Mariano Porto y Rivero was born in San Antonio de los Baños on May 4, 1878. He was not yet 17 years old, when the struggle for independence began again in 1895. He participated in the conspiracies led by Chichí Vivanco, in Peña Pobre 14, place where Ariguanabense youth, committed to the insurrectional uprising, met.
Together with his friend Manolo Sánchez, they travel by train to El Rincón and then continue to the province of Las Villas. Afterwards, they joined the forces of General Juan Bruno Zayas, where they fought for almost a year. During this period he obtained the rank of Sergeant. Later, he joined the forces of Máximo Gómez as a member of his personal guard. At the end of the war, he held the rank of Commander.
Mariano Porto y Rivero was an ariguanabense patriot who belonged to the forces of Generalísimo Máximo Gómez. When the war ended, he returned to San Antonio de los Baños. During the administration of Mayor Vivanco he held various positions, including Mayor of the Barrio.
In the elections of 1916 he was elected as Municipal Mayor of San Antonio de los Baños by the Liberal Party. In 1920 he was reelected for a period of two years, finishing his term in 1922. He died in Havana on February 25, 1944.
