CHRONICLE
Villaviciosa was chosen as the setting for the official presentation of the Corripio Alonso Foundation, held on 4 October 2025.
The emblematic Teatro Riera brought together a large number of people and representatives of public and private institutions from a wide range of fields, as well as family members, local residents and friends, whose generous presence offered a warm welcome to the Foundation’s founders, the Corripio Alonso family, and all those who took part in the event.
We would therefore like to express our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the people of Villaviciosa for their warm welcome, and to all the individuals and organisations who, whether present or absent, played a part in making this event possible.
The Foundation’s founders Pepín, Ana María, Manuel, José Alfredo, Lucía and Ana, who wished to be present for such an exciting and meaningful occasion, were especially grateful and deeply moved by the reception they received.
The event was opened by our presenter, Inés Paz, who guided the proceedings with her characteristic professionalism and sensitivity, introducing each of the speakers in turn.
The first to speak was our Secretary, Andrés Álvarez Iglesias. In addition to outlining the Foundation’s aims and founding purposes, he appealed to the emotional dimension of the project, emphasising that the Foundation was created to support those “dreamers with the courage and determination to believe in an idea and invest in a project”, thereby fulfilling the wishes of the family, inspired by Pepín and his wife Ana María, to reaffirm their commitment to the region. Referring to one of Pepín’s most humble and memorable reflections, he recalled how Pepín sees two defining stages in life: sowing and harvesting. He stressed that Pepín himself has been harvesting the fruits of the seeds sown by his father and previous generations, who, through hard work, dedication and humility, made it possible for those who followed—including his own generation—to reap the rewards.
With the Corripio Alonso Foundation, in the words of our Secretary, a new period of sowing begins—one intended to contribute to the development of a land with which “the Corripio Alonso family maintains a bond that will never be broken”. He also announced the awards and recognitions that the Foundation will present each year.
Both Ana Corripio Alonso de Barceló, the Foundation’s Vice-President, and our Secretary referred in their respective speeches to Pepín’s words, reminding us that “there is no success that can be celebrated as an individual achievement; success is always the result of a collective effort.”
Ana Corripio, Vice-President of the Foundation, shared how her father has taught her and her siblings that “work, discipline and perseverance are the cornerstones of success, but he has also taught us that success must always be approached with caution and humility, because the only thing that truly matters is how it is reflected in the society in which we live.” She reaffirmed “the family’s belief that we must give something back to the people who gave us so much: a love of work and family. Our family has an unbreakable bond with this land, which calls on us to play an active part in its development. This means not only recognising and celebrating those who contribute through their efforts, but also making a firm and supportive contribution to any material improvements we are able to bring about.”
In her speech, Ana Corripio also reflected on the idea that “the history of humanity is the history of migration.” Spanish emigrants found in the Americas a place “where we could feel at home”, and she remembered those Asturians who left behind a poor land with little more than the clothes they carried. “They took few things with them, but they took the most important of all: their values.”
Moved by his daughter’s words, Pepín Corripio then spoke spontaneously to share his profound “gratitude towards Asturias”, which, he said, “is the driving force behind our Foundation.” “Gratitude is the only virtue that, even in abundance, never loses its importance or its goodness,” he reflected. He also remarked that the richest person is “the one who has the most money left over to do useful things for the community.”
Following Pepín Corripio’s remarks, the event welcomed Olympic medallist Saúl Craviotto as a special guest. In a warm and engaging conversation with journalist Inés Paz, under the theme “The Reward of Effort”, he shared with the audience the values he has in common with the Foundation: hard work, discipline, perseverance, humility, solidarity, respect for others and a lasting sense of gratitude.
The event then continued with remarks from Vanessa Gutiérrez, Regional Minister for Culture, Language Policy and Sport, who conveyed the recognition and gratitude of the Government of the Principality of Asturias: “You remind us of something that is sometimes forgotten: migration does not uproot us; it makes our roots even stronger,” she said.She then shared an adaptation of verses by Aurora García Rivas to express what the Corripio Alonso family represents to her. Here is a translation of the poem originally written in Asturian language:“There are places that,
wherever we look at them from,
always seem to lie on the other side.
But there are no lines,
neither blessed nor cursed,
that determination cannot cross.
Our border was the river,
because History
had never meant much to us.
In winter, by boat;
in summer, among eels and geese.
Stepping on the rounded stones,
we built a bridge each time
we crossed the border.
And we always carried back,
stuck to our shoes, soil from the other side—at least as much
as we had taken there.”
She added: “That is what you are at the Corripio Alonso Foundation: a bridge born of the greatness of your generosity. As the poem says, there is no boundary that determination cannot cross.”“.
Alejandro Vega, Mayor of Villaviciosa, spoke about the values represented by the Corripio family, values, he said, that are deeply rooted in their origins, through several symbols drawn from their family history: apple orchards, oak trees and palm trees. “That is the symbolism that characterised the lives of so many emigrants,” he said, drawing inspiration from the titles of two autobiographical works by Alfonso Camín. Among the apple trees of Valbuena de Cabranes, Manuel Corripio García was born, while Sara Estrada, Pepín Corripio’s mother and father, was born in Niao. Together, they marked the beginning of the family’s business legacy. Alejandro Vega went on to explain that Pepín was born beneath the oak tree of La Rionda, in Arroes, while his wife Ana María was born very close to the thousand-year-old oak of Coya, in Piloña. The palm trees came later, with the journey to the Americas. Continuing with this symbolism of trees and roots, Vega observed that “the history of this family is one of good timber producing good fruit: with the strength and nobility of its roots—the oak—but also through the dedication and hard work that apple orchards require in order to grow, blossom and bear good fruit.” The Mayor of Villaviciosa concluded his speech by describing the Foundation presented that Saturday as “a new fruit of the apple orchard, the oak trees and the palm trees… a new fruit of the hard work and generosity that have always characterised this family. “.
Our Secretary brought the event to a close by officially announcing the first edition of the Corripio Alonso Foundation Awards, whose recognition and presentation ceremony will take place in Villaviciosa in the autumn of 2026.
Oviedo City Pipe Band then delighted those in attendance with two musical pieces, bringing the event at Teatro Riera to a close with the Anthem of Asturias—undoubtedly one of the most moving moments imaginable in our beloved homeland.
The day concluded with a cocktail reception, where guests enjoyed a selection of local culinary delights and, above all, the opportunity to spend time together, exchange impressions and share this special occasion with everyone present.
