Manuel Escribano: "I Want to Enhance Alicante's Bullfighting History"

Manuel Escribano, the renowned matador, moved the city of Alicante before facing six bulls in the arena. He delivered the opening speech for the Hogueras Fair, expressing his aspirations: "Allow me to aspire to be an Alicante bullfighter because I want to contribute to enhancing your bullfighting history."

Escribano captured all attention on the stage of Alicante's Teatro Principal. In the audience were authorities, members of Alicante society, festival participants, the bellea del foc, Adriana Vico, and hundreds of enthusiasts led by the associations Puerta Grande, Amigos de Nimes, and the Taurine Club.

The word to define Manuel Escribano in this performance is masterful. The matador showed great ease at the lectern, recounting his experiences in the Plaza de España, where he nearly lost his life. Nevertheless, his journey continues with the solo fight against six Victorino Martín bulls on June 28.

In his speech, structured in four acts: 'Awakening to Live', 'Thank You, Alicante', the speech itself, and the closing, the visibly moved matador from Gerena combined gratitude, Alicante's bullfighting history, this edition's posters as a good speaker, and his immediate challenge with six bulls on the 28th:

"Thank you, authorities, for defending bullfighting as it deserves, openly and without complexes, and thank you for enhancing this event with your presence and support. You are right to support the Fiesta, because it belongs to the people. It has no ideology, despite attempts to confuse us. Bullfighting is deeply rooted in the culture of this Iberian Peninsula (there's a reason for the name...) shared by Spain and Portugal, as well as France and America."

He also announced a preview of his upcoming performance in the arena. "A son of Cobradiezmos is coming in the bullfight sent by Victorino. A bull 105, light grey, as handsome as his father, who unfortunately died ambushed by his companions a few months ago. Such are the ways of the brave field. Another is the son of Jarreter, also a pardoned bull. Let's see if they live up to their lineage."

Manuel Escribano also pointed to the "responsibility" he feels with this performance at the Hogueras Fair, which "does not sink me into worry or anxiety, quite the opposite." He confessed to feeling motivated and happy about this challenge, which he will face with a "reliable team of excellent professionals, as I always like to do in these events."

The opening speech for the Hogueras Fair was attended by the 2024 speaker, Luis Francisco Esplá, the breeder Victorino Martín, who took the stage to talk about the bullfight prepared for the festival; the matador Samuel Navalón and almost all the young bullfighters present in the subscription.

Among the authorities, Mayor Luis Barcala, who once again boasted that Alicante is Bullfighting. The councillor in charge of the Bullring, Mari Carmen de España, and the Regional Secretary of Culture Pilar Tébar, a great bullfighting enthusiast and subscriber to the bullring, were present. Along with the heads of the company Eventos Mare Nostrum, Nacho Lloret and David Caballero.