Benalúa advocates for its social centre with a 'Caballero Barcala' street effigy
The neighbourhood association erects this figure to protest against "the institutional neglect of the area"
Tere Compañy Martínez
Alicante
Lunes, 23 de junio 2025, 19:20
Benalúa does not rest even during the Hogueras festival in its demand for a social centre. The Benalúa neighbourhood association has revived the spirit of protest and satire of the street effigies during the city's main festivities.
In the heart of the neighbourhood, at Navarro Rodrigo square, they have presented the 'Caballero Barcala', a cardboard figure with armour, shield, and lance, which mocks the institutional neglect the area suffers, particularly highlighting "the lack of response" from Alicante's mayor, Luis Barcala.
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The event, filled with symbolism and community participation, has become a festive yet firm demonstration. "We are tired of institutional indifference. Benalúa also exists and deserves dignity," expressed the association's president, Ernest Gil.
Street effigy as social, political, and cultural critique
The installation of the effigy brings back to the streets a festive tradition with a background of political critique that characterised the Hogueras for decades. In this case, the satire is not limited to the figure: it also includes a popular ballad, 'El Romanç del malefici de Benalúa i el cavaller Barcala', which describes the neighbourhood's history from its origins to its current "agony", with "institutional neglect as the great curse".
"In Benalúa, Alipark, and surrounding areas, more than 15,000 people live, a third of whom are over 65 years old," the entity reminded in a statement. "We have many needs, but the priority is a social centre, which would serve as a climate refuge and solve many health problems caused by unwanted loneliness. Many people have disappeared since we began this struggle. How many more will fall until it becomes a reality?" they warn.
Support from other neighbourhoods
Representatives from other neighbourhood associations, such as Les Palmeretes de Carolinas Bajas and the Alipark and Surrounding Areas Neighbourhood Association, also joined the symbolic action to show their support for the cause.
The Caballero Barcala, with its temple-like armour, symbolically toured the square to remind —in a festive yet firm tone— that when governments do not listen, neighbourhoods organise and defend themselves. The scene concluded with applause, humour, banners, and the hope that irony and community pressure will break the "curse" of years of neglect.
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