The Lanzarote designer Paco Delgado already wears the Gold Medal of the Canary Islands. The president of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, presented him with this award at an institutional event held at the Alfredo Kraus theater in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Along with Delgado's, another 7 Gold Medals and the three Canary Islands Awards of this year were presented. "They are all a sample of the value, talent and capacity that exists in this land," Clavijo highlighted.
During his speech, the Canarian president also referred to Delgado. "Talent knows no distances or outermost regions, nor is there an unattainable sector", he said, adding later that this has been "demonstrated" by the designer from Lanzarote, "by taking his artistic capacity beyond our borders; arousing admiration for his work, creating a school and demonstrating that it is not necessary to be born in Hollywood to walk the red carpet of the Oscars." His film costume designs have already earned Delgado two Goya awards and, in addition, have led him to aspire to the precious statuette on two occasions.
In addition to Delgado, James Costos, Ángela Delgado Díaz, the La Salle San Ildefonso School, the Gran Canaria Basketball Club, Andrés Santana, Proactiva Open Arms and Elsa López received the medal. While the Canary Islands Awards went to the Association of Children with Cancer Pequeño Valiente, the doctor Luis Mateo López Rivero and the journalist José Naranjo.
"Our award winners are an example for everyone; an example that with very little you can achieve a lot. The confirmation that only with serious, rigorous and committed work can great things be done. That small everyday gestures change the world in which we live; that awaken consciences and change the course of lives...", said Clavijo, who added, recalling the phrase of Pedro Lezcano that "heroes are everywhere".
During this institutional event, a show was offered under the artistic direction of Manuel González, created specifically for the occasion. It was 'País adentro', a show that sought to invite viewers on an "emotional journey" through the Canary Islands through some of the most popular songs by island authors, who have captured in them the spirit of each of the islands.
More than fifty Canarian artists participated in the show, and among them was Ciro Corujo from Lanzarote. With him, well-known faces such as Alba Hernández, Olga Cerpa, Luis Morera, Fran Martín or José Manuel Ramos, as well as the EnCantadoras group and the Soront choir, took to the stage.
"We are not going to allow the needs of the Canarians to be ignored again"
Fernando Clavijo alluded during his speech, although without mentioning it, to the central Executive. "There are families of Canarians who find no reason for celebration. But that reality that we have lived and continue to live has also made us stronger. Like our parents and grandparents, we have learned from our mistakes and be sure that we are not going to make them again", he said, adding later that "we are not going to allow ourselves to be treated in equal conditions as other peoples and other communities again".
"We are not going to allow the needs of the Canarians to be ignored again. We are not going to allow ourselves to be less than anyone again. Never again. We were all put to the test. A few, very few, complied. We assumed, out of responsibility, the narrowness and the cut and we moved forward. We achieved it. And now we demand that this achievement, that this effort that others saved, be taken into account. We are not going to allow anything else. We are not going to allow ourselves to be treated worse than those who do not comply", he added.
The president of the Canarian Government concluded by highlighting that the award winners "have to be a source of inspiration for everyone". "Men and women to whom we publicly thank today; for what they have been, for what they are and for what they will be. A mirror in which to look at ourselves and that returns an image of solidarity, commitment, dedication, courage, culture, sport, love for our land, creativity, capacity for work... That returns, in short, the image of what we are because, ladies and gentlemen, that is what the Canary Islands are. They are the Canary Islands. They are what we are. Let's not forget it".
