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Pergamino, Argentina.  Among the activities organized by the city of Pergamino, in the north of the province of Buenos Aires, to commemorate the 2014 International Women’s Day, the Honorable City Council honored a group of women from various fields and disciplines, who dedicated themselves to work for the good of the community.  The ceremony took place at the Council headquarters and was presided by the president of the institution himself, Lucio Tezon, who presented diplomas accompanied by representatives of all the political parties.

One of the women honored this year was the Vice-President of the local Basque club, Alicia Ruiz Moreno, who represented the Basque community.  As club sources told EuskalKultura.com, Alicia Ruiz Moreno was the first Occupational Therapist in Pergamino where she began her activity at the School of Special Education, ad honorem in the Pediatric Service of the San Jose Hospital and privately.  In 1988, along with a group of neighbors from Pergamino, including health and educational professionals along with parents and young students, founded the group “Nosotros” (We), pioneering an addiction prevention campaign in the city.

Ruiz Moreno has been a long-time member of the Basque community organized around the Lagun Onak Basque Club in Pergamino. She went into the club shortly after its founding, thanks to her maternal family.  “My maternal grandfather was Larramendy, born in Garindein Zuberoa,” she says.  “He died when his children were still young and he transmitted little of his live and his homeland; in addition, his children at this time didn’t ask.  He was married to a daughter of Basque, and spoke Basque with her, but never to his children”

Lagun Onak in the beginning

“The Lagun Onak Basque club in Pergamino, as others, was created by a group of immigrants: in its beginning it didn’t have a clubhouse and Basque natives themselves taught dancing and singing, among those that I remember was Eugenia Ublillos de Corta and her brother, Lino Ugarte, Larrea, Joaristi to name a few.” Alicia herself was also one of the first club dancers.

Dancing, nevertheless, was far from what it is today. According to Alicia, “at this time we only danced the Fandango and Arin-Arin; and it was danced “popularly” meaning, there wasn’t a dance troupe.  Afterwards other dances were added like Ezpatadantza and others, with the collaboration of people form the Euskaldunak Denak Bat club in Arrecifes.  During festival times, we danced after mass in the plaza in front of the church and through the main streets, a show that was very much appreciated by the locals.  Later, in 1960, I went to study and live in Buenos Aires.  When I came back, I rejoined the club and since then I have always been involved,” she said.

Years of collaboration have taken Alicia to be part of the club’s board of directors and she is currently its Vice-President.  As in many other clubs in Argentina, the role of women in the Pergamino club is fundamental in order to maintain and develop the institutions, in its day to day activities as well as in its projection of the future.  That is why Lagun Onak especially congratulates her and her representation and thanks her as well for “her work, participation, and unending service in our dear Basque club.”  Zorionak!