By: Fredwill Hernandez
On Sat. – Sept. 15, Gerencia 360 [Music] exclusive recording artist Adriel Fabela headlined and was responsible for attracting a multitude of fans, and attendees to the 40thAnnual Fiestas Patrias festivities celebration in the [Orange County] City of Santa Ana, [Ca], beautifully executed and produced by GC Event Productions which began on the afternoon of the 15th, with the ceremony of “El Grito”, remembering [and commemorating] September 15, 1810, in which Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic Priest who called on residents of the town of Dolores [near Guanajuato, Mexico] to band together and rise up against the Spaniards, therefore ending Spanish rule in Mexico. This subsequently led to the Republic of Mexico officially declaring on October 18, 1825, September 16 its national Independence Day (Dia de la Independencia).
The two-day family friendly [carnival style] event which had great food kicked off [on Sat.] with El Grito ceremony. Mario Cuevas Zamora, head counsel for the Consulate of Mexico in Santa Ana took part in the ceremony, as Vicente Sarmiento, Santa Ana [Ward 1] City Councilmember, and Claudio Gallegos, District Director, [for] Congressman Lou Correa, of California’s 46th Congressional District and attendees looked on.
After El Grito ceremony Gallegos [took advantage of the opportunity and] presented a plaque on behalf of Congressman Correa to Santa Ana City Councilman Sarmiento [who also spoke] in honor of the city’s 40thAnniversary of its Fiestas Patrias.
On the music side of things, it was Mariachi singer Benjamin Flores who kicked things off.
“I have been singing Mariachi music for 35 years because it runs in my blood, I also come from a musical family, my father and brothers work this [type of] music,” eloquently explained Flores, after his second performance of the day, who [also] has been busy promoting his latest [Ranchera music] Cd titled, “Tributo al Divo De Juarez,” [Spanish for Tribute to the Divo of Juarez] in reference [and paying homage] to Mexican singer/songwriter Juan Gabriel who professed and displayed his love for Mariachi music throughout his career, who passed on Aug. 28, 2016.
The evening however belonged to [Adriel] Fabela, who “mesmerized” fans through an explosive [hour plus] performance.
“It’s super awesome to be headlining these Fiestas Patrias and it would of have been more awesome if Canelo’s fight wasn’t at the same time [I’m performing] because I wanted to see the fight. The love is still out there for all my Mexican people, of course were pulling for Canelo since he’s the one elevating our flag, at the same time I’m proud to be here, I’m proud to be with the people that are here today, many of whom communicated with me through social media and said they would not be seeing the fight since they wanted to personally be here to support and watch me perform. People like that you got to respect, you got to respect time since you can’t buy it or get it back. You have to value time not only from people but from yourself,” explained Favela before hitting the stage, who aside from his performing schedule has been very busy promoting, as he put it, “my new baby,” his latest studio album titled “Señalado Por Costumbre.”
Fabela really set the tone for what was musically expected and [also] brought excitement surrounding what “was to come.”
On Sun. – Sept. 16 [or day two of] Fiestas Patrias belonged to [both] musical acts Banda Los Escamilla from Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico, who [did their thing and] opened up for the night’s headliners Sonora Tropicana.
“Being Mexican is the best thing that could have happened to us, I feel it’s the same whether we celebrate Fiestas Patrias here or in Mexico, but it does feel good that through our music we can at least bring a little piece of Mexico to those here in the states [and here in Santa Ana today] who haven’t returned or just been away for a while,” added Gilberto Martinez Galvez, [one of the] vocalist for Banda Los Escamilla de Jerez Zacatecas.
Among those spotted making his rounds at the event was non other than Latin music veteran [record label executive] Abel De Luna, who explained why he attended the event and why Fiestas Patrias mean so much to him, “I have been in the Latin music business for about forty years, I have produced a lot of artist, I have been responsible for a lot of hits, so I’ve been in the Spanish music scene for a long time. Aside from celebrating the Fiestas Patrias, I’m here because I manage Sonora Tropicana who are headlining tonight and I have been part of their musical career since their inception, I put the group together, signed them, and have been with them since day one. Fiestas Patrias “are really important to me” because I’m from Mexico and I have been in the states [U.S.] for about 40 years and I still remember the roots, the history of Mexico, how our grandparents grew up and how they had to fight for the liberty of being free. And for me it’s real important because when I was in Mexico I didn’t have anything. My parents were really poor, and coming to the states — things got better for me, I’ve had a good life for me and my kids, and that [struggle and progress] is part of [the importance of] Fiestas Patrias.”
