PHOTOS: Sergio Betancort.
The seaside neighborhood of Valterra began its festivities this Thursday in honor of Our Lady of Carmen with the reading of the proclamation by Francisco Martel, who was the parish priest of the neighborhood between 1982 and 1986.
The event took place at 9 p.m. in Valterra Park, and the town crier was surrounded by residents and some authorities from the Arrecife City Council, such as the first deputy mayor, José Montelongo, the Councilor for Celebrations, Victor San Ginés, and the councilors Eva de Anta, Ángela Hernández and Roberto Herbón.
Manolo Hernández Noda, a resident and member of the festival committee, was in charge of introducing the town crier. During his speech, Francisco Martel recalled his four years as a priest in the parish of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, in a seaside neighborhood where life was never easy, especially for those who did not know how to make time to attend to each of the neighbors who, one day or another, came to ask him for help in solving one problem or another.
At that time, Francisco Martel wanted to know firsthand what it was like to work aboard a sardine boat and, without thinking twice, he enlisted on a boat and experienced as a sailor the difficult task of working in what was then called the Canario-Saharan bank. He also recalled his support for the struggle and the strikes that took place in those years, both in the sardine boats and in the canning factories. Thus, he recalled that he was one more of those who asked that an agreement be reached as soon as possible for the good of the families.
The town crier also kept very present the alcoholic patients and the prisoners, since he also had a mission in the Tahiche penitentiary center. There was no shortage of memories for the neighbors, who worked side by side to make the neighborhood more prosperous.
In addition, there was a section for anecdotes, getting the neighbors present there to crack a smile. Before finishing, he encouraged them to continue working for the unity of families and for the parish, always counting on the support of Our Lady the Virgin of Carmen.
Once his proclamation was finished, the festival committee gave him a replica of a boat, as a sign of gratitude. At that moment, all the members of the festival committee went on stage to take a photo and thus immortalize the moment. They were also accompanied by the parish priests Juan Antonio Gallego, from Valterra, Agustín Lasso, from La Vega and Titerroy, and Berto, after which the neighbors enjoyed the songs of the Stella quartet, which with its rhythm brought the first day of the festivities to an end.
