THE MAGICIAN CESAR DOMICO

"MAGICO" MAN

COLOMBIAN CARD CHAMP BRINGS SHOW TO LIBRARY FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

BY JAMIE PILARCZYK

When Cesar Domicó was studying to be a priest in his native Colombia, he would hold magic shows as fundraisers to help immigrants get resettled.

"I never imagined I’d be in those shoes now," said Domicó, who immigrated to the United States 18 months ago.

Domico’s path has changed over the years. He is no longer studying to be a priest and he is an ocean away from his parents who still live in Colombia. He came to America seeking political asylum when terrorists threatened his family.

At 30, he has a degree in philosophy and communications. But for the last 12 years, he has been a professional magician.

"I like to see the awe in people and how they express their disbelief," says Domicó. "It’s nice, clean, family fun."

Domicó is bringing his card tricks, disappearing quarters and rubber chicken to the West Gate Regional Library, 7606 Paula Drive, on Oct. 4. Beginning at 2 p.m., Domicó will give a magic performance with a comic flair as part of the library’s effort to celebrate Hispanic Month.

"We thought this would be a neat way to reach people in the community," said Robles, adding that the show will be primarily in Spanish. "We have a huge Hispanic population that uses the library."

While his English is improving, Domicó was assisted at times during the interview by Hilda Robles, a library assistant at West Gate Regional Library.

But words aren’t needed for most of Domico’s tricks. The card placed in the middle of the deck that he reveals as the top card after tow taps could be done in Vietnamese and would still elicit the same question: "How did he do that?"

Domicó has won magic card championship in Colombia and Venezuela, wrote a book an magic, "Basic Magic Cards," and is in the process of writing another on tips for being a professional magician. He has been perfecting his sleight-of-hand movements for 20 years, self-teaching out of books and studying other professionals. As a child he would go to every magic show he could.

"I wasn’t interested in clowns or elephants, just magic," he said.