A centenary magazine

The subject related to the written press in San Antonio de los Baños deserves special attention. More than 100 publications, from the time of the colony, enriched the written heritage at the beginning of the Neocolonial Republic. One of the longest-running publications was the magazine "Punto y Coma".

On February 7, 1918, the first edition of the Ariguanabense magazine "Punto y Coma" was published. This publication was maintained for 22 years, until 1940. The fundamental support of its development was due mainly to the existence of several printing houses in the town. Its director was Rogelio Pérez, known by Rogeliú. This magazine had the characteristic of being festive and of general character where diverse subjects of the ariguanabense society were approached. The published works were written by ariguanabenses, lovers of letters, which reflected the life of the villagers, as well as photographs and poetry. Among the best-known authors were Walfredo A. Juver, Oscar Ibarra, Oscar de Alva, Antonio Pino and his director Rogelio Pérez.

Important documents that collect the local history of the Villa are treasured in the Municipal Museum José Rafael Lauzán. One of them is the special issue of the Punto y Coma Magazine, dated May 1919. In the first article, the efforts of the journal's collaborators that allowed to issue this extraordinary edition stand out. Other outstanding articles were those referring to industry and commerce, the branch of the International Bank in San Antonio, the Ariguanabo Lagoon, the Santo Tomás School and the Minerva School, the Plesbiterian Church, the Ariguanabo Estudiantina, as well as the Order ''Caballeros de la Luz''. In addition, chronicles about the founding of the Fire Department of Commerce and fragments of the history of the emblematic Artisans Circle.

The special edition of the magazine published several photos of San Antonio de los Baños sites, corresponding to the first decade of the 20th century. The Municipal Museum treasures other editions of the Punto y Coma magazine that reflect the journalistic work and the life of the locality during those years.