Dear Fellow Crew Members,
Once again, the month of August has arrived, bringing with it our beloved San Roque Festivities. Many months of quiet dedication by countless people have gone into making these celebrations possible, and now the time has come to enjoy the fruits of all that work.
This year, 2006, I have had the honour of being chosen as Peñista del Año, and my heart has been overwhelmed by an endless mix of emotions and feelings. Having read the messages written by previous Peñistas del Año in earlier festival programmes, I have realised that I feel exactly the same as most of them. I simply cannot find the right words to express everything I feel in just a few lines. If I had to sum it all up in three words, they would be: surprise—or rather, tremendous surprise; pride—immense pride; and nerves—that unmistakable flutter of excitement. It is impossible to measure just how much of each I am feeling.
I would like to thank my beloved Cachirulo Crew for nominating me for this distinction, and my fellow members of the Inter-Crew Federation for placing their trust in me by awarding me this honour.
I have just one request—or perhaps more accurately, one wish: that together we continue making these festivities better year after year. They are our festivities, celebrations that belong to everyone. With the support of the Inter-Crew Federation, the committee members of every crew, the Brotherhood of Saint Roch, the Town Council, every crew member, and everyone willing to lend a hand, I am absolutely convinced that we will achieve it.
Enough speeches—let us now give way to these wonderful days of celebration and enjoyment, always in a spirit of harmony and respect, under the watchful protection of Saint Roch.
LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN!
LONG LIVE SAINT ROCH!
