My boyfriend Fernando and I dedicate this retablo to the Virgin of Toluca because we sing beautiful sacred hymns in duo, instead of those sinful songs we used to perform.

Being sailor’s daughter and grand-daughter, my daughter Aurora was able to hear the mermaid songs. I was worried seeing her running every night to the edge of the cliff captivated by the mermaids’ voices. They called her to go with them, and I ran to hold her because this singing seemed to hypnotize her. I prayed Saint Barbara for help, and she worked a miracle. Now my daughter doesn’t hear their songs. She like me hears just a distant echo.

I dedicate this humble retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe and thank her with ll my hear for giving me the gift of singing. Thanks to my voice I can earn my living performing in canteens and at the town holidays where everyone loves and admires me.

Jose Luis Gallardo ~ Morelia, Michoacan

The mariachi singer Juan Jose Ruiz came to perform in a restaurant while being drunk. The audience got angry and started to throw food at him. He was hit in the eye. He thanks Saint Pancras for the recovery and promises to be more professional.

Jesus Encarnacion Lopez loved rock and created his own death-metal band. But because of lack of technique he damaged his vocal cords after screaming too much. He thanks Saint Jude for he has recovered after some stinky herbs treatment.

Virgin of Guadalupe, thank you. When I was left without a job and needed money to support my family, I took my guitar and went to sing to the street protected under your mantle. Thanks to you the things have been going well. WIth this retablo I thank you for everything.

Victor Martinez — Mexico City, December 12, 1990

The father and the grandfather of my daughter Aurora were sailors. That’s why she was able to hear the mermaid songs. I was worried seeing her walking every night to the sea captivated by the mermaids’ voices and staying on the edge of the cliff enchanted by their singing. I lost my husband because of these enchanting songs. I didn’t want to lose my daughter also so prayed Saint Barbara for help, and she worked a miracle. Now my daughter doesn’t hear their singing and doesn’t go to the mermaids.

There was a girl whom I liked very much. But I was scared to tell her. So one night I went to the bar to drink some tequila in order to have courage. Then I went to sing her a serenade, but I was so drunk I got a wrong balcony and sang it to the old maiden of the town. I give thanks to Saint Rita because neither she nor her family recognized me, otherwise, if I had kept singing, they would’ve married me. I promise to be brave in declaring my love feelings to a woman.

Serapio Herrada
Tehuacan, Puebla

Thank you Saint Cecily because I have the gift of singing. Since I was a little girl, everyone complimented my voice. Now I dedicate myself to singing, receiving applause and recognition of the people who come to listen me every week-ned at the town square. I dedicate this humble retablo for that.

Catalina Flores “The Nightingale”
Zacatecas, Mexico

The music teacher Consuelo Rodriguez is thankful to the Virgin of Zapopan because Gloria Prieto, a girl who was terribly out of tune, changed the school. The choir sounds like the angel music without her.

Every time my colleagues and I went to sing serenades I used to pass a couple of tequilas to warm up my voice. But lately I was going out of hand with it to the extent of coming drunk and spoiling the serenades. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because my colleagues gave me another opportunity, and I promised them to become an abstinent mariachi again.

Saturnino Fernandez
Zapopan, Jalisco

When my husband went to work at the north, I felt very lonely at evenings. Then I began to play guitar and sing outside. Little by little my melodies attracted all the cats from our neighborhood. They were captivated by my music. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for this big company I have now.

Matilda Olaldi
Tequila, Jalisco
2nd of October 1982

Samuel Rodrigues fell in love with two mermaids. They enchanted him with their singing. He couldn’t eat, he couldn’t sleep, he didn’t want to work but spent all days long at the bottom of the laguna. Until one day he saw the mermaids eating with their big sharp-toothed mouth. He thanks the Virgin of the Rosary for delivering him from those monsters’ spell.