Victorio Pérez delivers the pregón for Gáldar's 544th Fiestas de Santiago

The city of Gáldar marked one of the central moments of its 544th Fiestas Mayores de Santiago on 10 July 2026 with the pregón delivered by local journalist Victorio Pérez Moreno. The ceremony took place on the stage of the Centro Cultural Guaires — a venue the pregonero chose, according to sources consulted, as a tribute to his father, who worked as a theatre technician there until his death.

According to the Ayuntamiento de Gáldar, the gala opened with a performance by artist Patricia Muñoz and closed with the Official Anthem of the Real Ciudad de Gáldar, «Un Bolero para Gáldar». The pregón was hosted by the pregonera of the 2025 Fiestas Mayores de Santiago, artist Mari Naty Saavedra.

A speech rooted in the municipality's memory

During his address, Pérez Moreno recalled memories from his life tied to the Fiestas Mayores de Santiago since childhood. «Probably, your experiences are bound up with mine», he told those present. «That is what this town is. We are all connected. We are all community. We are all pregoneros».

The journalist evoked memories such as riding on floats as a child dressed in costumes made by his grandmother Siona, «a superheroine»; carrying the flag of Santiago to raise it on the first day of July; serving as an altar boy; going to the Feria de Ganado with his grandfather's animals; enjoying the festivities in the plaza chica; and, as a teenager, helping to prepare carretas. He also recalled the lessons taught by his parents: «Rita y Victorio taught me that the best way to live is to live together. To collaborate. To lend a hand».

A audiovisual montage summarised his 20 years at Televisión Canaria. «We are a people who are stronger united», he said, «a single land fortunate enough to be separated by sea. If you place your hand on your chest, you will feel the beat of a single heart: Canarias». The pregón closed with a virtual recreation of Gáldar from its aboriginal era to the present day, reflecting the municipality's transformation.

In his closing remarks, the journalist called on people to get involved: «Take part in everything you can, because that is how the Fiestas de Santiago are made — that is how a community is made». He added: «We need moments of coming together as a community. To silence the noise, the insults, the hatred that creeps into the world. With a feminist vision and without losing our humanity. Thank you, Gáldar, for making me feel like a prophet in my own land».

Institutional presence

The ceremony was attended by the mayor of Gáldar, Teodoro Sosa; the first deputy mayor and councillor for Culture and Festivals, Julio Mateo Castillo; and the municipal corporation. Sosa praised the pregonero's warmth and humility: «If there is one thing we all value about you, it is that success has never changed you», describing him as «an exemplary Gáldar native». The mayor also said the pregonero's mother, Rita, «could not be prouder», and made mention of his father, Rivilla.

Mateo Castillo noted that «these 544th Fiestas Mayores de Santiago carry a very special significance. They are the festivities that prepare us for the Año Santo Jacobeo 2027». Addressing the pregonero directly, he expressed gratitude «for showing off Gáldar wherever you go» and for choosing the Centro Cultural Guaires, «so special to your family».

The pregonero's career

According to the Ayuntamiento de Gáldar, Victorio Pérez Moreno studied Journalism at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and joined Televisión Canaria in 2006 as a reporter and coordinator of the Telenoticias Insular de Lanzarote. A year later he moved to the Gran Canaria news desk. For seven years he presented the midday news programme «Canarias Hoy» and, since 2020, has hosted the daily show «Una hora menos», which has received the Premio a Mejor Programa de las televisiones autonómicas de España awarded by the FORTA and the Premio Ondas, shared with the rest of the Radiotelevisión Canaria (RTVC) team.

The full programme of events for the 544th Fiestas Mayores de Santiago, including times and locations, is available at galdar.es and on the Ayuntamiento's social media channels.