Omar Quintero, the Promise Keeper, Arrives at El Cobre

March 15, 2022

Omar Quintero has finally arrived at El Cobre, and with him Buena Fe, whose consistency between words and actions does not surprise us. We return to the video several times and see that, before our eyes, there are two promise keepers presented to us. At the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, in Santiago de Cuba, a special moment took place yesterday.

In its respectable grounds, a song was heard toward the afternoon that, by force of having made it vibrate, the entire Island knows by heart. The main voice is sung and those present join in, witnesses to the fulfillment of a fact that was born as a religious promise, a balm that in his faith seeks to relieve a father suffering before the precarious health of his son.

The video transcends on the Buena Fe duo's Facebook page. Within an hour of being posted there, it has 2,800 reactions, 557 comments, and has been shared 867 times. While it moves us to see it, one wants to wrap with their eyes the emotion of the promise keeper, as Omar Quintero Montes de Oca has come to be called, the 56-year-old man who left his home in Marianao two months ago with his cart that holds the image of the Little Virgin, to arrive on foot at El Cobre, and fulfill the vows offered. "At El Cobre in Santiago de Cuba, with Omar, a man who has united us in faith in the love of life. A brave man," says the text that heads the publication we see, again and again, and in which Israel sings, embraced by the promise keeper, the song Valientes, which has become an anthem of Cuban doctors in their fight against the pandemic; the same one that Omar, about 15 days ago, requested from the group, which would have had no way to deny him. "We have been in communication with Omar. He asked us if he would like to enter to pay his promise with the song Valientes, to the Little Virgin of Charity of El Cobre in Santiago de Cuba," reads from February 26 on the page's wall. "We alerted him that our presence there could attract the attention of interests foreign to his humanitarian and beautiful sacrifice, as they have been in charge of demonizing us day after day in digital media. His response was categorical: 'For me it will be an honor to have you with me at that moment.' See you in Santiago!" concludes the post. Omar's moving journey has reached its destination, witnessed by many Cubans of noble and compassionate soul. Many good compatriots have offered him, upon seeing him pass, lodging, affection, help. Omar Quintero has finally arrived at El Cobre, and with him Buena Fe, whose consistency between words and actions does not surprise us.

We return to the video several times and see that, before our eyes, there are two promise keepers presented to us. What am I doing here? / Loving this country as I love myself… In a moment of moist emotion, Omar presses his face to Israel's chest, who continues raising the song…

We all sing with him. Those present and those who would like, as good Cubans, to be wherever a compatriot suffers. Israel sums up the feeling that grips us in a phrase from his song, which he reinforces with strong emphasis: "We are the same humanity…" After this interval the air gets stuck. Applause breaks the scene and seals it. At the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, in Santiago de Cuba, a special moment took place yesterday. In its respectable grounds, a song was heard toward the afternoon that, by force of having made it vibrate, the entire Island knows by heart.

The main voice is sung and those present join in, witnesses to the fulfillment of a fact that was born as a religious promise, a balm that in his faith seeks to relieve a father suffering before the precarious health of his son. The video transcends on the Buena Fe duo's Facebook page. Within an hour of being posted there, it has 2,800 reactions, 557 comments, and has been shared 867 times.

While it moves us to see it, one wants to wrap with their eyes the emotion of the promise keeper, as Omar Quintero Montes de Oca has come to be called, the 56-year-old man who left his home in Marianao two months ago with his cart that holds the image of the Little Virgin, to arrive on foot at El Cobre, and fulfill the vows offered. At El Cobre in Santiago de Cuba, with Omar, a man who has united us in faith in the love of life. A brave man," says the text that heads the publication we see, again and again, and in which Israel sings, embraced by the promise keeper, the song Valientes, which has become an anthem of Cuban doctors in their fight against the pandemic; the same one that Omar, about 15 days ago, requested from the group, which would have had no way to deny him.

"We have been in communication with Omar. He asked us if he would like to enter to pay his promise with the song Valientes, to the Little Virgin of Charity of El Cobre in Santiago de Cuba," reads from February 26 on the page's wall. "We alerted him that our presence there could attract the attention of interests foreign to his humanitarian and beautiful sacrifice, as they have been in charge of demonizing us day after day in digital media. His response was categorical: 'For me it will be an honor to have you with me at that moment.' See you in Santiago!" concludes the post.

Omar's moving journey has reached its destination, witnessed by many Cubans of noble and compassionate soul. Many good compatriots have offered him, upon seeing him pass, lodging, affection, help. Omar Quintero has finally arrived at El Cobre, and with him Buena Fe, whose consistency between words and actions does not surprise us. We return to the video several times and see that, before our eyes, there are two promise keepers presented to us. What am I doing here? / Loving this country as I love myself… In a moment of moist emotion, Omar presses his face to Israel's chest, who continues raising the song…

We all sing with him. Those present and those who would like, as good Cubans, to be wherever a compatriot suffers. Israel sums up the feeling that grips us in a phrase from his song, which he reinforces with strong emphasis: "We are the same humanity…" After this interval the air gets stuck. Applause breaks the scene and seals it.