Image: Sergio Betancort
The Cabildo of Lanzarote celebrated on Wednesday night the traditional institutional event for the Canary Islands Day, but this year's event was special and will be remembered because during it, the appointment of the first favorite son to receive this recognition in life took place, an honor that has fallen on Juan Brito Martín. So much so, that his figure has transcended to be present in the form of congratulations and gratitude in the speech of the president of the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés; and in that of Paulino Rivero, the president of the Government of the Canary Islands, who this year decided to share the day of the Canarian Community with the people of Lanzarote.
The musical performances of Alexis Lemes Trío and the El Pavón Folk Group spiced up the event. It was, in fact, the timple of the young talent that raised the curtain of the Insular Theater, and he did so by interpreting the anthem of the Canary Islands accompanied by the voice of Sara Bermúdez. They also performed Juan Brito's original song 'La zaranda', in his role as a folklorist. And he saved a pleasant surprise for the end of the event.
After a start marked by Lemes' avant-garde timple, the president of the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés, addressed the public in a speech that was a claim for unity in the face of difficulty; hopeful regarding the future; and emotional around identity, tradition, and very especially, the figure of Juan Brito and the meaning that this appointment has had for him.
San Ginés stated that "we have to learn to position ourselves in everything that concerns us. In favor, or against, position ourselves in everything that objectively benefits or harms our island and its inhabitants. Subject to loyalty to the island and the will of its people. Detached from political experiments and risky economic adventures, which, defending foreign interests, endanger our territory, our environment, our economy and our culture. In short, our future".
"Today is a day -continued the president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote- to continue believing in ourselves and in the role we have to play, keeping the defense high. To commit ourselves to continue fighting to conquer the best living conditions for a people to whom we all owe ourselves and whom some of us have the honor of representing".
As could not be otherwise, given the affection and admiration he professes, San Ginés had some words for Juan Brito in his opening speech. "The history of Lanzarote -repeating the scheme of the history of the world- is full of examples of people who have been magnificent catalysts of the society in which they lived. People who have had, as if it were their job, the commitment to fight for and value aspects that are specific to our collective entity, to their vital environment".
"I am completely convinced -pointed out the president of Lanzarote-, that this island of ours -which, despite some mistakes undoubtedly made, is still admired for its exemplary relationship with nature, and for what we have contributed from here to respect for the environment, the landscape, and traditional culture- has been possible thanks to men like Don Juan Brito".
After the speech of the president of the Cabildo, the ceremony of appointment of Juan Brito Martín as favorite son of Lanzarote took place, after his official designation by the plenary session of the Corporation last Monday, May 27. Brito took the stage with his wife, Isabel, and the master of ceremonies called the Minister of Education and Culture, Emma Cabrera, who gave a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Brito; to Fabián Martín, who presented him with the Golden Crab decoration; to Astrid Pérez, who placed in his hands the official diploma of appointment. The vice president, Joaquín Caraballo, gave him a scale replica of the Farmer's Monument, a very significant symbol for Brito; and finally it was Pedro San Ginés who placed the medal of favorite son on him before sharing a heartfelt hug.
The honoree had to wait a few minutes to be able to start his speech. The clamor of applause and emotion did not allow him to start speaking. His speech was full of thanks, words of affection, simplicity and humility, fond memories and tradition.
"Who would have told that boy from the countryside -Brito wondered- who went down to the port of Arrecife for the first time 84 years ago, that this was going to happen to him 84 years later. That little farmer, used to living in complete freedom, when he arrived in the Capital, was amazed to see so many houses together, different and attached to each other. He was also very struck by the fact that people walked along paths, higher than the ground (the sidewalks). They were in such a hurry that they did not have time to offer a good morning to those who passed by their side?"
He summarized his life with that charming wisdom that grows attached to the land? "And the strong continuous winds of the breeze, the African siroccos and the sun of every day of our land, were burning and wrinkling his skin, just like the bark of an old acacia with which he made a plow to fertilize the matrix of the earth so that new lives would be born. He also kneaded the holy mud of Las Nieves and built a large vessel where he wrote with a Timijota, which he jealously guards, the history of the island, the history of its people that is his own history".
And, of course, his speech was not lacking in words of gratitude. "Mr. President, Don Pedro San Ginés; ladies and gentlemen councilors; I thank you all, tremendously moved, for having proposed and appointed me favorite son of this island of ours. I promise you, dear friends, that this distinction that you have given me, I will use it to care for and preserve everything that forms, and makes up Lanzarote, and everything that lives in it; as well as the past and the present of its history, which is our history".
More music and Paulino Rivero's speech
A new musical performance by Alexis Lemes marked the midpoint of the event. Talent and creativity to demonstrate that more sounds and sensations can come out of that small instrument so typical of Lanzarote, in addition to isas and folías, which too. But those of El Pavón would take care of that later. Before that, the president of the Government of the Canary Islands, Paulino Rivero, took the stage of the Insular Theater, who this year has come to share the Canary Islands Day with the people of Lanzarote and who, of course, also joined in the congratulations to Juan Brito.
Rivero pointed out that "memory says, and says well, that it was Lanzarote the island that started decades ago a path to which the Canary Islands, now yes, has joined". "We Canarians have learned -continued the president of the Autonomous Executive- the difficult balance that is necessary to maintain to reconcile economic and social development with the conservation of resources".
And he referred to the newly appointed Favorite Son, stating that "Juan symbolizes the greatness of this people. His history dignifies him and fills us with confidence because Juan reminds us of what we are capable of. Of what the Canary Islands are capable of".
Alexis Lemes Trío came back on stage to line up with several songs the final stretch of this institutional event. A performance that ended with a spectacular folía in a 'solo' that became a surprising and exciting 'mass' because a screen was raised and behind it was the entire El Pavón Folk Group in formation. At the end of this song, those from Tías started up and gave the public a whole sample of their repertoire.
