Condenados al Bordillo and Toni Marí collect their October 9 Vila de Xàbia Awards
The plenary chambers of the town hall were filled with family and friends of the winners of this year’s municipal recognitions.
The Condenados al Bordillo Association and the sculptor Toni Marí have been presented with Premios 9 d’Octubre Vila de Xàbia 2023 by the local council, an annual event which is carried out in the chambers of the town hall on a special day of the Valencian people, the Día de la Comunitat Valenciana.
The formal act was presented by Raquel Violero in a packed plenary hall and was also broadcast live online through the town hall’s official YouTube channel. Violero read out the tribute to each of the winners before handing over the floor to Joanba Martí and Nicolás Merle, who spoke on behalf of Toni Marí and the Condenados al Bordillo association and its representative leader Jimmy Higueras.
Condenados al Bordillo
The first award was presented to the Condenados al Bordillo association, handed over to one of its workers, Mari, by the councillor responsible for Culture, Mavi Pérez. Representative Jimmy Higueras then thanks the local council for the award, which he dedicated to all the workers and volunteers who make it possible for the association to be a reality.
He said that “the difference has come to help us wake up from the sleep” and called on everyone for support since it is the “maximum expression of life which allows us to realise that we all form a unit with the common goal of being happy”. He asked everyone present to put into practice the various attitudes to “give meaning to life; show gratitude, avoid criticism and complaints, discover what one likes and say I love you”.
Toni Marí
The second award was presented to sculptor Toni Marí by mayoress Rosa Cardona. He thanked the corporation for the award, an acknowledgement that he extended to “all of Xàbia” since it is “for all of you”. He also had special words for his family and friends who attended the event, including members of the Rotary Club Jávea.
He said that he “has always felt recognised in Xàbia” and explained that, thanks to Xàbia, he has had the honour of “being a prophet” in his land.
The Speeches
After the presentation of the awards, the councillor responsible for Culture, Mavi Pérez, and the mayoress Rosa Cardona spoke to close the event.
The councillor said that October 9th “is the day on which we celebrate our identity, history, culture and roots, and it is a good time to remember and honour those who have contributed and been part, in various ways, of the development of the Comunidad Valenciana as we know it today”.
She then referred to Toni Marí’s “great contribution to the world of art” with works that are present in our “streets, squares and buildings, capturing the Valencian essence in a very special and inspiring way”. She said that the Xabiero sculptor has “given life to iron” and has stressed that the award is from the people of Xàbia “who want to give thanks for the great creative capacity he has and which serves as an inspiration as a society”.
With regards to Condenados al Bordillo, the councillor explained that the local council recognises a task that goes “beyond commitment and dedication” since it is an association that “leads initiatives that promote inclusion, equality and accessibility”. She said that each member of the association is an example that “we must all follow” and added that this award “is a thank you for their commitment to making our community more inclusive and accessible”.
Mayoress Rosa Cardona said that Xàbia is a “welcoming town which admires and invites people who are respectful of its society and its environment as well as those who, through their efforts, seek to prosper together”.
She continued, “from here, from Xàbia, from everyone’s home, we join the celebration of all Valencians with the commitment to move forward and build an environment of coexistence and understanding which allows us to create opportunities and develop each and every one of the potentials of our municipality”.
Cardona explained that the recognition that Toni Marí and Condenados al Bordillo have received will “give them strength to continue executing their projects with the enthusiasm and commitment that characterizes them so much. Both magnify the name of Xàbia”.
She said that Toni Marí is “one of our most recognised residents at both a national and international level, his works are rooted in the land and are proof of the union of talent and solidarity in the people of Xàbia”.
With respect to Condenados al Bordillo, she said that the award “recognises its work and its firm commitment to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities through love and solidarity”.
The mayoress also thanks the wind quartet from Xàbia’s Professional Music Conservatoire and sent a message of gratitude to all the people of the town. “These awards and all the work carried out by the local council only make sense for you. It is a time when we recognize the contribution of exceptional people with exciting stories unfolding behind them. It is a moment full of meaning and pride for our beloved Xàbia, and it is thanks to your active participation that this beauty and vitality continues to thrive”.
The formal event concluded with the anthem of the Comunidad Valenciana.
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