Pablo Presbere Day, also known as “Día de Pablo Presbere” in Spanish, is a significant cultural celebration in Costa Rica, particularly among the indigenous population of the Talamanca region. This commemoration honors the memory of Pablo Presbere, an indigenous leader who played a pivotal role in the struggle against Spanish colonial rule in the 18th century.
Historical Context:
During the colonial period, the Spaniards predominantly settled in the region of the Central Valley, where they managed to subdue the indigenous population that had previously been grouped in the Garabito (western section) and Guarco (eastern section) chiefdoms.
The indigenous population declined very rapidly, leading to various military expeditions sent from the colonial capital, Cartago, to subdue the inhabitants of the South Caribbean region. This area was occupied by numerous indigenous communities that had repelled the initial Spanish conquistadors.
By the beginning of the 17th century, due to a drastic demographic decline among indigenous communities in the interior of the country, the Spaniards advanced towards the area near present-day Suretka. They founded the city of Santiago de Talamanca in 1605 and remained there for five years, establishing a small group of settlers who began trading with the outside world using the Sixaola River.
In 1610, a widespread indigenous rebellion, led by various local leaders including Guaycorá, managed to drive out the colonists, set fire to the city of Santiago de Talamanca, and expel the Spaniards from the Talamanca region for a century.
Nearly 100 years later, Franciscan missionary friars, escorted by small groups of soldiers, penetrated Talamanca again and began establishing mission towns where scattered indigenous populations living along rivers and elsewhere were brought. The friars’ intention was to “civilize” the indigenous people.
Within the framework of Spanish colonialism, it was intended for the indigenous population to abandon their traditional cultural patterns, settle around churches in an orderly pattern, accept the Catholic religion, and adopt behaviors that the missionaries considered fundamental for civilized living. The mission system was how the Spaniards attempted to extend their dominion over regions that had escaped Spanish control during the initial conquest.
In several territories, indigenous people vehemently opposed the presence of missionaries and managed to expel them through rebellions. In these cases, indigenous communities reinforced their traditional values and were able to maintain their independence until the formation of the republics that emerged in America after gaining independence from Spain.
The Rebellion:
The case of Talamanca is an example of this situation. In the late 17th century, the friars entered Talamanca, founded more than a dozen mission towns, and even relocated indigenous populations from the Caribbean coast to the southern Pacific region. However, a widespread rebellion erupted on September 28, 1709, under the leadership of several leaders, including Pablo Presbere, who is the most remembered indigenous figure for his resistance against Spanish domination.
The indigenous king Pablo Presbere led a rebellion against Spanish conquistadors in defense of the territories of Talamanca de Limón in September 1709. He raised the Costa Rican tribes in arms from Sixaola to Turrialba with the aim of expelling all Spanish colonizers. Missionaries and soldiers died in the confrontation, leading to Presbere’s death sentence by the Spaniards.
The Sentence:
On July 1, 1710, he was sentenced to death by garrote, a method of execution reserved for rebels and criminals. However, since there was no such instrument of death in Cartago, the governor decided that he should be “bound to a pole, blindfolded, ad modum belli, shot (…) and then, after being killed, his head should be cut off and placed on a high pole for everyone to see.” The sentence was carried out on July 4 of that year.
Pablo Presbere was the political and military leader of the Talamanca region, one of the few areas that could not be conquered by the European invasion. Since the first Spanish incursion in 1540, the warrior and liberator spirit of the region’s inhabitants had been evident. Presbere was known as “the most feared warrior of Talamanca.” His real name was Pabru Presberi, which means “the chief of the lapas that comes from the place where the brackish waters flow.”
Pablo Presbere’s “crime,” as determined by Spanish authorities, was fighting against the mandatory payment of tributes to the Spaniards, land dispossession of indigenous lands, and for the freedom, identity, dignity, culture, spirituality, worldview, and defense of the sovereignty and autonomy of the indigenous peoples. That’s why he was sentenced to death.
Ironically, the causes of Pablo Presbere’s struggle and death are still highly relevant in the 21st century. There is still a societal denial of recognizing many of the rights of indigenous peoples despite the existence of national and international legislation. For example, land dispossession continues as a mandatory tribute from indigenous people for the development of the “country,” without regard for the disappearance of cultures and peoples.
Therefore, commemorating another anniversary of the death of the hero Pablo Presbere serves as a reaffirmation of our firm conviction in the struggle for the promotion and defense of indigenous rights, land ownership, natural resources, biodiversity, indigenous ways of life and governance, culture, worldview, and autonomy of the indigenous peoples of Costa Rica. Our indigenous peoples continue to fight for land, equality, dignity, and respect.
Pablo Presbere Day is a significant cultural celebration that underscores the importance of indigenous history and the resilience of indigenous communities in Costa Rica. It provides an opportunity for people to learn about and appreciate the rich cultural diversity that exists within the country.
