The President of the Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER), Dr. Santos Gracia Villar, attends the reception commemorating the Día de la Fiesta Nacional at the Royal Palace in Madrid, organized by the King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.
The commemoration of the National Holiday has the purpose of solemnly remembering the historical event in which Spain begins a period of linguistic and cultural projection beyond geographical borders, recalling the integration of a wide extension of territories in the Kingdoms of Spain and in a Monarchy. In this sense, FUNIBER has been convened through its president, Dr. Santos Gracia, appearing on a list of guests made up of people who constitute the highest institutional representation and of the different sectors of Spanish society and the international community linked to the country.
Prior to the reception, the King and Queen and the Princess of Asturias were present at the military ceremonies where they were honored by a battalion of the Royal Guard. The reception was attended by national authorities, foreign ambassadors, and representatives of various institutions and civil society organizations. These civil entities are active in different fields of action: business, cultural, international cooperation, and academic, among others. FUNIBER and UNEATLANTICO covers several categories of action through its university network, its Cultural Work and its Chair of Iberoamerican Studies and Iberophony, in addition to having a presence in more than thirty countries on four continents.
The traditional event was also attended by the President of Cantabria, María José Sáez de Buruaga, who was present at the opening ceremony of the new academic year of the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO), a university promoted by FUNIBER, and a transcendental driving force in the internationalization plan of the autonomous community reinforced by President Saéz, the President of FUNIBER, and the Rector of UNEATLANTICO, Dr. Rubén Calderón.
FUNIBER’s work has not gone unnoticed by the King and Queen of Spain in the past since in February of this year, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia learned firsthand about the work of the Foundation in Angola, thanks to the official presentation of the Universidade Internacional do Cuanza (International University of Cuanza, UNIC), an Angolan university sponsored by FUNIBER and the Universidad Europea del Atlántico, UNEATLANTICO). The event was conducted by F. Álvaro Durántez Prados, Director of International Relations at FUNIBER and former advisor to the House of the King of Spain.
In addition, during the same month of February, the monarchs inaugurated at the Economic Bank of Luanda, Angola, an exhibition of Joan Miró’s collections, “Canticle of the Sun” (El cántico del sol) and “The Acrostic Wonders” (Las maravillas acrósticas) belonging to the Cultural Work of FUNIBER and UNEATLANTICO, with the support of UNIC, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Angola, the Embassy of Spain in Angola, and Casa de África.
Undoubtedly, the traceability of these exchanges shows the work of FUNIBER and its interest in the academic and professional development of thousands of people inside and outside the Spanish territory.
UNEATLANTICO, represented by FUNIBER, attends with the King and Queen of Spain in the traditional reception for the Día de la Fiesta Nacional (National Holiday)