Santa Ana Square hosted the Grandparents' Day event on Saturday, 25th July, where carpenter Agustín Expósito and artisan Pilar Pinto were recognised, proposed by the Community Board.
The municipality of Candelaria celebrated Grandparents' Day on Saturday, 25th July, with an event in Santa Ana Square that served to honour two residents who have made significant contributions to the social and cultural life of the town. The recognition was awarded to master carpenter Agustín Expósito Otazo and María del Pilar Pinto Sabina, both proposed by the Community Board of Candelaria Casco.
The mayor of Candelaria, Mari Brito, highlighted during the event that both Agustín and Pilar represent “the best of this town” and emphasised that “they have dedicated their lives to Candelaria without expecting anything in return.” In her speech, the mayor pointed out that many of the elements seen today in the festivities and in the Basilica of Candelaria bear the signature of these two residents, although many citizens may not be aware of it. “Today Candelaria says it out loud and with all its affection,” she stated.
For her part, the councillor for Citizen Participation, Mónica Yanes, valued that the proposal for the honorees came from the residents themselves through the Community Board, which gives the event “a special value.” Yanes described the elderly as “the living memory of the municipality” and assured that Grandparents' Day is the day when all of Candelaria expresses gratitude for their legacy.
Agustín Expósito Otazo was born in Candelaria in 1935 and began working with wood at just fourteen years old. From his workshop, located on La Arena street and still active, came significant pieces for the Basilica of Candelaria and the Convent, such as the main door, the altar table, the choir chairs, and the support for the Virgin's statue. His work also extended to the churches of Las Cuevecitas, Malpaís, and Barranco Hondo, as well as numerous balconies and private commissions that are part of the municipality's landscape.
María del Pilar Pinto Sabina, born in 1950, is linked to Candelaria through generations. For years, she worked in the Municipal Festival Workshop, where she made costumes for local celebrations and props for each event. She was one of the founders of the group of fishermen that accompanies the Virgin of Carmen to El Pozo and participated in the creation of the first painted banners of the municipality in 1995. She also directed the making of the nativity houses, reproduced by hand from real photographs of each village for many years.
Both honorees received a commemorative plaque and a medallion from the mayor and the councillor. Following the recognition, the Achamán Group offered a special concert titled '50 years', celebrating five decades of musical career.
The event was presented by Eva García and recorded by Mírame TV, as well as broadcasted through the International Channel of the Canary Islands, allowing residents living abroad to follow the ceremony. The celebration of Grandparents' Day thus consolidates as an annual event in Candelaria to highlight the role of elderly people and their contribution to the community.
The day unfolded in a festive and recognitional atmosphere, with numerous residents gathering in Santa Ana Square to share in the tribute. The Town Hall hopes that such events continue to promote citizen participation and recognition of those who, through their work and dedication, have built the identity of the municipality.
You may also like
