"This is an event of extraordinary importance because it makes visible a notable area of traditions, of our popular culture. The décima is alive among us. It is alive in the singers, improvisers, its written form...," said Minister of Culture Alpidio Alonso about the Cucalambeana Fiesta, who for the first time is attending the Guateque Mayor since he is in office.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- The head of the sector congratulated the authorities, artists, and Las Tunas people, for maintaining the event annually, even amid the difficult conditions that the country is going through. "One of the features that distinguishes this festival is that it has a great level of great attendance. Poets from different generations and provinces of the country come, the best of our creation in décima. It also involves musicians, plastic artists, and cultural figures from other countries. Las Tunas becomes a place of attendance. And not only do the creators enjoy the event, people also celebrate it, starting from communities," he added.

The author of the collection of poems Tótem also expressed his joy at "seeing very young poets writing extraordinary décimas." In addition, he admired that it is not an event that stays only in traditional spaces, since it goes out to the neighborhood and encourages popular exchange. "We must continue to defend the Cucalambeana Fiesta. This is an event of cultural resistance. At a time when the world is subject to fashions of all kinds, it is too important to promote pride in our own," he said.

Without ceasing to refer to the history of the national stanza, he described the diversity of voices appreciated in the revelry as "praiseworthy." "I have heard tunes from different country regions, in very different tones and themes. There are followers of both, oral and written décima, which respond to the work of the system of cultural houses, décima houses, and different cultural institutions. It is a tradition that has been sown in the soul of our people. We must continue to nurture that," he concluded.