The mayor, José Crespo, who announced the appointment today, highlighted his extensive and ongoing collaboration with the City Council on various cultural and linguistic initiatives and his key role in defending and promoting the language and our culture.
The mayor of Lalín, José Crespo, today announced the appointment of Valentín García Gómez, secretary general of the Language Department of the Xunta de Galicia (Regional Ministry of Culture, Language and Youth), as the new Commander of the Cocido 2026. This is in recognition of his outstanding career and his commitment to the defence and promotion of the Galician language and culture. Crespo emphasises that ‘Valentín has always collaborated actively and continuously with the Lalín City Council on a variety of cultural and linguistic initiatives, always lending a hand when needed,’ recalling, among other examples, his role as the town crier for the Fiestas de los Dolores 2024. Crespo also emphasises that Valentín García Gómez (Abades, Silleda, 1970) ‘is a person with a solid background, strategic vision and ongoing commitment to the identity of our country’.
From a very young age, García Gómez developed a special relationship with the Galician language, culture and tradition, greatly influenced by his close relationship with Xosé Neira Vilas and the Neiravilano context, which established his philological vocation and public service in favour of Galicia. He has extensive training and experience: he has a degree in Galician-Portuguese Philology, a postgraduate degree and a Master's degree in Local Administration from the University of Santiago de Compostela, he studied Law (UNED) and has a diploma in Music from the Conservatory of Santiago de Compostela.
His professional career includes working in local government, as a technician for the Language Standardisation Service and head of the departments of Culture, Language Standardisation, Emigration and Youth at A Estrada Town Council, as well as coordinating and promoting a significant number of socio-cultural activities. Before joining the regional administration, he participated in the creation and implementation of the Xunta's Language Revitalisation Network as technical coordinator of this first major project to promote language policies for the use of Galician in regional and local administrations.
In addition, Valentín García has extensive experience working in key bodies and entities involved in planning linguistic revitalisation in Galicia, from the Coordinadora de Trabajadores/as de Normalización Lingüística (CTNL) to the Consello da Cultura Galega. He collaborated with the Xunta de Galicia in providing training for professionals working in the administration, adult education, and the development of the General Plan for the Standardisation of the Galician Language (2004), and has published articles and studies on sociolinguistics and on the need to formulate language policies adapted to the social reality of Galicia, a topic he has developed in numerous congresses, symposiums and conferences.
He has held positions of responsibility in various cultural foundations —Xosé Neira Vilas, Castelao, Recreo Cultural de A Estrada and Antón Losada Diéguez— and has actively participated in committees, awards and initiatives dedicated to the promotion of language and literary creation, a career that places him as one of the figures most committed to the standardisation of the Galician language in Galicia. He was curator of the travelling exhibition and commemorative events for the 50th anniversary of the publication Memorias dun neno labrego in 2011. He is a member of the Monitoring Committee and the Manuel Reimóndez Portela Journalism Award, the O Brado Cultural Association and the organisation of the San Martiño Awards for Linguistic Normalisation, and vice-president of the Centre for Cultural Initiatives.
In his current role as Secretary General for Language, a position he has held since 2012, he has given lectures and presentations at Spanish and foreign universities, from which he promotes the Galician language abroad and encourages its study and research in strategic centres of cultural opinion such as the United States (New York, Milwaukee and Michigan universities) and Asia (China). He is also the author of several publications focusing on language, local history and local memory, and a contributor to media outlets such as Terras de Santiago, El Correo Gallego, Faro de Vigo, La Voz de Galicia, Galicia en el Mundo and España Exterior, reinforcing his role as a committed promoter of Galicia.
With the addition of Valentín García Gómez, the Encomenda do Cocido 2026 now has an impressive list of confirmed commendators:
Diego González Rivas, world-renowned thoracic surgeon and announcer of the Fair.
Irene Villa, writer, psychologist and international leader in personal development.
Luis de la Fuente, national football coach.
Ramiro Mejuto, a prominent businessman from Lalín in the refrigeration sector.
Jorge Mira, physicist and science communicator, winner of the Galicia Research Medal and the Spanish Confederation of Scientific Societies Award.
Almudena Maíllo, Councillor for Tourism at Madrid City Council and Secretary General of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI).
Antonio M. Chaves Cuiñas, writer, painter and collector, whose support was decisive in promoting the Galician Toy Museum–A. Chaves Collection in Lalín (Pazo de Liñares).
María Martínez Allegue, Regional Minister for Housing and Infrastructure Planning of the Regional Government of Galicia.
