Manilva resident Carmeli Castillo has been named «Woman of the Year» 2026 at the third regional gala organised by the Provincial Council of Málaga, held on Tuesday in the council chamber of Benahavís Town Hall. The event is part of the institutional programme marking International Women’s Day, commemorated on 8 March.
Castillo’s nomination was put forward by Manilva Town Hall. Its representatives, mayor Mario Jiménez and Laura Salazar, councillor for the Equality and Diversity department as well as Social Welfare, did not want to miss this moving event. They had already received her at municipal offices weeks earlier to congratulate her on this provincial recognition.
The Town Hall highlights Carmeli Castillo’s career as a presenter at RTV Municipal Manilva, as well as her involvement in numerous charity and community events in the municipality, which has made her a very well-known and respected figure among residents.
The gala, part of a series of four regional events organised by the Provincial Council, recognised the work and example of women from municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants. In total, 59 women are expected to be honoured across the province.
During the event, the provincial councillor for Equality, Social Services and Families, María Dolores Vergara, stressed the importance of promoting policies that encourage equal opportunities, particularly in rural areas, where, as she noted, women face greater difficulties in their professional and social development.
Alongside Carmeli Castillo, the following women were also honoured at the gala: Ana María Bellido Bellido (Alozaina), Josefa Cerván Rodríguez (Benahavís), Mª del Carmen Delgado Pavón (Casares), Isabel Lara Caravantes (Guaro), Marta González Pérez (Monda) and Josefina García González (Ojén).
