With the beautiful slogan: ‘Honor the Day of the Canary Islands’ I want to begin this work by highlighting the proposals organized in the two Canary Islands and Cuba, twinned forever. The island institutions organized different events, before and after the big day.
Jameos del Agua hosted the institutional event of the Cabildo, with the name “Lanzarote, land of the sea”, created and directed by prominent theater and television director Quino Falero. Besides, In Arrecife, Los Sabandeños performed in the José Ramírez Cerdá Park, where those present enjoyed popular wine and cheese tastings. In Yaiza, folkloric performances and casts were enjoyed.
For its part, The City Council encouraged people to enjoy the theatrical production ‘Loca Historia Maha’, the first stage work that tells the story of the first settlers of Lanzarote and the conquest of the Island.. In Haría, on the big day there were exhibitions of Canarian sports, workshops and traditional games. Anyway, all the islands celebrated Canary Islands Day.
Miles away in today’s Cuba, despite the regrets, the few native Canarians and many descendants with extreme love for the Canary Islands celebrated with different events including floral offerings where the remains of the mother of the most universal of Cubans rest, and Apostle of Cuban independence José Martí Pérez, the Canarian, Leonor Pérez Cabrera.
For its part, the Hispano-American Center of Havana, former ‘Palacio de las Cariatides’, together with the Resuscitation Group of the Canarian Association of Cuba, with Juan José Cabral at the head, presented the documentary titled ‘Return’ of the actress and film director, Blanca Rosa Blanco, who expressed and I quote: “In this documentary I wanted to honor the rescue of the memory of the Canarians who emigrated to the largest of the Antilles, Cuba… they are stories of those who emigrated from that beloved region of Spain to the wonderful Caribbean island” . In a general sense, it was a pretext to make known the pain of the families, and for them to feel identified with all those events”, end of quote.
I cannot finish this work without mentioning those who were soul, heart and life since the founding of the Canarian Association of Cuba ‘Leonor Pérez Cabrera’ and they did not stop but with love founded branches outside the capital of all Cubans without exception.
How not to remember and honor the Canarian Carmelo González and others like: Antonio Rivero, vice president, cultural activists Armando Carzola; Jose Rodriguez, director of the radical program ‘Aires de España’; Remigio Valdés, last vice president and many others who spent time and love for the elderly, creating a day hospital, instilling in young people to know Canarian folklore, creating a beautiful Rondalla, dance groups, a reading club, as well as dance activities every Sunday .
I wish with all my heart that they manage to return to their headquarters on the capital’s Monserrate street, where the tricolor flag of the Canary Islands previously flew.
The canaries and descendants deserve to return to their glory days.
