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José Carlos de Santiago, CEO of the Excelencias Group, was knighted with the Santiago Pathways Order, a religious and military order founded back in the 12th century, during King León’s Reign.
Also known as Camiño das Peregrinaciós, Ruta Xacobea, Camiño Frances, Santiago Pathways is one of the epicenters that have channeled the mercy of thousands of pilgrims for centuries, since the burial of Apostle Santiago, patron saint of the pilgrimage to Compostela, which names the religious and military Order created back in the 12th century.
People say that is was known as Camiño de Santiago, par excellence, since the 11th century and it’s been a land situation reference on notarial documents.
This order, presently based in Santiago de Compostela, holds its general chapter on the Saturday before July 25, Apostle Santiago’s feast day. That’s when new Knights and Ladies are appointed among different boldface names from the cultural, political, social, entrepreneurial, sport and religious spheres.
José Carlos de Santiago, CEO of the Excelencias Group, was knighted as a member of the Santiago Pathways Order by the vice president of the Order, Alejandro Rubín, during an extraordinary meeting held at San Francisco Church, in the city of Santiago del Estero, where 11 new members were knighted as well.
Both Knights and Ladies are to follow the Santiago Pathways once in their lifetime, win the Jubilee Appreciations on Holy Years and participate, as usually as they can, in events organized by the Order.
The Sponsor of José Carlos de Santiago’s investiture was Patricia Hernández Ruiz, Honorary President of the Latin American Spa Association and Commander of the Order.
The ceremony was attended by the Galicia’s Secretary of Tourism, Nava Castro, and Santiago del Estero’s Undersecretary of Tourism, Rubén Ricardo Sosa, who was also knighted.
The Santiago Order, along with the orders of Calatrava, Alcántara and Montesa, was reestablished as a civil association during the reign of Juan Carlos It, as an honorific and religious noble organization, and it presently stands as such.
New members join this Millennial Order every year by swearing in their position in the General Chapter, a function that takes place at Santiago de Compostela or in the Special Chapters that are held around the world. Nowadays, counting Knights and Ladies of the World, there are 1,007 members distributed in 25 countries.
A Journey of Change
In Santiago del Estero, Argentina, happening together with the day of St. Francis of Assisi and in the church anointed to that saint, the extraordinary chapter for the investiture of eleven new knights of the Camino de Santiago Order –hailing from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain and Mexico- was held.
Alejandro Rubin, vice president of the Order, conducted the investiture of the new knights with Galicia’s Tourism Secretary Nava Castro and Undersecretary of Tourism in Santiago del Estero, Ruben Ricardo Sosa, in attendance next to other local authorities.
Santiago de Estero is Argentina’s oldest city, founded 461 years ago. Back in the years of the colonial rule, it was the starting point for the trailblazers who founded other cities across the country.
This city belongs to Camino Real de Santiago and is linked to El Camino de los Incas (The Ways of the Incas), a reason that prompted the union between Santiago del Estero and Santiago de Compostela.
It’s important to point out that the first local to be knighted was Juan Francisco Borges, as a token of gratitude by the King of Spain for his courage in the battle against the uprising led by Tupac Amaru.
This celebration took place within the framework of Termatalia (International Fair on Thermal Tourism), presided over by Alejandro Rubin and held in the thermal-waters city of Rio Hondo de Santiago del Estero.

Rubén Ricardo Sosa - ARGENTINA
Undersecretary of Tourism in the province of Santiago del Estero

Héctor Hugo Fernández Zamponi - ARGENTINA
 President of Pampa Hotel and Gastronomy Entrepreneurial Association, an FEGHRA affiliate

José Carlos de Santiago - ESPAÑA / SPAIN
President of the Excelencias Group

Felipe Pulla Piedrabuena - ESPAÑA / SPAIN
President of the Castile La Mancha Thermal Water Association and Vice President of Campo de Calatrava Municipality Commonwealth

Joaquín Arnó Porras - ESPAÑA / SPAIN
President of the Catalonia Thermal Water Villa Trust and Vice President of the Thermal Water Villa Chapter within the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces

Fabio Tadeu Lazzerini - BRASIL / BRAZIL
Vice President of the World Thermal Water Organization and Chief of the Brazilian Society of Thermal Waters

Mario Alejandro Noriega Aguilera - MÉXICO / MEXICO
Director General of the Tourism Trusteeship in the state of Morelos

Miguel Angel Pulido – COLOMBIA
General Manager of Medical Tourism in Colombia’s Ministry of Health Tourism and Foreign Trade

Antonio Garaloces Paz - ESPAÑA
President of Balnearios de Galicia, the leading Spanish community in the use of thermal waters

Guido Fernando Calderón - ECUADOR
Director de Traffic News, one of Ecuador’s top mass media organizations

Alberto Ravalli - ARGENTINA
Former Vice President of the Argentina Hotel and Gastronomy Federation (FEHGRA)