The Yuso Monastery in San Millán de la Cogolla hosts, like every June 9, the institutional event of La Rioja Day. On this occasion, the weather has affected the celebration, which has had to be moved from its usual location in the patio to the Monastery Refectory due to the threat of rain, with around 350 people following the event.
After 12:00 on June 9, the event began in San Millán de la Colloga with the “Sonata (in D Major) by the composer Mateo Pérez Albéniz performed by the Orden de la Terraza. The journalist from Rioja, Isabel Álvarez, has been the host of the institutional event in which she has highlighted that “one more June 9 we return to this very special Rioja monument to commemorate the approval of the Statute of Autonomy of La Rioja.” He also recalled that Castilian was born near here, “a source of pride for men and women from Rioja, La Rioja is the cradle of the language and is oratory. La Rioja overflows with as many virtues as it has municipalities. La Rioja is its 174 municipalities, from Foncea to Alfaro. And today, La Rioja day, we want to feel the glosses.” This has given way to the interpretation of Las Glosas by Emiliano Valdeoliva.
Award for Arts and Culture, Rafa Pérez
In this edition of La Rioja Day, the 2024 La Rioja Arts and Culture Award has gone to the artist Rafa Pérez, born in Haro in 1957. His works are presented in the moment, this is his creative process. He started studying Economics, but in third year he realized that “it wasn’t his thing.” He finished his studies and went to Barcelona to study Fine Arts, in a few years in which “freedom was breathed,” because Franco had died. His style is defined as the style of spontaneity. He confesses that this award “is important, a real surprise and I am very grateful.” An award that he has received from the President of the Government of La Rioja, Gonzalo Capellán. In the Refrectorio, Pérez, has confessed the joy of receiving this award “because for a Rioja artist there is no better award.” In his exhibition, Perez wanted to highlight the role of his wife “who has accompanied me throughout her life and collaborated in the creation of many works.” Gratitude that he has extended, visibly moved, to his children and grandchildren.
At 66 years old, this artist from Rioja confesses that “doubt accompanies me, I have no certainties, I live in the position as an artist who knows what he is going to find, knows what, being open and willing.” Furthermore, he has assured that “I was lucky to be born in La Rioja, in a family that understood my true vocation,” he says, remembering his parents. “I wish they were here because they would be so proud.”
After the presentation of this award, more music, specifically, the interpretation of the poem ‘Yo el maestro, Gonzalo de Berceo’ by Emiliano Valdeoliva.
Medal of La Rioja, Rioja Federation of Municipalities
The Rioja Federation of Municipalities has worked since its foundation in 1988 with the objective of defending the recognition of all the municipalities in the region, seeking consensus to be the institution that brings together all the municipalities so that municipalism has a single voice, but many realities. A medal that the Federation receives for its constant and silent work, for the effort and dedication of the mayors and councilors and that demonstrates the commitment of municipalism to the development of the region.
The president of the Federation, Jorge Loyo, has received the Medal of La Rioja from the president of La Rioja, Gonzalo Capellán and already on stage Loyo “grateful to the Government of La Rioja for the recognition.” A medal that he says is “a tribute to all those who have worked over the years in the Federation”, a job that he assures, “has not yet finished.”
The Rioja Federation of Municipalities is an “organization that represents 174 municipalities, which defends their interests and encourages cooperation between them. It facilitates the exchange of experiences and the realization of joint experiences”, a Federation that has insisted is “especially useful for small municipalities.” The La Rioja Medal “encourages us to continue achieving an even better Rioja and we will continue working together to defend people and build a prosperous future for all.” Loyo asserts that the Federation has four pillars that he wanted to thank, especially for the work done so far. “Mayors and councilors of the different municipalities, city council workers, Federation workers and families.” With a “long live La Rioja, long live the people”, he ended his presentation.
Illustrious Riojano, Fernando Riaño
Also from the hands of the President of the Government of La Rioja, Riaño has received the award. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here,” he began his speech by referring to two verbs, recognize and thank. Riaño also reminded his parents that “even if they are not present, they take care of us and accompany us.” “I feel very honored and excited, it is an undeserved honor to be here today on a day as special as today because it is my middle son’s birthday,” he insisted.
Also on the stage of the Refrectorio, Riaño recalled the winners and winners of other years, “people whom I have admired such as Gustavo Bueno, Rafael Azcona, our universities.” And a special mention for those who he has called “essential, such as the health and social health workers, the GAR, the colonel of the GAR, Jesús Galloso, the Armed Forces, the State Security Forces and Corps.” In this list he has also included the four GAR agents who lost their lives in the accident in Seville. Essential are also “my parents for giving me the opportunity to train and making it difficult for me, for not giving the opportunity to complain, essential are also my friends, teachers, training partners, my guides, bosses and all those who instilled in me the love for sport for teaching me to give a little more than I have inside. Being here is more exciting than being on the podium of a race in the world.”
And of course, he has also referred to his children and his wife because “they know what is seen and what is not seen and they are capable of generating that day-to-day attitude, that positive energy and to the organization to which I owe everything, the Social Group Eleven”.
After Riaño’s intervention, the Orden de la Terraza, the Fandango from Enrique de Ulierte’s Spanish Suite, plays again.
The event for La Rioja Day in 2024 ended with the intervention of the President of the Government of La Rioja, Gonzalo Capellán. The event ended with the interpretation of the anthem of La Rioja and that of Spain by the Order of La Terraza.
