Nou d’Octubre awards honor Valencian leaders and artists

The Nou d’Octubre awards celebrate four Alicante residents and other Valencians for public service, culture, and sport, with broad regional significance as the ceremony approaches next week. The recipients from Alicante are José Manuel García-Margallo, a former minister from the Partido Popular; Paco Torreblanca, a celebrated pastry chef; Cristhian Mosquera, a professional footballer; and Gustavo Pascual Falcó, who is honored posthumously for his enduring musical legacy. Across the wider Valencian Community, the top distinction goes to historian Amparo Cabanes, renowned for her leadership in the Battle of Valencia, in a year that also honors novelist Ferran Torrent and the emergency services that responded to the Campanar fire in the city of Valencia. The Nou d’Octubre awards stand as a broad celebration of Valencian identity, showcasing achievements in culture, public service, and resilience that resonate far beyond local borders.