The Arrecife neighborhood of Altavista is immersed in the celebration of the festivities in honor of its Patron Saint Anthony Mary Claret. On Friday afternoon, the batucada 'Princesa Atenya' announced to the neighbors that the festivities were beginning, inviting them to participate in the act of reading the proclamation by the writer and theologian, Antonio Quintana.
The event began at 8:00 p.m. in the social hall of the San Antonio María Claret Neighborhood Association with the intervention of the singer Christian Morales, who was accompanied on the piano by Professor Juan Gómez. After the performance, the president of the Association, Mari Carmen Santacruz, was in charge of welcoming and introducing the authorities who shared the presidential table, Yonathan de León, mayor of the Arrecife City Council, Echedey Eugenio, Councilor for Festivities, and the speaker Antonio Quintana.
Antonio Quintana is a man linked to the Altavista neighborhood since 1983 when he arrived as a parish priest, a mission he carried out until 1987, and during those years he maintained ties with the neighbors, feeling like one of them. When Antonio was informed that the board of directors had proposed him as the speaker, he did not hesitate, accepting the request since for him this was his first proclamation, a very rewarding experience to share some of the experiences he shared with the neighbors, pastoral and citizen activities.
Antonio also belongs to the Christian Workers Movement and is an active participant in neighborhood movements, he is the author of several books, including 'Altavista, a Cosmopolitan Neighborhood'. Quintana also reviewed the ephemeris related to the neighborhood, such as the 174 years since the arrival of San Antonio María Claret in Lanzarote. It was on April 18, 1849, that he came accompanied by the brother of Bishop Salvador Codina, a cloistered Capuchin, preaching in Arrecife and Teguise. And after the mission, he left from Arrecife by boat to Tarragona. The people of the Canary Islands gave him the affectionate nickname of "Padrito".
In addition, he listed the more than 50 years since the creation of the Altavista Parish, 45 years since the creation of the Padre Claret Neighborhood Association, 40 years since his appointment as parish priest of Altavista, 70 years since the arrival of the first inhabitants to the neighborhood from Haría, and the coincidence coinciding with the 70 years of his birth, also revealing an anecdotal fact that very few knew, his real name as registered "Antonio María Claret".
The speaker reviewed his arrival in the neighborhood, how his first contacts had been with the men and women, committed and dedicated people who worked side by side with great enthusiasm to make Altavista a much more livable neighborhood. And how every weekend they met to build the parish complex and the premises, headquarters of the Neighborhood Association. Antonio felt very comfortable surrounded by the neighbors because every time he visits the neighborhood, everyone extends their hand to him, merging into an embrace.
At the end of the reading of the proclamation, the mayor presented him with a commemorative plaque, the Councilor for Festivities imposed the insignia that distinguishes him as "Favorite Neighbor of Altavista", and the president Mari Carmen named him "Honorary Member" and presented his wife with a bouquet of flowers.
The night ended with the performance of the musical group 'Los Magnéticos', who performed a varied repertoire of music from the 60s and 70s that the public enjoyed singing and dancing, thus putting the final touch.
