Victor Ceron Shares A Personal Story about His Heritage

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are celebrating some of our incredible staff and we asked them to share what their heritage means to them. Victor Ceron, Vice President of Project Management, has worked at Front Porch for close to 10 years. Below, he reflects on his life and the impact his heritage has had on him.

“My heritage means so much to me. I grew up on a farm with my family in a little place called Tekax Yucatan. (Tekax) is a Mayan word with the meaning ‘there where the forest is.’ It has a lot of colonial influence with its more than 400 years of history. The traditional music there is called Jarana, there are shocking caves (grutas) and it is highly influenced by Mayan culture.

I’m what is called a mestizo, because my Mayan ancestors and Brazilian culture mix on my father’s side. While growing up, my father immigrated to the United States when I was young while I stayed on the farm with my mom, Grandma and Grandpa. About a year and a half later, my Dad came to get my mom and I stayed with my grandparents for a couple years. I was taught from a young age to work hard, respect people and go after my dreams. My childhood was different as on the farm there was no electricity or services. We did a lot of manual work and I learned from an early age not to take anything for granted but yet enjoy the beauty of life.

We had a lot of traditions from carnival, parades, and in December, we use to do kilometers of marathons to honor our religion. This consisted of carrying a torch barefoot to the main church as a way to show gratitude of blessing provided from our grounds and beliefs.

My Grandma and Grandpa used to care for 2 older adults on their farm, so I guess I’ve been exposed to caring for others since I can remember. Fast forward, I remember when electricity was connected to the farm and my father and mom come to see me and brought 2 things, a TV and a BETA VCR with one tape by Charles Bronson, the vigilante, which was the first movie I ever watched. In the neighborhood, this was the first TV and my Grandpa used to do a Saturday movie night where at least 30 neighbors used to come to see movies with us and there was always delicious food: cochinita pibil, salbutes (a sort of a taco) and other great foods.

My heritage means so much because it taught me about faith, respect and care for others. In a way, my grandparents prepared me to be ready for cultural changes but they also reminded me not to lose my culture. I was brought to the USA and reunited with my parents. One of the last things I did with my father was the cedar bar on the picture (above). We built it and left it in Yucatan. As my father’s skills of wood work are exceptional, to my knowledge that bar still exists and it is in a restaurant called Uinik, which translates to the ‘real man,’ a name given to supreme rulers. My culture and heritage I teach to my kids, trying to pay it forward.”

– Victor Ceron, Vice President of Project Management