Benidorm celebrates October 9 “recovering the potencial after the pandemic hurt” and convinced of “our strength and reality”

Today October 9, Benidorm celebrates Valencian Community Day, with an institutional plenary session in El Castell, which brought together representatives of the city's civil society. To this anniversary, Benidorm arrives “recovering the potential after the pandemic”, convinced of “our strength and reality” and moving “in the right direction” with “decision” and “without leaving anyone behind”, as he noted during his speech by the mayor, Toni Pérez.

The mayor has presided over this institutional plenary session which has been attended by, among others, the regional deputies José Ramón González de Zárate, Manuel Pérez Fenoll and Mario Villar; representatives of the State Security Corps and Forces; the Queens of the Festes Majors Patronals, Angélica Morenilla and Daniela Talavera, along with their courts of honor; as well as winners of the 'Ciutat de Benidorm' Cultural Distinction and civic, business, social and festive entities.

Toni Pérez has highlighted that October 9 is an event “to feel and show our proud of being Valencian”, and in which to once again “proclaim our Valencian identity”, which “never was and will never be exclusive”. “We are inclusive, open to prosperity and advancement, hospitable and welcoming; “We are history, present, and future in a noble, entrepreneurial, and hard-working land,” he stated.

On Valencian Community Day, a “meeting point” and “space of unity”, the mayor referred to “the need that we Valencians have always felt to make clear our reality as an entity, our identity as a people and our place in the great nation that is Spain.” He has also mentioned “the resolution and infinite enthusiasm” of Benidorm for continuing to be the great tourist reference in the Mediterranean, and has reiterated his gratitude to “all those people, entities and institutions that daily strive and work to make Benidorm better, in the Valencian Community, in Spain and Europe.”

Before the mayor's institutional speech, the 'Ciutat de Benidorm' Cultural Distinction was presented, which this year went to the photographer Jaume Fuster for, the mayor explained, “a daily and continuous work investigating the stories and traditions of Benidorm” capturing them in “books, publications and exhibitions”, the last of them in the Huelva town of Isla Cristina.

Toni Pérez wished the winner that this distinction “will enhance your resume and prestige your work,” which is intended to “last over time” for “future generations.” In addition, it has required him to continue “deepening our roots and heritage,” “broadening the horizons of our history” and “capturing, for the knowledge of the future, the small daily keys to our greatness as a people.”

Doctor in Audiovisual Communication, Documentation and Art History from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and professor of Artistic Photography at the Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny of that same city, Jaume Fuster's works have focused on the almadraba and above all in the Serra Gelada, highlighting the comic about the Torre de les Caletes, an extensive exhibition of photographs and, more recently, the toponymic map that has made it possible to recover, fix and georeference the points and enclaves of both the land and maritime part of the natural park .

Precisely the Serra Gelada has focused part of Fuster's intervention after collecting the distinction. A Serra Gelada that is “the source of everything, my creative core, the center of my universe, my past, my present and my future”, and also “the last spiritual link with our history and our ancestors”. For this reason, he has asserted, "as a people we have the moral obligation to preserve, care for and protect our Serra Gelada", one of "the most visited natural parks in the Valencian Community" and for which he has demanded that its extension and scope be expanded. in the future review of the Natural Resources Management Plan (PORN).

The winner also had words for all the colleagues and professionals who have accompanied him throughout his career and with whom he collaborated in his various jobs, as well as for the institutions that supported him, such as the City Council of Benidorm. Excited, Jaume Fuster referred to his father, his family and friends; and he announced that new projects linked to the Ti Ximo ocher mine, the Cova Gelada and the Almadraba will soon see the light.

After today's event, Jaume Fuster joins the list of entities and personalities recognized with this Distinction for his contribution and contribution to cultural promotion, of which Jaume Ferrando, the Cultural and Recreational Association 'La Barqueta', ' Pep El Carreró', Taula del Bon Profit, Pere Mª Orts i Bosch, Colla de Xirimiters de la Marina, José Fuster 'El Mestre', Unió Musical de Benidorm, Rafael Alemany, CEIP Ausiàs March, Miguel Ribes Sogorb, Societat Musical l’Illa, José Orozco ‘Pep Xorroll’, Vicente Llorca, Club de Pilota Benidorm, Jaume Antón, Pasqual Almiñana, Rafael Doménech, Francisco Amillo, Bárbara Alemany, Francesc Xavier Llorca, Eusebi Chiner, Francisco Pérez ‘Quico El Fotógrafo’, la Agrupación Coral y Pepe Albero.

 9 d'October Fair
At the end of the institutional plenary session, the delegation travelled to Paseo de Colón and Elche Park, where the traditional Fair of October 9, organized by the Comissió de Festes Majors Patronals, has been held since Saturday. Once there, the Queens and ladies of the Festes Majors Patronals have performed the traditional dance  'El Peuet' in front of the residents and tourists.