A young Cuban residing in France touched the hearts of thousands with a TikTok video he shared on Tuesday, paying tribute to his late mother on what would have been her 59th birthday.
Known on TikTok as @jose_angel_98, he recorded nearly six minutes in front of an altar adorned with purple flowers—his mother's favorite color—while recounting memories that painted a picture of an extraordinary woman. "Some birthdays are no longer celebrated with hugs, but with memories," he wrote in the video's description.
"Today is my mom's birthday, and she would have been 59 today. She was a fan of purple, which is why we're doing this," he began, displaying the altar he had prepared with flowers he had never bought before, selected as soon as he saw them at the florist.
The young man described his mother, originally from Camagüey and a scholarship graduate from the University of Santiago de Cuba, as a woman of boundless joy, protective, and unconditional. She had a tradition of buying greeting cards for all the neighborhood women each Mother's Day, sending her children to slip them under doors at midnight. "When my mom passed away, all the neighbors said they missed finding that card under the door, something no one else did. She gave what she didn't have," he recalled.
Her strength was unwavering until the end. "I never saw her cry, not once in my life. The only time was when she stubbed her toe," he shared, laughing and crying. She was honored as a National Vanguard at work, earning her a week's vacation at the Villa Cuba hotel in Varadero.
His mother passed away roughly a decade ago, succumbing to an incurable disease that gradually took her life. "A disease that still lacks a cure took her from me, and seeing her fade away little by little hurts," he expressed. In her final weeks, the family cared for her like a child, but even then, she had moments of clarity that left a lasting impact on those around her.
Her last birthday, on August 4, 2015, is etched in his memory. With the entire family gathered, she asked in a moment of lucidity, "Are you all here because you know it's my last birthday?" Unable to respond, he left the room.
Among the dreams she never saw fulfilled was her son's graduation from medical school. While he was still in 12th grade, she had already asked the father to buy the "brown dress" for the ceremony. "All I asked God was to let her stay long enough to share the news that I got into medical school. Unfortunately, it didn't happen," he lamented.
The TikToker also revealed that his mother always knew he was gay and accepted him without the need for a direct conversation, with the silent intuition that only mothers possess, he said.
Her favorite song was "La Promesa" by Melendi, which she loved to listen to repeatedly. The young man has yet to attend a concert by the Spanish singer without being overwhelmed by emotion.
The video resonated with the Cuban diaspora community, who often face grief from afar, much like other Cubans who have mourned their mothers from abroad without being able to say goodbye in person or visit their graves.
"Today marks the birthday of the most beautiful, wonderful, and important woman in my life. Happy birthday, mom," he concluded his tribute.
Key Questions about the Tribute and Cuban Diaspora
How did the young Cuban honor his mother's memory?
He created an altar decorated with her favorite purple flowers and shared heartfelt memories in a TikTok video on her birthday.
What impact did the video have on the Cuban diaspora?
The video resonated with many in the Cuban diaspora who, like the young man, have experienced grief from afar without the chance to say goodbye in person.