The cultural Valencianism of Elche particularly recalls the publishing policy promoted by the mayor's office during the two terms of Manuel Rodríguez. His commitment to the printed word in Valencian, already evident when he was Councilor for Culture and Tourism, provincial deputy, and director of the UNED, significantly increased upon becoming mayor. During those eight years, the Elche City Council achieved unprecedented volume and quality in its publications, both in Valencian and Spanish, reaching a wide audience within and outside the city.
The management and promotion of these projects were carried out through an agreement with the University of Alicante, under the direction of Professor Biel Sansano. As a municipal architect linked to the mayor's office, the article's author was responsible for the visual aspects of the layouts, while the printing, always meticulous, was handled by Pascual Segarra Sanchez (1962), heir to a family printing tradition.
The publishing policy, shaped over several years since its inception in 1987, consolidated initiatives such as the municipal magazine «Festa d’Elx» (formerly «Festa d’Elig») and the small-format book collection «Temes d’Elx». These collections had significant reach, continuing even after 1995 when the new municipal administration showed less interest in culture.
The magazine «Festa d’Elig», originating in 1942, had an erratic trajectory until 1989, with constant changes in format and content. However, under the direction of Biel Sansano (1989-1998) and later Joan Castaño, the magazine was correctly numbered, dimensions were standardized, and Valencian became the primary vehicular language. Design, paper, and typography were carefully considered, with a collection of drawings commissioned annually from a local artist for covers and illustrations.
The collection «Temes d’Elx», intended for serious studies on the municipality, published about fifty booklets with a unified layout. The overall cover, designed by the article's author in 1991, incorporated an interpretation of Elche's heraldic shield. Titles on heritage, history, festivals, and local culture formed this valuable collection during Manuel Rodríguez's tenure.
After 1998, «Festa d’Elx» reverted to an sporadic trajectory, while the «Temes d’Elx» collection ceased to be edited by the original team. The article concludes by lamenting the current trend of reviving the old Francoist name «Elig», considered an obstacle to Valencian toponymic normalization.
