Excelencias Group Delivers the 2013 Excelencias Awards

See Photo Gallery Follow us on Facebook and Twitter The Excelencias Group delivered the 2013 Excelencias Awards in Havana to a dozen Cuban boldface names and institutions for their outstanding contributions to the island nation’s sociocultural, economic and tourism fields. The ceremony was held on January 10, 2014, at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana. During her keynote remarks on behalf of the Excelencias Group to present the winners, Magda Resik highlighted the Excelencias Awards were founded in 2005 with a view to foster and encourage creative excellence in different fields of life and in several parts of the world. The 2013 Excelencias Awards for Cuba –they were handed out in January 2014- recognize the job of personalities and institutions with major achievements and successful management models which render in substantial contributions to the country’s spiritual and material life. At the same time, Mrs. Resik underscored the contribution and good auspices for the sake of the ceremony made by the National Museum of Fine Arts, Hotel Iberostar Parque Central, Los Portales S.A, Internacional Cubana de Tabacos (ICT), CubaRon S.A, Havana Club, MTG Export Import, Aires de Fiesta and Sociedad Juventud Asturiana. Right after that, Excelencias Group President Jose Carlos de Santiago thanked the winners of this year’s awards for putting prestige into the ceremony, together with businesspeople and officials from the travel industry, artists, intellectuals, members of the diplomatic corps, journalists and social communicators who also attended. Following the handing of the trophies and certificates to each and every one of the recipients, attendees enjoyed the performance of Cuban pianist and composer Alejandro Falcón, one of today’s most outstanding performers, who played several pieces from the national repertoire with a very personal jazz-like touch of his own. The list below shows the names of the personalities and institutions that won the 2013 Excelencias Awards: Dr. Eduardo Torres Cuevas For his valuable contributions and commitment to the research, comprehension and promotion of the homeland history from a contemporary view, coupled with the leadership of such prestigious institutions as the Cuban History Academy and the National Library of Cuba. Dr. Agustín Lage Dávila For his dedication to the advance of sciences in Cuba and for other achievements in the Center for Molecular Immunology, heading a highly competitive team that has reaped major outcomes in the battle against different diseases, especially cancer. Dr. Reynaldo González Zamora For his indispensable contribution to the national identity through essays, testimonials and novels of amazing prose and thorough historic and cultural research teeming with Cuban roguishness and mastery of the Spanish language. Dr. Roberto Fernández Retamar For his enthralling poetry and essays that rank among the finest in the Spanish-speaking world; for his passion for universal art and literature, let alone his actions as a cultural promoter of deep Cuban roots. His Excellency Sr. D. Juan Francisco Montalbán Carrasco For a thirty-year diplomatic career in which he has contributed to the advance of cooperation and economic policies and actions from his different positions, as well as to the strengthening of political, commercial and cultural relations with Latin American nations. Gaviota S.A. For its sustained ability in managing environment-friendly travel and tourism, the enjoyment of the country’s natural environments, and Cuba’s culture, heritage and identity. Flora y Fauna For its tireless effort in the protection and safeguarding of Cuba’s wildlife and flora; the encouragement of tourism-oriented, cultural and recreational actions, and the effective management of Cuba’s top ecosystems, all of them marked by exclusivity, good preservation and great biodiversity. Cubatur S.A. For being the country’s first travel agency, with sustained exclusivity and quality in terms of services, as well as professional and safe management of travel destination Cuba. Network of Cuban Heritage City Historian and Curator Offices For fostering the exchange and spread of knowledge and expertise in urban rehabilitation and heritage recovery for the sake of safeguarding Cuba’s living and historic heritage, with a close approach to local communities as the main caretakers, promoters and stakeholders of that preservation endeavor. National Museum of Fine Arts For having witnessed the evolution of the arts in the country and elsewhere by treasuring thousands of priceless artworks, as well as its contribution in the research, conservation and restoration of Cuba’s artistic heritage by safeguarding the island nation’s identity. Federation of Culinary Associations of the Republic of Cuba For supporting for over thirty years the advance of culinary culture in the Cuban population and the formation of thousands of chefs, cooks and gastronomes that today carry the burden of the island nation’s travel and tourism services. International Chef Jorge Luis Mendez For his contribution, from his professional, intellectual and teaching work, to the formation of new generations of gastronomes and his support to Cuba’s culinary traditions.