Andrea Álvarez Curbelo, who paraded representing the Virgin of Coromoto Festival Committee, wearing an elaborate 18th-century Esperanza woman dress, was proclaimed the main pilgrim of the San Benito Abad celebrations with the inclusion of Pasodoble Islas Canarias in a gala that, although delayed by half an hour, lasted 120 minutes and paid tribute to Gran Canaria.
The court of honour is formed by Sheyla García Martín, from the Santa Cruz de Ofra-Las Mantecas Festival Committee; Yazira Ledesma Ramallo, representing the Real Espérides Folk Group; Nidia Pérez González, from Supermercado Los Álamos; and Thalía Ramírez García, representing Almacenes Linares.
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With a thirty-minute delay from the scheduled time, the gala to choose the main pilgrim of San Benito began, a spectacle that took place at the Leal theatre in the city of La Laguna. Earlier, from Doctor Olivera square to the cathedral of folklore, the candidates paraded.
The gala started by recalling the origin of the Virgen del Pino, the original version dating back to 1481, patroness of Gran Canaria, which inspired this edition. While the Virgin processed on the screen installed on stage, the announcer sang a song. Listening to Iván Quintana is already a spectacle. Also in the introduction, a reminder, with a projection included, recalled that the last time the replica of the patroness statue processed was in 1924. Only one note, the image featured Domingo Pérez Cáceres, who was a bishop in the mid-20th century.
After Iván Quintana’s performance – Friday as the announcer, Saturday as the singer -, Carla Vega took the stage with “Enamórate de mí”. And more of Gran Canaria in the opening. The Roque Nublo, in the middle of Un Paseo por las Nubes and a La 2 documentary. The screen was left behind when, for the second time in less than 24 hours, “Sombras del Nublo” played. The first time was precisely during the announcement.
A beautiful effect created on the stage curtain, with the timeline of Roque Nublo itself, by Pedro Manuel Afonso. It was particularly striking to end the opening with indoor fireworks at the Leal theatre and a scene of the thirty young candidates and, at the forefront, the outgoing San Benito pilgrim, who spoke, in playback, and captivated the audience.
Andrea Álvarez Curbelo, from El Coromoto, lead pilgrim of San Benito Abad 2024 / Rafael Arturo Jiménez Rivero
The show does not slow down. In one of the boxes, to the right facing the stage, Elvis Sanfiel’s big band, this time the evening’s director; in the boxes to the left, the ‘band’ of the city council, with the mayor and members of the governing team. And as if it were part of the same show and of the San Benito tradition, the presentation of the 30 aspirants ended with the appearance of the mayor of La Laguna on stage, escorting the 2024 San Benito pilgrim to his box.
Elvis Sanfiel then took charge from the stage, greeting from the World Heritage City.
Elvis Sanfiel justified the opening dedicated to Gran Canaria on the centenary of the procession of the ‘Virgen del Pino lagunera’, referencing the statue kept in the hermitage of San Benito. The master of ceremonies was not alone and introduced his co-presenter, Yanely Hernández, who personally thanked the mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, for dedicating this edition of the pilgrim celebrations to Gran Canaria.
It was time to introduce the jury in charge of choosing the main pilgrim, presided by Juan Antonio Rodríguez Juaniquillo, and composed of the historian and author of the book program Julio Torres, Armanda María, Juan Antonio Torres, and Teresa Febles.
Sarahna Escribano was the first of the thirty candidates who paraded before the audience. The grand and intimate Leal theatre has the magic of closeness to the audience. Hence, the thirty girls, split into two groups of fifteen, turned around when introduced, went to the other side of the stage, and descended to walk through the aisle of seat rows towards the exit door.
Andrea Álvarez Curbelo, from El Coromoto, lead pilgrim of San Benito Abad 2024 / Rafael Arturo Jiménez Rivero
Between blocks of candidates, Yanely Hernández asked what the most played theme in a pilgrimage was… And Elvis Sanfiel replied: the folia, after reviewing classics, from Andrés repásate el motor
We are coastal…
Iván Quintana, Carla Vega and Pedro Manuel Afonso performed a folia that once again recalled the central theme of the gala: Gran Canaria, while three couples from the University Folklore Group accompanied them.
Yanely Hernández continued with her humorous side, and even joked about spotting Froilán in the audience, poking fun at Shakira, an example of how to profit from a medley of themes and singers including Quevedo.
Nearly an hour after the start of the show, only the first of the two blocks of candidates had appeared. But the tribute to Gran Canaria continued, with an homage to Néstor Álamo, whom Elvis Sanfiel acknowledged as one of the fathers of Canarian folklore. Elvis made a point of remembering that Néstor Álamo drew inspiration from the San Benito pilgrimage to organize the format of the offering to the Virgin of the Pino during the September festivities.
“Maspalomas and you” was the theme performed by Pedro Manuel Afonso and Carla Vega in this monographic gala dedicated to Gran Canaria, a reversion on projections of the place.
The contagious smile
Time was starting to weigh on, and Elvis introduced the second and final block of contestants for the title of pilgrim of the San Benito festivities, while in the audience a young man competed with his contagious laughter for the spotlight with those on stage. As the second block came to a close, even Elvis noticed the vocal power of the young man from the audience, a native of Tacoronte, whom he asked to do a solo demonstration this time with the light of the room and all eyes on who had applauded and cheered wildly, encouraging the candidates from the first to the last.
Farewell from the jury, Elvis and Yanely searched for songs from the Canary Islands. As Canarian as the clipper or the Tirma chocolates… Embracing modernity with tradition: Efecto Pasillo. They don’t sing isas, folías, or malagueñas, but they are from Gran Canaria. However, they have the merit of catching the attention of the composed Urban Planning councillor, Adolfo Cordobés, who seemed to sway along to some of the songs, unlike the enthusiasm shown by the urban artist and poet Badel Albelo. More classic, more of a string instrument than percussion, Fran Hernández, the deputy mayor trying to keep up with the rhythm; nothing to do with an isa…
Efecto Pasillo, who interacted with the audience by looking for the baby who cried -is it a male pilgrim or female pilgrim? I hope they didn’t cry because they prefer ‘Not a Single Fool’- even dared with Bob Marley’s reggae to which they added their own lyrics. One of the Efecto Pasillo members, when the room lit up, said it looked like the Titanic. However, they also mentioned that next year, in 2015, if 15, marks ten years since ‘Bread with Butter’, the song with which they bid farewell and also put the finishing touch to the evening before the name of the pilgrim and her court of honour were announced.
