The cathedral and the tomb of Fernández de Lugo

Antonio Cubillo Ferreira *  

Now they are discussing both the historical memory of street names to be dropped, monuments to get rid of those that must be rebuilt, as the Diocese of La Laguna , Which burned down years ago, the domes of the Cathedral of Laguna in Tenerife and many other names and memories that disturb canaries and their descendants, we must set to work cleaning and see names like that in many cities Canaries still continue names of murderers Spanish conquistadors like Pedro de Vera (whose descendants are the Cabeza de Vaca) and Alonso Fernandez de Lugo.

These two characters of the fifteenth century came from the Spain medieval to conquer a peaceful people on the African coast, sent by their kings and license to start the inhabitants of these islands and sell them as slaves to pay debts and expenses of the scandalous conquest. With the excuse that came to Christianize the African people, baptizing many peace camps and then sold them as slaves in the slave markets of Seville and Valencia. You can not allow the city of La Laguna , the Aguere of the Guanches, further calling into radio and TV of the developed city, as the island of La Gomera The call is now the island Columbus, for the simple fact that this Genoese sailor named Columbus came by to meet his former mistress, The Bobadilla , Sharing bed with King Ferdinand, who helped him in his journey across the Atlantic to open a new shipping route, not to discover a continent, as has been invented. As Columbus found gold on the Spanish Admiral and his brothers sailed to the Spanish markets some 2,000 Indians as slaves, apart from those who ordered the killing on the island, thus causing that, in September 1500, was arrested and detained by the coroner sent by the kings Spain, Francisco de Bobadilla, who brought in chains to Spain, along with his two brothers, Diego and Bartholomew (History Magazine No. 63. National Geographic).

But now that so many names are being removed with that of historical memory, we must focus also on those who did more damage to the Canaries. On this island have to remove a name and the memories of that bandit Alonso Fernandez de Lugo, whose remains lie behind the high altar of the cathedral La Laguna , With its stone and all. In La Laguna Were little, when we went to that church, he always recited the famous verse that read: "Here lies he says, / ister John the ringer / remnants of the bandit, / who conquered Tenerife.

I have never understood how there are preserved the remains of such a person nor have I understood how been kept in a chapel at the entrance of my town the remains of Fernando Guanarteme traitor, who came with his people to help Fernandez Canaria Lugo in the battle of La Laguna In 1496, where he died in combat on large Quebehi Imoh Benkomo's father Homeland Thanks to the help you gave this traitor.

Now that he is reforming the cathedral lagoon, where they already have just gotten funding for new vaults, we can not allow the work is completed and follow tomb there that infamous bandit who conquered Tenerife. Indeed, in 1975, a MPAIAC command, we send especially, spent a whole night inside the cathedral paintings filling the walls with slogans for independence and to take out the remains of Fernández de Lugo of the temple, whose stone was painted black. The cathedral was closed a week to repair the graffiti, but did not take into account what we said and it was a pity. It is time that these remains are removed to shame all the canaries and have them delivered to the descendants of that bandit, the family of the Benitez de Lugo, and the Marquis de Celada, there are many here on the island, and that where they want to be buried in their tombs or whatever, but get them out of the cathedral lagoon. Personally I look forward to this, my grandfather, Athanasius Nóbrega, Las Palmas, Tenerife and coming to marry on 21 April 1840 with my great grandmother Severina Gonzalez Rivero, Tacoronte, precentor was appointed administrator of the new cathedral, old Los Remedios church, as was the niece of Ms. Severina Isidoro Rivero dean while the dean Benkomo, the family of the late Mencey, and could do anything at that time, because the descendants of that bandit controlled Inquisition and its courts. All laguneros, Tenerife and Canaries patriotism and independence of all the islands would be willing to cooperate economically with cash contributions to the reconstruction of the Cathedral La Laguna , Provided that take away the remnants of the bandit who conquered Tenerife. The Diocese should consider this suggestion and so far, already has $ 100 from me, and I spoke last night with the priest Fernando Báez, Canaria island, a good patriot, and he said he could collect donations at churches of all the islands for that and that would meet his friends and many priests patriots, giving me permission to speak. Fernandez de Lugo, along with fellow bandit Pedro de Vera, made numerous crimes in the Canary island and his memory persists across the island and in La Gomera.

It is time to clean and tidy up our history.

* Chairman of the NCC, the political arm of MPAIAC

Photo: Funeral monument in Cathedral of La Laguna where bones are deposited course of Alonso Fernandez de Lugo.  

Published in the back of The Day 19/09/2009

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