In the dim study and the long room lined with books, a technical engineer stands at the table, amid parapsychology devices and an old typewriter. A strong spotlight highlights the workspace, where this parapsychologist has spent years in Madrid’s Parque de las Avenidas. From the 1970s until his passing in 2014, one mystery dominated Spanish ufology and earned global recognition: the Ummo phenomenon, said to originate from aliens on a distant planet.
Events in Aluche and San José de Valderas in 1966, along with daily information sharing, lent credibility to witness accounts. Those early moments foreshadowed a long saga that continues to provoke questions and legal questions about rights and recognition. A Movistar documentary series about the phenomenon, slated to air in November, has sparked a legal dispute over intellectual property, stretching between the author’s two children, Maite and José Luis Jordán Moreno, and the broader family interests.
Initially, a professional psychologist joined the production of three episodes, while another psychologist, her brother, sought a chance to participate to defend their family legacy. The complaint frames a campaign that denied the family honor and legacy, while alleging that the show offers one side of the story and that rebuttal versions are contractually restricted. In the family residence, a spacious living room with blue carpet, the father’s work is described as under attack since the late 1980s, even as broadcasts of the occult mystery program Más Allá once aired with Fernando Jiménez del Oso at the helm.
Jordán Peña, a prolific author of parapsychology and esotericism, held a significant role in the Franco era and the early democratic period as a vice-president of the Spanish Parapsychological Association. A curious meeting took place in a basement near Plaza de Cibeles, moderated by Fernando Sesma, with a belief system that valued openness to extraordinary possibilities. Nearby, Café Lyon, also known as Ballena Alegre, drew occult enthusiasts and served as a quiet hub for conversations about unseen forces.
Created in the 1950s, members of the Ummo circle began receiving letters from a supposed extraterrestrial civilization on a planet they called Ummo, 14 light-years away. The letters described a full spectrum of science, culture, language, and politics, sometimes with personalized deliverables that claimed new technologies could not yet be developed on Earth. Jordán Peña, the primary witness, has spoken about his own distance from the subject before becoming intertwined with its history. The letters were allegedly written by a messenger whose identity was kept secret until 1993, with claims that Ummo engaged in political discussions and even patents for inventions that intrigued science-minded readers.
Letters spoke of a civilization whose art forms and scientific level surpassed Earth’s, yet remained in dialogue with humanity. The duo behind the movement, including the son who later built an informational site, summarized the Ummite perspective for non-commercial purposes. The messages, cataloged as a body of letters, were said to have been transmitted by a messenger who did not know the subject well, a point Jordán Peña has discussed in public forums. He asserts that Ummo faced pressure to reveal its true identity and that evidence exists to support those claims.
The Ummo letters, allegedly crafted by human hands, describe a messenger and a history of letters that reached varied recipients. The Ummite letters explained a hierarchy of knowledge, including calendars, scientific concepts, and social structures that contrasted with Earthly norms. A trusted website, created by the family and collaborators, hosted a thousand letters and other materials, some of which were presented by researchers who believed in the legitimacy of the revelations.
According to family accounts, the letters were written by a confidential messenger whose identity remained unknown for years. The son recalls that Ummo’s backers faced pressure to disclose the authorship, and he claims to possess evidence to verify those concerns.
Today, Jordán Peña’s relatives continue to debate the legacy. The family member who works in business and coffee consultancy remains skeptical of the transcripts, while acknowledging the enduring interest in the topic. He notes that attempts to pressure him into revealing information spanned decades, and he emphasizes that the truth remains central to the narrative he now shares.
During the premiere of the Ummo documentary in a recent film festival, tension surfaced as colleagues confronted the personal side of the story. A handout circulated among attendees and outlined the family’s perspective, arguing that some commercial interests may have overshadowed the core message, and stressing that authorship and memory should be protected.
The phenomenon sparked a steady stream of literature and media interest, with translations into several languages and continued research and follower communities around the world. In contemporary circles, digital profiles and even merchandise carry the Ummo identity, reflecting a broad cultural footprint that endures beyond its original timeline.
A piece of the original material signals the ongoing fascination with the Ummo story. The father’s letters and the various symbols associated with the movement have continued to appear in discussions about Ufology, esoteric culture, and the ways in which modern media interprets fringe science.
According to the descendants, the legal and moral dimensions of the Ummo legacy hinge on recognition of authorship and respect for the integrity of the work. They argue that the rights connected with the name Ummo should not be appropriated for commercial purposes without proper consent. The debate also touches on the responsibilities of media producers to verify claims and to honor the memories of those who contributed to the movement’s development.
In sum, the Ummo narrative remains a touchstone for discussions about how extraordinary claims are documented, contested, and transformed by culture. Whether viewed as a historical curiosity, a genuine cultural phenomenon, or a collaborative legend, its enduring appeal lies in the way it challenges listeners to question what they believe and to consider the power of memory in shaping scientific and social narratives.