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Tribute to Masman 'Cito' Velasquez

Guy Pantin, James 'Jimmy' Lewis & Victor Kelly
Paying Respect to Lewicito 'Cito' Velasquez

Masman 'Cito' Velasquez passes away
April 08, 2006

Lewicito 'Cito' Velasquez
Lewicito 'Cito' Velasquez

Tributes at Wake

Triniview.com Reporters
April 11, 2006


Guy Pantin
Guy Pantin

I knew Cito for about thirty years. I played Mas with him. I used to observe how they were bending wire and I tried to learn from him. I remember the first time I tried to make a Mas, I think we were playing "Nature's Note Book" at the time. I decided I would make a dragonfly at home, not here in the Mas Camp. It was the first time I was making Mas on my own. I was living on Fifth Street and Cito was living on the Avenue. I went ahead and I made the dragonfly. When I was finished, I brought it here for him to see what it was like. We used to call Cito Wang. I said, "Wang, look my Dragon Fly here". He said, "What is that all yuh come down the road, ah helicopter?" I remember getting vex because he called my dragonfly a helicopter. He never told me why he said that.



James 'Jimmy' Lewis
James 'Jimmy' Lewis

I knew Cito for a very long time. When I came into the Mas here by Cito, I was a young fella and now I am an old man. From that time till now, I have known no difference in him. It was only recently Cito and I got friendlier through doing certain things for him. I used to come and help him do some of the things he couldn't do for himself. I was really happy doing those things for him and he was thankful. The last time I really saw him and spoke to him was Monday gone. I spoke with him. He was lying down because he wasn't feeling too well. He was mostly using his ventilator. I said to him, "Wang, what happen boy? Like you eh feeling good". He told me he had to get some tablets. When I told him I will go for it, he told me not to bother, Shortpants will get them when he comes because he knows what to get. Eventually I left him and I went home and cooked. Wednesday I saw a friend of mine and he told me Cito was in the hospital. I was planning to visit him on Saturday. Another friend came and told me he passed away the Friday evening. I didn't get to see him at the hospital.

Cito was a man of all seasons. He was very genuine. Whenever he could have helped you, he did. A lot of young fellas learned a lot from him about wire-bending and how to make Mas. He was a very good man.



Victor Kelly
Victor Kelly

I am the older brother of David Rudder. As a young man growing up, I have always heard the name Cito Velasquez where good Mas was concerned. I got to know him during his masquerading days. I've always enjoyed his Mas. The people who knew him very well can confirm what I am saying. A lot of the discussions here tonight are about Mas, especially with Cito. Knowing the man and the kind of Mas he produced over the years, his name has now become a household word, especially in the community here and Trinidad at large. He will be missed in the Mas. I wish all the best to Cito Velasquez.






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