Living in Peru : your everyday companion

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Painting of the Combate del 2 de Mayo

Whether you go to El Callao or to any place where there is a group of Chalacos (people born in El Callao) you might be surprised when someone yells “chimpum!” and everyone replies “callao!”
 
What is then this “chimpum”?  In the same way that no one knows for sure why we are called Chalacos, there is a number of theories on what this chimpum phrase is all about.
What we know for sure is that it has to do with a sharp sound and a blast. Most people agree that it is indeed the sound of the run of a rocket and its report. Chimmm as it goes up and PUM is, of course, the explosion.

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2 de Mayo memorial in La Punta.

Ok, so it is a rocket sound, what does it have to do with the “Callao” part?  In 1866, South America was being subjected to a series of attacks dealt by the Spanish Armada. It was their intention to retake their former colonies and the final battle was to occurr in El Callao. On May 2nd, the Spanish fleet made it to the front of Callao. It was a formidable fleet, indeed, with ships such as the Numancia and the Berenguela. Whenever the defenders fired a rocket, they heard the chimmm pumm. All the people then replied “Callao!”. Supposedly, it was with this battle cry that the invasion was repelled and never again did the Spanish Crown dare to reclaim this land.

Quoting from LYCOS this was the result of the battle:

After serious mishaps and without having silenced all the Peruvian batteries, the Spanish were forced to withdraw to the San Lorenzo Island with terrible damages and heavy casualties: The Reina Blanca was hit 30 times; the Resolucion 30 times; the Numancia 51 times; the Almansa 72 times; and the Berenguela and the Vencedora 2 times. Nearly fifty Spanish sailors were killed. Eighty-three were wounded and sixty-eight others suffered minor contusions. Commander Mendez Nuñez was injured nine times. Two of the frigates had to be towed aground on San Lorenzo Island. Despite the fact that the Spanish Admiral declared victory, it was, by no doubts, a Peruvian triumph.

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It is an exact replica of the Torreon de la Merced where was Jose Galvez was killed.

So was born our battle cry. I invite you to use it whenever you are in El Callao. Use it when El Callao scores a victory; use it when you visit our beaches or eat our food or drink our beer. Use it when you hear our history and remember our battles and our triumphs.

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Thank you for the story. I'm proud to be a "chalaco".

Thanks for this article; i am a real chalaca, with home in La

sorry!!it aws cut up my message!!Callao has un enchanted carisma specially for chala&cos;i was born in maternity of Bellavista:::i would like your comments  about    Rigoletto in the Alejandro Granda Theater!!is going to be historical!!!hear Verdi in the street Teatro! I am flying from Papeete, Tahiti for the ocassion!!!hoping it will be great!!!!!!!i trust Ernesto Palacio, jdf manager!!!!bye Carmela

Hi Carmela and Chalaco inUSA
I am glad that you liked my article. Indeed Rigoletto is going to be a success and you are doing the right thing flying here for the occassion.
I had been in the theater before and it is reallly a wonderful place very much fitted for this event. I could kill myself, by the time I went to get tickets they were already sold out. Never felt so stupid. On the other hand  I am happy to see that my mother indeed gets to go.
I do not know how long you have been away, but Callao is reallly looking better and La Punta is just magnificent.

Hi Carmela.
At last the wait is over. Rigoletto had finally arrived. They say the full dress rehearsal was magnificent. Also there is a giant screen in Ventanilla for them to watch for free.
I assume that you must be already in Peru. Good Luck and enjoy the show.
By the way, I am son of Eduardo Bermudez M. Colegio America Class of 58, ring a bell?

Hi Nicolas, I was also born in Callao and live in LA for many years.   Your article was most informative but excuse me for asking a stupid question, why we are call CHALACOS?.  I hope the answer is not because we were born in Callao.  Thanks. 

when I was growing up we called our soccer cleats "chimpunes".....that's what I thought "chimpun" came from....well, "chimpun Callao" sounds good to me....born in Callao, raised in New Jersey and now living in Liverpool, New York!