A Cuban known on TikTok as El Cubanito Sin Filtro surprised his mother with a new washing machine and a sack of coal after spending $300, in a video that captured the emotion of the moment and was posted on June 20.
The creator explains that the washing machine he had previously gifted to his mother had been out of order for about four weeks. The repair would cost 6,000 Cuban pesos, so he made another decision: "Since I didn't want her to struggle anymore, I changed my plans and bought her a washing machine and a bag of coal while I was on my way because I knew she needed it."
The mother didn’t know that her son was coming or that he was bringing the appliance. When she stepped outside and saw the packages in front of her house, she was utterly surprised. The scene where she excitedly arranges the new washing machine in its place became the most emotional moment of the clip.
The creator also revealed that he sent the old washing machine for repairs to give it to his sister once it was fixed, so that neither of them would be without the appliance.
In addition to the cost of the appliance, the transportation had its own price: "They were charging me four thousand pesos to carry this," he noted in the video. In total, the 300 dollars covered the washing machine, the charcoal, and the transportation expenses.
El Cubanito Sin Filtro publicly thanked two people who helped him gather the funds: a follower named "Fer" and another follower he refers to as "my mom from Puerto Rico," who supported him in TikTok battles.
This gesture reflects a reality that repeats itself on the island: a new washing machine in Cuba costs between 190 and 299 dollars, while the average monthly salary does not exceed 4,500 Cuban pesos, equivalent to about 10 dollars. For most Cuban families, this appliance represents years of income.
It's not the first time this creator has documented a gesture like this. In January 2026, his mother broke down in tears upon receiving some household items for her birthday, in a video that also went viral.
The trend of Cubans surprising their mothers with home appliances has gained traction on TikTok during 2025 and 2026. Other similar cases, such as that of a young Cuban who gifted a television to her mother, illustrate that behind each video is a common story: the scarcity that transforms the ordinary into a luxury.
According to data from November 2025, 89% of Cuban families live in extreme poverty, and emigrants have progressively replaced cash transfers with direct purchases of goods such as appliances, food, and medicines. Nearly 70% of the Cuban population receives remittances in some form.
The creator announced that they will release a third part of the video to show how everything turned out: “follow me so you don’t miss part three.”
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