Alejandro Marichal: "This is not only an act of recognition for his career, but also a show of gratitude to value the silent, constant, and generous work of those who build community through love and a vocation for service."
The Tunte square in San Bartolomé de Tirajana was the setting for a night filled with emotion, memory, and gratitude this Friday. As part of the Grand Santiago Gala, "With the Soul of a Woman," held on the main day of the festivities in honor of Saint James the Apostle, presented by actress and journalist Yanely Hernández, the municipality paid a well-deserved tribute to Rosa María Ortega "Rosy," a woman whose life is an example of dedication, teaching, and love for her land.
During the event, a moving video was shown that chronicled Rosy's life story, a warm and moving narrative that explored her origins, her personal and professional career, and her deep connection to the municipality. Through images, testimonies, and words of affection, the audience was able to recall this resident's numerous contributions to the culture, education, and collective identity of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
As the video narrated, Rosy was born in 1936 in Tunte, into a large family where from a very young age she took on a guiding, supportive, and generous role. She was a pioneer in many aspects of her time: she trained in secretarial work, art, folklore, and teaching, and dedicated her life "to teaching with her hands and her heart" to generations of women in different parts of Gran Canaria. From improvised spaces like garages or communal houses to institutional representations at national fairs, her educational work was a constant expression of commitment, dedication, and social sensitivity.
As a trainer, director of the Women's Section, artist, and cultural promoter, Rosy left her mark not only on her students but also on the human and community fabric of the municipality. "Every workshop she taught, every dance group she organized, every woman she guided in her learning are part of the living legacy that is proudly recognized today."
The First Deputy Mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Alejandro Marichal, was responsible for presenting the plaque in recognition of "his dedication to the teaching of art, popular culture, and Canarian traditions in our municipality." In this regard, Marichal emphasized that this tribute "is not only an act of recognition for his career, but also a demonstration of the collective gratitude of a community that values the silent, constant, and generous work of those who build community through love and a vocation for service."
With this award, the Department of Celebrations and Events of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council reaffirms its commitment to memory and identity, and highlights Rosy as a symbol of authenticity, freedom, and popular culture. Because there are lives that inspire without the need for grandiloquent speeches. And the life of Rosy Ortega, woven with threads of wisdom, tenderness, and humility, is one of them.
