CROEXPRESS: Hrvati su ovdje buru zamijenili 'camanchacom' i ostavili neizbrisiv trag.

March 31,
2015.

The Croats here changed the 'bura' for the 'camanchaca' and left an indelible mark.

The process of Croatian immigration to Peru lasted several centuries, and due to the mixing of
peoples and social differences, today it is not possible to determine the exact number of Croatian
descendants living in Peru. Peruvian society is very receptive to foreigners, with Croatians in
particular being a relatively small colony in the country, where an estimated number of Croats,
including descendants, ranges from around 82 thousand inhabitants, representing around 0.27%
of the population of Peru.

A Croatian surname has always been heard:

The children of immigrants in Peru learned to fit into the national culture, where many hold high
positions in the financial, educational, cultural and sports sectors. Croatian surnames have always
been heard in Peruvian society; Many Croatians and their descendants are prominent members.
But it didn't happen overnight.

The first Croatians who once arrived in this remote country, adapted due to their passion, hard
work and adventurous character. Replacing the "bura" with the "camanchaca", dense Peruvian fog
that runs along the long coast of the Pacific Ocean, the great desert to the south, the high peaks
and mountain ranges of the Andes and the inhospitable jungles and forests of the east Peruvian.
They achieved their "Peruvian dream."

A large group of Croatians arrived at the port of Callao, with high hopes, in search of a better
opportunity in life. Their current descendants know that they wanted to return home, but this did
not happen due to many political and social problems of the time, including communism and
political persecution. Many Croatians settled in the cities of Santa Clara and Ñaña, near Lima.
Some of those who went to the Peruvian jungle in search of opportunities in places like
Chanchamayo and San Martín, helped build roads and paths. Many have stayed there, while
others followed different paths, such as the Raguž family who settled in Concepción, Huancayo, or
the Zvietcovich family who arrived in Pitumarca, Sicuani. A descendant of this family, Eduardo
Zvietcovich, was an avid collector of paintings from the Cusco school and other schools of
European painting. He founded the first art gallery in Sicuani, Pinacoteca "Josefa Aritmendi de
Zvietcovich".

It is also that of Ivan Orlić, who arrived in Peru in 1948 aboard the ship General William Black. He
worked in different jobs until 1958 when he dedicated himself to fishing and then ventured into
the fishmeal and fish oil industry. Who in 1973 became a successful businessman.

Luka Baraka, arriving in South America in 1954, and in 1973 to the port of Chimbote, Peru. Today
he is a successful fishing businessman who started as a cook in Iquique. “My life is the sea,” he
says; the sea that is the same and yet different everywhere.

Miguel Kulišić came to work in the Cerro de Pasco mines in 1948. Miguel entered the fishing sector
for the first time in 1955. And in 1987 he became the owner of a fishing company in the port of Ilo.

Marko Burin arrived in Peru when he was only 17 years old. He started working and growing rice
and cotton. In 1962 he began his activity in the field of poultry farming. And he became a
successful poultry businessman and exporter of grapes and asparagus.

Petar Maleš arrived in Lima in 1948 aboard the ship General William Black. He worked as a textile
technician and formed a large textile machinery import company. He was a fervent defender of
Croatian nationalist sentiment and collaborated in several initiatives to strengthen the Croatian
appearance in Peru.

Juan Bielovušić Cavalié, was a Peruvian-Croatian aviator. He was one of the pioneers of world
aviation. He is recognized in Peru as a hero and many streets are named after him.

Kristian Kreković, Croatian-Peruvian painter. His works were characterized by Amerindian and pre-
Columbian (especially Peruvian) themes. In Palma de Mallorca there is a monographic museum
dedicated to his work, which was later moved to Lika, Gospić. The president of Peru Manuel A.
Odría awarded him the Order of Prominent Merit.
It is worth remembering that on December 11, 2014, the Congress of the Republic of Peru,
through the Roundtable of Parliamentary Women, which is chaired by Congresswoman María
Luisa Cuculiza, also of Croatian descent, awarded honorary diplomas to thirteen prominent
members. of the Croatian community in Peru. Prizes were awarded to Monsignor Drago
Balvanović, Lula Baraka, Luko Miloslavić, Cecilia Bácula, Marko Burin, Drago Kisić, Antika Kuljevan,
Franco Kurtović, Ivan Ortić, Milan Ortić, Ljubica Sekula, Tonci Suarcić and José Carlos Zlatar
Stambuck,

Cuculiza remembered with great emotion his grandfather and father who were one of the
immigrants who decided after leaving their homeland to make their homeland in Peruvian lands.

Croatians who have left their mark on Peruvian society:

It is difficult to list all the Croats who left their mark on the history of Peru. As for politicians,
academics and public officials, there is Baldo Kresalja, former Minister of Justice. Cuculiza, former
minister of women and congressman of the Republic of Peru, has already been mentioned. Lawyer
and analyst at Fabián Novak. Paola Pejoves, journalist. Iván Thays, writer. Juan Gargurevich Regal,
journalist. María del Pilar Fortunic, anthropologist. Gabriela Pérez del Solar Cuculiza, deputy and
former handball player. Herny Golac, meteorologist. Fortunato Sivirichi, lawyer and politician.
Pablo Arturo Handabaka García, former Minister of Fisheries. Jorge Ernesto Handabaka García,
education expert. Ismael Bielich-Flores, university professor and politician. Magdalena Pavlich,
researcher. Zinka Saric Pardo, writer. Carlos Aragón Zvietovich, writer and anthropologist, expert
in native Peruvian languages. José Compuesto, write. Jaime Stiglich Bernizon, diplomat and former
ambassador of Peru to Israel. Branko Fištrović, Croatian diplomat and former Honorary Consul of
Peru. Miguel Ángel Cussianovic, former state treasurer. Pedro Jurinovic, former director of the
National Institute of Culture. Lucy Percovic, former Minister of the Interior.

There are also businessmen. Luis Thais (textile industry). Drago Kisic, Rolando Piskulich, Jeannie
Stiglich (communication), Álava T. Vicich (health), Luka Baraka (fishing), Francis Kurtovic, Ivo Saric
(fishing).

So artists. The actors Vanessa Terkess, Fernando Bakovic, Katia Balarin and Saby Kamalich. Ljubica
Zimic the model, as well as Emilia Drago.
The army and police have met Otto Guibovich, former commander of the Peruvian Armed Forces.
Drago Kisic, a colonel in the Peruvian Army Air Force. José Stambuk Goldsmith, former Minister of
Aviation. Cesar Bielich Pomarede, admiral and minister of the sea. Farcic Alejandro Barrios, colonel
of the National Police of Peru. Jorge Balarin de la Torre, commander of the Peruvian Army Air
Force. Esteban Zimic, director of the Naval School of Peru. Guillermo Vucetic, commander in chief
of the Air Force. German Stiglitz Alvares, a member of the Armed Forces and a lawyer, Naval Code
author. Markovinović Dane, the Marine colonel. Frank Krklec, colonel of the Armed Forces.

Then, the athletes: Sofia Mulanovich, world surfing champion. Footballer Marko Ciurlizza. Bratz
Sizgorich, volleyball player. Renzo Sheput, footballer. Graduation Roberto Drago, soccer coach.
Alan Vicich, surfer. Milka Milic, Pan American cycling champion. Christopher Galjuf, the motorists.

Of the religious employees we will mention Mgr. Piñeiro Nesanovića, head of the Military
Ordinariate of Peru. Manuel Biedma, a Franciscan priest, missionary on the Huallaga River. Hugo
Andric, priest. Ricardo Antoncic, Jesuit. Tomo Remigio Mlinaric, Franciscan. Juan Sokolic, priest and
director of Radio Santa Rosa. Encarnación Vucetic, a priest.
Congress of the Republic of Peru granted recognition to Croatian personalities in Peru, led
by Congresswoman Luisa María Cuculiza.

Juan Bielovušić Cavalié: Peruvian-Croatian aviator recognized for being a pioneer of

Peruvian and South American aeronautics.
Eduardo Zvietcovich with his family delivering oil paintings to the Sicuani art gallery.

Marko Burin and Luka Baraka on the Ozoynik bridge over the Chillón river, Carabayllo
district, Lima. It was financed and donated in 1993 as a testimony of the friendship
between Peru and Croatia.

Kristian Krekovic: Croatian-Peruvian painter.