also known as don pepe, josé figueres ferrer was born in san ramón, alajuela, costa rica. his parents were from cataluña, spain: mariano rodríguez borges and francisca ferrer mendiola. figueres entered the primary boys school in san ramón of alajuela in 1913. he got in costa rica’s lyceum finishing his secondary studies in 1920. he went to boston, united states to travel and study. he returned to costa rica in 1928 and bought a coffee farm.