From Labañino´s Garden , the hero came over

Ramon Labañino´s father  , one of the five Cubans jailed in Federal prisons of U.S.A., speaks about his remembrances, certainties and hopes

 by Ernesto Vera Mellado

Special Report , AIN

Land is wise. It only chooses sincere men for it to be fertilized. That is why when Holmes Labañino Cantillo was born 63 years ago in the eastern region of Baracoa, he was hunted and lived devoted to this "vital element", until nowadays.

Even when he was young, he went to the city, he did not betray this relationship. In Havana, he worked  as a glass man , custody guard and repairer but the job he worked most was to turn gardens in works  of art.

And so he did with his life. Holmes is the father of a man who, facing the imminence of an unfair judicial trial that condemns him to more than one life , and with the heart seeded to hundred miles from his chest, he ascertained that he would wear the inmate uniform with the same honor and pride a soldier carries his most beloved badges.

"He is my pride" , Holmes states when he talks about his son, Ramón Labañino Salazar, one of the five heroes , jailed in Federal Prisons of U.S.A. for penetrating terrorist organizations in the South State of Florida.

"I did not know about the work he was doing . He did not talk to me about that and never I asked him. Since he was young he knew what to do, and always did."

Ramón is the eldest of four brothers. Holmes states they are very closed and that the eldest is the guide of this relationship.

"I think he is respected and loved a lot. He has always been warm and fair and dedicated to his family."

He is also intelligent, since he was little, his teachers asks us to go to school or they came to our home to congratulate us, but he did that by his own will, we never had to send him, he liked it. During his career of Economy, he had a girlfriend who studied the same, but in another place and they studied together. I think in those times he was mostly dedicated to studies than usual, because he was always arriving home at daybreak.

"I waited for him at the porch because his mother did not go to bed until he showed up, and once I asked him why he was getting so late he answered me: "Dad , you have to understand, I go to classes in  the morning, from there I practice sports(karate) and then I come home to take a bath, I have dinner and stay a while with you, but …some hour I have to "study" isn't it?

"Now I think he should have taken time well , because he finished with a Gold Diploma. His mother was a great woman. They loved each other. Nereida , since she was young there at Oriente, collaborated with the Rebel Army. She washed uniforms and she herself took them to the mountains, challenging all dangers. That ´s how she was all her life, a struggler , until she died 4 years ago.

"From his mum Ramón´s  probably got , the artist. She liked to sing stanzas. Several months after her death he was caught.

"These were tough events, however, he did not loose his calm. This is another of his virtue. "when we talked by phone , he does not regret of his situation, on the contrary , he keeps his tone of joke. He says he is strong as a bull  . he is always good for the rest , even if pain is killing him.

"He must be mad to see his wife Elizabeth and his three girls. The youngest is four years, and this is the time he can not see them…they are his joy. "he says to me : Dad take care so you can stand the party when I be there…Take careeee! But you know when death comes…..no matter you stay in a crab cave."

And his face darkens when he says to himself…"let's see how I get there" Holmes does not deceive himself . he knows his struggle will be a long one , but he trusts in the day the five Cubans will return. He does not know anything about laws, that is being left to lawyers. But he knows about gardens.

"It is like a plant-justice- the difficult thing is to germinate , the rest is only a matter to irrigate them. He is convinced that the trial and condemns dictated to his son and mates are the result of frustration of the counter revolution in Miami, at the impossibility of reverting the revolutionary process in Cuba.

"They have done everything to destroy us. They have used the most barbarian methods , but we are here." That is why he is thankful for the support he has received from his people. That is what will bring them back. This battle will bring truth to light and support will be won of the whole North American people, as others have also be won."

Photos Oriol de la Cruz