PABLO ALLISON

Federico from Colonia del Mar, Iztapalapa, Mexico City

I met Federico by chance very briefly whilst I was hanging out with some friends in Iztapalapa yesterday. It was a nice and sunny warm December day, typical weather for this city…

I noticed Federico sitting in his wheelchair from a distance. Meanwhile, I was chatting to a bunch of kids in their early 20’s. I was asking them about their jobs as mechanics or car technicians…
They were still quite young but with huge possibilities ahead of them.

Anyway, a few minutes later, Federico approached us to join the chat, though one of the kids started insulting him in a ‘joking way’. That said, the jokes to me did not sound at all as jokes.

The kid was telling him he was a ‘pinche puto’, which in english translates as a ‘cock sucker’ … All sorts of aggressive language was thrown on to the poor man whilst the rest of the kids laughed.

Federico was trying to contain his anger by staying calm. Every now and again he would lough only to pretend he was in the right mood, though I could sense that he was upset… I suppose that the type of aggression he suffered from yesterday happens on a daily basis as those are the rules in the streets. You must tolerate any crap that comes from anyone or else you are labeled as a cry baby…

Before the bunch finally left, I asked one of the kid’s age. He responded he was 23. I proceeded to pointing out the fact that many kids seem not to have any more respect for the elderly… That in my days, I would never dare insulting any person above my age.

A few minutes later, Federico started to tell me about his life… He asked me if I had any hobbies to which I responded that I was passionate for photography and art in general. I asked him the same question, - Do you have any passions Federico?

I do, he responded . He carried on, - I like to make porcelain dolls. I carry out all the process though unfortunately, people don’t appreciate this art form anymore. In fact, I find it harder and harder to get hold of porcelain nowadays. I used to be able to buy it in Cuernavaca but I now get it shipped from New York at a higher cost.

I told Federico that my Mom is a big fan of such dolls, she has many of them kept among her treasures.

Up until the early 90’s, Federico worked at the American Embassy in Mexico City where he lasted more than 20 years on various posts. He worked next to many Ambassadors like John Negroponte and Charles J Pilliod Jr. among others…

Federico said that working at the embassy was very gratifying and that meeting distinguished individuals was always bonus… I sensed that he had a big great admiration for US people by the way he expressed himself towards them.

Before he got the job at the embassy he used for Citibank. This was around the late 70’s to early 80’s when such bank was not well established in Mexico, I guess, though I don’t know the history of CityBank in Mexico.

Our chat went on for a few more minutes until I said goodbye and took off back to the confines of my surroundings in the south of the city…

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