Julián Cáceres reclaims the soul of Femés in an emotional opening speech of the San Marcial festivities

Emotion, memories, and the defense of Femés' identity marked this Sunday's opening speech for the patron saint festivities of San Marcial de Rubicón. Julián Cáceres Hernández turned his speech into a tribute to the town, its neighbors, and a way of understanding life in community, leaving a message that summarized the spirit of his speech: "May Femés continue to be Femés, may it never lose its essence. May the word 'town' continue to mean 'gathering'."

Throughout his speech, the speaker also praised the figure of San Marcial as the patron saint of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands, while evoking decades of experiences linked to the festivities and the town's history.

The mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, highlighted the speaker's close ties to Femés, stating that his career could well be summarized with the title "a lifetime linked to Femés and its festivities." Noda defined Julián Cáceres as "a man who understands ordinary people and is loved by them." For his part, the Councilor for Festivities, Daniel Medina, emphasized his commitment to the town. "I wish there were many people like him, because that insistence stems solely from the affection he feels for this land and his desire to see it a little better every day," he stated. Both presided over the event along with the parish priest of Yaiza, Jonathan Almeida.

Accompanied by his son Jonatan Cáceres, the speaker confessed emotionally that participating in the opening of the festivities was "much more than an honor." The narrative, constructed in two voices, traversed the memory of several generations. Julián recalled his first visit to San Marcial, at just five years old, walking from Maciot, when for five pesetas he could buy a soda at Cándido Lemes and Leoncio Medina's stall, a popsicle from Acuña's cart, and a sugar pineapple with almonds from the nougat vendor's stand. "And I still had money left over!" he recalled with a smile.

"The opening speech is not my father's story; it is the story of a town that looks in the mirror of time to return to those days when happiness fit into five pesetas... and into a while of celebration," summarized Jonatan Cáceres. Father and son also wanted to pay tribute to all the people who are part of Femés' memory, a gesture that the audience, with a full church, responded to with a long round of applause.

During the opening speech, there was also time to remember the work of those who made the festivals possible for decades. "Hands prepared everything," they said, recalling those committees that, with few resources, organized celebrations that over time incorporated playbacks, guateques, and a cultural week with talks and discussions. Julián also recalled that Femés hosted the late Nanino Díaz Cutillas and his program Tenderete, and that after his death the festival was dedicated to his memory before moving to Los Dolores.

Among the anecdotes, the memory of the crowded rock nights was not forgotten, when, as he recounted, "it seemed like all of Lanzarote was in Femés," nor the touch of humor that Jonatan provided by recalling his father's obsession with everything turning out perfectly: "They say that one day, wanting to arrive earlier, he tied the donkey to the motorcycle. You can imagine how that ended."

The opening speech also recognized the contribution of numerous neighbors, including the teacher Fefa Toledo for her involvement in the festivals and the creation of the Living Nativity Scene; Consuelo, Antonia, Bienvenida, Pana, José Francisco, Flora, and Ángela for their performances; and the announcer Francisco José Navarro, whom he defined as "the voice of the festivals."

Julián Cáceres also recalled his constant defense of San Marcial so that it "occupied the place it deserved," even going so far as to send a letter to King Juan Carlos to request that July 7, the Great Day of Femés, be declared a holiday throughout the Canary Islands.

Beyond the opening speech, the trajectory of a neighbor committed to his town was also reflected, promoter of the Femés Football Club and the first women's team in the Canary Islands, defender of the continuity of the school, and participant in the opening of the teleclub.

Music provided the finishing touch to the event with the performance of Mararía, by Pedro Guerra, by María Caraballo, Acaymo, and Yanely Bravo, accompanied by Marcial Armas, José Luis González, and Berto Nieves. Afterwards, the celebration continued in the square with a performance by the group Arife. The San Marcial de Rubicón festivals will continue in Femés until next July 7.