The photo of Armando “Minguito” Álvarez carrying his television in the floods of Santiago de Cuba went viral during Melissa. Now he received a new television and 20,000 pesos from activists and citizens.
MADRID, Spain.- The Cuban identified as Armando “Minguito” Álvarez, whose gesture—coming out of the water with an old television against his chest in the middle of the flood during the passage of Hurricane Melissa—became an image widely shared on social networksreceived this Monday a new television and a donation of 20,000 Cuban pesos as part of a citizen initiative.
The photograph of Minguito, taken on October 29, 2025 by AFP, showed him walking through murky waters in a Santiago de Cuba neighborhood affected by strong floods. It was later learned that the television he was trying to save had been purchased just a few weeks earlier and that his house suffered serious damage due to the flood; Part of the structure and assets were left exposed to humidity and deterioration.
The delivery of aid
This November 10, activist Yasser Sosa Tamayo reported on Facebook that a group traveled from Ciego de Ávila to the town where Minguito resides to directly deliver the aid. As shown in videos and according to the testimonies published by the participants, the route involved crossing areas that were still flooded, with deep puddles, the presence of mosquitoes and mud.
The initiative was promoted by Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez and Verona Bonce, as well as an anonymous donor. The delivery was also accompanied by a group of young people led by Mijaíl García, who took Sosa to the home despite being sick.
In his publication, Sosa wrote: “We gave him a flat screen television and 20,000 pesos, courtesy of Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez and Verona Bonce, who not only donated things, but hope. […] We will continue visiting various affected places in Santiago de Cuba, bringing help, faith and company.”
While Rodríguez Sánchez, in the video recorded inside Minguito’s house, pointed out: “I told them that Minguito would have his television at any cost and he already has it. […] Managua inside, rubber boots, clouds of mosquitoes and the mud did not matter, we had to take it away.”
The new 43-inch television was installed next to the damaged device that Minguito had kept since the hurricane.
Hurricane Melissa left extensive flooding in several areas of Santiago de Cuba and affected homes that were already structurally vulnerable. Thousands of families They continue to depend on informal support networks to recover basic goods due to the poor state response.
Minguito’s story became a symbol not only because of the viral image, but because of what it reflects of everyday precariousness: the protection of a domestic object considered essential, the emotional value in the face of loss and the disproportionate impact of the disaster on homes with limited resources.
The group that made the delivery announced that it plans to continue visiting other affected communities with the same type of direct support.
