Despite the rain that greeted Burriana on Monday morning, the local association for the rights of individuals with mental illness (Afdem) created a special moment with the planting of their falla, a day before the official planting of the 18 fallas in the municipality.

The planting was attended by the mayor, Maria Josep Safont; the councilor for Fallas and president of the Junta Local Fallera, Sara Molina; the fallas queens, Sandra Candau and Ana Giménez; and a broad representation of the city council. The location of the falla is significant, situated at the intersection of the Nules road and Francisco Fuentes street, right next to the health center where Burriana’s Mental Health Unit is located.

Over the past few months, all members of the association have collaborated on the creation of the falla monument titled Curiositats borrianenques, coordinated by local artist and professor of the advanced cycle of Fallas Artist at Burriana, Xavi Ribes.

Dozens Involved

The creation process also involved first-year students from the vocational training cycle and various fallas workshops that helped in the construction of the larger pieces, including Paco Fuentes, Loren Fandos, Vicente Martínez, José Luis Pascual (Pepi), Rafa Ibáñez, and Javi Capella. The association’s users also worked continuously on the project.

Additionally, local company Satine contributed by providing the materials needed for the monument.

‘Tombé’ Style

From eight in the morning, the team responsible for assembling the monument began using the traditional tombé method, which involves lifting the falla into place with ropes and by hand.

Just a few hours later, the monument was fully erected and could be admired by the extensive municipal delegation, Afdem members, and passersby. The falla will be on display until the 19th, when it will be added to the general Cremà of all monuments.

Thus, the people of Burriana, along with visitors in the coming days, have the opportunity to enjoy an ‘inclusive’ falla this year, created by Afdem.