During a formal meeting, Blas Garzón Vera, PhD, director of the master's degree in Cultural Management, was inducted into the Ecuadorian National Academy of History (ANH for its acronym in Spanish) as a "Miembro de Número".

The members of the Ecuadorian National Academy of History are divided into five categories: académicos numerarios, académicos correspondientes nacionales, académicos correspondientes extranjeros, miembros eméritos and directores honorarios vitalicios.

In the opening speech, Franklin Barriga Lopez, director of the ANH, said that "once Blas Garzón has met all the demanding requirements established by our institution, we are here to welcome him as a new member. The support of Salesians to rescue cultural values in our country has been very important; they have created: Ediciones Mundo Shuar, Museo Amazónico, Centro de Documentación Indígena, Centro Cultural, Biblioteca and the Abya – Yala Publishing House which has hundreds of publications. 

Blas Garzón presented the research titled "Los Salesianos y la conformación de identidades regionales", which allowed him be promoted. The research is an important social cultural analysis of the presence of Salesians in Ecuador since 1888. If we consider history as a social discipline that allows us to study the past, to understand the present and project ourselves into the future. In this context, if we would analyze the life of a prominent Salesian, we would realize that in some way he sums up the work of the entire Salesian Congregation. Presence that has been full of challenges and achievements; but also conflicts, according to the historical period in which they lived and the demands of the environment where they carried out their mission ".

He thanked the people who have been a fundamental pillar for the development of his professional life and as a professor at Universidad Politecnica Salesiana. He stated that following the footsteps of prominent historians is his motivation, challenge and responsibility.

Juan Cordero Iñiguez, former director of the academy and Honorary Director, made a remembrance of the origins of Salesians in Ecuador, through research it has been possible to learn about the contributions of the Salesian Congregation. He awarded Blas Garzón a diploma which accredits him as a Miembro Numerario.

UPS president Juan Cardenas presented Blas Garzon's professional background and also spoke about the importance of Salesians in the region; for example their support to keep indigenous cosmovision alive, as presented in the book : "El Modelo Educativo Salesiano. Repercusiones en la cultura Shuar 1893-1970, written by Blas Garzon.