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

Emilio Bastidas (1905-1976) – Poet, essayist, novelist, politician and diplomat.
Winner of the Tirso de Molina Literary Contest in the City of Pasto, Bastidas' best work is his essay The Mocker of Seville. His other works include About Pain, Death and Dreams, The Man Who Lost His Name and Inside Trip. He was born in Samaniego.

Aurelio Arturo (1906-1974) – Poet and lawyer.
The outstanding poet and lawyer Aurelio Arturo, was awarded the Guillermo Valencia National Prize of Poetry in 1963 for his book Morada al Sur (Home in the South), Arturo's poem of the same name had been published years earlier.
He created and directed the radio-literary magazine called Voices of the World. He held important public positions. Arturo was awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa from Universidad del Cauca. The poet was born in La Unión.

José Domingo Néstor Sarasty (1906-1976) – Lawyer and writer.
This prominent jurist and politician sat on the Supreme Court of Justice and held the positions of Attorney General, Minister of Government, Senator, and diplomat. He was the author of the three volume Jurisprudence of the Honourable Supreme Court of Justice. His place of birth was Pupiales.

José Elías del Hierro – Politician and lawyer.
A distinguished attorney and politician, del Hierro was a Minister of Government, President of the Senate and director of the Caja Agraria.
He was the founder and editor of El Derecho newspaper and also headed the Conservative Party in Nariño. Del Hierro was born in Pupiales.

Ignacio Rodriguez (1911-1983) – Writer and historian.
Rodríguez Guerrero was a humanist who wrote numerous books on history and literature. He was a member of the Colombian Academy of the Spanish Language and the Colombian Academy of History.
He was awarded the Cross of Boyacá and from Spain he received the Isidro Bonsoms International Prize. A monument in his honour was erected in his native city Pasto.

Cecilia Caicedo – Writer and philologist.
She holds a doctorate in Philosophy and Letters and Hispanic Literature from the University Complutense of Madrid.
She is currently a professor at the Technological University of Pereira (Risaralda). Her many books include Verdes sueños, La ñata en su baúl, Novelistic Interrelation in Gabriel Garcia Márquez' Works, The Yurupar, Risaraldense, Literature, Origins of Colombian Literature, and Bibliographical Patrimony of Risaralda. Cecilia was born in Pasto.

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Musicians and Composers

Luis Enrique Nieto (1899-1968 ) – Composer and musician.
Composer Luis E. Nieto is considered one of the best musicians from Nariño. His most popular piece is the bambuco entitled Chambú.
Other examples of his music are Trepando al Galeras, Valle del Cauca and Saludo a Bogotá.
Nieto was born in Pasto.

Chucho Vallejo – Composer and musician.
Composer of Andean music, and interpreter of the Andean “quena” flute, Valllejo was the creator of the music groups Trigo Negro and Quena Ancestral. He won first prize at the Latin American Music Composition Contest in France.
He was born in Pasto.

José Revelo – Musician, composer and arranger.
He studied music at the Conservatory of the University of Antioquia in Medellín where he earned the degree, "Master of Guitar".
Revelo has given concerts in several cities in Colombia and other countries. He formed part of the famous instrumental trio called Seresta.
He has been a music professor for several years and, at present, he is a professor at the University of Nariño.
Some of his compositions are Fantasía en 6/8, Mestizaje and Mitología. Maestro Revelo has been awarded several prizes at the Mono Núñez Festival, the Pasillo Festival in Aguadas and at national trio competitions. In May 2008, he received well-deserved recognition in his hometown of Ipiales.

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Outstanding People from Various Fields

Constanza Jossa
The leader of a unique project, “A New Form to See the Way”, Jossa, who is blind, guides tourists and teaches them about the natural world in Colombia.
Despite her disability, she can recognize over 40 species of plants through touch and smell. She can also distinguish the many songs of birds from her region and has recorded them for teaching purposes.
She has written in Braille, a summary of medicinal herbs and their benefits.
Jossa was born in El Encanto in 1985.

         

"Miss Colombia" Beauty Queen


–1959–
Stella Márquez
International titles:
Miss Panamerican In 1957,
Miss Latinoamérica in 1958
Miss International in 1960.
Born in Cali (Valle) in 1939.

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"MISSES COLOMBIA" SINCE 1932