Francisca de Armas Fonseca

Cuban journalist, specialized in cultural topics, fundamentally in cinema, radio and television in Cuba. She was a close collaborator of the digital newspaper La Jiribilla and the television website portal. She served as Editor-in-Chief of Somos Jóvenes Magazine, El Caimán Barbudo Magazine, in the latter she also served as director.

She graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Oriente in 1977.

The first thing she studied was Physics and Mathematics, the teaching profession. And she was very good in those sciences, so much so that the first thing she published was a kind of story with the title "Look, the glass is sweating," about the process of evaporation and condensation of water. She could not finish the degree because she could not handle the burden of teaching, because for every student who got a low grade or failed, it seemed like a defeat to her. Some time later, she became ill and was given a leave of absence.

To keep from doing nothing, she started working as a proofreader for the newspaper "Ahora," in her native Holguín. There she had an excellent teacher in Cuqui Pavón.

What attracted Paquita Armas Fonseca most about journalism was learning. For her, it meant a stressful career, but it gave her much satisfaction.

Dr. Adolfina Cossío, considered by Paquita one of the best teachers she has had, and she has had many excellent ones. One day when she was calling roll in the classroom and said her name, she told her: "Call me Paquita, please. That will be until I change my name." She looked at her and at the next class during recess, she told her to come closer. She carried a book with the origin and meaning of names. She pointed to a page and saw "Francisca, of Teutonic origin and means freedom." The Dr. added: "I don't know anyone who loves freedom more than you do, so don't change your name." That's why when she uses a pseudonym she signs "Libertad."

She was editor-in-chief of Somos Jóvenes Magazine and "Caimán Barbudo," to the latter she was united by a special affinity: for two years, she served as Editor-in-Chief and, for another three years, she directed it. A lustrum —between 1983 and 1988 which after the years she remembers with satisfaction. She also collaborated on the Website of the magazine "La Jiribilla."

Her texts on Marxism have appeared in Caimán Barbudo, La Jiribilla, Juventud Rebelde, Bohemia, and in publications in other countries, in Spain, Mexico and Ecuador.

She covered all the conferences of the cycle: Carlos Marx and the Challenges of the 21st Century. She is co-author of Embassy of Peru: Analysis of a Propaganda Campaign, from the political publisher (1983).
"Moro, the Great Party Pooper" (a biography of Carlos Marx)

In 1991 the first edition of "Moro, el gran aguafiestas" appeared through the Pablo de la Torriente publishing house, translated and published in 1996 in Galician language by the publisher, Laiovento, under the title "Mouro o etreno rebelde." In 1993 "La vida en cuadrito" came to light, Pablo de la Torriente publishing house. In 1998 Páez publishes, an authentic hope against cancer, books of testimonies worked by the Lumen publishing house in 2003.

Articles Published in Caimán Barbudo
It does no good to be fundamentalist.
The reason for a preference.
Amaury puts heart and all his energy.
The 60th of "the Big Screen."
Liudmila, the prodigious shoemaker.
A microphone is not a runway or a stick.
Three moments of current Cuban cinema.
A history of injustices and triumphs.

Articles Published on the Cubarte Portal
Roberto Chile: The camera became the passion of my life *The soap opera doesn't have to be banal and frivolous
Ian Padrón, director of Habanastation: I will be careful with the success of this film
A good attempt to bring reality to Cuban TV
With Guille Vilar: "It does no good to be fundamentalist"*Eslinda Núñez: The mystery of an actress guided by simplicity
Titón's poems*With a new structure and dedicated to Rufo Caballero
And yet it moves: Rudy Mora's first film
Between the experiential and the dreamlike
Napoleon in López Nieves' sight
The little room looks the same 30 years later
A whirlwind of ghosts for Cremata "I think every day about light and framing"
A Diana in the controversy
On the radio: Routine can be dangerous
Inti Herrera: Cinema would die if it doesn't evolve
Is television for everyone?
Ian Padrón: Making cinema is my life
Lars Von Trier in Havana
Humor the greatest wealth of San Antonio de los Baños
A revealed face
The bells toll for you, Chávez
On the other side of Hollywood
Martí: To reach ourselves
Dancing, an act of rebellion
Book of doubt and desire
Here is the chest, woman
Road to providence

Future Thinking
At that time Paquita said that first is to live with a sound mind in a body more or less without problems. If that first project is fulfilled then I will continue writing about television, cinema, literature, philosophy and social issues and I will finish my biographical approach to Federico Engels.

Recognition
Distinction for National Culture,
Various Caracol Awards
July 26th Prize.