The legacy of Mariana Grajales Cuello for Cuban women and families was evoked during the political-cultural gala to mark the bicentenary of the birth of the mother of independence hero Maceo, in the Heredia Theater in their hometown.
 
The exemplary life of this exceptional heroine was outlined by Olga Lidia Tapia Iglesias, member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, who stated that “a woman of fortitude and character she was both mother and teacher to her children, above all in the art of instilling the best values in them.”
 
“Symbol of Cuban women of today and all times,” Iglesias added after recounting the life of Mariana, “her immortal memory will live forever in Cuban men and women who struggle and work towards a better humanity, a more just world.”
 
The Gala also featured the Orfeón Santiago Choir, the Ballet Folclórico de Oriente, the Conjunto Changüí Santiago, students of children's projects and the vocational art school, as well as actresses Somalis Camué, Yamilé Coureaux and Ana Gloria Bouduén, playing Mariana.
 
“It's the idea that Mariana is not dead, that she lives on in women who defend the Revolution in the FAR and MININT, in the classroom, in the factory, the internationalist missions and in the challenges of home life, that through them she continues to occupy a leading role in Cuban history,” artistic director José Pascual “Pini” remarked.
 
The evening was also attended by members of the Central Committee, Lázaro Expósito and Teresa Amarelle, first secretary of the Party in the province and president of the Federation of Cuban Women, respectively; the Second Secretary of the National Committee of the UJC, Sucelis Morfa, the local government leader in the territory, Reinaldo García, descendants of the family of Maceo Grajales, and representatives of Santiago.
 
The day of tribute began in the Santa Ifigenia cemetery, where floral wreaths were laid on behalf of Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro Ruz, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, and the people of Cuba, at the foot of the monument and tomb of the renowned heroine.
 
A bronze bust of Mariana Grajales was also unveiled by its creator, the sculptor Alberto Lezcay Merencio, together with the President of the FMC, Teresa Amarelle; a descendant of the mother of Maceo, MININT Lieutenant Colonel Tania Grajales Columbié, and fifth grade pioneer Cristian Valero Beltrán.
 
Following the words dedicated to the exemplary patriot by Graciela Pacheco of the Center for Antonio Maceo Studies, national and local leaders headed by Olga Lidia Tapia, placed flowers at the tomb, where a FAR ceremonial unit undertook the guard of honor.
 
As part of the activities dedicated to the 200th anniversary of this iconic Cuban woman, the book Mariana Grajales Cuello: 200 años en la historia y la memoria (Mariana Grajales Cuello: 200 years of history and memory), was presented at the Salón de los Vitrales in the Plaza de la Revolución Mayor General Antonio Maceo.
 
A compilation of twenty authors, the text, comprising 269 pages, published by Editorial Oriente, unravels through profound and revealing research controversial aspects about the true image and historical personality of Mariana.