Presidents

President of the Republic of Colombia

Misael Eduardo Pastrana (1923-1997)
Presidential term: 1970-1974
Place of birth: Neiva.

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Writers, Poets and Intellectuals
(Arranged by date of birth)

Waldina Davila de Ponce de Leon ( 1823-1900 ) – Writer and painter.
El trabajo, written by the renowned autor Waldina Dávila de Ponce de León was the first huilense novel. Other of her works include Poetry, Series of Novels, Light at Night, and The Muleta.
The author lived and studied painting in Bogotá from a very young age. She has won a number of prizes for her painting and ivory miniatures. Dávila was born in Neiva.

Jose Eustasio Rivera (1889-1928) – Writer.
Rivera was the author of The Maelstrom, published in 1924; it is now considered one of Columbia's most important literary works. His book of sonnets, Promised Land , was first published in 1921.
He has received many honours and decorations from many educational centers. He was born in Neiva.

Joaquin Garcia (1894-1948) – Historian and novelist.
Among this writers' works are Neiva in the 17th Century and Huila and Its Aspects, two very important books about the history and culture of Huila. They were published in 1932. He was born in Neiva.

Humberto Tafur – Short story writer and novelist.
A significant figure in Colombian literary circles, Humberto Tafur has written many books including, The seventh man, Peace of the Cartels, and The Last News.
As an homage the “Departmental Short-story Contest Humberto Tafur” was established, and an educational centre in Neiva bears his name. He was born in 1935.

Isaias Peña – Literary critic and writer.
Founder of the University of Central Bogota's writer's workshop, Peña Gutiérrez is an outstanding figure in the fields of investigation and literary criticism.
He has penned many books, such as, The Door and the History and Write to Breathe. He was born in Saladoblanco in 1943.

Benhur Sanchez – Novelist and painter.
A renowned “huilense” author, Sánchez has written many short stories and essays. His novels include, The Old Maid, The Night of Your Skin, At a Man's Pace, and This Night in November.
He has received honours and awards. Sánchez was born in Pitalito in 1946.

Guillermo Gonzalez – Writer and professor.
González Otálora is a great promoter of Colombian culture who has been vice president of the folkloric festivals of Colombia, an advisor of the Huila Department of Culture and an executive director of the national Federation of Culture.
He is also a university professor whose written works incorporate You Are Crazy, The House, and Myths of Huila, among others. He was born in La Plata in 1956.

Carlos Alberto Celis – Medical doctor, writer and painter.
Celis is not only a distinguished surgeon for the Children's Heart Foundation of Bogotá but is a well-known novelist and poet. His two published books of poetry are Music at the Rhythm of the Heart and Dreams of Mirrors . He was born in Algeciras in 1960.

Winston Morales – Writer and poet.
The poem Temps era Temps won this writer the first prize at the “Gustavo Ibarra Meriano” second National Contest of Poetry. He has won numerous other awards including the IX Biennial “José Eustasio Rivera".
Morales Chavarro was born in Neiva in 1969.

Artists

Ricardo Borrero   ( 1874-1931) – Landscape
painter.
A renowned painter and director of the Bogota Fine Arts School, Borrero Álvarez was awarded a gold medal in Seville, Spain in 1929 for his great work.
Eight of his paintings are owned by the National Museum of Colombia. He was born in Giante.

Mario Ayerbe – Painter.
Awards: First Prize, at the III Hall of artists in Huila (Neiva) and three honorable mentions. His paintings have been exhibited in several galleries and museums in Colombia and aboard. His works have been acclaimed not only in Colombia but in Spain, the United States, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Venezuela. Ayerbe was born in Pitalito 1956.

Artists (Cont.)

Jose Milton Morales – Painter.
He was awarded the First International Prize of Fine Arts "Compositor Antonio Gualda Spain 2008", the International Arts Prize in Granada (Spain), the first prize for painting at the "V Biennale of Contemporary Art" in Buenos Aires (Argentina) as well as many other prizes. His works have been exhibited in several galleries and museums in Colombia, Spain, Greece, Brazil, Ecuador and Argentina. The artist was born in Oporapa in 1960.

Diego Guzman – Sculptor and painter
Exhibitions in Bogotá and Neiva. First place in sculpture, VII Rotary Art Exhibition, World Trade Center in Bogota and winner of the City Villamil Neiva Competition in 2002. He has made three monumental sculptures. Two of them are in Neiva and the third one is in Cogua (Cundinamarca). The sculptor was born in Neiva in 1974.

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Actors (In Spanish)

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Musicians, Composers and Singers

José Ignacio Olave – Violinist, composer and arranger.
The composer of over 200 classical, popular and folkloric songs, Olave Cabrera was also the founder of the Alma Huilense group and the South-Huilense Quintet.
He received the “Cacique Timando” gold drum from the Government of Huila and won the Camilo Torres Gold Medal. He was born in Paicol in 1920.

José Ignacio Tobar (1922-2007) – Composer and singer.
An acclaimed player of mandolin, guitar and banjo, Tobar was the composer of nearly 500 songs, including, Huila de Mis Amores and Camino Real y Soy del Alto Magdalena.
Among many honours, he has received the Order of the Huilensidad, The Gold Drum, and The Gold Colono. Tobar was born in Neiva.

Jorge Villamil (1929-2010) – Composer and medical doctor.
One of the most important composers of folkloric music in Colombia, Jorge Villamil has written bambucos, pasillos, bundes, guabines, rajaleñas, sanjuaneros, porros, and boleros.
He has been honoured throughout the Americas, in such countries as the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, and Venezuela. At home he received many honours including the Cross of Boyacá, the Commander Cross, the Order of Democracy and the Order of Merit. He was born in Neiva.

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Dancer

Raquel Ércole – (1940-2021) Actress and dancer.
A woman of great beauty, Raquel Ércole has been called the Sofia Loren of Colombia. Before founding her own dance troupe, she was a classical and traditional dancer. Later in her career she became a renowned actress. Ércole was born in Neiva.

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Duets

Emeterio and Felipe, Los Tolimenses.
Famous singers who were full of humour and wit, Jorge Ezequiel Ramírez (Emeterio) and Lizardo Díaz (Felipe), won many prizes as musicians, including, El Taitapuro de Oro, the Ciudad de Ibagué medal, and the Nemqueteba gold plaque.
In 2006, Diaz was honoured with the Drum of Gold in tribute to his artistic life.
"Emerterio" was born in Ibagué, Tolima, in 1929 and died in 2000.
"Felipe" was born in Baraya in 1928 and died in 2012.

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Music bands

Grupo Libertad – Latin American folkloric musicians.
This popular band was formed in Pitallito in 1985 and is directed by the composer Faiver Olave.
Their Andean style has been well received throughout Colombia and Latin America.