Street vendor Luis Felipe Yagüé attended the inauguration of Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella on Friday, August 7, as the guest of honor. Until a few weeks ago, the 74-year-old farmer walked the streets of Florencia, the capital of Caquetá department in southern Colombia, selling panela, coffee, eggs, and honey.
Yagüé became a prominent figure during the presidential transition after a video went viral showing a university professor refusing to buy panela from him because Yagüé voted for the far-right politician. Yagüé listened silently and walked away, prompting a wave of public solidarity that multiplied his sales.
Presidential Invitation
After learning of the incident, De la Espriella publicly invited Yagüé to his swearing-in ceremony and met with him in Barranquilla, which will serve as an alternate seat of the presidency. The president-elect designated Yagüé as the first beneficiary and face of the Miracle Route, a program designed to support small Colombian entrepreneurs.
De la Espriella told Yagüé that he was a source of pride for Colombia who deserved support, defense, and encouragement, and promised to buy him a suit for the event. In a subsequent video, Yagüé was seen trying on the suit at a clothing store.
Yagüé posted on Instagram that he received the suit with affection, gratitude, and humility, adding that he was proud to represent the Colombian countryside. Panela, a sugarcane product sold by Yagüé, is a key staple of the local family diet and one of Colombia's main agricultural goods.
