Without seeking fame, Minguito became a viral sensation amidst the chaos in eastern Cuba following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa.
Clutching his old television as he emerged from the floodwaters, as if holding onto a cherished memory or a part of himself, Minguito became an emblematic figure of hope for the Cuban people in the face of the destruction that hit the eastern region before and after the hurricane's wrath.
On Monday, Cuban activist Yasser Sosa Tamayo shared on Facebook that Minguito, whose real name is Armando Álvarez and who became the subject of a globally circulated photograph, had received a brand-new television and 20,000 pesos.
This generous act was made possible through the donation from Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez and Verona Bonce, who, according to Sosa, provided not just material goods but also "hope."
The Community's Role in Minguito's Story
"Accompanying me was a young group from Ciego de Ávila, bringing empathy, strength, and love. Led by Mijail Garcia, a jeweler who not only polishes gold but hearts," Sosa added.
"We presented him with a flat-screen TV and 20,000 pesos, courtesy of Guillermo and Verona. In his modest wooden home full of dignity, there was an indescribable energy: the feeling of witnessing someone who refused to give up rise anew," the activist wrote, highlighting their ongoing efforts to visit affected communities in eastern Cuba.
Sosa celebrated this heartwarming encounter with a message of optimism: "Minguito smiled again. Today, a love bomb exploded in Santiago," he wrote, alongside a photo of Minguito receiving his new television.
A Symbol of Cuban Resilience
In the comments section, Sosa closed his post with a poignant message: "Sometimes the story isn't the tragedy itself, but how a community chooses to rise up. Today, Minguito began to believe again, and so did we all."
The iconic image of Minguito first surfaced shortly after Hurricane Melissa, a Category 3 storm, swept through the eastern region.
A photographer from the AFP agency captured him emerging from the waters clutching his television after the storm's passage through Santiago de Cuba.
The photo quickly went viral on social media, becoming a symbol of Cuban resilience amid the catastrophe.
Days later, due to the widespread impact of his story, the man was identified as Armando “Minguito” Álvarez, who shared that he lost nearly everything in the cyclone but managed to save his TV "out of habit, out of affection."
"No one has brought me any help, but I'm still here," he said back then, surrounded by mud and debris.
His words and actions became a metaphor for life in Cuba: holding onto the little that remains, enduring despite the lack, and finding dignity amidst neglect.
Answers to Questions about Minguito and Cuban Resilience
Who is Minguito in the context of Hurricane Melissa?
Minguito, whose real name is Armando Álvarez, became a viral symbol of hope after being photographed emerging from floodwaters with his old television following Hurricane Melissa's devastation in eastern Cuba.
How did Minguito receive a new television?
Minguito was gifted a new flat-screen TV and 20,000 pesos through a donation by Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez and Verona Bonce, as shared by activist Yasser Sosa Tamayo.
What does Minguito's story represent for Cubans?
Minguito's story stands as a metaphor for Cuban resilience, symbolizing the determination to hold onto what little remains and maintain dignity in the face of neglect and hardship.