The central remarks in honor of National Rebellion Day will be made by Second Party Secretary and Vice President of the Councils of State and Minister José Ramón Machado Ventura.

Cubavisión, Cubavisión Internacional, Radio Rebelde, Radio Progreso, and Radio Habana Cuba will broadcast the event live, and Cubavisión will repeat the recorded program at 8:30 pm, tomorrow evening.

(Granma)

At that time, Francisco resolved the problem with the help of young men, who would wake up neighbors with horns, whistles and bangles, calling them to attend the mass.

That’s how the celebrations which began in Remedios in 1820, and over time, eventually became one of the most long-standing and popular festivals in the country, later spreading to another 17 cities and towns across the island.

The December 24 celebrations see two neighborhoods compete every year: San Salvador and El Carmen, which as soon as the bells of the Iglesia Parroquial Mayor sound at 9pm, unveil their creative works adorning plazas and floats.

Displays are kept a secret throughout the year until the moment of the unveiling, at which point they are accompanied by a torrent of fireworks, sparklers, flares and traditional music by each group, all of which combine to create a spectacle attended by thousands of fans of these celebrations, who travel to Remedios from around Cuba and the world, attracted not only by the parrandas but also by the history and traditions of a city which last year celebrated its 500th anniversary.

There are only three hotels – the Mascotte, Barceló, and Camino del Príncipe offering a total of 60 rooms – for tourists visiting the eighth villa founded by the Spanish in Cuba; an insufficient number to accommodate international and national visitors who arrive to the colonial city, according to Regla Dayamí Armenteros, Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) representative in Villa Clara.

For the Ministry, the solution to this problem has been to collaborate with the city’s network of 101 privately-run bed and breakfasts, 60 of which have strong links with the state, noted Armenteros.

Both parties are committed to meeting clients’ needs, which is why we collaborate, rather than compete, a relationship which has enabled us to meet growing accommodation and restaurant demand, among others, noted the Mintur representative, speaking to Granma International.

(Granma)

Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, May 25 (Prensa Latina) Heavy rain battering the central province of Sancti Spiritus have caused flooding, landslides, and evacuation of thousands of people

Rainfall that hit the country in recent days is particularly severe in this province, whose affected areas were visited by the Chief of National Civil Defense,

Major General Ramon Pardo Guerra.

The local Defense Council said they evacuated about 7,000 people living in areas close to the Zaza Dam, the largest in Cuba, whose waters level near full capacity, about one billion cubic meters.

A communiqué from the

National Headquarters of Civil Defense said today that two people were missing while trying to cross swollen rivers.

Also the neighboring province of Ciego de Avila has recently suffered inclement weather.

According to authorities, they are taken steps to protect the population and the economy in those threaten areas.