Last Saturday, Ambassador Tony Raful was officially received at the town hall of Villaviciosa, Asturias, in an event that highlighted the deep historical and human ties that unite the Dominican Republic with the Asturian land.
The meeting took place as part of the ambassador’s trip to Asturias for the presentation of the Margaride 2026 Award for Business Trajectory to the Dominican entrepreneur of Asturian origin José Luis “Pepín” Corripio.
During his visit to the town hall of Villaviciosa, Ambassador Raful was accompanied by Manuel Corripio, who received the Margaride Award on behalf of his father; José Vitienes, president of the Foundation for Spanish Migration in the Dominican Republic; and the mayor of Villaviciosa, Alejandro Vega Riego.
The day allowed for a reminder that the ties between Asturias and the Dominican Republic were forged by generations of emigrants who crossed the Atlantic in search of new horizons. Families such as the Corripios and the Vitienes departed from places like Villaviciosa, Cabranes, and Piloña, whose names are forever linked to Dominican history.
The visit reaffirms the relevance of a shared history built by generations of Asturian emigrants, as well as the commitment to continue strengthening a relationship based on affection, shared memory, and cooperation between both peoples.
“For us, it is a great honor to be here for the historical tradition and for those endearing ties that are perpetuated over time,” expressed Ambassador Raful.