Rodrigo Abelardo Pesántez Rodas (Azogues, July 25, 1937 – Guayaquil, April 2, 2020) was an Ecuadorian writer, poet, literary critic, anthologist, researcher, university professor, and cultural promoter. He’s best known for his essays and for publishing poetry anthologies containing poems by Ecuadorians. He is especially remembered as an exponent and champion of Ecuadorian women writers. His book, “Presencia de la mujer ecuatoriana en la poesía” (1960), is a poetry anthology that contains poems by 67 Ecuadorian women writers. Other books by him include: “Panorama del ensayo ecuatoriano,” “Ocho poetas tanáticas,” “Jorge Carrera Andrade, amistad y anhelos compartidos,” and “Siete poetas del Ecuador.” As a poet, his poetry books include “Viñas de Orfeo,” “De cuerpo entero,”and “Vigilia de mi sombra.” Among the many awards he received are: the José Vasconcelos Award (an international award from Mexico) and the National Cultural Merit Medal from the House of Ecuadorian Culture. For forty years, he taught Ecuadorian Literature at the University of Guayaquil. He was a member of the House of Ecuadorian Culture.
Education
Rodrigo Pesántez Rodas completed his primary and secondary studies in his hometown where he obtained his high school diploma, and then traveled to the city of Guayaquil where he continued university studies until reaching, on September 4, 1964, the title of Doctor of Philosophy, Letters and Educational Sciences.
Awards
- On October 14, 1996, in the City Hall of the Municipality of Guayaquil, he received the international decoration “José Vasconcelos”, which in recognition of his fruitful work in literary, critical, poetic and university teaching research, was awarded to him by the Front of Hispanic Affirmation A.C. from Mexico. That same day he presented his work “Anthology of the Cosmic Poetry of Ecuador.”
- Medal from the House of Ecuadorian Culture
Parents
Rodrigo Pesántez Rodas’ parents were Abelardo Pesantez Garzón and Lola Rodas Iglesias.
Death
Rodrigo Pesántez Rodas died on April 2, 2020, in Guayaquil, after contracting COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador.