Although stillness may seem to prevail, energy is quietly building across neighborhoods and communities as word spreads: Minas, in the province of Camagüey, has been selected to host Cuba’s official celebration of July 26 in 2025.

The date marks the anniversary of the 1953 assaults on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks—events that reignited Cuba’s struggle for sovereignty and later gave rise to the Cuban Revolution. Each year, the province or municipality chosen as the focal point of the commemoration receives national recognition.

Minas now holds that honor. Local leaders and residents are already preparing, guided by a commitment to both ambition and realism, given the country’s current economic context.

Optimism runs deep in this community, where long-standing resilience shapes today’s response to ongoing challenges. The recognition is a point of pride—but also a call to action.

Party Leadership Mobilizes Community

"Now, more than ever, our everyday routine is accelerating," said Gelsy Pacheco Puig, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba in Minas, in an interview with Adelante. "The agenda is expanding into a true race against time."

She noted that the honor reflects coordinated efforts between the Party, the government, and local communities.

"We’ve worked hard to strengthen unity, focusing on economic planning, agricultural production, and improving residents’ quality of life,” Pacheco Puig said. “There’s still a lot to do.”

Preparations include the repair and renovation of several community landmarks, including schools, the House of Culture, the local cinema, and the museum. Sports facilities are also being updated, with work nearing completion on a new boxing ring next to the stadium.

Commemoration as Catalyst

Beyond the symbolic significance of July 26, local leaders hope the occasion serves as a catalyst for deeper transformation. Pacheco Puig emphasized long-term goals such as reducing the municipal budget deficit and advancing essential infrastructure projects.

"We want people to feel like the protagonists of this July 26—because they truly are,” she said.

Some sectors, including Health and Communal Services, have already shown notable progress. But the Party secretary stressed that commitment remains high across all areas of local development.

“In Minas, we work every day,” she added. “We’ve earned recognition on three prior historical occasions, and we’re determined to rise to this one as well.”

Translated by Shelsia Alyeh del Pozo Milera (3^rd year English Language Student)

Corrected by Linet Acuña Quilez