The mayor of Albacete, Manuel Serrano, has highlighted the crucial role that women play in the progress of our city, emphasizing that «our obligation as a City Council and as a society is to break down the barriers and discriminations, both in the public and private spheres, that unfortunately still affect their full development.»
The mayor stated, «Albacete is a city for encounters, for women, and for equality. A city that moves towards the future hand in hand with women and does not take a step back.»
Manuel Serrano expressed these sentiments during his speech at the institutional event held this afternoon at the Municipal Auditorium, hosted by Llanos Salas and enlivened by pianist Laura Sierra, where the ‘Recognized’ 2025 awards were presented as part of the commemorative activities for International Women’s Day, celebrated this Saturday, the 8th, accompanied by the Councilor for Women, Gala de la Calzada, members of the Municipal Government Team and the rest of the Corporation, as well as representatives from other administrations.
These well-deserved recognitions, proposed by the Municipal Women’s Council, have been awarded this year to Cruz Roja Albacete (Solidarity and Volunteering); the female directors of media outlets in Albacete, Gema Jiménez, Justina Gómez Muñoz, María García Morcillo, Belén Lario, Dolores Carcelén, and Loli Munera (Culture and Media); Noemí Romero (Sports); María Mar Noblejas (Science and Technology); women from the street cleaning and solid urban waste collection services (Labor); and the former local mayor of Santa Ana, Antonia Rodríguez Bleda (recognition for a lifetime of defending equality); along with retired Language professor María Antonia Sanabria, recognized at the suggestion of the Municipal Council of Older People.
Manuel Serrano congratulated all of them for this well-deserved recognition offered by the City Council today, stating, «you are the Brand of Albacete, and without you, without women, this city would not be the same.»
According to the mayor, «the women of Albacete deserve to be recognized daily because they have all contributed to achieving a fairer, more egalitarian, and more habitable world,» noting that «they have made a better world for themselves and for men, as justice and equality are values that benefit us all.»
In this regard, Manuel Serrano affirmed that «recognizing ourselves as equals in rights and opportunities, in all areas and at all stages of life, makes us better as a society and as individuals.»
The mayor assured that all the recognized women are «brave, hardworking, supportive, involved, and committed» individuals who have «an extra responsibility» and are «role models for many.»
During his speech, Manuel Serrano congratulated the recognized individuals collectively, such as Cruz Roja Albacete, highlighting it as a leading organization in solidarity and volunteering where women play a prominent role, as it greatly supports women and is predominantly composed of women.
Likewise, the mayor commended the women from the Street Cleaning and Solid Urban Waste Services of Albacete, thanking them particularly for the great daily work they do to ensure our city always looks its best, as well as the six female directors and co-directors of media outlets in the city who were also recognized today, affirming that «you have broken the glass ceiling that not long ago blocked newspapers or radio stations.»
In this context, Manuel Serrano noted that «there were many female journalists in Albacete, yes, but the bosses were always ‘them,’ rejoicing that over time, things have changed for the better, and women are now at the top in the media, holding leadership positions.
The mayor also had words for individually recognized women, such as Olympic gymnast Noemí Romero; biochemist María Mar Noblejas; the lifelong local leader and always committed woman, Antonia Rodríguez Bleda, from Santa Ana; and retired Language professor María Antonia Sanabria, stating, «you are a clear example that no field of knowledge or human activity is beyond the reach of women.»