Isabella Of Castile

Consul of Spain honors State Board of Education member Mary Helen Berlanga

She argued to ensure textbooks included the contributions of blacks, Hispanics and the contributions of Spanish explorers.

"I argued for accuracy and never expected anything in return," she said.

But on Friday, the Consul of Spain recognized her efforts with the Royal Order of Isabel la Cathólica. About 120 people attended the ceremony at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel-Marina Tower.

"I'm just in awe and so honored," said Berlanga of Corpus Christi.

Fernando Moral-Iglesias, honorary consul of Spain in South Texas, said the honor recognizes those like Berlanga, a 28-year education board member, who promote the history of Texas and its roots from Spain.

The order itself is part of history having been created on March 14, 1815, by King Ferdinand VII of Spain in honor of Queen Isabella I of Castile.

In announcing the award, the consul wrote that exclusion of such history in the past has distorted the contributions made by Hispanics going back to the arrival of Spaniards on the continent.

"We feel that the history of Texas is very rich with Spanish roots and Mrs. Berlanga has been particularly vocal on the board to highlight that history," said Miguel A. Fdez. de Mazarambroz, consul general of Spain in the Southwest.

One historical influence that Berlanga argued to preserve was that Christopher Columbus' exploration voyage to the Western Hemisphere was funded by Spanish monarchs.

When contributions from Spain were suggested for removal from Texas history texts, Berlanga argued that Texas is known for cattle and horses, both of which came from Spain.

"Whether were talking about, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, the first European to explore North America's southwest area, or Hernando De Soto, who explored Central America, there is a lot to be said about those explorers," she said. "They came into the U.S. and certainly influenced us."

Moral-Iglesias said Berlanga's efforts have kept Spain's influences alive in history.

"She fought to maintain the history and Spain recognized that," Moral-Iglesias said.

Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia, who died in 2003, was the last local person to receive the order in 1990. She was honored for writing the book "Captain Alonso Alvarez de Piñeda and the Exploration of the Gulf of Mexico.

Israel Matzav: Tisha b'Av 5771

We dont fast to suffer, its a sign of mourning. We fast to have our mind remind us of what we lost beacause we are essentially in mourning of the greatest tragedy. A person that fasts and gets sick because of it is foolish... regardless of how much a person may want to create the fast meaningful, doing it in a way that is detrimental to the body is a sign of you stating to GD that a person may not care of the greatest creation and gift- human life. Doing those type of things is just foolish.

I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for twenty-nine years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 7 to 27 years and three grandchildren. Our eldest daughter and eldest son are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004.

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