Important moments in Eduardo Frei Montalva’s life took place in Iquique. He moved there with his wife when they were just married. This city was the birthplace of their first daughter, Irene. In this city he became the chief editor of the newspaper, “Diario El Tarapacá”, and it was also the place where he wrote his book entitled “Chile Desconocido”, the first of 13. The following is a summary of his brief, yet intense stay in this city.

In 1935 Eduardo Frei Montalva, was a 24-year-old man with great dreams. He decided to apply for the position of chief editor of the “Diario El Tarapacá” newspaper. He was offered the position, and accordingly he had to moved to the city of Iquique.

As editor he started looking for a place to live; a place where he would not live by himself, since months later he marries María Ruiz-Tagle, with whom he arrived at the city.

The young couple lived in a house located on Thompson Street 151 (see picture below); a four-bedroom bungalow with a living room, and 2 dining rooms.

Eduardo Frei and Marina Navarro in the front of the house

Currently, the house is preserved in an excellent condition. It is owned by Mrs. Marina Navarro (in the photograph) who has been its proprietor for many years. This year she received an unexpected visitor, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle. Mrs. Marina cordially agreed to be photographed with him and invited him to look over the house that over was his father’s 70 years ago.

In the year 1935 Frei Montalva, a perfectionist and a meticulous man, worked arduously as the chief editor of the newspaper. He stood out not only from his writings but also as a far-sighted person.

“Mr. Montalva regularly stayed up until two or three in the morning, at work, writing the editorials, and monitoring the workplace (…) He liked the copies error free.”, affirms Cristián Gazmuri in his book “Eduardo Frei Montalva y su Época”.

Furhtermore, his political involvement added to his work at the newspaper, as he also dedicated himself to the organization and the formation of the Juventud Conservadora (Juventud Conservadora) of Tarapacá province. These are the early steps of the called “Falange”; a political movement that eventually gave way to the Christian Democrat Party, of which Frei was one of the founders.

At home, his wife, and months later Irene, his little daughter – born in March, 1936 – waited for him at the end of his exhaustive working days.

Eduardo Frei at the house entrance

A year later parliamentary elections had begun, an occassion where the former president announced his candidacy for House of Representatives. In spite of failing to win in the elections, he obtained the highest individual majority (1,545 votes).

These two demanding years in the north of the country, positioned Eduardo Frei Montalva as a young politician with great intellectual and ethical strengths. However, the intense work in his political campaign and the responsibility of the newspaper forced him into a rest period. Then, he decided to return to Santiago. In May,1937, he begun a new stage in his life. For More Information Read Eduardo Frei Montalva’s Biography.