On September 11, 2020, James Eddy and his son Felix, age 16, went swimming at Bocana Beach. Felix reminded his father about the strong ocean current at the north end of the beach and insisted they both stay close to shore but James, as stubborn as a mule, and sometimes as stupid, did not heed his wise son’s warning about the currents and pushed out beyond the break. Within minutes James was upside down and ass backwards inside the barrel of a large wave. He tried to swim perpendicular to the current but it was too strong and each time he surfaced for air he was pummeled by another wave. James knew he was in big trouble so he raised his hands high over his head, screamed out for help and prayed hard for a miracle. After several more minutes, when he could barely keep his head above water, he saw Viridiana Martinez Rios paddling up behind him with a surf board and Flora Liz Martinez Rios wading outside the rocks. He grabbed onto the board and Viridiana steered him through the rocks and pushed him safely back to shore. James gives infinite thanks to the Rios family for saving his life that day. This retablo was created in honor of their heroic act and in commemoration of James’ miracle.

Bocana Beach, Santa Maria Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Ambrosio Herrera was spying on his master’s daughter while she was swimming in the river. Suddenly the branch broke off, and he fell down. He thanks Saint Charbel for he didn’t drown and the girl didn’t accuse him.

Puebla, 1920

Candido Ramos pays the Virgin of Guadalupe with this ratable for saving me from a crab-man who wanted to drown me when the tide took me to the open sea; but I implored you, Holy Virgin, and you looked after me.

Acapulco, 1962

We found a headless dove without blood on the set. It wasn’t a witchcraft but an extraterrestrial Peruvian chupacabra that drowned in the lake afterwards. I dedicate this retablo to Saint Genesius for saving our play.

Kumiko Aparicio Bilchir ~ Xochimilco, 2020

When my son Anacleto was swimming in Rio Verde, came a strong current and dragged him to the rocks, but thanks to the Holy Child of Atocha I could save him.

Sra. Matilde Garcia thanks him

I, Juan Gomez, pay with this retablo giving infinite thanks for not dying drowning in Rio Bravo when I tried to cross it to the United States to get my American dream. I couldn’t do it because of this racist Donald Trump, but I had a dream in which I saw a skeleton pulling Trump to the hell for being such a pig. Viva Mexico, bastards!

May 18, 2019

Thank you, Virgin, for saving me from dying drowning. You sent me an angel and saved me.

Tulum, 2019

My son Manuel had a congestion because he went swimming right after having eaten, and he fainted and went drowning in the sea. But thanks to the Virgin of the Rosary who sent a dog to save him from dying at the depth, the dog took him out right before he drown. Now my son is alright, and the dog has become his friend. He named her Chavita because she was his savior. We give thanks for such a miracle.

Tulum, 1989

Notes:
Chavo is the nickname for those whose name is Salvador which means “savior”. Chavita is a diminutive of the feminine form of that nickname.

Señor Antonio gives infinite thanks to Saint Jude Thaddeus for he was able ta save his son from dying drowning when he was playing with a ball and fell into the river. He thanks for the received favor.

Ixtlahuaca, Mexico
October 28, 1985

Felipa Muñoz went to Acapulco for vacation. She was drowning, but a gringo saved her. A romance arose from this. She thanks Saint Rita because now she has her blonde man and they live very happily.

1939

Tiburcio Lopez brings this retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe for saving him from a skeleton mermaid who wanted to drown him dead.

Acapulco, 1950

My daughter Luisa was playing in laundry at the river bank. She slipped on a smooth stone and fell into water. Thanks to Our Lady of the Rosary our dog which is very smart and swims very well was able to save the girl before she drowned. I give thanks to the Holy Virgin.

I dedicate this to the Virgin of San Juan thanking her for delivering me from dying drowning in Rio Bravo. Thanks to David and Miguel, two Salvadorians, who saved my life. Together we managed to get to the United States and achieve the American dream.

Angel
Jalisco, Mexico, May 10, 2011