Actuality

He was born on February 25, 1931, assisted by midwife Venancia Pérez, then owner of the house, initially built of adobe and guano, which was located on 5th Street, No. 25, between 12 and 14, in Santa Lucía (Rafael Freyre) (according to current address), although his inscription states that it was on April 8 of that year, which was due to "his father's bad memory" when he registered him at the age of 8 in order to be able to enroll him in public school.

He attended up to the fourth grade at the boys' school in Santa Lucia. His childhood was quite hard, in 1945 he left for Havana. He left with the idea of reuniting with his grandmother and father, who had been living for some time in the house of his aunt Esther, who was in a better economic situation with the owners of the construction company Albarrán y Bibal. Once in Havana, he initially started working through his aunt at the Albarrán y Bibal Company. He first worked as an apprentice and then as a bricklayer. The adolescent, since his arrival in Marianao, began a sincere friendship with his neighbors, Mrs. Mercedes Valdés and her son Hugo Camejo. Mercedes, a Mariana of the first half of the 50's, orthodox and friend of Fidel, undoubtedly influenced Rafael as she did her son, feeding the idea of change for progress that already existed in the teenager's mind.
For various reasons he worked at different jobs while striving for self-improvement. For a long time, as a complement to his main salary, he worked with Hugo and Mercedes in a kiosk in the Coco Solo roof. Finally Esther recommends him to the owners of the roof and he stays working there as a cart driver until his departure.
He begins his preparation for the fight in commando and shooting practice at the University and already in June of 53 he does it in several farms. The clandestine meetings were held at the Valdes' house in Marianao. He leaves for Santiago de Cuba before Carnival.
In the morning hours of July 25, several machines circulate in the neighborhood. In one of them, an Oldsmobile driven by Pedro Celestino Aguilera, Rafael departs.
His death is confirmed on July 27, 1953.

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