The Weekly Journal - February 5-11,2020

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

Wednesday, February 5- 11, 2020 / no. 041

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What Do The New FICO Credit Score Changes Mean For You? P6 Trump Administration Releases Aid to Puerto Rico, with Strings Attached P8

>Josian Bruno Gómez

Local Gov’t Discloses Beneficiaries of Tax Incentives P10

Confidential Report Slams Proposed Prepa Transition Charge London Economics International outlines adverse impact on Puerto Rico’s economy

A Rosario Fajardo

Street Performers at Circo Fest P22

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

report by London Economics International (LEI) has concluded that the Transition Charge outlined in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (Prepa) Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) will rise to 4.55 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh),

which will be paid for by customers for the next 47 years.

“As contemplated in the [$8.3 billion] settlement, the current bonds would be exchanged for new securities, which will be funded through a non-bypassable charge on all electricity customers’ bills. The nonbypassable charge, referred to as the ‘Transition GO TO PAGE 4

The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, Febuary 5, 2020 >

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It's your moment to shine.

www.elvocero.com/revistas/mirame

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a week in review U.S. Beefs Up virus Screening of Travelers U.S. health officials are expanding screenings of international travelers and taking other precautions but, for now, they insist the risk to Americans is very low.

Airport screenings were initially done in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta.

That has been expanded to include Anchorage, Alaska; Boston; Dallas; Detroit; El Paso, Texas; Honolulu; Houston, Miami, Minneapolis; Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia; San Diego; Seattle; Washington, D.C. (Dulles); and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Without a vaccine or treatments, the world is depending on tried-and-true public health steps to tamp down the outbreak — finding the infected early and isolating them to stem the spread. In the U.S. so far, there are eight confirmed patients, all of whom had traveled to the hardest-hit part of China — and show no sign of having spread the illness to anyone around them. >Emily Wang/

AP

DMO Assures a Return on Investment of $97.55 Per Every $1 Invested on 2019 Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s official destination marketing organization (DMO), announced record-breaking numbers in lodging revenue, airport arrivals and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition (MICE) bookings for the 2019 calendar year.

According to Brad Dean, Discover Puerto Rico CEO, these all-time high tourism industry numbers have surpassed the island’s past high in 2015.

“We are excited to see such strong numbers, resulting in an impressive return on investment of $97.55 per $1 invested by Discover Puerto Rico. In addition, the future sales pipeline through 2026, at this time, now represents an additional potential of $320 million to Puerto Rico’s economy. The tourism sector supports 80,000 jobs, directly and indirectly, that Puerto Rico needs in order to keep the island’s economy growing,” added Dean. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

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

Rear Admiral Peter J. Brown will Serve as Federal Affairs Coordinator for Puerto Rico Rear Admiral Brown currently serves as Commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District headquartered in Miami, Florida. As District Commander, he is responsible for all Coast Guard operations in the Southeast United States and the Caribbean Basin, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González, the White House will appoint Brown as the Federal Affairs Coordinator for Puerto Rico. >Courtesy

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Charge,’ will be 2.77 cents/kWh in the initial years, but will rise to 4.55 cents/kWh (and that level of Transition Charge will remain fixed for the remainder of the term of these new securities).

“The nominal term of these new securities is 47 years; in other words, customers will be paying for this settlement for several decades.

The Transition Charge will increase the rate paid for electricity by every customer on the Prepa system. The only way to avoid the Transition Charge is for a customer to leave the Prepa system by disconnecting from the grid entirely,” according to a copy of the confidential report obtained by THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. The proposed Transition Charge also threatens the economic viability of the utility, as it “will accelerate and amplify challenges to the sustainability of Prepa’s utility business,” according to the 126-page document.

“It will speed up the decline in electricity demand. Customer defection from the Prepa system will, in turn, exacerbate the energy burden on remaining customers taking service from Prepa (lower income customers who will not be able to afford the increasing rates), potentially creating a vicious cycle that intensifies and creates difficulties for Prepa,” states the report. At the same, this scenario could undermine the utility’s goals in terms of clean energy and improving resilience.

Without including the Transition Charge, LEI forecasts that Prepa’s rates will need to increase to an average 26.7 cents per kWh, from 2020 to 2024. The current rate is around 21-22 cents per kWh. “Under the Base Case scenario, the longterm rates would need to increase to over 60 cents per kWh by fiscal year 2036,” according the document.

The study by LEI, a global consulting firm, was commissioned by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. The report, dated Oct. 2019, has been classified as “confidential” and has not been released publicly. However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Dein recently ordered the document be made public.

The LEI report also explains how a “rising energy burden” through increased rates, may further hit the local economy. In essence, the loss of customers increases rates for those remaining, while businesses could see a drop in their profit margins as they cannot fully pass on electricity rate increases to their own customers.

Higher electricity prices also have an impact on Puerto Rico’s ability to attract manufacturing and tourism dollars vis-à-vis other jurisdictions.

“Puerto Rico needs to experience real economic growth in order to get to a point of sustainability with its fiscal policies. Therefore, the trajectory of electricity rates is of vital importance to get Puerto Rico’s economy back on track,” states the document.

Based on audited financial statements, Prepa has over $15.6 billion of debt and other liabilities, including some $3 billion in

underfunded pension obligations, but the book value of its assets totals only $9.6 billion.

The Prepa RSA has been filed before U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who is overseeing the commonwealth’s debt

The non-bypassable charge, referred to as the ‘Transition Charge,’ will be 2.77 cents/kWh in the initial years, but will rise to 4.55 cents/kWh (and that level of Transition Charge will remain fixed for the remainder of the term of these new securities).

- Report on the Prepa RSA by London Economics International

restructuring process under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (Promesa). Hearings on the Prepa RSA have been postponed several times; the hearing will now be held in March.

U.S. Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) >Carlos Rivera Giusti

The unveiling of LEI’s report comes as Prepa’s woes continue to be ever present in the minds of many Puerto Ricans, especially since the January earthquakes underscored how fragile the electrical system—and the local economy remains—even though it has been more than two years since Hurricane Maria.

FOMB Stays Firm

Despite strong opposition from a number of sectors in Puerto Rico, the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) has remained firm in its support of the RSA, noting, for example, that the deal would reduce Prepa’s debt service by $3 billion over the next 10 years. In response to leaders in the Puerto Rico Legislature, who said they would not pass legislation on the RSA, as it would increase electricity rates, the FOMB said there would be “risks” if the deal did not go forward.

A primary risk is that if the RSA is not approved, Puerto Rico could be paying around $7 billion in debt over the next 10 years.

Prepa has been in bankruptcy since 2016 and bondholders have not been paid since 2015.

Another risk is that the stay on debt service could be lifted by Judge Swain and a trustee for Prepa could be appointed.

“The Oversight Board’s sole interest is the ultimate transformation of PREPA into a modern power company that provides the people and the business community of Puerto Rico with access to reliable, lower cost and cleaner energy.

That transformation has four elements: the exit

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Any increase in electricity prices will negatively affect Prepa’s customers, both residential and businesses, according to critics of the RSA. >Archive

from bankruptcy; the support of the federal Democrats in Congress Want Changes to government to repair the damage of natural Prepa’s RSA and Fiscal Plan catastrophes that have hit the island; private Citing the recent earthquakes, U.S. Rep. Nydia management of the grid and the M. Velázquez (D-NY) and 12 transmission system to improve members of Congress have service; and substantial change written to the FOMB, saying to the fuel mix used to generate that Prepa’s RSA and Fiscal Plan energy,” said the FOMB in a need to be changed to take into statement.

Based on account lost capacity and the “Legislation is required audited financial economic effects of the tremors. for the PREPA restructuring statements, Prepa “While some areas of and exit from bankruptcy as has over $15.6 billion Puerto Rico experienced contemplated by the RSA that of debt and other power restoration relatively would support all four elements liabilities, including quickly after the earthquake, of this transformation. The some $3 billion in a complete overhaul of the Oversight Board urges the underfunded pension island’s electric system will Puerto Rico Legislature to enact obligations, but the take years. The electrical the legislation before the court book value of its grid’s failure after Hurricane hearing on the RSA. Otherwise, assets totals only $9.6 Maria, coupled with the recent PREPA and the people of billion. earthquake and its associated Puerto Rico will incur risks the aftershocks, harshly remind Legislature can eliminate,” the Puerto Ricans that they FOMB added. rely on antiquated energy Gov. Wanda Vázquez, who infrastructure,” states the missive. is now running for La Fortaleza, despite saying The lawmakers noted that the Costa Sur previously that she would not, seems to be generation plant, which accounts for nearly 20 ambivalent to the Prepa RSA, according to percent of the island’s capacity, will be offline for multiple media reports. The latest news, from a year, as the facility was seriously damaged.

“In former Chief of Staff Zoe Laboy, is that Vázquez order to make up for that lost capacity, Prepa now opposes the deal.

In fact,

will be forced to rely on older, more inefficient and costly generation facilities that use expensive and highly polluting Bunker C oil and diesel fuel. The reliance on these decades-old facilities will alter Prepa’s cost structure, likely forcing it to increase rates immediately just to keep the lights on in the short-term,” according to the letter dated Jan. 23.

With regard to the RSA, the Democrats said it was a “bad transaction,” as they echoed some of the arguments brought forth in the LEI report. The deal “needs to be renegotiated to (1) reduce the outstanding principal by an amount sufficient to allow Prepa to operate as a sustainable entity in the future; (2) decrease the proposed Transition Charge, which is scheduled to increase from 2.768 c/kWh to 4.552 c/kWh, an increase of 64 percent that is neither reasonable or viable; and (3) eliminate disincentives for investing in renewable generation technologies,” they said.

Their calls for revisions to the Fiscal Plan include: (1) taking into account Prepa’s loss of capacity at Costa Sur; (2) including a new forecast of operating expenses in light of Prepa’s new cost structure; and (3) incorporating “the materially adverse economic effects of the earthquakes, which will likely be exacerbated by higher rates charged by Prepa,” the lawmakers said.

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>Archive

Changes in FICO Credit Scoring To Begin This Summer F Includes credit evaluation over 24-plus months

Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

ICO, a global analytics company whose credit scoring system is widely used across the world, is introducing a new methodology to calculate credit scores. The change, which will go into effect this summer, will have implications

for all consumers.

The main change is that FICO will evaluate a person’s credit history for 24-30 months, unlike now, when they use a monthly snapshot. Personal loans, categorized as a separate category of debt, will also be looked at more closely, as many are considered unsecured loans.

This long-term view means that consumers who have a pattern of paying late or are increasing their debt loads with personal loans

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and credit cards, will receive lower credit scores. Consumers who do not pay off their balances consistently will be penalized as well.

According to Consumer Reports, credit scores in the 670 to 739 range are considered “good,” scores between 740 and 799 are “very good,” and those of 800-plus are “exceptional.”

The new credit-scoring methodology could have a plus or minus impact of 25 points on a person’s credit score, indicated Adrian Zayas, a San Juan-based CPA, as he stressed the importance of good credit habits.

“Pay your bills on time. With credit cards, even paying the minimum on time is important. At the same time, focus on paying off loans with high interest rates,” he said to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. Watching your credit usage is also important, he indicated. This refers to how much of your available credit you are actually using, whether it’s a revolving credit line or the maximum amounts on your credit cards. If you are consistently maxing out or applying for new credit, that is often seen as a negative.

Zayas also cautioned about the use of personal loans, as running up debt with unsecured loans is often viewed negatively.

Other negative factors include bankruptcies and

The new credit-scoring methodology could have a plus or minus impact of 25 points on a person’s credit score.

-Adrian Zayas, a San Juan-based CPA

In fact,

>Courtesy

According to Consumer Reports, credit scores in the 670 to 739 range are considered “good,” scores between 740 and 799 are “very good,” and those of 800-plus are “exceptional.”

the bank foreclosing on your home.

On the positive side, he said the longer you keep a credit card and pay on time, the better for your credit score. In fact, FICO said that a person’s credit card history makes up 35 percent of his/her credit score.

Overall, though, Zayas said he agreed with the new changes, especially since looking at debt in the long term gives a better picture of a person’s ability to pay. “Assessing risks will be more effective because with a 30-month evaluation, you can really see how a person manages his/ her credit,” he said.

The change in trended credit bureau data over a long period of time is aimed at “enhancing predictive power,” FICO said in a statement.

“Different than traditional credit bureau data, the use of trended data considers a historical view of data such as account balances for the previous 24- plus months, giving lenders more insight into how individuals are managing their credit.”

The new credit scoring methodology is more precise and offers a more realistic view when assessing risk, the company said.

“Many lenders want to leverage the most comprehensive data possible to make precise lending decisions,” said Jim Wehmann, executive vice president for Scores at FICO. “By offering a score that taps further into trended data, we’re able to give lenders greater flexibility and predictive power, as well as ease of integration.”

According to the company, FICO’s credit score is the independent standard measure of consumer credit risk used by lenders in more than 90 percent of all consumer credit decisions in the U.S., and is provided free to consumers through hundreds of lenders via the FICO Score Open Access Program. In the U.S., 25 credit card issuers, 25 of the largest auto lenders and tens of thousands of other businesses rely on FICO for their consumer credit-risk analysis.

The FICO credit score is used to assess consumer credit risk on all credit product lines, such as mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and personal loans, “and can be used across the entire customer credit life cycle, starting with marketing/pre-screen, originations and account management, all the way through early-stage collections,” the company said.

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The Quake after the Storm: The Federal Bureaucracy Over Puerto Rico

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL sources, and national media, report that the U.S. Office of Management and Budget helped craft restrictions to billions of dollars in aid meant for the island

T Yennifer Álvarez Jaimes

yalvarez@wjournalpr.com

@yalvarezjaimes

he Donald Trump Administration released disaster recovery aid to Puerto Rico, with strings attached, as well as the name of the new federal reconstruction coordinator for Puerto Rico.

Peter J. Brown, Coast Guard rear admiral, will serve as point man for the federal reconstruction efforts underway after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Brown joins Robert Couch, the new financial monitor appointed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) charged with overseeing the grant administration and disbursement process of disaster recovery funds.

These appointments come on the heels of former Secretary of Housing Fernando Gil’s complaints over the restrictions that HUD attached to the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for Puerto Rico, which he stated could be constituted as “discriminatory treatment” against the island and may further delay disbursement.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported last week that Mark Paoletta, general counsel at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), helped craft the justification for adding new restrictions to billions in aid for the island.

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL spoke to sources in Washington, D.C. which assured that Paoletta is only seeking ways to implement acting OMB director Russell Vought’s agenda.

The White House released disaster recovery aid to Puerto Rico, with strings attached, as well as the name of the new federal reconstruction coordinator for Puerto Rico.>AP

“Paoletta is a general counsel. He is giving his best interpretation of the law to implement Trump’s agenda,” the source said.

The layers of bureaucracy imposed by the White House did not prevent Gov. Wanda Vázquez from traveling to the State of the Union last night.

Vázquez was Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González’s guest to President Donald Trump’s address at Capitol Hill.

For a week, THE WEEKLY JOURNAL has been asking the resident commissioner about whether or not she will fight against any possible mistreatment of Puerto Rico and requested that she suggest how relations with the White House may be improved.

As of press time, she had yet to reply.

For her part, Jennifer Storipan, executive director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA), an entity within Puerto Rico’s executive branch, said that her office “continues to have ongoing conversations regarding disaster aid for Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes

Irma and Maria and the seismic sequences that are impacting the south and southwest of the island since Dec. 28, 2019.”

“My team and I communicate often with the White House, Congress and all other federal agencies on all issues affecting Puerto Rico. Because of the ongoing seismic activity that continues to impact the island, PRFAA maintains open lines of communication with White House Officials in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs as the island moves towards recovery,” Storipan added.

PRFAA executive director said the “priority is to ensure that the 3.2 million U.S. citizens living on the island have access to needed resources and assistance while we continue on a path to recovery.”

“My team and I continue to provide information and data to guarantee the people of Puerto Rico equitable access to federal resources so that they can achieve a full recovery,” the official concluded.

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Secretary of Economic Development Manuel Laboy unveiled a new website that gives citizens access to public information. >Brandon Cruz González

Find Out Who The Beneficiaries of Government Incentives Are The Department of Economic Development and Commerce launched a website that lists the names of the corporations and individuals that enjoy these fiscal benefits Cynthia López Cabán

I

clopez@wjournalpr.com

@cynthia_lope

n compliance with recent legislation, the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) disclosed last week the names of 8,364 companies and people that receive government incentives and tax breaks.

The information was published on the agency’s website (http://www.ddec.pr.gov),

under the tab “Acceso a la Información” (Access to Information). Data will be updated monthly until the process gets automated and all the changes required by the New Incentives Code are implemented. At that point, the system will update itself in real-time, explained the secretary of Economic Development, Manuel Laboy.

So far, the online database contains the names of the individuals and businesses that enjoy incentives granted under Acts 20, 22, 14,

273 and 27. Last year, these concessions, as well as other tax exemptions, were gathered together in the New Incentives Code.

“With this new tool, we promote accountability, citizen participation and control in government management,” indicated Laboy.

“Law 60 (the Incentives Code) seeks to guarantee a relationship between the private sector and the government that is based on stability, transparency, certainty and credibility,” he added, referring to one of three acts enacted

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We recognize that transparency and easy access to public information drive the competitiveness and the economic development of a jurisdiction or a destination that strives to bring investment and promote exports.

-Manuel Laboy, Secretary of Economic Development

by the current administration to adopt an access to public information policy.

Laboy said that the release of information would be done in phases. The next batch of data should be available in two or three weeks, while the complete upload of information should be completed in three months. The online database, that works best on a chrome browser, offers the name of the grantee, the type of benefit and the decree’s issue date.

Citizens interested in obtaining detailed information about a particular grantee must fill out a form available on the site with the specific request.

“We recognize that transparency and easy access to public information drive competitiveness and the economic development of a jurisdiction or destination that strives to bring investment and promote

exports. It substantially reduces arbitrariness and serves as a deterrent to corruption, and that is important to us,” stated Laboy in a press conference at DDEC’s headquarters in Hato Rey.

List of Grantees

The easy to access database contains the names of the 3,796 physicians that benefit from Act 14, a regulation enacted in 2017 to stop the exodus of doctors. Under the Incentives Act for the Retention and Return of Medical Professionals, a qualified physician can benefit from a preferential tax rate of 4 percent and a 100 percent income tax exemption on up to $250,000 received from eligible dividends per taxable year, among other perks.

The names of all Act 20 and Act 22 beneficiaries, two laws that have caused some controversy on the island, are finally revealed.

Act 20 of 2012 promotes the exportation of services providing its grantees a 4 percent corporate tax rate, 100 percent tax exemption on dividends or profit distributions and 100 percent tax exemption on property taxes. Up until the end of 2019, 1,927 companies were doing businesses under this tax regime.

Another 2,339 grantees reap benefits under Act 22 of 2012, which seeks to attract investors willing to relocate to the island by providing a total exemption from income taxes on all passive income realized or accrued. These grantees enjoy a 4 percent corporate tax rate, 100 percent tax exemption on all dividends and interest income and 100 percent tax exemption on all capital gains.

Act 20 companies paid $40.6 million in corporate income taxes, $18.7 million in individual income taxes and $7.3 million in sales tax during 2016, according to a study by Estudios Técnicos, which was commissioned by the DDEC and is posted on the website, among other documents.

Act 22 grantees, on the other hand, reported $261.5 million in planned capital investments on the island and spent about $105 million that went into the local economy.

Approved also in 2012, Act 273, the International Financial Center Regulatory Act, provides tax exemptions to international financial entities. Thirty-five companies work under this type of tax arrangement and, among other benefits, enjoy a 4 percent income tax rate.

Act 27, the Incentives Act for Film Production, provides a 40 percent production tax credit on all payments to Puerto Rico residents and Puerto Rico- based companies, with the opportunity to go up to 90 percent if the project complies with other requirements, among other benefits. The database reveals that 267 companies take advantage of this regulation.

Excise Tax Debate

While Laboy announced with enthusiasm the release of information related to government incentives, he tiptoed around the subject of the excise tax and the phasing out of the 100 percent credit that 25 companies doing business on the island receive when filing federal taxes.

“I can assure you that we have a plan that we are executing with the Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, the (local) Treasury Department and the Department of Economic Development and Commerce.

We are meeting frequently and having conversations with the affected industries, as well as communicating with the U.S. Treasury,” Laboy said.

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL went on to ask if these companies have expressed a willingness to stay on the island after the federal credit is eliminated.

“The negotiation is individual. There could be legislation that is required at the local level, but it remains to be seen. We are examining that option,” indicated.

As he has done on other occasions, he denied the establishment of a deadline for the elimination of the tax credit by the federal Department of the Treasury.

The excise tax was introduced by Act 154 of 2010. It was conceived as a temporary 4 percent tax on certain purchases made by American Foreign Controlled Corporations whose gross receipts exceed $75 million.

Until now, companies paying the levy received a 100 percent credit when filing federal taxes.

However, the exemption has been under fire because it runs against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by the Trump Administration in 2017.

The elimination of the tax credit could jeopardize an estimated $1.85 billion in revenues that enter Puerto Rico’s yearly coffers.

The information was published on the agency’s website (https://www.ddec.pr.gov), under the tab “Acceso a la Información” (Access to Information).

Data will be updated monthly until the process gets automated and all the changes required by the New Incentives Code are implemented.

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The company designs and develops products and services for military and commercial aircraft, boasting thousands of clients worldwide. >Photos courtesy Honeywell

Honeywell Aerospace Bets on Local Talent for Key Operations

Company seeks to offer more opportunities to Puerto Rican engineers

F

Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

or nearly 13 years, two local professionals have managed pivotal company operations from Honeywell Aerospace facilities in Puerto Rico.

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL interviewed engineers Luis Ramos and Vicente Nazario, who serve as the engineering operations site leaders at Honeywell Aerospace’s facilities in Moca and Aguadilla, respectively.

The service center in Aguadilla offers support with marketing, supply chains, customer service and legal affairs to Honeywell Aerospace’s global operations and customers. Meanwhile, the facility in Moca is a cutting-edge engineering design center and laboratory used to carry out research and development in this ever-growing industry.

Nazario graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and applied physics from Case Western Reserve University, after starting his college career at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Ramos holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental and civil engineering, an associate of science degree in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Puerto Rico’s Mayagüez campus, and a master’s in technology management from the University of Phoenix. Both experts have been leading one of Puerto Rico’s top aerospace developers for 12 years.

“We do the development, research and testing for military and commercial aircraft navigation systems.

The products themselves are manufactured elsewhere. We handle a lot of software for commercial and military aircraft, and we also do electromagnetic interference tests. These tests are required for virtually all space and aeronautical products because they ensure that there is no interference, either environmentally or by frequency, between the aircraft’s products,” Ramos explained.

Honeywell Aerospace’s headquarters are located in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2007, the company began operating on the island with only 12 employees, including Nazario and Ramos. The original idea was to designate these facilities as application development centers. Since then, local operations have grown and now provide services to military platforms, such as planes, helicopters, satellites and rocket ships, among others. These services are extended to both

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The fact that Honeywell continues to grow in Puerto Rico is a testament to its trust in the people and the capabilities here on the island.

-Luis Ramos

the U.S. government and its allies, as well as the international space station.

Both engineers concurred that the quality of local professionals has allowed the company to grow for the past 12-plus years despite a changing sociopolitical landscape, the natural disasters experienced

by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the seismic events documented throughout Jan. 2020.

“The fact that Honeywell continues to grow in Puerto Rico is a testament to its trust in the people and the capabilities that are here on the island.

Some 10 or 11 years ago the aerospace industry was basically nonexistent in Puerto Rico,” Ramos said.

The engineering operation site leader from the Moca facility observed that now every major engineering institution on the island has included aerospace courses in their curricula.

“In the last 10 years, the aerospace industry in Puerto Rico has been an engine for economic growth because it has been one of the fastest-growing industries in the past 10 years,” Ramos asserted.

Nazario also noted that when Honeywell Aerospace began operating locally, the company intended to hire roughly 200 more employees in five years.

However, upon realizing the quality of local workers, the Arizona-based company decided to hired those 200 individuals within one year of initiating operations on the island.

“Two years ago we recruited around 500 people.

Last year we recruited more than 100 and this year we will be growing by more than 100 new hires. In that sense, we have been lucky to have continued that growth pattern,” Ramos said. He noted that other aerospace companies with a presence in Puerto Rico—such as Lufthansa Technik, Collins Aerospace and OPTI Manufacturing Corporation—have reported growth as well.

The engineers added that by the end of 2019, Puerto Rican engineers were awarded the second patent of an aerospace product. “All of this speaks volumes about the talent and quality of the people here in Puerto Rico,” Ramos said.

Honeywell Aerospace is committed to offering job opportunities to deter the mass emigration that has impacted the island in recent years, as well as to attract Puerto Ricans who have already left the island in search of new career options.

“This is a knowledge-based industry. We want to stop that migration that has taken hold of Puerto Rico and offer good opportunities with good pay to keep those people here on the island,” Ramos affirmed.

Ramos fondly recalled one such case from a job fair they held last year in Ponce. Ramos and his team made a job offer to an applicant who subsequently went outside where his family was and shed tears of

Honeywell Aerospace has been operating two facilities in Puerto Rico for nearly 13 years.

Luis Ramos, engineering operations site leader at the Moca facility.

Vicente Nazario, engineering operations site leader at the Aguadilla facility.

joy. The new hire then explained that he was planning to move to the U.S. mainland because he couldn’t find a job on the island, so he felt grateful to be able to remain in his native land.

“In addition to that, we aren’t just trying to deter our greatest minds from leaving, but we are also recruiting those who have left so they can return to Puerto Rico… We have many cases of people who found out that we were hiring and made arrangements to return to Puerto Rico,” the Moca site leader beamed.

When asked about how many clients Honeywell Aerospace has worldwide, the engineers noted that they don’t have a precise number, but the client base includes “thousands and thousands” of different manufacturers.

“Honeywell has a presence in practically every plane platform, both commercial and military, and every aircraft flying at the moment. You will find something from Honeywell—whether it is software, pieces or navigation systems… you will find a piece or programming system from Honeywell in practically everything that flies. It is a great global industry,” Nazario affirmed.

Company to Hire More Than 100 Local Professionals

Honeywell Aerospace Puerto Rico will hold a job fair for new engineering and technology positions as part of the company’s expansion plans on the island.

The job fair will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the company’s facilities in Las Américas Technology Park, Lote 1 on the PR-2, Km. 117.3 in Moca.

Ramos and Nazario confirmed that the company seeks to hire experts in mechanical, electrical, programming, computer, hardware, software and embedded systems engineering. All applicants must be able to speak English and Spanish and be U.S. citizens.

At this upcoming job fair, Honeywell Aerospace hopes to hire more than 150 applicants. According to Ramos, new hires will be regular, full-time employees. Honeywell Aerospace closed off 2019 with nearly 1,000 employees between its facilities in Moca and Aguadilla, with this number representing a growth of roughly 83 percent since the company established

itself in Puerto Rico.

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/ Wednesday, February 5, 2020

This is Kevane Grant Thornton’s Formula to Success The accounting and advisory firm celebrates its 45th anniversary this year

D Cynthia López Cabán

clopez@wjournalpr.com

@cynthia_lope

on’t be fooled by the name.

Kevane Grant Thornton is a Puerto Rican accounting and business advisory firm.

This year, the company turns 45.

To celebrate the feat, it will host the annual meeting of Grant Thornton regional member firms this summer, continue with its concerted hiring formula and kick-off next year with the renovation of its headquarters in Hato Rey, investing close to $1 million in the project.

The company’s managing partner, Luis Carlos Marcano, sat with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL to share some insight into the firm’s success.

Founded in 1975, Kevane Grant Thornton employs 160 workers. Over 65 percent of the workforce is women, especially at the managerial level. Six of the 10 partners are also women.

Last year, the company reported an 11 percent increase in revenue and, up until Oct. 2019, it had already billed $17.5 million. For 2020, Kevane expects a surge of 20 percent in revenue.

The company offers audit, tax, advisory and outsourcing services to over 1,100 individuals and corporate clients.

“Since the firm was founded in 1975, we owe our success to strategic planning. It’s that vision that has allowed us to achieve sustainable growth and adapt to the challenges posed by a changing the economy,” stated Marcano.

But Kevane’s formula has other ingredients.

It pays attention to the foundation, investing in technology (the company even has a tax and business application) and personnel training and

Luis Carlos Marcano, managing partner at Kevane Grant Thornton, attributes the firm’s success to a combination of innovation, well-skilled staff and customer service. >Josian E. Bruno Gómez

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/ Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Located in Hato Rey, Kevane Grant Thornton offers audit, tax, advisory, and outsourcing services to over 1,100 individuals and corporate clients. >Josian E. Bruno Gómez

recruitment. The company embraces change, believes in teamwork, sets high standards and cares about its clients.

“One of the key points has been technology.

We’ve always allocated the necessary resources in technology so we can the efficient and effective in the services we provide. But also our skilled and well-trained staff with a deep sense of ethics, that has distinguished us,” Marcano explained.

As part of the core value of excellence, employees are required to pursue continuing education courses on a regular basis and stay on top of their field.

“Right now, we are tackling issues like Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. We are getting ready, attending seminars and meetings offered by Grant Thornton International,” he added of the firm’s commitment to education and training.

In 1984, Kevane and Associates became a member of Grant Thornton International Ltd., one of the world’s largest professional services network, based in London. The affiliation amplified its range of action and secured the company access to business knowledge. Last year, Grant Thornton’s global revenues reached the $5.7 billion mark, representing an increase of 5.1 percent when compared to the previous year.

While Marcano spoke at length of the importance of giving his employees the right tools and the technical skills to excel, he also

Since the firm was founded in 1975, we owe our success to strategic planning. It’s that vision that has allowed us to achieve sustainable growth and adapt to the challenges posed by a changing the economy.

- Luis Carlos Marcano, managing partner for Kevane Grant Thornton

wants to inspire the team to strive for quality and carry on the founder’s legacy of service and ethics.

“The firm has undergone many transformations but has always kept tending to the needs of our clients and the needs of personnel... Our history is one of growth. It’s in that DNA that our founders left us,” he said.

Out of all the elements of success, the businessman highlighted customer service as the firm’s staple and presentation card.

“What differentiates us is the customer

service, that involvement of the partner with the clients, the work ethic and the quality of the service that is agile and that provides all the information so the client can make a decision,” Marcano insisted.

That special touch, according to the businessman, promotes customer and employee loyalty. Customer and personnel turnover are low. “We have long relationships with clients.

I think it’s because of the pampering we give them.”

So, what are the plans for the future?

“Expansion plans are always on the radar.

It could be expansions in the recruitment of personnel with particular expertise that adds to the experience we offer, or it could expansion through collaborations with other firms,” Marcano indicated.

For example, the company is in the process of hiring between 15 to 20 workers to strengthen the company’s technical offerings.

And of course, Kevane is planning a meeting of members, to take place in June, that will bring together some 120 people, among them Grant Thornton’s CEO Peter Bodin.

“In this meeting, we will discuss areas of opportunity and development for the region,” Marcano said. “This visit will also give us an opportunity to showcase business opportunities on the island. It will also serve as a platform to introduce our work plan and incorporate it into international efforts at the same time we celebrate our anniversary.”

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/ Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Oriental Bank and First Bank Report Q419 and 2019 Results

The banks showed their earnings highlights rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

K

@RosarioWJournal

roll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) has issued a “Stable” outlook for Oriental Bank’s long-term debt and deposit ratings, highlighting the financial institution’s “sustained level of profitability, including the ability to accrue equity capital, in the face of a protracted economic downturn and severe fiscal crisis in Puerto Rico, culminating with the commonwealth’s default on its general obligation debt in 2016.”

The bank’s capital protection is lower after Oriental acquired Scotiabank of Puerto Rico, with the transaction completed in Dec. 31, 2019. However, KBRA “estimates that the bank can accrete capital at a considerable rate going forward, with earnings retention of about 1 percent per annum in relation to total pro forma assets of approximately $10 billion. Management has communicated a plan that returns regulatory capital to levels that are well above its peer group within three years.”

KBRA also expects “near- to intermediateterm stability in the Puerto Rican economy, due largely from the influx of federal funds and private insurance payments along with an expected much lower debt burden, although the commonwealth will continue to face long-term challenges especially surrounding population growth and economic competitiveness.”

The credit-rating agency said it also recognized that Oriental has a strategy to diversify beyond Puerto Rico. “Total loans to borrowers based in the United States currently comprise 6 percent of total loans; over time, management anticipates that these loans will grow to 20 percent of the total. Even so, that vast majority of operations

>Archive

Rosario Fajardo

and loans will remain centered in Puerto Rico, and this includes a concentration in residential loans collateralized by properties located in Puerto Rico.”

Meanwhile, OFG Bancorp, whose principal subsidiary is Oriental Bank, reported results for 2019, which reflected the bank’s acquisition of Scotiabank of Puerto Rico. For the year, OFG reported net income available to shareholders of $47.7 million, or $0.92 per share fully diluted.

OFG ended the year with book value of $18.75 per common share, up 4.8 percent from a year ago; tangible book value of $15.97 per common share, down 1.1 percent as a result of the acquisition; total stockholders’ equity of $1.05

billion, up 4.6 percent; and record total assets of $9.3 billion, up 40.9 percent.

For fourth quarter (Q4) 2019, OFG reported a net loss to shareholders of $2.3 million, or ($0.04) per share, which included $21.5 million in acquisition related merger and restructuring charges, and $6.6 million in additional provision for non-performing loans the company decided to sell in 3Q 2019.

OFG reported its core operations were strong, with a net interest margin of 5.35 percent and loan production of $404.9 million. Most credit quality metrics also improved.

“We ended 2019 on a high note, closing the

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In Fact,

>Archive

With the Scotiabank acquisition, Oriental Bank’s loans jumped from $4.4 billion to $6.6 billion. Core deposits also increased from $4.6 billion to $7.5 billion. All categories of loans did well, particularly those in the commercial sector, and loan yields were steady at 7.51 percent, according to José Rafael Fernández, president and CEO of OFG Bancorp.

Scotiabank acquisition at year-end as originally anticipated. We welcome our new team members and clients in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands… We’re excited about the prospects for future growth,” said José Rafael Fernández, president and CEO of OFG Bancorp.

“4Q 2019 was a very busy quarter, closing on the acquisition while continuing to build our existing business. Operationally, we had a strong quarter.

We effectively managed the transition to slightly lower yields in the commercial loan portfolio, reflecting FRB [Federal Reserve Bank] rate cuts, with our pro-active effort to reduce high cost wholesale funding. Going forward, our funding mix will improve even further with our larger core deposit base,” he said.

Fernández noted that, with the Scotiabank acquisition, loans jumped from $4.4 billion to $6.6 billion. Core deposits also increased from $4.6 billion to $7.5 billion. All categories of loans did well, particularly those in the commercial sector, and loan yields were steady at 7.51 percent.

“We are well positioned for 2020. The acquisition enabled us to more effectively use our excess capital and end 2019 with a record $6.6 billion in loans and a record $7.7 billion in deposits, which increases our ability to generate future growth.

We are moving fast, starting the year focused on integration and loan production, and look forward to reporting our progress in the quarters ahead,” Fernández added.

$0.92 per diluted share, for the year ended Dec. 31, 2018.

Its total loan portfolio as of Dec. 31, 2019 grew by $140.4 million as compared to the portfolio as of Dec. 31, 2018, and core deposits grew by $312.8 million as compared to the 2018 year-end amount. Non-performing assets were down 32 percent during the year and are now at 2.5 percent of its portfolio, a “decade low” for the financial institution.

“2019 was a momentous year for our company and we are working diligently toward the approval,

closing and integration of the recently announced acquisition of Banco Santander of Puerto Rico. We reported $36.4 million of net income for the fourth quarter of 2019, which included $6.8 million of aftertax merger and restructuring charges,” said Aurelio Alemán, president and CEO of First BanCorp.

“Our adjusted core results of $42.8 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, were slightly below the prior quarter reflecting the impact of the current interest rate environment. Our pre-tax, preprovision income was stronger at $72.1 million this quarter,” he added.

First BanCorp’s earnings highlights

First BanCorp, the bank holding company for FirstBank Puerto Rico, also issued its report for Q4 2019, highlighting net income of $36.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to $46.3 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, for Q3 2019.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2019, the company reported net income of $167.4 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, compared to $201.6 million, or

José Rafael Fernández, president and CEO of OFG Bancorp >Archive

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/ Wednesday, February 5, 2020

POLITICS

Senate so far split neatly along party lines on impeachment

W

ASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is so far cleaving neatly along party lines in advance of today’s virtually certain votes to acquit President Donald Trump on two impeachment charges, with just two or three undecided members even considering breaking with their party.

The chamber’s top Republican, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, again slammed the impeachment drive of House Democrats as “the most rushed, least fair and least thorough” in history and confirmed that he will vote to acquit Trump.

The trial is cruising to impeachment tallies that will fall short of even a majority of the GOPheld Senate, much less the two-thirds required to remove Trump from office and install Vice President Mike Pence.

McConnell said the two charges against Trump — that he abused his power and obstructed Congress’ ensuing investigation — are “constitutionally incoherent” and don’t “even approach a case for the first presidential removal in American history.”

The Kentucky Republican opened the Senate with a scathing assessment of the case presented

by House Democrats, but he did not address whether Trump’s actions were inappropriate or wrong, as some Senate Republicans have conceded.

McConnell has dodged question about whether Trump’s actions — pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to announce an investigation into Trump’s political rival Joe Biden — were inappropriate. He led an effort last week to deny Democrats any opportunity to call witnesses before the Senate, and he has worked closely with the Trump White House in shepherding the case through the Senate.

The final days of the trial have focused attention on a handful of senators in both parties who were viewed as potential votes to break with their party. GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska called

>AP

Andrew Taylor, Associated Press

the president’s actions “shameful and wrong” in a powerful speech late Monday, but she also derided the highly partisan process. “I cannot vote to convict,” she said, though she also sees blame within the Senate.

“We are part of the problem, as an institution that cannot see beyond the blind political polarization,’’ Murkowski told reporters after her speech.

Other Republicans, such as Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Marco Rubio of Florida and Rob Portman of Ohio, also say Trump’s actions to withhold military aid from Ukraine while pressing Zelenskiy to announce an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter were inappropriate, but fell short of warranting his removal from office, especially in an election year.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, one of the very few remaining moderates in a chamber where partisanship has ground much routine business to a halt, is expected to announce her position later Tuesday.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, perhaps the only Democrat seen as a likely vote to acquit Trump, has floated the idea of censuring Trump instead, though the idea doesn’t seem to be gaining much traction. Sen. Doug Jones, a former federal prosecutor and Democrat seeking reelection in strongly pro-Trump Alabama, told reporters he’s

likely to announce his vote Wednesday morning.

No member of either party has indicated yet that they will break with their party colleagues.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate.

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York weighed in immediately after McConnell’s remarks, accusing the Republican leader and his GOP colleagues of sweeping Trump’s misconduct under the rug.

“The administration, its top people and Senate Republicans are all hiding the truth,” Schumer said.

The charges are extremely serious. To interfere in an election, to blackmail a foreign country, to interfere in our elections gets at the very core of what our democracy is about.”

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the two impeachment articles Wednesday afternoon.

Trump is delivering his State of the Union address Tuesday night, a platform in which he appears before Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the powerful House speaker who orchestrated last year’s House impeachment drive.

Also Tuesday on the Senate floor, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., repeated a question that Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial, refused to read last week. Roberts’ staff communicated to McConnell’s staff that he did not want to read the whistleblower’s name, according to a Republican familiar with the situation who wasn’t authorized to speak on the record.

Paul denies trying to out the whistleblower and notes his question didn’t use the word. He questions whether the whistleblower may have conspired with House staff aides in writing the August complaint that triggered impeachment.

U.S. whistleblower laws exist to protect the identity and careers of people who bring forward accusations of wrongdoing by government officials. Lawmakers in both parties have historically backed those protections.

The Associated Press typically does not reveal the identity of whistleblowers.

Separately, Trump’s approval rating, which has generally languished in the mid- to low-40s, hit a new high of 49% in the latest Gallup polling, which was conducted as the Senate trial was drawing to a close. The poll found that 51% of the public views the Republican Party favorably, the first time the GOP’s number has exceeded 50% since 2005.

19 19

/ Wednesday, February 5, 2020 / Wednesday, December 11, 2019

By Edgardo Edgardo Vicenty Vicenty By

By Inteligencia InteligenciaEconómica Económica By

Entrepreneur and & Financial Entrepreneur FinancialAnalyst Analyst

“I F

Restaurant Owners Our Inaction areIs An theAction Next Taxi Drivers

don’t get worked for decades as public involved officials and have impeccable in track records as leaders and politics; Others have ood delivery startupsadministrators. they don’t even do takeouts, only I work haddeliveries. mixed results, being are taking over, thedo to highlyBy efficient certain and theyinwill sharinginspace and only private and disastrous in restaurant owners positions working with delivery apps, sector,” this is what a phrase I have Then we have those lower Uber did to taxiothers. virtual kitchens massively heard over anddrivers. over through who are universally despised restaurants expenses, allowing the years fromThe friends and butthem hold to enough powerlocations within industry’s open more colleagues.

In theory, thisover $13.8subgroups of more their party to At win growth is exploding, with and make money. first way ofinthinking makes perfect election. billion VC investments in the last every glance, this seems like an excellent sense, andSales evenfor seems ethical.are Itopportunity is our job asfor responsible two years. the sector restaurants and But, in reality, it is$200 just another makeit’s sure the expected to reach billion by citizens chefs.toSadly, not soselfish, simple. excuse workers use toin 2018. inefficient and possibly 2025, upwe from $82 billion By working within corrupt a virtual shield ourselves from the politicians make itowners out of But, like their ride-hailing kitchen,don’t restaurant responsibility of taking action to primaries.

We need to clean counterparts, these startups effectively give up control of every improve our society. thepart poolofastheir much as possible so aren’t profitable, and their business, except As we analyze the 2020 that come November, the best current business model appears for cooking, which makes them we see a unless lot of they possible government officials deciding toelections, be unsustainable vulnerable to the platform familiar faces running for office. get elected. somehow extract more value from to squeeze them. Uber and Lyft It’s not hard to wonder how Not getting involved in every transaction. Uber’s plan for drivers have consistently been individuals who have failed our politics is not an option this time obtaining more value from its core victims of this as the two platforms country over and over again around. We can’t keep waiting business is simple, replace humans have lowered rates, hurting the can still be viable candidates. for the perfect candidate; we with self-driving vehicles and pocket drivers’ bottom line.

However, the answer is simple: have to insert ourselves in the 75 percent of fares that drivers The third step in Amazon’s we, the working class, decided the game and help forge him. currently take. playbook is to use the collected that we don’t get involved in Obviously, not everyone has Food delivery startups have a sales data to create “private-label politics, far beyond voting. the time to insert themselves similar plan for taking privately brands,” which slowly but surely What we fail to understand is full-time in a campaign, but owned restaurants out of the would take traditional restaurants that not getting involved is, identifying good candidates, equation to increase their margins, out of business and transfer their in fact, a political action, and registering to receive their and it looks very similar to Amazon’s profit margins to the delivery voting every four years is not platform updates and donating apps. playbook.

An or example of this would enough. $5, $20, $100 does make a be a The first is already delivery app identifying the top Now westep, have which two choices, difference. playing out, is to create a places inon Puerto we can continue doing nothing Ifthree everysushi Puerto Rican the Rico, marketplace, an app, that hooks analyzing their top-grossing and embrace four more years island decided to get involved menu users by offering them extreme andjust then of utter mismanagement; or we anditems, donated $1hiring to thechefs best to convenience, great pricing and lots create similar plates to be can admit we made a mistake available candidate, we wouldsold ofand choices, the everything store. under new brand.

Every time start getting involved in raise closea to $3.3 million, The second step is to enhance someone searched for sushi order to make a difference in which is 20 times the amount of in the the users’ experience while at the app, the new brand could be the primaries. money the candidate that has placed same time, creating a massive at no cost, ascurrently the top search As a group, we did not get raised the most has result barrier to entry by building out and offer customers exactly what involved early in the political available. fulfillment centers, same day they want at a lower price. process. Therefore, we definitely This election doesn’t delivery.

Delivery startups History doesn’t don’t have the best pool are doinghave to be decided byrepeat itself, but it this by creating “cloud or virtual” tends to rhyme.

Restaurant of candidates available for questionable donations and theowners kitchens. should learn from the mistakes primaries. Nonetheless, that establishment. The summer of Virtual kitchens are restaurant made by taxi drivers and consumer doesn’t excuse us from doing 2019 proved if we, the people, locations explicitly designed for products selling online if they want our homework and taking take a stand, we can change deliveries.

These kitchens are to survive the 2020s.

As an industry, action. things. Let’s do it permanently located incandidates high-traffichave areas, are to take control of their Some thisthey timeneed around. shared by multiple restaurants, and distribution platform or harder don’t have any seating area; in fact, times will come.

II

Northern Puerto Rico’sRegion Social Remains StableIndex and Vulnerability Competitive

n 2016, an occurrence of “El Niño” brought about a drought. In 2017, we hadwith hurricanes n keeping our Irma and Maria, business intelligence and now, in model, we2020, have we’ve had a series developed an of earthquakes.

Puerto Rico has ample amount suffered from events that of natural economic, have had significant effects on the commercial and economy, aside indicators from the impact demographic on itsevery residents. for municipality in The Hurricane Puerto Rico, allMaria of which experience, andatwhat we’ve seen are available http:// after the recent earthquakes, has EconomiaPR.com. shown that there hasn’t been Theus creation of these an effective plan to bring indicators has led us tohelp toperform the more vulnerable areas of comparative Puerto Rico. analyses of municipalities We regions constantly and so see thatchildren’s diapers brought to places where businesspeople and there are senior citizens and adult municipal governments diapers brought to places where can make intelligent and there are small children. Help informed decisions. hasn’t been arriving to where it is In this article, and because most needed. of our alliance with the A vulnerable person is someone financial planning initiative with a reduced capability to known as “Tu Dinero Seguro”, deal with an emergency such as we will discuss some of an earthquake, a hurricane or findings regarding the a our disease outbreak, and there northern part of Puerto are many social factors that Rico so that this. the residents can influence ofInthe area are better able an effort to have the to understand how the government, agencies and municipalities, and thebetter region interested organizations as a whole, behave. informed regarding vulnerable Geographically speaking, areas and their needs, the we have defined the northern Centers for Disease Control (CDC) part of Puerto Rico as the commissioned two emergency area that runs from Dorado management agencies to develop to Hatillo.

Taken as aIndex. whole, the Social Vulnerability the area enjoys relative This index is based on data economic stability because of obtained by the Geospatial things like the PR-22 highway, Research, Analysis and Services the management of which Program (GRASP) of the U.S. is outsourced to Metropistas, Census.

Inteligencia Económica and its diverse of applied this indexecosystem to Puerto Rico, anchor firms. at a county level, using more upto-date information.

The Social Vulnerability Economic Assets in the Index is useful when it comes Northern Region

The transportation

to determining how many supplies are needed, how much emergency personnel is needed and what areas will be infrastructure lends themost north need of help. can help ofinPuerto Rico anThis advantage boththe thesouth, publicwhich and private over relies sectors when making on the damaged PR-52decisions to prepare for or respond to an highway.

Amongst the area’s emergency. most important companies are those that belong to the Findings pharmaceutical industry, The five most vulnerable primarily located in Florida, municipalities are Guánica, Manatí and Barceloneta.

Arroyo, Jayuya and Manatí,Loíza, home to many Comerío.

Guánicaand finds itself doctors, facilities even at the top of this list due a hotel for medical tourists, to its high poverty rate has established itself asand a disabled population.

In both health industry hub. these it is the Asidecategories, from housing an most vulnerable municipality.

What important shopping center these municipalities share which specializes in well- is a lack ofbrands, economic activity, which known Barceloneta we can see in their high has managed to hold onpoverty to rates, low per capita income, its status a pharmaceutical amount of homes without hub. access to athe vehicle low Arecibo, mostand densely amount of federal funds populated municipality received compared with other inwhen the region, faces a lot municipalities. of economic and fiscal The five Notwithstanding, least vulnerable hardships. municipalities are Guaynabo, it is trying to establish itself Dorado, Hatillo, Toa Alta and as a main tourist attraction Gurabo. These municipalities through the development of all show low poverty rates, high Christopher Colombus’ statue levels of per capita income, high and for housing the Arecibo levels of access to vehicles and Observatory. low unemployment rates.

In the short-term, the area It is worth mentioning that is relying on regional even though the metro area government offices, municipalities show vulnerabilities educational institutions, in various categories related to commerce and presence urban life, suchthe as lack of access oftotwo leaders in the coop a vehicle, multi-unit housing movement, Coopaca and these and homeless population, Zeno Gandía. are all offset by a high per capita Hatillo high remains an income, municipal budgets agricultural town and and high amounts of federal epicenter of the milk industry. funding. The most vulnerable The town’s government municipality in the metro area is continues feed its10. The next Cataño, attonumber tourism industry with one in our rankings is the San Juan, at establishment of hotels and number 61. through activities like its emblematic mask festival.

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/ Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin, whose concerts on the island are slated to begin on Feb. 7 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, poses for a portrait in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday, Jan. 27, 2020.

“I’m going to use my music to carry the message of all those who aren’t being heard,” Martin told The Associated Press on Monday while preparing for a concert on his native island. >AP Photo/ Carlos Giusti

Ricky Martin Finds Inspiration in Puerto Rico Protests

The latin pop icon is coming home this weekend to kickstart his 2020 Movimiento Tour Danica Coto, The Associated Press

R

icky Martin’s wide smile began to fade as the Puerto Rican superstar talked about his next album.

It’s influenced by the U.S. territory’s political turmoil as people struggle to recover from Hurricane Maria and a recent 6.4 magnitude earthquake that killed one person and destroyed hundreds of homes amid a 13-year recession.

“I’m going to use my music to carry the message of all those who aren’t being heard,” he told The Associated Press on Monday while preparing for a concert on his native island.

The 48-year-old father of four children joined in the big demonstrations last year that led Ricardo Rosselló to resign as the island’s governor, and although he hasn’t been at the most recent protests against current Gov. Wanda Vázquez, he has gone on social media urging her to step down.

/ Wednesday, February 5, 2020

21

Martin participated in demonstrations alongside artists as René Pérez and Bad Bunny. >Brandon Cruz González

“It would be an act of justice for our island,” he said in a video on Thursday. “There are no immediate legal mechanisms for you and your entire team to leave and pay for all our suffering.

But I have good news. The elections come in November and I am certain, certain, that the people will rise up more than ever.”

Martin’s upcoming album is not the one he originally envisioned. He said he was going through a very romantic period in his life when he began recording, but all that changed when the 2019 protests in Puerto Rico erupted. The demonstrations were fed by anger over corruption and over the way the government responded to Hurricane Maria, the Sept. 2017 storm that wreaked havoc on the island, killing an estimated 2,975 people.

Martin participated in the demonstrations alongside other artists and found a new idea for the album.

“When I returned to the studio, everything that I had done musically expired because I had poetic material in my head to share with the world after what happened in the streets of Puerto Rico,” he said.

Martin said the album will be titled “Movimiento” and will contain 12 songs.

“In all of them, I will, in some way, express everything that I experienced,” he said, alluding to the demonstrations. “All of the stories I heard from people who simply were not being heard.”

One of the album’s songs is the newly released single “Tiburones,” which means “sharks” in Spanish.

The video was shot in Puerto Rico and shows a woman face to face with police in riot gear. Around her neck is a green kerchief that Martin said was the actress’ idea to wear and one he fully supports since it symbolizes the fight for a woman’s right to have an abortion.

“What I’ve always wanted is a woman to have the right to do whatever she wants with her body,” he Ricky Martin said the album will be titled “Movimiento” and will contain 12 songs. >AP Photo/Carlos Giusti

The demonstrations were fed by anger over corruption and over the way the government responded to Hurricane Maria, the Sept. 2017 storm that wreaked havoc on the island, killing an estimated 2,975 people. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

said. “I’m always going to defend that.”

Some have criticized Martin’s involvement in the 2019 protests and his recent comments regarding the current government’s response to the earthquake and strong aftershocks, accusing him of being an opportunist and of riling people up only to leave the island afterward. Others have posted online messages asking that he stay out of the island’s affairs.

Martin remains unfazed.

“I shouldn’t be interested in Puerto Rico because I don’t live in Puerto Rico?” he asked. “To the contrary.

I believe that not being on the island has made me appreciate my culture more, appreciate my people more, my language, my music, where I come from.”

The latin pop icon is coming home this weekend to kickstart his 2020 Movimiento Tour at Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

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/ Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Circo Fest returns for its 7th edition, which runs from March 12 until March 22. >Courtesy Circo Fest

El Bastión A Project to Democratize Art The cultural center is the birthplace of Circo Fest, which returns to Old San Juan next month

A Cynthia López Cabán

clopez@wjournalpr.com

@cynthia_lope

world of artistry with a sprinkling of magic awaits behind the thick door of El Bastión in Old San Juan.

Perched high at the corner of Beneficencia Street, the historic building serves as the headquarters of the ACirc Association, the nonprofit organization that founded Circo Fest.

But this office is far from the traditional working space.

When the heavy doors crack open a stroke of color and flair immediately strikes you. On the ceiling, “The Cloud”, a sculpture that artist Nick Quijano made out of the plastic bottles recovered from the nearby beach, stands next to the red and blue aerial silks for acrobatics that hang over the

dancing studio. At the end of the room, there are a Baldwin piano, a small bar made from recycled wood and a reading corner.

The building, which is part of the colonial complex known as the White House, remained closed for a decade until artists and working partners José Carreño, Maximiliano Rivas and Maite Rivera turned the place into a cultural center with the help of colleagues and the community.

“José and I met in 2012. We had both relocated to the island because our partners are from Puerto Rico. We met at a local festival and discovered that we shared the same vision. While we belonged to different companies, we both wanted to start a circus festival so we decided to work together,” explained Rivas, who’s Argentinian.

“We reached out to other organizations. The idea to create the association came up in those exchanges. We wanted to create an entity that represented us and our vision of public art, which is to encourage the use of public spaces for artistic expression,” added Carreño, who’s Chilean.

A year later they founded ACirc, and in 2014 launched Circo Fest, a week-long event where local artists, performers and international circus companies descend on Old San Juan to share their art with the public. The group also goes on a minitour across the island.

“We were lucky that the first edition was a hit and gave us visibility,” Rivas told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. After conquering the first challenge and establishing the first international circus festival in Puerto Rico, ACirc set out to find a spot that could serve as a training place, an incubator of ideas and a platform for artists to showcase their work.

“It took four and half years of knocking on the door of municipalities and government agencies until the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture told us about this building that had been closed for 10 years,” recalled Vivas.

“With this project, we wanted to show that a group of artists with a vision could develop a solvent cultural project and enjoy autonomy by its own means and conditions,” said Carreño, ACirc’s logistics manager.

El Bastión opened to the public un 2017. It houses a circus training space, a dance studio, an area for art exhibits and film screenings and a luscious community garden. It also hosts an artisan and farmer’s market and nighttime music jams.

“Two years later, we have 400 students enrolled in ballet, salsa and circus classes. We have free movie nights, and 25 to 30 people from the community work on the garden,” Vivas said. “The space has been transformed into a resilient one with solar panels

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and a water system. In case of an emergency, we can serve as a safe place for the community.”

Circus Fest is Back

Along with daily classes and private events, El Bastion has on agenda a 12-hour live music marathon on Feb. 29.

Then, Circo Fest returns for its 7th edition, which runs from March 12 until March 22. The main event will take place in Old San Juan on the weekend of March 14 and 15. For two days, an army of clowns, aerialists, dancers, musicians, contortionists and magicians will turn the city into a carnivalesque adventure for all ages.

This year the festival features 30 local companies and 8 international ones from Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Mexico.

Prior to the festival, visiting artists will offer free workshops for the local artistic community, on March 12 and 13. The mini-tour across the island will take the performers to Vieques, Barranquitas, Guayanilla and Utuado. Guayanilla and Utuado are part of the municipalities affected by the recent seismic activity.

But it’s more than joy and fun. The event helped change the perception of street artists, according to the duo.

“We didn’t have that language. What Circo Fest brought was a new appreciation for street performers. The public now sees that type of performance as normal and enjoys the show.” argued Vivas, ACirc’s production manager. “People no longer question why an artist is passing the hat.

No longer feel it is a handout. They understand the value of the performance and that most of the artists that engage in street art do it out of a conviction that artistic expression needs to reach everyone and not be limited by economic considerations.”

Maximiliano Rivas (right) and Jose Carreño (left) are part of the founding members the ACirc Association, a non profit organization that promotes street and circus art. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

People no longer question why an artist is passing the hat. No longer feel it is a handout. They understand the value of the performance and that most of the artists that engage in street art do it out of a conviction that the artistic expression needs to reach everyone and not be limited by economic considerations.

-Maximiliano Vivas, production manager of ACirc

El Bastión opened to the public in 2017. It houses a circus training space, a dance studio, an area for art exhibits and film screenings, and a luscious community garden. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

24

India House in San Juan

The restaurant has authentic Indian food

A The Mystery Guest

newsroom@wjournalpr.com

lthough in Puerto Rico, you will not find an Indian restaurant scene like the ones in New York City or London, two months ago India House opened on Roosevelt avenue.

The restaurant only opens Monday to Friday for lunch, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Indian chef serves the customers with the

help of a kind waiter.

India House makes authentic Indian food and is a special option in San Juan for those who truly love Indian gastronomy.

When I arrived, the chef nicely asked me in English whether I was a vegetarian or not, and proceeded to tell me to take a seat. I was initially confused because I was waiting for a server but, after a few minutes, I realized that India House only serves one kind of dish daily.

The place looks like a fast food restaurant with Top 40 music but, as soon as you open the restaurant door, the flavorful aromas of the spices take you on a nonstop trip to India.

The concept is more of a grab and go, fast food restaurant, ideal for workers who want something

>Courtesy Facebook India House

/ Wednesday, February 5, 2020

out of the box for lunch. For only $8.99 you can have a full meal and a bottle of water.

The day that I visited India House, they served a delicious basmati rice with chickpeas. The rice was infused with black pepper, cloves and a little bit of cinnamon; it was really tasty.

The black lentils and chickpeas were flavorful and the potato bhujia was a little bit spicy.

After I ate the stewed potatoes, I searched for bhujia on an Indian gastronomy glossary.

I discovered that they usually have chana dal, powdered cellulose, red chili, black pepper, cardamom, cloves and groundnut oil.

The chicken curry, which is a traditional Indian plate, was one of the best I have ever tried. The diced chicken was tender and flavorful. As an

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Indian food lover, I was ready to eat more. I’d been hungry for the kind of Indian food made with care but no pretense, seasoned for people who love the interplay of spices and presented without apology in all its brown and yellow colors.

The dish included a delightful flat Indian bread confectioned with butter and honey. The bread is made in house and arrives warm at the table in a little basket. It tastes delicious alone or with the black lentils or chickpeas.

The chef told me that the basmati rice and flour used for the Indian bread is imported directly from India.

Because it was my first time at the restaurant, the friendly chef gave me an Indian sweet pudding as a courtesy. The dessert was creamy with carrots, half and half, condensed milk, saffron and a shower of ground pistachios that added a rich toasted texture to every bite.

The restaurateur expressed enthusiasm for Basmati rice with chickpeas, blanck lentils, chicken curry, chickpeas, potatoes bhujia and Indian bread. >The Mystery Guest

When you open the restaurant door, the flavorful aromas of the spices take you on a nonstop trip to India.

>Courtesy Facebook India House

- The Mystery Guest

the sweet casserole.The service at India House is excellent, even for people like me who ask about what every dish is made off.

The restaurant, located in the Borinquen Towers Shopping Center, is surrounded by fast food establishments and Puerto Rican cafés, so it can be considered an oasis for the palate. Borinquen Towers has ample parking. I hope India House starts to open for dinner and weekends soon, for those who do not have time to go there during lunch.

India House is located at 1484 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Ave., Borinquen Towers, San Juan.

(787) 728-1333.

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El Tap:

Supporting Local Craft Beer This popular destination on calle Loíza offers an ample variety of Puerto Rican brews

A Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

lthough Puerto Rico has been globally renowned as the rum capital of the world for many years, its beer selection has been mostly reduced to commercial brands. However, in recent years, there has been an upsurge of local craft breweries that seek to redefine Puerto Ricans’ perception of beer as they venture into a growing market. One pub on calle Loíza aims to expand visitors’ palettes while supporting local businesses, one pint at a time.

El Tap is an innovative destination in one of the most popular sectors in San Juan, offering 46 selections of tap beer and other alcoholic beverages. Unlike the bottled or canned varieties, tap beer provides a fresher and more enjoyable taste.

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL interviewed the pub’s owners, siblings Raúl and Rebecca Sierra, who reminisced both about their own journey as entrepreneurs, and the growth reported by Puerto Rican breweries.

Since Raúl and Rebecca have always been beer lovers, when they decided to open a drinking establishment on the island, they traveled to multiple cities in the U.S. mainland—such as Chicago, Atlanta and Miami—to gather industry insight. During their travels, they noticed that craft beer was gaining ground stateside while locally it was still uncharted territory.

“We got a lot of ideas from different trips, but one of the things that we were able to observe was the hype that was happening with craft beers in the United States, which happened several years before here. However, when we decided to do that here, [craft beer] was starting to take off,” Raúl said.

Although development of the product was increasing, they noticed that only a small number of establishments would include local craft beer as

Siblings Raúl and Rebecca Sierra traveled to multiple cities stateside to gather industry insight. >Courtesy

their main offering. “We wanted to create a space that was totally different and nonexistent in Puerto Rico,” Rebecca asserted. By May 5, 2017, El Tap had opened its doors, and has remained strong since then.

Raúl pointed out that the evolution of locallyproduced craft beer resembles the renaissance experienced among culinary circles. According to the proprietor, several years ago, most popular restaurants served a cookie-cutter menu until different chefs began to create exotic fusions and more elaborate dishes with better ingredients.

“The same thing basically happened with the beer industry. Craft breweries began to make better beers with better, far fresher ingredients.

And then, people’s palettes began changing and they started thinking, ‘why should I drink this inferior product when there is something that tastes better,’” he stated.

This evolution in the industry is reflected in El

Tap’s beer offers. Rebecca explained that when the business opened they only had nine lines of local craft beer and the majority was imported.

Now, they still offer imported beer, but they offer 18 local craft brews. They also change the menu continuously to ensure they include all local brews while satisfying visitors’ demands for new options.

Moreover, twice a year, the pub offers all 38 selections of Puerto Rican craft beers. The siblings said that supporting local brands is an important aspect of running their business.

“We feel as if we have grown with local breweries. When we began, I can say that many of Puerto Rico’s craft beers were not at the same level as they are now. To grow and see them grow has been a truly rewarding experience,” Raúl said.

Rebecca added, “the industry is growing; it is still booming. Both of us have always liked beer, but I think that we fell in love with it while working here.”

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explained.

He also observed that, like with wine, beers have distinct undertones and textures. “When a brewer makes a beer he does it with specific intent. He wants the beer to feel a certain way and for people to feel a certain thing, and for the aftertaste to taste a particular way. When one does it from a tasting standpoint you can tell the difference between every style and every type of beer,” he added.

As for their most popular products, Rebecca confirmed that IPAs are their bestsellers, while local brews are more sought after than imported beers.

Beyond Beer

The pub offers 46 tap selections of local and imported craft beers, whiskey, sangria and wine. >Courtesy

Tips for Beginners

El Tap offers multiple types of beers that can come across as intimidating to people who are just starting to appreciate the complexity of craft brews or are entirely new to the world of beer. Rebecca personally enjoys sour and stout beers, while Raúl prefers India pale ale (IPA) and stout beers, but these types of brews can be overwhelming to beginners.

“We get a lot of people who don’t know much about craft beer and want to learn. So, the [employees] ask them what they consume regularly or which style they prefer and then they analyze the inventory to give the client something that they can taste so they can adapt,” Raúl said.

Raúl and Rebecca Sierra said that they are committed to supporting local brands. >Courtesy

Lagers are a common option, but the siblings always recommend starting with a blonde or pale ale.

Another option for the adventurous types is the “Beer Flights” craft menu option. This item consists of four, five-ounce glasses with a different selection in each one, all chosen by the drinker himself. Raúl said that he enjoys when people choose their orders with a “beginning and end.”

That is, the owners recommend to start with a blonde ale, followed by wheat beer, IPA and stout—essentially, a crescendo of flavors.

“When you drink craft beer you always want to try something new, so then you keep evolving and switching up styles to cover all the bases,” Raúl

El Tap also serves different types of whiskey, sangria and wine. The sangrias are made by local business Sangria Ververena, with options such as red, acerola (Barbados cherry), and passion fruit.

The wines—pinot grigio and merlot—are made with foreign grapes but packaged locally by Tap Art Bottling Project.

The establishment also boasts a menu designed by chef Ventura Vivoni. Unlike a restaurant, the menu was concocted to complement the beers rather than the other way around. It features classic pairing standards, such as macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches, but it also contains creative items.

One of the food menu’s bestsellers is the octopus “rinds” served over sweet potatoes. The chewy, saltiness of the octopus fuses exceptionally well with the sweetness of the root vegetables.

“We always make some adjustments to the menu and we always add one thing or another, but the core per se is always really good, sells well, and is geared toward allowing you to eat something and keep drinking,” Raúl said.

Peak days and hours are Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. El Tap is located at 1969 Loíza St. in San Juan.

El Tap also offers a food menu designed to complement the beer selections. >Courtesy

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Step by Step:

What to do to prepare before a loved one dies

No one likes to think about death but, if we do not prepare, the consequences may be hard to deal with

T

Hallee Patterson

his has been an enlightening week for me. My cousin fell and is now in a coma, and my neighbor’s husband passed away. The one thing both of these tragedies have in common is that their loved ones were not financially prepared. I know no one likes to think about death but, if we do not prepare, the consequences may be difficult to grapple with.

The phrases “I don’t know any of their passwords, therefore I can’t access any online accounts”; “I don’t know bank, brokerage, electric, water, real estate account numbers”; “Where are the insurance policies?” and “Where are the important papers located?”, all came up and they made me realize that I do not know any of my husbands passwords or local laws. Therefore, I am

going to try to help clarify how to prepare for these sad moments that we all face.

This is the first part of a three-part series: 1. How to prepare before a loved one dies.

2. What to do when they die.

3. What to do after they pass on.

How to Prepare Before a Loved One Dies:

Have a conversation with your parents, spouse and children about the locations of all important documents.

Place your will, birth certificate, marriage and divorce certificates, Social Security information, life insurance policies, financial documents and the passwords to all your computer accounts in a home safe or bank safety deposit box. If you choose to use a bank’s safety deposit box, be aware that it will be sealed temporarily upon death.

Let your loved ones know your preferred funeral arrangements and/ or organize the funeral or memorial service beforehand. Some information you should disclose is your preference regarding organ donation, whether you want to be buried or cremated, whether you want an open or closed casket funeral, how you want your ashes cared for, which religious traditions you wish to have honored and your burial site.

You can also choose to complete an advance directive specifying any wanted or unwanted medical procedures and/ or draw up a Power of Attorney and designate a proxy to make any necessary medical decisions.

If you so desire, you can sign a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order drawn up. This lets healthcare professionals know not to perform CPR if your heart or breathing stops.

If you or a loved one is a veteran, inquire about special arrangements.

Puerto Rican Forced Inheritance Laws:

Under Puerto Rico laws whether a spouse is an heir to his or her spouse’s estate may vary depending on the marriage’s economic regime, mainly on whether there is a prenuptial agreement or not. In the absence of a prenuptial agreement, the surviving spouse is entitled to half of all the marriage’s assets as part of a marital community.

Under a prenuptial agreement, the widow or widower might be entitled only to half of the assets acquired jointly as a partnership, if any. The widow or widower could have a right to the entire inheritance if the deceased had no descendants (children or grandchildren) or ascendants (parents or grandparents).

Seek legal advice, these are only guidelines.

29 < The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, Febuary 5, 2020

Todos los principales medios de comunicación se unen, en un gran esfuerzo, a la Fundación #yonomequito y otras organizaciones y empresas del país

para crear el #yonomequito Earthquake Relief Fund con el propósito de atender las necesidades de los afectados por los recientes terremotos en la Isla.

• El 100% de los fondos serán utilizados para brindar ayuda a los damnificados.

• Serán administrados por la Fundación #yonomequito.

HAZ TU APORTACIÓN Cuenta

6609215547

prearthquakerelief@yonomequitopr.org

1-939-639-4004

Click “DONATE” /YonomequitoEarthquakeFund

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/ Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Ricky Martin Movimiento Tour Ricky Martin, is coming home to Puerto Rico to kickstart his 2020 Movimiento Tour. Known for his irresistible dance moves and famous hit songs like “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” Ricky Martin’s first concert in Puerto Rico since 2016 promises to be a night to remember. Get ready to dance to the tune of hits like “Shake Your Bon Bon,” “La Mordidita,” and “Vente Pa’Ca.” When: Friday, Feb. 7 to Sunday, Feb. 9 at 8:30 p.m.

Where: José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, San Juan

Bailable de San Valentín

ICOPR in Hato Rey

Have a blast at the ultimate pre- Valentine’s Day dance party, free of charge!

There will be happy hour specials all night long and live music by Furia Ardiente, Sin Frontera, N’ Klave, Robert y Los Patrones and more.

When: Saturday, Feb. 8 at 9 p.m.

Where: Four Points by Sheraton Caguas Real Hotel and Casino

The International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico is offering a free, familyfriendly concert at the open-air plaza in Popular Center in Hato Rey, featuring 40 artists from 15 different countries, including from Puerto Rico. Attendees will be able to meet the artists after the concert.

When: Sunday, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m.

Where: Popular Center, 208 Luis Muñoz Rivera Ave., San Juan

Visión3 Art Expo Three contemporary, Puerto Rican visual artists present their works.

Pablo Montes, Marie Court and Ben Morales-Correa’s diverse routes occasionally converge and reveal the coincidences and contradictions that shape the Puerto Rican identity.

When: Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

Where: Puerto Rico Tourism Co., Paseo La Princesa, Old San Juan

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Mixology and Bartending Course - AMB Google Ads BootCamp

Want to impress guests? Need more job opportunites? Advanced Mixology Bartending is offering a mixology and bartending course for beginners. The fee includes workshops, lessons and a certificate. For more information, call (210) 812-9979.

When: Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m Where: K’FE Bar-Bosa, 597 Barbosa Ave., San Juan

Love 2 Me Taller and Yoga

During this yoga class, learn about dancing mindfulness and expressive arts with a focus on self-love. There will be a tea detox, fruits, aromatherapy, and mimosas.

When: Sunday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m.

Where: B1generation, Campo Rico Office Plaza,10000 Campo Rico Ave., Carolina

Learn how to manage the most popular advertising platform in the world by taking this course. Fee includes a digital manual, a participation certificate, snacks and Wi-Fi access.

For more information, call (787) 760-9191.

When: Thursday, Feb. 6 to Friday, 7 at 9 a.m.

Where: Anexo Digital, Plaza Cupey Gardens

Sunset Rock Climbing Roca Norte Enjoy an adrenaline-packed, family-friendly sports activity in a supervised environment.

The fee includes equipment and lessons for beginners. Costs vary . For reservations, visit http://www.21climbandtour.com.

When: Saturday, Feb. 8 to Sunday, 9 at 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m, 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Where: 21 Climb and Tour, Vega Baja

Charity Gala El Gran Combo, an iconic Puerto Rican salsa band, is offering a concert to benefit “Fundación Proyectos Alegría”, a nonprofit dedicated to helping marginalized communities.

When: Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

Where: Caguas Performing Arts Center, Padial street, Caguas

Grand Cinema Night 2020

Botanical Acrylic Painting Workshop

The YMCA of San Juan hosts this annual event that benefits various charitable organizations.

Attendees can enjoy a cocktails, a buffet and a live transmission of the 84th Academy Awards.

When: Sunday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.

Where: Caribbean Cinemas, Montehiedra Town Center

Jennifer Maldonado from The Artsy Boho teaches basic techniques for painting with acrylic paint on canvas.For more information, http://www. localstorypr.com.

When: Saturday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m.

Where: Local Story, Dorado