The Salamanca municipality of Santa Marta de Tormes commemorated this Sunday, March 8, International Women’s Day, with the celebration of the ninth edition of the ‘With a Woman’s Name’ gala. An event that has served to honor the career and commitment of 21 residents of the municipality.
Thus, the Enrique de Sena auditorium dressed up to host this ceremony, which was conducted by the members of MDM Producciones, in charge of providing the comic counterpoint to the day. In addition, the public enjoyed a surprise performance by Hugo Fraile, who presented an innovative and personal version of flamenco dance.
The award ceremony has been organized, as is tradition, in four thematic blocks that reflect the various ways in which these women have left their mark on the town. In the category of Rooting, the City Council has recognized five women whose lives are deeply linked to the identity of the town. Among them stands out Conchi Ruano, 69 years old, who has dedicated two decades to Ediciones Anaya and today enjoys her retirement walking the streets of Santa Marta. In his speech, he dedicated the award to his mother, also honored in the past.
Along with her, Isabel Mata, a 68-year-old Extremadura native, has been applauded for her 47 years of residence in Charro lands and her involvement in charity galas. The list in this category was completed by Dolores García, an example of perseverance after raising four children with multiple jobs; Amalia Valiente, historically closely linked to parish life and family care; and Emilia García, who at 88 years old represents the living memory of the municipality, still maintaining her passion for sewing today.
The economic sector and the entrepreneurial spirit have been the protagonists of the Businesswomen block, where the courage of five women who have opted for Santa Marta to develop their businesses has been highlighted. María Matías, owner of the M de María hair salon, and Blanca González, a physiotherapist with her own clinic since 2013, have shown that vocation is the engine of success. For her part, dentist Layla González has been recognized for leading the ESSE Dental Clinic, where she coordinates an entirely female team. The gala has also focused on Susana Flores, who together with her husband runs a cleaning company with twenty employees, and on María José Pascual, who has managed the 17 Tapas restaurant for a year with the ambition of continuing to grow and generate local employment.
In the area of Professionals, the recognition has gone to five women who have stood out in their respective work areas. Nati Vicente has been awarded for her career in the world of aesthetics since 1988, while Edid Díez has received the affection of the public when remembering her time as a pioneer with the Maturano kiosk and her subsequent work in the food sector. Education has been represented by Marta Sánchez, current director of the Martín Gaite school, who leads a project based on bilingualism and family closeness. Maika Moreno, with more than three decades in the national hospitality industry, and Adoración Rodríguez, founder of the remembered Valdelagua Supermarkets, a commercial benchmark in the area for years, have also been awarded.
Finally, the Social Work block has moved those present by making visible causes of great human significance. Carolina Gallo has been applauded for her tireless fight and care for her son Javi, affected by the rare disease Butterfly Skin. Animal protection has had its space with Carmen Grande and Nadia Rodríguez, representatives of the Colonia Felina de Santa Marta, while Mila González has been highlighted for her work in the Corazones Guerreros Association in support of children with heart disease. Community participation closed the gala with awards to María Josefa Martínez, for her active work as president of the AMPA of the Miguel Hernández school, and Carmen Cabrera, recognized for her historical dedication as an educator at the Topas Center and her current presidency of the Tierno Galván Cultural Association.
