The Weekly Journal - April 8, 2020

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

Wednesday, April 8-14, 2020 / no. 050

www.theweeklyjournal.com

US Census – Curfew and Social Distancing Measures Delaying Data Collection P8 Covid-19 Surveillance System Seeks to Identify Possible Areas of Higher Incidence P6

Planning for Tourism

>Josian E. Bruno Gómez

Rethinking the Power of Branding After the Covid-19 Pandemic P7

Resurgence After Coronavirus Crisis Discover Puerto Rico focused on keeping the island ‘top-of-mind’

D Rosario Fajardo

Cabin Fever Blues?

Cheer Up, There Are Still Plenty of Things To Do P14

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

iscover Puerto Rico, the island’s destination market organization (DMO), is looking ahead to life after the coronavirus crisis, with a renewed push to highlight the positives of Puerto Rico as a destination to help the tourism sector recover after the latest blow to the industry.

“Puerto Rico has faced its share of crisis in recent

years, having greatly affected the tourism industry on the island, yet we have made a comeback every time. This time will be no exception,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico.

The DMO recently hosted a virtual industry update regarding the effects of COVID-19 on the Puerto Rican tourism sector and how the organization is going to help to lead the recovery.

Discover Puerto Rico shared what the team has been doing amidst the emergency and provided GO TO PAGE 4

The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, April 8, 2020 > 2

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a week in review government blunders Governor Wanda Vázquez authorized the purchase of one million COVID-19 rapid tests for $40 million to a small construction company. After the company failed to deliver the tests on time, the government canceled its order also citing the fact that the tests were unusable as they had not been certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This is the second time the Vázquez administration has invested much-needed funds in the purchasing of medical supplies that cannot be used in staving-off COVID-19. In mid-March, the Department of Health also placed an order for 400,000 tests that were deemed unusable as well.

relief resolutions approved This week, the House and the Senate unanimously approved a series of relief bills aimed at lessening the economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

Among the bills approved was Senate Joint Resolution 507, which will transfer local and federal funds to hospitals and other health institutions in order to avoid having to lay off personnel during the crisis. The resolution also exempts hospitals from having to pay for water and power during the months of April, May and June.

Other bills approved were Resolution 506, which establishes that small and medium business owners who must pay taxes over their 2019 income are entitled to a payment plan; and Resolution 510, which allows taxpayers that currently benefit from a payment plan to request a moratorium.

Lockdown extended until april 12 Governor Wanda Vázquez announced earlier this week that the lockdown on commercial activities will be extended until Easter Sunday.

Furthermore, as part of the new lockdown, all supermarkets will be closed from Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12. Only drugstores and gas stations will be allowed to do business during the weekend and, even then, only to sell medications and gasoline. Vázquez argued that the measure is aimed at trying to contain the spread of COVID-19 by minimizing the number of people going out over the weekend.

Critics have denounced the governor’s order, which further restricts business hours and citizens’ movement, and are claiming that it is having the opposite effect of what it is intended to address by having people flock to supermarkets in fear of food shortages.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

There is also a clear connection between air travel and the cruise industry on the island. Of research that has guided specific strategies that the more than 4 million visitors who come to will help the island have a quicker turnaround than Puerto Rico every year, an estimated 500,000 other destinations, bringing back visitors are cruise passengers, jobs in this sector that have been according to government affected by the crisis. estimates.

“The tourism sector will have a The DMO’s research indicates new normal after this pandemic is that Puerto Rico’s drop in stabilized and many opportunities occupancy has been swifter and Consumers will arise. Even though the more severe than the United Wary of Air Travel, general sentiment of traveler States’ average, seeing -71 Cruise Vacations today is fear, we are confident percent in Puerto Rico versus Q: At this moment, that Puerto Rico will offer what -56 percent in the U.S. mainland. how safe would you travelers are looking for when Because the island has many feel doing each type the time is right. With the luxury and upscale hotels, it is of travel activity? extreme measures taken by our perceived that the impact week• Traveling in a cruise government early in the crisis, we over-week is also higher than line: 12.2 percent said are better positioned than other the U.S. average, because these “somewhat unsafe” destinations,” Dean said. hotels received the biggest hit and 71.2 percent said A positive for the island is that during the initial weeks. “very unsafe.”

Puerto Rico is part of the United Before the January • Traveling on a States. Hence, the island will be earthquakes, both leisure and commercial airline: positioned as a safe destination group bookings were ahead of 21.3 percent said to travel within the United States.

2019 pace, according to Discover “somewhat unsafe” A negative for Puerto Rico is that Puerto Rico. Even though there and 53.1 percent said as an island destination, visitors was a decline in the weeks “very unsafe.” must arrive by air travel, and post-earthquake, bookings were Source: Destination Analysts, many consumers are now leery of running above 2019 until the first survey of 1,200 people betraveling on commercial airlines. week of March, seeing the sharp tween March 20-22, 2020 Another negative is that the cruise declines in future bookings in the industry has been hit hard by the last two weeks. coronavirus crisis and as a home Destination Analysts conducted port in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico a survey in March, monitoring will have a long road to climb in this area. traveler behavior in response to COVID-19, where

In fact,

Puerto Rico is looking forward to welcoming visitors after the coronavirus crisis. >Archive

47 percent of respondents said they have decided to do a “staycation” this year, while 36 percent have tentative trips planned for July and August.

In another survey, also conducted by Destination Analysts, 63 percent of American travelers “agree” or “strongly agree” that they miss traveling and cannot wait to travel again. For this reason, Puerto Rico as a destination, should promote the island with more intensity, Dean said.

Action Plan to Move Tourism Forward

During the industry update, Discover Puerto Rico’s Chief Marketing Officer Leah Chandler, discussed the COVID-19 Action Plan, which was adapted and implemented specifically in early March. The CAP is divided into four phases: Impact, Regroup, Rebound and New Normal.

In the first phase, the DMO shared safety measures put in place by the government, but in a positive light, to position the destination as leading by example and clarify any potential inaccuracies with travelers, media, meeting planners and travel advisors.

In the second phase, which Puerto Rico is in right now, the DMO is delivering messaging and smart activations that allude to the current global circumstances and local mandates but keeps Puerto Rico top-of-mind.

For example, during the weekend of March 2729, the DMO held a virtual “escape to Puerto Rico” in which people could take salsa classes, learn how to make tropical cocktails and cook Puerto Rican cuisine—all in the comfort of their homes. Other virtual weekends are now being planned.

“We take great responsibility in helping stop the spread of COVID-19, so we’re not encouraging travelers to visit us right now as everyone needs to stay safe in their homes. Instead, we want to extend an important part of our culture – our salsa music and dancing, our mixology and our delicious cuisine – to uplift people during these challenging times. We encourage travelers to daydream about our island now and consider a visit later, when the time is right. In the meantime, we’re excited to join them in their living rooms for this virtual getaway,” Dean said.

In the last two phases of the Action Plan, the organization will utilize research to guide marketing efforts and timing and drive immediate travel messages.

“It is crucial for us to keep our destination topof-mind amidst the new realities. This is the time to get creative and push newsworthy content to keep Puerto Rico in consumers’ consideration despite the current travel limitations. If people can’t go to Puerto Rico, we will bring Puerto Rico to them,” Chandler said.

After the crisis is over, Discover Puerto Rico plans to aggressively re-enter the market with revised messaging to drive awareness and keep Puerto Rico top-of-mind. The DMO is now developing a new campaign, which will drive awareness, inspire the audience in this time of uncertainty, incite immediate action and generate demand, she indicated.

In the MICE (meetings, sales, conferences and exhibitions) and leisure sales, the DMO team

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The tourism sector will have a new normal after this pandemic is stabilized and many opportunities will arise. Even though the general sentiment of the traveler today is fear, we are confident that Puerto Rico will offer what travelers are looking for when the time is right. With the extreme measures taken by our government early in the crisis, we are better positioned than other destinations.

-Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico

presented efforts including engagement and customer acquisition. Their focus is on postponing bookings instead of canceling, re-booking canceled reservations and giving rewards through loyalty programs, points and airline miles.

The Condado Vanderbilt Hotel>Courtesy

Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico >Courtesy

Tourism Woes in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is highly dependent on tourism and the coronavirus crisis is also having an impact on other islands in the region.

According to preliminary data from STR, a U.S. company that tracks data on the global hospitality

industry, hotel occupancy rates in the Caribbean have dropped dramatically since mid-March.

STR reported that in the week ending March 14, hotel occupancy in the Bahamas dropped to 70.4 percent, compared with the same period in 2019. Puerto Rico saw a drop in occupancy to 61.2 percent.

During the week ending March 21, hotel occupancy in the Bahamas dropped to 22.1 percent, STR reported. For the week, Barbados was among the few islands in the Caribbean that reported an occupancy rate above 50 percent.

The region is also preparing to position itself as a destination after the coronavirus crisis is over.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization has signed an agreement with Euromonitor International, a global market research firm, to help with members in their future tourism planning. The collaboration agreement with the London-based firm will provide member countries with data and insights to identify future trends, statistics and analysis on industries, countries and consumers.

Euromonitor International provides high-quality information and expert analysis on factors shaping tourism in different countries and economies, such as socioeconomic data and traveler profiles. As part of the agreement, CTO members will receive access to relevant information about the travel landscape globally, such as market disruptors, latest trends and impactful scenarios like the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our partnership with Euromonitor International expands the range of data and research available to our member countries which they can use to inform the development of their national tourism strategies,” said Faye Gill, the CTO’s director of membership services.

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Screenshot of the self-reporting survey on symptoms >Courtesy

Tracking Symptoms is Vital to Controlling COVID-19 in Puerto Rico Public Health Trust develops self-reporting survey

A Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

s part of the efforts to control the spread of coronavirus in Puerto Rico, the Public Health Trust and Ponce Health Sciences University have developed the Epidemiological Surveillance System platform, which allows scientists to track and disseminate information on the evolution of COVID-19 on the island.

The COVID-19 surveillance system, led by epidemiologist Dr. Melissa Marzán from the Ponce Health Sciences University, is a platform designed to track people’s symptoms as they arise. During a web conference with reporters, she explained that local residents are asked to volunteer and participate by self-reporting on various symptoms on a daily basis.

Even if a person does not experience any symptoms, he or she should participate.

The symptoms to be reported include: fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing, chills, nasal congestion, tiredness, headache, vomiting and nasal secretion.

The three most common symptoms associated with the coronavirus are fever, dry cough and difficulty breathing.

Respondents are also asked various questions for a sociodemographic profile of participants, including age, gender, residential zip code, annual

provide data for future planning and prevention. income, level of education, if they have a medical “Data is a powerful tool that allows us to make plan and if they smoke. sound decisions, prevent the The results obtained through spread of this disease and save the survey serve to identify the lives,” said Dr. José Rodriguez geographic areas with greatest Orengo, acting director of Public symptoms, develop profiles, Health Trust. “It is important identify present symptoms and that the community continue to the days in which the symptoms The symptoms to participate every day in this survey appear; how long the symptoms be reported include: and help us control this contagious last; and the spread of the virus. fever, dry cough, disease.”

This information allows scientists difficulty breathing, Officials said other cities in the to monitor the development of chills, nasal United States, such as Boston, the novel coronavirus on a daily congestion, tiredness, Massachusetts and Tampa, Fla., basis, help predict the curve of the headache, vomiting will also start using Puerto Rico’s disease and take the necessary and nasal secretion.

Epidemiological Surveillance System preventive measures.

The three most in the fight against COVID-19.

“This initiative promotes the common symptoms “This year, the Puerto Rico Public figure of the citizen-scientist and associated with the Health Trust has achieved important allows us to monitor the symptoms coronavirus are associated with the virus and alliances and collaborations in fever, dry cough and order to improve the health equity identify possible areas of higher difficulty breathing. of the communities of Puerto Rico incidence of COVID-19. This allows and make health services more us to more effectively plan the accessible. We must highlight that medical and preventive services for in the face of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the different regions of Puerto Rico,” Marzán said. this collaboration with the Ponce Health Sciences According to official data, since its launch on University has been one of the most important March 17, over 38,000 people have participated by allowing for the creation of solutions to this in the survey and the most relevant results show epidemic,” said Lucy Crespo, CEO of the Puerto Rico a slight trend of increasing symptoms associated Science, Technology and Research Trust. with COVID-19 for the period of March 18 to 26.

For more information about the self-reporting What these findings represent is the opportunity to survey, the Public Health Trust and available observe the development of symptoms throughout resources related to COVID-19, visit http://www. the different areas of Puerto Rico, take a closer look at the behavior of the virus in local communities, and paralasaludpublica.org.

In fact,

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Empathy, a Key Element in Branding Amid COVID-19

Customers more receptive to companies engaged in community welfare and thorough communication

W Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

ith the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic debilitating nations worldwide and prompting the local government to enact strict emergency measures, brands need to rethink their marketing approaches to appeal to new consumer needs and concerns.

Horoma3, a Puerto Rican independent company specialized in media negotiation and buying on the island, provided an in-depth analysis based on studies on how brands can make an impact in these uncertain times while enhancing their purpose and presence among consumers.

The firm—brainchild of the de la Cruz, Lopito, Ileana & Howie and Sajo/McCann Puerto Rico agencies— compiled data that detail changing consumer demands and patterns from studies, articles and presentations made by various global sources so that companies can adjust their outreach strategies accordingly.

Marirose Acevedo, media director at de la Cruz, explained that consumers are currently more receptive to brands that are showcasing empathy rather than focusing on selling a product that, to many, could be out of reach. This, considering that the governor’s executive order prevents a number of residents from generating any source of income and public financial assistance is limited.

“What we are seeing, and this is happening globally, is that [consumers] appreciate when these brands communicate with them to help, to offer solutions. Not to present a product upfront, but to show empathy, to provide possible solutions or the way they talk during this time and within this situation being faced,” Acevedo told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. According to the Horoma3 analysis, consumers, in general, have shown positive attitudes towards brand communication during the COVID-19 emergency. A recent study by 4A’S found

Marirose Acevedo highlighted efforts such as the Bacardi distillery’s production of ethanol to develop hand sanitizers. >File photo

[Consumers] appreciate when these brands communicate with them to help, to offer solutions.

-Marirose Acevedo

that 56 percent of people are pleased to hear about brands that donate goods and services.

Meanwhile, 43 percent say it is reassuring to hear from brands they know and trust.

As an example, Acevedo highlighted the Bacardi distillery’s recent decision to produce ethanol, the raw material used to create a 70 percent alcohol hand sanitizer, an initiative previously undertaken by Destilería Serrallés. She said that such business decisions resonate well with consumers while fostering a sense of loyalty that will be beneficial post-crisis.

Alexa Caraballo—partner and customer interaction manager at Lopito, Ileana & Howie Inc.—

stressed that at times like these, empathy with both consumers and employees must prevail in order to maintain the brand’s relevance and power.

“I believe that this communication and social responsibility is part of the voice that brands need to have. It is part of the empathy they need to have with consumers,” she said.

Caraballo added, “it is part of the brand and the company’s responsibility to communicate with its people. Communicate even with your consumers, support your employees—because it’s not just the outside; it’s also the inside.”

In addition, Horoma3 concluded that consumers also expect brands to provide relevant information and guidance such as special hours and services, particularly for the elderly; additional measures taken for hygiene and safety, as well as home delivery and payment alternatives, among others.

Meanwhile, Iraida Vélez-Yambó, SVP media director at Sajo McCann Puerto Rico, reaffirmed the need for brands to make adjustments to cater to current demands, as well as changing consumer patterns such as increased use of both traditional and digital media.

To continue reading this story, visit www. theweeklyjournal.com.

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Postponing the census until 2021 can only be done by the U.S. Congress and the White House. >File photo

U.S. Census Delays Data Collection Amid COVID-19 Residents can complete the process online or via phone call

A Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

s the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to drastically interrupt the status quo, the U.S. Census Bureau (USCB) has had to modify its operations to gather data for the 2020 Census.

María Olmedo, the spokeswoman for the Office of Coordination and Communications of the Decennial Census, said that the federal agency originally intended to send its 18,000 enumerators

in Puerto Rico door-to-door to confirm and/or update the entity’s database.

However, Puerto Rico has been under lockdown and curfew since March 15, as established in two consecutive executive orders signed by Governor Wanda Vázquez, and which will continue to be in effect until April, unless further extended.

These, along with other emergency measures that encourage social distancing to curtail the spread of COVID-19, have prompted the USCB to postpone the aforementioned operations and offer alternatives for completion of the census.

According to Olmedo, there are three options.

Some homes will receive or have received a letter with a numerical code that residents can use to answer census questions online or via phone call.

Another option is to access the webpage or call without having received the code.

“It is easier with the number because the address is already in the database, so the

process is shorter, but it can be done [without the number]. What happens is that the number only arrives to people with… home addresses that are the same as their physical address, such as apartment buildings and urbanizations. But people in rural areas really rely on a P.O. Box and we don’t send letters to P.O. Box [addresses],” Olmedo explained to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. As a third measure, the federal agency will send its enumerators after the emergency subdues.

This process was originally scheduled to begin on March 16 but has been delayed until April 14.

However, because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended social distancing measures until at least April 30, the USBC process may be further delayed.

“For this entire process, we have communicated directly with the government of Puerto Rico and followed its guidelines. For example, the executive order says that federal employees can continue

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Delay the Census?

Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution decrees that the U.S. Census must be carried out every 10 years.

Meanwhile, at the time of this writing, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than 304,000 cases and over 7,600 deaths in the United States, including the 492 positive results and 20 deaths reported in Puerto Rico. U.S. President Donald Trump, who initially reacted to the coronavirus outbreak with skepticism, announced during -María Olmedo a press conference over the weekend that the White House task force projects 100,000 to 240,000 deaths as a result of the virus.

Given these projections, and the implication that some people who have completed or will fill out the 2020 Census may have passed away shortly

thereafter, THE WEEKLY JOURNAL asked Olmedo if the decennial census could be delayed until the next year, or at least until late 2020.

“Canceling the census and postponing it for next year has been discussed. Many people have mentioned it, but it is something that needs to come from Congress, so that remains entirely outside the Census office’s reach… Those are conversations that need to happen in Congress and then for the White House to decide,” she replied.

In the meantime, the USCB has been postponing operations virtually every two weeks, akin to the local government’s own strategy to implement a two-week-long lockdown only to extend it by another fortnight nearing the executive order’s expiring date.

“We evaluate it practically every hour.

We have been adjusting our operations every two weeks. Puerto Rico has not been the only place where we have stopped operations; there are other areas in the United States where it has had to be done,” Olmedo explained.

Cancelling the census and postponing it for next year has been discussed.

Aerial view of the Condado neighborhood in San Juan.

Census Essential for Recovery Olmedo stressed that all Puerto Rico residents must fill out the 2020 Census because it plays a key role in the island’s recovery process from the natural disasters that have impacted the island in recent years, such as 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the seismic activities that devastated the southwestern region last January.

The USCB invested $1 billion in the United States and its unincorporated territories to send targeted messages to the different ethnic groups that make up the country. In the case of Puerto Rico, media outreach has been primarily fixated on recovery, which was the main concern raised by interviewees.

“The data gathered by the Census can be used for any type of federal aid,” Olmedo said.

Apart from natural disaster relief, some of the programs that can receive funding thanks to USCB-collected information include public roads and transportation services, cafeterias in public schools and health services, which are especially critical under the current situation.

Puerto Rico residents can complete the census by calling (844) 426-2020. To do it online, visit http://2020census.gov to view the page in English, or http://2020census.gov/es to view it in Spanish.

Even after receiving information through these means, the USCB will send its enumerators to confirm the data provided.

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By Gustavo Vélez Economist

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Tips to Protect Your Company in Times of Crisis

side from looking to the multiple incentives enacted by the local and federal governments, it is imperative to think outside the box and begin to outline strategies that will allow you to keep your company viable and profitable in these difficult times.

Some of the ideas and strategies that we are sharing with our

clients are: . Evaluate each business, taking into account how the company was doing in 2018 and 2019, and make projections using different Fall scenarios due to the impact of COVID-19. . Explore the various technological platforms that may enable you to keep operating during the quarantine.

Tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom let merchants interact with their customers.

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By Richard Santana Villanueva Managing Partner Colectivo360, Real Estate and Business Consultant

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Pivoting in Times of Crisis

ust one month ago, an all-star roster of speakers gathered at La Concha Resort to discuss Puerto Rico’s unique investments opportunities and trending global topics.

Hosting ICON in the aftermath of a series of earthquakes that rattled Puerto Rico and weakened the economy of the southern part of the island was quite a challenge.

Today, we face a bigger obstacle, a global pandemic that has put the world on pause. Priorities have changed, there are plenty of questions but very few answers. We are all feeling like characters in a SciFi movie; it all seems surreal, but this is our new reality. It’s very clear that the global economic landscape will suffer dramatic consequences, both in the short and long-term. Certainly, some companies will collapse,

but, at the same time, others will be strengthened and able to pivot towards new opportunities.

While many countries will follow the same path, the United States will certainly rethink its supply chain and will no longer look at China as its premier sourcing partner. Because the U.S. imports around $34 billion dollars worth of products from China, many countries in the LATAM region will seek to capitalize on this opportunity. Puerto Rico has the pharmaceutical infrastructure to pick up some of the slack and, ironically, Mexico should be a preferred destination for a cheap labor force.

President Trump has made it very clear that he wants U.S. companies with offshore operations to move back to the United States. With Section 936 long gone, and pretty much irrelevant under the current tax code, the only thing left to do is remove Puerto Rico’s GILTI tax so

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. Maximize social networks to keep your company in the public eye and explore advertising options. The business’s presence, leadership and brand will be essential during the recovery process. . Use economic indicators to make short and medium-term projections. It is estimated that the economy could face a contraction between 6 percent and 8 percent during 2020. Inteligencia Económica offers Microsoft Power BI as an accessible business intelligence platform for your company. . Refinancing of commercial, personal or mortgage loans using the new interest rates that have been lowered to almost zero. This would allow you to reduce capital costs. . Develop a new business plan for when the island’s situation normalizes. This business plan must incorporate different changes that the economy may

experience once things level off.

Among them, reduction of the population and the market; a reduction in the costs of energy, gas and transportation; and access to financing.

For further analysis and advice, you can access Inteligencia Económica’s website at http:// www.economiapr.com, and browse through a collection of informative articles on finance and economics.

Look for us on Twitter @ gustavovelezpr, and on Instagram as gustavovelez2020.

that President Trump’s tax reform succeeds in bringing jobs to U.S. soil.

In the past couple of years, Puerto Rico has continually demonstrated its resilience, and today the stakes are higher than ever. There are reasons to be optimistic, Puerto Rico has unique competitive advantages. Tax incentives enacted in recent years have certainly turned the island into a hot commodity, however, as we re-evaluate our economy in these uncertain times, perhaps we should start focusing on manufacturing and human resources as well.

Replacing China will not be an easy task, as they possess the technology and cheap labor force.

We do have available infrastructure that would allow us to become a reliable manufacturing resource for the United States and Latin America.

While China gets its bearings, let’s demonstrate what we have to offer and establish ourselves as leaders in the industry. Puerto Rico can provide a rich and able workforce, and we should begin to focus on reshaping the way we look at human resources and employment, the way we staff and build companies. We need to pivot from the crisis towards solutions that will reactivate the island’s economic development.

COVID-19 might be the trigger that finally forces local governments to allocate more resources to health

and science, as well as reverting the trend of importing food, choosing instead to promote local production. Let us be clear, this will be an uphill battle for all economies around the world, Puerto Rico is no exception. We must act fast and swiftly to overcome all the challenges and emerge as a winner in this global race.

We can longer bet on tourism as the magic wand for Puerto Rico’s economic development. Recent natural disasters have reminded us of the vulnerability of this sector, we need to diversify our revenue streams for sustainable growth. Call centers and telemedicine are just some of the industries that might flourish under Puerto Rico’s Act 20 tax incentive for export services.

To all my fellow Puerto Ricans, let’s use the lockdown as an opportunity for deep introspection and deciding how we leverage crisis into opportunity. Let’s turn despair into hope, history has shown us that adversity has always been an catalyst for great ingenuity. It’s on today’s leaders and entrepreneurs to lead our society into whatever this new way of living brings.

To all the health care professionals and scientists around the world, we are grateful for your contributions to society, we will forever be in your debt. Please keep safe and bless you all.

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In fact, The business’s presence, leadership and brand will be essential during the recovery process.

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Preguntas Frecuentes ¿A qué clientes le aplica el Plan de Alivio Económico?

El Plan de Alivio aplica automáticamente a clientes de préstamos y arrendamiento de auto, préstamo personal, tarjeta de crédito y préstamo personal pequeño de nuestra subsidiaria Money Express que no tengan más de 2 pagos en atrasos al 16 de marzo de 2020 (sin exceder 89 días en atraso a esa fecha). Para tarjetas de crédito y líneas de crédito de individuo, la cuenta tiene que estar al día al 16 de marzo. Clientes de hipotecas deben comunicarse con nosotros para conocer las diferentes alternativas.

¿Qué alternativas tengo para ponerme al día con mi hipoteca luego de que transcurra el término del Plan de Alivio Económico?

Pagar el saldo correspondiente a los meses en moratoria en un solo pago Solicitar un plan de pago de los meses en que se acogió a moratoria y/o Solicitar una modificación, la cual podría extender el término de su hipoteca - Los planes de pago o modificaciones pudieran estar sujetos a costos adicionales.

¿Tengo que comunicarme con el banco o la moratoria se aplicará automáticamente?

Si no deseo acogerme al Plan de Alivio Económico, ¿puedo continuar haciendo mis pagos?

La moratoria será aplicada automáticamente a los clientes que no tengan más de dos pagos en atraso (89 días en atraso al 16 de marzo) y no cuenten con débito directo. Clientes de hipotecas deben comunicarse con nosotros.

Sí, puedes continuar haciendo tus pagos como de costumbre a través de nuestros servicios electrónicos. Visita 1firstbank.com para conocer todo lo que puedes hacer a través de nuestros canales digitales.

¿Por cuánto tiempo estará vigente el Plan de Alivio Económico?

Si tengo débito directo, ¿qué tengo que hacer?

El Plan de Alivio aplica para para pagos de abril, mayo y junio 2020.

Al terminar el periodo de moratoria, ¿tengo que hacer todos los pagos a la vez en julio?

No, si te acogiste a la moratoria para préstamos y arrendamientos de auto, préstamos personales, tarjeta de crédito, líneas de crédito para individuos o préstamos personales pequeños de nuestra subsidiaria Money Express, no tendrás que hacer todos los pagos acogidos a moratoria en julio. Clientes de hipotecas deben comunicarse con nosotros para más detalles.

Si tienes débito directo en cualquiera de los productos, el Banco continuará debitando el pago correspondiente de tus cuentas.

Si deseas acogerte a la moratoria, debes solicitar una suspensión temporera al débito directo con FirstBank llamando al 787.725.2511 o comunicarte con tu institución financiera.

¿Habrá cargos por retraso en el pago? ¿Estarán enviando reportes negativos al crédito?

Durante el periodo de este Alivio en los pagos: No tendrás un cargo por atraso No se reportarán atrasos a las agencias de crédito

Más de 200 ATMs a tu alcance

FirstBank es miembro FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. Los programas de ayuda financiera están sujetos a ciertos términos, condiciones y restricciones. Estos programas de ayuda financiera del Banco están disponibles para residentes de Puerto Rico y sólo para productos de FirstBank Puerto Rico y su subsidiaria Money Express. Para más información visita nuestra página 1firstbank.com

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Plan de alivio económico a clientes de FirstBank

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Jewish Rituals for Passover

The holiday commemorates the freeing of the Hebrew people, enslaved for 210 years

by Egyptian pharaohs Hallee Patterson

This year, Passover begins Wednesday, April 8 and ends on April 16. Passover is observed annually starting at sunset on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. Because the Hebrew calendar does not match up with the Gregorian calendar, the date of Passover, along with other Jewish holidays, changes every year.

This holiday commemorates the freeing of the Hebrew people, who were enslaved for 210 years by Egyptian pharaohs.

Passover is a home ritual that combines religion, food, song and storytelling around the dinner table.

It is a time for Jewish families to come together and read from the Haggadah; which is the liturgy for the Seder service. The word Seder means order. The Haggadah, meaning “to repeat “ is the retelling of Moses’ Exodus and Diaspora to the promised land of

1. A roasted lamb shank bone represents the Israel. The term Passover means “to leap,” as when Passover sacrifice made the night the Hebrews fled the Shadow of Death leaped over the homes of the Egypt.

Jewish families in Egypt.

The Haggadah is divided into 15 rituals.The 2. An egg, the circle of life.

3. Maror, bitter herbs, the bitterness of slavery. retelling of the people’s exodus from Egypt and the 4. Charoset, the mortar used by the Hebrew slaves pharaoh to the promised land is a key fixture in a to make bricks.

Haggadah, along with the reading 5. Karpas or parsley, Spring. of the 10 plagues, the asking of 6. Salt water, the tears shed by the four questions, and reviewing Passover rituals, some of which the people. date back 2,000 years.

The Rabbis tell us that Matzah is Today social justice and political a plain food eaten in haste as the Passover is a themes could be included in the Hebrews fled Egypt. Three sheets home ritual: blending Seder. Contemporary Passover of Matzah are placed on a separate religion, food, song services may included discussions covered plate representing and storytelling Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. of a Jewish homeland, family and around the dinner During Passover, everything remembrance of Jewish history. table. It is a time changes. Jewish people do not eat The most memorable reading for Jewish families for me is the hardship the Hebrews leavened foods made with items to come together such as wheat, barley oats and rye, suffered under the Pharaoh. One of and read from the homes are thoroughly cleaned, the questions asked is “How would Haggadah. plates, pots and silverware are you feel if you were enslaved, with changed and countertops are no freedoms?.” After these past covered. weeks being in quarantine, I can On this Passover of 2020, I feel really relate to this question. we will have a lot to discuss, as we reflect on these One of the Haggadah rituals deals with food. past weeks. This year virtual Seders will add a new On the Seder table, you will see plates that hold symbolism: twist to old rituals.

In fact,

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/ Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Family-Friendly Online Cooking Show “Sunday Cooking with Jorge Blanco” is an ode to cooking at home

S

Yaira Solís Escudero

“

ysolis@elvocero.com

@yairasolis

unday Cooking with Jorge Blanco” is a new cooking show being broadcast over YouTube. Due to the extension of the lockdown meant as a precautionary measure to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, the program is being entirely produced and filmed from home by Jorge Blanco and his son, Miguel Ángel.

In the two weeks since the channel debuted, Blanco –who is also in advertising and has experience in automobile marketing – has already uploaded six videos, with many more coming as he continues to cook for his family.

“I came up with the concept of ‘Sunday cooking’ five years ago. The point was to invite family and friends over to my home to cook and get together.

Jorge Blanco records “Sunday Cooking with Jorge BlanWe would take pictures of the entire process and co” from home. post them on Facebook that very night,” said Jorge, who inherited his love of cooking from his father, “Sunday Cooking with Jorge Blanco” showcases Luis Blanco. Jorge went on to say that he has been recipes made with local ingredients that are easy cooking since he was 10 years old because his father to find and share with family. took the time and care “We kept the name to teach him and his five “Sunday Cooking” brothers how to cook. because this whole According to Jorge, thing started out of many people started a desire to have a following him on family project that Facebook and making we could all enjoy positive comments about together on Sundays. his concept and family Now, it’s something cooking dynamics. that must happen “When the curfew was every day,” Jorge -Jorge Blanco, “Sunday Cook with Jorge established, I realized explained that this was the ideal The videos detail time to do something the entire cooking with all my videos. I asked my son to help me edit process, from listing the ingredients needed, to the the videos so they would follow a cooking show actual cooking process and plating of the dish. For format. Now, since we have to spend so many Jorge, serving the food in a creative way kickstarts hours at home, in addition to cooking, I have the interesting after-dinner conversations. time to continue making videos to upload onto “I’ve always thought of a dish’s presentation as YouTube. This way I can help other people cook part of the gastronomic experience. In “Sunday different kinds of food,” said the publicist, who Cooking” we look for ways in which the dish describes his cooking style as “creative”. could even become a work of art,” stated Jorge

When the curfew was established, I realized that this was the ideal time to do something with all my videos.

as he went on to say that this is his favorite part of the process.

Among the dishes already featured on his channel are: pork fillet with green banana risotto; chickpea casserole with fish; goat cheese and mushroom crostini; microwaved rice with chicken; short ribs; almond-crusted chicken breast and Caprese salad with roasted garlic vinaigrette.

“One of the recipes that you will find in my channel is an original creation of mine, the green banana risotto. For this dish, bananas are grated and added to the rice as to achieve that traditional Puerto Rican cuisine touch that we all like so much.

Of course, the recipe includes other ingredients”, the cook added.

“One of the recipes that has garnered the most views is the microwaved rice with chicken, which I specifically prepared for people who do not cook but wish to enjoy a quick and easy to make “criollo” dish. To make it, I used a can of chicken meat, something that many people have in their pantries and normally use for other things,” Jorge explained.

Upcoming videos will feature recipes such as roasted chicken, fried avocado salad with croûtons and chocolate risotto, among others.

Watch “Sunday Cooking with Jorge Blanco” online at https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC0n7pKpqyBOl6b_fCw-4y6A/featured.

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/ Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Do Not Despair!

There’s a Lot You Can Do Under Quarantine

O Juan A. Hernández

jhernandez@wjournalpr.com

k, it’s been three weeks –going on four – of mandatory quarantine and social distancing at home, either by yourself or with your family, if you do have one, which is not actually that bad because at least you have company, despite them occasionally getting on

your nerves – *not you dear.

You have done it all; studied and played with the kids, cleaned the garage, washed the car you can’t take out, helped the missus clean the closets, watched every Disney movie and taken every virtual tour of every museum available on the internet. So, what is left for you to do the rest of the lockdown?

Even if you have decided you are not going near another puzzle, board game or yoga video for the rest of your life, there are still quite a lot of

activities to weather what is left of this quarantine.

For the purpose of these article, we are going to leave out all the suggestions made by Disney’s Rapunzel (Tangled, 2010), which, while certainly fun for your kids (painting, baking, reading, candlemaking, papier-mâché and cleaning), you have already done –with the possible exception of ventriloquism, which rapidly loses its charm if none your daughter’s dolls can move their lips.

So, without further ado, here are new endeavors to partake in.

Mixing Cocktails

This is parallel to cooking (done that!), but James Bond style… Remember? “Shaken, not stirred.”

At one time or another we have heard of, or even tried, some fancy cocktail, the most famous being the Bond, or Vesper martini (3 ounces gin; 1 ounce vodka; ½ ounce dry vermouth; combine with ice in a cocktail shaker; shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon peel).

Try mixing some classic cocktails… something beyond your basic Piña Colada or Cuba Libre. If you don’t have the actual ingredients at home, or are unable to go to the liquor store, try creating your own version of the drink with what you have.

You may start with the Moscow Mule (very refreshing) or the Cointreau Fizz (also refreshing). For a more challenging project, you can try the Negroni Sbagliato. If you don’t know the ingredients, google them.

Become a Filmmaker

Start recording whatever is happening in your life that you consider worthy of sharing with the world and dive into social media. Publish your videos with insightful and witty comments on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter… Become an influencer. Heck, why not record yourself mixing the previous exotic cocktails, and your own version of them, and upload a Tik Tok video. Of course, you can upload videos of yourself doing puzzles or rearranging your sock drawer, but you won’t become an influencer with those.

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/ Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Barbecue at Will

Remember all the times you had thought about cleaning up the old barbecue grill? Well, now’s the time since you don’t have to wait for a long weekend to fire it up.

If yours is a charcoal grill, and you don’t have half a bag of charcoal briquettes store in your garage, don’t worry, you can get a bag at your local supermarket (of course only on the day you are allow to take your car out). On the other hand, if yours is a gas grill and your tank is empty, don’t despair, you can also get a new tank at the supermarket, or even at some chain pharmacies.

City and government codes, building regulations and sometimes pesky neighbors can make things a bit complicated if you live in a building. Nevertheless, even if you don’t own a grill, there are some alternatives to that. Cover one or two of your stove’s burners with a piece of aluminum paper, take out the oven’s grill and place it over the stove and you are ready to grill burgers, hot dogs, steaks and even fish, since this is Holy Week. Of course, technically, it isn’t barbecuing, but hey, you live in an apartment and we are under “mandatory self-imposed quarantine.” This is as good as it’s going to get for the time being.

Be a Movie History Specialist

Of course, this is not about actually studying the history of film, it’s more about becoming a movie trivia buff. You could do contests, be them with your cooped-up family members or with friends via Zoom, Skype or Facetime. Think of movie themes, and I’m not talking about “Star Wars”, “Indiana Jones” or Disney, think more like “Pulp Fiction”, “The Godfather,” “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, “Gone with the Wind” and “Casablanca.”

You can ask about who the actors were or who said what: “Life is like a box of chocolates…,” “Do you feel lucky, punk?” “Play it Sam. Play As Time Goes By.’” You will be amazed at what people can remember.

Lip Sync Battle Champion

You always knew you had what it takes to be a star. What does Marc Anthony have that you don’t? Nothing. Lip synching is the best starting point.

Start by building a playlist as varied as your interests and encourage or challenge family members and friends to do the same. From Hip Hop to Pop, Rock and even Disco or Country, anything goes.

Challenge your opponents, diss them, taunt them, get them all riledup and then crush them with your talent. Remember The Greatest, “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”