Raúl Pacheco Pérez (Quito, Ecuador, 1963) is an Ecuadorian editor and literary scholar dedicated to preserving and promoting Ecuadorian literature and culture. Based at the Centro Cultural Benjamín Carrión (CCBC) in Quito, he has overseen significant editorial projects, including Ensayos Reunidos by Alfredo Pareja Diezcanseco (2010). Pacheco Pérez is also active on the editorial boards of literary magazines País Secreto and Ruido Blanco, and he co-edited the influential Antología de Poesía: Ecuador Siglo XX with Iván Carvajal. His work has included serving as a juror for the “Festival de la Lira.” Through his scholarship and editorial work, Pacheco Pérez is a key figure in Ecuador’s literary community.
Early Life and Education
Born in September 1963 in southern Quito, Ecuador, Raúl Pacheco Pérez grew up in the San Roque and La Magdalena neighborhoods. His father was a tailor, and his mother owned a small restaurant called “El Rincón del Guayas” near Quito’s Cumandá area, close to the terminal terrestre. His family has roots in Cotopaxi, specifically in Pujilí. Pacheco Pérez pursued studies in Economics and Administration at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador in the 1980s but left after a few semesters. He also briefly studied classical guitar under Emilio Lara, which helped him develop a sensitivity to the musicality in language. He later shifted to study Literature at the same university, inspired by professors such as Diego Araujo and Simón Espinoza.
Literary Career and Contributions
Pacheco Pérez began his editorial career working in his uncle’s printing press, focusing on leftist publications, including El Diario de la CIA en el Ecuador. His uncle, Marcelo Pérez, a member of the Communist Party and a journalism professor, encouraged this exposure to Marxist and revolutionary literature. At the Centro Cultural Benjamín Carrión (CCBC), he has managed and edited significant cultural projects, such as the Bajo la Línea del Ecuador exhibition catalog (2019), which celebrated Afro-Ecuadorian artist Galo Galecio. He has also contributed to the literary magazines País Secreto and Ruido Blanco, and co-edited the Antología de Poesía: Ecuador Siglo XX with Iván Carvajal. Additionally, Pacheco Pérez has served as a juror in the National Hispanic-American Poetry Contest “Festival de la Lira” in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Literary Community Involvement
Pacheco Pérez maintains close relationships with prominent Ecuadorian literary figures, including poets Roy Sigüenza, Gustavo Salazar, and Cristóbal Zapata. His friendship with poet Roy Sigüenza was significant, given Sigüenza’s background in diverse global poetry. He is known as a mentor and advisor to young Ecuadorian poets who seek his feedback on their works.
He collaborated with Javier Vásconez on Ediciones Acuario, which published the collected works of poets like Gonzalo Escudero and Jorge Carrera Andrade.
Cultural and Editorial Critique
He is known for his critical stance on the Ecuadorian cultural sector’s lack of focus on literature, especially its neglect of translating Ecuadorian classics and awarding national essay prizes. He is concerned with Ecuador’s insufficient support for translations and international recognition of Ecuadorian literary works.
Current Role and Personal Life
Raúl Pacheco Pérez currently resides in Quito, Ecuador, where he continues his work with CCBC. He remains deeply involved in the Ecuadorian cultural community, fostering literary scholarship and contributing to the preservation and celebration of Ecuador’s rich cultural heritage.
References
- Centro Cultural Benjamín Carrión, Equipo. Retrieved on October 24, 2024. Click to view.
- Yumpu, Ensayos Reunidos by Alfredo Pareja Diezcanseco. Retrieved on October 24, 2024. Click to view.
- Issuu, Bajo la Línea del Ecuador: Galo Galecio y el universo afro en el Centro Cultural Benjamín Carrión, edited by Raúl Pacheco Pérez. Retrieved on October 24, 2024. Click to view.
- Cámara Ecuatoriana del Libro, Premios CEL Ganadores. Retrieved on October 24, 2024. Click to view.
- Casa de las Iguanas, Noticias Ernesto Carrión Finalista en Festival de la Lira. Retrieved on October 24, 2024. Click to view.
- El Telégrafo, Raúl Pacheco: “Hay que ver a la poesía como un hecho cultural, una respuesta al mundo en que vivimos”. Retrieved on October 26, 2024. Click to view.