Around noon last Thursday, more than 900 people welcomed Mr. Amigo 2017 Pedro Fernández to the Texas Southmost College Arts Center.
“Thank you, thank you. How are you? Actually, talking is not my business,” Fernández said in Spanish while the audience gave him a standing ovation.
Fernández is a singer, actor, television host and songwriter who started his international career at age 7 with his film and album, “La de la mochila azul.” He has recorded 38 albums, starred in seven telenovelas, or soap operas, 25 films and continues “captivating the public around the whole world,” according to the official Charreada at UTRGV and TSC pamphlet. Fernández has also received three Diamond Awards, 37 gold and 26 platinum album awards.
Each year, the Mr. Amigo Association honors a Mexican citizen to promote international friendship and goodwill between the U.S. and Mexico. The honoree is recognized during Brownsville’s Charro Days Fiesta. Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, holds Fiestas Mexicanas at the same time. Previous Mr. Amigos include Cantinflas, Juan Gabriel, Verónica Castro, Lucha Villa and Arath de la Torre.
“Thank you for this distinction, thank you for inviting me and recognizing the work I have achieved through a very long time,” said Fernández, who was dressed as a Charro. “Forty years sound easy but in reality they have been 40 years of hard work and I am very happy that God is allowing me to celebrate this year 40 years of my career.”
Accompanying Fernández on the stage were Sergio Martinez, president of the Mr. Amigo Association, and his wife, Cristina Martinez; Veronica González, UTRGV Community Relations vice president; Janna Arney, UTRGV deputy president; Alondra Galván, UTRGV Student Government Association president; Raúl Brindis, radio announcer and orgullo de Matamoros; Crystal Reynaga, TSC Student Government Association president; Jesús Roberto Rodríguez, president of TSC; Adela Garza, TSC board of trustees chair; and Patricia Solís Pérez, Fiestas Mexicanas president.
The songwriter thanked the Mr. Amigo Association.
“This person … was calling me every day. He called me even more times than my wife does,” Fernández said with a laugh. “I want to thank [Miguel Patiño] for having created this link that allows me to be here celebrating Charro Days and, obviously, to be Mr. Amigo.”
The singer also thanked his fans, who he said are the most important part of his artistic career.
“But besides thanking God, I obviously thank the public and the fans who have always been a fundamental part of my career,” Fernández said. “Because without the public’s support, without the support from my fans, none of this would be possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
After his speech, the public joyfully shouted at Fernández, asking him to sing one of his many famous songs.
“Which one do you want me to sing?” he asked, smiling at the audience.
Fernández sang part of his song “Amarte a la antigua” a capella while the audience stood up to sing along to the famous song. At the end of the ceremony, Fernández sang the song that launched his musical career, “La de la mochila azul,” accompanied by UTRGV Mariachi Aztlán.
On behalf of UTRGV, Galván gave Mr. Amigo an official poster, which commemorates the 81st Charro Days anniversary.
“Today we have … a gift that we want to give you. … We hope that you like the gift a lot,” Galvan said in Spanish.
Before the ceremony started, more than 100 UTRGV and TSC campus community members participated in a Walking Parade. The procession began outside the UTRGV Student Union’s PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón and ended at the TSC Arts Center.
“We are so pleased to be partners in this incredible celebration,” Arney said. “For the past 81 years … Charro Days continues to be such an important part of our community.”
Before Mr. Amigo’s arrival, there were performances by Mariachi Siete Leguas, Grupo Folklórico Tizatlán and children from the TSC Raul J. Guerra Early Childhood Center.
They danced to “El aventurero” y “Yo no fui,” hit songs of Mr. Amigo.
“Thank you to all and each one of you,” Fernández said in Spanish. “Thank you for the support, I hope to be back in Brownsville soon.”
