The San Ginés 2025 festivities officially began on the night of this Thursday, August 14, with an act full of emotion, music and collective memory, in which Arrecife paid posthumous tribute to José (Pepe) Borges Cabrera, founder and director of the Parranda Marinera Amigos de Portonao
The proclamation, held in the emblematic Music Kiosk of the José Ramírez Cerdá Park, became a heartfelt recognition of the figure of this reference of the seafaring folklore of the capital, with the Castle of San Gabriel illuminated as a backdrop and a dedicated audience.
The reading was given by Teresa Borges, daughter of the honoree, who, in her speech, recalled the most human and committed side of her father. “It was always easy to find him with a guitar or a mandolin, showing an innate and intrinsic talent for it. Whoever listened to him could see him as he really was: a free bird, an elevated soul,” she said.
She also underlined his firm defense of the seafaring identity of Arrecife and the fishing history of the Canary Islands and recalled that “when he experienced the political annihilation of fishing in the Canary Islands, he dedicated his whole life to vindicating its history. He died with a clear conscience and there is no greater dignity for a human being than to do the right thing regardless of what others do.”
The proclaimer evoked moments of the city's port history, recalling the words her father spoke in 1996: “Love for our Arrecife is like loving a mother who gave us life and rocked us in the cradle.”
The event also included the participation of Antonio Niz, a personal friend and colleague of Pepe Borges in the Parranda Marinera Amigos de Portonao, who recalled, one by one, the names of those who have been part of the group throughout its history, evoking with special emotion those who, unfortunately, are no longer with us.
The celebration also included the voices of the San Ginés Choir, which performed habaneras such as “El abanico” and “La caña dulce”; the unmistakable touch of the bucio and the parade of the Parranda Marinera de Los Buches to the rhythm of “Querida Lola”; and the final performance of “El paseíto de Don Tomás”, with the participation of Eduardo Borges, grandson of the honoree, together with Antonio Niz and other members of the Amigos de Portonao.
The mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, stressed in his speech that “San Ginés is the city's big festival and this year we have started it with this posthumous tribute proclamation to Pepe Borges, who dedicated his life to preserving our history and seafaring life. Pepe Borges was much more than a musician: he was the living memory of Arrecife and a tireless defender of our identity. We owe it to him that the primitive pier of Porto Naos was recovered.”
De León announced at the event that “the project for a new urban park in Puerto Naos will soon be put out to tender, where we will give value to that old pier closely linked to the history of Arrecife.”
For his part, the deputy mayor and councilor for Festivities, Echedey Eugenio, stressed that “this proclamation has been, more than an inaugural act, a collective embrace to the memory of a man who made music, tradition, history and seafaring identity a vital commitment. Arrecife owed him this recognition and we have done it in the heart of the city, with the light of the sea, the music and the affection of its people as witnesses.”
Eugenio also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to all the City Council staff, especially the Festivities Area, and encouraged the population to participate in the program of events organized on the occasion of the municipality's patron saint festivities.
The event, presented by journalist José Antonio Cabrera, brought together a large and dedicated audience, among whom was Josefa Martín, widow of the honoree, who received a bouquet of flowers from the municipal authorities. The Arrecife City Council also presented a replica of the Puente de las Bolas to both the family of Pepe Borges and the Amigos de Portonao, in gratitude for their participation and their career.
The Minister of Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, Migdalia Machín, and the president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, also wanted to join the recognition, presenting gifts to the proclaimers on behalf of the institutions they represent.
The night concluded with the launching of fireworks from the Castle of San Gabriel, marking the beginning of the San Ginés 2025 Festivities that, until next August 25, will fill the city with music, tradition and fun.