Alberto San Juan moves La Paloma with his "no to war"

BarcelonaIt made a lot of sense for the guest of honor at the Barcelona Restoration Guild's party to be actor Alberto San Juan, who has just been nominated for a Goya for his performance in La cena. And it was precisely this film – which humorously recreates a fictional dinner of Franco two weeks after winning the Civil War – that led the Madrid-born actor to use the podium of the mythical La Paloma venue in the Catalan capital to launch a forceful "no to war." San Juan received a standing ovation from the five hundred attendees at the meeting, including actors, politicians, and restaurateurs, with his call "against this new world order where those with the greatest capacity to impose violence now lead." He reviewed the bombings in Iran and the "genocide of Gaza," among other things, and delivered a harsh criticism of the European Union and its "renunciation of defending the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

A more vindictive speech than the organizers of the great Santa Eulàlia party probably expected, but one that made it clear that the winner of two Goyas (for Bajo las estrellas and Sentimental) is a committed person not only to cinema. "I'm not an activist, I'm just a citizen who cares a lot about life," he defended himself afterwards, answering journalists' questions.

But his call for peace was not the only part of the speech that made the audience react, because San Juan also managed to get the hundreds of people seated in the stalls of La Paloma to sing along with him to the entire tune of Jaume Sisa's mythical song Qualsevol nit pot sortir el sol. He said that he had these words in his head for days, the ones that begin with "Oh, welcome, come in, come in...", and the entire audience responded.

The Madrid-born actor explained that the person who taught him Barcelona and made him "love all its neighborhoods" was "an illustrious resident of the city, Rosa Maria Sardà," another allusion that drew applause from the room. In the second row, in fact, was her brother, Xavier Sardà. The actress, he recounted, took him to lunch at Cal Pinxo, at Set Portes, and to a Wok and Bowl on Diputació street. Even La Paloma was not an unknown space to him, because, he explained, he worked there as a young man in a variety show. "I will chase Mercè because I want to perform here again," he said, alluding to the venue's manager, Mercè March. But despite his allusions to Barcelona restaurants, at an event organized by the Guild, San Juan later responded evasively when journalists asked him about his favorite restaurant – "I don't have one" – or what food he liked most: "Any homemade food, croquettes, paella, what do I know..."

"This will happen": Melani Olivares declares herself to Alberto San Juan

The person in charge of presenting the guest of honor – it's usually another famous personality – was a friend of the actor for 30 years, Catalan actress Melani Olivares. The performer, best known for her role as Paz in Aída, added a humorous touch to the celebration when she declared herself directly in front of everyone to her friend, joking about the fact that – she assures – she has never seen him naked. "I must be the only one! But that will happen, it will happen someday... In fact, last night it almost happened, but we were too tired."

The big party organized since 2018 by the Barcelona Restoration Guild in honor of the city's patron saint brings together some of the most well-known faces from the world of cinema, television, politics, and cuisine each year in a peculiar and somewhat extravagant mix. In few places could you see Daniel Sirera, from the PP, greeting la Mega Pubilla, a comic vedette who does not go unnoticed. In a more discreet corner of the room was also former president José Montilla, with much more sober companions, who shortly after saw former president Artur Mas and his wife, Elena Rakosnik, pass by. The President of the Parliament, Josep Rull, opened the public speeches with a speech very much in line with San Juan, "a tribute to life in these difficult times." However, the mayor, Jaume Collboni, who was also scheduled to speak, did not do so because he arrived at the event when it was practically over, with the final performance by Efecto Mariposa.

Other well-known faces who did not want to miss the great restoration festival for another year (held almost a month after Santa Eulàlia due to the guests' schedules) included actresses like Eva Isanta or Maria Molins, singers like Lucrecia, politicians like former minister Joana Ortega or former PP councilor Alberto Fernández, Father Apel·les, the Magician Andreu, or Mag Lari. A curious and probably "transgressive" mix, as the Venus on the invitation to the event, designed by Albert Madaula, intended to convey. The Guild and La Paloma join forces annually with a common goal: to celebrate gastronomy and enjoy an exceptional meal, this year offered by the restaurant Red Fish and with cocktails by Javier de las Muelas.