Ondara Town Hall held an extraordinary plenary on Sunday 4 October in which it unanimously approved the naming of Ximo Silvestre Morant as Fill Adoptiu d'Ondara, the highest honorary distinction of the municipality. The institutional ceremony took place inside the Edifici El Prado, with the attendance of hundreds of residents.
Ximo Silvestre served six years in pastoral ministry as rector of the Parròquia de Santa Anna d'Ondara, a period during which he became involved in the social, cultural, patrimonial and associative life of the municipality. The mayor, José Ramiro, highlighted his work in proximity with elderly people and his social role through Càritas and the Residència Mare de Déu de la Soletat. Ramiro stated that the naming represents "a way of being among us" and noted that Silvestre "has shared the life of the town, has been present in joys and in difficult moments and has won the affection of the people".
Remarks from party spokespeople
The Partit Popular spokesman, Àlex Hernández, thanked Ximo Silvestre for his work during his time in Ondara and highlighted the bond created with the town by stating that "he will become an adopted son and will have many mothers and fathers in Ondara". For his part, the Compromís spokesman, Lluís Fornés, underlined Silvestre's open and inclusive approach and his contribution to the normalisation of Valencian in the religious sphere, by noting that "being from a town is not only a matter of origins, but also of affection, respect and dedication".
Presentation of plaque and thanks
Following the vote, the mayor presented Ximo Silvestre with a commemorative plaque certifying the naming. Silvestre, visibly moved, thanked the recognition, assuring that he never imagined receiving a distinction of that magnitude. In his remarks he used words such as "blessed" and "to love", and stated that "there is always more that unites us than what separates us", describing the moment as "the greatest" and adding that it will be so "now and forever".
