Pepe Franco

Name: José Luis Franco Rodríguez

Title / job: Director del Instituto Municipal de Cultura, Turismo y Arte de Mazatlán

Makes me laugh: The spontaneous, sincere, simple, the beautiful. 

Makes me cry: Injustice. As much if I am the one who commits it or I am the victim.

Favorite moment in Carnaval: I have a memory from my childhood of listening to the radio with my Aunt Ana. The words and ideas I heard were so different; to me they were marvelous. It was Mazatlán’s Literature Prize winner reading his acceptance speech via remote control from the Zaragoza Theater. Since then this is the stellar moment of Carnaval for me.

Pre-event ritual: First I prepare mentally to meet the challenge. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have; there are always unexpected situations to handle, with the resolve of one who knows what his goal is.

Toughest part of this job: I must have a lot of “bad” moments, but I don’t remember one in particular. Those are the things you screen out. I don’t hold on to any of them.

Best part of this job: When people tell us they liked something we did. 

Accomplishment I am most proud of: Sometimes I feel like Mick Jagger shouting, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” with all the song implies. Every time I finish something I experience the void of the next thing to come. My pride is my children. I think my stubbornness, too. 

On my day/night off, I... In my spare time I like various things. If I’m able to concentrate, I read or write. If my stress is sky-high, I go out and see friends. I love to converse and listen to others’ experiences. If I need self-understanding, I stay at home with myself.

I think people should like Banda because… In 2002, Swedish ethno-musicologist Helena Simonett invited my wife, Marisela Ricciuti, and I to translate her book “En Sinaloa Nací” (“In Sinaloa I Was Born”), which is actually the history of Banda. Simonett is Swedish and Marisela is Venezuelan, and both are fascinated by the sound and phenomena of Banda. As a Sinaloense who grew up with this music as an inherent part of life, the story amazed me. Not every culture has a musical identity that transcends frontiers. I’m delighted that our ancestors listened to German music, took those same instruments and created an original sound.

Coffee or tea?: Can you widen the options?

I love Mazatlán because…: At the beginning I loved her as a friend: she helped me to discover things, she amazed me with what she offered me. Then, in order to study, I left her for Guadalajara, who I must admit seduced me. When I returned, we stopped being friends to entangle as lovers. Curious fact: I always liked her old zones -I fell in love with them, even before it was named “Centro Histórico.” I wrote her stories, tales, novels and articles so she wouldn't leave me. Now, as the Institute Director, my relationship with her is more profound. It may sound like a paradox…the term “profound” seems superficial: nowadays our relationship is more complex

What are you reading right now?: Different books, it depends on my mood. One of them is Juan Villoro’s literary essays book “De Eso Se Trata” (“That’s What It’s All About?”).

Favorite Book: Why do you ask for just one? 

Favorite Author: It's the same as the previous question. Let me explain. When I like an author, it's because I feel a great affinity with him, in that he becomes my friend and I follow him until the end. To say which one is my favorite would be unfair, an injustice, and I believe I already said that doesn't sit well with me.