Facundo Takes a Comedic Jab at Cuban Volunteer Work from Miami

The well-known character Facundo Correcto from the TV show "Vivir del cuento" has humorously joined the recent cleaning campaigns promoted by the Cuban regime, albeit from exile and with a clear satirical twist. In a video shared on his Facebook page, Facundo is seen in the backyard of his Cape Coral, Florida home—where he is building a pool—dressed in his signature white guayabera and holding a rake. From there, he mimics participating in "volunteer work," echoing the style of Cuban leaders who pose for the cameras while pretending to work.

"Imagine, my fellow countryman, I was delayed because I was having a snack with all the leaders... each going to their volunteer work. Come on, let's start, come on," Facundo says theatrically before striking several poses with a shovel. He then concludes, "Is that it? Is it enough? Well, goodbye. See you at the next volunteer work."

This humorous sketch follows a staged event featuring Miguel Díaz-Canel and Manuel Marrero, who participated in a cleaning day at the gardens of the Palace of the Revolution, wearing luxury clothing and footwear while posing for the official press. Díaz-Canel sported German Lowa boots valued at over $200, and Marrero wore Skechers sneakers, an American brand priced at around $90. The gesture faced harsh criticism from Cubans on social media, who described the event as "Sunday theater" and accused the leadership of cleaning the Palace while the real trash still overwhelms the streets.

"They cleaned the Palace, but the trash is you," one user wrote on X. Another commented, "What multiplies is the theater, not the well-being."

Meanwhile, state workers, police, and recruits were deployed to the streets of Havana and other provinces to address the garbage collection crisis. Despite the effort, Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged that there is no sustainable plan. "Everyone is asking how we will sustain it," he admitted, once again appealing to "popular initiative."

Shortly after, the comedian posted another update titled "Here’s a Sunday of volunteer work," juxtaposing his staged image with real photographs of the brigades mobilized by the regime in Cuba. This visual comparison underscores the critique of the performative nature of these campaigns and the accompanying state propaganda.

The streets of Havana, with piles of accumulated waste, power outages, drinking water shortages, and recent protests in neighborhoods like Centro Habana and Regla, reflect the national deterioration. In contrast, Facundo uses humor to highlight the disconnect between the ruling elites and the grim reality faced by a nation in turmoil.