On the streets of Arrecife, history walks with its own name. Since Wednesday at 6:00 PM, on the corner of Ico 2 street, next to the social headquarters of the Parranda Marinera de Buches, an urban corner ceased to be just geography to become a symbol. The Óscar Torres Perdomo square was officially inaugurated, becoming a milestone loaded with emotion, gratitude, and shared memory.
The simple act, full of meaning, brought together municipal authorities, family, friends, and members of the Lanzarote cultural community, led by the honoree himself. It was Juan Antonio Machado, president of the Parranda Marinera de Buches, who opened the ceremony with words that were not only of welcome, but of profound historical and emotional resonance.
"Today we give this small plaza the name of Óscar Torres Perdomo, and with it we affirm something more than an urban label. We affirm a way of understanding the public, culture, and memory," the president expressed. With his speech, Machado not only honored a person, but also drew a direct line between individual commitment and the collective construction of identity.
Óscar Torres Perdomo has not been a passive observer of Lanzarote's cultural evolution. He has been, and continues to be, a weaver of stories, an organizer of memories, a constant beacon in the sea of traditions. A teacher by profession, a chronicler by passion, and a public servant by conviction, his career has been marked by the patient work of rescuing, classifying, and transmitting the popular history that often remains outside the great books, but is preserved in the voices of the people.
A Space That Speaks of Us
The design of the plaza and the commemorative plaque was carried out by Juan David Machado Gutiérrez, and its execution was carefully carried out by the Arrecife City Council. In the words of the president of the Parranda, this is an example of "successful collaboration between citizen initiative and public institution," thus recording that when wills align, spaces are born that not only beautify the city, but also tell its story.
Óscar Torres Perdomo was visibly emotional when he took the floor. He spoke with the serenity of someone who has done much without expecting anything in return, and with the passion of someone who feels every gesture as part of a greater cause, that of protecting the roots.
"Today, we not only inaugurate a physical space, but we also immortalize in stone and memory one of our most emblematic traditions," he said. And those words were not rhetoric; they were a declaration of principles.
From his role as Memorialist of Lanzarote and Official Chronicler of the Parranda Marinera de Buches, Óscar Torres has been a guardian and narrator of the island's essence. His work has been recognized with numerous awards: in 2017, the Board of Chroniclers of the Canary Islands distinguished him for his research work; in 2021, he received the Haría Award; and in 2022, he was the town crier of the Arrecife Carnival, where he launched the Great Carnival Archive, a tool that is now a reference point on the island.
But perhaps, beyond the accolades, Óscar Torres's greatest legacy is his ability to inspire enthusiasm, love for what is ours, and confidence in what is shared.
A tribute in notes and words
The evening drew to a close with interventions charged with emotion. The mayor of Arrecife, Jonathan de León, publicly congratulated both Óscar and the Parranda for an initiative that, he said, "is born from the heart and speaks to the soul of this city."
And as a culmination, the music arrived. Two members of Los Buches, Sergio Betancort and Antonio Martín, performed the song "Cronista y Mar," a song composed especially for the occasion by Sergio Betancort. The chorus, sung with a clear and firm voice, seemed to hang suspended in the air.
Óscar Torres, fountain of inspiration,
Óscar Torres, blessed be your passion,
Protector of customs and folklore,
Defender of history and its value.
And as the last notes faded amidst long and heartfelt applause, something became clear; the small plaza that now bears his name is not just a tribute in life. It is a collective declaration of gratitude. It is a promise of continuity. It is a reminder that history is built every day, with work, with memory, and with love for the homeland.
From now on, every time someone crosses that corner of Ica 2 street and reads the name Óscar Torres Perdomo, they will not only read an entire life dedicated to ensuring that Lanzarote does not forget who it is.