Yilenia Vega: "We pay tribute to the owners of an establishment that has been much more than a business: it has been a meeting point, a source of memory, and a source of support for generations."
COMPLETE PROGRAM OF THE SAN FERNANDO FESTIVITIES
The Maspalomas festivities in honor of San Fernando kicked off with a moving tribute to Roque and Andrés Santana Trujillo, longtime residents of the San Fernando settlement and owners of the first oil and vinegar shop in El Poblado, a true symbol of the neighborhood.
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the festivities, Roque and Andrés were chosen as town criers, in recognition of their tireless work at the helm of an establishment that has been "much more than a business: it has been a meeting point, a source of memory, and a source of support for generations," noted Yilenia Vega, Councilor for Festivities and Events, before the event began.
During the opening speech, a tribute video was shown, created with the participation of residents of the town, who shared memories, anecdotes, and experiences involving the brothers. Among the testimonies, many agreed that "everyone passed by their store," that it was common to say "write that up for my mother" when young people came into the shop without cash to pay, and that they weren't just shopkeepers: they were family. One neighbor recalled how, in the middle of the night, she knocked on the back door of the store and Andrés opened it to sell her bananas for the nursery, because the ones he had weren't worthy of giving to the children. The brothers, in turn, recalled how market vendors would come to their establishment when they ran out of stock or needed to replenish the products for their stalls and snack bars.
With their trust books and their friendly approach, the Santana Trujillo brothers have embodied values of solidarity, trust, and belonging. "Our clients are like family; without them, we wouldn't be who we are," they emotionally stated in the video.
Once the video was over, the gala's presenter and director of Radio Faro, Neri Pérez, invited them up on stage where they received, "with great emotion and almost without words," Roque said, a commemorative plaque "for announcing the Maspalomas festivities, in honor of San Fernando, celebrating its 60th anniversary in its 2025 edition." The presentation was made by the Councilor for Festivities and Events, Yilenia Vega, after which the Mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Marco Aurelio Pérez, declared the festivities proclaimed and thus, "inaugurated the festivities in honor of San Fernando."
Roque and Andrés, who started their business in 1971 and have maintained it with dedication to this day, represent an entire generation that built community through daily effort and community commitment. Their testimony, captured in the video, also reflects the transformation of the town, the passage of time, and the loyalty of a clientele who, like them, are an essential part of the soul of the town. "This tribute not only recognizes the brothers' career, but also serves to honor all the families in the neighborhood who, with humility and dedication, helped forge the identity of San Fernando," Yilenia Vega noted after the event.
