During the session this Wednesday in the Senate of the Republic, the president of the Board of Directors, Gerardo Fernández Noroña, experienced an emotional moment while paying tribute to his grandmother, María de la Luz Velázquez Villalobos, as part of the commemoration of International Women's Day (8M).
In an emotional intervention, Noroña shared the story of his grandmother, who was born in 1913 and whose life was marked by personal and social struggles, like those many women have faced throughout history. Noroña recalled his grandmother's words: 'My dream is to study and be a professional, but I was born a woman, poor, indigenous, and orphaned.'
The senator recounted how his grandmother managed to finish primary school despite the difficulties and later got married, but her relationship ended in divorce due to her husband's abuses. Several Morena female senators, such as Lucía Trasviña, Verónica Camino, and Imelda Castro, approached to offer him support and comfort during the emotional moment.
Finally, visibly affected, Gerardo Fernández Noroña concluded his message with a firm statement: 'Long live María de la Luz Velázquez Villalobos!' thus honoring the legacy of the woman who was an inspiration to him.
On social media, reactions to Fernández Noroña's tribute to his grandmother were mixed. While some users expressed support and recognition, others criticized the senator for taking attention in a female commemoration. Noroña's tears generated comments both of solidarity and mockery online.
The story of Noroña's grandmother, a woman who was forced to be the main provider for her home by working as a seamstress despite the stigmas of the time regarding divorce, moved the senator so much that he could not contain his emotion, which caused a deep silence in the Senate followed by the applause of his parliamentary group.
