“My brother Pánfilo has passed away,” Daisy Ortega announced solemnly on Thursday evening, confirming the death of Juan Carlos González Marcos. Back in 2009, he inadvertently became the face of hunger in Cuba after bursting into a recording and voicing the unsaid concerns of millions.
Pánfilo took his last breath in Havana, in the Vedado neighborhood where he was a well-known local figure for years. His life was defined by hardship, alcohol, and a phrase that resonated throughout the nation.
His passing has sparked immediate reactions from those familiar with his story. Carlos Espinosa Betancourt reminisced, “I’ll remember him this way, even though his last days were weighed down by life and alcohol. A well-known character in my neighborhood, famous for his call for food: ‘What we need here is JAMAAA!!’. Rest in peace, friend Pánfilo.”
Another user on social media shared: “Fly high, brother. May God hold you in Glory, alongside Berta. Pánfilo (Juan Carlos González Marcos) has just passed away in Cuba. My deepest condolences to Daisy Ortega, who was like a second mother to him in this world.”
A Cry That Became a Symbol
The moment that catapulted him to fame happened in 2009 during an interview on reggaeton in Havana. Clearly drunk yet startlingly lucid, Pánfilo voiced a demand that captured the everyday struggles of many Cubans.
“What we need is some food, we’re in dire straits, record this, listen, jamaaa… come here, jamaaa,” he insisted as he intruded into the filming.
He stepped out of view only to reappear moments later, emphasizing: “I need to speak up, we need food, there’s a huge hunger issue. It’s ‘Pánfilo in Cuba, food,’” he added, mentioning “soy mince” and “old chicken” as the only options available.
His final words were etched into memory as a stark depiction of the nation: “There’s an immense hunger, my friend, immense hunger!”
The short video went viral, turning him into a recognizable figure and an impromptu spokesperson for scarcity.
Recurring Appearances and Unwavering Message
Over the years, Pánfilo reappeared several times, always with the same message but with increasing desperation. In 2015, by then a street character, he continued to echo his well-known cry: “Listen how it goes… Jamaaaa!”
In 2021, more than a decade after the first video, he went viral again with an updated protest: “Now there’s not even soy mince,” he said, comparing the situation to previous years.
He added: “I’m telling you, record this, December 2021, there’s tremendous hunger. Jamaaaaaa. Here, we’re really in dire straits, my friend. Tremendous hunger we’re facing, and the lines… I haven’t been able to get a pack of chicken.”
From Viral Phenomenon to Marginality
As time passed, Pánfilo’s condition visibly worsened. By September 2023, an activist reported he was living on the streets, sick and without care.
“He seems very ill now. He’s outside El Carmelo, if anyone wants to help, I have clothes and shoes I could donate,” activist Yamilka Lafita mentioned.
The image of the man who once laid bare the hunger in Cuba became intertwined with that very reality: poverty, abandonment, and social exclusion.
Since his outburst in 2009, Pánfilo was more than just a viral sensation.
His persona became an uncomfortable reflection of the country's structural crisis, a crack in the official narrative through which the unfiltered reality of millions of Cubans emerged.
For years, his phrases “What we need here is jamaaa, jamaaa!” and “immense hunger, my friend!” became part of the common speech, repeated in neighborhoods, on social media, and in everyday conversations.
Not merely as mockery or jest, but as a means to say—with a mix of laughter and resignation—what remains impossible to ignore: finding food in Cuba continues to be a daily struggle.
His relevance is no coincidence.
In today’s Cuba, marked by rampant inflation, chronic shortages, and collapsing purchasing power, Pánfilo’s cry precisely describes what many are living through.
Prohibitive prices in the informal market, the sporadic disappearance of basic goods, and reliance on remittances have turned feeding oneself into a constant uncertainty.
What was seen in 2009 as a spontaneous, even quaint moment, is now understood as a prescient denunciation.
Pánfilo was a prophet, not exaggerating: he named a problem that not only remained unsolved but has worsened to unimaginable levels.
He was a living—and now posthumous—witness to a reality that continues to spread.
Like him, thousands of Cubans have been pushed to the margins, caught in a crisis that offers no respite.
Pánfilo spoke from the edge, with humor, irreverence, and alcohol, but also with brutal clarity.
And though his voice is silent, his cry still echoes in Cuba: “Jamaaaaaa… what we need here is jamaaaa!”
Rest in peace, Pánfilo.
Understanding Pánfilo's Impact on Cuban Society
Who was Pánfilo, and why was he significant in Cuba?
Pánfilo, whose real name was Juan Carlos González Marcos, became an accidental symbol of hunger in Cuba when he interrupted a recording in 2009 to demand food. His cries resonated across the island, reflecting the everyday struggles of many Cubans and challenging the official narrative of abundance.
What was the significance of Pánfilo's 2009 video?
The 2009 video captured Pánfilo, visibly intoxicated yet remarkably clear, voicing the need for food in Cuba. It became a viral sensation and portrayed the stark reality of Cuban scarcity, turning Pánfilo into a reluctant spokesperson for the island's economic struggles.
How did Pánfilo's message evolve over the years?
Over the years, Pánfilo continued to appear in videos, consistently repeating his call for food. As economic conditions in Cuba worsened, his message grew more desperate, highlighting the persistent and deepening crisis faced by everyday Cubans.
What does Pánfilo's story reveal about the current situation in Cuba?
Pánfilo's story underscores the ongoing economic hardships in Cuba, characterized by inflation, scarcity of basic goods, and reliance on remittances. His life and message reflect the daily challenges many Cubans face in securing essential resources like food.