Affectionately known as Tito in the neighborhood of La Victoria, this 94-year-old man possesses an extraordinary memory that allows him to reconstruct the history of his neighborhood and much of Tenerife. Since his arrival in the neighborhood in 1945, he has witnessed the post-war period, scarcity, refinery works, the construction of the Basilica of Candelaria, bread strikes, the rise of taxis, and carnivals.
“"I inaugurated the La Victoria neighborhood."
He was one of the first inhabitants of the social housing in La Victoria, arriving at the age of 13. He has seen the neighborhood grow from its foundations, knowing the original name of each block and the exterior mural indicating the year the homes were delivered. His first jobs included being a bellboy at an officers' residence and a carpenter's apprentice, although wood scarcity during the post-war period hindered his training.
Later, he worked in a rationing warehouse and a mosaic factory, but painting was the trade that defined his life. He learned the craft by painting tanks and metal structures at the refinery, a period that showed him the harsh working conditions of the time. After being laid off to prevent him from gaining seniority, he used the severance pay to get his driver's license.
In the late 1950s, he participated in the interior decoration of the Basilica of Candelaria, a job that took him almost a year. He was part of the team responsible for applying the gilding and decorations, using 47-carat gold leaf brought from England and precise pigment mixtures. He also remembers the painter José Aguilar, author of the Basilica's frescoes, highlighting the technique of tinted waxes applied with a spatula and blowtorch in the main altar.
After his work at the Basilica of Candelaria, he continued with various projects and temporary jobs as a self-employed painter, eventually employing six people. However, the economic crisis of the Transition affected the sector, leading him to change professions. He became a bread delivery driver and later worked as a taxi driver, combining both jobs for years. He also participated in carnival musical groups, such as the Peña del Lunes 1965, where he won a first prize with the work Don Quijote.
This resident of Santa Cruz not only narrates his own life but also evokes the history of a working-class city, of the laborers who built churches, and of the neighborhoods that emerged among banana plantations and refinery smoke, offering a unique perspective of a Santa Cruz de Tenerife that few remember.
