This Sunday, Cuban actor and comedian Mario Sardiñas, famously known as Chequera from the show "Vivir del Cuento," offered Cuban mothers what might be the most clever—and sincere—greeting of the day: a 39-second reel recorded "from above," where he turns Cuba's endless list of calamities into an unintentional and ongoing tribute to mothers.
The video, shared on his Facebook page "Chequera Vivir del cuento," begins with him standing on a ladder, delivering a solemn message: "Showbiz folks, this is a high-altitude greeting for the most divine being ever created, mothers."
From there, the narrative was both simple and striking. "Did you know that Cuba is the only country in the world where the word ‘mother’ is mentioned the most?" Chequera asked earnestly, before listing the daily disasters that justify such a statistic.
The rundown left nothing out: "When the power goes out, what do you say? Damn! Mother of all. No money at the ATM, oh mother! Gasoline at 5,000: for your mother! The connection dropped: by your mother!" Four disasters, four maternal invocations.
Before wrapping up with a dual enthusiastic greeting—debating between a bottle of oil (which costs thousands of pesos on the island) and a bouquet of flowers—Chequera dropped a deliberately unfinished sentence: "And everyone's saying that this is..." Silence filled in the rest. Cubans are well aware of how that sentence ends.
What makes the joke particularly sharp is its accuracy. As of 2026, Cuba is experiencing its worst energy and fuel crisis in decades. The electrical generation deficit exceeded 1,400 MW in April, with systematic blackouts lasting over 20 consecutive hours in several provinces. The National Electric System suffered three total collapses in March, the longest lasting 29 hours and 29 minutes.
Regarding gasoline, Miguel Díaz-Canel admitted in April that "Cuba is utterly lacking in fuel for almost everything." Venezuela halted its oil supply following Nicolás Maduro's capture in January, and Mexico also ceased exports under pressure from Washington. In late March, the island received a temporary reprieve with the arrival of the Russian tanker Anatoli Kolodkin, carrying 100,000 tons of crude. Once that supply was depleted, the extreme shortage returned.
"El Cheque" has been actively posting on social media, satirizing each new episode of Cuba's decline. In April, he released a video fleeing to the moon to escape power outages in Artemisa and another pinpointing the real culprit behind Cuba's major issues: the gasoline shortage.
Mother's Day in Cuba has been celebrated on the second Sunday of May for over a century. This year, the date fell on May 10. Chequera's tribute—which has garnered thousands of views and reactions online—demonstrates that in the nation, mothers are not just remembered one day a year: they are invoked constantly, with each blackout, empty ATM, and elusive liter of gas. Beyond all this, and in all seriousness, the homage should never cease.
Cuban Mother's Day and Daily Struggles
Why is the word "mother" frequently mentioned in Cuba?
In Cuba, the word "mother" is often used in expressions related to the country's daily hardships, such as power outages and fuel shortages, making it a common part of the vernacular.
What are some of the challenges Cuba is facing in 2026?
Cuba is dealing with severe energy and fuel crises, with frequent power blackouts and a significant shortage of gasoline, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions affecting oil supplies.
How has Chequera become a voice for Cuban issues?
Chequera, through his comedic videos and social media presence, uses satire to highlight and critique the ongoing socio-economic challenges faced by Cubans, resonating with many.