Rebeca Mendiluces Rodríguez-Bobada: "Crowning the Band Entry to the Sound of My Bonfire's Pasodoble Was Very Emotional"

Rebeca Mendiluces Rodríguez-Bobada takes pride in having spent her entire life with the bonfire Sèneca-Autobusos, where she has grown up and experienced the most exciting moments alongside her fellow bonfire members. It is there that she has learned the culture and tradition of Alicante's official festivities, the Bonfires of Saint John.

She asserts that "the Bonfires are a way to express how proud I am of my city," as well as "all its traditions and history." It is in her racó where she experiences firsthand "the passion and excitement that unite the work of many people with the sole aim of enjoying our Festival."

This young woman from Alicante also reiterates that "the Bonfires are identity." She does so after having held the highest position in her commission, bellea of Sèneca-Autobusos. This title crowns a long career, highlighted by having been a child lady for two terms, child bellea, and adult lady of honor.

During these months, Rebeca Mendiluces Rodríguez-Bobada is on the path to becoming a candidate for bellea del foc of Alicante. She follows in the footsteps of Martina Lloret, also a bonfire member from her district, whom she has known since her earliest days and of whom she is proud, especially during this time as the child bellea del foc 2024.

These steps are also accompanied by a soundtrack, the same one this Alicante native enjoyed during all the events of the main days of last June, as well as other months with concerts and activities. One of the most emotional was the Band Entry, the parade that "I always look forward to with more excitement because of how thrilling it is to fill our streets with music in the days leading up to the Bonfires."

From her reign, this parade also stands out. "I have lived the dream of crowning the Band Entry with the pasodoble of my bonfire ('De Quiroga a Sèneca') playing behind me, and I affirm that it has been one of the most emotional moments I remember."

Other memories are marked by anecdotes, one of them during the award ceremony of the artistic contest. From this event, she highlights the first year of her commission on the podium. "We really couldn't believe what was happening, it had never happened to us," so they celebrated all the awards "as if they were ours." The people around "didn't understand what we were celebrating if our bonfire hadn't been mentioned yet, but it was the emotion of the moment."