Traffic accidents drop in Azuay; Seniors pay half-price for phone and internet; World of empanadas; Two exhibitions; Shoot-outs leave one dead, two injured

Bored? –
(De El Mercurio del sábado, 28/2) Exposición recorre trayectoria del artista Diego Jaramillo (Exhibition traces the career of artist Diego Jaramillo) – 5 decades of work by Diego Jaramillo Paredes will be brought together for the retrospective show “Parajes del Silencio” (1975-2025). The exhibit will open el 5/3 at the Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno (MMAM) as part of the commemorative activities of the museum which will celebrate 45 years. In his paintings, Jaramillo has constantly explored the relation between landscape, memory and emptiness. <I think the next several paragraphs in the article proves the saying that “A picture is worth a thousand words.”>

A photo exhibit “Mujeres de Cuenca, fuerza y belleza” by Cuenca artist Jane Hiltbrand continues at La Casa de las Posadas until March 25. (El Mercurio)

(De El Mercurio del sábado, 28/2) – Se abre muestra “Mujeres de Cuenca, fuerza y belleza” (The exhibition “Women of Cuenca, Strength and Beauty” opens) – The photo exhibit, “Mujeres de Cuenca, fuerza y belleza” by artist Jane Hiltbrand, opened at La Casa de las Posadas and will run until el miércoles, 25/3. The exhibit is a series of photos taken during 8 years of living in Cuenca and shows the daily life of girls, young women, mothers, workers, artists and seniors in different contexts. The images show scenes of celebration, work, and reflection; and the strength and ties of women in their families and communities. Hours are from lunes a viernes from 8:00 to 16:45.

(De El Mercurio del martes, 3/3) Agenda festiva (Holiday schedule) – The Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado (GAD) of the city of Chordeleg is preparing 3 activities for the Día Internacional de la Mujer which will take place next week. The first will be el viernes, 6/3 a las 10:00 in the Casa González with a tribute to women potters. On el sábado, 7/3 a las 10:00, there will be the “Emprendiendo juntas” fair in the central park. At the same time, there will be the 2n 5k “Mujer Zhirogalla” race starting from the La Unión parish sports court and finishing at the Plaza José María Vargas.

Hungry?
(De El Mercurio del domingo, 1/3) El mundo de las empanadas (The world of empanadas) – La Bendita is a dark kitchen (food for takeout or delivery, but no on premises dining) run by husband and wife team Justin Aguirre and Luly Monsalve. Luly learned cooking from her mother and grandmother, and the pair honed their skills in Buenos Aires. You can order 7 varieties of empanadas at Av. Solano and 27 de febrero or on WhatsApp 099 867 7853. Their ‘La Bendita Perfecta’ is filled with juicy matambre, onion and a hard cooked egg. Among their best sellers are the empanadas de vacío <Google gives me a flank steak empanada or an empty empanada (like the empanadas de viento?)> and chicken empanadas.

La vaquerita y sus delicias, with owner and chef Yasenia Infante, is located at av. Loja and Isabel La Católica. She learned the culinary secrets from her mother and the empanadas keep the classic Venezuelan flavor. She enjoys innovating within her tradition and she created special combinations such as cachapa con chancho frito, Cordon Blue, and dishes that mix typical flavors with a chef’s touch. Her most requested empanadas are shredded meat and chicken. Order at 098 437 1888.

The empanadas at Verde & Café are a delicacy for their size and variety of fillings such as beef, chicken, mushrooms, and chicken with cheese. The dough is 100% plantain from Santo Domingo. They are sold by the piece or by the box. The cafeteria specializes in products with verde (green plantain) and is located at av. Loja 2-148 y Pastaza.

Curious? –
(De El Mercurio del sábado, 28/2) Dos ataques armados en Cuenca (Two armed attacks in Cuenca) – In less than 5 minutes el pasado jueves, there were 2 separate armed attacks in different sectors of the city that left 1 man dead and two injured. The first was at 22:45 at calles Manuel Vega and Antonio Vega Muñoz. ECU 911 was called and police found one dead person who had been shot multiple times. After preliminary investigations, the man was presumed to be involved with prostitution activities and sales of controlled substances. The hypothesis for a motive is a dispute related to micro trafficking of drugs.

Barely 5 minutes later, at 22:50, a second violent act was reported in the Barrial Blanco sector on calles Vieja and Del Chorro. There, 2 people were wounded by gunfire. A 31 year old woman was shot in the arm and abdomen and is in stable condition. An unidentified youth of about 20 years old was shot in the head and is in critical condition. Preliminary investigations and reviews of videos indicated the youth was one of the alleged participants in the attack and was likely hit by gunfire from his partners. He was under a car, wanting to attack the woman, and was shot by his partners and then run over by them when they fled. <Another episode of the Keystone Kriminals> This incident was also believed to be related to drug sales disputes.

(De El Mercurio del sábado, 28/2) Qué dice la norma sobre Galápagos (What does the law say about the Galápagos Islands?) – The Asamblea Nacional approved the Ley para el Fortalecimiento de los Sectores Estratégicos de Minería y Energía (Law for the Strengthening of the Strategic Mining and Energy Sectors) with 77 votes in favor. In light of reports about eventual mining in the Galápagos, Pres. Noboa indicated that the Parque Nacional Galápagos, which covers 97% of the islands, maintains a total prohibition of mining. The remaining 3% only allows extraction of rocky material <Makes more sense to quarry rock for construction locally than to ship it in from the mainland.>, not metal mining. The approval of the law has not closed the debate, with legal actions, protests, and new political disputes expected. Officials say that the law strengthens the legal framework and respects citizens’ rights, while critics seek a review by the Corte Constitucional. The scope of the law will depend on its application. The issue places discussion about exploitation of natural resources, environmental protection, and rights of communities back on the table.h

Azuay con menos accidentes de tránsito (Azuay with fewer traffic accidents) – The Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos (INEC) issued a report on Estadisticas de Transporte (ESTRA) with detailed information about road accidents. Azuay had 806 accidents in 2025 representing 3.96% of the total in the country, and is in 6th place nationally. This is a reduction from the 1,416 accidents reported in 2024. 688 people were injured in 2025, the equivalent of 3.84% of the national total. 68 people were killed. Cuenca, the largest canton in the province, reported 388 people injured and 34 people killed. The rate of deaths in Cuenca was 6.31 for every 100 accidents, less than the national average of 11.57.

The Provincial reduction in accidents between 2024 and 2025 suggests improvements in road behavior. <Hard to tell. Drivers seem as crazy as ever.> Driver inexperience and recklessness lead the causes of accidents according to INEC. In Azuay and Cuenca, drivers also speed and ignore traffic signage, with 54.29% of accidents due to inexperience and recklessness and 16.35% due to ignoring traffic signage in urban areas. In rural areas the percentages are 61.35% due to inexperience and recklessness and 30.08% due to speeding. <Although speeding on some of those rural roads would be driving at 20 or 30 kph. Any faster and you’d probably wreck the suspension system.>

(De El Mercurio del lunes, 2/3) Arcotel recuerda exoneración del 50% (Arcotel reminds about 50% exemption) – To comply with the Ley Orgánica de las Personas Adultas Mayores (LOPAM), the Agencia de Regulación y Control de las Telecomunicaciones (Arcotel) reported that rate benefits designed for this group are in effect. The measure seeks to guarantee access to connectivity as a right for people 65 and older through preferential telecommunications rates to facilitate their digital inclusion. <Doesn’t help if you don’t know how to work your digital device without someone under 30 standing by your shoulder and telling you which keys to push.> The law establishes a 50% discount for basic services which would be a basic voice or internet plan on your phone. The account holder has to be the senior citizen. For fixed residential internet, the 50% discount would apply to the home of the beneficiary, and limited to one account per user. A fixed residential phone line also qualifies for the discount. To get the benefit, you need to go to the service provider with your cédula and be listed as the holder of the contract, in order to prove your status.

(De El Mercurio del lunes, 2/3) Baja levemente la tasa de empleo (Slight drop in unemployment rate) – Ecuador started 2026 with an employment rate of 96.6% according to a national survey on employment, unemployment, and underemployment for enero. National unemployment is at 3.4% and corresponds to people who don’t have a job, but are available to work, and are actively seeking employment. Under the employed percentage, 36.6% have adequate employment while 21.4% are underemployed. Informal employment represents 54.5% of those who are working. This means almost half are working in activities that aren’t registered or affiliated with social security and don’t pay income tax. By gender, 4.7% of women and 2.5% of men are unemployed. Women receive an average of $513.90 and men $579.10. Geographically, unemployment is at 4.0% in urban areas and 2.2% in rural areas. The private sector is the largest generator of employment with 94 of every 100 positions. The public sector accounts for 6 of every 100 registered positions.