City Projects

1. The reconstruction of 28 homes that were destroyed during the Terremoto in 2010

2. Building a system of bike paths to span 36 km along the main avenues of the town

Sports and Recreation

Sports and Recreation Department Team (above)

María Pinto's Sport and Recreation department seeks to promote the practice of sport, exercise and physical activity, through the implementation and incorporation of various programs and projects. These projects are interconnected with the focus to promote a healthy lifestyle. It also seeks to spread the values of respect, tolerance, responsibility, honesty, teamwork and discipline.

The mission statement of María Pinto's sport and recreation department is as follows:

"Entregar a los 8 establecimientos educacionales de nuestra comuna y a la comunidad en general, amplias posibilidades para la práctica de la Educación Física, el Deporte y la Recreación; disciplinas que se constituyen en agentes válidos del proceso formativo y que permiten promover hábitos saludables, a fin de mejorar la calidad de vida de nuestros estudiantes y la población en general."

Art and Culture

María Pinto's department of Art & Culture began its work in 1997 with the objective of integrating art to improve and transform the community school system. Its methodology is based off three lines of action: teaching, outreach, and communication. Over the past ten years, this program has significantly increased student's participation in school activities such as dance, music, theatre, ect. 

Education in María Pinto

The mission statement of the educational branch of María Pinto's municipal is as follows: 

"El Liceo Municipal 860 de Marìa Pinto debe, desarrollar una gestion escolar capaz de lograr la permanencia de los estudiantes en el sistema escolar, a travèz de la utilizacion de metodoilogias participativas, integrando a lo padres y apoderados por medio de una educacion de calidad, donde sean desarrolladas al màximo las capacidades, habilidades y destrezas de los niños/as que le faciliten la adaptacion y desenvolvimiento en la sociedad actual."

There are five schools available for the children in the María Pinto community: Colegio Los Rulos, Colegio Santa Emilia, Colegio Las Mercedes, Colegio Chorombo Bajo, Colegio Chorombo Alto.

Administration

The Municipal Corporation of María Pinto, Education, Health and Child Care was founded on September 29, 1981 to manage all the facilities and town activities. The corporation is 100% nonprofit, private, and includes a maximum of 20 legal members at a time. Five of these members make up the official Board of the Corporation, including the mayor of the town which heads the board, two chairmen appointed by the City Council, and two members elected by the Assembly of Members. The Assembly of Members is made up of elected representatives from the town.

Currently, César Araos Aguirre is the mayor of María Pinto and will serve the term from 2008-2012. Elections for his office are held every four years. To help the mayor govern the town, he has a council advisors that meets to discuss town organization, funding, and any issues. One of their main projects has been to make the town more accessible by expanding the Santiago-Valparaíso highway and the maintaining the main avenue - av. Francisco Costabal. 

History of María Pinto

María Pinto is a community located in the central of Chile in the Metropolitan area of Santiago. The community was founded in 1990. There are approximately 10,500 people that reside in María Pinto. 16 percent of the population live in the urban areas of the community, while the majority (84 percent) of people live in the rural areas. This community is considered a low-income area, as the poverty level is extremely high. For every 100 inhabitants, one-third are living in poverty.  

The town was named after María Pinto, a wealthy aristocrat from Santiago that owned the entire town in the 19th century. It is located near the Maípo river in the Puangue valley.

Traditional Food

The traditional food at María Pinto includes cheese and pino-filled empanadas and sopaipillas. Each type of empanada came in a different form and size, including mini and large pino empandas and half-moon shaped cheese empanadas. These homemade delicacies are served with a side of pebre, which is a spicy mix of chopped tomatoes, onions, and herbs that is commonly used as a topping. A side dish of chopped tomatoes and peppers is also available for the less daring diners. The most popular beverages are different types of sodas such as Coca Light and Sprite and mineral water with gas. For dessert, there is always a hearty slice of "Mil Hojas" cake layered with manjar - a thick dulce de leche cream. Regardless of the meal, the food in María Pinto is much more flavor packed than the typical Chilean dish. Bon Apetit!