By Salvador Pérez* | A remarkable tribute to Jerónimo Morales Barroso, who dedicated 44 years of his life leading the Institute, which now proudly carries his name. The ceremony took place at the school, where over 300 attendees gathered, including the Minister of Education of the Government of the Canary Islands, Poli Suárez, Vice-Minister José Manuel Cabrera, Mayor Antonio Hernández of La Guancha, and the Municipal Corporation. It was a solemn yet emotional event, filled with joy and well-orchestrated by María del Pino Fuentes with touching words, music, memories… and hope for the future, as expressed by the new director, Rubén Gallo.
During the ceremony, as the official chronicler of the municipality, I delivered the following words: “Clear and resounding. We are here to pay tribute to the most significant figure in the history of La Guancha. I have delved into research extensively, being an old Guanchero journalist, the official chronicler of my hometown, and the author of the only book about the Institute. The Carlos Salvador y Beatriz Canarian Foundation, at its General Meeting on December 16, 2022, proposed to the La Guancha City Council to honour Jerónimo Morales Barroso as a Favourite Son and to name a street in the town after him.
Subsequently, we presented the proposal to the mayor and the three political groups of the Corporation. Simultaneously, the School Council, under Jerónimo’s leadership, suggested to the Ministry of Education to incorporate Jerónimo’s name into the traditional title of the IES.
And now, a year and four months later, the day of this grand tribute has arrived with the bestowal of these honours. Despite life’s obstacles, I stand here, often questioned about how I managed to navigate through life’s challenges. Sometimes Aurora and I ponder, “how are we still here” after the storm that hit our home. I am someone who has lived two lives. There are no words in the dictionary to describe such loss, as at the tender ages of 27 and 25, in the prime of their lives and professional careers, fate dealt them a cruel blow. For Carlos Salvador and Beatriz, everything seemed promising, until one fateful Friday night in sad June of 2001, life took an unexpected turn for us. Nevertheless, we have persevered, dedicating our lives to the noble causes of education and culture. Hence, the existence of the Carlos Salvador y Beatriz Canarian Foundation, a non-profit organisation where Jerónimo belongs, established in 2006, to engage in philanthropic endeavours such as granting 1,028 scholarships to high school students across all the Islands, with a current expenditure of 197,400 euros, building schools in Paraguay and Peru, distributing school supplies to various countries – even delivering backpacks with our children’s names to places near Mount Teide -, providing aid to the African nation of Gambia, and a myriad of verifiable contributions.
That is why we stand here, honouring the well-deserved recognition of a man who has dedicated his life to providing the best education. It’s a challenge for me to capture Jerónimo’s essence, a man with a unique journey, from a humble family of 11 siblings, born to hardworking parents who toiled relentlessly to overcome adversities, with no tales of privilege or shortcuts. As Jerónimo himself puts it, “nothing was handed to me”: from altar boy to priest Don Octavio, to being part of the basketball team, to occupying various jobs, and through perseverance and commitment, embarking on a teaching career at this Institute for 44 years.
It all began in 1979, amid modest beginnings, with eight rented premises along the main highway and under the leadership of the first democratic city council, led by La Guancha’s finest mayor in history, Pepe Grillo, also known as “the dream inventor,” as it was Jerónimo’s vision that sought him out, not the other way around. Then, in November 1987, the new school building emerged, owing to another visionary, the esteemed Education Advisor of the Government of the Canary Islands (during his memorable four-year tenure, 330 new educational institutions were established), Luis Balbuena, who oversaw the construction of the second building. Jerónimo also served as a pivotal member of influential committees comprised of proactive individuals who transformed the town’s landscape, he directed the Casino and played a vital role in organizing one of the most significant events in the town’s history – the renowned fairs of La Guancha.
This “Institute man” is ceaseless in his efforts. To echo the sentiment of Galician writer Manuel Rivas, “he insists on labelling himself as an ordinary man. And maybe he is. But he doesn’t realise how extraordinary such an individual can be.” In a chapter of a book where I narrate a day at the institute on June 9, 2004, I discover that he was already there at an unimaginable hour: five twenty in the morning! I inquire of a custodian: Does Jerónimo reside here? His response was swift as the wind: “He gives his best here.” From unlocking classroom doors to traversing corridors with steps echoing, from offering reflective words to putting students, teachers, parents, or dignitaries in their place; his mind overflows with brilliant ideas, envisaging the future with unwavering foresight, always composed even amidst chaos.
He holds himself to high standards, enabling him to hold others to the same. Striving for excellence, he blends in a touch of humour, a hint of sarcasm, a rustic charm interwoven into urban tasks. Utterly humble, he steers clear of ostentation and vanity, focusing solely on labour and motivating others to do likewise. Seeking solutions, exploring alternatives, his forte lies in planning and guiding, earning his institute the moniker “the University of the North.”
Over these meticulously chronicled 44 years, his institute has been instrumental in La Guancha’s economy, replete with remarkable achievements and significant events involving students from across the islands and even the mainland. Nonetheless, two episodes remain etched in memory: his two unwarranted dismissals in 1984 and 2004, and the poignant demonstration that “united people will never be defeated,” when students, educators, parents, residents, media, and communities from across the islands rallied together, raising their voices to the skies.
Allow me to conclude with reflections on the essential paths of education, culture, and life: “Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world” (Nelson Mandela); “The future of children is always today. Tomorrow will be too late” (Gabriela Mistral); “Many small people, in small places, doing small things can change the world” (Eduardo Galeano). I am reminded of Dostoevsky’s words shared by my daughter, Beatriz: The secret of human existence does not lie in living, but in understanding why we live. Or the sentiment expressed by my son, Carlos Salvador, in one of his books: Good things never fade. Memories endure. May it be so, always and forever, for Jerónimo and the Institute that proudly bears his name.
*Official Chronicler of La Guancha
