Centennial of broadcaster Manolo Ortega celebrated

December 1, 2021

A survivor of the Battle of the Ebro (August 1937) as a combatant in the Spanish Civil War, the native of Avila, Manolo Ortega Romero, turns one hundred years old this November 28th, and I write turns, not would turn, because he is a reference point for broadcasting in Cuba who remains alive for those of us who saw him and enjoyed him, and in those whom he was a teacher.

Originally from the Capital of broadcasting in Cuba, he emigrated very young with his parents to Spain, and there he fought for the Republic and ended up in a concentration camp in fascist France. Thanks to the intervention of the Cuban consul, he left for Havana in 1939 on the steamship Orduña.

He worked as a cleaner, assistant in a photographic laboratory and messenger until he was able to get hired at a store and improved his economic situation. He lived during that time in a little house that the Popular Socialist Party, PSP, provided for him, because he was a member of their youth organization.

Precisely in 1940 he began at CMCA, owned by socialist youth, hosting the program Youth Hour, with a political orientation. That was his beginning as a broadcaster.

An tireless reader, Manolo achieved impeccable diction, a refined style and very personal signature.

His way of speaking opened the way for him to other radio stations: CMBF, CMZ, Radio García Sierra, and Mil Diez, of the PSP which he considered "a true school." There he interacted with intellectuals like Félix Pita Rodríguez, Marcos Behmaras, Paco Alfonso, actress Raquel Revuelta, musician Adolfo Guzmán and other figures from the artistic world. At that station he wrote the program Radio Madness, but the day Behmaras wrote a script he gave it to him, because he understood that the other was a tremendous writer.

He was a sports narrator alongside Ibrahim Urbino, which earned him the distinction of rookie of the year awarded by the newspaper Hoy. He composed songs that were performed, for example, by Elena Burque and Marta Justiniani. He was so passionate about song that they nicknamed him Mister Feeling.

After Mil Diez was raided by the government of Carlos Prío Socarrás, Manolo went to work at the radio station COCO, owned by Guido García Inclán, in the political satire program Cuba in Flames.

He returned to CMBF, which was now part of the CMQ Network, located in Radiocentro. And on December 18, 1950, when Channel 6 (CMQ Television) was inaugurated, the stellar broadcaster participated in the opening program Tension on Channel 6, with a script by Behmaras.


Manolo Ortega Romero. Photo: Icrt Archive

Undoubtedly, he was the best broadcaster. The Hatuey brewery hired him as exclusive broadcaster starting January 5, 1951 and he worked in other commercial programs: the Regalías Cabaret and Here Everyone Does Everything, are two examples.

The same man who with relish drank Hatuey beer, had participation in the clandestine struggle and was registered with the BRAC (Repressive Bureau of Communist Activities).

A man consistent with his times, in June 1960, he resigned from his contract as exclusive broadcaster of CMQ Television and Hatuey. He began working for only 500 pesos, at Televisión Revolución, as Channel 2 was renamed. He moderated the program in which the young Fidel Castro, then Prime Minister of the Revolutionary Government, regularly appeared. From then on he would be the broadcaster of revolutionary Cuba for almost 30 years. Bay of Pigs, October Crisis, Harvests, mercenary attacks and on November 2, 1961 he inaugurated, along with Eddy Martin, the National Television News. He had the pleasure and honor of being Fidel's usual presenter for almost 30 years.

Founder of Battalion 120 of the National Revolutionary Militias; machete worker in numerous sugar harvests; activist and grassroots leader of the Communist Party, he deserved the Distinction for National Culture, the Alejo Carpentier Medal, the honorary title of Hero of Work of the Republic of Cuba and the medals of clandestinity and internationalist, respectively.


Manolo Ortega Romero. Photo: Icrt Archive

Hortensia Soto was his wife. They met at the Mil Diez radio station, and for Cubans she was "Little Star, our sweet and good Little Star," from the mythical program Friend and his Little Friends.

With such a rich life in the professional, social and political spheres it is worth then lighting 100 little candles for Manolo Ortega, Fidel's broadcaster.