Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Havana, Aug 4.- Pionero Magazine from Abril Publishing House will celebrate the 55th birthday of the beloved character Elpidio Valdés this Monday, August 4th, starting at 10:00 a.m. with a group of activities for girls and boys in this hot summer of 2025.
Defined by the director of the veteran publication, Aracelys Bedevia, as a party full of adventures and learning, the celebration will be held at the Abril bookstore (Prado 553 corner of Teniente Rey), in front of the National Capitol Building.
Today there will be drawing workshops, phrase competitions, screenings of animated shorts by Animados ICAIC where the mambí himself is the protagonist, as well as oral narration and many other surprises, she exclusively told the Cuban News Agency.
The so-called "pillo manigüero" (rascal from the manigua) was born in the pages of the then weekly Pionero, when the cover of August 4, 1970, announced for the next issue the comic strip Elpidio Valdés against Gum Market Company, she explained.
Although that was not the first story created by Juan Padrón with the character, nor was it even conceived to be the protagonist of what later became countless exploits, that date, the child readers saw for the first time that Mambi warrior, who quickly became a reference of intransigence, Creole wit, heroism and Cuban identity.
Bedevia also highlighted the invaluable collaboration of the "La Manigua" project, which, led by Silvia Padrón -daughter of the creative genius- has contributed to the safeguarding and restoration of the entire work of the famous cartoonist, both in paper format (periodicals) and cinematographic.
Some of the fully restored Elpidio Valdés shorts will also be part of the attractions this Monday, concluded the also experienced journalist. (Text and photo: ACN)
