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Santiago Ramírez Frías, one of the most renowned journalists from Cárdenas, Matanzas, passed away this Friday, leaving a deep void in the city’s news history and in the hearts of those who grew up listening to his voice on the microphones of Radio Ciudad Bandera for over half a century.
The user Christian Arbolaez announced his departure on Facebook with a message that summed up what Frías meant to Cárdenas: "There are people you feel will always be there. Not because they are immortal, but because their voice becomes part of the life of a community."
Frías began his career in radio as an audio operator, when, according to Arbolaez, "radio was made with patience, discipline, and passion."
After graduating in Journalism from the University of Havana, he became one of the most recognizable voices in the city, with a distinctive tone and a constant presence in the news spaces that transformed him into a part of the Cardenense identity.
For more than five decades, it accompanied thousands of listeners from the microphones of Radio Ciudad Bandera, the oldest active broadcasting station in Cuba.
He was remembered for riding through the city's streets on his bicycle in pursuit of news, sending reports to the radio and other provincial media, covering a variety of topics.
"His name is forever linked to the history of Radio Ciudad Bandera and to a generation of professionals who understood journalism as a service to the people," emphasized Arbolaez.
Even after retiring, he continued collaborating with the station until October 2020, when his contract was terminated due to a lack of financial resources.
Frías himself explained it clearly years later: "They closed the contracts. They said they didn't have money to pay me. Covid didn't stop me. In the end, you have to go out on the street to seek everything; how could I not do it to work?"
According to Arbolaez, his final years were marked by a painful reality: he lived modestly on a pension that barely covered his basic needs.
This was confirmed by several colleagues who visited him at home some time ago, and they were moved by his situation. "Some spoke of the loneliness he faced. Others lamented that individuals who dedicated their entire lives to public service ended up facing financial difficulties."
On that occasion, the veteran journalist expressed gratitude for the financial support received, but "confessed that what he needed most was to know that they still remembered him."
Frías held the title of Illustrious Son of Cárdenas, and in March 2024, during the celebrations of the Cuban Press Day at the Sauto Theater in Matanzas, he was presented with the seal "60th Anniversary of the Union of Journalists and Writers of Cuba" (UPEC).
On that same occasion, the newspaper Girón described him as a "beacon for the new pines" and emphasized that his journey transcended the geographical boundaries of Cárdenas.
Arbolaez concluded his tribute with a reflection that will stand as an epitaph for a life devoted to the craft: "A community should not wait for its voices to fade away to remember how much they meant."
The death of Frías adds to a list of figures in Cuban journalism and radio who have passed away in recent years, such as the renowned radio host and director Jorge Luis Michelena, who passed away in February 2025, and the Santiago journalist Sonia Franco, who passed away in May of that year.
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