Magdiel Pérez Labrada, a well-known Cuban broadcaster now residing in the United States for the past two years, has shared his reasons for leaving Cuba in a candid video. Recognized for hosting Radio Rebelde's program "Haciendo Radio" and the television magazine "Hola, Habana," he disclosed that his primary motivation was to be with his mother Elaine, a cancer survivor.
In the launch of his YouTube channel "Gente como uno" this week, Magdiel recounted a significant moment in 2014 when his brother, studying abroad on a scholarship, sought his permission to move to the United States with their mother. Magdiel agreed, but their mother set a condition: he must join them later.
Four years on, Elaine was diagnosed with colon cancer, and Magdiel found himself unable to leave Cuba. With his brother unable to take time off work, Elaine, with unwavering faith and joy, along with support from Maranatha church Christians, overcame her illness. "I realized it was time to keep my promise," Magdiel confessed.
A Journey Fueled by Family Commitment
Amid the pandemic and the subsequent wave of Cuban migration, Magdiel, 48, from Las Tunas, recognized the need to fulfill his vow to his mother amidst the "loneliness engulfing our island." He emphasized, "That was the fundamental reason I decided to come to this country."
He expressed the profound bond with his mother, stating, "The strength of a mother, her heart beating close to yours, and that embrace is unparalleled. I'm with her and cherish every day. If you have a living mother, love her and hold her tight, just as I do, because there is no greater gift in life."
Embracing New Challenges in the U.S.
Over the past two years, Magdiel has taken on various jobs, including working in a brick factory and as a dishwasher, to establish himself and purchase his first car. He stressed, "There is no shame in working honestly, but rather in profiting from wrongful acts."
Currently, he is venturing into a new online project filled with "special things" while relishing "every moment with my mother, embracing and loving her as never before."
From a Regime Promoter to a New Chapter
In Cuba, Magdiel balanced his radio presenter role with promoting governmental events. A graduate in Scientific-Technical Information and Librarianship from the University of Havana, he received the Premio del Barrio award in late September from former spy Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR).
Once a familiar voice in pro-regime activities, including May Day parades, Perez had recorded several promotional spots for the People's Power delegate elections in November 2022. His sudden departure from Cuba caused a stir at the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT).