The Cabildo of Lanzarote was established in 1913. Since then, and 108 years have passed, it has only awarded SIX titles of Favorite Son of Lanzarote and FIVE of Adoptive Son. As for the Gold Medal of Lanzarote, the councilors of our Island Council have only considered three people worthy of it.
To give us an idea of how stingy and ungrateful we have been, it is worth mentioning as an example that the Cabildo of Gran Canaria awards two or three of each of the aforementioned awards each year.
I already made the list of the distinctions awarded to date the other day. Not without having previously verified it with people well versed in the matter; I am going to dare to mention those who, in our opinion, and without being excessively generous, deserve that, on behalf of all the citizens of Lanzarote, the rulers of our Island Council grant them the distinction that, according to what the Regulations of Honors and Distinctions foresee, we consider they are worthy of.
FAVORITE SON OF LANZAROTE
▪︎ Blas Cabrera Felipe, eminent physicist born in Arrecife, collaborator of Einstein and candidate for the Nobel Prize.
▪︎ Ginés de la Hoz Gil, mayor of Arrecife from 1960 to 1970, who approved the first General Plan of Lanzarote in 1968 and who promoted the arrival of running water to Lanzarote by making possible the initiative of the Díaz Rijo brothers, born in Arrecife and died in 1972.
▪︎ Manuel Díaz Rijo, naval engineer, who created in Lanzarote the first seawater desalination plant in Europe, which meant the historic solution to the water problem on the island.
▪︎ Nicolás de Páiz Pereyra, president of the Cabildo who, among other things, made possible the unanimous approval of the Island Territorial Planning Plan of 1991.
▪︎ Agustín de la Hoz, distinguished writer and journalist, born in Arrecife.
▪︎ Ruperto González Negrín.
▪︎ José Betancort Cabrera, "Ángel Guerra". Writer and deputy in Cortes.
▪︎ Aquilino Fernández, a very important mayor of Arrecife of whom Unamuno said was "the most clear mind I have known in Lanzarote".
▪︎ Leandro Perdomo, a very important writer born in Arrecife.
▪︎ Mercedes Medina Díaz, enthusiastic and committed teacher born in Tías.
▪︎ Concepción Rodríguez Artiles, distinguished teacher born in Tías.
▪︎ Nieves Toledo, emblematic teacher from Arrecife.
▪︎ Rosana Arbelo, important and outstanding singer with international renown, born and raised in Arrecife.
ADOPTIVE SON OF LANZAROTE
▪︎ Benito Cabrera, incomparable timplista and folklorist born in Venezuela, author of the Anthem of the Canary Islands.
▪︎ Rafael Arozarena, important novelist who lived and worked in Lanzarote, author of the emblematic novel Mataría.
▪︎ Goya Toledo, outstanding actress on the national scene, born in Africa to parents from Lanzarote and raised in Arrecife.
GOLD MEDAL OF LANZAROTE
▪︎ Santiago Hernández Brito, mechanic of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, close collaborator of César Manrique, mainly in the construction of the "wind toys".
▪︎ Ambrosio Martín Cedrés, handball coach born and raised in Arrecife, several times champion of Spain and Europe with women's teams.
