A video lasting just 16 seconds, published on Facebook, shows a man in a wheelchair being dragged by a pig through the streets of what commentators identify as the Nuclear City of Cienfuegos, and it has surpassed one million views within a few hours.
The clip was published by content creator Yoe Villares Fernández, who accompanied it with the text: "Now that’s a means of transportation in Cuba, help me share this so it can go viral, my people."
The video has amassed over 1,030,506 views, 34,484 likes, and 1,209 comments, and has sparked a deluge of reactions that blend laughter with implicit criticism of the transportation crisis that the island is experiencing.
Several users identify the protagonist as "Pedro," a neighbor known for his wit and his pigs, and place the scene in the area of the Juraguá Nuclear Power Plant (CEN), near the dock and the hill, with references to routes such as "from Cienfuegos to Pasacaballo."
The comments quickly turned into high-precision humor. "Transportation, pet, chair, food—so many things in one," wrote an internet user. Another added, "Well, the good thing about that transportation is that it's edible, so it can serve a double purpose."
A user summarized the current economic paradox: "Right now, seeing pigs is a symbol of power." And another Cuban went further, warning that "they may think it's a lie, but if you sell the pig, you can buy a Lada."
The comment that resonated the most was from an internet user who advised: "Don't let go, or you’ll be stranded. Well, maybe that's the reason for you to walk or run quickly afterward."
The video is part of a growing trend of Cuban inventions in response to scarcity that citizens themselves document and share on social media. Yoe Villares Fernández published another viral clip yesterday in which young Cubans repair a soccer ball with an egg, accumulating 467,000 views. Weeks earlier, another Cuban created his own tricycle with a generator motor to get around Havana.
The pig featured in the video also has an economic value that few Cubans can overlook. Pork production on the island collapsed from 200,000 tons annually in 2018 to just 9,000 tons, and eating meat in Cuba has become a luxury with prices ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 Cuban pesos per pound.
Hasiel Marrero Alejo, who identified himself as a resident of the neighborhood, summed it up with involuntary admiration: "This man's ideas already surpass artificial intelligence. My neighborhood isn't changing."
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