This is the case that concerns us and that we intend to convey to you about an exemplary citizen in the Villa of San Juan de la Rambla, which deserves a simple tribute that recognizes his figure, that of Manuel Borges Cedrés, popularly known as Don Manolo el de la Farmacia, as the commemoration of the seventieth anniversary of the opening of the first pharmacy in this town is near. We intend, therefore, to make known who this outstanding ramblero was, who from his profession was always ready to collaborate with the neighbors. In addition to his outstanding actions in cultural, festive, religious and social events, and today, some of which we can enjoy thanks to his commitment and initiative.
It was on December 28, 1952, when the opening of the first pharmacy in San Juan de la Rambla, by Manuel Borges Cedrés (number 18 in the province), after having obtained a degree in February 1950 at the University of Santiago de Compostela, the one with the longest tradition in Galicia and one of the oldest in the world.
Manuel Borges was born on January 30, 1906 in the famous Las Monjas estate, in the La Rambla neighborhood and passed away at 81 years of age (1987), having been a man appreciated, respected and admired and who, due to his spirit of collaborating with others, won the eternal affection of the rambleros.
The son of a large family, he had to live a very difficult time, because emigration was the vital constant in Canarian families. He spent his childhood with the children of the time in the neighborhood of La Rambla, studying at the Colegio de Los Hermanos de La Salle –now Salesianos– in La Orotava and the Bachelor at the now called Instituto Cabrera Pinto de La Laguna.
His youthful restlessness pushed him to be a sailor, but he did not have the approval of his mother, opposing Customs in Madrid, and when he did not pass these entrance tests, he entered the Faculty of Pharmacy, and while he was studying, the Civil war, being assigned for his knowledge to the El Escorial Field Hospital.
He married Julia Ripoll, who encouraged him to finish his career in Pharmacy, achieving it brilliantly, returning to Tenerife and with his degree as a pharmacist, he worked at the Viuda de Álvarez pharmacy in the popular Calle del Castillo, for more months later to exercise the position of titular pharmacist in his town, proceeding to the opening of the first pharmacy in San Juan de la Rambla, in Narrow Street, a very remarkable fact in the Villa, which was an advance in municipal health, thus avoiding the annoying and tortuous transfer of residents to neighboring municipalities –Los Realejos and Icod de los Vinos– for dispensing medicines; bear in mind that previously the Rambler municipality formed a pharmaceutical party with that of Realejo Bajo.
Don Manolo from the Pharmacy He was a folksy man, educated, but with an immense heart. He never denied a medicine to anyone who needed it, even to many who, without having social security at that time, due to lack of work, he gave them the medicine, prescribed by the doctor, almost always on credit, until the client could pay the bill. debt.
His generosity does not end here, because having a car – one of the few in the municipality – he arranged it to help as necessary. Thus, it was common to move to Santa Cruz for orders and his was to bring the first transistor to town, as well as batteries, photographic rolls, etc. Likewise, he always provided selflessly transferring the doctor when necessary to attend to neighbors in remote places with difficult access. And till on one occasion, in a ravine, he shone the headlights of his vehicle towards the house of a neighbor in need, which lacked electricity, for the doctor to treat him. Many acts of goodwill, because with his car he acted as a taxi driver, ambulance and even a hearse, all thanks to his noble gesture of service to others.
In addition, he was a municipal pharmaceutical inspector for the Realejo Bajo party, effectively exercising his position. As if that were not enough, wanting to help his people, he was part of the San Juan de la Rambla City Council, being deputy mayor, by appointment of the civil governor, taking office in the plenary session of October 27, 1960, at the time of the mayor. Antonio Ruiz Cedrés, who was also his cousin. Of so many initiatives that he carried out and in order to raise funds, promoted with the brothers Ruiz and García González, a festival to prepare access to the popular bathing area of Charco de La Laja. He even had the wisdom to enable the first home garbage collection car.
Manuel Borges was also a natural collaborator in various cultural activities, such as musical evenings, or party commissions; leading the 1956 one held in June, in honor of San Juan Bautista (Patron of the municipality) developing a brilliant program and becoming the main party replacing those of Carmen. It should be noted that it was at this festival where it is proven that the famous double chin –which consists of a popular and convivial dinner in the Plaza Rosario Oramas– had notable success and served as the start of this festive number for years to come. Don Manuel copied the idea of having seen something similar in various towns in Madrid.
In recognition of such generosity, for his simplicity and enormous human quality, the Municipal Corporation granted him the merit, posthumously, of labeling a street with his name in the Las Monjas urbanization in San José.
Finally, it should be noted that his daughter, Julia Borges Ripoll, continued with the profession of her father and occupied her position as the titular pharmacist of this Villa, until a few years ago, having been proclamation of the Patron Saint Festivities on June 18, 2016, in the Plaza de Rosario Oramas, full to overflowing, whose neighbors rewarded with a warm ovation the words dedicated to the figure of their father.
