Paco and Iván, a Golden Duo: "The First Prize Has Been a Tremendous Joy, It Was Hard to Win"

A few hours have passed since Baver-Els Antigons began its reign at the Alicante 2025 Bonfires. The Special category district has won the first prize with its bonfire 'Vanity', created by Paco Torres with a design by Paco Camallonga.

This Saturday afternoon highlighted the joy throughout the neighborhood, which emerged from its racó after the prize announcements. It was at that moment when the president of Baver-Els Antigons, Iván Gómez, received a call from the mayor to deliver the good news.

Thus, on the phone while his festival-goers listened - or not, due to the cheers - live and direct on the screens, the Baver-Els Antigons bonfire began the best celebration for its - as far as a plantàs is concerned - coming of age: being the best bonfire of this festive exercise.

Among those present at the party, Iván Tortajada - commissioner of the bonfire, children's artist in previous exercises and also a collaborator in 'Casa' - and Paco Camallonga, designer of 'Vanity', winner of the Alicante 2025 Bonfires.

"Paco (Torres) has gone home," detailed the designer during the celebration, who acknowledged that the first prize in the Special category "was about time." After speaking with the builder, he also explained that "he couldn't believe it," when commenting on the verdict over the phone.

Amidst so many flames, Paco Torres also received a call from TodoAlicante while preparing for another trip to Alicante to celebrate this milestone in his fallera and bonfire career. "I went home because I preferred to be a bit disconnected and have them call me, I didn't want to hear" the prize announcements.

And so he did. After planting 'Vanity', the Valencian took the car and headed to Valencia, where he resides in one of its municipalities. However, the stay was short, until he learned of this prize as he wanted, through a phone call.

The first was from the president of the El Pilar falla, where he is also currently planting. Despite being one of the most iconic places in Valencia - as was his last project in this small square - fortune smiled on him in Alicante.

"It took me 25 years to win in the Special category," he finally celebrates, with an emotional voice and eager to enjoy it with the Baver-Els Antigons bonfire makers.

It was in this district of Alicante where he made the leap to the highest category. "These two years have been very intense," in terms of ideas and work. In this sense, he acknowledges that in previous bonfires "we had very good work" and, finally, this 2025 "has been a boost."

"It's the result of the work, of which we have delivered a very high level of quality." And, with this, he not only values the commitment of the Baver-Els Antigons bonfire , but also the effort of his workshop colleagues. "They deserve it, we work many hours."

All of them well-deserved, as reflected in this first prize of the Alicante Bonfires, a recognition he describes as "tremendous joy" because "winning has cost me a lot," after 25 years of plantà in the top section of different capitals and those that remain after his renewal in Baver-Els Antigons.