“I have always been committed to saying what I feel, to telling the truth, regardless of the risks,” said Tubal Páez Hernández, a renowned Cuban intellectual, who recently received the José Martí National Journalism Prize for lifetime achievement.
At the headquarters of the Union of Journalists of Cuba (UPEC) in Havana’s Vedado district, the jury, presided over by photojournalist Juvenal Balán Neyra, also a national award recipient in the sector, read the official statement recognizing the work of Páez Hernández, who led the organization for 20 years, held various management positions at Granma and Bohemia magazines, and reported on numerous occasions alongside Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro.
“The honor bestowed upon me today, which I deeply appreciate, is a way of thanking the profession and those who nominated me,” expressed the visibly moved honoree, who recalled anecdotes from his fruitful life and affirmed that these are times to say yes and to give one’s last breath.
The award ceremony will take place next Thursday, March 12, during the main event commemorating Cuban Press Day at the José Martí Memorial. This was announced during the press conference that also revealed the winners of the Juan Gualberto Gómez Awards for work of the year.
Mayelín del Sol, from Perla Visión in Cienfuegos; Oscar Salabarría, from Radio Rebelde in Villa Clara; Elsa Ramos, from Escambray Publishing House in Sancti Spíritus; Yordanis Morejón, also from Sancti Spíritus; Arístides Hernández, from Juventud Rebelde; and José Manuel Correa, from the Granma newspaper, won the awards for television, radio, print media and news agencies, hypermedia, graphic design, and photojournalism, respectively.
In the presence of Ricardo Ronquillo Bello, president of the organization, Juan Carlos Ramírez, vice president of the UPEC (Union of Cuban Journalists), commented that this year’s Cuban Press Day celebrations, which begin this Thursday with a pilgrimage to the tomb of Juan Gualberto Gómez in the Colón Cemetery, will be dedicated to Fidel Castro in the centennial year of his birth and to Pablo de la Torriente Brau, on the 125th anniversary of his birth and the 90th anniversary of his death in combat in Spain.
Tributes to women journalists, conferences, a softball game, a photographic exhibition by Roberto Salas, the presentation of the Félix Elmusa Award to professionals with more than 15 years of experience, and a meeting with young people dedicated to Pablo de la Torriente Brau are some of the activities included in the day’s events.
March 14th was established in Cuba as Cuban Press Day in honor of the newspaper Patria, founded by José Martí on that day in 1892, to unite Cubans around what he called the Necessary War.
IMAGE CREDIT: Bárbara Vasallo Photos: Omara García Mederos
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]
