Arrecife began the celebration of the patron saint festivities of the seaside neighborhood of Valterra, dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen. The Arrecife City Council, presided over by Mayor Yonathan de León, and the Department of Festivities, under the direction of the Deputy Mayor and Councilor of Festivities, Echedey Eugenio, have sponsored the extensive program of events, organized by the Festival Committee.
The well-known former handball player Águeda Batista, who resided in Valterra during her childhood and youth, a former athlete who became part of the Spanish Women's Handball Team, and currently a worker for the capital's Consistory, has been the proclaimer of the festivities. The proclamation began at 8:00 p.m. in the Plaza de Valterra. The mayor and the Councilor of Festivities accompanied the proclaimer during her speech on the stage, in the neighborhood square, during the beginning of the festivities with a seaside flavor, in one of the historic neighborhoods of Arrecife.
At the beginning of the event, the mayor requested a minute of silence in memory of Mari Luz Moya, an activist for the rights of people with disabilities, linked to Valterra and who passed away this week. All those attending the square stood up and offered a resounding applause in memory of this resident of Arrecife, whose life had always been in a wheelchair since birth.
Yonathan de León highlighted that Arrecife was a port before being a city and capital, and fishing activity has been one of its main drivers as a city. The mayor recalled in his words that Valterra symbolizes the coastal origin of Arrecife, and together with 'Porto Naos' this historic neighborhood of the city was founded, and that the houses were handed over to two hundred large families in the summer of 1958. Valterra has been linked to the patron saint of seafarers, the mayor of Arrecife remarked last night, who specified that this 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the inauguration of the neighborhood's church, dedicated to the invocation of the Virgen del Carmen. The mayor and the Councilor of Festivities, who last night highlighted the sporting and personal career of the proclaimer, encouraged the residents to join and participate in the events.
Echedey Eugenio thanked the Festival Committee, the parish, and the residents involved for organizing the program of activities. "The festivities of the Valterra neighborhood are our first opportunity as those responsible to demonstrate our commitment to the city's neighborhoods," said the head of the Department of Festivities.
After the reading of the proclamation, the Pipanazo was lit and the festivities began. Next, the Gaida Folk Group performed, followed by the Los Magnéticos Concert.
For the night of this Saturday, the 14th, the Mecano Tribute show is scheduled in the Plaza de Valterra. Tomorrow, Sunday, will be the celebration of the Day of Carmen, with the Eucharist and subsequent land procession.
