The president of the Junta, Juanma Moreno, has defended Andalusia’s autonomy to be able to compete for leadership in Spain, while at the same time calling for unity, collective effort and a generous and useful alliance of all Andalusians to build a better Andalusia and move forward together towards the future with determination and pride. He called for this to be done with the aim that generation after generation this land will continue to be the land of our children and grandchildren. “We have to leave them a prosperous and welcoming Andalusia, with principles and values so that they too can be Andalusians proud to belong to this unique land”.
During his speech at the ceremony to commemorate Andalusia Day at the Teatro de la Maestranza, Moreno said that Andalusia’s leadership needs us all while indicating that we must transmit to everyone the story of generosity, enthusiasm, and courage that lies behind 28 February and 4 December, Flag Day.
The President of the Junta had words of thanks for all the award winners on this 28F for their dedication and their long professional careers.
He defined Lola Flores as a myth of our culture and heritage and a unique artist who, together with her memory, is in the hearts of all Andalusians, and he praised the enormous talent of David Bisbal and the passion he has always transmitted for this land. Both have been named Favourite Sons of Andalusia.
This year, the Manuel Clavero Medal has been awarded to two exceptional women, Mercedes Moll and Pilar Távora, both of whom he described as exceptional and who have been pioneers and leaders in the field, Mercedes Moll and Pilar Távora.
He also highlighted the work of the National Police Unit attached to the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, which ensures the safety of all with a vocation for service and with great professionals, that entrepreneurs such as Vicente Martín of the MAS Group, Silvia Peláez and Manuel Contreras, whom he referred to as examples of initiative, ideas, and effort to create opportunities for the future, and that of Dr. Ramiro Rivera, the first surgeon in Spain to perform some of the cardiovascular operations that are commonplace today.
He also mentioned the painter Juan Valdés and his ability to capture the soul in his portraits, the wisdom of José María Segovia, the joy of Siempre Así, the courage, and charisma of Manuel Benítez El Cordobés, the poetry and sensitivity of Julio Pardo and the professionalism and spirit of the Real Club Mediterráneo de Málaga and the Fundación Bancaria Unicaja, which works with excellence in social projects in the fields of culture, education, and sport and which supports the recent winner of the Copa del Rey Basketball Cup.
Other award winners were the young poet and veterinarian María Sánchez Rodríguez and María Ángeles Cayuela, president of the Andalusian Association of Women in the Fishing Sector, of whom he said that “they know and defend the enormous value of women for the future of our countryside, our sea, and our towns”.
To conclude, she named the Cándido Nogales School in Jaén, which works for inclusion and equality in education, the Pablo de Olavide University, which is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary and is the fundamental driving force behind our great universities, and the Andalusian University Institute of Geophysics and Earthquake Disaster Prevention.
Also attending the 28 February celebrations were the members of the Governing Council of the Regional Government; the President of the Andalusian Parliament, Jesús Aguirre; the members of the Bureau and spokespersons of the Andalusian Parliament; the delegate of the Spanish Government in Andalusia, Pedro Fernández, as well as former presidents of the Andalusian Regional Government, among other civil, judicial, ecclesiastical and military authorities.
