With an emotional, simple, and endearing opening speech delivered by neighbor Catalina Díaz Herrera, affectionately known as "Nena," the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Carmen began on the evening of this past Thursday, in the historic Convent of Santo Domingo de Teguise.
The institutional event began with welcoming words from the Councilor for Culture and Festivities, Andoni Machín, and the mayor of the Teguise City Council, Olivia Duque, who agreed in inviting neighbors and visitors to actively participate in celebrations marked by tradition, culture, and coexistence. Both highlighted the extensive program of events prepared for all ages, with special relevance for the big day dedicated to Our Lady of Carmen.
On such a significant day, the Official Chronicler of Teguise, Francisco Hernández Delgado, also spoke, sharing with attendees valuable passages from the history of the former capital and its festivals, the result of meticulous research and conservation work he has been carrying out for many years in the municipal archives.
Next came one of the most anticipated moments of the evening with the reading of the opening speech by Catalina Díaz Herrera "Nena." Supported by her family, friends, and a large audience, the speaker offered a journey full of sensitivity through the memories of her childhood, youth, and adolescence in La Villa de Teguise.
Born into a humble and hardworking family, Catalina emotionally recalled those years shared with her parents, three sisters, her only brother, and the group of friends with whom she enjoyed a childhood and adolescence typical of an era when simplicity, friendship, and family values marked daily life.
She also recalled how, upon reaching adolescence, the desire to join the workforce awoke in her, initially encountering her father's refusal, who preferred her to attend sewing classes, something common at that time for young women. However, that decision would eventually become the beginning of a brilliant professional career in the world of sewing, achieving notable recognition that even led her to teach classes in different towns in the municipality within the Cultural Plan of the Teguise City Council.
But if something has always characterized Catalina Díaz Herrera "Nena", it has been her permanent commitment to the social and cultural life of her town. Throughout the years, she has actively collaborated in numerous groups and associations. Currently, she is part of the Villa de Teguise Polyphonic Choir, the "Voces para el Alma" Reading Club, the Parish Choir, and the Esperanza Spínola theater company, in addition to having participated in various festival committees and numerous cultural and solidarity initiatives.
The speaker greatly values everything related to family, enjoying good moments that life itself puts within her reach alongside her husband, children, grandchildren, and other family members.
Those who know her agree in defining her as a warm, generous, hardworking, kind, and deeply committed woman, always willing to lend a hand to those in need. Qualities that have made her a much-loved and admired person by all who have the good fortune to share their path with her.
All those memories, experiences, and feelings shaped a sincere and emotional speech, in which the speaker expressed the immense pride, but also the great responsibility, that it meant to be in charge of officially announcing the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Carmen, celebrations from which she retains some of the most cherished memories of her life.
As a final flourish, Catalina invited everyone present to intensely experience these festive days, fostering coexistence among family, neighbors, and friends and keeping alive the traditions that are part of Teguise's identity.
With an emotional and heartfelt "Long live the Virgin of Carmen," she concluded her speech, receiving a long and warm ovation from the audience attending at the Santo Domingo Convent.
Next, the councilor for Culture and Festivals, Andoni Machín, and the mayor, Olivia Duque, presented the speaker with a commemorative diploma and a beautiful bouquet of flowers in recognition of her brilliant performance as speaker.
The event concluded with an extraordinary musical segment featuring three great artists: the renowned Lanzarote musicians José Vicente Pérez, on the timple, and Adrián Niz, on the guitar, along with the prestigious voice of Manuel Estupiñán from Gran Canaria, who captivated the audience with the power, sensitivity, and richness of nuances in his performance.
Each of the songs was received with warm applause, to the point that the attendees, standing up, insisted that he continue on stage. As a token of gratitude for the affection received, Manuel Estupiñán gifted the audience with the performance of a delicate mazurka that put the finishing touch on an unforgettable evening.
Thus concluded a night full of memories, emotions, anecdotes, and shared feelings, in which Catalina Díaz Herrera "Nena", managed to win the hearts of all present with the simplicity and authenticity of her words, leaving an indelible mark on the start of the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Carmen in the Noble Villa of Teguise.