Cerinza was founded in 1554, when the charge was established Viceroy
Melchor Vanegas orders constitute the Indian reguardo; Andres was the first
encomenderos Veloso. In 1635 Juan de Valcarcel indicates the boundaries of the
future town. Cerinza disappears as a parish in 1777 and is added for five (5)
years to Bethlehem. This pre-Conquest town is named after the chief Cerinza,
which in Hebrew as Fr Miguel Santamaría Puerto
