200 years and still in the works

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A significant date is coming along for many Ecuadorians. On August 10th, the country will find itself celebrating the 200 years anniversary of the Primer Grito de Independencia, one of the the first Latin American civil uprisings against Spanish colonial rule in the continent. In 1809, a group of notables, militia personnel and land owners gathered in the town of Quito (current capital of Ecuador) to declare independence from Spain. This declaration lit the spark for independence desires throughout other Latin American countries like as Colombia, México and Argentina.

Cultural events, museum exhibits and military parades will be part of the city's celebration of the Primer Grito de Independencia. There has been much anticipation regarding the date in Ecuador, and many social and political organizations have planned commemorative acts in the capital and in other parts of the nation. 

However, even after some 200 years of self governing and endless social and political reforms, much remains to be done to improve the country's social and economic conditions. In the meantime, the commemoration aims to rescue and remember some of the conuntry's most cherished values and historical figures, as well as the hope for more national stability, amidst recent political turmoil.