The Leal Theater dressed up yesterday to celebrate the IV Pedro Molina Memorial, within the framework of the San Benito festivities. In this edition, the evening was dedicated to the traditional trades of La Laguna and distinguished the 92-year-old rancher, artisan and farmer José Antonio Martín, known as Pepe Rojas, for his defense and safeguarding of the traditions and customs of La Laguna.
The mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, was in charge of giving him the award during the ceremony, organized by the Tenerife Breeders’ Association (Agate). Also present at the event were the first deputy mayor and councilor for Social Welfare, Rubens Ascanio, the mayor of Fiestas, Badel Albelo, and other councilors from the Corporation, as well as representatives of the island’s primary sector.
The local councilor highlighted “the significance of this appointment. A tribute to our traditions and to the lagoon men and women of our rural world, who fight every day, despite so many difficulties, to safeguard and defend a sector that, without a doubt, constitutes our hallmark and that leads us to be one of the municipalities of the Canary Islands with one of the richest and highest quality local productions”.
“To all those people like Pedro Molina and Pepe Rojas, great supporters of livestock and agriculture in our municipality, thank you for teaching us to love and protect our land,” he emphasized.
The celebration started around 7:00 p.m. with the presentation of the book Tribute to the trades and elders of San Benito-37 stories, in which the women, men and companies that have been recognized in the last 10 years around San Benito are highlighted. Subsequently, tribute was paid to the resident of San Roque Pepe Rojas, a farmer and rancher who, at 92 years of age, continues to make handcrafted figures, such as small yokes, for decoration with his own hands.
The IV Pedro Molina Memorial, enlivened by the Folkloric Group of the Faculty of Education of the University of La Laguna, is organized by Agate and has the collaboration of the Department of Fiestas. The mayor responsible for the area, Badel Albelo, stressed “the commitment to the disclosure and defense of our primary sector, our customs and traditions, taking on all its meaning in a unified way.”
The celebration – in which the Canarian Drag Federation, the Federation of Canarian Native Breeds and the Tenerife Goat Breeders Association also participate – is part of the festivities in honor of San Benito Abad.
Programming
The events on the occasion of the festival will continue today, also at the Leal Theater and from 8:00 p.m., with the XXXIV Gala of Exaltation of Canarian Women, in which Casiana Muñoz Tuñón, deputy director of the Institute of Astrophysics, will be honored this year from the Canary Islands The event is organized by the Orfeón La Paz and collaborates with the Department of Fiestas.
Meanwhile, tomorrow, at 7:30 p.m., the offering of food to San Benito Abad will be carried out, by groups and institutions dressed in traditional clothing, in the church square.
