Mr. Amigo 2018 Arturo Elías Ayub joined the annual Hands Across the Border ceremony last Thursday to celebrate the unity between the two border cities.
“I can honestly tell you, from the bottom of my heart, that this is one of the most incredible moments of my life,” Elías Ayub said in Spanish during the ceremony. “It’s a memory I am never going to forget. … Being in a place full of contrasts, seeing this bridge with all these people open for everyone, and also looking the border fence which makes me shiver. It’s a place of contrasts where you really see … friendship from each one of you.”
He spoke about his plans to participate in a program that aims to include a bike lane on the Gateway International Bridge, where the ceremony was held.
“There is a possible program to … put a special line for bikes for students who live in Matamoros and study in Brownsville,” Elías Ayub said. “I am sure that when I tell my boss, the president of the foundation, the engineer Carlos Slim, about this program, he will say yes, and if you allow me … I will humbly start to work and will donate those 400 bikes today.”
Elías Ayub is a Mexican businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is currently CEO of Fundación Telmex Telcel, director of strategic alliances for América Móvil and director of Uno TV.
He is also the star of the reality show “Shark Tank México,” a show that features potential entrepreneurs presenting their products or business ideas to a group of investors or “sharks” who decide whether to invest in the entrepreneurs’ ideas.
After officials were recognized on the stage, children from both cities exchanged flags of their respective countries.
Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez then welcomed several officials and talked about the history and meaning of the ceremony.
“We are all one big family worthy of dignity, life and opportunity with the same corazón,” Martinez said. “Just as our environment and culture is intertwined on both sides of the Rio Grande River … so is the future of our children.”
After his speech, he gave a cuera Tamaulipeca jacket to Matamoros Mayor Mario Alberto López Hernández as a symbol of friendship between the cities. López Hernández also gave Martinez a gift. Each mayor’s wife exchanged flowers and gifts.
Martinez also gave a black hat as a gift to Matamoros Huésped Distinguido Juan José Origel, better known as “Pepillo” Origel, and a pair of boots to Orgullo de Matamoros Irasema Torres Gárate.
Origel, who is a Mexican TV host, journalist and producer, said he was excited to attend the ceremony.
“The truth is that it is an honor for all Mexicans, from Matamoros and Brownsville, to be united here,” he said in Spanish. “It is very nice. We are living difficult times but it is very nice when there are events like this one, these Mexicans celebrations and this union between us.”
Torres Gárate, a Mexican reporter and producer at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, remembered when she used to attend the festivities while she was a cheerleader in Colegio Don Bosco in Matamoros.
“I am very flattered for being able to share this with all of you and for representing in other places what Matamoros is,” she said in Spanish.
Among the U.S. officials who attended the ceremony were Texas Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-Brownsville), state Rep. Alex Dominguez (D-Brownsville) and Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr.
Treviño spoke about the national emergency and humanitarian crisis at the border.
“I want to make sure that everybody here lets everybody else and the rest of the United States, and the rest of the world know that we are safe and secure en la frontera,” he said at the ceremony. “We are not a political football, we are human beings. We are two nations joined by the river, not divided by it.”
Elías Ayub also received a framed copy of the Congressional Record, in which he is recognized for his accomplishments, from Maricela Cortez, district director for U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas), who was not able to attend the ceremony.
Each year, the Mr. Amigo Association honors a Mexican citizen to promote international friendship and goodwill between the U.S. and Mexico. The honoree is recognized during the city’s Charro Days Fiesta. Matamoros holds Fiestas Mexicanas at the same time. Previous Mr. Amigos include Cantinflas, Juan Gabriel, Verónica Castro, Lucha Villa and Arath de la Torre.
Before concluding the ceremony with the traditional releasing of white doves, which is a symbol of peace between both nations, Elías Ayub alluded to the word “love” and recalled the importance of happiness.
“I see happy people, very happy people and at the end of the day my wish is, which is the most important thing in life, that everyone can be happy. So, God bless America and viva México!”
Para la versión en español de este artículo, oprima aquí.
Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez speaks about the history and meaning of the Hands Across the Border ceremony last Thursday at the Gateway International Bridge.
