Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Camagüey, Dec 31- Bárbara Suárez Ávalos, or rather, Baby Progreso, as she's called by those close to her, surprised everyone at the tribute paid to her at the XVIII Young Creators Fair Golpe a Golpe.The journalist confessed that, as a child, she dreamed of being a flamenco dancer. She never imagined herself on a stage with a hair comb and castanets, but life had another dance prepared for her: a choreography of passions, unexpected turns, and a commitment to the stories of her land.
The event, called "Estrechando Espacio" (Narrowing Space), delved deep into the life of the winner of the 2022 Rolando Ramírez Provincial Prize for Life's Work. She began at the newspaper Adelante, but in 1984, two years after graduating, she had to change course to Radio Cadena Agramonte. Later, she spent 15 years at the Cuban News Agency (formerly the National Information Agency), and since 2000, she has been a correspondent for Radio Progreso in Camagüey.
She grew up in Senado, Minas, with the smell of molasses permeating the air. She said that smell stayed with her as a metaphor for her roots and her essence. "There I learned what it means to be connected to the ground that sustains you, to the people who work and produce, to the stories that deserve to be told," she explained.
In her childhood, along with her dog Laica, with whom she would escape to a nearby stream, she learned what freedom meant and the connection to a simple life. This early connection with animals marked her life and her way of understanding empathy and care for all creatures. Perhaps that's why her journalism has always had a human touch, a mixture of sensitivity and authenticity that many admire.
Her father, a tradesman at the Noel Fernández sugar mill, taught her the value of hard work. Her mother, dedicated to caring for the family, instilled in her sensitivity and empathy, virtues that have nurtured her vision as a professional. But perhaps her greatest accomplice has been her sister. "She and I were (are) inseparable."
Amid laughter, she recalled the day her university application said "Chemistry" instead of Journalism. "I almost died!" she said, laughing. But destiny led her to newsrooms, first at the newspaper Adelante and then, by chance, to the radio. "Radio captivated me," she confessed, acknowledging that this medium is her refuge, where her voice creates invisible but powerful bridges.
And for her, journalism is a privilege: "You can talk to a great artist like Carlos Acosta or Aurora Bosch, but also to a farm worker in Camalote. Both have something to teach us." In her words, there is a deep admiration for everyday stories, those that build the true narrative of a country.
Indeed, her life has been a mixture of elements that she could have learned in those chemistry classes she feared. But instead of experiments with test tubes, Baby has combined passion, humanity, and commitment to create something special: a career that puts heart into every story, a legacy that inspires.
In one of the most surprising moments of the tribute, she shared her experience in Vietnam, a trip that, according to her, marked a before and after in her worldview. "Seeing the resilience of a people who transformed pain into strength was an unforgettable lesson," she commented.
That's why the radio has become more than a workplace; it's her way of connecting with the world. For Baby, radio is an intimate and powerful space, where voices count as much as words. "Radio has something magical: even though they don't see you, they feel that you are there, sharing their moment."
For someone like her, whose archive is her living memory, the dilemma of preservation takes on a special meaning. As a correspondent for Radio Progreso, a national station that doesn't provide her with an office, her home has been her workspace and her archive, a place where documents, recordings, and notes intermingle with personal memories. "My office is my home."
Another topic she addressed with sincerity was her relationship with her voice, that instrument that becomes the calling card of any radio journalist.
"At first, I didn't like how it sounded," she recalled, remembering the criticism about her diction at the beginning of her career. But over time, she learned to shape her voice, to make it her own, until it became a powerful means to convey emotions and stories. She also spoke of the voices she admires in her colleagues, those she considers "iconic" for their warmth, precision, and ability to connect with listeners. "The voice is a bridge," she affirmed, "and every day I try to make mine as strong as possible."
In Bárbara Suárez Ávalos, we discovered a voice that not only tells stories but also lives them, breathes them, and transforms them into art. That's why the tribute concluded with a well-deserved recognition and an invitation not to abandon music or dance. "Because life is also that, a party you have to know how to dance," someone from the audience said, eliciting applause.
The event also included a special recognition from the director of the provincial cultural institution, Golpe a Golpe, Yunielkis Naranjo Guerra. Flowers adorned the atmosphere, like a sweet trap that caught the eye. Baby, always modest, smiled and thanked everyone with a character that defines her. "These flowers are not only for me, they are for all those who have accompanied me on this path," she said, receiving applause from an emotional audience.
The closing was marked by the music of Yicel Acosta, a final touch that captured the essence of the celebration. Music has always accompanied her, like the flamenco she dreamed of dancing as a child. Today she celebrates with the certainty that every sacrifice, every sleepless night, is worthwhile to make it clear that her passion remains intact: "And all of this is done for and by the people, because their stories deserve to be told." (Yanetsy León González/Adelante Digital) (Photos: Humberto Cid González/Radio Cadena Agramonte)
