At 7:30 pm on August 7, the book of condolences for the death of colleague Leonardo Mastrapa was opened at the Casa de la Prensa in Las Tunas. Thus it still remains, so that the workers of the media, and friends come to pay tribute posthumously.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- This Friday it will close its pages to be delivered to the family. They are the best possible guardians of our love.

A photo of him, taken a day like any other, presides over the space next to the flowers that pray: “On behalf of all journalists from Las Tunas.” Leafing through the messages written so far makes us partakers of such a varied panorama of affections, as can only come from a good soul, proof of years, complicity and passion.

Claims before the sudden departure, memories of young years, anecdotes of times gone by, requests for eternal company, affectionate nicknames, late scolding and the everlasting question: how will we do without you?

It has also been difficult to closely follow the flood of messages that have reached us through social media. A latent sample of how much this son of San Manuel, whom a dear colleague defined as "the storm and the backwater", has been loved, respected and pampered by all of us who had the enormous fortune of knowing him.