Viña del Mar, Chile. The Basque community in Viña-Valparaiso is especially celebrating this year, as it marks one hundred years since the foundation of the first Basque institution in the city and the whole Fifth Region in Chile, the Chilean Basque Center of Mutual Aid.
This is why, the current Basque club board of directors has organized a special celebration on August 15 that will unite the club’s centennial celebration with another traditional Basque festival that has been celebrated historically by the Basques in the Viña-Valparaiso as those in Santiago that is Iñaki Deuna or the feast of San Ignacio.
This is why Arcibaldo Uriarte Araya, president of the Eusko Etxea in Valparaiso has written the following message to members and friends:
Dear Member, Basque families and friends,
This year, 2015, our Basque club in Valparaiso will celebrate one hundred years since its foundation as the Chilean Basque Center of Mutual Aid, created on September 4, 1915.
This is why, our San Ignacio celebration will take place in between Iñaki Deuna and the date of our Centennial: on August 15, which will be a better date for this event.
We want to let you know that we will be honoring four families who have been long-time members of our Eusko Etxea. These are the Aboitiz, Mondragon, Muguruza and De Madariaga Ibarra families.
The celebration will begin at 12:30pm at the Spanish Stadium where we will also enjoy the present of the Basque club’s choir and that of Vicuña Mackenna that will complement dance performances and scheduled Basque dances as well as acting by the duo Aguirre-Andonaegui.
We have tried to provide a varied Basque menu and a nice visual and musical accompaniment, having added additional rooms where the Euskalerria exhibit can be seen.
We invite you all to attend this significant event, the only time of the year that the Basque-Chilean family is heavily integrated. Cost of the event is $15 for adults and $5 for children 5-12 years old. Tickets can be purchased or reserved at the clubhouse, Quillota 135 between 2 and 3 Norte, or at the reception at the Spanish Stadium.
Archibaldo Uriarte
President Eusko Etxea Valparaíso
Calle Quillota 135, Pob. Vergara –Viña del Mar
Tel: 32-2979718 09-94593717
Besides this celebration on Saturday August 15, with more than 300 attendees expected, the Basque club in Valparaiso will also celebrate the Centennial on September 4th, real day of the foundation of the Association, in a more intimate way, at its clubhouse in Viña del Mar.