The celebration of the 15th Day of the Province took place in the church of Santiago Apóstol in Monda, built in 1505 on the site of a former mosque.
Held on 26 April every year since 2004, the event commemorates the date the first democratic provincial corporation was constituted after the dictatorship, and highlights Malaga's identity and roots.
Every year gold medals and other distinctions are presented by the provincial government to outstanding individuals and institutions in the fields of culture, the arts, science, research, education, sport, charity, environmental protection and economic entrepreneurs.
This year the recipients of the awards were the Hermanitas de los Pobres, the newspaper El Sol de Antequera, Olympic bronze medallist Regino Hernández and businessman Federico Beltrán, all of whom were presented with the gold medal of the province.
There was also a special award for the UK's Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, after the proposal was approved by the provincial government with votes in favour from the PP, Ciudadanos and the PSOE. The IU and Malaga Ahora parties abstained.
On receiving the award the ambassador highlighted the links between Malaga and the UK. “This province is in the hearts of the British,” he said, adding that Brexit would not stop Britons visiting and investing in the province
For the past 153 years, the Hermanitas de los Pobres - a community of Catholic nuns which was founded in France in 1839 - has been working to help disadvantaged elderly people in its residences in Malaga province. The provincial government (Diputación de Malaga) decided to pay public and institutional tribute to the nuns' spirit of generosity and dedication by awarding the community a Malaga gold medal this year. The Hermanitas de los Pobres community is held in great regard and affection by people in the province.
For 100 years the newspaper El Sol de Antequera has been bringing the news and highlighting the traditions of the Antequera region of the province. Founded in 1918, it is now one of the oldest in Andalucía but has always kept up with the times and since 2001 it has also had a digital edition. The newspaper has always identified itself with the interests of Antequera, and the provincial government decided that in the year it celebrates its centenary it also deserved to be awarded a gold medal of Malaga.
Since June 2013, Simon Manley, a diplomat with a long career behind him, has been the United Kingdom's Ambassador to Spain. The provincial government wanted to pay tribute to his success in expanding the good relations between the UK and Malaga province, where this year the XXX Tertulias Hispano-Británicas will be taking place, with the participation of over 100 authorities, entrepreneurs, financial experts, academics and representatives of civil society. In addition, Britain is the biggest source market for tourism to Malaga. Mr Manley was awarded the shield of the province.
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