eWillemstad, Curaçao – February 2024 – In a groundbreaking effort to restore Curaçao’s true history, Curaçao International School is proud to announce the first-ever reactivation of Día di Victoria (Victory Day), a historic battle that has remained uncelebrated for centuries due to colonial suppression.

On February 26, 1804, Curaçao’s men, women, and children—armed only with machetes, stones, wooden sticks, and their bare fists—fought bravely against the heavily armed British forces. Under the leadership of local militia leaders, including Manuel Carlos Piar and Luis Brion, they defied all odds, forced the British to retreat, and secured the island’s sovereignty.

Despite its profound importance, this victory was systematically erased from public memory by the Dutch colonial government, which discouraged its commemoration in order to suppress narratives of local resistance. Now, for the first time, Curaçao International School is restoring this lost chapter of history through an immersive and interactive field trip.

The Día di Victoria Field Trip will take students, guided by their history professor, through the key battle sites where Curaçao’s people confronted the British war machine and emerged victorious.

With the guidance of three renowned experts, students will gain a dynamic, youth-adapted perspective on the significance of this event:

•Marlon Regales – Bringing history to life through engaging, high-energy storytelling that immerses students in the battle’s key moments.

•Ashley Mauricia (Professional Local Artist) – Salon di Piar: Using visual storytelling and artistic interpretation to reimagine the emotions, struggles, and triumphs of Curaçao’s fighters.

•Tico Vos – A deep historical analysis on what it meant to be “not white” in colonial society, and how racial discrimination shaped Manuel Carlos Piar’s life, legacy, and tragic fate.

This field trip is not just about remembering the past—it is about empowering the next generation to reclaim their history.

The suppression of Día di Victoria was not just an erasure of a battle—it was an attempt to weaken national pride and identity. By bringing it back, we restore the truth and strengthen Curaçao’s historical consciousness.

Manuel Carlos Piar Gómez y Lotyn’s journey—from a Curaçaoan boy to a revolutionary hero—embodies resilience, leadership, and the fight for justice. His experience of racial discrimination, despite his military genius, is a painful reminder of the barriers faced by Curaçao’s own people in history.

His vision of unity beyond race and class—forging a people’s movement for independence—was revolutionary, and his victory on February 26, 1804, is proof that Curaçao’s spirit of resistance has always existed.

This initiative is more than just an educational project—it is an act of historical justice. By acknowledging this victory, we reclaim our story, our heroes, and our collective identity.

The Día di Victoria Field Trip is just the first step in a broader mission to ensure Curaçaoan students learn the uncensored history of their island. Curaçao International School is proud to reactivate this long-suppressed commemoration, ensuring that the next generation knows the truth about their past.

The historic field trip will take place on February 26, 2024, marking the first official reactivation of Día di Victoria after centuries of colonial discouragement.