The Weekly Journal January 22-28, 2020

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

Wednesday, January 22-28, 2020 / no. 039

www.theweeklyjournal.com

How to Help Puerto Rico After the Earthquakes P15

More Restrictions to Puerto Rico’s Aid Raise Questions > Alex Brandon/AP

Invest PR: Companies Continue to Evaluate Relocating to the Island P10 Pharma Industry Continues Manufacturing Medications After Earthquakes P18

Last week U.S. Secretary of Housing Ben Carson announced a federal financial monitor and released a voluminous set of requirements to fulfill before accessing the disaster mitigation relief

T Cynthia López Cabán

From Broadway to San Juan: “In the Heights” P20

clopez@wjournalpr.com

@cynthia_lope

he onerous restrictions that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) attached to Puerto Rico’s long-delayed disaster recovery funds could be constituted as “discriminatory treatment” against the island and further delay disbursement, stated former local Housing Secretary Fernando Gil. He’s not alone. The U.S. House Appropriations

Committee, led by Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), shared his worries.

In a written statement to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, the House Appropriations Committee spokesperson said that “given the politically-sensitive nature of the new restrictions on the aid, it seems clear that the conditions were designed by the Trump administration to further delay resources needed for a swift and successful recovery.”

Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the House, also called the GO TO PAGE 4

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a week in review Puerto Ricans Protest Disaster Recovery Mismanagement Demonstrators gathered Monday and Tueday in front of the governor’s mansion to demand the resignation of Gov. Wanda Vázquez and protest the recent discovery of apparently forgotten disaster supplies amid ongoing earthquakes. The protests came a day after Vázquez fired former emergency management director Carlos Acevedo. Gov. Vázquez ordered an investigation into the incident. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

New York Deploys Experts to Assist Puerto Rico Gov. Andrew Cuomo will deploy eight additional engineers and utility experts from the New York Power Authority to address power outages caused by the recent earthquakes, and stabilize the island’s power system to help mitigate the repeated power outages. The state and the Greater New York Hospital Association have authorized the deployment of bilingual mental health professionals to provide support to people on the island who have been traumatized by the disaster. Cuomo has also authorized the deployment of dozens of inspectors to conduct more extensive damage assessments of buildings and verify basic code compliance of public facilities. >Courtesy NY State

Powered BY El Vocero de Puerto Rico, 1064 Ave Ponce de León 2nd floor San Juan, PR Postal Address: PO Box 15074, San Juan, PR 00902

Government Issues Order to Expedite Emergency Projects Given the urgency to start rebuilding roads affected by the earthquakes that hit the island’s southwest region, as well as building shelters, the Department of Economic Development and Commerce issued a two administrative orders through its Permit Management Office (OGPe) to expedite emergency government projects. The OGPe issued a waiver to the Department of Transportation and Public Works and its dependencies — the Highways and Transportation Authority, the Directorate of Public Works, the Federal Highways Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency — from obtaining environmental compliance certification from the Environmental Quality Board, an incidental permission to cut, transfer and plant trees, the Single Incidental Permit, or any other permit or authorization delegated to the OGPe that are required for construction purposes. The waiver applies to cleaning, removing and disposing of debris; landslide correction; pavement rehabilitation; restoration of drainage systems; installation of temporary bridges; rehabilitation and/or restoration of temporary detours, and restoration or installation of security measures, among others. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

President Salvador Hasbún shasbun@elvocero.com

Human Resources Director Arlene Rolón, PHR arolon@elvocero.com

Managing Editor Yennifer Álvarez yalvarez@wjournalpr.com

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“While her detail assignment continues, AUSA (Assistant United States Attorney) Castellón will work closely with Mr. Couch,” added the written statement.

Gov. Vázquez indicated last Friday that Couch had not met with her, or any government officials, during his short stay on the island. The spokesperson for the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) also confirmed that the monitor didn’t meet with members of the board. “We are in the process of setting a meeting,” the spokesman said.

For its part, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee said to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that “any federal financial monitor must ensure a fair, transparent and speedy process that delivers to Puerto Rico the congressionally-appropriated aid that was illegally withheld by the Trump administration for nearly two years. Any attempts by a financial monitor to delay or impede this aid would be unacceptable.

“We will continue to scrutinize the conditions placed on the aid and to provide robust oversight to ensure that the administration works collaboratively with Puerto Rico on the island’s recovery,” the committee spokesperson added.

Amid calls from House Democrats to release the funds, HUD Secretary Ben Carson revealed on Aug. 2019 a plan to appoint a financial monitor to oversee the administration of the disaster recovery relief and kept a tight lid on the selection process.

While the agency was crafting special guidelines for the government of Puerto Rico to access the mitigation relief and the island waited for the appointment of a monitor, on Oct. 2019, the agency quietly reached an agreement with the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys to appoint Olga Castellón, former general prosecutor and right hand of Gov. Vázquez—when she headed

the Justice Department— as the acting federal financial monitor on “all matters related to overseeing the CDBG-DR funds.” Castellón’s appointment was not publicized.

The former local housing secretary told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that he learned about Castellón’s appointment when he ran into her at a meeting.

“I don’t know the way and matter in which she was appointed. I can’t answer your questions because I don’t know,” he said.

As of press time, the governor’s office had not responded to questions about the appointment and its decision to withhold the information from the public.

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico about Castellón’s appointment and her responsibilities as an acting federal monitor, to which the agency’s spokesperson replied, in a written statement, that “her role was to assist with oversight, logistics and organization of the Federal Financial Monitor’s office pending the appointment of the monitor.”

Last week, Carson designated Robert Couch as the new federal financial monitor. A lawyer and a certified public accountant, Couch previously served as HUD’s General Counsel, as president of the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), as commissioner on the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Housing Commission, and as a member of President George W. Bush’s Task Force on the Status of Puerto Rico.

He was president and CEO of New South Federal Savings Bank in Birmingham, Alabama, and acted as general counsel and CFO of First Commercial Bancshares.

Castellón, through a spokesperson, also confirmed to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that she met with Couch and other HUD officials when the monitor visited the island last week.

Robert Couch previously served as HUD’s General Counsel. >Courtesy

Last October, Olga Castellón was appointed as the Acting Federal Financial Monitor on “all matters related to overseeing the CDBG-DR funds” without any public announcement. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

move to impose severe restrictions on the aid disdainful and contemptuous, according to The New York Times. “Why is Puerto Rico always subjected to different standards when it comes to this administration?”

Despite the fact that Congress allocated the $8.2 billion in disaster relief through the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program four months after Hurricane Maria devastated the island, HUD has deferred the disbursement of the much-needed help, citing concerns over corruption and financial mismanagement.

Gil lost his position as local Housing Secretary after Gov. Wanda Vázquez indicated in a press conference on Sunday that she asked for his resignation after losing trust in him, but didn’t offer further details.

Yesterday, in a written statement, Gov. Vázquez said that Gil was dismissed after he made statements at HUD challenging the grant agreement issued by the agency, putting in jeopardy the access to the delayed disaster aid.

The Federal Monitor

The New Rules

Aside from the monitor’s supervision, the new rules require that the local government seek a certification from the FOMB validating that the Action Plan for Disaster Recovery aligns with the board’s budgets and fiscal plans.

The FOMB spokesperson said the oversight board didn’t seek this new authority.

“The board didn’t ask for additional responsibilities or powers other than those already conferred by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (Promesa). The board will continue to comply with the mandate of law and will accept any

/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

responsibility assigned,” he stated.

In the past, Natalie Jaresko, the board’s executive director, has acknowledged in public hearings for the need to clarify the entity’s jurisdiction over the administration of disaster relief, while insisting that the FOMB is not asking for additional powers.

The grant agreement also requires that the local government pay contractors working on disaster relief projects less than $15 an hour, in spite of former Gov. Ricardo Rosselló’s executive order mandating the rate and implementing a reform of the properties. It also orders updates of the deed registry, among other requirements to ensure the appropriate use of the funds.

“The grantee is prohibited from using CDBGDR funds for activities to enhance or improve electric power systems until after HUD properly consults and coordinates with its federal partners on other federally-funded investments for this purpose. This limitation includes a prohibition on the use of CDBG–DR funds carried out to meet the matching requirement, share or contribution for any federally-funded project that is providing funds for electrical power systems until HUD completes its consultations,” stated the agreement on page 19.

“The Appropriations Act requires HUD to allocate $2 billion of CDBG disaster recovery funds to provide enhanced or improved electrical power systems in response to Hurricane Maria.

HUD announced the allocation of these funds to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and provided that the electrical power system allocation will be governed by a subsequent notice... Successful efforts to restore, enhance and improve electrical power systems, and guard this infrastructure against future disasters, will require coordination across multiple sources of federal financial assistance provided for this purpose,” added the 106-page document.

The length and long list of restrictions differ from other grant agreements examined by this newspaper, like the one for Louisiana that was nine pages long and another for the U.S. Virgin Islands that was 13 pages long.

“Not all grant agreements are the same. The difference here is that we have the involvement of the Oversight Board. I also think that there may be some kind of asperity lingering from the past administration that could have given way to certain restrictions that might not be necessary. It is their time to pay back and let everybody know who is the chief,” Gil told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL a day before his dismissal.

Gov. Vázquez rejected the notion that Gil’s removal would affect the process of disbursement of the CDBG funds.

“In no way... We have the right people, who have in-depth knowledge of everything that has to do with CDBG funds. On the contrary, we will give continuity to the process and... will comply with the guidelines issued by the federal government and so that we can, once and for all, begin to receive this money that the Puerto Rican people have been waiting for,” she said last Sunday.

Gil’s and Family Secretary Glorimar Andújar’s

abrupt exit came a day after a video showed donations made after Hurricane Maria sitting in a government-owned warehouse in Ponce, one of the towns affected by the recent quakes, sparking outrage among residents of the island.

Both dismissals rocked the government and sent aftershocks north across the Atlantic.

“The news out of Puerto Rico is disturbing, to say the least. In order for healing to begin,

I think this treatment is discriminatory. I think it is based on our colonial situation, like it or not. They don’t do this to New York, Florida or North Carolina.

-Fernando Gil, former Housing Secretary

corruption must end. This further underscores the importance of the reforms and financial controls we put in place to ensure these resources reach those who need them most,” Carson posted on his Twitter account late Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Donald Trump Jr. had tweeted: “So Trump was right after all. As usual.

Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez fires emergency director after aid is found sitting in a warehouse.”

The Grant Agreement

At the time of the interview last Friday, Gil had not completed the evaluation of the grant

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agreement and wasn’t sure whether he was going to recommend Vázquez accept the conditions, reject them or seek amendments, since the conditions imposed would significantly delay the disbursement of the aid. “I have not made a recommendation yet,” he said then.

However, in multiple press briefings, the governor reiterated her intention to comply with the agreement. “We will make sure the Housing Department has a team dedicated to the fulfillment of the action plan... We will work to meet all those requirements,” she said.

Gil had doubts about the legality of some aspects of the restrictions included in the grant agreement, especially the new role given to the FOMB created under Promesa.

“Promesa’s section 204 establishes that the board may not impede territorial action taken to implement certain federal programs,” highlighted the former Housing secretary.

However, under the new parameters, the local government has to submit its action plan and the board has up to 90 days to issue a certification.

Another pending issue was the prescriptive period. The agreement states that the funds can be used during a period of six years, from Sept.

20, 2018, to Sept. 20, 2024, but the funds were released just last week.

“I think this treatment is discriminatory. I think it is based on our colonial situation, like it or not.

They don’t do this to New York, Florida or North Carolina,” Gil indicated.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also called on the Trump administration to do more to help the island. “There is no excuse for not doing all we can to help our fellow Americans confront and recover from disasters,” he said.

To date, HUD has only disbursed $ 1.5 billion million out of a total of about $ 20.5 billion in CDBG-DR funds allocated to the island after Maria.

Former Housing Secretary Fernando Gil pointed out that the restrictive parameters imposed on the government of Puerto Rico will continue to delay the disbursement of much-needed reconstruction aid. >Josian E. Bruno Gomez

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Leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to headline event detailing how these businesses have thrived locally despite an array of challenges. >Archive

Corporate Compliance Seminar Seeks to Expand Business Growth

The event will feature discussions on local and international ethical and legal affairs to foster exportation

A Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

n upcoming seminar aims to modernize the corporate culture in Puerto Rico’s private sector in light of growing exportation opportunities by providing the tools on how to expand businesses while

upholding accessibility ethically.

The ‘Corporate Compliance and Ethics Infractions Seminar’—organized by business law firm Zeichner Ellman and Krause (ZEK)—will explore the characteristics of a robust corporate compliance program equipped to detect corrupt solicitation, receive and address whistleblower complaints, and tackle global and internal investigations.

ZEK Partner Aixa Maldonado explained that the seminar is focused on encouraging corporations to “take production risks” and thrive in a global economy.

“We have scheduled this seminar and have invited the companies that do business on the island; it is designed for the sales and contracting departments, legal offices and the management of these corporations because what we want to

do is try to educate and equip these corporations to expand or think of expanding in terms of doing business outside the island while also offering other products,” Maldonado told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. According to Maldonado, the seminar will feature several panels hosted by experts in various fields to discuss the policies that a company should adopt to stay in line with legal requirements and regulations from their respective industries, how different businesses have modified their management to increase their accessibility and how to identify the right distributor for one’s business, among others.

The first panel will feature Wendy Perry, president of the Puerto Rico Pharmaceutical Association (PIA), and Sol Rosado, president of the Puerto Rico Agricultural Biotechnology

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Industry Association (PRABIA). This interview-style presentation will detail how the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have managed to thrive on the island despite an economic recession, incentive changes and natural disasters. Maldonado stated that these industries are one of the fastest-growing in the global economy and can be among the most to benefit from international trade deals.

In the second panel, Maldonado will discuss the increase in federal prosecutions and regulatory and enforcement actions against corporations and their employees. Based on case studies and trend analyses, Maldonado will outline criminal and civil liability in corporate and individual scales for violations of anti-corruption statutes under current government guidelines.

Afterward, the third panel will showcase the basics on how to protect an organization from both corrupt solicitation and prosecution by establishing and updating its compliance program’s anti-bribery and corruption provisions in line with ethical principles.

“We have a panel on how to detect and prevent any undue influence, not just domestically, but also internationally if we want to expand and export the product. What happens if another government or private citizen asks us to pay under the table? How do we acknowledge those offers, how do we reject them and how do we deal with situations to protect our company,” Maldonado explained.

Meanwhile, George Washington University professor Kyle Welch will lead the fourth panel with his findings on the welfare of corporations with active whistleblower systems. Corporate security leaders will follow with a panel on how to conduct effective internal investigations into allegations of wrongdoing by corporate personnel in a way that makes staff feel at ease and protected when reporting suspicious activity, as

Departing FBI San Juan Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas Leff will outline the do’s and dont’s to keep in mind shall a corporation undergo a government investigation. >Archive

well as global investigations into third parties and government officials.

The sixth panel will focus on identifying red flags from third parties.

“We can’t always sell a product in another country ourselves; sometimes we need to hire a third party to be our distributors. But how do you know if that distributor is trustworthy and shares your best interest to protect your company?”

Maldonado said.

The seminar will close off with Douglas Leff—the departing FBI special agent-in-charge in San Juan—former prosecutors, government officials and defense counsels discussing the signs of corrupt solicitation and how to avoid them, the differences between corporate and individual defense and how to mitigate risks while protecting the corporate image in the event of a government investigation.

There will be different types of formats for these panels, but members of the audience will have the opportunity to further the discussion with an open Q&A section. There will be breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks before and in-between panels to foster networking between attendees.

Opportunities in Puerto Rico

Maldonado said that the seminar was conceived because Puerto Rico is at a “pivotal” stage where corporations must affirm that they are open for business by seizing current opportunities in global markets, highlighting the U.S.-China trade deal as an example.

“In light of everything that’s happening, and these demands that the U.S. administration is

making to China… we see that this is the perfect moment for Puerto Rico to make itself known and tell the world that we can be an international partner,” she asserted. “We must be ready to provide, help and foment our products.”

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL asked about challenges or needs that could hinder the private sector regarding the goals outlined by Maldonado.

The ZEK partner said that the main challenge is complying with foreign and laws and regulations, but remained optimistic in terms of the overall business environment.

She said she has noticed a “certain expansion of ideas” and praised the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its Spanish acronym) for “visiting other countries and letting them know that Puerto Rico exists… they are doing a good job in that aspect and they should continue.”

“Now that those trade deals and changes are happening there must be more government communication to let the U.S. and the world know that we do things well here, and we have so much to offer to the world, apart from the language.

Our language opens us to all of Latin America and Spain, our location opens us to the Caribbean, our people are hardworking… we have an innate amiability and we must continue broadcasting that to the world, that we are here and we can work,” Maldonado affirmed.

The event will be held at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa in the municipality of Rio Grande on Friday, Feb. 7 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ZEK is e-mailing companies and organizations with invitations, but tickets can also be purchased by visiting http://eventbrite.com. Each ticket costs $90.54.

Aixa Maldonado said that the recent trade deal between the U.S. and China opens new doors for Puerto Rico-based businesses. >AP Photo/Evan Vucci

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Puerto Ricans Rally to Help

Each Other Following the Quake Distrust in the governments’ ability to respond promptly to the emergency, or to use the donations for political gain drove citizens to take matters into their own hands

T Cynthia López Cabán

clopez@wjournalpr.com

@cynthia_lope

he “big” earthquake stirred memories of the difficult days after Hurricane Maria and the government’s slow -and often inadequate- response to the emergency, but it also sprang Puerto Ricans into action.

Contrary to Maria, the extensive damage of the quakes has -so far- been concentrated in the southern region of the island, prompting men and women from other areas to lend a helping hand.

As electric power was slowly restored throughout the U.S. territory, private citizens, artists, students, nonprofit groups and businesses across the island began collecting water, food and medical supplies for the thousands of evacuees that sought refuge in government and non-governmental shelters. Some lost everything, others are simply too scared to return to homes they deem unsafe.

Organized in convoys, citizens traversed mountainous roads and crowded highways to deliver supplies in areas close to the epicenter where help had not arrived. On social media, volunteers requested wood pallets to build beds for the victims that were sleeping on the floor, sleeping bags or air mattresses, while Rebecca García, a midwife from the group Women Helping Mothers (MAM, by its Spanish acronym) examined pregnant women and offered expectant moms words of encouragement.

Actor, singer, and political commentator Juan Pablo Díaz joined forces with his brother Javier Vélez and created http://suministrospr.com, a website administered by donors and leaders of shelters that listed the specific needs of each entity.

“Again, it is time to take care of our own,” Díaz stated on an Instagram post. “While there are unmentionable people who cannot distinguish between a natural disaster and a political campaign, the local citizenry has reached out,” he added in a

In Guánica, the athletic track has become a temporary shelter for victims of the earthquake. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

video explaining the initiative.

It was a reference to donations distributed to the evacuees in a bag with the logos of Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González and the Municipality of Bayamón with the slogan “Unidos por el Sur” (All for the South).

Others gathering help also remembered the 10 trailers filled with food, water and medical supplies donated to victims of Hurricane Maria that were found sitting unattended in a parking lot outside a state elections office in San Juan, under the government’s watch, a year after the disaster, and the cases of water abandoned on an airport runway in Ceiba.

Governor Fires Emergency Director After Aid Found Sitting in Warehouse

Then history repeated itself.

Last Saturday, Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced fired the island’s emergency management director Carlos Acevedo, after a video showing aid sitting unused in a warehouse in Ponce, one of the towns affected by the quakes, went viral on social media. Some of the supplies like baby formula, cots and diapers have allegedly been stored in the government-run depot since Hurricane Maria.

Vázquez said that she ordered a thorough investigation into the mishandling of emergency aid.

“This investigation should be ready with findings and recommendations in 48 hours.”

Calls for the resignation of the governor and other public officials began to circulate immediately in social media and the phrase “Only the People Can

Save the People” was posted across Instagram.

While the government sorted out its mess, http:// suministrospr.com, a local platform that even FEMA officials recommended, continued its work.

Other companies joined in after the “big one”, as local residents have named the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that rocked the island on Jan. 7, preliminarily causing $120 million in losses and leveling 559 homes in the southwestern region of the U.S. territory. The electric grid also sustained about $50 million in damages.

Uva!, a delivery application, created an option for people to purchase kits of nonperishable food and first aid supplies to be delivered in the affected towns that haven’t stopped shaking since Dec. 28, when the continuous seismic activity began.

Destilería Serrallés, the producer of Don Q rum, announced it would contribute $1 million to provide immediate disaster relief and essential services to families and communities impacted by the earthquakes and tremors that have affected Ponce, its hometown, and the southwestern area of Puerto Rico.

It also opened two collection centers at the company’s facilities in Mercedita, Ponce, and in Guaynabo at REXCO Industrial Park, to receive and distribute donations among the victims of the quakes.

A group of doctors and volunteer staff from Atlantis Health Care Group also visited the municipalities of Ponce, Guayanilla and Yauco to provide basic medical services and distribute essential items.

9 < The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Fundación #yonomequito, WAPA TV, Telemundo, El Vocero, GFR Media, La San Se Takes Orlando, SBS y otros medios del país se unen para crear el #yonomequito Earthquake Relief Fund con el propósito de atender las necesidades de los afectados por los recientes terremotos en la Isla.

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• Serán administrados por la Fundación #yonomequito.

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Http://Puertoricosigue.org is a one-stop-shop for business recovery resources that are actively providing disaster relief support throughout the island.

Invest PR Creates a

Platform to Help Businesses After the quakes, several companies continue to evaluate the possibility of relocating to the island, event after raising concerns, according to the organization

I

Cynthia López Cabán

clopez@wjournalpr.com

@cynthia_lope

n the aftermath of the quakes, Invest Puerto Rico launched http:// puertoricosigue.org, a website and one-stop-shop for business recovery resources that are actively providing disaster relief support throughout the island.

The nonprofit organization has also followed

up with investors and companies considering the island as an investment destination to assure them the country has the capacity to tackle the challenges.

“Invest PR has been on the ground meeting with companies in the affected areas in an effort to marshal resources leveraging our partnerships with business support organizations to ensure we turn this challenge into an opportunity, to build capacity within the existing business ecosystem to better position Puerto Rico for investment, interested in touch with so we can get our people back in business,” CEO Rodrick Miller told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL in a written statement.

“We have collected stories of resiliency and strength. Businesses were eager to get up and running quickly in the aftermath, to continue to provide for their communities. Crises and natural disasters happen everywhere, but Puerto Ricans have a proven track record of rising

amidst challenges. This is the story we aim to leverage on national media coverage,” he added.

Last month, Miller, revealed that Invest PR’s promotional strategy had yielded a pipeline of 2,000 leads, with more than 80 companies seriously pondering the island as an investment opportunity. A study conducted by the organization also concluded that the key sectors to target are knowledge services, innovation technology, artificial intelligence and software, tourism and hospitality.

The interest has not faded.

“Soon after the larger earthquakes, our team reached out to prospects currently considering Puerto Rico as a destination to move or establish commercial operations, to reaffirm our support as they navigate the possibilities. While some have expressed concern over infrastructure stability, companies continue to evaluate the possibility of relocation to the island,” Miller said.

He also explained that, in light of the recent

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Crises and natural disasters happen everywhere, but Puerto Ricans have a proven track record of rising amidst challenges.

-Rodrick Miller, CEO for Invest PR

tremors, the organization has worked to provide certainty and communicate to the rest of the world that Puerto Rico continues to be a favorable place to do business in and invest.

“We are organizing private sector representatives to join us in the coming week to an investor-hosted media mission in New York City to deliver the message that Puerto Rico’s business advantages stand the test of natural disasters. One of the main drivers to create InvestPR was to ensure continuity of business promotion activity on the island, and we are on track in executing throughout this opportunity,” Miller explained.

While Invest PR palliates the worries that followed the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that rattled the island on Jan. 7, and the continuous aftershocks, other organizations have also helped spread the message.

Colectivo 360 will host an investor summit next month. For two days, Feb. 25-26, Puerto Rico ICON will discuss the island’s business ecosystem, from the Incentives Code to the Opportunity Zones federal incentives program.

The conference seeks to offer an overview of the economic development opportunities on the island and address other global trends like artificial intelligence and social responsibility.

Help On the Way

Last week President Donald Trump declared “that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by earthquakes beginning on Dec.

Rodrick Miller, CEO of Invest Puerto Rico, said that businesses were eager to get up and running quickly in the aftermath of the quakes. >Gabriel López Albarrán/The Weekly Journal

28, 2019, and continuing,” said the statement released by the White House.

The areas covered by the declaration are the municipalities of Guánica, Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Ponce, Utuado and Yauco. Assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

At the same time, the House Democrats also unveiled a $3.35 billion emergency supplemental spending bill to assist the island with earthquake recovery. Among its provisions, the measure includes $100 million for educational needs, $1.25 billion to repair roads and an additional

$2.5 in Community Development Block Grants for disaster relief and economic revitalization.

The legislation also set deadlines for the administration to complete grant agreements and established procedural steps to spend the money in an attempt to avoid delays in the disbursement of the funds.

In an initial assessment, the U.S. Geological Survey calculated (USGS) the damages at $838 million, but an estimate by economist José Alameda calculated the preliminary impact of the quakes to be in the ballpark of $1.7 billion, factoring in the loss of GDP and the 30-day aftershock scenario of the USGS. Alameda, however, didn’t discard the possibility that in the end losses could exceed $2 billion.

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The international ratings firm Moody’s Investors Service says “emergency funds released by the federally appointed oversight board will help to repair the earthquake damage.” >AP

Moody’s Report: Earthquakes Impede Puerto Rico’s Economic Recovery The good news: federal recovery aid will continue

A Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

report by Moody’s Investors Services has concluded that the earthquakes that shook the island on Jan. 6 and 7, primarily affecting the southern coast of Puerto Rico, will “exacerbate” the island’s continuing challenges, as it is still rebuilding after the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria on Sept. 2017.

The recent events “highlight the significant environmental risks faced by Puerto Rico and businesses considering investment on the island. Damage from the quakes is likely to blunt

a recent trend of positive economic activity and increase the risk of more residents and corporations looking to relocate,” Moody’s said in its report published on Jan. 15.

“Emergency funds released by the federally appointed oversight board will help to repair the earthquake damage, but the destruction will increase infrastructure improvement needs as the commonwealth continues efforts to recover from the 2017 hurricanes.

“The earthquakes come as Puerto Rico’s economic indicators are improving, with population up slightly in 2019 and real economic output growing for the second straight year.

Total non-farm employment also grew in 2019, along with manufacturing employment,” Moody’s indicated.

As previously reported in THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, for the first time in almost 15 years, Puerto Rico experienced a slight increase in population, according to federal statistics

released in late Dec. 2019. The island of 3.2 million people welcomed 340 new inhabitants this past year, an increase of 0.01 percent, said the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics. Officials said that while total net migration was 7,733 people, the island’s population is still smaller than what it was a decade ago.

Meanwhile, after six consecutive years of slips, the economic activity index (EAI) maintained a slight growth pattern during the 2019 fiscal and calendar year, according to the island’s Economic Development Bank.

According to a Dec. 2019 report, the island’s EAI reached 121.6 points in October, about 0.4 percent higher when compared to Oct. 2018, the first positive growth after four year-overyear consecutive declines, and a 0.3 percent rise when compared to Sept. 2019.

The EAI measures non-farm payroll employment, electric power generation, gasoline consumption and cement sales.

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The earthquakes come as Puerto Rico’s economic indicators are improving, with population up slightly in 2019 and real economic output growing for the second straight year. Total non-farm employment also grew in 2019, along with manufacturing employment.

-Moody’s Investors Services

However, these positive economic developments were reported just before the earthquakes struck.

Moody’s said that “prospects for a stronger recovery are hurt by an increase in the types and frequency of natural disasters. Disasters

A home damaged by the earthquakes in southern Puerto Rico. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

Moody’s reported that a key challenge remains the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa), as “key utility infrastructure assets — especially the electrical grid —remaining unreliable and earthquake damage posing further risks.” >Archive

contributing to population erosion will likely remain on the minds of corporations looking to locate or expand in Puerto Rico.”

Adding to the island’s challenges is the U.S. Treasury Department’s intention to phase out Act 154 tax incentives on multinational corporations doing business in Puerto Rico, which represents 15 percent of tax revenues collected on the island. While negotiations are still underway and a final decision remains up in the air, “if the uncertainty results in corporations leaving, the likely result is fewer jobs for remaining residents and a decline in a key revenue source for the commonwealth [of Puerto Rico],” Moody’s noted.

Still, the island will continue to receive federal disaster funds and on Jan. 8, the federal government issued a declaration of emergency for Puerto Rico, meaning that “75 percent of equipment and resources necessary for emergency recovery costs” will be paid for by Washington, D.C. At the same time, the Financial Oversight and Management Board has also released $260 million in “contingency funds” to help with the earthquake recovery.

The federal government has also paved the way for Puerto Rico to access $8.2 billion in Community Development Block Grant funds,

which were stuck in D.C.

Prepa’s Challenges

Moody’s reported that a key challenge remains the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa), as “key utility infrastructure assets — especially the electrical grid —remaining unreliable and earthquake damage posing further risks.”

One day after the power outages caused by the Jan. 7 quake, Prepa said power had been restored to about a third of its customers.

“However, one of its largest power plants, Costa Sur, which is nearly 50 years old and located in the Southwest corner of the island, suffered material damage and it will take time to bring it back online. Power on the island has already been fully restored.

“Prepa currently has adequate liquidity to meet its needs. The damage to the Costa Sur plant adds to the challenges facing Prepa related to the age and condition of its infrastructure. The commonwealth is in the final stage of evaluating the proposals from the private entities interested in taking over the transmission and distribution operations. A final decision will be announced in the coming weeks,” Moody’s said.

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Puerto Rico Airport Arrivals Up Nearly 13 Percent For 2019

May see a decline after January earthquakes

P Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

uerto Rico’s tourism industry ended 2019 with an upsurge of nearly 13 percent in airport arrivals at Luis Muñoz Marín (LMM) International Airport, the primary air hub for the island, according to the latest numbers from ASUR, which manages the San Juan airport.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, or ASUR, reported that during 2019, more than 9.4 million passengers arrived at LMM Airport, compared with over 8.3 million in 2018. On a year-to-year basis, this represents an increase of 12.8 for San Juan air arrivals.

Visitors from the mainland United States jumped by 13.2 percent during the year, while those from international destinations also saw a healthy increase of 9.7 percent.

For Dec. 2019, ASUR said that 937,716 passengers arrived at LMM Airport, compared with 784,054 in Dec. 2018, representing a 19.6 percent increase for the month.

However, the island may see a decline in air arrivals in January after a series of earthquakes rocked the southern area on Jan. 6 and 7. The tremors temporarily knocked out power at the San Juan airport.

As a result, JetBlue and Frontier issued waivers for passengers who were scheduled to travel to the island. JetBlue passengers were allowed to change or cancel flights without fees if traveling between Jan. 11-13 to and from the San Juan, Ponce and Aguadilla airports. Frontier passengers traveling to and from San Juan received similar waivers if traveling between Jan. 10-13.

Still, Puerto Rico’s tourism officials have been quick to spread the word that the island is open for business, as normal, especially since the tremors were in the south, so major tourist attractions in the north were not affected.

>Josian E. Bruno Gómez

Puerto Rico is open for tourism.

Power across the island has been restored at 99 percent. Flights are operating normally to/ from the San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín, Ponce and Aguadilla airports, and all major hotels are operating normally.

-Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s destination marketing organization

“Puerto Rico is open for tourism. Power across the island has been restored at 99 percent. Flights are operating normally to/from the San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín, Ponce and Aguadilla airports, and all major hotels are operating normally. Taxis and ride share options are also available,” said Brad Dean,

CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s destination marketing organization.

“We welcomed nearly 56,000 cruise passengers into our San Juan Port last week alone. The Ponce Cruise Port, the Puerto Rico Convention Center and major attractions such as El Morro, El Yunque, San Cristobal Fort, including all areas outside of the southern region, continue to be open.

“Our beaches, natural attractions, restaurants and travel service providers are welcoming visitors and sharing Puerto Rico’s unique culture and warm hospitality. We encourage all visitors who have an upcoming trip to Puerto Rico to continue to show their support as tourism is vital. To keep the economy recovering, we must keep tourism strong as it fuels local communities,” Dean said in a statement.

Cruise lines also have said that the earthquakes did not impact their itineraries on the island.

Carnival Cruise Line told the Travel Market Report that it was continuing with its port of calls to Old San Juan. Royal Caribbean also reported that it has not changed its schedules for Puerto Rico.

The island is still recovering from Hurricane Maria, which hit on Sept. 2017, and as such, supporting tourism is vital for Puerto Rico’s economic recovery, Discover Puerto Rico emphasized.

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Another Way to Help Puerto Rico After the Earthquakes El Morro Fort in San Juan. >Courtesy Discover Puerto Rico

A look at what’s happening with Puerto Rico’s tourism

A Yennifer Álvarez Jaimes

yalvarez@wjournalpr.com

@yalvarezjaimes

pair of powerful earthquakes struck Puerto Rico on Jan. 6 and 7 – knocking out power, damaging homes and schools, displacing residents and killing one man. Although the quakes badly damaged the iconic natural stone arch known as Punta Ventana in Guayanilla, the capital city of San Juan was not affected.

The affected area mainly stretches from the coastal town of Guánica, which was the hardest hit, to the southern tourist hub of Ponce, where business is largely returning to normal. Large resorts like the Hilton Ponce Golf and Casino, the Ponce cruise port and the Ponce airport are open, and travelers are continuing to arrive.

If you are wondering about how to help Puerto Ricans, who were seriously affected only two years ago by Hurricane Maria, tourism is key.

“Tourism is vital to keep Puerto Rico’s economy recovering, as it fuels local communities,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, the Destination Marketing Organization for the island.

“We encourage all visitors who have an

upcoming trip to Puerto Rico to continue to show their support for the island. We stand in solidarity with our communities recovering in the southern region, and are confident that Puerto Rico’s resilient spirit will shine through now more than ever,” Dean added.

The official said that “Puerto Rico is open for tourism after power across the island has been 99 percent restored.”

“Flights are operating normally at San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín, Ponce and Aguadilla airports, and all major hotels are operating normally. Taxis and ride share options are also available,” Dean said.

According to Discover Puerto Rico, the island received nearly 56,000 cruise passengers at the San Juan Port last week alone.

The Ponce Cruise Port, the Puerto Rico Convention Center and major attractions such as El Morro, El Yunque and the San Cristobal Fort continue to be open.

“The beaches, natural attractions, restaurants and travel service providers are welcoming visitors and sharing Puerto Rico’s culture and warm hospitality,” Dean added.

To assure the continuity of the tourism marketing plans, Discover Puerto Rico and the local art community welcomed international artists Maya Hayuk and the 1UP Collective, who responded to the call for international artists to visit the destination and contribute murals to Puerto Rico’s street art scene.

They join notable Puerto Rican artist and

founder of the “Santurce es Ley” street art festival, Alexis Bousquet, and notable Puerto Rican artists Celso González, Vero Rivera and Bob Snow, who have identified wall spaces throughout the island to serve as larger-than-life blank canvas invitations.

“Aside from having world-renowned beaches, we boast an arts and culture scene that is evident should you visit our local artisans, museums or stroll our streets,” said Dean.

Maya Hayuk and the 1UP Collective will be collaborating for the first time in Puerto Rico. As prominent worldwide talent, Hayuk and 1UP have been featured within notable global art festivals, with their works found in countries across the world. Hayuk, a contemporary Ukrainian-American artist best known for her large-scale mural paintings, boasts pieces worldwide, including The Bowery Wall in New York, Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art in Brussels, and has given a TEDx Talk at The Center of Art and Design in Brussels.

Berlin-based 1UP is an anonymous collective of men and women from cities all over Europe.

Renowned for their worldwide graffiti activity, they are one of the most prominent graffiti collectives, called upon by music festivals and global fashion brands.

The murals were completed this weekend during the “Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián” festival, which is an emblematic event that happens every year and boasts tradition and culture that gathers locals and visitors.

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Puerto Rico’s only Penguin store is located on the first floor of Plaza las Américas, near the JC Penney entrance. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

A Young Entrepreneur Defies the Retail Apocalypse

Penguin store offers unique designs and a personalized customer experience

W Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

hile brick and mortar stores continue to close nationwide and Puerto Rico’s emigration rates soar, one young entrepreneur challenged the norm and returned to his native island to open a retail shop in one of the most popular malls in the metropolitan area.

Erik López, 32, moved to Miami while he was pursuing his bachelor’s degree in economics, in the hopes of seeking new opportunities academically and professionally. He sold his car and with that

money traveled to the buzzing Floridian city, but soon developed a longing for Puerto Rico. López eventually embarked on different ventures back in the U.S. mainland, such as a production company, but he was always waiting for the right opportunity to return to the island.

That opportunity came when two of his friends contacted him while they were in the process of opening the first and only Penguin store in Puerto Rico.

“My father had given me some pieces from Penguin, but I hadn’t paid much attention to the brand. Then, one day, my friends asked me when I would be returning here because I had left the auto industry and I wasn’t enjoying the production company, so I sold that to my partner and decided to return to Puerto Rico,” López told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. They initially considered The Mall of San Juan as the top choice to open the new location, but ultimately settled on Plaza Las Américas in San Juan’s Hato Rey district, the largest mall in the Caribbean and the second-largest shopping center

in Latin America.

“The process was much more difficult than I had anticipated. Opening a business in Puerto Rico is not necessarily easy because there are many processes and things here that are more complicated in terms of obtaining permits. But I came here as a blank slate. I came here to focus on what I had to do to open this store,” he said.

Now, over a year later, López affirmed that the store is flourishing and he is eager to release new services and Penguin products.

The menswear store, located on the first floor in the hall next to the JC Penney entrance, is small but pointedly stylish. Some walls are painted in eggshell white and others have a navy blue wallpaper with several accents featuring the brand’s mascot and logo, a small but charming penguin.

The store sells a wide range of items, such as different types of shirts, pants, jeans, shoes, bow ties, socks, ties, belts and even luggage. Different shades of blue are predominant among the clothing items, but there are also vibrant hues of pinks, as well as pastels and tropical-inspired colors.

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Some items, such as the brand’s polo shirts with the Penguin logo, might seem similar to other brands, such as Lacoste. López recognized these similarities but pointed out that Penguin also sells products with quirky or unusual patterns. Apart from the traditional gingham, visitors are treated to idiosyncratic motifs, such as pink flamingos, American football balls, champagne glasses or even disco balls and musical symbols.

However, some of these products might be considered costly by some clients. A pair of jeans can cost $85, for example. López recognized this but affirmed that the brand provides high-quality fabrics and materials that ultimately result in an appropriate clothing investment.

Thriving Despite Retail Crisis

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL asked López if he and his partners took into consideration the dropping rate of retail stores in Puerto Rico and in the U.S. mainland prior to opening the Penguin store.

A 2012 census revealed that there are 293 shopping centers around the island. This reflects a decrease from the 317 venues reported four years earlier in a survey by the Puerto Rico Trade and Export Co. Moreover, brick and mortar stores have seen a steady decline as well due to a growing inclination toward online shopping or eCommerce, in what has been described as the “retail apocalypse” by some economists.

López acknowledged the falling rate of in-store shopping but said that when he studied the brand and its trajectory he concluded that it would be able to support a physical location.

“Not all brands can hold up in a store, but because this brand has a history, and that history can support a store. Emerging brands have difficulty reaching that point where they are able to open a physical store because it is very costly,” he said.

According to López, Penguin was conceived in 1955 and it is a favorite among the Baby Boomer generation, who would wear the brand’s polo shirts as part of their school uniform. Now that the brand has been revived, he has seen a number of clients within that age group who reminisce

Erik López decided to return to Puerto Rico after living for several years in Miami. >Courtesy

about the brand’s early days, while enjoying its fun, contemporary look.

Contrary to tendencies reported among major retailers, López said that his Penguin store actually runs out of items due to high demand and he frequently has to purchase more items when clients request them to foment a customized experience.

Personalized Service

In order to ensure the store’s success, López informed that he and his employees offer customers a personalized experience. They currently have a database with the clients’ contact information and they are in the process of offering a membership. In the meantime, they get to know their customers and their tastes and—in some cases—will personally contact them separately to inform them of upcoming sales, or ask them if they would be interested in specific items so that the store can make the purchase during pre-sales.

López is also in the process of creating a WhatsApp group where residents from other parts of the island—such as the southern or western region—can order items and then the store would send them via mail or delivery. Presently, this service is extended to some customers, but the WhatsApp group would formalize this amenity.

“This is the only Penguin store in Puerto Rico.

There are people in Ponce or Mayagüez who call and sometimes visit us, but not always… We want to facilitate the delivery so that they don’t have to travel here, which can be a long route,” López said, adding that he doesn’t intend to rely heavily on eCommerce, but rather seeks to enhance the clients’ experience with the brand.

He noted that the store also caters to international clients, such as in Colombia or the Philippines—places from where they often get requests through social media. One of the store’s advantages is that it offers products found in both U.S. and Latin American stores, so it is able to provide more versatility and thus sell items to residents of some regions where certain items are not sold. The store also offers occasional discounts

to bolster these sales. “[Social media] is the only [marketing] tool we have because the market in Puerto Rico is different from the U.S. market. A store in the United States won’t necessarily have the same products we do; similar, but not the same. The pieces that are exclusively sold in Latin America cannot be purchased online in the U.S.,” he explained.

Regarding expansion plans, López revealed that he and his partners are considering opening a new Penguin store and are evaluating possible locations, such as Ponce, Mayagüez or Old San Juan. In the meantime, López is focused on optimizing the store’s current services.

“I have to make sure that everything is running smoothly… and then I’ll experiment with opening a new store,” he affirmed.

For more information about the store, visit http://originalpenguinpr.com or call (787) 9984444. The store can also be found on Instagram as “penguinpuertorico” and on Facebook as “Original Penguin PR.”

The company’s logo, a small penguin, is featured in multiple clothing items and accesories. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

Penguin offers a variety of clothes in fun patterns and vibrant hues. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Biopharmaceutical Industry Remains Steady After Earthquakes

None of the manufacturing facilities were affected by the seismic events

W Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

hile seismic activities continue to be documented on the southwestern region of the island, the Puerto Rico Pharmaceutical Industry Association (PIA) affirmed that the biopharmaceutical plants scattered islandwide have resumed operations, quelling concern for local and foreign patients who rely on locally-manufactured medications.

Wendy Perry, PIA’s chairwoman of the Board of Directors, explained that the PIA conducted a survey of its member companies and found that their manufacturing facilities are back in operations despite the 6.4-magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks experienced throughout January, which caused an islandwide power interruption and the destruction of multiple buildings and residential properties. According to the chairwoman, none of the manufacturing facilities suffered damages in these seismic events.

Puerto Rico has been a hub for the biopharmaceutical industry for more than 50 years.

According to the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Co. (Pridco), 12 of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies have a presence on the island, whether it be for manufacturing, product development or distribution, among others. Some of these corporations include Johnson & Johnson, Bristol Myers Squibb, Allergan, AbbVie, Baxter, Glaxo Smith Kline, Genentech, Sanofi, Novartis, Merck and AstraZeneca.

The 14 multinational and international researchbased biopharmaceutical companies that comprise the PIA operate more than 20 facilities on the island, and supply products to millions of patients in more than 100 countries around the world. Some of these products include blood thinners, IV bags and drugs for cancer, arthritis, diabetes and heart disease.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug

Puerto Rico-based biopharmaceuticals produce life-saving medicines that reach millions of patients worldwide. >Courtesy

Administration, after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, there was a shortage of roughly 40 medicines and IV bags. Because of the complications faced back then, the local biopharmaceutical industry implemented continuity plans to ensure that these life-saving medicines remained at a steady supply. Perry highlighted that most facilities have alternate power sources to continue operations until the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) can reestablish service.

“Certainly, the possibility of limitations in reliable electricity and water supply could impose some challenges, but, in most instances, we have contingency plans to address them,” the PIA said in an official statement.

Some of these corporations are supporting patients by activating emergency protocols to allow the replacement of damaged medicines, early refills and relaxing financial documentation requirements. PIA members have also joined efforts with distressed communities to provide assistance in the earthquake recovery process and to provide humanitarian assistance. Others have also pledged to provide financial aid and to

donate life-saving medicines through humanitarian organizations.

“We are conscious of the importance of the medicines we produce for people around the world, and we also plan for events of this nature, maintain adequate inventories to warrant the continuous supply… The Pharmaceutical Industry Association is strongly committed to Puerto Rico and the well-being of our people and communities,” Perry affirmed.

The pharmaceutical industry employs 78,000 people in Puerto Rico and creates and sustains thousands of additional jobs by supporting several related industries, such as small businesses and professional organizations, which provide goods and services in areas such as healthcare, manufacturing components, food services, logistics, engineering, medical and legal services, banking services, insurance, transportation, and tourism, among others. This industry is also a pivotal contributor to the local economy, representing more than 30 percent of Puerto Rico’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 60 percent of all exports.

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

By Waleska Rivera CEO Danosa Caribbean Inc. Board Member ICSE-PR

Road Of Stones

T

he heartbreaking images of children of all ages, elders and entire families sleeping outdoors after losing their homes, or surrendering to the fear of the continuous seismic activity, should keep us awake at night. The disturbing notion of a collapsed school has made our hearts stop. Most of us are in disbelief of the situation that has shattered, in the most literal way, the beginning of 2020. With thousands becoming instantly homeless and unemployed, a sudden and overwhelming sadness invades our hearts, and the only way to cope is through acts of kindness and solidarity, but we also need action to move forward.

While the government struggles with the nightmare, the private sector and community volunteers have flocked to the south with supplies, care and even entertainment to lessen the pain. Once again, we show the world our resilience

and our strength, because helping the less fortunate has become the rule, not the exception.

Nonetheless, amid the continuous seismic activity, we must pause to reflect on how we can minimize the tragedy of a natural phenomenon we cannot predict or control.

Considering the lives that have been lost, the social impact and the loss of infrastructure that already surpasses $150 million, it has become vital to appropriately implement the Puerto Rico construction code.

In 2018, after the devastation of Hurricane Maria, the Economic Development and Planning Commission of the House of Representatives sought to revise resolution 756 of the Puerto Rico Construction Code. With the support of FEMA, the Puerto Rico Office of Permit Management, other public agencies and members of the Puerto Rico College of Engineers and Surveyors, the College of Architects and Landscape Architects, the General Association of Contractors and the

By Manuel Cidre

Entrepreneur & Founder of Los Cidrines

Earthquakes Are No Excuse

L

ast year, Israel exported over $114 billion in goods and services. That’s 68 percent higher than their 2009 exports.

How can a country that is under constant threat of war and terrorist attacks grow this essential part of its economy so rapidly, and what can Puerto Rico learn from it?

A couple of weeks ago, Edgardo Vicenty wrote an op-ed for THE

WEEKLY JOURNAL in which he explained how tax incentives are useless without government stability, and I think he hit the nail on the head.

I want to expand on what he wrote because, to invest, companies need to feel confident that the government will work efficiently under normal operating conditions, but even more so when disaster strikes.

Israel’s story is fascinating because it proves that stability and economic growth are possible even under

P.R. Builders Association, a new code was developed. The government of Puerto Rico received $110 million from FEMA’s Risk Mitigation Grant Program to improve the implementation of the code. This grant allowed the Puerto Rico Planning Board and the Office of Permit Management to increase its staff from 11 code compliance officers to more than 200.

Among its many proposals, the new code recommended the design of new infrastructure and the mitigation of the existing one, to make construction more resistant to hurricanes and earthquakes.

Nonetheless, when approved, no one imagined it would be as relevant as it is today.

The approvals to the code made in 2018 were the first significant ones since 2011, and they were meant to ensure a safer construction in all 78 municipalities.

Nonetheless, compliance is key and all structures today should have been constructed according to the corresponding approved code. Were they?

What did the present code establish regarding earthquakes?

During the public hearings that led to the new Construction Code, the Office of Permits Management (OGP, for its acronym in Spanish) said Puerto Rico already had more restrictive design parameters than other jurisdictions, since the 2011 code had incorporated amendments based on a study of Puerto Rico’s seismic history, with risk assessed per

municipality. However, we must take into consideration that the last great earthquake on the island was in 1918, more than a century ago. This requires a change in the responsibilities of designers, contractors, government and owners.

Among the recommendations under the Hazard Mitigation Assessment Team Report made by FEMA, was the creation of micro wind zone maps that consider the topography of Puerto Rico, which changes through the island, in case of hurricanes. Furthermore, one of the great concerns discussed during those hearings were the conditions of constructions, hence the suggestion of rigorous building maintenance protocol and the continual revision of the construction code.

The seismic activity lived during the past week brings us to a new crossroads of questioning if we have been rigorous enough in implementing construction codes, if we have provided adequate maintenance to public and private buildings, if compliance with our building codes is accessible or cumbersome to our residents and if we should adjust the recent code to this new reality.

Living in an island with yearly hectic hurricane seasons, and now of active seismic activity, requires a new mindset.

It’s a time of solidarity, but we must also roll-up our sleeves, get to work and prove our resiliency and true human nature, a hard road is still ahead.

uncertain circumstances, like the constant threat of war and terrorism.

Every year, Puerto Rico is under a series of much more predictable and manageable risks. These are hurricanes, mosquito-transmitted diseases and, as we have recently been reminded, earthquakes. It would be easier if we didn’t have to face these issues every single year but, as we’ve learned from Israel, they are no excuse for instability.

Don’t be mistaken, our government will use these disasters as an excuse the next time a large pharmaceutical firm decides to leave the island.

Politicians will say the thousands of well-paying jobs were lost because natural disasters made it hard for these companies to operate in Puerto Rico and there was nothing that could be done to prevent them from leaving.

However, this won’t be true. Natural disasters aren’t exclusive to Puerto Rico and these companies have plans for dealing with them all across the globe. What they can’t deal with is a

government that is not transparent but instead is inefficient and crumbles under the smallest amount of volatility.

If Puerto Rico is to thrive during this decade, we need to do things differently. Expecting change to come from the government is a lost cause.

Therefore, businesses, non-profits and individual citizens have to work together to do what our government is obviously incapable of doing.

We need to design and build resilient streets, then blocks, then cities.

Together we need to find a solution to our school’s structural problems and fix them. Most importantly, we must start a massive educational campaign to combat populism.

As long as demagogues rule this island, we won’t have a stable government capable of the long-term thinking necessary to make Puerto Rico truly resilient. Time is running out, let’s combat populism and make Puerto Rico a great place to do business and live in once more.

20

/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The cast of “In the Heights” is made up of local actors, actresses, dancers and singers.>Josian Bruno Gómez

Lin Manuel’s “In the Heights”

Returns to San Juan T

You cannot miss “In The Heights”, not only because of its popularity, but because it is one of the few plays in English to be performed on a Puerto Rican stage

Yennifer Álvarez Jaimes

yalvarez@wjournalpr.com

@yalvarezjaimes

ony Award-winning musical “In the Heights”, created

by Lin-Manuel Miranda, a playwright of Puerto Rican descent listed amongst the most talented and successful people on Broadway, will return to San Juan on May 7, 2020, with a cast

of local actors, actresses, dancers and singers.

“In the Heights” opened on Broadway in March 2008 and was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, winning four: Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations. It won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album and was also nominated to the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

You cannot miss “In The Heights” not only because its popularity, but because it is one of

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

It makes me happy to return to the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in May to work with local talent, and to provide a great opportunity to our actors.

I will be in the front row, with all of my family, enjoying this super production made in Puerto Rico ...and all of this will happen just one month after the international premiere of the movie ‘In the Heights’

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. Didi Romero (”Nina”), Tony Chiroldes (”Kevin”), Dagmar (”Abuela Claudia”), Felipe Albors (”Sonny”), Denise Quiñones (”Daniela”), Juan Pablo Díaz (”Piragüero”), Amanda Rivera (”Carla”), Sara Jarque (”Camila”) and Ana Isabelle (“Vanessa”) are also part of the cast.

Ana Isabelle, known for her role as Rosalía in the Steven Spielberg- directed version of West Side Story, says she is committed “to putting forth the knowledge gained in New York and working with other big stars, because of the racism and injustice that Latinos live daily.”

“My character will have a lot of the spark that Puerto Ricans born and raised in the island have,” she anticipated about her role in the musical.

The musical direction is in the hands of Cucco Peña, while the choreography and general direction will be handled by Marcos Santana, who worked on with the opening cast of “In the Heights” in 2008.

“In the Heights”, the movie, will also hit theaters on June 26, 2020.

“It makes me happy to return to the Luis

A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in May to work with local talent, and to provide a great opportunity to our actors. I will be in the front row, with all of my family, enjoying this super production made in Puerto Rico ...and all of this will happen just one month after the international premiere of the movie ‘In the Heights’ ,” said Miranda, a Pulitzer Prizewinner.

Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island of 3.5 million people that’s not a normal stop for Broadway productions, hosted last year a 23 performance tour of the award-winning musical Hamilton, thanks to Miranda and his father, Luis Miranda, a Puerto Rican native who made a name for himself as a New York City Hispanic community leader.

Both prevailed as the producers and investors of the show — which brings in as much as $4 million a week in Broadway alone — and donated the entire proceeds of the San Juan engagement, after paying operating expenses, to a fund for struggling Puerto Rican artists and arts institutions.

You can purchase tickets for “In the Heights” online at http://ticketpop.com

- Lin Manuel Miranda

the few plays in English to be performed on a Puerto Rican stage.

The rap-salsa-pop musical consists of a series of vignettes that form a vivid mural of urban life. The story follows the lives of several characters dealing with family, love and community issues as gentrification begins to take hold of their beloved, predominantly Latin, neighborhood.

The musical was praised for countering Latin stereotypes as one of the main characters, Nina, is a studious, ambitious young Latina who goes to Stanford University.

Broadway critics described “In the Heights” as an amalgam of Miranda’s personal detail and creative license, set against the backdrop of the all too familiar American Dream.

The play returns to the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in Santurce with Puerto Rican actor and singer Éktor Rivera, who will take on the role of Usnavi after having shined on Broadway in the play “On Your Feet!”, and in London as Juan Domingo Perón in “Evita”.

“I am learning the rap cadence from him [Miranda], but I will give it my own touch because it is for Puerto Ricans. It’s going to be a very cool combination, I want to give it a touch of who we are and what I am as a Puerto Rican, while obviously maintaining the essence of the story and the writing,” Rivera said to

Ana Isabelle, known for her role in Steven Spielberg’s reprisal of West Side Story, is part of the cast. >Archive

Ektor Rivera. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

22

>The Weekly Journal

/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Cappadocia: Turkish Flavors Come to Guaynabo to Stay

When you arrive, an English-speaker server brings you an extensive and mouthwatering menu

W The Mystery Guest

newsroom@wjournalpr.com

ith an attentive service and a beautiful chandeliered dining room, Cappadocia Turkish Kitchen takes you to “Little Turkey” in the San Patricio Town

Center in Guaynabo.

When you arrive, an English-speaker server brings you an extensive and mouthwatering menu

that includes soups, stews, braises, minced and skewered meats; traditional Turkish teas and sweets are also part of the offer.

You can choose a regular table or relax in the back of the dining room at a more romantic spot decorated with Turkish furniture.

Cappadocia Turkish Kitchen is named after a region in central Turkey, famous for its unique rock formations and amazing hot air balloon rides.

The restaurant decoration resembles the colorful balloons and shows images of the rocky landscape highlighting the natural wonder.

A must-have is the Lavash, a bread baked

in-house. As an appetizer I ordered the classic hummus for $8.50 while I waited for my companion, and it was so tasty that I ate almost all of it before she arrived.

Main courses include a variety of lamb, beef and chicken dishes, but you can also find two vegan options: a falafel plate with rice, potatoes, carrots and cabbage salad, or the vegetarian casserole with the same sides.

As main course I ordered the lamb döner kebab for $18. The döner is a Turkish creation of meat, often lamb, but not necessarily so, that is seasoned, stacked in a cone shape and cooked

/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020 slowly on a vertical rotisserie.

The sliced meat is served on a platter with rice, potatoes, carrots and cabbage salad. The sides were delicious.

My friend ordered the chicken shish kebab for $18, a chicken breast marinated with Turkish spices that transform a plain white meat chicken into a succulent and flavorful dish. The chicken was tender and savory. All the main courses had the same sides.

If you are not so hungry, Cappadocia Turkish Kitchen has alternatives: the red lentil soup, the lamb, chicken or falafel gyro and the pide, a kind of Turkish pizza.

The kasarli pide is a flatbread baked with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and parsley. The spinach feta pide and the gözleme, traditionally made with unleavened dough, can have an array of fillings such as cheese and spinach.

You should start or finish your dinner with Oralet, for $3, a sweet fruit tea served in a traditional tulip-shaped transparent glass. I chose the apple one and it was warm and delicious.

My companion also observed that a couple brought their own bottle of wine and was

You should start or finish your dinner with Oralet, a sweet fruit tea served in a traditional tulip-shaped transparent glass. >The Weekly Journal

Lavash, a bread baked in-house, is served alongside hummus. >The Weekly Journal

23

Chicken shish kebab, a chicken breast marinated with Turkish spices. >The Weekly Journal

uncorked by the server while they were enjoying the Turkish delicacies.

For dessert, I chose baklava, at $5, a rich, sweet pastry made with layers of filo dough filled with sweetened chopped nuts and held together with syrup and honey. You can add vanilla ice cream for only $2 but I prefer to enjoy the traditional way.

This is a family restaurant but you can also have a romantic dinner. At the end, the chef said goodbye to us with a smile from the bar. I will definitely come back soon.

Cappadocia Turkish Kitchen is located at the San Patricio Town Center on B2 Tabonuco St. in Guaynabo. The restaurant opens Monday to Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more information, call (787) 792-1616.

Lamb döner kebab served with rice, potatoes, carrot and cabbage salad. >The Weekly Journal

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Local Entrepreneur Launches School for Shoe and Handbag Confection Hoping to empower women, Monica Bernardy opened a school where they can learn how to make purses and shoes

M Yomaris Rodríguez

yrodriguez@elvocero.com

@yomarisr

ónica Bernardy’s students at EDP University and Centromoda Escuela de Diseño Lisa Thon always wanted to know where they could learn to manufacture shoes.

Hoping to empower women, and fill a void, she established Bernardy Studio in Cayey, where she teaches the art of making handbags and shoes.

“They were always asking me where they could make shoes. Knowing that there wasn’t any particular place in Puerto Rico, I would always give them information on places in the U.S., Spain, Argentina and Peru, not knowing that I would eventually be the one with a school to teach it,” said the entrepreneur to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. After going to New York in Feb. 2016, and participating in workshops related to the confection of purses and shoes, on March 2016 she opened her studio. She initially offered lessons on how to make handbags because she had the necessary equipment for it but, by August of that same year, she was teaching a class on making espadrilles with rope soles.

The Carlota Alfaro and Lisa Thon apprentice, explains why she chose shoe design and manufacture.

“There was nobody teaching how to make shoes like this. Local shoe makers were artisans,

Mónica Bernardy has taken lessons in five different countries in order to further improve and formalize her curriculum. >All photos courtesy Mónica Bernardy

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

they did everything by hand, without machines, and using mostly leather. They would make strappy leather sandals, not heels, platforms regular sandals or modern sneakers with machinery. I applied all the knowledge I had gained in haute couture and put it toward the confection of accessories,” said the designer.

Over the past four years, more than 300 students have taken her courses, and many of them have established their own businesses.

Among these are Lola’s Fashion Bags, Cadavra, Arlene Morillo Designs, Bosque, Thodes, Koaz, LaliLola and My PaoNais Handcrafts.

“Looking back, I can’t believe everything that’s happened, the number of women succeeding, owners of their own businesses, selling and living life happily. They would cry in the classroom because sewing was always their passion but they couldn’t figure out how to live off it. I feel really satisfied when they send me pictures of

them selling sneakers and espadrilles, it feels incredible,” said a smiling Bernardy.

The entrepreneur has taken lessons in five different countries in order to further improve and formalize her curriculum.

“What I teach is the result of everything I have learned. I’ve eliminated a few things, made things my own. Every student that goes through my courses leaves with an accessory entirely of their own doing. I will keep traveling because I have yet to go to Arsutoria School in Italy which is the number one school in shoe and handbag design. I will either go this year or the next because I want to specialize in sneakers,” added the teacher.

With a Clear Mission

“The school is focused on empowering Puerto Rican women so that they don’t ever take no as an answer because they can do whatever they want to do. I used to think of myself as a “jibarita”, I didn’t even have a passport. Then, God led me to the school and look what I’ve accomplished,” continued Bernardy.

The courses are meant for people aged 18 and over with at least basic sewing knowledge.

However, there is a course that may be taken if the person is inexperienced. The courses are short. For example, the wallet course is just one day long, the platform course is three days and the espadrille and basic handbag courses are two days long. Classes start every month and the next spots available are for February.

Bernardy hopes to eventually teach over the internet. However, her classes are currently taught at Bernardy Studio, about two minutes away from exit 32 in Guavate, Cayey. For more information please call (787) 234-9898 or contact her through social media.

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Cracks and Columns

In Case of An Earthquake

A Melissa Cruz Ríos

mcruz@elvocero.com

mcruz

rchitect Astrid Díaz is calling on everyone on the island to closely inspect their homes after the Jan. 7 earthquake.

“We should all take a good, hard look at our homes, regardless of whether or not one is an architect or engineer, just in case the structure suffered damages that may have weakened its foundations. This is essential to determining if one should stay in the house or if one needs to leave in order to ensure safety,” said Díaz, an expert and educator on “Safe Homes and

Natural Disasters.”

Díaz pointed out that this initial inspection is necessary in order to know if one needs to hire a structural engineer, architect or construction specialist.

The most important thing to keep an eye out for are cracks.

“Diagonal cracks, or those that are X-shaped, are important to make a note of because a column can give way through one of those. Another type of crack to watch out for is the wide vertical one that occurs when two spaces have been joined together, it’s very common in garages. This type of crack means that the earth is shifting, apart from being a sign of weakness,” she explained.

/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

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According to Díaz, her recommendations should be heeded by everyone on the island, not only those in southern Puerto Rico, where the Punta Montalva Fault is located and from which have emerged all of the earthquakes that have occurred since Dec. 28.

Residents survey damage where a home partially collapsed after an earthquake hit Guanica, Puerto Rico, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. A 5.8-magnitude quake hit Puerto Rico before dawn, unleashing small landslides, causing power outages and severely cracking some homes.

>Carlos Rivera Giusti

Díaz, who spearheads “Casco Time”, an initiative meant to educate people on solid construction, is aware that a big concern right now are the homes built on top of columns; those that were constructed without soil studies, engineers, architects or construction professionals.

“The homes that collapsed in Guánica, the ones that were built on columns, were not built on mountains, they were in urban areas, the failure was a result of a poor connection between the column and the house. This is why some houses were left intact and others were badly damaged. If the columns of these homes had been reinforced before the quake, they’d still be standing,” she said.

Díaz went on to say that in order for these homes to have survived the quake, they would have needed to be “braced”, which is when structural elements in X or Y shapes are placed between the columns. These elements can be tension cables, bars or other products made of wood, concrete or steel.

“These bars are meant to stabilize elevated structures that have not been reinforced. These details are drawn on plans and the contractor puts them in after evaluating the weight that the columns will be supporting,” said Díaz.

When a home is on top of columns, and does not have bracing, it moves freely in accordance with seismic activity and can fall down, as was the case in Guánica.

“The country is very worried and gets confused when told to protect their heads, but, they need to keep in mind that, in Puerto Rico, homes built by architects and engineers are constructed keeping in mind seismic activity and types of soil, so they withstand earthquakes. If you are in well-designed home or apartment, that has been built up to code, the ceiling will not collapse during an earthquake.

However, it is still necessary to inspect the structure after a quake,” she added.

On the other hand, those homes that were not built taking codes, soil types and seismic activity in mind, run the risk of collapsing. If you have identified any deep, diagonal cracks in which you may fit a quarter, it is imperative to have the home evaluate by a professional.

Díaz also said that if anyone has any doubts about their home, they can contact NMEAD or consult the construction codes available at the “Colegio de Ingenieros”.

“Many lives can be saved if homes built on columns are reinforced. This, in turn, also helps against losing one’s real estate investment,” she concluded.

>Carlos Rivera Giusti

On Columns

>Archive

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Step by Step:

Organizing a Community Group

fter the series of earthquakes occurred, members of our neighborhood decided to organize because government help can be nonexistent.

We were invited to join a community group so we could prepare for the next disaster to impact Puerto Rico and I learned that our community is made up of literary types, not fix-it types, and that many of us don’t even know the person living next door.

Our leader prepared a document for us to fill out with our name, email and the skills we have that may help in an emergency. Setting goals helps you be accountable for yourself and also increases accountability within a group. Realizing that many communities are not prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings to our shores, I have organized a list of suggestions: 1. Create a team with your friends and neighbors. Call, text, email and even go door to door to setup a meeting. Designate a leader and find someone willing to host the event.

2. Set an agenda. Publicize and get this agenda out to the whole neighborhood or community.

3. Prepare a contact list with the names, emails, cell phones, resources and skills that each member of the community can bring to the group. Create a spreadsheet and share.

4. Discuss your community’s pressing needs and potential solutions.

5. Decide upon an emergency outdoor location that will be safe for use and to post notices.

6. Decide the needs the community needs to address the most: health, communication, community repairs, energy and /or environment.

• Set measurable group and personal goals for

>Archive

A

Hallee Patterson

your project.

• Identify five people in the group to act as additional leaders.

• Plan the next meeting of the leadership team and identify next steps for each leader.

• Figure out who can volunteer and list services they can provide (doctor, nurse, architect, engineer, plumber, electrician, mechanic, etc.).

• Set goals with deadlines. Have someone in the group hold each participant accountable. This is essential!

• Communication is key! Set the next community meeting to get feedback and finalize plans.

29 < The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, January 22, 2020

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico 2019-2020 Season Founded in 1956 by Pablo Casals, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico (OSPR) brings together local and international musicians. The current director is respected Chilean maestro Maximiano Valdés. Join them as they continue their 20192020 season, ending on May 2020.

When: Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.

Where: Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center, Santurce

How to Prepare for an Earthquake The Ecoexploratorio will host an earthquake and tsunami forum. Admission is free. For more info, contact info@ecoexploratorio.org.

When: Saturday, Jan. 25 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Ecoexploratorio, Science Museum, Plaza Las Américas, 2nd floor, San Juan

Managing Stress and Mindful Eating Mariella has spent the last six years studying stress management techniques and the mindbody connection to help others achieve a better sense of well-being. Her desire to follow this path came from personal challenges that arose from a lack of stress management tools.

Mariella spent three years as a consultant at Cambridge Associates and four years working in startups.

When: Thursday, Jan. 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Where: Piloto 151 Santurce Suites, Santurce

De Loíza a la Loíza de Daniel Lind Ramos Lind Ramos’ proposal establishes a connection between San Mateo de Cangrejos in San Juan and the town of Loíza through music, dance, sculptures and performance. In this event open to the public, the artist will feature videos of earlier exhibits, new works and pieces that are part of the Permanent Collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art. When: Saturday, Jan. 25 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, Ponce de León Avenue, Esq. Roberto H. Todd, Pda. 18, Santurce

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/ Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Puerto Rico Dragon Boat Festival The event will take place at RVS Embalse Cerrillos, Area Recreativa Atracadero of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNRA in Spanish). The facilities have gazebos and the water is ideal for fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and dragon boating. The area is surrounded by beautiful views and there’s a stunning waterfall you can dip into if weather conditions permit.

When: Saturday, Jan. 25 at 8:30 a.m.

Where: Embalse Cerrillos, Road 139 km 10.3., Ponce

Stakeholder Workshops Public Policy on Energy Efficiency The Stakeholder Workshops have the objective of exploring viable mechanisms to sustainably fund the implementation of energy efficiency programs to allow timely fulfillment of the current statutory mandate of 30 percent energy efficiency by 2040.

When: Friday, Jan. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Negociado de Energía de Puerto Rico, 268 Muñoz Rivera Ave., World Plaza Building, 8th floor, Hato Rey

Puerto Rico Jazz at La Goyco Jazz Jam 10th Anniversary Pro Arte Musical: Chanticleer

Jazz night at La Goyco. Free admission.

When: Sunday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m.

Where: Taller Comunidad La Goyco, 1763 Loíza St., San Juan

The Puerto Rico Jazz Jam is celebrating its 10th anniversary with two nights of presentations at Tapia Theater. The concert will be headlined by the Humberto Ramirez Jazz Band and feature Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Nydia Caro, Oskar Cartaya and Eguie Castrillo.

When: Friday, Jan. 24 to Saturday, Jan. 25 Where: Tapia Theater, Fortaleza street, Old San Juan

Founded in 1978 by Louis Botto, this award-winning musical group from San Francisco is made up of 12 male singers from all around the United States. Their musical director is William Fred Scott and their repertoire spans over ten centuries of music, from gregorian chants to pop music.

When: Saturday, Jan. 25 at 8 p.m.

Where: Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center, Santurce

Mercado 23 Enjoy good food and live music while shopping local.

When: Saturday, Jan. 25 at 3 p.m.

Where: Lote 23, 1552 Ponce de León Ave., Santurce

An Evening with David Begnaud Moderated by meteorologist Ada Monzón, Begnaud will go behind the headlines to share stories of his remarkable rise to prominence as a national reporter for CBS News, how he overcame adversity as a child to pursue his journalistic passion, what it means to live his truth, and why he decided to continue telling Puerto Rico’s story even as others in the media moved on. Tickets available at http://ticketera.com When: Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center, Santurce