Benidorm offering to the Mare de Déu del Sofratge

Last night, in what has been the most massive act of the Festes Majors Patronals 2022, the queens, Aila Merenciano and Chloé D'Hebboudt, led the traditional pilgrimage and subsequent offering of flowers in honor of the patron saint of Benidorm, the Mare de Déu del Sofratge.

The parade began in Elche Park and continued along Paseo de la Carretera, Alameda, Calle Mayor, and ended in Plaza de Sant Jaume. The entourage was made up of the Flag Bearer, Cristóbal Ronda, and family; the town crier, Ángela Barceló, associated and non-associated clubs, foremen of honor, foremen and foremen, 'La Barqueta, and representatives of the festive groups, regional houses.

After the tour, a very emotional Chloé D'Hebboudt read a poem in honor of the patron saint, 'Cuqui', written by Vicenta Pérez Bayona, and Aila Merenciano addressed the entire town of Benidorm to wish them the best holidays, especially addressing the youngest. The queen also referred to her companion in her childhood reign, of whom she said "her smile" has managed to convey an illusion "an honor that I will remember for the rest of my life."

This was followed by the reading of the Official Proclamation of the Festes Majors Patronals 2022, by former politician and businesswoman, Ángela Barceló. The town crier recalled having been queen in Benidorm fifty years ago at "festivals without clubs in which everything was simpler". Barceló highlighted from that year the emotion that she experienced when accompanying “the Virgin and Sant Jaume in procession and in the mass for the dead”, as well as the recovery of regional clothing.

Barceló valued the commission's commitment that year to women. "She believed," she said, "those women had to be the protagonist of the festivities, which is a guarantee that the festivities of our town have continuity over time." The herald also claimed the role of the Mare de Déu, recalling her first meeting with the Mare de Déu dels Desemparats in Valencia in 1948.

Next, Toni Pérez imposed the city's Gold Medal, after which he addressed the attendees, through the image of the patron saint present on stage, declaring "we feel lucky" to have Chloé and Aila as queens in “the most anticipated parties”, after the long pandemic. The mayor hopes, “it has been worth it”.

Toni Pérez recalled that 282 years have passed since the patron saint was found in the ashes of a ship and confessed to the attendees his desire to “make ourselves available to thank her” along with having “excellent Festes Majors Patronals”. Pérez ended his intervention by recalling that Benidorm is a city "full of activity in which to live the party is to celebrate life".

After the mayor's words, the act ended with a fireworks display from the Plaza de la Senyoria, fired by the pyrotechnics of Ricardo Caballer, Ricasa.