Her full name is Gabriela Concepción Rodríguez García, but everyone refers to her as ‘Doña Conchita’. This nickname came into use when she was younger and her children are unsure of the precise reason behind it.
Conchita celebrated her 100th birthday on March 18, marking a century filled with dedication, both to her family and her community, the port of La Cruz. She was the first female councillor and the inaugural judge of peace in her town, in addition to being the president of the Amales de Casa Association, the elder sister of the Brotherhood of the Virgen del Carmen, and the founder of the first charity nursery in the municipality, which remains in the same location to this day.
After completing her baccalaureate, she prepared for the state examination, a test that only a few undertook, allowing her to teach and lead classes without being a certified teacher. She was always closely associated with education.
An example of this is her role as the head of ‘The World of Children’, a private nursery situated on Peñón Street, where the well-known Los Twin restaurant operates today. The nursery was offered to her by a friend who was relocating to Mallorca, and she accepted without hesitation, even though she had been working voluntarily to ensure that Puerto de la Cruz had a public nursery.
She was aware that opening the nursery would mean closing her own business, as she recognised that many women, who often worked alongside their husbands in hotels during the tourism boom, required support to look after their children.
She has four children: María José, Pedro Luis, Manolo, and Concibel Padrón Rodríguez (with the first three in the accompanying photograph), twelve grandchildren, and an equal number of great-grandchildren. They are the ones who recall all the details of their parent’s life and work, as it has become challenging for her to communicate due to a degenerative condition affecting her speech and mobility. Nevertheless, during conversations, she offers numerous smiles as gestures of connection and gratitude.
Her dedication to the community led her to become the first female councillor, a position she did not actively pursue but was instead nominated for. Friends came to her with the suggestion, and after discussing it with her family, she agreed. She joined the government led by Felipe Machado González de Chávez, overseeing parties, parks, and gardens. In a male-dominated political landscape during the 1970s, she never felt out of place; on the contrary, she remarked that “all were gentlemen” who made her daily tasks easier, as noted by María José.
She also did not receive any remuneration for her work in the City Council, where she served until 1979, “despite getting up at five in the morning to oversee the gardeners,” her son Pedro Luis adds.
She was always forthright regarding matters she deemed important for citizens. In this context, her daughter cites an instance when she had to advocate for the second phase of Lake Martiánez, a crucial project for the municipality that required budget approval. “She made it clear that she would only support it if social housing already underway, specifically those in El Pino and La Vera, were addressed first.” Otherwise, she refused, as she could not comprehend how “so many people were without a home, no matter how significant the project was in generating income for the municipality.”
María José describes her mother as “a passionate and dedicated woman, who threw herself into every project while simultaneously fulfilling all her family and social responsibilities.” She instilled in her four children the importance of respecting both tourism and their home: “If someone asks you for help, you must assist them, and if you need to show them the way, you do so, because you’re living in a city. You have to contribute,” she taught them.
At home, politics was not discussed in the contemporary sense but was rather viewed as a service to the community. Pedro Luis is the only one who inherited his mother’s political commitment, serving two terms as a senator for the Independent Herreña group (AHI) before returning to his veterinary work.
Upon leaving the City Council, Concepción was appointed as the Judge of Peace, the first in the municipality, at the request of the council. This began in the early 1980s, where she served for many years, fulfilling a long-standing need for a judge. Her children often accompanied her to ceremonies and weddings. There were individuals who specifically requested ‘Conchita’ to officiate their weddings because she tailored each ceremony individually, going beyond the quick format of a civil wedding.
Active Christian
Alongside her duties related to litigation and marriages, she also served as the elder sister of the Brotherhood of the Virgen del Carmen. A devout believer and practitioner, she once remarked, “I am not a nun because I met my father,” according to Manolo. María José disagrees, pointing out that she may have said this because her closest friend was a missionary in Japan, although it is likely there was some truth in it.
This combination of her dedication and commitment to the wellbeing of the residents of Puerto de la Cruz led to her being nominated as a preacher for the July festivities in 2006.
‘Conchita’ has always been and remains a cherished and respected figure in her town. Her three children recall how, during walks along the avenue with their mother, they would barely take ten steps before someone would stop to chat with her. “Going to the beach with her was quite exhausting, as we often arrived at night,” María José jokes.
One of Spain’s two “most beautiful”
In addition to being a graceful woman, a trait she still possesses, ‘Conchita’ Rodríguez has always appreciated the culture and manners of those around her. María José recalls that her mother was exceptionally attractive. “A friend often asserted that there were two beautiful women in Spain: Conchita Velasco and Conchita Rodríguez,” she reminisces. Her brother Pedro Luis concurs, as he too has been told on numerous occasions, “who the most beautiful woman in the port of La Cruz was.”
Her daughter reflects that if her mother ever lamented anything, it might be certain instances where her inclination towards conciliation led to some regrets. However, according to Manolo, this disposition has contributed to her success and remains her most significant legacy.
