«I am as excited as when, ten years ago, at the age of 22, for the first time I found myself sitting in the seats of Palazzo S. Giorgio and I asked myself: “but what am I doing here?”». It is an all-round Filippo Quartuccio who, in the Sala Monteleone of Palazzo Campanella in Reggio Calabria, presents his debut book, “A heart in movement”. These are 147 pages full of passion, emotions and commitment written by the municipal and metropolitan councilor of Reggio Emilia. And thanks to the questions and reflections of Daniela Scuncia and Raffaella Imbrìaco, the author managed to tell and talk about himself without filters.
“This book – explained Quartuccio – it is dedicated to the most important people for me, those in my family, and is written in the hope that it can be an inspiration for the new generations who want to concretely spend themselves for the territory”.
Ultimately, “A heart in motion” is the story of a child who finds himself an adult, carrying with him, like a Linus blanket, his own dreams, his own ideals but who, instead of desecrating them, sacrificing them on the altar of time and of awareness, he tried to turn them into reality. A connection that the nephew of the Delegate for Culture, a blond ferret who, between one run and another, shouts “hello uncle!”, seemed to have understood well.
Quartuccio’s political choice was determined by his experience in volunteering. «I met many people in that capacity – says the author -, but that young woman who, with dignity and reserve, approached the canteen particularly struck me. She had given away her wedding ring just to be able to buy something to feed the family. That day I decided that I would have to work to improve things.”
To embellish the event, the reading of some passages taken from the volume by the actor Fortunato Verduci and Benvenuto Marra, moderator of the evening. And so, between one question and another, Filippo Quartuccio talked about his first time at school, when he was the only child not to pull his mother’s arm to go home, but also about the importance of establishing a new pact education between parents and teachers that helps today’s children in their personal and social growth.
However, it is Pasquale Caprì who shuffles the cards who, in the role of mayor Giuseppe Falcomatà, brings smiles to everyone present and pushes the Metrocity culture delegate to tell a particular anecdote.
«During the first metropolitan council, relations with the First Citizen were not idyllic and when he decided to assign the delegations, he proposed the Civil Protection to me. I replied that I would only accept the delegation to culture because my history led me there. Falcomatà said no, but after two weeks he called me back to tell me that he had changed his mind.”
And his political adventure, as a young man with no experience, forced him to study and learn many things, starting from the difference between a resolution and a determination.
«Age does not represent a value if there is nothing behind it – he then underlined -. People must be valued for what they can give at any age. For this reason, I tell everyone to remember that we are normal people, engaged in institutional buildings, for a certain period of time, with the aim of doing the common good. Before insulting us on social media – he recommended -, remember this.”
We therefore go deeper, in search of the meaning of political commitment and its similarity with social commitment.
«The spirit that animates them is similar
– explained Quartuccio –, what is different is the intrinsic responsibility of the commitment itself, a heavier burden to carry in politics. The concept
– he then added – is that you can spend yourself for others if you have an important background of values to support you, which is essential if you want to become people of value for others.”
In this sense, a phrase taken from “A Heart in movement” is significant: “In dealing with the community, an indispensable aspect is the idea that there will never be a right of possession over what we will do, what we will have done, but of gift.”
And so, to the question “have you ever thought about giving up everything?”, Filippo Quartuccio replies: «Many times I have thought about resigning, because not being able to achieve what you would like is frustrating. I assure you, however, that it is often not a matter of lack of will but of endless bureaucratic processes. At 22 For years you’ve been thinking about changing the world, now I understand that you have to not only try to achieve something but succeed.”
The final gloss is a prayer to the whole city, starting from his acquaintances: «When you meet me, always ask “What are they saying at Palazzo S. Giorgio?” or “What does the mayor do?”. Well, every now and then it would be nice to hear a “How are you?”… we need it too.”
