A recent parody by actor Andy Vázquez -in his character of Facundo Correcto- has once again highlighted the painful contrast between official propaganda and the devastating reality faced by thousands of Cubans.
His video, posted on Facebook, satirizes the enthusiastic welcome that a group of residents in Guantánamo offered to the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel during his visit to areas affected by the hurricane Melissa, a gesture that has sparked outrage both on the Island and beyond.
With the corrosive style that characterizes Facundo, the comedian imitated the speeches of loyalty to the regime while describing everyday hardships.
In a sarcastic tone, he said that the "Miami worm crowd" must be desperate watching the people "enjoying" the presidential visit.
"People say he brings us nothing. But look, Díaz-Canel brings us a ray of hope, he brings us encouragement, he brings us enthusiasm. That's why we always have to say to him: 'for whatever it is, Canel, for whatever it is,'" he joked.
"We have no water, we have no electricity, we have no power, we have no food, but for whatever it is, Canel, for whatever it is," he added, before showing images of people cheering for the dictator.
The phrase, repeated intentionally, served as a sting for those who interpret the original scene as a depiction of complacency in the midst of disaster.
The official episode that sparked the controversy
On Thursday, the Presidency of Cuba released a video of Díaz-Canel's visit to communities in the municipality of El Salvador, one of the areas most affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
The images showed him surrounded by people who touched him, greeted him, and chanted, with apparent fervor: "For anything, Canel, for anything."
According to government data, more than 15,000 homes were damaged, and only a little over 4,000 have been restored. There are ongoing issues with water supply, significant disruptions to the electric service, and outbreaks of dengue.
Nevertheless, the official video focused on messages of "honor," "courage," and "revolutionary spirit," presenting that chorus as a symbol of unity, even as communities continue to face hunger, destroyed roofs, and weeks of darkness.
The publication quickly sparked a wave of questioning. For many users, the images were not evidence of support, but rather an attempt to cover up an exhausted country.
"Starving and in need, and they keep shouting nonsense," wrote an internet user.
Another went further: "The human being lives as they think... we deserve what we have." This phrase, repeated in several comments, reflected the sentiment that citizens' resignation ultimately sustains the crisis that the people themselves are experiencing.
Many users lamented that the official material showcased applause and slogans in such a precarious setting: "It's the height of absurdity to applaud pain and misfortune," stated a woman.
Others criticized the apparent manipulation: "That's a small group of activists, watch the video closely: the real people are behind them, unable to get close."
From abroad, the outrage was also intense.
"That’s why I don't donate anything," repeated Cubans from the diaspora, frustrated to see displays of enthusiasm towards the political leadership in one of the country's most impoverished areas.
An uncomfortable mirror
The return of the slogan "Pa' lo que sea," previously used by the government to counter the protests of July 11, has rekindled criticisms regarding the use of social vulnerability as a tool of political control.
His reappearance now, in the midst of the chaos left by Melissa, was interpreted by many as a staged act aimed at covering up the government's failure to address basic needs.
The satire of Facundo thus serves as a mirror that amplifies the contradiction: a devastated country, a government insisting on triumphalist rhetoric, and a segment of the population that, even in extreme conditions, reacts with obedience or without visible opposition.
This conjunction is, precisely, what irritates those who believe that the current situation is not only the result of poor state decisions but also of the lack of response from a weary society accustomed to surviving without demanding real transformations.
"Every community gets what it deserves... if this is what makes them happy, long live Caesar," wrote an internet user, summarizing the discontent many feel about the blend of official manipulation and citizen passivity.
Facundo's mockery achieved what the government propaganda tried to prevent: it clearly revealed the gap between the image constructed from above and the reality experienced below.
A reality in which, despite the accumulated tragedy, the same slogans, the same scenery, and the same lack of answers persist.
Filed under:
