón reminded Don Marcelino Mangas as a great patriot and Mexican insignia.

In the same sense, the Academic Secretary and in charge of the office of the Division of Law, Politics and Government, Dr. José Cervantes Herrera, affirmed that Rev. Marcelino Mangas de la Rabia "represents a model of behavior for who serves in this house of studies," since he was an illustrious man who was brave enough to maintain the spirit of the College of the State intact.

At the end of the ceremony, university authorities moved the DDPG Patio to reveal a commemorative plaque in honor to whom influenced the youth in "science, patriotism and virtue."

Afterwards, there was the panel "The bequest values by Rev. Marcelino Mangas de la Rabia to College students," where the Director of the Dep. of Culture and Society, Lic Diego León Rábago; UG's ex-Rector, Lic. Luis Felipe Sánchez Hernández, and the researcher of the Department of Studies of Culture and Society, Dr. María Guevara Sanguinés participated.