The honorary president of the Festeros Society of Ontinyent will live the event on May 2 on the 25th anniversary of the feast of Lleida.
Next May, Lleida celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Moors and Christians Festivals and for this celebration, the Catalan festeros have named the onteniense Rafael Ferrero Terol as town crier. Rafa Ferrero was president of the Sociedad de Festeros between 2008 and 2011. Among other things, he was also director of the proclamation since 1996 and director of the festive museum since its inauguration. In his mandate was celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Moors and Christians, and took place the first International Congress of Embassies and Ambassadors, also held in Ontinyent, and of which he was also the president.
Ferrero is a festero committed, is part of the party since birth, belonging to the group of Benimerins until 2015. Since 2016, he has been part of the Mudejar group. The former president of the Sociedad de Festeros “is a person very involved in the party and a great researcher and connoisseur of our party, and I’m sure he will make a great speech. For us it is a pride that parties of other populations opt for festive Ontinyent, is undoubtedly one of the best recognitions, “as stated by the current president, Vicente Pla Vaello. “He has many articles published in the book of festivities published each year by the Society of Festeros, and is a researcher with many articles. He is the author of the book ‘Tiempo de Benimerines’ and is also co-author of the book ‘Historia gráfica de la fiesta, de 1860 a 2010‘ “, recalled Pla.
He will be the second president of the Fiestas de Ontinyent that will make the proclamation in Lleida, after five years ago, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the festivals of the Catalan city, Vicente Micó, president onteniense between 1996 and 1999. Rafa Ferrero was also the town crier of the Ontinyent festivities in 1988, first tro of honour in 1997 and gold badge of the Sociedad de festeros 2004. He has also made the proclamation to Cocentaina and in Valencia.
Rafael Ferrero’s speech will be on May 2, 2020 in the afternoon, in the Municipal Auditorium of Lleida.
Rafael Ferrero: “When I was president of fiestas I was already in Lleida and I am happy that I have been told to proclaim the fiesta, and that they have also made initiatives such as the music competition in which numerous bands will participate“.
“The proclamation I will make will be about historical themes of the festivals in Lleida and the relationship with Ontinyent, but there will also be some surprises. What is clear is that the party unites and for me that point of view is important.”