JULY 4, 2025 — 14-year-old Juan Miguel Pérez Vallejos’ design was selected as the official flag of the Argentine city of Realicó following a local competition, says InfoTec REALICÓ.
His flag design was chosen from 11 submissions.
The young student from the Instituto Parroquial Sagrada Familia was formally recognized during a special session held by the town council.
The inspiration behind his design came from various local and cultural elements. Drawing from the geographical significance of Realicó’s crossroads, Juan based the layout on the Swedish flag.
He incorporated symbols such as the caldén tree, green fields representing the Pampas region, sorghum to honor the town’s national festival, and folkloric dancers as a nod to cultural traditions. The meaning of the town’s name, derived from “Ralicó” or “plate of water,” was visually represented, as were the train and railways, crucial to the town’s development.
“I’m experiencing this with a lot of emotion and pride for the things people have said,” Juan said in an interview. “At my age, to already be part of Realicó’s history is very powerful.”
The idea to participate in the flag design contest came to Juan after seeing a municipal announcement. Encouraged by his visual arts teacher, and fresh from designing the crest for a local sports club, he decided to research Realicó’s symbols and heritage to shape his proposal.
“I didn’t feel that confident compared to others with more experience,” he admitted. “But I tried, hoping I could achieve it.”
Image: InfoTec REALICÓ
