Pensamiento Actual is a biannual, open-access electronic journal published by the Research Coordination Office of the Western Campus of the University of Costa Rica. Its main objective is to disseminate scientific, academic, and artistic work developed both within the Western Campus and by the national and international academic community. The journal welcomes original and high-quality contributions, including scientific articles, academic essays, artistic productions, and other innovative proposals submitted by researchers, educators, artists, and writers of all identities. Pensamiento Actual does not charge any publication fees to those who contribute as authors. Each volume comprises two issues: the first issue covers the period from December 1 to May 31 of the following year and will be published in June, while the second issue covers the period from June 1 to November 30 of the same year and will be published in December. All publications must be original and are checked using Turnitin® plagiarism detection software. The journal also adheres to a strict code of editorial ethics. The journal accepts submissions in the following areas of knowledge: • Philosophy, Arts, and Letters • Natural Sciences • Social Sciences • Education • Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology Indexed journal in: Academic directories, catalogs, and databases: DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) https://doaj.org/toc/2215-3586 LATINDEX (Regional Online Information System for Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, and Portugal) https://latindex.org/latindex/ficha/19555 ERIH PLUS (European Reference Index for the Humanities and the Social Sciences) https://kanalregister.hkdir.no/publiseringskanaler/erihplus/periodical/info.action?id=508311 LatinREV (Red latinoamericana de revistas académicas en ciencias sociales y humanidades) https://latinrev.flacso.org.ar/revistas/pesamiento-actual DIALNET (Alert Service and Virtual Library of Spanish Scientific Journals) http://dialnet.unirioja.es REDIB (Ibero-American Network for Innovation and Scientific Knowledge) https://www.redib.org/Record/oai_revista3062-revista-pensamiento-actual BASE (Bielefeld University Library Academic Search Engine) https://www.base-search.net/Search/Results?lookfor=Pensamiento+actual&name=&oaboost=1&newsearch=1&refid=dcbases Actualidad Iberoamericana (Center for Technological Information of Chile, CIT) http://www.citrevistas.cl/b2b.htm MIAR (Information Matrix for the Analysis of Journals) https://miar.ub.edu/issn/2215-3586 Sherpa/RoMEO (Database of publishers’ copyright and self-archiving policies) BIBLAT (Latin American Bibliography) CLASE (Latin American Citations in Social Sciences and Humanities) HN ISIDORE (Search engine for humanities and social sciences) https://isidore.science/s?q=Pensamiento+actual CROSSREF https://search.crossref.org/search/works?q=Pensamiento+actual&from_ui=yes The Keepers Registry (Digital preservation of editorial content) https://keepers.issn.org/details?issn=2215-3586 Google Scholar https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=revista+Pensamiento+Actual+site:revistas.ucr.ac.cr ROAD (Directory of Open Access Scholarly Resources) https://portal.issn.org/resource/ISSN/2215-3586# KIMUK (Costa Rica National Repository) https://kimuk.conare.ac.cr/Record/PUCR_1c64933b58e92bf578a821ec857e1b78?utm_source=chatgpt.com WIKIDATA https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50515480 ZDB (German Union Catalogue of Serials – ZEITSCHRIFTEN DATENBANK) https://zdb-katalog.de/title.xhtml?idn=997457201&view=brief&direct=true
Universidad de Costa Rica, Sede de Occidente
Towards Digital Transformation: Optimizing Human Capital through ICT Tools in a Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) in Costa Rica
This article presents the results of a study aimed at exploring the potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as a tool for the development of the provisioning subsystem of the human capital department in a SME located in the Huetar Norte Region of Costa Rica. This analysis was carried out to strengthen and establish strategic processes in recruitment, selection, and hiring, laying the groundwork for the subsequent creation of the human talent department. The methodology employed was based on a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. Questionnaires and interviews were administered to both employers and employees of the SME, providing essential information to identify relevant aspects to consider in developing the provisioning subsystem. The results highlight the importance of having a clearly defined job manual as a preliminary step, which facilitates this process when implementing recruitment 4.0 strategies. This strategy involves the integration of technologies to reduce costs and automate processes efficiently and effectively. In conclusion, it is emphasized that ICTs represent a fundamental strategic ally for developing the SME's provisioning subsystem of the human capital department. Moreover, these findings are significant because they can translate into a substantial reduction in both time and cost, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of Costa Rican SMEs and offering a model that could be replicated by organizations of similar size and context.
Engineering, Computer Science and Technology
Copyright (c) 2025 Juan Carlos Sandí-Delgado, Yeimin Cruz-Rodríguez, Lorena Artavia-Chacón, Britany Rojas-Lobo, Geiner Rodríguez-Zúñiga (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Interdisciplinary environmental analysis of the urban core of San Ramón de Alajuela
Flooding has increased globally in recent years, and the urban area of ​​San Ramón de Alajuela is no exception. The presence of three streams that cross the urban center generates flooding due to both natural and anthropogenic factors. This article analyzes the situation in this area from a perspective that considers climatological, geomorphological, and economic factors that intensify flooding. To this end, a qualitative methodology was employed, utilizing techniques such as bibliographic analysis and tools such as QGIS to create a Map of Constitutional Court Rulings, as well as the Economic Losses Module of MIDEPLAN, among other resources. Likewise, an analysis of Constitutional Court rulings, current regulations in Costa Rica, and other relevant legal provisions were used to comprehensively portray the phenomenon. It is concluded that factors such as declining forest cover, impacts on public health, weak institutional coordination, and poor waste management by the population and institutions contribute to environmental degradation, thus generating a severe impact on people's quality of life.
Copyright (c) 2025 Eduardo Barrantes Araya (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
From “figurant” people to protagonist: the tribute poem in El cantar de los oficios (2015), by Carlos Manuel Villalobos
The tribute poems have had artistic and intellectual figures to their object of reflection: However, and mainly since the 20th century, panegyrics to the working subject have begun to proliferate. The objective of this article is to offer an analysis of the collection of poems El cantar de los oficios (2015), by Carlos Manuel Villalobos, from the generic coordinate of the poetic portrait, in particular, from the praise of the people´s trades, as an individuality and as a collective. Thanks to the poetic discourse, the people, in tribute to their work performance, go from being an extra to a protagonist, this collection of poems is analyzed from different levels, all of them at the service of the mentioned objective: the textual, the linguistic, the stylistic (rhetorical), the external formal (versification), the semantic or thematic, the intertextual and the declarative.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dorde Cuvardic García, Cristian Chaves Jaén (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Trail running in Costa Rica: athlete and organizer perspective
This research was developed from a qualitative approach, with the aim of understanding the Trail Running Races developed in Costa Rica, from the experience of athletes and organizers. A different structured interview was used for each sample group. The sample was selected in a non-probabilistic way, it was made up of 31 Costa Rican people, of which 7 were trail running race directors and 24 were athletes of this discipline. Data was analyzed using the Constant Comparative Method, processed by the Cutting and Classification technique. Among the main findings are these common patterns in the competitors: the need to be in contact with nature through the search for freedom and the personal success of overcoming difficulties. It was found that the athletes acquired cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills by participating in this sport. The importance of involving multiple actors in the organization was detected, mainly the local community. It was found that evaluative practice is not frequent in those who manage these events, so it is considered an opportunity for improvement in the future.
Copyright (c) 2025 Blanca Luz Sojo Mora, Luis Manuel Jiménez Rojas (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Challenges and Opportunities in the Management of Women-Led Rural Enterprises in the Guanacaste Region
This study examines the challenges and opportunities in the management of micro and small enterprises led by women in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The research, conducted in 2023 using a descriptive and mixed-methods approach, was developed through the University Community Work TCU-764 program at the University of Costa Rica, which provides training to women entrepreneurs in the region. Data collection instruments were administered to 80 female entrepreneurs with more than two years of experience, from nine cantons of Guanacaste. The study examined three key dimensions: demographic characteristics, gender roles, and business management. The results reveal that entrepreneurs face significant limitations in business formalization, administrative management, access to support networks, and technology adoption. The predominant profile shows women with secondary education or less, monthly incomes below $600, who balance their time between household and business responsibilities. The most common sectors are food, clothing, jewelry, and handicrafts. The findings highlight the need for policies that simultaneously address the unequal distribution of domestic responsibilities and gaps in business capabilities, particularly in commercial management, formalization processes, and technology adoption. The study emphasizes the importance of developing targeted support programs that consider the particularities of the rural context and gender dynamics in the region. This research provides valuable evidence to guide interventions that strengthen the sustainable development of women's entrepreneurship in rural areas of Guanacaste, thereby helping to reduce gender gaps in the business sector.
Copyright (c) 2025 Beyker Stefan Obando Zambrano, Hannia Catalina Ugalde Rojas, Alejandra Murillo Ríos (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Flora of the Montero Sector, Chira Island, Costa Rica: diversity, Uses, and Sustainable Ecotourism
Chira Island, located in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica, hosts a representative ecosystem of the tropical dry forest, characterized by marked seasonality and plant biodiversity adapted to water stress conditions. This study was conducted in 2023 and aimed to inventory the plant species present along the Montero trail, to create a guide that promotes sustainable tourism and environmental education within the local community. The methodology was based on a systematic survey along a 562.09-meter trail, recording species within a 10-meter range on both sides of the path. Taxonomic identification was carried out using specialized botanical literature and consultation of scientific databases. A total of 83 plant species were identified, belonging to 77 genera and 38 families of angiosperms. The most represented families were Fabaceae and Malvaceae, consistent with the typical structure of tropical dry forests. Trees predominated (59%), followed by shrubs (18%), herbaceous plants (15%), and vines (6%). Additionally, 91% of the species were native, while 9% were naturalized or exotic. These results highlight the ecological importance of the study area and its potential for the development of conservation strategies, ecological restoration, and sustainable tourism. The relevance of ecotourism initiatives based on local biodiversity is emphasized, integrating interpretive trails and educational programs that strengthen the conservation of natural resources and the socio-economic well-being of the community.
Copyright (c) 2025 Verónica Bonilla Villalobos, María Auxiliadora Zúñiga Amador, Óscar Chacón Chavarría (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Building teacher identity: reflections with young professionals
In the educating and learning process at any educational level, teaching is a complex activity. Throughout this process, skills in the art of teaching are acquired and refined, gradually forming a sense of self. Professional identity is not acquired simply by obtaining a degree, which allows one to practice the profession, but rather constitutes a process of acquiring greater expertise, as well as individual and collective growth. This article reflects on learnings and insights derived from the course: Personal and Professional Development of Educators, which is a new theoretical-practical proposal at the undergraduate level for the fields of Early Childhood Education and Primary Education with a concentration in English. The main objectives are to review the construction of professional identity, problematize the conditions that hinder personal and professional growth, and promote self-care practices in teaching. This work explores the process of 31 young professionals who have been working for a few years: 14 in Early Childhood Education and 17 in Primary Education, during the first semester of 2024 at the Western Campus of the University of Costa Rica. Through the construction of metaphors, it explores the idealization surrounding the teaching profession. Additionally, it analyzes the challenges present in the daily educational practice by examining self-records of the educators, analyzing triggers, emotions, thoughts, and reactions of intersubjectivity and subjectivity in their classroom experiences. This article highlights the weight of historically constructed representations in the collective imagination about the ideal of teaching, which contrasts with the challenges of the current context and everyday experiences, offering some proposals centered on collective care.
Copyright (c) 2025 Cynthia Orozco Castro, María Teresita Ulate Olivar (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Didactic Paradigms and Models in Latin American Secondary Education: Implications for Teaching and Learning
The following article provides a comprehensive overview of the most widely used teaching models, approaches, and paradigms by high school teachers in Latin America. The document is generated as a result of a research process developed between 2021 and 2023, the objective of which was to explore and analyze the most relevant paradigms, models, and didactic approaches in teaching practice in secondary education in Latin America, highlighting their implications for improving teaching and learning. More than sixty primary and secondary sources were reviewed, which provided relevant information, allowing not only a historical tour of the most influential teaching models, approaches, and paradigms, but also reaching important conclusions, among which the following stand out: the teaching paradigms, approaches, and models that have been used over the years respond to a way of mediating content, leaving aside a specific historical moment.
Copyright (c) 2025 Milagro Piñeiro Ruiz (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Reading workshops to encourage STEAM methodologies in Upala, Costa Rica
The extension project "Implementing STEAM Methodologies for Teaching Sustainable Cities through Robotics to Children in Upala Canton" promotes educational robotics as a tool for bridging technological gaps. However, regardless of the subject matter taught or the methodology employed, reading constitutes a fundamental pillar of children's education. Therefore, the objective of this article is to share the experience of conducting reading workshops and a literary event as strategies to stimulate reading among children in Upala Canton. The project was developed with the support of the Socio-Educational Management Unit, responsible for the Canton's Public Library. The library facilitated the dissemination and registration for the workshops. Captive audiences within selected schools in the impact districts, particularly in border areas, were also utilized. The workshops were participatory, employing various techniques to strengthen reading comprehension and fluency competencies, as well as vocabulary acquisition. Work specifically focused on scientific literature concerning environmental protection, wildlife, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ninety-minute workshops were delivered to groups of 25 children. As a result, competencies were strengthened in 798 children through the various activities. One of the most crucial aspects of fostering children's reading development is instilling a need to read. Consequently, if children successfully comprehend texts and derive enjoyment from them, this will reinforce independent reading habits. These habits will enable them to engage with literary experiences throughout their academic and personal development.
Copyright (c) 2025 Vanessa Carvajal Alfaro , Fátima Díaz Quesada, Carlos Rodolfo González-Zuñiga (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Application of Vegetation Indices in the Reserva Ecológica Sede de Occidente (RESO)
Vegetation indices are essential for the study and monitoring of forest systems in recovery; however, they have not been systematically applied in the protected areas of the University of Costa Rica. This study presents the quantification of three vegetation indices in the Reserva Ecológica Sede de Occidente, together with their field validation (ground truthing) and a comparison of the forest performance of this site with another successional system of similar age. The research was conducted using a mixed methodology that included satellite data analysis, field measurement of forest variables, and statistical evaluation. The results revealed a strong relationship between satellite parameters and those validated in the field and also showed that the forest patches of this reserve represent early successional systems that are recovering more slowly than other nearby sites. This slower recovery may be linked to vegetation management and manipulation in recent years. The findings demonstrate that satellite monitoring is a valuable tool for the continued study of the reserve, and its incorporation into a future management plan is therefore recommended
Copyright (c) 2025 Juliette Bédat , Cindy Rodríguez Arias , Carlos Rojas Alvarado (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Elements Influencing Student Lag of the Bachelor's in English Teaching at National University
This qualitative research with an exploratory approach was designed as a means to give voice to the students of the Bachelor’s Degree in English Teaching (BEI) who are experiencing academic lag. As a minority within the broader student population, they lack immediate mechanisms to address their situation. The main objective was to analyze the impact of various factors on the phenomenon of academic lag among BEI students at the National University.<span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559738":20,"335559740":240,"335572071":0,"335572072":0,"335572073":4278190080,"335572075":0,"335572076":0,"335572077":4278190080,"335572079":0,"335572080":0,"335572081":4278190080,"335572083":0,"335572084":0,"335572085":4278190080,"335572087":0,"335572088":0,"335572089":4278190080,"469789798":"nil","469789802":"nil","469789806":"nil","469789810":"nil","469789814":"nil"}"> The study presents and analyzes the socioeconomic, academic, and institutional factors influencing academic lag, based on data collected through three research techniques: (a) focus group, (b) in-depth interview, and (c) questionnaire. The results reveal the factors and reasons that, according to the participants, affected their learning process and led them to fall behind academically.<span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559738":20,"335559740":240,"335572071":0,"335572072":0,"335572073":4278190080,"335572075":0,"335572076":0,"335572077":4278190080,"335572079":0,"335572080":0,"335572081":4278190080,"335572083":0,"335572084":0,"335572085":4278190080,"335572087":0,"335572088":0,"335572089":4278190080,"469789798":"nil","469789802":"nil","469789806":"nil","469789810":"nil","469789814":"nil"}"> The case study concludes with two possible solutions to support this student population: (a) implementing a mentoring and support program to assist students experiencing academic lag, and (b) reviewing the methodology used for scheduling courses.<span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335557856":16777215,"335559738":20,"335559740":240,"335572071":0,"335572072":0,"335572073":4278190080,"335572075":0,"335572076":0,"335572077":4278190080,"335572079":0,"335572080":0,"335572081":4278190080,"335572083":0,"335572084":0,"335572085":4278190080,"335572087":0,"335572088":0,"335572089":4278190080,"469789798":"nil","469789802":"nil","469789806":"nil","469789810":"nil","469789814":"nil"}">
Copyright (c) 2025 Mildred Alpízar-Alpízar , Priscilla Carranza-Marchena (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Cyberostracism: a Phenomenon of the XXI Century. Socioemotional and Behavioral Implications
Technological progress and the use of various platforms and social networks have brought about transformations in the way people interact. While, on one hand, these tools serve as a means to share, build relationships, and create identity, on the other, they give rise to social exclusion issues such as cyberostracism. The purpose of this essay is to analyze and reflect on this phenomenon and its repercussions on the social and psychological spheres of individuals. Based on the analysis carried out, it can be understood that the dynamics of technological environments and social networks can affect people’s self-esteem and sense of belonging, highlighting the need to promote a more empathetic and inclusive digital coexistence.
Copyright (c) 2025 Arielka Esteysin Brizuela Villarreal , Daniela González Victor (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Study on the perception of gender diversity in secondary school, San Ramón, Costa Rica
This article had objective is to know the perception students from 8-3 section of the Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de San Ramón have about genre diversity. For this, a study composed by 11 questions about topics like gender diversity, sexual orientation, equity, and sexual diversity was made. A total of 16 of the 24 students participated in the project, and the other 8 did not get the authorization from their parents. We included charts and graphics that summarize the information about the knowledge these students have about the topics studied, where we can observe that the majority of them do have this knowledge. This investigation was made on 2022 as a bachelor honors degree final project.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sebastián Fallas Leitón , Estefany Rodríguez Acuña (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Thematic sensibilization as a literacy strategy on hydric resources in the Corredor Biológico Pájaro Campana
In Costa Rica, there is a noticeable reduction in water infiltration from precipitation. This phenomenon has increased water runoff. Such alteration of the hydrological cycle, impacting aquifer recharge, is present across the country, but it is more visible in coastal zones with high seasonality such as the Corredor Biológico Pájaro Campana area. This work was carried out, in such geographical area, to evaluate the impact of a sensibilization process on school children based on the conceptualization and promotion of a topic called water sowing. Activities included a theoretical-practical workshop focused on rainwater management in school infrastructure whose impact was subsequently evaluated with a pre/post test. The workshop used didactic strategies adapted to children and resulted in an effectivemanner to promote infiltration and aquifer recharge, which have a direct effect on water runoff.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ronald E Aguilar Álvarez , Sofía Solís Naranjo , Wendy Quirós Ramírez (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Transhuman contexts: AI, among others, in the School of Changes
We will talk about what is meant by transhumanisms and once it is crumbled we will approach to talk about contexts and specifically among the plausible contexts, we stay in the school, a school that will opt for its transforming action at the same time as a place of meeting and assembly of realities that are and shape us. And where the new technologies, with AI at the forefront, build certain subjects destined to be what? A here and now full of possibilities in which we cannot ignore; future forms of life in a school of changes. Well... we have to know to better understand and understand to make good decisions, and why not, reformulate new educational approaches that prepare our students and propose to inhabit, humanly, a anthropotechnical world?
Copyright (c) 2025 José Turpín Saorín (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
A gas chromatography method for the determination of ethanol in hand sanitizing gel
The commercialization of ethanol-based hand sanitizers requires strict quality control regarding the alcohol content present in the product, which demands the application of reliable analytical laboratory methodologies to ensure accuracy and credibility of the results. The objective of this study was to develop a chromatographic method for the quantification of ethanol in commercially available hand sanitizing gels. Several tests were performed using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector and a polyethylene glycol column, making the necessary adjustments and evaluating the main performance parameters of the method in accordance with established validation guidelines. The results demonstrated that the chromatographic method meets the acceptance criteria for key performance parameters such as linearity, repeatability, intermediate precision, and accuracy, thereby ensuring the reliability of the obtained results and the safety of the product for consumer health.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tammy Ulloa Esquivel , Esteban Pérez López (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Is humankind approaching its own extinction?
The impacts of humankind on the planet's ecosystems are so noticeable and alarming that the possibility of a mass extinction event and a potential ecological collapse has been raised. However, there is no widespread perception that such processes are occurring or that humanity could become extinct. This paper presents an analysis of the current state of biodiversity and the factors that have led to the disappearance of a large number of species, as well as the relationship between human actions and their impacts on ecosystems. Finally, it reflects on the possibility that humanity is approaching its own extinction and proposes some actions and alternatives to avoid a potential ecological collapse.
Copyright (c) 2025 Marco D. Barquero (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Resilience in Higher Education: Coping with Change and Disruptions through Biographical Narratives
This article, developed using a qualitative methodology of biographical reconstruction, describes the coping mechanisms and resources employed by university students to adapt to disruptive events. The research focused on two adjustment periods at the Western Campus of the University of Costa Rica: the move into student residences and the virtualization of academic processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also incorporates the perspective of Student Life (SL) staff, establishing a balance between the perceptions of young people and those of adults. The results demonstrate that systematic daily actions and contextual (ecosystemic) support are fundamental for building resilience in the medium and long term. The importance of quality relationships and perceived social support as protective factors is highlighted. Two types of support were identified: formal resilience mentors, such as SL staff and services, who offered organized support, institutional resources, and cognitive restructuring strategies in the face of the crisis; and informal resilience mentors (friends, classmates, and family members), whose role was essential in providing emotional support and empathy in daily life. The study concludes that the early establishment of successful connections with the university, along with the integration of formal and informal resources, constitutes a set of key protective factors for building long-term resilience and student retention.
Copyright (c) 2025 Cynthia Orozco Castro (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Nuevos horizontes de la investigación Volumen II: clásicos en Occidente: desde la antigüe- dad hasta Hispanoamérica / prólogo por García Jurado, Coordinación de Investigación, Sede de Occidente, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2025.
The Coordinación de Investigación, Sede de Occidente and the Posgrado en la Enseñanza del Castellano y la Literatura have published “Nuevos Horizontes de Investigación Volumen II, Clásicos en Occidente: Desde la Antigüedad hasta Hispanoamérica.” The works included in this volume, organized into four sections, explore how the traces of the Greco-Roman world engage in dialogue with the history and literatures of Hispanic America. In this way, the book examines how ancient myths and genres are reconfigured in contemporary creation, how the classical tradition connects with other ancestral worldviews, and what role classical studies play in current intellectual debates. Each chapter adopts an interdisciplinary approach. Overall, the book proposes new avenues for research and academic exchange by situating classical studies within a global framework.
Copyright (c) 2025 Andrey Gómez Jiménez (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
Hortensia Winning poetry collection of the Arturo Agüero Chaves Literary Contest, 2025
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158720804 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="p1" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"5608de39-acc8-52c5-8723-06e2503f1031|1","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",335551547,"5130",201342446,"1",201342447,"5",201342448,"1",201342449,"1",201341986,"1",268442635,"24",469775450,"p1",201340122,"2",134233614,"true",469778129,"p1",335572020,"1",335559705,"2058",134233118,"true",134233117,"true",134245417,"true",469778324,"Normal"]}">Hortensia, by Natali García Trejos, winner of the Arturo Agüero Chaves Literary Contest 2025 in the poetry category, brings together poems about migration, roots, and rural memory. The lyrical voice narrates displacement, nostalgia for the homeland, labor precariousness, and the cultural clash with the city; it evokes domestic and family images (father, mother, grandmother) and denounces the loss of childhood and exploitation. Between colonization and resistance, the poems assert belonging and the defense of identity, blending tenderness and anger. The collection weaves together oral tradition and embodied language to affirm popular dignity in the face of inequality and celebrates the authentic peasant voice.
Artistic productions (Philosophy, Arts and Literature)
Copyright (c) 2025 Natali Franciny García Trejos (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
In a suit of fire: Memory, gender and resistance
In a Suit of Fire: Memory, Gender, and Resistance, written by Francisco Rodríguez Cascante and directed by Carlos Paniagua, is a theatrical work that revives the figure of Costa Rican intellectual Corina Rodríguez López. Combining biography and poetry, the play explores the intimate, political, and symbolic dimensions of her life, marked by her fight against patriarchy and her defense of education and free thought. Through scenes that alternate between reflective old age and memories of childhood and youth, the dramaturgy portrays a woman who transformed words and teaching into acts of resistance. The “fire” in the title represents passion, memory, and sacrifice, elements that define Corina’s journey and symbolize the transformative power of art. The play becomes both a tribute to women who defy silence and a reflection on freedom, dignity, and ethical coherence. Beyond the individual portrait, In a Suit of Fire is a meditation on collective memory and on theatre’s role as a space for symbolic representation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Marian Montero Jiménez (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/
El viento sabe nuestros nombres: winning short story of the Arturo Agüero Chaves Literary Contest, 2025
The Wind Knows Our Names, by Fiorella Trejos Molina, winner of the 2025 Arturo Agüero Chaves Literary Contest in the short story category, recreates the mystery of Cedrices de Concepción, a village lost in the mist of the Western mountains. Through the characters Fabiola, Antonio, and Tatiana, the author builds an atmosphere of magical realism where time stands still and reality blends with myth. The story reflects on identity, memory, and destiny, exploring the longing to escape and the weight of origin as both condemnation and belonging.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fiorella Trejos Molina (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cr/