{"id":13825,"date":"2024-03-15T23:32:16","date_gmt":"2024-03-16T06:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cllas.uoregon.edu\/?p=13825"},"modified":"2026-04-12T16:16:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T23:16:25","slug":"our-story-maria-reyes-cervantes-and-benjamin-montes-garcia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cllas.uoregon.edu\/our-story-maria-reyes-cervantes-and-benjamin-montes-garcia\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story: Maria Reyes Cervantes and Benjamin Montes Garcia\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maria Reyes Cervantes and Benjamin Montes Garcia<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Mar\u00eda Reyes Cervantes was born in 1960 in La Lagunilla, Jalisco, Mexico, a small, rural community. Mar\u00eda remembers: \u201cMy parents were farmers. We always worked …as far back as I can remember we worked planting, harvesting, milking cows, and making cheese…I remember my grandfather had oxen that plowed and we would walk behind planting corn.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There was no elementary school in La Lagunilla so Mar\u00eda and her sister had to go to school in another community. They went together on a mule with her sister in the saddle and Maria seated behind her. Mar\u00eda went to school until the third grade and after that worked full time with her family on their piece of land. She has fond memories of going to visit other family members and playing with her cousins. Her father was very strict and didn\u2019t permit her and her sister to do much. \u201cIf we went to a dance, then we weren\u2019t allowed to dance. Just watch.\u201d Mar\u00eda grew up with four other sisters. One of her sisters, the youngest, died when she was small.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benjam\u00edn Montes Garc\u00eda was born in El Salvador, Jalisco, a rural community in Mexico in 1952. Benjam\u00edn is the second oldest of fourteen brothers and sisters. Benjam\u00edn\u2019s parents were poor agriculturalists who rented land from a larger land-owing family in their community. His parents grew corn, rice, and beans. His father also worked as a carpenter. Benjam\u00edn went to school until third grade when he left school to go to work doing carpentry and mixing cement. He left his home town when he was 18 and went to Mexico City, where he worked for the Corona Beer Company. He remembers,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI worked on a beer truck delivering ice to all of the stores that stocked the beer in Mexico City. Living there in a big city was really hard for me because I was used to living in the countryside. I lasted one year and three months and then I went back to my hometown.\u201d From there, Benjam\u00edn went on to Guadalajara where he worked for two years. In 1973, at age 21 he came to the United States.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benjamin first lived and worked in Brentwood, California. He later went further north and worked on a farm for four years going back and forth to his hometown every Christmas to visit. On one of these trips back home, Benjam\u00edn met Mar\u00eda. When he returned to the U.S. they exchanged letters and were married in May of 1978 in El Salvador, Jalisco. Benjam\u00edn returned to the U.S. with Maria. First to Madera, California and then they traveled north and settled in Brookings, Oregon where they worked for many years on a farm. Their first daughter Rosa was born in 1979 in Gold Beach. Their second daughter Teresa was born on a trip to El Salvador, Jalisco in 1984, and their youngest daughter Adriana was born on a trip to Mexico in 1987.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1988, Benjam\u00edn and Mar\u00eda were legalized as part of the Special Agricultural Workers Program, part of comprehensive immigration reform legislation passed in 1986, broadly known as IRCA, the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Their daughters were also legalized at the same time, except for Rosa who was already a U.S. citizen.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In September of 1991, Benjam\u00edn, Mar\u00eda, Rosa, Teresa, and Adriana arrived in Eugene, Oregon. Mar\u00eda remembered feeling that there were many good things in Eugene when they arrived. \u201cWe found work here easily. And the girls liked the schools here. My older daughter Rosa liked the fact that everyone dressed the same here. There was not a lot of pressure to wear expensive shoes and clothes, things that cost a lot of money.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benjam\u00edn found a job working a plywood plant. Mar\u00eda worked for some time at the Fir Crest chicken plant in Creswell and then in Agripac in Junction City. She worked there seasonally for nine years. Their daughters Teresa and Adriana went to River Road Elementary School. They also attended Shasta Middle School, Kelly Middle School, and Willamette High School. The family attended mass at St. Mary\u2019s Church. Teresa, Adriana and their older sister, Rosa, started a Mexican Folk Dance Group called Ballet Fokl\u00f3rico Juvenil Azteca.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1995, the family applied for a house from Habitat for Humanity and a year and a half later they received their home. They still live in that home. Benjamin\u2019s five brothers and his sister have also settled in the Eugene area with their families. Rosa, Teresa, and Adriana have been able to spend time with their many cousins in the area. \u201cWhen we have a family party then are more than fifty people,\u201d comments Mar\u00eda. \u201cYes, we have to rent a banquet room for family parties,\u201d responded Benjam\u00edn with a smile. \u201cWell, when we have a baby shower, birthdays, and big parties we go to the brother\u2019s house who lives in Creswell. He has more room,\u201d says Mar\u00eda.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rosa, Teresa, and Adriana have all been successful in school. Rosa received a Master\u2019s Degree in Education and is a teacher at Churchill High School. Teresa graduated from the University of Oregon in 2007 and is currently enrolled in the Master\u2019s Program in Social Work at Portland State University. Adriana will graduate from the University of Oregon in 2009 where she is on the women\u2019s soccer team. Mar\u00eda and Benjam\u00edn have observed many changes in their seventeen years in Eugene.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maria states, \u201cNow, when we go to a lot of places we hear people speaking Spanish. One of the things I have seen change is the level of racism. It has always been here, but it has grown in the last few years. But we have also seen that there are a lot of people who were already here, who were born here, who have united with us and defended us when we are attacked. I have seen the natives here give us a lot of support and this makes us feel comfortable. It makes us feel good to see that there are people who stick up for us and defend us.\u201d Mar\u00eda is a citizen and has voted in the past five elections. Benjam\u00edn will soon be a U.S. citizen as well. They look forward to their future in the Eugene area and continue to enjoy their life here and the success of their daughters.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nuestra Historia: Mar\u00eda Reyes Cervantes and Benjam\u00edn Montes Garc\u00eda<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Mar\u00eda Reyes Cervantes naci\u00f3 en 1960 en La Lagunilla, Jalisco, M\u00e9xico, una peque\u00f1a comunidad rural. Mar\u00eda recuerda: \u201c Mis padres eran granjeros. Siembre trabaj\u00e1bamos…desde que tengo memoria trabaj\u00e1bamos plantando, cosechando, orde\u00f1ando vacas y haciendo queso… Recuerdo que mi abuelo ten\u00eda una yunta y nosotros camin\u00e1bamos detr\u00e1s sembrando ma\u00edz\u201d.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

La Lagunilla no ten\u00eda escuela primaria as\u00ed que Mar\u00eda y su hermana ten\u00edan que asistir aclases en otra comunidad. Iban juntas en una mula con su hermana en la silla de la montura y Mar\u00eda atr\u00e1s de ella. Mar\u00eda fue a la escuela hasta el tercer grado y despu\u00e9s de eso comenz\u00f3 a trabajar a tiempo completo con su familia en su terreno. Recuerda con cari\u00f1o cuando visitaba a otros parientes y cuando jugaba con sus primos. Su padre era muy estricto y no les permit\u00eda ni a ella ni a su hermana que hagan mucho. \u201cSi sal\u00edamos a bailar nos prohib\u00eda que bailemos. S\u00f3lo pod\u00edamos observar\u201d. Mar\u00eda creci\u00f3 con cuatro hermanas m\u00e1s. Una de las hermanas, la menor, muri\u00f3 cuando era peque\u00f1a.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benjam\u00edn Montes Garc\u00eda naci\u00f3 en El Salvador, Jalisco, una comunidad rural de M\u00e9xico, en 1952. Benjam\u00edn es el segundo mayor de 14 hermanos y hermanas. Sus padres eran agricultores pobres que arrendaban tierras arables de los grandes terratenientes de su comunidad. Sus padres sembraban ma\u00edz, arroz y frijoles. Su padre tambi\u00e9n trabajaba como carpintero. Benjam\u00edn asisti\u00f3 a la escuela hasta terminar el tercer grado y despu\u00e9s dej\u00f3 la escuela para dedicarse a trabajar como carpintero y mezclando cemento. Abandon\u00f3 su pueblo natal a los 18 a\u00f1os y se dirigi\u00f3 a la Ciudad de M\u00e9xico, en donde trabaj\u00f3 para la Compa\u00f1\u00eda Cervecera Corona. \u00c9l recuerda:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTrabaj\u00e9 en un cami\u00f3n de entrega de cerveza, llevando hielo a las tiendas que vend\u00edan cerveza por toda la Ciudad de M\u00e9xico. La vida en la gran ciudad fue muy dif\u00edcil para m\u00ed, estando acostumbrado a vivir en el campo. Dur\u00e9 un a\u00f1o y tres meses, y enseguida me regres\u00e9 a mi pueblo.\u201d M\u00e1s adelante Benjam\u00edn se mud\u00f3 a Guadalajara, donde trabaj\u00f3 dos a\u00f1os. En 1973, a la edad de 21 a\u00f1os, emigr\u00f3 a los Estados Unidos.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benjam\u00edn vivi\u00f3 y trabaj\u00f3 inicialmente en Brentwood, California. Posteriormente se mud\u00f3 m\u00e1s al norte, y trabaj\u00f3 en una granja cuatro a\u00f1os, durante los que visitaba su pueblo anualmente en Navidad. Durante uno de esos viajes conoci\u00f3 a Mar\u00eda. Cuando volvi\u00f3 a los Estados Unidos, se correspondieron un tiempo y finalmente se casaron en Mayo de 1978 en El Salvador, Jalisco. Benjam\u00edn padre volvi\u00f3 a los Estados Unidos con Mar\u00eda. Inicialmente se asentaron en Madera, California, y luego m\u00e1s al norte en Brookings, Oreg\u00f3n, donde trabajaron en una granja muchos a\u00f1os. Su primer hija, Rosa, naci\u00f3 en 1979 en Gold Beach. Su segunda hija, Teresa, naci\u00f3 durante un viaje al Salvador, Jalisco en 1984, y su hija menor, Adriana, naci\u00f3 en otro viaje a M\u00e9xico en 1987.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

En 1988 Benjam\u00edn y Mar\u00eda legalizaron su condici\u00f3n migratoria como parte del Programa Especial de Trabajadores de la Agricultura (SAW), parte de la legislaci\u00f3n de reforma migratoria integral aprobada en 1986, que se conoce generalmente como IRCA, Ley de Reforma y Control Migratorio. Sus hijas se convirtieron en residentes legales al mismo tiempo, con excepci\u00f3n de Rosa, quien ya era ciudadana estadounidense.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

En Septiembre de 1991 Benjam\u00edn, Mar\u00eda, Rosa, Teresa y Adriana llegaron a Eugene, Oreg\u00f3n. Mar\u00eda recuerda sentir que hab\u00eda muchas cosas buenas en Eugene a su llegada. \u201cEncontramos trabajo f\u00e1cilmente, y a las ni\u00f1as les gustaron las escuelas de aqu\u00ed. A mi hija mayor, Rosa, le gustaba el hecho de que todo mundo se vest\u00eda igual. No hab\u00eda tantas presiones para usar zapatos y ropa cara, cosas que costaran mucho dinero.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benjam\u00edn encontr\u00f3 un empleo en un aserradero que produc\u00eda madera contra chapada plywood. Mar\u00eda trabaj\u00f3 un tiempo en la planta procesadora de pollo de Fir Crest en Creswell, y luego en Agripac en Junction City. Ella trabaj\u00f3 por temporadas durante 9 a\u00f1os. Sus hijas Teresa y Adriana asistieron a la escuela primaria River Road. Tambi\u00e9n asistieron a Shasta Middle School, Kelly Middle School, y Willamette High School. La familia iba misa a la Iglesia St. Mary\u00b4s. Teresa, Adriana y su hermana mayor, Rosa, iniciaron un grupo de danza folkl\u00f3rica mexicana, llamado Ballet Folkl\u00f3rico Juvenil Azteca.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

En 1995 la familia llen\u00f3 la solicitud de vivienda por medio del programa Habitat for Humanity. Un a\u00f1o y medio m\u00e1s tarde les fue entregada la casa en la que viven hasta hoy. Los cinco hermanos de Benjam\u00edn y su \u00fanica hermana tambi\u00e9n se han asentado en la zona de Eugene con sus familias. Rosa, Teresa y Adriana han podido convivir mucho con sus primos. \u201cCuando tenemos una fiesta familiar, hay m\u00e1s de 50 invitados\u201d, dice Mar\u00eda. \u201cS\u00ed, tenemos que rentar un sal\u00f3n de fiestas para que quepa toda la familia\u201d, responde Benjam\u00edn con una sonrisa. \u201cBueno, cuando tenemos un baby shower, un cumplea\u00f1os o una fiesta grande, vamos a la casa del hermano que vive en Creswell porque \u00e9l tiene m\u00e1s espacio\u201d, dice Mar\u00eda.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rosa, Teresa y Adriana han tenido \u00e9xito en sus estudios. Rosa se recibi\u00f3 de su Maestr\u00eda en Educaci\u00f3n y hoy d\u00eda es maestra en Churchill High School. Teresa se gradu\u00f3 de la Universidad de Oreg\u00f3n en el 2007, y actualmente cursa la Maestr\u00eda en Trabajo Social de la Universidad Portland State. Adriana terminar\u00e1 su licenciatura en la Universidad de Oreg\u00f3n en el 2009, en donde es miembro del equipo universitario femenil de f\u00fatbol soccer. Mar\u00eda y Benjam\u00edn han notado muchos cambios durante sus 17 a\u00f1os de residencia en Eugene. Mar\u00eda comenta: \u201cAhora cuando vamos a muchos lugares escuchamos a la gente hablando espa\u00f1ol. Una de las cosas que he visto cambiar es la cantidad de racismo. Siempre ha estado all\u00ed, pero ha aumentado en los \u00faltimos a\u00f1os. Al mismo tiempo, hemos visto que hay muchas personas que nacieron aqu\u00ed y ya estaban aqu\u00ed cuando llegamos, que se han unido a nosotros y nos defienden cuando somos atacados. He visto a los nativos de aqu\u00ed darnos mucho apoyo y esto nos hace sentir c\u00f3modos. Nos hace sentir bien el hecho de que hay personas que nos apoyan y defienden.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mar\u00eda se naturaliz\u00f3 como ciudadana estadounidense y vot\u00f3 en las \u00faltimas 5 elecciones. Benjam\u00edn terminar\u00e1 el proceso de naturalizaci\u00f3n muy pronto. Ambos aguardan con esperanza su futuro en Eugene, y contin\u00faan disfrutando su vida en esta ciudad, as\u00ed como los \u00e9xitos de sus hijas.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maria Reyes Cervantes and Benjamin Montes Garcia\u00a0 Mar\u00eda Reyes Cervantes was born in 1960 in La Lagunilla, Jalisco, Mexico, a 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