Remembering Francisca Barbuzano García: A Remarkable Woman from Valle de Guerra
Francisca Barbuzano García, fondly known as Mencha, was born in Valle de Guerra in 1932. She was the daughter of Remedios and Pedro, known as ‘el de las Guaguas’, and the eldest of eight siblings. At just 12 years old, she lost her mother, which led to the siblings being placed in the care of relatives, including her aunts.
Mencha moved in with Señora Juana, who became known as ‘Aunt Juana’ to all. She was the mother of Celestino el Manco. Years later, Mencha found employment at the Agricultural Company of Tenerife, commonly referred to as El Mirabal, where she encountered pineapples larger than herself.
On 11 October 1956, at the age of 24, she married Antonio Figueroa Delgado, the son of Bartolo and Josefa. They had three children: Mari, Luisa, and Juan Ramón, and were blessed with eight grandchildren.
Mari and Luisa’s children were often cared for by Mencha, while Juan Ramón’s children lived in Tejina with their other grandmother.
Mencha was a prominent figure in Valle de Guerra; she selflessly administered injections to many townspeople, showcasing her humility and solidarity. She will forever be remembered as a woman with a generous heart.
Life in Difficult Times
For many years towards the end of the 20th century, this wonderful woman faced challenging moments in a fertile and generous land, where every seed sowed represented the hope and hard work of numerous men and women striving for bountiful crops of tomatoes, sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, and bananas.
The arduous era of the ‘sorriba’ did not go unnoticed by the men and women of the town. It involved hard labour, transporting stones on stretchers to construct the initial stone walls of the farms in Valle de Guerra.
A Passion for Folklore
Mencha also had a deep love for the folklore of our land. Wherever there was a timple or a guitar, her voice could be heard, singing folías, malagueñas, and isas. Her presence became even more vibrant when she accompanied her songs with a tambourine.
Her voice has resonated in the mountains of Valle de Guerra. The Boquerón, the steadfast guardian of the town, keeps the traditional songs of Francisca Barbuzano García within its silent depths.
Legacy and Family Pride
Today, as we enter the 21st century, the family of Francisca Barbuzano García (Mencha) and Antonio Figueroa Delgado takes pride in having had parents of such profound human values. Their home was always open to anyone in need of assistance. Mencha represents one of those women from the past who worked tirelessly, through sweat and tears, to build a family from a young age.
This was the life of Mencha, a remarkable woman from Valle de Guerra who truly deserves to be remembered and celebrated.
