"The White Vulture"

This legend occurred around 1940's in Camaguey. The people who know this story can be counted with your hands. It is about a priest, Padre Valencia who dedicated his entire life to service of poor people and orphan children. The legend tells that a white vulture appeared in front of the Padre Valencia. There were short resources that he had in that time to sustain and orphanage that he established and manage his all life. But one day this white vulture appeared in front of him, an animal never seen before in Cuba. The priest domesticated the bird, which was used to pose in his shoulder the whole day. Later the priest made a plan that all people who wanted to see the rare animal, had to pay. Then, he used all the collected money to support the orphanage until he died. After his death the white vulture was never seen again. One of the streets of the city of Camaguey has the name of Padre Valencia. This was the street where he was around every day of his life with the white vulture on his shoulder. His noble and fruitful life was dedicated to the service of the ones more in need. He was an example of hope, and faith, that he professed. People who believed used to say that the appearance of this rare animal was a sign of God existence. Today we can find in the city a statue of the priest, with happy children around him and the white vulture in his shoulder.