Victoria’s Communications magazine, published (in English and Spanish editions) in Washington, DC, celebrated its anniversary in Medellín, Colombia. At the gala, it recognized Cuban-born Dominican Alfonso Quiñones — award-winning writer; film, radio, and television producer; and editor of elCaribe— with an Excellence Award for his 55 years working in media. [The article does not mention that Alfonso is an exceptional poet. Our warmest congratulations, Poeta!]
The anniversary celebration of the young and prestigious magazine was held in grand style in Medellín, Colombia, at the Casa Eterna restaurant, owned by singer Maluma, whose hotel facilities Tribe, 23, and Living hosted the guests who arrived from Washington, Los Angeles, Miami, Mexico, Panama, El Salvador, Santo Domingo, and various Colombian cities.
[. . .] Victoria Gagen, the Panamanian creator, founder, and CEO of the magazine, which is dedicated to highlighting the victories of the people selected for each edition, told elCaribe that [. . .] “The magazine has crossed borders, carrying a powerful message: victories exist, they are built, and they deserve to be told.” Therefore, on its first anniversary, with editions in both Spanish and English, it decided to celebrate by recognizing several figures from the media sphere and social scene. [. . .]
Alfonso Quiñones, Culture & Entertainment Editor of elCaribe, was recognized with the Excellence Award for his 55-year career in the media. “Celebrating his 55-year career is celebrating the perseverance, consistency, and excellence of a Maestro of journalism,” reads the statuette he received on the Casa Eterna stage from Victoria Gagen. [. . .]
Quiñones recalled his beginnings in April 1971 at the radio station in the city of Manzanillo, Cuba, when at age 11 he visited the station and expressed interest in radio broadcasting. “Mr. Escalona, the station’s producer, asked me what I liked to do. I told him that my short story, El álamo viejo,’ had been published in the Municipal Literary Workshop’s bulletin, and he asked me to bring him an article about the poet Rubén Martínez Villena the next day. I returned with the text. ‘Oh! You’re back?’ he said. ‘Would you be willing to read and record it?’ It was the first time I had ever been in a radio booth, and for me it was like stepping into the cockpit of an airplane. He liked how I read and told me I would be the reporter for the Sunday children’s program. That’s how I started. Since then, I’ve never stopped working in the media.” [. . .]
Excerpts translated by Ivette Romero. For full article (in Spanish), see https://www.elcaribe.com.do/gente/victorias-communications-reconoce-a-alfonso-quinones/
Also see a brief bio of Quiñones at https://editorialhypermedia.com/autores/alfonso-quinones/