Her full name is Gabriela Concepción Rodríguez García, but she is widely recognised as ‘Doña Conchita’, a name she began using when she was quite young, a reason her children still find unclear.
Conchita celebrated her 100th birthday on 18th March, marking a century devoted to her family and her community, Puerto de la Cruz. She was the first female councillor and the inaugural justice of the peace in her municipality, as well as the president of the Amales de Casa Association, the senior sister of the Brotherhood of the Virgen del Carmen, and the founder of the first charity nursery still located in the same place.
After completing her baccalaureate, she prepared for the state examination, a test undertaken by few at the time that enabled her to teach without being a qualified instructor. She always maintained a strong connection to education.
An example of her dedication is seen in her management of ‘The World of Children’, a private nursery on Peñón Street, where the well-known Los Twin restaurant currently operates. This opportunity arose from a friend’s request when they were transferred to Mallorca, and despite already working on a charitable basis to establish a public nursery in Puerto de la Cruz, she did not hesitate to take it on.
She understood fully that opening this nursery would entail closing her own business, recognising that many women, who were employed alongside their husbands in hotels during the tourism boom, required support in child-rearing.
She has four children: María José, Pedro Luis, Manolo, and Concibel Padrón Rodríguez (the first three are beside her in the photograph), along with 12 grandchildren and an equal number of great-grandchildren. They carry the stories of her life and work, as a degenerative condition now limits her coordination in speech and mobility. Nevertheless, she expresses her emotions occasionally through bright smiles, which signify her connection and appreciation.
Her social commitment propelled her into the role of the first female councillor, a position she had not actively pursued but accepted when friends encouraged her to stand. After discussing it with her family, she agreed. She joined the council led by Felipe Machado González de Chávez, focusing on festivities and parks and gardens. In an era when politics was predominantly male, especially in the 70s, she never felt out of place; on the contrary, she emphasised that “all were gentlemen” who facilitated her daily responsibilities, according to María José.
She also served in the City Council without remuneration, dedicating herself to the role until 1979, waking at five in the morning to observe the gardeners at work, as noted by her son Pedro Luis.
She consistently addressed issues crucial to the citizens. For instance, regarding support for the second phase of Lake Martiánez, a significant project for the municipality requiring budget approval, “She made it clear that she would impose a condition: that the social housing projects underway, specifically at El Pino and La Vera, were to be signed first.” If this was not guaranteed, she would not support the initiative as she could not accept “that so many people were without homes, regardless of how significant and revenue-generating the project was for the municipality.”
María José describes her mother as “a dedicated and passionate woman who threw herself into every project while simultaneously fulfilling her family and societal roles.” She instilled in her four children a deep respect for the tourism sector and their home: “If someone asks you for something, you must help, and if you need to take them somewhere, you do so because you live in a city that relies on collaboration,” she would instruct them.
In their household, politics was viewed not as it is understood today, but rather as a form of social service. Pedro Luis is the only one to have inherited his mother’s political dedication, serving for two terms as a senator for the Independent Herreña group (AHI) before returning to his work as a veterinarian.
Upon leaving the council, Concepción took up the role of Justice of the Peace, the first in her municipality, after being nominated by the Plenary of the Corporation. This occurred in the early 80s, and she remained in the position for several years, filling a long-vacant role. Her children often accompanied her to marriage ceremonies and court hearings. Many people specifically requested that ‘Conchita’ officiate their marriages because she tailored each ceremony to be special rather than following the brief formality of civil unions.
Proactive Christian
Alongside her legal duties and weddings, she held the position of senior sister of the Brotherhood of the Virgen del Carmen. A proactive Christian, she was always a devoted believer. “She claimed she wasn’t a nun because she met my father,” recalls Manolo. However, María José disagrees, “Perhaps she said that because her closest friend was a missionary in Japan, although she likely would have made a great nun,” she admits.
This commitment to blend passion with service for the residents of Puerto de la Cruz led to her being proposed as a speaker for the July festivities in 2006.
‘Conchita’ is an immensely cherished and respected figure in her city. Her three children often reminisce about strolling alongside her on the avenue: “It would take ten steps, and she would be stopped by someone wanting to chat. Going to the beach with her was utterly exhausting, as we would arrive home late,” jokes María José.
One of the Two “Most Beautiful in Spain”
Not only was she an elegant woman, a trait she still possesses, but ‘Conchita’ Rodríguez has always appreciated the cultural richness and social etiquette of those around her. María José recalls that her mother was incredibly attractive. “A friend always said that in Spain, there were two beautiful women: Conchita Velasco and Conchita Rodríguez,” she notes. Her brother Pedro Luis concurs, as he has been told on numerous occasions that she was “the most beautiful woman in Puerto de la Cruz.”
Her daughter reflects that if there was ever something she regretted or lamented, it was perhaps her tendency to be overly accommodating. Although according to Manolo, this trait has contributed significantly to her success and remains her greatest legacy.
