Photos: Sergio Betancort
Tomás Armas Sicilia, born in Haría in 1954, was in charge of reading the proclamation of the San Juan Festivities of the municipality in 2017, which kicked off last Saturday, June 10, at 9:00 p.m. in the La Tegala sociocultural center. Armas, who is passionate about culture and popular traditions - especially theater, music and photography - has participated and collaborated from a very young age in activities of a social and cultural nature.
The Councilor for Festivities of the municipality, Soraya Brito, has assured in statements for Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero that Armas' proclamation was "very beautiful, very emotional, very endearing". A proclamation where the resident of the northern municipality had the presence of all his neighbors from his time, those who have accompanied him throughout his life.
The Haría City Council has highlighted the proclaimer's time with the Guatifay theater group, from Haría, and La Diversión, from Tías. His restless and committed character means that he is an active member of the SOC and CCOO unions and that he serves as president of the Faría Neighborhood Association for a time.
Music has also been one of his great passions, actively participating in the Beñesmen and El Pavón de Tías folk groups. Likewise, he has carried out several research works, among which the inventory of oil and vinegar stores stands out, from 1936 to the present, in Haría.
In recent years, photography occupies a large part of his free time. His works have been seen in two individual exhibitions: ‘From the Valley’ (2012) in El Aljibe de Haría and ‘Terruño’ (2015), in the Sociedad Democracia de Arrecife.
