Inaugurata l'opera monumentale "Alba" in piazza Michele Ferrero: Giovanni Ferrero

It is like a great event that celebrates Alba's identity, and if I may, very briefly in summary, arriving in this square I really liked this distinction, this attribution of difference between one square and the other that represent the soul of this city: the Piazza del Duomo as the square of institutions, and this old Piazza Savona as the square of ingenuity. I thought of a metaphor for life. I said to myself, is this a moment of celebration solely and exclusively of memory? Or could it also be a way of dusting off our roots, our deep relationship with the historical heritage, the value heritage of this city, and the sense of sharing of this community? And I said to myself, what metaphor could fit? I believe I found one, perhaps one that doesn't fit perfectly, but I thought of the metaphor of life as a bow: the more you pull it back, the more you know it will launch the arrow forward all the more rapidly. What does this mean? It means that those who have a deep understanding, an authentic relationship, a sense of values bound to their roots will be able to move forward in the world, will be able to globalize, will be able to internationalize, because the strength that our roots give us is the strength of always being true to ourselves. I believe that speaking of the pride of Alba's identity, something very inspiring, very vibrant, very beautiful has been said, and that Alba's identity also has a great deal to do with ingenuity, with the capacity for work, with this ability to rise again in the face of any negative event that has marked the path of our nation, of Italy, but also of the world. And I believe that today more than ever we need courage and confidence. And I return to this square where Alba's ingenuity is celebrated, with this faculty of optimism, of the region, of knowing how to look beyond, to push the boundaries of what is possible, to dare to imagine a different future. And what is wonderful about the strength of this people is that this vision, this capacity to conceive a vision and to pursue it, never remains a mirage. With dedication, with sacrifice, with the strength of will, you have always given an excellent example of how to rise again and how to make it through. And I believe this is beautiful, like a generational relay, because Alba not only looks to the future but is also able, through a relay of the baton, to pass on its example to future generations. And this is where the connection between past and future lies. This people is capable of remaining true to itself over time and at the same time reinventing itself. I believe that if we look at this statue, there is a poetic rhythm, a source of beauty, which is that of always having the sadness and the capacity to look for new horizons, to look toward tomorrow. And I believe this is an extraordinary strength that the people of Alba have. And here is the beautiful symbolic interplay between Alba, which means the rising of the sun, with it the hope that everything is still possible, and Alba, the name of this wonderful city. And I imagine going beyond the clichés of postcards, photographic representations, and tourist guides. I imagine that this, as a great celebration of ingenuity, is a place where the community that has been able to bring this ingenuity to the world is celebrated. This community, more than ever, sometimes looking at reality with a gaze of hope, and this is truly beautiful. To be able to celebrate it this evening here with you, but I wanted to give you a message I believe is relevant. This evening we are not celebrating a statue to feel united, to feel ourselves. You are the greatest example that my father would be proud of. And know that the relationship, as President Cirio, the mayor, has said, between Ferrero and Alba is an indissoluble relationship, a relationship of blood. We know it. Alba has never betrayed us, and we will never betray Alba. Thank you, President Cirio, and in some way we feel at home. Thank you.