Arath de la Torre joins Charro Day festivities

This year’s Mr. Amigo, Arath de la Torre, arrived in Brownsville Wednesday to a welcome befitting a celebrity.

Children in their Charro Days finery danced, high school musicians played, women screamed, and autograph seekers were not disappointed.

The Mexican actor enjoyed the full ceremony that had been planned by the Mr. Amigo organization at the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport.

De la Torre filled his role perfectly, greeting each of the children from the Brownsville schools who performed, holding babies, embracing his new Brownsville friends, and lingering to autograph the photographs that people were thrusting toward him.

De la Torre, a telenovela actor currently starring as the character Pancho Lopez in “Una Familia con Suerte,” is the 47th Mr. Amigo, a tradition started in 1964 to honor individuals who contribute to the friendship between Mexico and the United States.

Wednesday evening, a crowd waited for de la Torre at the Charro Days Inc. Gala at the Amigoland Convention Center.

People turned out for the annual event well before his scheduled arrival.

Lori Wright, in an orange dress with embroidered flowers, was looking forward to meeting Mr. Amigo.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Wright said of the gala. “I get to see a lot of people, many new people, some very old friends. I have never been to a Mr. Amigo (event) so it will be new for me.”

Everyone was in a festive mood, with mariachi music by Mexico Lindo offering energetic trumpet runs interlaced with violin accompaniment. Many gathered at tables set with orange, green, blue, purple and yellow tablecloths. It was indeed a night for color.

A woman in a black dress with colorful flowers greeted friends as she stood next to a man in a black charro outfit, silver medallions adorning his trousers.

“This is the second year we attend,” said Leticia Maldonado, dressed in a black Chiapa Negra dress made of tulle with yellow and orange flowers.

“I guess every year it gets bigger and better,” she said.

Narciso Escareño, second vice president of Charro Days, said he hoped the great turnout would be a precursor to a successful 75th Charro Days.

“I think it’s a good start to a hopefully great week,” Escareño said. “This is kind of the kickoff for the festival. Tonight we’re going to celebrate the 75th anniversary and recognize people who have been in the organization for 10, 20, 30 years.”

Ken Lieck, president of Charro Days, also was impressed with the turnout.

“People are going to have a great time here,” he said. “We’re going to have folkloric dance groups here.”

Letty Hernandez was enjoying the opportunity to see old friends.

“It’s just the camaraderie, see friends you don’t see on a regular basis,” she said.

Jason Moody, a member of the board of directors, seemed to be having a great time.

“Every year it’s a great celebration,” he said. “I think it gets better and better every year. People get to come out and participate. I am from Brownsville, so I’ve been participating since I was 3 and I still have my costume.”