Personalities from the history of Los Arabos

Insigne Patriot of Los Arabos Clotilde García Morejón (1876-16.8. 1896). Calixto García Martínez, assailant at the Bayamo barracks on 7/26/1953, expeditionary of the Granma Yacht, Combatant of the Sierra Maestra, member of the Freedom Caravan that passed through Los Arabos on 7/1-1959. Moisés Sio Wong, a native of San Pedro de Mayabón, one of the 3 Generals of Chinese origin, in the last stage of our libertarian struggles. Zenén Ramírez Vieito. Combatant from the Sierra Maestra, Member of Column No. 1 under the command of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, member of the Freedom Caravan that passed through Los Arabos on 7/1-1959. José María Duarte Oquendo (6.1.1912- 11.4.1958), Gregorio Carine Rivero (24.11.1911 -24.10. 1958), Jesús Mondéjar Chávez (20.5.1922-18.5.1962) murdered in the 1950s for collaborating with the M- 26_7. Pedrito Morejón Quintana stabbed by a counterrevolutionary gang (28.1.1941-21.2.1961) and Sofiel Riverón López, martyr of Girón (29.10.1940-18.4.1961). Anacario Cipriano Mondejar Soto (Ninón Mondejar) (Finca Semillero, Los Arabos 8.10.1914-Havana 27.1.2006), musician of international stature, founder of the América orchestra.

The July 26 movement in Los Arabos

The July 26 movement in Los Arabos was created in October 1955 in the Zorrilla power plant, headed by José Emiliano Duarte Comas and made up of: Juan Morejón Pomares and other colleagues. In mid-1958, a small group led by Edilio Díaz Crespo, named Mario Muñoz, rose to the river La Palma and had 43 men. The uprising had the support of workers and family members of the Zorrilla plant, which made it possible for this guerrilla group to resist, which played an important role in the fight. The workers at the Vila family's footwear factory made boots for them. They were also supported by some pharmacists with medications. They acted according to the guidelines of the provincial leadership of the July 26 movement. As they sabotaged the November elections, they cut off the electricity and telegraph fluids, they spread argallatas on the roads and streets. The most notable actions were: the sabotage of the ¨Minguino¨ passenger train (17.12.1958) to destabilize the only means of transportation frequented by the rural guard, the assault on the Zorrilla rural guard post, and the town of San José de Los Ramos. As a form of retaliation for the revolutionary advance in the area, the henchmen hanged Gregorio Carine Rivero (24.10.1958) on the Vesubio estate in the current Villa Clara territory, leaving the body of the Minguino train behind the body of José Garcerán Vera, who had been assassinated in Ceiba Mocha, near Matanzas (12/17/1958), and other revolutionaries vilely massacred elsewhere. These events contributed to the unity of the July 26 movement and the guerrillas. Between 1959-1961 Batista fled abroad. The Revolution had triumphed.

29.7.1936

He was born in Cienaguilla, Campechuela Granma municipality, the son of Augusta and Antonio, of peasant origin.

His working life begins at an early age together with 16 brothers, on a farm where they worked the land and raised cattle.

In November 1957 he joined the Rebel army in column number 7, under the command of Francisco Fuentes, carrying out different actions: ambushes, burning of cane, collection of weapons and ammunition, and livestock. During the tyranny offensive he passes under the command of Captain Ignacio in Column 1 under the command of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, where he continues until the triumph of the Revolution. He participated in different battles: El Jigüe, Sao Grande, and Jiguaní.

(1939-11.2.2010)

He was born in San Pedro De Mayabón in 1939, Los Arabos municipality, Matanzas.

Being the son of Chinese parents and Cuban mother. He died on February 11, 2010. He was a Cuban military man, Brigadier General, member of the Political Bureau of the PCC. One of the three revolutionary Generals of Chinese origin.

In 1947 his family moved to Havana since his father suffered a stroke. In the capital the family set up a cafeteria to later enter the institute in Havana.

Born on the Tría farm, land he occupies in the José Martí Agricultural Production Cooperative, on December 27, 1928. He completed his first studies at the San Rafael de Guachinango Primary School. He graduated agricultural teacher in 1949, at the Boyeros Ranch Agricultural Institute, Havana. Back in his native land and finding no job in his profession, he returned to Havana where he worked at the Johson Drug Store, as an assistant to the Packaging Department, where he was surprised by the coup d'etat of March 10, 1952. Along with Other young people went to the University of Havana to unsuccessfully restore the broken Constitution. Through Ñico López he met Fidel Castro Ruz. He joined a cell of the M-26-7, from which he participated in shooting practice, in which he met Raúl Castro Ruz.