The OCB of Inca awards the May prizes, a recognition of the language, culture and history of the Balearic Islands

PalmaThe XXVII edition of the Premios de Maig brought together representatives from Mallorca's cultural, associative, and linguistic world this Saturday evening at the Claustre de Sant Domingo in Inca, in a gala marked by the recognition of individuals and groups committed to the language, culture, and identity of the Balearic Islands.

During the event, six awards were presented to entities and prominent figures for their careers in areas such as cultural promotion, linguistic normalization, and heritage preservation. The ceremony also included a musical performance by RELLA, a duo formed by Cati Eva Canyellas and Maria Adrover, who enlivened the evening with traditional music.

The Berenguer d’Anoia Award, intended to recognize sociocultural promotion in Inca, was this year awarded to the Colla Gegantera Gegants d’Inca, for their work within the city's cultural life. For its part, the Miquel Duran i Saurina Award recognized the editorial team of Inca Revista for their commitment to linguistic normalization within the world of communication.

One of the most notable names of the night was that of the philologist Joan Veny i Clar, honored with the Fra Miquel Colom, T.O.R. Award, dedicated to individuals or entities that have contributed to the research and dissemination of Catalan culture. Veny could not attend the event and the recognition was collected on his behalf by Lluís Maicas.

Likewise, the Pau Casesnoves Award was presented to Miquel Àngel Suau, in recognition of his defense of his own identity markers. Upon receiving the award, he thanked the OCB for recognizing and valuing his work of "dissemination, defense, and appreciation" for the Catalan language. "Everything I do starts from a very clear conviction. Knowing who we are, where we come from, and what country we have is essential to love and defend it," he stated during his speech. He added that dissemination is not only "a way of explaining the past," but rather "the best method for building the present and the future."

The Mossèn Pere Joan Llabrés Award was granted to Francisca Truyol Fàbregas for her dedication to the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage, while Eusèbia Rayó Ferrer received the Maria Mercè Puig i Viñeta Award for her career linked to the promotion of language and culture from different fields.

All the awardees present collected their awards with words of gratitude in a ceremony that advocated for the defense of Mallorcan culture, language, and identity. The organizers also took the opportunity to reiterate their commitment to these values and to thank the public for their presence in an edition they described as 'special and full of emotion'.