Economic Society of Friends of the Country Honors National Figures with Awards

As part of its solemn General Assembly, the Economic Society of Friends of the Country, a Cuban civil society institution, presented several awards to prominent national figures.

The assembly, held to commemorate the 232nd anniversary of the non-governmental organization, was presided over by Dr. Zoila Benítez de Mendoza, the Society’s director; Dr. Armando Rodríguez Batista, Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment; Dr. Luis Velázquez Pérez, President of the Cuban Academy of Sciences; Luis Enrique Ramos, Secretary of SEAP; and journalist Fernando Rodríguez Sosa, President of the Society’s Culture Section, who also hosted the event.

For the first time in its history, the Familia Patria Award was presented to the Rodríguez González family, comprised of the renowned singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez, his wife, flutist and clarinetist Niurka González Núñez, and their daughter, Malva Rodríguez González, also a musician.

The award was inspired by an old idea of Cuban philosopher José de la Luz y Caballero, one of the distinguished members of the Society in its early years.

In his acceptance speech, Silvio Rodríguez expressed gratitude to SEAP leadership, saying, “There are many Cuban families who deserve this award—in science, other fields, and professions. In music, I quickly think of the Romeu, López-Gavilán Junco García, Lay, Vitier García-Marruz Rodríguez, Alfonso Valdés, and Formell families.

“On behalf of Malva, Niurka, and myself, I thank you for this award, which honors and inspires us to be an even better family for our nation.”

During the same assembly, the Samuel Feijóo Lifetime Achievement Award was granted to poet and essayist Nancy Morejón. This distinction honors literary figures whose work reflects themes of nature and the environment.

Additionally, the Francisco de Arango y Parreño Award was presented to Dr. Jorge Núñez Jover, President of SEAP’s Economics and Sciences Section. Dr. Jorge Renato Ibarra Guitar, a historian with a Ph.D. in Historical Sciences, was also honored with the Félix Varela Award, bestowed by SEAP’s Social Sciences Section.