Through the streets of Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, El Sauzal, Santa Úrsula (his adopted municipality in Tenerife), Santa Cruz, the south of Tenerife, and the other islands, one can find Hilario. At 73 years old, this Argentine, settled in Santa Úrsula since 1999, presents himself as “the last sharpener in the Canary Islands,” a title confirmed by people who can find no one else practicing this trade.
Hilario supplements his non-contributory Spanish pension with this activity, a trade nearly lost in a society that prefers to buy new items rather than repair them. Although he hasn't become rich, he acknowledges that there is still a market and little competition, which allows him to earn a living. He makes it clear that if he ever stops sharpening, it will be because he is no longer in this world.
After a holiday visit in 1998, his definitive move to Tenerife was precipitated in 1999 due to the economic crisis in Argentina. He holds no fond memories of Argentine politicians of that era, such as Fernando de la Rúa and Alfonsín, whom he blames for having “stolen everything” from him with the currency devaluation.
He left behind five children and his work as a farmer, cattle rancher, and meat griller in Argentina. His arrival in the Canary Islands almost coincided with the presence of his cousin, footballer Bruno Marioni, who played for CD Tenerife between 2000 and 2003. Hilario decided not to contact him to avoid being seen as trying to capitalize on his fame.
After moving to Santa Úrsula, he worked as a shoe shiner and later repaired footwear in a shop in La Orotava until his retirement. Now, for the past eight years, he has revived the sharpening trade, drawing on his Argentine experience. He travels the islands with his wife's camper van, offering his services for knives, razors, hairdressing scissors, and other tools, as well as fitting horseshoes.
He adapted his bicycle himself to spin the sharpening stone, an invention that gives him life, allows him to exercise, and enables him to converse with people. He laments the disappearance of other sharpeners and emphasizes the necessity of his trade as long as people continue to cook and use cutting tools.
About fifteen years ago, Hilario suffered a serious accident in a hardware store when a large piece of cardboard fell on him from seven meters above, resulting in a broken nose, four lost teeth, and injuries to his arm and shoulder.
His passion for FC Barcelona is evident, reflected in his bicycle and attire. He became a Barça fan upon arriving in the Canary Islands, influenced by the signing of Riquelme and a friend's advice to support any team but Real Madrid. Although his strong allegiance to Barcelona sometimes costs him potential clients who are Real Madrid supporters, he doesn't mind, even refusing to sharpen their knives.
He has been wearing the same boina for 55 years, an accessory he adopted due to the influence of the Basques he grew up with in Argentina. At the end of the conversation, Hilario recites an extensive poem evoking his roots and his hardworking spirit.
