CubaPLUS Magazine

Famous Colombian rocker Juanes fulf illed his dream of playing in Cuba and proclaimin changing t imes to the world: hatred into love.

A joyful noise erupted from the more than a mill ion people jamming Havana's Revolution Square for the much-hyped "Peace without Borders" megaconcert celebrating, in defiance of extremely hot temperatures, the musical message of the opening to fellowship by artists from seven countries including Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Spain, Italy and Cuba.

Olga Tañon's mind-blowing performance opened the first 30 minutes of the show to heat the stage that remained hot for the rest of the five-hour concert with artists l ike Síntesis and X Alfonso, Danny Rivera, Juan Fernando Velasco, Amaury Pérez, Víctor Manuel, Miguel Bosé, Jovanotti, Cucú Diamantes and Yerbabuena, the Orishas, Juanes, Silvio Rodríguez, Luís Eduardo Aute and Carlos Varela, ending with a gigantic collective finale backed by Juan Formell and Los Van Van.

Other musicians and friends of the project showed their confidence in the success of the concert, many via internet.

René Pérez (aka Residente), leader of Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican hip-hop and alternat ivereggaeton duo Calle 13, declared in an internet message: "Don't fail me; I've been ready for a long t ime to play in Cuba with the whole band". Another Puerto Rican star, Luis Fonsi, wrote to Juanes on his Twitter page: "Brother, let your peace message be heard all over the world".

At the announcement of his concert in Cuba, the Colombian singer drew criticism and aggression from most radical Cuban exiles in the United States. Referring to colleagues, who due to the same pressure refused to join him, Juanes said: "We know from your silence and home you are absolutely al igned with us and bel ieve, as we do, in this important message of peace".

Such icons of universal popular music as Spanish Plácido Domingo and Jul io Iglesias supported the initiative.

"Juanes has taken a positive and brave stand. He deserves to be supported by all of us" stated Domingo, while Iglesias said the Colombian singer "is a great artist who wants to bring a message of affection and music to the Caribbean island".

The Concert of the Century, as some called it, became a 300-minute encounter with music, a hug offered to the future. Admiration and respect were evident and white clothing predominated. The world witnessed an unassailable truth: in Havana heat reigned, but hearts were at peace.

Abraham García, one of the best known fashion designers in Cuba, understands all this and more.

From the beginning of his burgeoning career, he set his own signature, one since endorsed by multiple awards received on distinct world catwalks where his clothing captivates with its elegance and ingenuity.

Year after year and collection after collection Abraham creates wonder with the splendour of his outfits; shining in Cuba and abroad with his inexhaustible show of fantasy and his dominion of traditional haute couture.