The thrilling return of a Galician from Cuba: he left at 25 and returns at 100

Gonzalo Nova, a 100-year-old Galician emigrant, returned this week to his hometown from Cuba as part of the Family Reunions program, promoted by the Xunta de Galicia. Born in Narón, Nova emigrated to Havana in 1951, when he was 25 years old and had completed his military service.

“I am happy. When I emigrated from Cuba, Galicia was poor and I wanted to prosper”, he stated to La Voz de Galicia upon his arrival at Peinador Airport in Vigo. Accompanied by his Cuban wife, María Luisa Pérez, and his son Enrique, Nova will spend fifteen days in Carballiño and two more weeks with relatives.

In Cuba, Gonzalo was a teacher at a polytechnic institute and founded a workshop to manufacture tools for hospitals. “I worked in technological schools. Many of them I no longer remember because one of my biggest problems is my memory,” the centenarian remarked in an interview with Galician media after arriving.

Before emigrating, he worked as a lathe operator in the shipyards of Ferrol: “I worked, for example, in the shipyard of Ferrol del Caudillo and I started working as a lathe operator in the shipyards there in Ferrol, that’s what I remember and the family, of course,” he said, visibly emotional.

The return has also been a time for family reunions. When asked what he wanted to do now that he was back, he replied, "Go to Valencia, because my daughter is there in Valencia."

His wife, María Luisa, a philologist by profession, mentioned that they have been married for 56 years. Both appreciated the medical care on the island: “In Cuba, there are good geriatricians in the hospitals, and they take great care of us.” Their son, Enrique, works as an IT specialist in a hospital. They also have a daughter, Judit, who lives in Miami. According to María Luisa, “our daughter is considering returning to Spain,” and they do not wish to travel to Miami “because of Trump.”

Gonzalo Nova was part of one of the groups of over 200 people who arrived this week in Galicia from countries such as Cuba, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela. The program Reunions with Family, funded by the General Secretariat of Emigration of the Xunta, covers travel expenses, accommodation, and lodging in leisure residences such as Panxón and Carballiño.

"It is only fair that they can see their families again after many years without doing so. It is an opportunity for them, as they do not forget the land," expressed the Secretary General of Emigration, Antonio Rodríguez Miranda, who was present to welcome the participants at the airport.

This type of program is part of a broader strategy by the Galician government to support the return of citizens living abroad. During a visit to Havana in March, Miranda presented the Retorna Cualifica Emprego program, an initiative that allows Galician emigrants to return to Galicia with a job contract signed from their country of residence.

On that same day, held in front of about 500 people in the Cuban capital, academic scholarships were also announced for those not of working age and financial assistance for vulnerable families remaining on the island. According to official data, Cuba is the third country with the highest number of citizens of Galician origin, with a figure close to 50,000 residents.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Return of Galician Emigrants and the Family Reunification Program