Last Saturday, with the Municipal Theater of San Bartolomé completely packed, Teguey celebrated its "V Festival". At 8:00 PM, under the direction of David Naranjo Ortega, an evening began that will remain in the memory of all attendees.
The festival began with the performance of the Popular Music Group "Vuelta Abajo", arriving from the Principality of Asturias. Founded in 2001, its 25 members offered a varied repertoire with the most representative of countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Chile and Mexico. Boleros, joropos, ballads and rancheras followed each other on stage, winning over the audience from the first moment, who rewarded each performance with warm applause. It was the first time "Vuelta Abajo" visited Lanzarote and San Bartolomé, and its members did not hide their enthusiasm for the warm welcome received, as well as their admiration for the unique landscapes of the island of Lanzarote, taking away a memorable performance at the Municipal Theater.
The second part of the festival featured the participation of music professor Gabriel Cuba, his daughter Auristela, and the tenor from San Bartolomé José Manuel García Corujo. The repertoire began with two delicate instrumental pieces performed on theorbo and guitar, continuing with two compositions for timple and guitar with a Canarian root. Their elegant and very careful performance, both instrumentally and vocally, was highly valued by the audience, who responded with a prolonged and heartfelt applause.
Next, the hosts and organizers of the festival took the stage: the Teguey Popular Music Group. Musically directed by Professor Leo García Corujo and under the presidency of José Cruz Hernández, its members offered an impeccable staging. The group delighted the audience with a lively repertoire based on some of the songs from their discographic works, highlighting a very special piece dedicated posthumously to Don Francisco de León. "Taro de Honor 2025", who recently passed away. The work, titled "Cantata al Labrador", captures the legacy of one who fought so hard to preserve the landscape of Lanzarote, being received with great emotion and recognition by the public.
Awarding of the Taro de Honor to Radio Lanzarote announcer Francisco José Navarro
Without a doubt, the most emotional and central moment of the night arrived with the presentation of the "Taro de Honor 2026" to Francisco José Navarro Rodríguez, announcer for Radio Lanzarote and presenter, in recognition of a lifetime, more than 50 years dedicated to the dissemination of Canarian traditional culture. Through the radio waves, his chronicles in La Voz de Lanzarote and his presence on numerous stages on the island. Navarro has tirelessly contributed to preserving and spreading the traditions of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands.
When the presenter David Naranjo Ortega invited him to go up on stage, the completely surrendered audience received him with a standing ovation. Subsequently, the president of Teguey, José Cruz Hernández, presented him with the "Taro de Honor 2026", while the mayor of San Bartolomé Isidro Pérez Martín, presented him with a sculpture replica of the Casa Ajei. his wife also received a large bouquet of flowers.
Visibly emotional, and with a choked voice, Francisco José Navarro, a great connoisseur of the microphone, could barely utter a few words to thank the affection received over so many years, as well as the high distinction awarded by the Teguey family. In his speech, he also wanted to highlight the unconditional support of his family, without which, he pointed out, none of this would have been possible. For Navarro, the night of April 2nd will be forever etched in his memory.
The final flourish arrived with the union on stage of the groups, "Vuelta Abajo y Teguey", who jointly performed the pasodoble "Islas Canarias", thus closing an unforgettable evening in San Bartolomé.
