He was born in Vilafranca in 1974 and from an early age he was fascinated by castellss. He was part of the piñas and liners team at the time of Melilla, together with David Miret, who years later named him head of piñas, liners and handcuffs. Everywhere he goes, he brings the smile that characterizes him and the motivation that he commands. He is a man of his words and of many, many words, and perhaps that is why the cameras and microphones of the media love him so much. And although he is enthusiastic about challenges, if he had been told when he was 17 that he would end up being president of Castellers de Vilafranca, he would have doubted it very much.

 

What was your first contact with the castellss?

My first contact with castellss was when I was 6 years old. My father was the administrator of the Festa Major in Vilafranca and I was able to experience the Festa Major in 1980 and 1981 from the balcony of the Town Hall. Of everything I saw, however, the one I fell in love with the most were the castellss. As I grew up, my interest in castellss also increased, but my parents did not see it entirely clearly. They took me to see some rehearsals so that I would be happy and shut up. Years later, as a teenager, I already let myself be seen by the gang: some rehearsals, performances... In 1990 I went to make a pineapple for Sant Fèlix and, a few days later, I received a letter from the gang thanking me that he had participated in the pineapples of Sant Félix. This moved me so much that the following year, in 1991, I signed up for the gang. I was 17 years old then.

Do you remember your first day wearing a shirt?

It was a very special day. I was very excited to put on the green shirt for the first time and go to the square with the shirt and sash. It was a wish I had when I was little and it had come true. In addition, I felt very proud to wear the green shirt of Castellers de Vilafranca, as we have always been supporters at home. But I also had a lot of respect for him: I admired a lot of castellers and suddenly I was in the same group as them. As long as they let me make pineapple I was already happy!

"The most that a casteller from Vilafranca can aspire to is to unload a castle for the first time and that, moreover, it is for Sant Fèlix"

What is the day that made you the most excited?

There are many special days: the first Contest won, the first tower of 8 unloaded, the first 3 out of 10 loaded in 1998, obviously also the first time you take off your shoes to climb, those nerves... But the best memory I have is the first tower of 9 with lining and handcuffs downloaded in 1995. We had been working on this castle for many years, we were the pioneers and we had made many attempts, and thanks to never giving up, never giving up and believing that we would make it, we were able to download -la for Sant Félix, and it was extraordinary. The persistence had its deserved reward. It was a lesson in courage and self-improvement that served me for life. The truth is that it was a castle that we deserved very much. Another of the great emotional moments was downloading the 3 out of 10 for Sant Félix in 2013. It was a castle that we had loaded in 1998 and we had also been going after it for many years with the aim of completing it; it was the first castle of 10 that we downloaded and, moreover, it was Sant Félix. The fact that it is on this date has a very important value for me: I think that the most that a Vilafranca castle owner can aspire to is to unload a castle for the first time and that, moreover, it is for Sant Fèlix. Personally, it was also a very emotional day for family matters, since Ignasi Trullàs had died that year and that 3 out of 10 was one of the best gifts we could give him, Vilafranca, the gang and the Jordi Simó, who had also left us not long ago. We couldn't fail them.

How do you live Saint Felix?

For me Sant Félix is the best day of the year. It is a very special day, which we have been preparing since the beginning of the season and we are always thinking about it. It is a day of many experiences and memories, which I experience and live from many points of view: casteller, family, with friends... It is very different from the other days, in which you usually arrive, perform and leave. For me, for Sant Félix, every hour of the day has its time: there is the whole morning liturgy, you have to try to calm down before the day, have a good breakfast... Years ago I lived the day with a lot of nerves, but every time I manage them better. There is also the moment of entering the square, which is very special: you see all the castellers in the street of Santa Maria, wearing the green shirt entering the square ready to fight for the same goal, which is to do the best performance. And, luckily, in recent years we always succeed! And then comes the most festive part: the family feast day lunch, the procession, and finally the night. When the day goes well everything flows, during the night people congratulate you, you talk about castells with everyone, and you don't realize that it's 6 in the morning and you're still talking about castells with a gin and tonic in your hand ! It is a very long, very special and very beautiful day.

You were head of pineapples in the period 2008-2011, with David Miret as head of gang, but you already started helping him in the team of pineapples in 1995 with Melilla as head of gang. What is the best thing about holding this position?

The best thing was the continuous learning. Being a head of pineapples is a stressful job, because in rehearsals you can't stop setting pineapples and you end up exhausted. It's a very enriching experience that helps you take on leadership traits, since you have to try to always be positive, don't get angry, have patience... and it's also important to know how to manage falls and bad days. You can't collapse, like a pineapple head! In addition, when everything goes well it is very comforting that people congratulate you on a job well done, hugs... You are very impressed when a casteller who is much more veteran than you comes with tears in his eyes to give you a hug and thank you

"We form a dynamic team and we have already shown that we are here to do, and to make important things happen"

 What responsibilities does being head of pins, liners and handcuffs involve?

It's a complicated position. Not everyone wants or aspires to climb the log, but in piña most people aim to be a starter in their position or climb the liner and the shackles. Managing these things is not easy, and when making decisions you have to assess many things: aptitudes, conditions, attendance at rehearsals, seniority, height... In the end, you occupy this position to make decisions and you must be aware that they will not always be to your liking to everyone, even if you take them from common sense and always looking out for the gang. You have to find the balance between experience, attendance, youth and seniority. It is necessary to know how to empathize with people in every situation.

John Badell

 

You can see your personal love for the Penedès: most of your Instagram photos are of landscapes with vineyards, even your clinic is named after the region... Do you think that the Castellers de Vilafranca have contributed to making it visible to the rest of the world?

Another of my hobbies is running, a sport I practice regularly. Going out for a run through our vineyards and mountains is a way to keep fit, disconnect from everything and find my time. When I see something interesting like budding vines, ripening grapes, a sunrise or a sunset, I stop, take a breath and like to photograph the moment with my cell phone. The Castellers de Vilafranca are one of the most important and well-known organizations not only in Penedès, but in Catalonia, and I am clear that we have made the names of Vilafranca and Penedès shine many times around the world. We are great ambassadors of our territory and our culture. Do you know how many times we go out to the media at the end of the year? This promotion has no price. We are great promoters of Penedès and Catalonia. I believe that we have a very powerful, very beautiful territory, with a very rich world of wine and cava and that they are our economic engine, which is due to a process that is often undervalued. It is admirable the work done by both the winegrower, the producer and the marketer, and I think we should make it known and loved.

Would you have ever imagined that you would become president of one of the most important casteller gangs in the casteller scene?

No, I would never have considered or imagined it because I have always had a more technical profile. But I also believe that, when you are offered a position of this magnitude or the time comes for you to lead a project, you should not be afraid. Respect, yes; but not afraid Fear paralyzes people and makes us not act. In this life, everything happens for a reason, and if your time comes, you have to face it with excitement and be grateful for the opportunity. In my case, I was very much in agreement with the group leader and together we mapped out an exciting project, with changes and novelties. Working with a rigorous person like Toni Bach, who has a lot of skills, made me decide yes. We had already worked together in David Miret's technical team and we knew we understood each other. Involvement, loyalty, innovation and communication are key to good teamwork, and if you add appreciation for what you do and a positive attitude, you have a lot of options for a successful period. In addition, we have a very similar way of understanding and doing castells and set very similar goals. I took on the challenge of presiding over the gang and I don't regret it.

How do you work with Toni Bach?

We work in a very joint and transversal way, with mutual and constant help and a lot of dialogue. It is very important that the two leaders row together and in the same direction, and in this sense we outline the objectives to be achieved together and the technical and managerial teams get involved in an obvious way. I think we form a dynamic team and we have already shown that we are here to do, and to make important things happen. Believing in what you do is the key to success.

"I am convinced that we will win the Competition again. Let no one doubt it! But first you have to make a glorious Saint Felix"

For what purpose did you run for president of the gang?

I strongly believe in continuous improvement. The gang has evolved a lot over the years, but there are always things that can be improved. We presented ourselves with many goals and with a great desire to work. The main objectives were, among others, the reform of Cal Figarot, the creation and implementation of the ARIS, documenting and detailing everything we do during the years of mandate with the aim that whoever takes our place later that we go through the direction of the gang, find a detailed report of everything that has been done...

And today, in the middle of the legislature, do you think that these objectives are being achieved?

I'm very pleased with the changes and improvements we've been making to the gang. It has already been seen that we are an active team at all levels, we are not here to occupy the chair, but to work, execute and make decisions. To detail some of the activities we are carrying out, I believe that communication has improved and needs to continue to improve. I am also thinking about other actions, as we have tidied up the entrances to Plaça de la Colla, that we have updated the coat of arms and the graphic image of the Colla, that Cal Figarot is now a cardio-protected space, that we have organized a lot of social events , that we have found funding to go ahead with the new renovation projects of our corporate headquarters and for the new rehearsal network, that we have completed the renovation of the nave and the gardens, that we have signed agreements with new sponsors and we have already the works of Cal Figarot have begun... And for now we have won one of the two competitions we have to face and we have equaled the best performance in history on two occasions. But there is still a lot of work to be done!

What is the purpose for the remaining two years of the mandate?

Our most immediate desire is that, once Cal Figarot is finished, we can hire someone to do the maintenance and cleaning of the premises. He would be a professional who would be in charge of opening and closing it when there are rehearsals, meetings, events..., and he could dedicate himself to things that now, since we are all amateurs, are hard to come by. There is a lot of work and we believe that the time has come to take this new step forward. I would also have liked to have more defined an intercontinental trip. I can announce that we have practically reached the destination and I am sure that it will arrive in 2019, but we must be aware that we have focused a lot on the castells and on making the generational change, and that the Cal Figarot reforms have focused all our efforts, both economic and time management. I foresee an extraordinary 2018 in many respects, both from the point of view of the castells, and for the improvement works, and for the 70th anniversary of the gang. And I am convinced that we will win the Contest again. Let no one doubt it! But first you have to make a glorious Saint Felix.

"It's up to me to head and lead all of this, but there are many people behind working altruistically"

How do you balance being president of Castellers de Vilafranca with your work and personal life?

Being president of the gang means putting in a lot of hours, and every day you have things to do. You have to do everything: rummage a lot, answer phone calls, messages, emails... you also have protocol visits. You must represent the gang wherever necessary; attend meetings; find sponsors; attend to the media; to be attentive to more personal issues of people in the gang; know how to work in a team and delegate; to coordinate departures, such as hiring the coaches, negotiating our box for each performance... The saddest part is the burials and when you visit injured castellers; but it is also necessary. It is more humane and even rewarding when you give support in times of sadness. You don't rest even in winter, there's always something to do!: close the accounts, prepare dinners for collaborators, prepare the assembly, set new goals, negotiate actions... The important thing, however, is to do it always from the love of the gang and with great desire. Fortunately, we have a technical team and a management team with a lot of contributors who work spectacularly throughout the year and give their time for the benefit of the gang. It's up to me to head and lead all of this, but there are many people behind it working altruistically. I take this opportunity to thank them for their work and collaboration.

What is the best thing about being president of Castellers de Vilafranca?

The best thing is to see the workings of a castellera gang from the heart. You touch on all kinds of topics: technical, rogue, protocol, management, people... In addition, it also allows you to meet a lot of people, from people who are at the head of institutions and companies to mayors of the towns where we go to act You weave together a very large core of well-known people, sometimes it's even hard to remember everyone's name. The only negative I can see is that there is not enough time to do everything you would like to do. You have to know how to manage time, to have balance in everything you do and try to get everywhere.

"As long as people have enthusiasm, commitment and desire, the gang will live for many more years"

What do you think the Castellers de Vilafranca have that the other gangs don't?

I think we have two big traits that set us apart. First, the desire to lead the casteller world: never getting tired of doing castells, the desire to surpass ourselves, the competitive nature, always wanting to win and the spirit of sacrifice and commitment. And, on the other hand, the human solidity that exists within the group: over the years, management teams and technical teams have passed, and more or less we are all very united and help each other, without problems. We are a rock in this sense. This gang has learned how to take over in the governing bodies without trauma and with great maturity. In these aspects we are exemplary and I think that is admirable.

Twenty-seven years after joining the gang, having held positions of responsibility... What has it meant for you to be part of Castellers de Vilafranca all these years?

For me it's a way of life. In fact, of my years of life, I have lived more as a casteller than as a non-casteller; a part of my life has revolved around this for many years. It is true that I have accomplished a lot over many years. It makes me happy to have lived through all the extra range castellss of the bunch, as from 1995 until today I haven't missed a single one. It is a way of understanding life, a feeling of love towards a group that has given me a lot of positive experiences and a lot of learning and has allowed me to meet many exceptional people, both from our group and other gangs

The group celebrates 70 years this 2018. How do you imagine the Castellers de Vilafranca will be in their centenary?

In 30 years I would like the gang to continue growing. From the point of view of castellss it will not be easy because the current level is very high and demanding, but I think it is very possible to get castellss that have not been seen yet. And, if a gang is willing to do it, ours is always a candidate. I think we are on the right track. We've been staying at a very high level for many years now and we've learned to live up here. As long as people have enthusiasm, commitment and desire, the gang has life for many more years. I would like for this tradition in Vilafranca to remain alive and for us and the most castellar square to continue to be references in the castellar world. It is very important that we pamper, respect and take care of the Day of Sant Felix, a day with more than 200 years of history and which is the heritage of the Castilian world.

Finish the sentence: being from Castellers de Vilafranca is... a pride and a privilege.

 

MARIA ZAPATER KILLS

Original interview published in edition number 48 of El Figarot magazine.