La Orotava Names César Hernández Martínez Honorary Villero Posthumously

La Orotava City Council has posthumously named César Hernández Martínez an "Honorary Villero." The decision, announced during a ceremony in the Plenary Hall, honors a man whose work helped shape one of the Canary Islands' most important cultural traditions. The unanimous vote coincides with the 90th anniversary of the pilgrimage in honor of Saint Isidore the Laborer and Saint Mary of the Head, an event that remains central to the town’s identity.

Hernández Martínez was instrumental in transforming the pilgrimage during the mid-1930s. As president of the Liceo de Taoro Society, he brought order to the event by introducing formal regulations. The guidelines he established in 1936—such as the requirement for traditional dress and specific rules for decorating carts and horses—are still followed today. This success also established a lasting partnership between the Liceo and the City Council.

Beyond his role in preserving traditions, Hernández Martínez, who passed away in 1999 at age 90, was a dedicated humanist. His contributions to La Orotava were wide-ranging: he helped found the local Red Cross, promoted the Procession of Silence, opened the Cine Orotava in 1957, and served on the Municipal Music Board. He was also a co-founder of the "Los Kiawels" music group, reflecting the active role local leaders played in the town’s social life.

The award ceremony, led by Mayor Francisco Linares, included tributes from Hernández Martínez’s son and grandson. The initiative was originally proposed by the Las Pintaderas Philatelic, Numismatic, and Collectibles Group. This recognition honors a man who moved to La Orotava from La Laguna and dedicated his life to the town’s progress, leaving behind a legacy that continues to define its patron saint festivities nine decades later.