MEET

Everyone is a person of interest here — stories and profiles of the people who shape Troncones.

DEWEY McMILLIN: ESCAPE TO TRONCONES

BENITO VILA

He came, he saw, he got away from it all and made a difference

He’s smooth. Even his name is smooth. Dewey McMillin. Like a fine blended scotch or a big wave surfer. Dewey McMillin. It’s a name that holds reverence. Especially here in Troncones. It’s widely acknowledged Dewey is responsible for the development of 21st-century Troncones, helping the community attract homeowners from around the world, transforming an isolated village into a legendary destination. In 2019, at Troncones’ annual February Expo Feria (carnival), the community celebrated Dewey’s commitment and tireless work in bringing in the essential infrastructure—for roads, electricity, water—that wasn’t here before. His selling of beachfront lots, in partnership with the community, also brought in jobs—the construction, maintenance and service work needed to sustain a growing resort, and that assure on-going opportunities for local families. A profile of Dewey in The Wall Street Journal, from January 6, 2000, opens with “Former Alaska fisherman Dewey McMillin has done something unique in the world of Mexican beachfront development. He’s made everyone happy.” It also quotes Dewey describing how to create success in business here, saying, “The trick is not to leave your brain at the border.” That’s his kind of smooth.

William Mertz: Artist & Naturalist

BENITO VILA

Whether it’s a bird, a spider or a snake, there’s one guy to go to in Troncones who knows exactly what you’ve got; it’s likely he has a drawing or a photo of the one he found

I first “met” William through Facebook on the original Troncones-Let’s Chat. He was the administrator of that group as it grew rapidly in the late 20-teens and early 20-twenties. There were a few members who wouldn’t play nice. William shut it down—not the few members—he shut down the whole group. People wouldn’t be kind, so he put an end to his being a part of it; he put an end to anyone being subjected to nonsense. I liked that.

J. Santos Jaime Sánchez: Lessons Learned

BENITO VILA

Part One

Good teachers are easy to learn from. They inspire you; they get you to think about the world differently; they make the learning fun; they set you off, curious to learn more. That’s Santos. When Aura wanted to take Spanish lessons, Santos arrived at our house carrying dominoes and a deck of cards. He doesn’t speak English, but he knows playing encourages connection, communication and conversation. He also knew that by talking over a game, he would discover what Aura needed to learn, where he needed to guide her. Santos is currently working in school administration in Coyuca de Benítez, four hours away, but he still lives in Troncones. He doesn’t want to leave.

Ilianet Nuñez Valdovinos: Surfing Queen

BENITO VILA

The youngest girl in the Saladita surf becomes a woman people look up to

Mother, wife, restaurant owner, social media star. Those are all roles Saladita’s Ilianet Nuñez Valdovinos wakes up to every morning, but the truth is she’s heading to the beach to surf. That’s where she’s expected. Her people are waiting for her.

NICO SAUCEDO: GYM IS LIFE

BENITO VILA

A life-long passion becomes a way of connecting in Saladita

It came out of nowhere, a gym, the Hacienda Plaza ground floor being expanded, with brand-new weightlifting and workout equipment coming in. The logo appeared, a stylized “Mana”, and then the people came, jumping, lifting, carrying, stretching, doing burpees and planks, by themselves, with trainers. People of all ages, all sexes, every complexion. It looked like a cool sports camp. I asked, “Who’s running this?” That’s when I first heard the name, “Nico”.

Ligita Lapé: Following Cacao

AURA WINARICK

A world traveler comes to Troncones and stays to share her passion for chocolate-making

Cacao. It’s “kuh·kau”, a tree, native to South America, that produces a pod containing seeds, or “beans”, which for over 7000 years have been harvested, heated and transformed into beverages and foods, liquors and chocolates. Its scientific name, Theobroma cacao, is Greek for “food of the gods”, a reflection of the bean’s place in Mexico’s Mayan and Aztec culture where it was considered a gift from the gods, where its use was typically reserved for special occasions, weddings and ceremonies. Among many of Mexico’s indigenous tribes, cacao as a dried bean became a currency, its value and status plainly understood. Cacao. It’s nourishment. It’s medicine. It’s an essential. It’s a luxury. It’s comforting. It’s over-stimulating. It’s earthly. It’s sacred. It’s everyday. It’s special. It’s complicated. Ligita Lapé and her Troncones-based brand Tribu Del Cacao, caught my eye on Instagram before I happened to meet her for the first time at Jahvé, the vegetable and fruit store just south of the T. Ligita knows the complexities of cacao first-hand, as a maker, artist and brewer and as someone who’s sure cacao speaks to her, as a guide, a co-conspirator and a source of inspiration. We sat down together in her treehouse-like apartment in early September and talked about how she was drawn to cacao’s magic.

Fanny Rivera Plascencia: For Modern Healing

BENITO VILA

The wisdom of the ages, cures made from plants, treatments relied on for centuries, right here in Troncones

She walks with a cane, her knee destroyed in a motorcycle accident more than a decade ago. There’s no telling how old she is. When Fanny smiles, she looks younger than her grown daughters, even if her gait leaves her looking older than she is. Her age doesn’t matter. You can tell she knows something you don’t. That’s why you’ve come to see her.

AMANDA HARRIS: ORGANIC FARMER

AURA WINARICK

Bringing new ways, new foods and new life to people along the Costa Grande

Led by Amanda Harris, Gente Viva is a local permaculture farm focused on sustaining the land, the aquifer and the watershed. It’s changing food culture throughout Guerrero. Founded on agroecological principles, Gente Viva farms approximately 10 hectares set in a tranquil coastal plain about 40 minutes south of Troncones. Amanda’s field team makes use of regenerative practices, composting systems, passive rainwater harvesting, as well as age-old concepts like sembrando agua (planting water), to nourish both soil and community.

Enedino Sánchez: Master Gardener, Quiet Hero, the spirit of troncones

BENITO VILA

Anytime you admire a garden in Troncones, chances are it’s been touched by the hands of Enedino Sanchez. Anytime you go to a fundraiser in Troncones for someone in need, chances are he’s one of the organizers.

As the owner of a picturesque vine-covered laundromat set in the middle of an always-in-bloom nursery, Enedino Sanchez is well-known in Troncones, Truth is, he’s counted on for more than clean clothes and big bougainvillea. A member of the church, an advocate for public transportation, education and water management, and a caregiver to his family and neighbors, Enedino embodies the spirit of service that’s needed for a small town to thrive. His commitment and dedication have helped shape and sustain the character of Troncones.

ELFI TEUTSCH: HAPPY ENTREPRENEUR

BENITO VILA

On-the-go, in and out of the water, making a joyful life

A could-be-anywhere free spirit, Elfi Teutsch chose Troncones as the place to be. Or, perhaps, Troncones chose her. Whichever way that goes, the first time I met Elfie was in the surf, the two of us sharing a large wave, stoked and laughing at our two-person “party wave”. Later, when I needed a board repaired, when I ran out of sunscreen; when I didn’t have any dog treats and when I was at La Cervicheria Troncones wondering what a vegetarian could eat, each time Elfi was there, connecting me to exactly what I needed. There’s no accident in all that–she repairs boards, makes sunscreen, bakes dog treats and helps out at La Cervicheria. Elfi also shapes boards. She’s a creative hands-on business maker and a fixture on the Troncones surf scene.