Throughout my career as a bullfighter I have received many awards but, honestly, this has a special meaning for me.

For many different reasons: El Carmen is the neighborhood where I was born, where I was baptized. The place where I found love for the first time. The place where I dreamed of being a bullfighter.

Talking about Barrio del Carmen is like talking about Triana in Seville. We are across the river and great bullfighters emerged from here, asis the case of my predecessor, “El Niño del Barrio”. El Carmen is the place where my family live and work, where everybody knows me, greet me, love me.

In my life, the “Virgen del Carmen” is always present. I was born on July 16. My grandmother was named Carmen, like my godmother and one of my sisters. I have the name of my father, Rafael; that’s why they call me Rafaelillo. Otherwise I would have been named Carmelo. I always carry the “Virgen del Carmen” medal around my neck, with me in the loneliness of the bull ring, giving me the strength I need to do this hard job. Each afternoon, I risk my life knowing that the mantle that protects me is from my “Virgen del Carmen”.

I’m proud of that the “Tuna del DIstrito” have recognized my work as a bullfighter, giving me the title of Grand Master of the XIII International Competition of Tunas . I look forward to the day I walk to receive such an honorable distinction.

I admire the “Tunos” because they know how to make life a party, and I thank you heartily for recognising a bullfighter that has given his life to another kind of party, the Spanish National Party.