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Guayabera from Rafael Correa Donated for Cuban Collection.

CUBA, April 4, 2011.- A guayabera shirt from Ecuadorian President Rafael Correas was donated to the social-cultural project La Guayabera on Friday to add to the collection of the traditional Cuban garment.

The white, long-sleeved shirt with trim on the front and cuffs and featuring traditional details from indigenous people of Ecuador will become part of the 110-piece collection preserved at the General Museum of Yayabo, which re-opened its doors this Friday.

The guayabera was donated to the museum by Ecuadorian ambassador to Cuba Edgar Ponce Iturriaga who traveled to the central province of Sancti Spiritus, around 350 km east of Havana, to deliver the shirt.

The ambassador told members of the project founded in 2007 that Correa started to wear guayaberas at the beginning of his term in office as a symbol of the new presidents emerging in Latin America, committed to and identifying with their people.

Ponce Iturriaga said the gesture brings Correa closer to Cubans for whom the Ecuadorian leader feels a special affection shown by his solidarity with the Cuban people in different sectors.

La Guayabera project’s main coordinator Carlo Figueroa said he hopes the collection will grow to include garments from heads of state of other ALBA member countries.

The guayabera collection exhibited at Yayabo’s Museum also includes one from Ecuadorian painter Oswaldo Guayasamin, donated by the homonymous Foundation. (Cubaminrex-ACN-RHC)