José Álvarez, a Spanish missionary, joined the Order of Preachers in 1919 and arrived in Peru in 1927 to begin his missionary work in the Amazon jungle. By interacting with the indigenous people, he learned several local languages ​​and documented the cultures and ways of life of previously unknown tribes.

One of these tribes, the Amarakaeris , gave him the name Apaktone – “Old Father”. This is how all the tribes he visited again and again on his canoe trips began to call him. His goal was to free the indigenous people from exploitation and to help resolve inter-tribal conflicts. Through his dedication and sincere care , he won deep respect and trust.

Towards the end of his life, Alvarez's health deteriorated and he returned to Lima, where he devoted himself to describing the languages ​​he had learned and his expedition experiences.

Apaktone embodies the missionary spirit of the 20th century Dominicans – a commitment that led to the birth of countless Christian communities in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Oceania.